ELRETH

Tarkyn wolfed down a sandwich and some fruit while they waited for the rest of the security council and the elders to arrive. Elreth caught up quickly with Lhern to confirm that the Portal was under guard. She noticed that Huncer was almost the last to arrive, and didn't seek her out. Things felt suddenly uneasy between them. She prayed it was only a bad day, or Huncer—who had always been a little bit reserved—was just feeling the need to keep her distance emotionally while these very important decisions were made.

Elreth suddenly realized she'd barely seen Gwyn since they got back from their honeymoon. She almost asked Huncer, but just then, Lhern called everyone to pay attention and Tarkyn swallowed the last of his meal, brushing crumbs off his leathers as he stood to address them.

Next to her, Aaryn was tense and silent. She was uneasy about him as well. But at least with Aaryn she understood why.

She'd tucked the lower half of her blouse in to keep it closed, and prayed no one noticed the missing buttons or frayed thread. Not that the Anima would care, exactly, but those that knew her personally would likely take the opportunity to tease, and she didn't feel like facing that in front of the security council.

While two servants brought in trays of food and set about distributing plates and drinks, Lhern spoke first, his face stern.

"What did you discover today from the disformed who defied orders?

"

Around them, low murmurs made the room hum as different elders spoke to the servants about what they wanted on their plates. It wasn't generally done to bring the meal to the councils like this, at least, not when there wasn't a very time-urgent issue. And usually the councils met separately. But Elreth's goal was first to make sure that they hadn't missed any security breaches, and that they didn't have to follow up with the elders council if there were any important decisions to be made. And secondly, she hoped that she and Aaryn might get back to the cave at a decent hour tonight.

And she was Queen, dammit. Surely she could make things work in a way that suited her once in a while? Besides, if this worked and they were able to make their decisions more quickly, maybe there was an argument for combining the councils on a more regular basis.

Tarkyn rubbed his hands together and addressed both councils together.

"Hholdyn returned to the Tree City earlier today. He did not immediately report to myself or Tobe—in fact, he'd made efforts to avoid notice from the Sentries and Patrols as he re-entered the region. He was mostly successful, but one of our guards on the way to change shifts caught sight of him disappearing into the cave on the northwestern side of the City where the disformed often congregate. He called in Tobe, and we sent in a team to get him.

"He was arrested and bound for defying the orders of the guard, but there was no violence. He argued his case when we took him, and many of the disformed were concerned. But there was no physical conflict.

"We removed him to one of the storage trees on the eastern boundary. We checked him for injuries or illness. But he was healthy. Then we asked him to describe what he thought he'd found.

"We went over this ground with him several times today and his story did not change. I am inclined to believe that it is true—at least, that he believes it. But if so, we have a greater mystery on our hands that we realized,

" Tarkyn said ominously.

Elreth frowned. What had Hholdyn found?

"The male claims that he could follow the trail the human left—not by scent, at least not initially. The reason we hadn't continued tracking from the encampment was because the trail petered out. We'd intended to go back with a couple others to make a wider sweep and see if we could pick it back up. But Hholdyn defied orders and left the hierarchy, insisting that he could follow the trail.

"He claims humans leave trails not just of scent, but of their travels, in ways that Anima don't. He believes he followed this trail—a single human, in his opinion—and at times was able to find the scent trail again, as well.

"There were two important things that he found. The first was a cave, far to the north, just one rise from the Dragonmouth Canyon. That was, he said, the first place the trail took him.

"Then he followed her—he believes the human is female, though he can't be definitive—to the west, to the Great Plains, and ultimately to the edge of the dead sands where, he claims, the trail ended.

"

"Ended?

"

Tarkyn nodded.

"This is the point that we covered many times. His claim is… interesting. While he could apparently follow the trail through many miles of WildWood and across the grasses, he claims that just feet from where the grasses give way to sand, the scent trail—which was faint—simply stopped. That he circled for half-a-mile in every direction, and never found it.

"Her tracks entered the sand. There was a scuffle, or some kind of disruption—perhaps she stood there long enough to step around a great deal. But he insists the footsteps led only in one direction, then just… ended. And with them, the scent trail, which was still evident at that point.

"

The entire council frowned and looked at each other, while Tarkyn waited for their response.

"Surely he just lost the trail—or the sun burned it out?

"

"It's possible, if there was a wind-storm on the sands, that the scent trail was obliterated. But if what he describes is accurate—the tracks on the sand, and none leading away—it seems unlikely. That's why we need to attend these spots he says he's discovered, to see if his description is accurate.

"

Elreth shifted in her seat. A scent trail that just… stopped? She was no tracker, but she could follow those she knew. A scent trail didn't generally just end unless the subject entered the water—and even then there could be traces nearby if they stayed near the banks.

But there was no water in the desert. So that wasn't possible.

Tarkyn looked uncomfortable. He kept frowning and looking at his hands, shifting his weight and holding onto his belt—a rare sign that he was nervous.

While the councilors spoke quietly to each other, debating how this might be possible, Elreth frowned at Tarkyn, then finally spoke up.

"What aren't you telling us, Tarkyn?

"

He looked at her, startled, then sighed.. When he spoke, it was with great reluctance.