“Stop struggling!”
“If I get my hands free, you’re going to wish you were never born!” Dack shouted as he flailed around on the ground, trying to gain some leverage. Strong arms from behind and the darkness of the night concealed his opponent from his sight.
“When you stop, I’ll stop.”
“And I can trust you because…” Dack asked, hoping it was only a matter of time before he would break free.
“Fine,” the creature said as it released its grip quickly, ending the conflict. “Do you trust me now?”
Dack stood up and tried moving away to put some distance between the two of them. “No, I don’t trust you, especially since I have no idea who you are!”
“We were never formally introduced.” The creature laughed.
“How did you escape?” Dack asked, suddenly realizing who he was facing.
“If you pull on a chain for twenty years, it is bound to break eventually. Most of those years in my weakened condition probably did no good, but you helped heal me,” the creature said, thumping its chest.
“Why are you hiding in the woods outside Theterm’s keep?”
“I figured you would show up here eventually, and I was right.”
Dack rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around the forest. “What do you want?”
“I want what I asked of you before, to be sent home, although I’m not sure if that’s wise with Lucan coming,” the creature said as it cautiously moved toward the stream. “You will need my help.” It bent down and splashed water onto its face.
“Lucan’s dead,” Dack said sternly.
The creature laughed as it slowly stood and turned to face Dack. “Theterm tell you that?”
“Yes.”
“And you believed him?” it asked, a grin spreading widely across its face.
“Yes.”
“Good little boy believes everything his father tells him,” the creature said as it stepped forward and grabbed Dack abruptly. “He’s lying to you. He’s been lying all of the time he’s been on this island. Didn’t you ever sense him?”
Dack stepped back as he pushed the creature away. “What are you talking about?”
“Did you ever get a feeling you knew where Theterm was and you were right?”
When Dack said nothing, the creature continued. “How about Lucan?”
“Yes,” he said faintly. “Once. I blacked out.” He remembered the feelings of intense rage and pain. “I’ve had the answers all along.”
“Lucan is still very far away, but I’m sure he will find his way home soon enough.”
“How?” Dack demanded.
“By following the Way,” the creature answered. “Don’t you know any of this?”
“No,” Dack said reluctantly.
“When a Whisperer of Lore opens a Way, others know. Theterm could tell when Lucan was opening it, but he stopped checking up on him after the first few times. It’s like a beacon that can guide you home.”
“If that’s true, then I just lit the biggest fire ever,” Dack said sadly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Theterm told me to open a Way that I couldn’t fully control. I used it and killed the kings when they tried to betray me. I’ve even managed to help Lucan,” Dack said softly.
“There is still plenty of time. I have a plan, but you can’t let Theterm know about it,” the creature said, trying to console Dack.
“You want me to lie to Theterm? Isn’t that a little hypocritical?”
“It won’t be lying if I don’t tell you.” The creature grinned.
“I guess not, but what do you need me to do?”
“Find out as much as you can about the Ways. There has to be much more that Theterm hasn’t told you, but I know he told Lucan. You’ll just have to trust me when I tell you now that I am on your side. When this is over, I would like to go home, if you can find a way.
“Until we meet again,” the creature said as it moved silently into the shadows of the forest.