I figured I had less than aminute, tops, before Phin returned, so I wasted no time. I closed my eyes andstarted my incantation. Trying my best to relax while also begging for theportal to materialize faster. I had to make the jump before Phin returned orhe’d stop me. Finally, the portal arrived, and I focused on my destination asit swallowed me.
The safe room ofGavin Trask.
A split second,and a bright flash of light later, I found myself on the shore of River Nesswhere Haddi was standing, waiting to greet me.
“What is this?Why am I here?” I cried out in a panic.
“Think of thisas a waiting room,” he said calmly.
“No, no. I’msupposed to be in asaferoom. I was concentrating on the safe room!”
“Be calm,” Haddiinstructed, dipping his sandaled foot into the river.
“No time forcalm. I have to go,” I said, beginning my incantation and focusing once more onthe safe room.
Once again, myportal came, and once again it brought me straight back to the river and Haddi.
“If you’rewondering how many times you can try to leave and still end up here, I couldgive you the number, but you will have likely perished by the time I was donereciting it to you,” Haddi warned. “And yet, time from whence you came has onlymoved forwards by a matter of seconds.”
“Why are youdoing this to me?” I asked. “Why won’t you let me jump into the safe room?”
“I’m not the onestopping the progress of your journey, nor am I the one who’s able to help youcontinue.”
“Then who is?” Iasked.
“You,” hereplied.
“I don’tunderstand.”
“It was the willof the Fates that you be able to travel to the house of Gavin Trask, yes?”
“Yes,” I nodded.“I believe so.”
Haddi gave me aknowing look. “And it was also the will of the Fates that you travel with yourmate.”
I nodded.
“Then where isPrince Phineas?”
“I need to facemy father alone,” I replied.
“Is that so?Then why bring him on your quest?”
“I needed himfor the jump here, but he doesn’t have to go with me any further.”
“Moreassumptions. Tsk, tsk,” he said, wagging a finger at me.
I raised my chinin defiance. “I can stop Gavin Trask on my own. This is my fight.”
“No, my youngpupil, this is a fight for all Cauld Ane. Gavin Trask is not your father, he isyour enemy, and you must fight him with everything and everyone you have.”
“What if I’vehad visions?” I asked, my voice wavering. “Visions of what happens inside thatsafe room?”
“Ahh,” he saidon a sigh. “You’ve seen the young prince die in these visions, haven’t you?”
I nodded.
He shrugged.“You must take him with you anyway.”
