to the tunnels below. From there, they moved swiftly through
the gloom, away from the city’s walls and back toward its cen-
ter. Soon they were deep within the sewers and everything was
silent.
54 The Talismans of Shannara
“Let’s … let’s just rest a moment,” Par suggested finally,
out of breath from running, needing to think, to decide what to
do next.
“Here,” the Mole offered, directing them to a platform that
served as a base for a ladder climbing to the streets at a con-
fluence of tunnels and pipes. Overhead, light shone dimly
through a grate. The streets were still and empty of life. “I will
go back and make certain we are not followed.”
He disappeared into the dark, leaving them the candle. The
Valeman and the girl watched him go, then settled themselves
gingerly in place, backs to the wall, side by side with the can-
dle before them. Par felt drained. He stared at the darkness be-
yond the candle’s flame, exhaustion spreading through him. He
could hear Damson breathing, could feel the heat of her body.
“You know what they’ll do to him,” she said finally. He
didn’t respond, looking straight ahead. “They’ll make him one
of them. They’ll use him.”
If they manage to take him alive. Par thought. And maybe
not even then. Rimmer Dall is unpredictable.
“Why didn’t you make me go back for him? ” he asked her.
There was a long silence before she spoke. “I would never
do that to you.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, letting the import of
the words sink in. “I’m sorry about Padishar,” he said finally.
“I didn’t want to leave him either.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
She said it in such a matter-of-fact way that he looked over
at her to make certain he had heard her correctly. Her eyes met
his. “I know,” she repeated. The pain in her voice was palpa-
ble. “It wasn’t your fault. Padishar made you promise to save
me first. He would have made me promise as well if our po-
sitions had been reversed.” She looked away again. “I was just
angry when I saw …” She shook her head.
“Are you all right? ”
She nodded wordlessly, and her eyes closed.
“Do they know who you are? ”
She glanced over again. “No. Why would they? ”
He took a deep breath. “The Mole. That was a trap back
there. Damson. They were waiting for us. They had some rea-
son to believe we would come for you. What better reason
The Talismans of Shannara 55
than if they knew that you were Padishar Creel’s daughter?
Padishar thinks the Mole gave us away.”
There was new anger in her eyes. “Par, the Mole saved us!
Saved you, anyway. I was just unlucky. The Federation recog-
nized me from the streets, and they knew I had helped you es-
cape the gristmill.” She hesitated. “That was a trap as well,
wasn’t it? They knew …” She paused again, uncertain of
where she was going.
“It could have been the Mole,” Par pressed. “He could have
been taken when he came to look for you. Or sometime be-
fore.”
“And helped us escape anyway? ” she asked incredulously.
“Why? What would be the point? The Federation would have
had us all if he hadn’t gotten us out of the watchtower.”
“I know. I was thinking that, too.” He shook his head. “But
they keep finding us. Damson. How do they do that? The
Shadowen seem to have an ear to every wall. It’s insidious.
Sometimes it seems as if there isn’t anyone left to trust.”
Her smile was bitter. “There isn’t. Par. Not anyone. Didn’t
you realize that? There’s only you and me. And can we even
trust each other? ”
He stared at her in shock. A sadness came into her eyes, and
she reached out quickly, put her arms about him, and drew him
close.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and he could feel her crying.
“I thought I might have lost you for good,” he whispered
into her hair. He felt her nod slightly. “I’m so tired of all this.
I just want it to end.”