Gerrod struggled against the mad panic of Sirvak’s mind. The beast had lost control the second its mistress had departed with Melenea. Even as he forced the familiar back to a state of sanity, he himself could not help fearing for the young Zeree. Gerrod was not fond of her, but no one deserved the ministrations of the enchantress… save perhaps Reegan, who would have likely reveled in them.
Sirvak! Listen to me!
He had succeeded in convincing the familiar that an alliance with him was the best hope. The familiar’s fairly quick agreement had stemmed mostly from its knowledge of the Lady Melenea. It was a case of the enemy of my enemy… Whatever the reason, they had hoped to catch Sharissa at a time when she would be willing to listen. Gerrod himself felt bitter about the failure, for that had been strictly his own fault. It called to mind what his father had said earlier and he now began to question the truth of that reprimand.
In the end, it likely did not matter. Gerrod had failed at his task and he could not go back empty-handed. Now, Dru Zeree’s theoretical pathway to the shrouded realm was looking to be his only chance for survival. When the Lord Tezerenee hinted that he would leave a body behind, it was not a jest.
Failure… The familiar was much more calm now, but it still was in no condition to aid in planning. That would fall to Gerrod again.
Though he could not enter the chamber, he had spied upon its occupants for a short time. Sharissa had mentioned Dru’s earlier work involving the sightings and the binding forces of the two worlds. Perhaps there lay the key.
Sirvak! He treated the familiar as he would have treated one of the wyverns back in the clan’s domain. The winged creation responded as if its own master had summoned it.
Listen to me closely, he began, and we may yet save your master and mistress… not to mention myself. He added the last slowly, knowing it was all too true. This is what I think we must do…