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in the shack while Bardon and Kale made plans for their next move. Pat checked the gateway to see if it
would tolerate such a large group traveling through.
Glaringtonover pulled the curtains over the windows against the dawning sun and anyone who might
travel by and see the activity within the shack.
A horn blew in the distance.
Holt grinned at the young lady next to him. The Followers have discovered something out of place.
She nestled into his side, and he wrapped an arm around her.
Kale s eyes widened as she sought out her husband. Do you suppose this is the echo s daughter?
Bardon nodded.
I suppose that means there will be a heated search for her. Will that endanger the rest of these
people?
We shall have to get them to safety quickly.
What will happen at the sound of that alarm? asked Kale.
The citizens are required to assemble on the streets.
Glaringtonover and his men began to chortle, then let loose with loud guffaws.
What? asked Holt.
One of the tumanhofers managed to ask a question between his bouts of laughter. How long does it take
them to vacate the houses?
Under a minute. Tardiness is not tolerated by the echoes.
Glaringtonover and the other tumanhofers inched their way through the press of people. Lifting a barrel,
they revealed it had no bottom, but hid a small coil of rope. Taking hold of the end of the rope, the men
braced their feet, and together, tugged.
A creaking reverberated from beneath the shack. The rope yielded, and the men nearly fell over
backward. Crashing timbers exploded below, and dust poofed through the cracks in the wooden floor.
Dominoes, said Glaringtonover with a silly grin plastered on his usually humorless features.
The frame around them shook. Several women shrieked.
No cause for alarm, ladies, said Glaringtonover.
What s happening? asked one of the rescued women.
The tumanhofer leader smiled kindly at her. The people in the barricaded village are standing in the
streets. They re watching the houses collapse in on themselves as the supports in the tunnels tip over and
fall, knocking the next timber out of place. There s a special tunnel all the way around Paladise, directly
under the wall. That will be the last to sink into the ground.
One of the other tumanhofers draped an arm over his leader s shoulders. We got tired of sitting around,
waiting to free Holt when he got into trouble.
Holt frowned. Shouldn t that be if I got into trouble?
No one bothered to answer.
So, continued the tumanhofer leaning on Glaringtonover, we decided to have a bit of fun. He tilted his
head toward his boss. Our chief engineer came up with a truly amazing plan.
Inspired, said the two other tumanhofers.
Kale noticed a ruddy tinge come over Glaringtonover s cheeks.
She touched Bardon s arm. Look! He s blushing.
Wonders never cease.
35
MOVING ON
Lady Lyll and Sir Kemry reinforced the gateway on one side. Bardon, Kale, and Pat strengthened the
other by tightening the threads making up the edges. With the invisible frame fortified to accept the
transport of so many individuals, the rescued Followers passed through to Namee s castle. Mistress
Orcutt trundled them away to the many bedchambers, offering baths and fresh clothing. After washing to
rid themselves of the dirt and grime resulting from their underground escape, they donned normal clothing
that had none of the earmarks of the Follower sect s twisted thinking.
In the great hall, Mistress Orcutt spread a hearty breakfast.
They re so quiet, Bardon commented as he stood with Kale and Lady Lyll at the end of one serving
table.
A woman came in through the double doors and stood. She stared as if lost and trying to locate
something that made sense.
Bardon went to her, gently guided her to the sideboard, and handed her a plate. May I get you a drink?
Wizard Namee has provided hot tea and cold juice. What would you like?
Tea, she whispered.
The woman stood with the empty plate in her hand, and her eyes drifted over the many delicacies on the
table. After a moment, Lady Lyll came around to the front and gently took the dish.
Let me help you. She picked up tongs and began to pile on small squares of light pastries filled with jam
and crushed nuts. Some fruit? she asked and, when the woman nodded, added cut-up bites of green,
yellow, red, and orange melons.
Lady Lyll escorted the woman to a table. Bardon followed with tea.
What s going on? Bardon asked as they moved back to the table where Kale served the next victim of
the Followers.
They re dazed. The depth of the persuasion used must have been extreme. Bringing these people under
the authority of the echoes damaged the beautiful souls Wulder gave them.
Bardon looked around the room to where nine minor dragons perched, watching the people. The citizens
of Paladise were skittish of the tiny creatures. Holt had said dragons had been scorned, and the wary
eyes of these guests supported that idea. The friendly dragons held back, confused at the odd reception.
Most were unhappy with the situation. Tieto is as depressed as the Followers are.
He sees their shattered auras. Lyll patted Bardon s arm. But Tieto also reports that the dent he saw in
Wizard Namee s colors is completely restored. We shall work to see these people rejuvenated. It is not
Wulder s desire for them to be in pain.
What happened to Namee?
I can tell you that.
Bardon turned at the sound of the wizard s voice. I was curious about those Followers. Invited them
into my home. There were a number of them present at our ball. Some of their arguments were
persuasive. I suppose that was the dent your Tieto saw. He grinned at Bardon and winked at Lyll.
Even an old man can be lead astray.
He sighed. Fortunately, Wulder sends reminders. When a servant brought me the body of a small
dragon, no bigger than a buzz-bird, apprehension niggled at my comfortable tranquility. The servant
described the onslaught of the black dragons, and I saw my error.
How is that, sir? asked Bardon.
One tiny creature with a little bit of poison can cause a small wound. But it weakens the body. A horde
of the beasts wears down the resistance and ultimately kills.
Namee sighed again and rubbed his hand across his chin. My curiosity had led me to listen to the
Followers, even though I detected a dart of impurity, a prick of untruth, a jab of heresy. Had I continued
to entertain their false representation of Wulder, I might have succumbed.
He looked around the room at his solemn and weary guests. I escaped. They did not. We must give
them health, good cheer, and hope.
The wizard wandered off to mingle with his visitors.
So much sadness, commented Lyll. I m glad Namee avoided this downfall. When a leader follows the
wrong path, so many people suffer.
Bardon poured a cup of tea and handed it to her. Mikkai, on the other hand, is delighted.
Why is that?
The destruction of one of the Paladise villages. He poured a cup for himself. He considers these new
cities to be blemishes on the countryside because they are not on his maps.
Lyll laughed, then turned serious eyes toward her son-in-law. Have you noticed your wife s figure this
morning?
Bardon searched the room and found Kale serving a couple at a far table. Her silhouette showed a slight
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