The Eighth Warden Ch. 025-026

Corec nodded. He still had some money left, and anything that made Ellerie less angry seemed like a good idea.

"Why did you take the translations if she paid you for them?" Katrin asked Bobo. "Why would you care about finding some old stone walls?"

"He was trying to get to the treasure first," Boktar said, scowling.

"Treasure?"

Ellerie sighed. "If there is any treasure. We all agreed there's probably nothing left, if there was even anything to begin with, so why is it always the treasure that we talk about?"

Bobo said, "Even if there's no real treasure, any other artifacts we find could still be worth something. Two years ago, I had buyers lined up for any authentic pottery or metalwork. Those things might still exist even if any wood has rotted."

"We find?" Ellerie said. "And I can't believe you had buyers ready! You were supposed to be working for me!"

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry you got caught, you mean."

He shrugged. "That, too, but I spent ten years trying to find any of the great cities. I searched the libraries in Matagor and Larso, and I even visited Terevas. And then you showed up with that book! What was I supposed to do?"

"You could have told me the truth, to start with! You haven't given me any reason to work with you again. Pay me back what I paid you, check our translations for accuracy, and then we'll go our separate ways. And if you don't want us to drag you to a magistrate, you need to promise to stop looking for Tir Yadar."

"We'd have better luck if we work together," Bobo insisted.

Before Ellerie could respond, Treya said, "If these Ancients who invented binding spells were the same ones who built the ruins you're looking for, could there be anything left that might tell us how to get rid of the runes?"

"That's unlikely," Ellerie said. "Most books would be long gone to dust. Though I suppose spell books are sometimes enchanted to last longer."

"If they wrote on vellum or parchment, and stored it safely, those might still exist, too," Bobo said. "It depends how long it's been since Tir Yadar fell, and I've never found any records that provide a reliable date."

"Wouldn't spell books be the best place to look for a solution?" Treya asked.

Ellerie stared at her for a long moment but didn't speak.

Corec said, "One of the reasons we came to Circle Bay was to find another wizard to help us undo the binding spells. If you can think of any way to help us, it would help you, too. I'm truly sorry about the spell. I never meant for it to happen."

"If we were in Terevas..." Ellerie started, then stopped and turned to the side, her lips in a thin line. Boktar stood up and whispered in her ear.

She spun back to face Corec. "Fine. The priestess is right. The first peoples were the ones who created the wizard language, or at least discovered it. They might have had some way to undo your damned spell if I can't banish it myself. I'll look for anything that might be helpful in Tir Yadar...if I ever find the place. That doesn't mean you need to come with us."

"I never said we should," Corec said. "If Bobo wants to go, that's his decision, if you want him. I'm headed back north. Katrin and I are going to accompany Shavala to Lanport and the Storm Heights, and then wherever she wants to travel next."

"Bishop Lastal said we should stay together," Treya said. "Shouldn't she come with us?"

"I didn't even know you'd decided to come," Corec admitted.

She shrugged. "I'm still thinking about it."

"You're going to the Storm Heights?" Boktar asked.

"I'm on my travels," Shavala said. "My teacher said I should see them before I return." It was the first time she'd spoken since they'd arrived. She and Ellerie had eyed each other, but neither had approached the other.

"Don't get any ideas, Boktar!" Ellerie said, transferring her glare to her friend.

"Why not, Elle? If they hadn't helped us, we'd be dead."

She was silent for a moment. "All right, but only because it'll be easier for me to learn how to undo the spell if they're nearby."

Boktar nodded, and turned to Corec. "We're visiting the Coastal Range first, and if we don't find what we're looking for there, we were planning to head to the Storm Heights next."

"Why are you looking for mountain ranges?" Bobo asked.

"Because I didn't tell you everything," Ellerie replied. "And I don't intend to start now."

"You know more about the location, don't you? The directions in the book weren't really directions...the author expected the reader to already know where Tir Yadar was. He was just describing his journey from a spot that he thought everyone already knew about. You think the journey starts in the mountains! It didn't mention any mountains though, other than those hints about hills within the city itself."

"I didn't say the point of origin is in the mountains," Ellerie said. "But we need to find the right mountains to locate it. And I'm not going to tell you anything else, so stop asking."

"It'll be going into winter by the time you get up north," Corec said.

"We know," Boktar said, "but the Coastal Range is so close, it doesn't make sense to leave without taking a look."

"I've never spoken with one of the cousins before," Shavala said, glancing at Ellerie. "I wouldn't mind traveling together. I wish to learn more about Terevas before I go there."

Corec said, "Is everyone suggesting what I think you're suggesting? That we travel north together?"

"It makes sense," Boktar said. "Elle wants to get rid of this spell thing the two of you keep going on about, we're all headed to the Storm Heights anyway, and I want to keep an eye on him." He pointed to Bobo.

Corec glanced at Katrin, who gave him a slight nod.

"Our horses are in Tyrsall," he said. "We came here by ship, and we were planning to return the same way."

Boktar shrugged. "Buy new horses, and sell them when we get to Tyrsall."

"Well," Corec said, "I wouldn't mind avoiding another ship." He faced Shavala. "Katrin and I already agreed to go with you, at least for a while, so if this is what you want to do, we'll come."

"It is."

"If there's a chance we can get rid of the runes, I'm coming too," Treya said.

"I'm hoping that I can learn to control them and get rid of them," Corec said. He looked at Ellerie. "And if not, maybe you can figure out how to banish them."

She nodded. "I will find a way to undo what you did." The words seemed to carry a hidden threat. "We can't leave right away, though. I have some things I need to take care of here in Circle Bay."

"I'm not ready to leave yet, either," Katrin said. "I need another day or two, at least."

"That'll give us time to buy horses and supplies," Boktar said.