Page 115 (1/2)

“Brother and sister,” Vaelin realised, his gaze switching between the wo man

“I think so,” Erlin said “The first tiether But far fros and the people gone to swirling mist around theh there was no sensation of wind Soon it slowed, the h now the buildings were all co had come to the mountains and the air was fresh, the city lively with people; parents with children, lovers walking hand in hand Music seemed to rise fro froers a few streets away adding their own voices There were also knots of people engaged in ani at each other with scrolls and odd devices Vaelin took to be soether and you’ll birth an argument,” Erlin commented “A truisue with hie of the elevated platfor his arm in a broad sweep “I think that’s why he built this place A haven for thinkers, artists, scholars In all ry voice drew Vaelin’s attention to the approach of the dark-haired wo in eative slashes Her brother followed behind at a distance They were all older than before, though perhaps by only a few years The younger man’s timidity seemed to have vanished, the weary amusement on his face an echo of what he would later depict on the cave wall

The woman went to the memory stone and Vaelin saw it now had a twin, identical in shape but not in colour, for this stone was black, its surface free of any flaw or vein So black, Vaelin recalled Wise Bear’s deep unease as he touched the space where this thing now stood

The woard the black stone, her face briefly transfor back to the beardedat the stone, voice raised in e to stand opposite her with the stone between them He spoke softly but his words were no less certain than hers, and also carried an unan to rail at hier She cal close to the stone, though Vaelin noted how he put his hands behind his back He spoke for a short ti often, his sister evidently annoyed by his apparent lack of concern Eventually she threw up her hands in an exclary defeat and strode away

Her brother and the bearded lances but no more words After a short pause the beardedit hover over the s the involuntary shudder in his fingertips The younger man spoke, just a few short words, but all humour had vanished fro

The beardedacross his features Then he laughed, withdrawing his hand andaway at a sedate pace He descended the steps to the street below, exchanging good-natured greetings as he , every face around hi ers tracing over his chin with brow furrowed in thought After a an to walk away, but paused on reaching the steps His back straightened as if in response to so across the platform until they came to rest on Vaelin

“He sees me,” Vaelin said

“Yes,” Erlin said “I alondered what made him pause at this point Hopefully, now his next words willman walked forward slowly, his expression one of cautious amazement He ca out as if to touch his cloak, though the fingers slipped through theover a question in a language not his own “Youhavenaue

“I have h I suspect you will knower to his teueLearn it”

“You have the gift of scrying,” Vaelin said, elaborating in response to another baffled frown, “Yousee what is to coes You, always saaze went to the black stone “So too this”

“What is it?”

Lionen’s face tensed in consternation and Vaelin realised he was fu even he didn’t fully understand “A box,” he said finally “Box fullof everything, and nothing”

“Your sister fears it”

Lionen nodded “Essara sees great danger in this Her husband greatuse”

“And you?”