“There’s no need to travel all the way to Hurog,” she said. “The Hurogmeten has been camped at Menogue since he left Estian, to give him time to recover from his imprisonment. Aethervon gave him dreams so he would know to look for the boy.”

Without a word, Garranon turned his horse’s head down the less traveled way leading to the old temple.

“It doesn’t matter where you go,” she said. “He’s a Finder. He’ll locate you.”

On the tail of her words a red mare cantered into view bearing Ward of Hurog—looking much better than he had when he’d confronted the king in court. When he saw Garranon, he stopped and waited for the Shavigman to approach.

“Hurogmeten,” acknowledged Garranon. “I have a gift for you—I believe he’s your half brother. He calls himself Tychis.”

The big red mare flared her nostrils at his horse and ignored the Tamerlain. Ward rode close and touched the sleeping face with a look of relief.

“That’s two my house owes yours,” he said.

Garranon shook his head. “I think the debt still lies in the other direction. My actions have hurt you more than I’ve been able to help. Take him.” He glanced down at the Tamerlain, but he couldn’t tell if Ward could see her, so he said, “I think he’ll wake in a little bit,” rather than explain her part in the boy’s recovery. Even now he protected her secrets. “He might be a little disoriented and a lot hostile, but you need to get him away from Estian.”

“He is my brother,” answered Ward peacefully. “My brother Tychis. He belongs at Hurog.” He looked at Garranon a moment, and the Oranstonian had trouble seeing behind the affable mask to the thoughts running through the Hurogmeten’s head.

“How stands your favor with the king?”

Garranon shrugged. “About as high as any man who might accuse Jakoven of being a pedophile. No. Lower than that, since I stole the boy who would be instrumental—I don’t want to know how—in allowing Jakoven to use Farsonsbane.”

Ward didn’t flinch, so Garranon knew that the Hurogmeten knew about the Bane.

“About where I do, then,” said Ward. He watched Garranon for moment and asked softly, “How stands the king in your favor?”

Garranon looked away. “As always,” he managed finally. “You’d better take him and ride—I have an extra horse for him. I don’t know when the king’ll think to send someone to find him. You may have half a day, maybe only half an hour.”

Ward shrugged and said, “What would you do if you had a knife and found the king asleep in a back alley with no witnesses?”

Garranon didn’t answer, but Ward smiled, and rode his horse around to take the reins of the extra gelding, leaving the boy in Garranon’s arms.