“If we are to find the Elfstones, we will need the help of others,” she said when the silence following Carrick’s question had lengthened sufficiently. “Allanon’s shade made it clear that we could not do this alone. No reason was given, nor was any argument encouraged. I felt strongly that the matter was not open to discussion or equivocation. So we will do as we have been advised. We will seek out others who will accompany us on our search.”

Pleysia shook her head. “I don’t like involving other people. People who are not Druids.”

“Others have always been there to aid us.” Khyber met her dark gaze and held it. “Any number of times. Have you forgotten your history?”

“Members of the Ohmsford family,” Seersha interjected, “helped Allanon three times, Walker Boh twice, and Grianne Ohmsford twice. Other families have aided us, too. The Leahs. The Elessedils, as well.”

“But it was the living who made that decision, not the dead.” Pleysia would not back down. “And in each case the decision was made because those who went possessed magic that was necessary to the success of the quests undertaken. This isn’t the same.”

“You are splitting hairs, Pleysia,” Bombax observed quietly.

“Am I? Then perhaps they need splitting.”

“And perhaps you need to consider your words more carefully before you speak them.”

Pleysia was on her feet, furious. “Why don’t you consider what it meant to rely on Allanon’s word in those earlier times? He was duplicitous and manipulative in life; why would he be any different in death? Some essential part of any truth he knew was always hidden from those who relied on his words! Why do you think it would be any different here?”

She wheeled on Khyber. “You might trust this shade. You might believe the advice it gives you is valuable and should be heeded. But I suggest you forget more of history than I do. How many of us will be sacrificed in this effort because of that?”

Khyber Elessedil shook her head slowly. “None, I hope. Some of what you say is right. But that doesn’t mean everything I was told is a lie or duplicitous. If that were so, I would sense it. My mind is made up on this, Pleysia. I have accepted Allanon’s warning as valid. I accept that we must heed it. We must seek help to complete this quest. Starting right away.”

She paused, making sure they were done arguing the point. Pleysia shrugged and looked away. “Allanon’s shade warned me that there must be at least one Ohmsford who comes with us,” Khyber continued. “It will be my responsibility to find that one. An Ohmsford has been involved with the Druids on every quest since the return of the Warlock Lord. Grianne Ohmsford was Ard Rhys before me. The history is there, and I don’t intend to ignore it.”