Alec nodded. Thero brushed his mind and saw the same woman he’d just witnessed in his vision, though in Alec’s mind she was clothed in a red gown. “Yes, it was her.”

Alec frowned. “The necromancer was the ’faie man’s lover?”

“That’s how it appeared, but it was a very brief vision.”

“Does that make any sense to you? I mean, did she help him seal her in?”

“It’s more likely he tricked her.”

“That doesn’t explain who set the seal on the other side.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Thero stood and approached the skull again. Reaching into the eye socket, he closed his eyes …

He was looking down into her eyes. Deep blue eyes the color of the summer sky. She was clearly Tírfaie, but she spoke Aurënfaie as she looked up at him and said, “I love you, Khazireen. Watch over them.” With that she took off the arm ring and Thero felt it placed in his hand, the gold still warm from her body …

This time he found himself in Alec’s arms. Regaining his footing, he stepped back. “How long that time?”

“About the same. You touch it and your legs go out from under you. I managed to catch you.”

“Thank you. I saw her more closely this time. It’s most certainly the same woman. She called the man Khazireen and asked him to watch over someone.”

“Well, that’s a start if she’s his beloved Black Pearl. But who would a necromancer want him to look after?”

“I can’t imagine.” He looked up at the gold embedded in stone. “The seal you saw brought you here, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Well, nothing bad happened when I touched this, assuming it is part of the other seal. I need you to try, Alec.”

“All right, but I’d better hang on to you, in case I do get across. You probably won’t be able to go through without me.”

“Or even with you, I suspect.”

Shouldering the pack and giving Alec the bag again, Thero joined hands with him and Alec touched the gold.

Nothing happened. Alec pulled his hand away and tried again. He did not disappear.

“Maybe it’s like the portal that appeared at the palace,” said Thero. “Do you see anything around the chamber?”

“No, but maybe we should walk around in case I have to be near it to see it.”

After considerable splashing around, Alec shook his head. “I don’t see anything. I’m going back to the palace.”

With some magical assistance they got their baggage back up the tunnel and rode back toward the palace. Judging by the stars, it was after midnight.

“Are you sure you’re up to this?” asked Thero.

The younger man’s face was hidden in shadow, but his voice carried pain as he replied, “What would I do, sleep? Not with Mika gone.”