Par stared at him and didn’t know what to say. Coil saw his
discomfort and smiled. “Awkward, isn’t it? Don’t look so mis-
erable, Par. It isn’t as if the matter is any fault of yours.” He
leaned close. “Maybe it has something to do with the magic-
something none of us knows yet. Maybe that’s it.”
Par shook his head and sighed. “I’d be lying if I said that the
whole business of me having dreams and you not having them
doesn’t make me very uncomfortable. I don’t know what to say.
I keep expecting you to involve yourself in something that doesn’t
really concern you. I shouldn’t even ask-but I guess I can’t help
it. You’re my brother, and I want you with me.”
Coil reached out and put a hand on Par’s shoulder. His smile
was warm. “Now and then. Par, you do manage to say the right
thing.” He tightened his grip. “I go where you go. That’s the
way it is with us. I’m not saying I always agree with the way
you reason things out, but that doesn’t change how I feel about
you. So if you believe you must go to the Hadeshom to resolve
this matter of the dreams, then I am going with you.”
Par put his arms around his brother and hugged him, thinking
of all the times Coil had stood by him when he was asked,
warmed by the feeling it gave him to know that Coil would be
with him again now. “I knew I could depend on you,” was all
he said.
It was late afternoon by the time they started back. They had
intended to return earlier, but had become preoccupied with
talking about the dreams and Allanon and had wandered all the
way to the east wall of the valley before realizing how late it had
become. Now, with the sun already inching toward the rim of
the western horizon, they began to retrace their steps.
“It looks as if we might get our feet wet,” Coil announced
as they worked their way back through the trees.
Par glanced skyward. A mass of heavy rain clouds had ap-
peared at the northern edge of the valley, darkening the whole
of the skyline. The sun was already beginning to disappear,
enveloped in the growing darkness. The air was warm and sticky,
and the forest was hushed.
They made their way more quickly now, anxious to avoid a
drenching. A stiff breeze sprang up, heralding the approach of
the storm, whipping the leafy branches of the trees about them
in frantic dances. The temperature began to drop, and the forest
grew dark and shadowed.
Par muttered to himself as he felt a flurry of scattered rain-
drops strike his face. It was bad enough that they were out there
looking for someone who wasn’t about to be found in the first
place. Now they were going to get soaked for their efforts.
Then he saw something move in the trees.
He blinked and looked again. This time he didn’t see any-
thing. He slowed without realizing it, and Coil, who was trailing
a step or so behind, asked what was wrong. Par shook his head
and picked up the pace again.
The wind whipped into his face, forcing him to lower his
head against its sting. He glanced right, then left. There were
flashes of movement to either side.
Something was tracking them.
Par felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle, but he forced
himself to keep moving. Whatever was out there didn’t have the
look or the movement of either Walker Boh or the cat. Too
quick, too agile. He tried to gather his thoughts. How far were
they from the cottage-a mile, maybe less? He kept his head up
as he walked, trying to follow the movement out of the comer
of his eye. Movements, he corrected himself. There was clearly
more than one of them.
“Par!” Coil said as they brushed close passing through a
narrow winding of trees. “There’s something …”
“I know!” Par cut him short. “Keep moving!”
They made their way through a broad stand of fir, and the
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