The eastern side of town, withered or blighted, slouched beside the Berwem.  The northern side grew wild and overlarge, and the west was vibrant and green, yet fruitless.


    the younger.  You invited me here.”


    the seal is loosening?”


    late.”


    why, yet?  It’s been dozens???—??no, hundreds of gyras.  You’ve stopped sending me updates.”


    Hundreds?


    why.”  The alchemist flicked his tongue.  “And yet, you say the seal is loosening.  Pray tell what that means.”


    now. My strength is tied and Gwymr/Frina is in danger.  I have to be there to protect it.”


    know this.  I shouldn’t have to tell you again.”


    rot.”


    incident this morning, I was split.  On one fork I could not dream any of that violence from the little fledgling, who would try to pick me fruits before they ripened.  On the other it sounded just like the sort of strange turn her character has begun taking.”


    do with it.  She’s changing, Rhyfel.”


    I know and have not taught her.  Mixtures I do not know.  Someone is teaching her, and I can think of a single dragon in the cliffs who knows more alchemy than I do.”


    loosening the seal means, Rhyfel.”


    you are not the only one who could repair it.”


    near the fires.”


    win?” Rhyfel watched the alchemist not react.  “What’s happened to you, old friend?”


    free, Ushra?”


    hope.”


    up to while you were out touring the plains.”  Rhyfel had a certain high tone of voice that had Adwyn tightening his tail and digging into the gravel.  He was grinning quite savagely.


    the younger.  Adwyn.”  He took now to be time to turn and measure his way back in the starry black of the night, farewells coming after him.


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    Moments like now, together with that scarlet drake under the bright skirmboard sky, whether upon the rooftops or streets, had always seemed to limn life with some private chroma.  He had not reflected on it, yet all the same these instants had always felt quietly significant to him, as of some visual seed that a painter would grow into a piece to be remembered for a long time.  Adwyn sighed.


    When did you go to Dyfnder?”


    always has a way of reaching him.”


    if only that were all it took.


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    Adwyn left the scarlet drake without saying goodbye, fearing it would sound final.


    right.


    us bring it equilibrium.”


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    Somewhere in the distant dark Adwyn heard an explosive smash.  It would sound mighty were it near.  Winging over the faintly scented air of the west side, it came anonymous, pathetic.


    thought of Hinte.


    was too late.


    aha!, he thought, of course.  He did smirk at his luck, though.


    know.  Haune had had another child.  And she had been so scared.”


    Dwylla.  I had failed him.  Ushra had gone to go find???—??something, out in the plains.  Rhyfel had left for Dyfnder to fight the spiders.  I was the one who remained, who should have remained, should have saved Dwylla from his madness.”


    The Return of Dwylla.


    we were both right, and wanted to laugh.


    worried, to know what you can do to this town with just a pouch full of electrum.”


    Arrogant.”


    Should reign above all.”


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    Adwyn had waited for something profound to light the silence.


    screeched.


    Qyer!”


    know. He hates to keep me informed of things.  He had asked me about magical energy sources, not long before, so take your hint from that.”


    Was there design besides interrupting our plans?”


    will, shortly.”


    * * *