“I have heard two tales—one that they did but did not find me because they did not cross the sea, and one that they assumed I was dead and the body simply not found, scattered by animals, perhaps.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. What matters is … coming here, these things that rose to meet me, and that stone. It is meant to complete something, this pattern, and to begin another pattern. Each of these things means something, not merely the tiles of the game—if it was a game, and not my child’s misunderstanding.” He turned to the other objects: the ring, the torc, the fitting for the belt. “I think I am meant to learn why these were given me and to consider my choices, past and future. And to do it here.”

“How long, sir king?,” Panin asked. “We will need provisions if we stay long.”

“I do not know,” Kieri said. He sighed. “Until it is done. I have had little leisure in my life to stay in one place and think. I trust it will not be too long, for I would not want to worry the queen and my Council. Only two of you need stay with me. The others—Berne and Varne, continue to the east and let the Sea-Prince know of the changes since he left. He met you both at the wedding. Jostin and Ceilar, return to Chaya and tell the queen of what I found. Send back two other Squires with provisions enough to reach Prealíth—we will need a courier service to and from the Sea-Prince if he agrees, the sooner the better. If I do not return betimes, start back here with more provisions. I will write the letters now.”

He saw protest in their expressions, but they left him to write the letters and set to dividing provisions and other supplies. The Sea-Prince—he hardly knew the man and nothing of his attitude toward elves, though he had been escorted through this forest by them. By the same way? Perhaps, or perhaps not. Perhaps wrapt in elven magery and allowed to see nothing. A land looking to the sea would value ship timber: mastwood and sparwood. Did Prealíth have forests, or was it mostly farmland or scrubland? He could not remember that from either journey.