Teri McLaren
As Frijan embraced her father, Cheyne turned and looked behind him into the forest, remembering his last words to [avin, an unbearable feeling of sadness overwhelming him. He jerked his head back suddenly. No. / will not look back, he thought, setting his jaw.
Claria studied his bitter expression closely, but said nothing, her thoughts interrupted as Og drew closer, a look of terror on his face.
"Did you hear him? He said Womba escaped with him. That means she's on her way here. We have to leave as soon as we can and go on toward the mountains," he whispered to them both.
"Why? There are enemies still on our trail, we're all tired, we need more suitable clothing, I need a chance to think, and before we try for the Sarrazan forest, we have to get some provisions," said Cheyne. "Unless, of course, you can sing all those things out of the air for us right now, Og." He winked. "But maybe that's not a good idea-we might see Womba even sooner…"
Og did appreciate Cheyne's attempt at humor.
But Wiggulf and Frijan heard Claria laugh and moved to join them.
"What about this one? Did he attack you?" said Wiggulf, pointing to Yob, who had been lying all this time almost hidden upon the forest floor. The color had completely drained from the big ore's face, and he was still trembling violently.
"No, Father. I found him half-drowned by the sea. He was to help with your ransom. I cut him with a razorclam to make him cooperate. He'll die soon, I think. We can leave him here; it's far enough away from the lodge. The corbies will take him inside a day or two," Frijan replied.
Wiggulf met his daughter's eyes, a look of surprise and disappointment clouding his face. "My child, the terrible burden of my absence has made you hard. No, Frijan, we cannot let him die. There is no need. He deserves life as much as any of us."
The old selkie bent over the ore and examined the