Kate struggled to focus on the soft voice filtering into the darkened chamber.

  “Kate, please wake up. It’s me, Saray.”

  “I can’t see the light,” Kate replied feebly. “Where are you?”

  “Follow my voice . . . There, you should see the star on my door now.”

  Kate looked around the chamber. The star on the anteroom door where Corvan had been before he left to get the scepter, flickered under the black covering.

  “I found a way to keep both the light and the star from my anteroom dark until I am sure TaKalian is not in the chamber with you,” Saray said. “I must be sure he does not find out I am still alive, at least not yet.”

  “He was here earlier but I don’t think he will return until Corvan shows up with the scepter. He is growing weaker, and the stairs are too much for him. Would this be a good time for Kael to attack Dubok Kholm,” Kate’s voice faltered, “and rescue me?”

  “Dear Kate, I am so sorry this is taking so long, but I am not sure even sure that Neera has made it through to Kael yet.”

  “The old man said I am going to die because Corvan won’t return on time and the medallion’s power is fading. I think he is right as I am so very tired. I don’t even have the energy be afraid. I just want to sleep, and I don’t really care if I wake up again.”

  “Don’t give up Kate,” Saray urged. “Listen to me carefully. There has been a change of plans. We don’t need to wait for Kael as Corvan may be coming to the Kholm instead.”

  “He’s here?” Speaking the words ignited a spark of warmth within Kate. He was coming back after all and had not abandoned her.

  “Not just yet and he won’t be coming through one of the anterooms but through the city itself. He is coming to confront TaKalian in person.”

  Kate’s hopes faded. “Why would he do that? We agreed that we should not give the old man what he wants, that it would be better to keep him weak so Kael could defeat him. Didn’t you say that was the only way we could defeat TaKalian?”

  “I thought that was best at first but I afraid I didn’t count on TaKalian using up the medallion’s power so quickly. That man can’t get past his bitterness and doesn’t care if you die while he waits for Corvan to bring him the scepter. I’m not even sure why he wants it so badly. The role of the scepter in the chamber was to ensure that justice was considered in all decisions, but justice is not something TaKalian can actually use. Whatever he is planning it certainly won’t be good for anyone else.”

  “Did you tell Corvan I was dying?” Kate asked, closing her eyes. “Is that why he didn’t wait for Kael to attack?”

  “I told him that you are not doing well and that you were fading away. He deserves to know the truth. We don’t want to become like TaKalian and withhold information so we can manipulate others. After I told him about you, he decided to take matters into his own hands and left Molakar while I was busy in my garden. He took the map for the passage from Kadir down to the Kholm, so I am certain he plans to confront TaKalian in person. He must believe that without the chamber to shield TaKalian and with the old man’s weakened state, he will be able to take the master medallion and set you free from the chamber.”

  “I would like to see him again,” Kate whispered. “Will he get here soon? I don’t know how long . . .”

  “He will be there as soon as he can, dearest Kate, but let’s not say any more about Corvan in this place. I don’t trust TaKalian or his tarken spies. Have you seen any more of his rodents in the chamber?”

  “I haven’t noticed any since the broken door was covered with the black cloth.”

  “That’s good to know. Those beasts have been raised by the old man to gather information and to protect him. I have heard tell. . .” Her voice trailed off into silence.

  “Grandmother, if Corvan gives the old man the scepter in exchange for the medallion, will I leave the chamber immediately?”

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  It was a moment before Saray spoke. “I don’t know for certain if Corvan found his mother at the library or if she even gave him the scepter. Perhaps he means to simply overpower the old man and take the medallion away. If he did that, TaKalian would truly be too weak to climb he stairs after him. Regardless of his plan, if he arrives in the chamber, you must immediately make your way over to your anteroom be ready to leave. He likely won’t be able to help you other than to give you the master medallion back so you can leave. To be honest, Kate, I am not really sure how that all works. TaKalian has broken all the rules of the chamber. That is one more reason why we need to get you out of here before it fails entirely.”

  “If I take the master medallion from him and leave here, Corvan can’t come back with me, can he?”

  “Not through your anteroom. He will need to find his way back from Dubok on his own.”

  Kate shook her head. “His grandfather will never let him leave here. He told me that Corvan will either join with him or he will be trapped in the chamber and left here to die.”

  “Let’s hope that’s just an old man bragging. I did not intend for Corvan to go alone and not without my guiding him in what to say to TaKalian. If he is wise, he will make a deal with the old man that allows him to go free as well. TaKalian has a fear that the scepter, medallion, and hammer will turn against him if he does not follow through on his vows, just like the hammer did against his Watcher in Kadir. Corvan can use that fear to his advantage, but I did not get a chance to tell him that before he and Gavyn left.”

  “I don’t want Corvan to end up trapped here instead of me. I would rather it be me instead of him.”

  “But if you do not accept the master medallion and leave, then you both with be trapped in the chamber and TaKalian will use you to force Corvan to serve him. Promise me Kate, if Corvan shows up, you will take the medallion and leave as quickly as possible. Don’t forget that if Corvan gets trapped in the chamber, Kael and Neera will be on their way and in turn we will rescue Corvan.”

  “Will I be able to talk to Corvan before I go?”

  “I’m not certain but make sure you don’t speak if TaKalian is in the chamber with you. You must not give him any information about Kael or Neera or the rest of the Cor. TaKalian’s long life has made him extremely arrogant. He believes he has enough time to wait for a different solution to come his way. Its only he finally realizes he is out of time he will falter and fade away.”

  “TaKalian says he wants Corvan to join him to rule the Cor. Could that be the deal Corvan will make if he does not have the scepter with him to trade? Do you think he will give up his freedom to serve TaKalian so I can be set free? If we leave Corvan here, would he eventually choose to join his grandfather in return for more of the . . .” Her voice faltered.

  “It alright, Corvan has told me about eating lumien seeds and I am working through that problem with him.”

  Relief washed over Kate, not only from no longer needing to keep Corvan’s using the seeds a secret but mostly because now there was someone older and wiser than herself to help him get past his desire for the seeds. Everyone else in the Cor seemed to hate him for what he had done but Saray was like his own Grandmother. If anyone could help him quit for good, it would be her.

  “Are you alright, Kate?” Saray asked gently.

  “I’m just glad he told you. He needs help. Sometimes, when he came to the chamber, he was dirty and barely dressed. His face and tongue were all blue and I didn’t even recognize him. It scared me.”

  “And so it should. I won’t lie to you, dear. An addiction to the lumien seeds is a terrible curse and one that is next to impossible to overcome. To move on from that place requires a lot of support. From here on, Corvan must always have someone beside him to confide in when the cravings return. Between the two of us I know we can help him, and also support each other.”

  “Thank you, grandmother. That gives me much more hope. I was so worried that TaKalian would just offer him all the seeds he could ever want and that Corvan would leave me for good.”

  “You should have told me.” Saray said firmly. “As a person who is helping another get free from the desire for seeds you also must have others to be honest with or you will run into your own troubles. I will help you to know when it is best to stay close to Corvan and help him but also when you might need to pull back to be kind to yourself. These situations can involve some very difficult choices.”

  “I do love him, and I don’t ever want to have to leave him, but if he was becoming like his grandfather, I would have no choice.”

  “For now, let’s focus on the positive side of things. Corvan cares for you and he wants to set you free. That is why he left Molakar without telling me he was going. He was worried I would talk him out of it. If I can’t make him do what I want, I don’t think TaKalian will be able to either.”

  Kate sighed. “When you are trapped in here, you start to lose hope and it’s easier to be manipulated or lied to.”

  “If he manages to keep Corvan there after you leave, we will have the master medallion. Corvan’s love and compassion will re-energize it and we can come visit him and we will find another way to set him free.”

  “Couldn’t we come right back and take him out of here?”

  “Not unless he had a medallion of his and was there in his sleep. With his new plan, he will be there in person and that limits our choices.”

  Kate fell silent as a fresh wave of exhaustion swept over her.

  “You must try to keep your hopes up Kate. We can do this together.”

  Saray continued to talk but Kate found herself unable to concentrate and the voice faded away.