into the shadows of the chamber, still hidden but for the light that sparkled from his silver cloakpin.
"Ah, Naruq. We have been looking for you," said the Treefather, unperturbed. "It seems you have found employment outside the colony."
"And your skills are yet sharp, ancient one. But not as sharp as mine. What about it, digger? The girl for the totem?"
"I don't think so, Naruq."
"Too bad, since that beast Riolla employs seems hardly able to keep his hands off her. Appears he has some kind of professional score to settle with her. And with you." Naruq chuckled. "Care to think again?"
Cheyne looked helplessly at the Treefather, who only nodded and smiled.
"You must do what you must," said Luquin, his long finger gently tapping the book. There is more, said his eyes.
"Then I will set the terms," said Cheyne. "You will meet us at the Chimes before dark, alone. When I see the girl is well and unharmed, I will give you the key."
Naruq cocked a silver brow at him and laughed. "We will be there." He stepped backward, seeming to melt into the shadows.
"Are you sunstruck, man?" shouted Og.
"No, I am trying to buy some time to think of a way to bring Claria to safety without giving him the key to the Clock, Og," replied Cheyne.
The Treefather eyed Cheyne curiously. "There is more here that you should know. Naruq is very bright and a talented woodsman, but he has never learned to consider the entire forest before he chooses his trail. Here is the rest of what the Collector wrote. 'The beast is pure evil, a thing of terrible beauty and the bringer of terrible fear. I have looked upon it and lived, and that is a horrible blessing. I have put it to sleep with a common spell, amplified by my brothers in the Circle. It is all we could do…'"
For a long time, the Treefather read to Cheyne and