“Bring me the study on the Moonstone,” Tarn said.
Von searched through the tomes and pulled out one with a blue leather-bound covering and the title embossed in silver that readMagos Artifacts of the Orbis Era. He delivered it to the table. Tarn opened the book and flipped the pages to a detailed illustration of the Luna Medallion. It was plated with silver and inlaid with diamonds, weaving around an iridescent stone at its center. The medallion had harnessed the powers of Azeran Astron and nearly won him the Magos Empire, but it was the Moonstone that Tarn needed to succeed in his plan.
The illustration looked too real. Tarn brushed his fingers over the page as if wishing he could pluck it free.
Would he lose interest in Dyna if he had it? With the Moonstone he could reach Mount Ida within a blink of an eye. It opened portals to anywhere the wielder wished and only required the light of the moon to evoke its power. Even a human could use it.
And Von could send Yavi back home to her family where she belonged. But finding the stone was another matter.
“Still no leads?”
“No, Master. Bouvier maintains that the Luna Medallion disappeared at the end of the War of the Guilds, but he will not cease searching for it.” Their fourth spy was resourceful in tracking rare artifacts and valuable information. It had taken much of the load off of Von’s shoulders since Bouvier had joined them a year ago.
A section of the scar running through Tarn’s brow creased. “Where is he now?”
“I sent him to Corron yesterday to track down the broker the merchant had mentioned.”
“Ah, that’s right. You suspect the merchant may have told him of my whereabouts.” Tarn held up his tankard, and Von served him more wine.
“If he does, Bouvier has been ordered to eliminate any concern.”
Tarn planted an elbow on the table, resting his chin on a fist. He flicked another page, pensive at whatever passage he read there. “I remember a time when you resisted such things.”
“I live to serve you.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
The rune for truth, which looked like the outline of a vertical hourglass, glowed blue for honesty. Had Von lied, it would have turned red.
“When is Elon to return?”
It had been three days. Von was running out of excuses. The elf didn’t normally take so long to return with information. “He’ll arrive soon.”
Tarn looked up from the book, pale eyes beginning to frost. “That is what you said yesterday.”
“It shouldn’t be much longer.” Von glanced at the small glass Orb the size of his fist that rested on the table beside Tarn. On the polished surface appeared a glowing map of the region and a speck of green light that represented Dyna’s location in the east. The tracking spell Benton placed on her guided them well enough. Somehow, she had gotten far ahead of them. They were a day’s travel behind her
Tarn slammed the book shut. “See to the camp breakdown. It’s dark enough to move.”
Von suppressed another sigh. “Yes, Master.”
He was relieved to be excused but it was another form of punishment. Since Landcaster, the camp moved each night. His scouts had reported sightings of bounty hunters, Rangers, and the Azure Guard on the main roads. So, the camp was constantly on the move, traveling by night to avoid detection. The men had gotten little sleep because of it.
Generally, when the authorities discovered Tarn’s presence, they were quick to leave for another part of the country or to another continent. But his master’s sole focus was on the Maiden.
“Great peril in the venture thou art pursuing.”
The Seer’s warning was too vague to mean anything. It could mean the pursuit of the Unending would put Tarn at risk—he was already at risk with the Azure Guard searching for him—or it could mean demise, but for whom?
It would all be over soon.
Von was about to leave the tent when the Forewarning Crystal spun, announcing another presence. Finally. Elon had come to give his report.
But Geon called from outside instead, “Commander Von, I’ve returned with word from Corron.”
Von frowned. “It must be a message from Bouvier, Master.”
