Page 44 of Ceridor

Where the heavens lay, and where the children play,

'Neath the forest's gaze, those blessed sower's days,

And in the starry night, until the morning light,

Dreams Johnny Appleseed, Johnny Appleseed!

Peter grabbed my arm. "It's Awariye!"

The windows were open and we leaned out. A beautiful man around our age waved up at us. Next to him stood an enormous warrior clearly serving as a bodyguard, but as I took in his features I recognized them from two years ago.

"You're Igor," I said.

That got his attention. His dark brows rose and he blinked at me, crossing his arms. Maybe he didn't remember me but that was fine.

"Let's head downstairs," said Peter.

We whipped around to find Ceridor right behind us, a finger to his lips. "Discuss nothing while we're here. Wait till we get on the road."

"Okay," I promised.

We grabbed our packed bags and left the monastery as a group of seven: myself and my partner; Corbi, Marit and Peter; Awariye and Igor.

We made it through the magical barrier and past the village, then started climbing into the mountains. The golden sun slanted through the trees as we entered the deep forest. Ceridor nodded back at me that I could speak now, and Awariye bumped shoulders with him in jest.

Immediately, I turned to Igor who was walking behind Awariye. "I'm so sorry to hear about Kristoff. Two years ago, you and he held me in a tent for a bit when Ulbrecht took West Danube."

Igor's hazel eyes widened and he finally recognized me. "Prince Ott."

"Just Johann now," I corrected.

"Johann then," he said. His eyes were no longer aggrieved as I might have imagined at my mention of his former lover and shield mate. Instead his gaze settled on Awariye and his expression changed to calm and contentment.

"Kristoff guarded my back in battle," he said. "His spirit stayed a while to make sure I wasn't leaving myself unguarded before he moved on."

"I am going to the capital after this, to take the High King up on his offer to let me train and fight with his men," I said. "If you still need someone at your back, then I will prove myself."

He clapped a hand on my shoulder and gave me a nod. "Good. Let's see what you can do."

The path narrowed and we fell silent as we got into single file, but Awariye's cheerful voice had me looking up. "Bello!"

Suddenly an enormous dog bounded right into our group. He jumped on Peter, slobbering in his face, then tried to do the same to the rest of us, but by then we were ready. We encircled him with our hands out so he couldn't pounce on us or knock us over. Eventually he calmed down enough from our entreaties of "Easy boy, easy" that I was able to get a good look at him: as large as a Great Dane but with such a wrinkled face he surely was mixed with something else.

Bello jumped into my arms. I hugged the big goof and we became instant friends.

"He was waiting in the forest for us?" I asked once Bello bounded ahead on the path.

Ceridor chuckled, his beautiful blue eyes twinkling. "We're going to where he is."

That sounded secret enough that I held back from asking for more. Ceridor had explained to me before we arrived at the Diana Monastery that Wren—the monk who was the current keeper of the lanterns—was planning to meet us on the summer solstice, and that Awariye and Igor would come with him. We had crossed now back into Danubian territory, and with the arrival of the dog we were surely going to Wren.

Then a soft voice drifted down the path. "Hush, Bello. You make so much noise, honey."

A small castle ruin appeared among the trees, and at the top of the path stood a hooded man bent over and loving on his dog, every bit the image of a wizard secluded away in the forest.

Igor circled the ruin while the rest of us came up to the wizard, who pulled his hood back to reveal he wasn't much older than I was. He had floppy light brown hair and tan skin, but what arrested me was a strange multicolored flicker I caught in his eyes. I blinked, but it was still there, so I couldn't be imagining it.

"This is Johann," said Ceridor.

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