The little group pushed forward through the forest for a long time, long enough for the sunlight to start breaking through the trees. Then suddenly, they emerged from the forest into a large open space. Xan gasped in awe.

  A wide river cut through the middle of this area, meandering its way down through the grasses and cascading over the edge of the cliffs that still lined the coast. On either side of this river stood a large village. The buildings were of various sizes, but they all looked like they had been built out of large stones stacked together, forming dome-shaped roofs on the top. Even from a distance Xan could see dozens of Verdans of all ages were going about their daily business.

  When the little procession emerged from the forest’s edge, the business in the village slowly subsided as every Verdan turned to watch. A small group stepped forward from the village to meet them – an elderly Verdan man with graying dark hair, flanked by two younger Verdans dressed in leather armor.

  Elen rushed ahead of their small group, stopping in front of the elderly Verdan. She bowed, then began to speak, explaining what, and whom, she and her companions had found. The elderly Verdan listened, nodding. Then he approached the boat, arms spread wide in greeting.

  “Hail, cousin Taika of Essos. I am Hovo Pololanik Ignas, Keeper of the Meridian Shrine,” he said. Taika bowed deeply.

  “Hail, Keeper Hovo. Allow me to express my thanks for sending your warriors to our aid,” she said.

  “Full glad we did so. I understand that you have brought our brother, Katar, to have him healed?” Keeper Hovo asked.

  “Indeed, sir,” Taika said, bowing again. “He has been stricken with cavern sickness for some months now, and as I am young and inexperienced, I have been unable to relieve him of this illness. My companions and I—” she swept a hand to indicate Xan and Dee, “—have traveled here in the hopes that you can heal him.”

  Xan watched this whole exchange with confused fascination. It seemed wholly unlike Taika to act so formal. Then, when Taika gestured in his direction, he suddenly became self-conscious. He bowed towards Keeper Hovo. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dee do the same. Keeper Hovo barely spared them a glance. Instead, the elderly Verdan moved forward to the side of the boat. He laid a hand on Katar’s chest.

  “Be whole,” he commanded in that same reverberating voice Xan had heard Taika and Katar use. The palm of his hand glowed brightly, and Xan could swear he felt warmth radiating out from it.

  Katar’s breathing eased. Then he stirred, his eyes fluttering. He looked up to see Keeper Hovo bent over him.

  “Hail… brother Hovo,” he said with great difficulty. Then his eyes rolled back, and he slipped back into unconsciousness.

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  The light beneath Keeper Hovo’s hand subsided. Then the elderly Verdan straightened up, a somber look on his face.

  “We must take him to the shrine,” he declared.

  Xan, sensing the urgency in the Keeper’s voice, told hold of the boat so he could help push it. He was surprised when Keeper Hovo raised a hand to halt him.

  “We will take him. Cousin Taika, you and your companions can wait here in the village while we tend to him,” he said firmly.

  Taika stared aghast at Keeper Hovo. Then she surreptitiously laid a hand on the side of the boat. Dee leapt up on top of the lockbox in indignation.

  “But… but he’s her father!” she exclaimed.

  “I agree with the mouseling, Keeper Hovo,” said a baritone voice.

  Xan turned to see another Verdan man approaching them. Unlike the Verdans Xan could see in the village, who all had deep green skin and dark brown hair, this man had pale green skin and brown hair so bright it was almost blond. His hair was plated into braids all the way down his back, his beard was trimmed short, and his clothes were patched and faded in places. Though he had said very little, he carried himself with such an air of confidence and charisma that he immediately captured everyone’s attention.

  Keeper Hovo frowned at the man as he drew closer, the disdain he felt clearly evident on his face.

  “Cousin Rowan, this matter is none of your concern,” he said.

  “A pained heart cryin’ out for relief is every bit my concern,” Rowan said. “An’ I say, let her go with her father. She is his flesh and blood, is she not?”

  “That may be, but she is not of the line of Ignas. We cannot allow her into the shrine,” Keeper Hovo said. In response, Rowan spread his arms wide, as if to indicate everyone present.

  “So the line of Ignas is willin’ to shirk their duty as Verdans for the sake of upholdin’ tradition?” he said accusingly, looking around. No one met his gaze, except for Keeper Hovo, who continued to glare at him. But, sensing the unrest in the other Verdans around him, Keeper Hovo finally relented with a grunt.

  “Very well. Cousin Taika may accompany us. The other two will stay here,” he said, gesturing to Bedros and Gayane to start pushing the boat after him. Xan quickly stepped forward before they could move.

  “Pardon me, Keeper Hovo, but Dee and I must go, too,” he said, trying his best to sound as formal as possible. Now Keeper Hovo was glaring at him, but he tried to firmly meet the old man’s gaze.

  “Did you not hear me, boy? You and the mouseling will stay here,” Keeper Hovo said.

  “I heard you, sir, and as captain I must respectfully disagree,” Xan said, straightening himself up.

  “Captain?” Keeper Hovo said, raising his eyebrows incredulously.

  “Aye, sir. You see, my crewmate here is attuned to the Terra Sang on our boat. She must stay near it for it to continue to work, and therefore she must accompany you. And if she must accompany you, then so will I.”

  Keeper Hovo shook his head. “We can carry him there ourselves then, if that is what you insist.”

  “Time is of the essence, sir. Please, allow us to bring him to the shrine for you,” Xan pressed.

  Despite Xan’s protests, Keeper Hovo didn’t look the least bit convinced. At least, until Rowan spoke up again:

  “C’mon, now, old man. What’s the harm? They are the Earth Mother’s creations, too, aren’t they?”

  At his voice, the old Keeper seemed to swell with indignation until he looked fit to burst. Then he let out an angry sigh and turned away.

  “Fine then. Come if you must. Bedros, Gayane, you’re responsible for them,” he said.

  “Yes, sir,” Bedros and Gayane said, bowing to Keeper Hovo. Then they, Taika, Xan, and Rowan all grabbed hold of the boat and leaned into it once more, following Keeper Hovo into the village.