Listen to me, she thought. Indulging in self-pity and remorse. What next? Regret for lost youth and no child of my own?

She said it to herself, in the privacy of her mind, where no one could hear. But she said it only half in jest, and her smile was bitter.

She had gotten to within a dozen feet of the porch when the door opened and Sarys stepped out to confront her, tall and slender and regal, eyes as hard as stones.

“You are not welcome here,” she said, folding her arms across her chest, blocking the way.

Khyber stopped where she was and nodded. “I know that. But I am here because I have no other choice.”

Sarys made a face. “The reason doesn’t matter. You have been told not to come. You waste my time and yours. Go back to Paranor.”

“I cannot do that until you hear what I have to say.”

“Nothing you have to say is of any interest to me. Nothing ever will be. Get back aboard your ship and fly out of here. Do it right now.”

Khyber held her ground, not moving, not speaking. She just stood there, her eyes locked on Sarys, waiting her out.

“I thought you were in the Druid Sleep,” the other woman said finally.

“I was, but something happened that brought me awake. The Four Lands are in danger, Sarys—threatened by the very thing that you fear most. By magic. By magic so powerful that if it were to fall into the wrong hands, it would put us all at desperate risk.”

“But those ‘wrong hands’ would not be your own, of course.” Sarys shook her head. “No, never the clever hands of the Druids. You would use the magic wisely, wouldn’t you?”

“We would at least use it in an informed way. Or perhaps not use it at all, but put it away where it could not be misused.” She paused, holding the other woman’s gaze. “May I please come inside so that we can sit down and talk? If you find what I have to say repellent, ask me to leave then. I will have had my say and be gone from here. But I must at least speak to you first.”

Sarys shook her head, and suddenly there was a glint of tears at the corners of her eyes. “You took Kierst from me, and now you want to hurt my boys. Whatever you intend, that will be the unavoidable result.” She wiped furiously at her face. “Look what you’ve done to me, just by coming here like this.”

“I didn’t come here to hurt your boys. You know better. I came because I am compelled. Please let me explain.”

“Go away, Ard Rhys. Go away, and never come back.”

“I can’t do that. If I don’t speak to you, I must at least speak to Redden and Railing.”