“Did you see it?” Par exclaimed when they were safely
away again. He hugged her once more. “Walker did it! He
brought back Paranor! Damson, it’s happening! The charges
Allanon gave us are coming to pass! If I really do have the
Sword of Shannara and if Wren has found the Elves . . . !” He
caught himself. “I wonder what’s happened to Wren? I wish I
knew something more, confound it! And where’s Walker? Do
you think he’s down there, inside the castle? Is that why the
Federation has blocked the pass—to keep him there? ” His
The Talismans of Shannara 67
hands gestured excitedly against her back. “And what about
the Druids? What do you think. Damson? Has he found
them? ”
She shook her head, grinning at him. “We won’t know for
a while, I’m afraid. We’re still stuck on the wrong side of the
pass.” The smile faded, and she loosened his arms gently.
“There’s no way around those soldiers. Par. Not unless you
want to use your magic to disguise us. What do you think? Do
you want to do that? Could you? ”
Cold blossomed in the pit of his stomach. The wishsong
again. There was no escape from it. He could feel its magic
stir inside him in anticipation of the possibility that it might be
needed again, that it might be given a new release …
Damson saw the change that came into his face and pulled
him quickly to his feet. “No, you won’t use the magic. Not if
you don’t have to, and you don’t. We can go another way—
east below the mountains and then north across the Rabb. A
little longer journey perhaps, but just as sure.”
He nodded, relief washing through him. Her instincts were
right. He was frightened of using the magic. He didn’t trust it
anymore. “All right,” he agreed, forcing a smile. “That’s what
we’ll do.”
“Come on, then.” She pulled at his hand. “Let’s go back the
way we came. We can sleep a few hours and then start out
again.” Her smile was brilliant. “Think of it, Par. Paranor!”
They retraced their steps along the narrow pathway, easing
down out of the rocks to the main pass, and then began the
trek south. They traveled swiftly, excited by what they had
found, anxious to convey the news to others. But after the first
rush of euphoria had passed. Par found himself having second
thoughts. Perhaps he was being premature in celebrating the
return of Paranor. AUanon’s shade had never explained what
purpose would be served in fulfilling the charges he had given.
Paranor was back, but what difference did it make? Were the
Druids back as well? If so, would they help in the battle
against the Shadowen?
Or would they, as Rimmer Dall had suggested, prove to be
the real enemy of the races?
As they twisted and wound their way along the trail toward
the dark belt of the forests below. Par’s mood darkened
68 The Talismans of Shannara
steadily. Walker had been wary of Allanon’s motives. He had
been the first to warn against the Druids. What had happened
then to make him change his mind? Why had he agreed to
bring back Paranor? Par wished he could speak with him, just
for a moment. He wished he could talk to almost anyone from
the original company who had come with him to the
Hadeshom. He was tired of feeling alone and abandoned in
this. He was weary of having questions with no answers.
They reached the base of the Dragon’s Teeth two hours later
and moved back into the shelter of the trees. Behind them, the
glow of the Federation watch fires had long since faded into
the rocks, and the excitement of discovering Paranor had
turned to insistent doubt. Par kept his thoughts to himself, but
Damson’s occasional glance suggested she was not fooled by
his silence. It seemed to Par that they were so close and knew
each other so well by now that words weren’t necessary for
communication. Damson could read his thoughts. She knew
what he was thinking; he could see it in her eyes.