“It’s not all well, is it?” I knew well enough. I’d had glimpses of Kenrik in my dreams.

“I’m afraid not.”

Owein stepped behind my shoulder and squeezed it. The small gesture shivered peace through me.

“Did he enter Gorlassar?” I leaned forward a fraction, just enough not to disturb Ahnalyn. “Did he get help? Why doesn’t he come?”

“Yes,” Kelyn said. “And yes. But he cannot ever come.”

My stomach suddenly felt bitter. “So the High Emrys couldn’t help him.”

“He is forever changed,” Kelyn said. “Forever linked to Caedryn. If Kenrik came here, Caedryn would find you.”

“I understand.” So much sorrow filled me because I was the cause of Kenrik’s suffering. Until the day Kenrik died, he’d have no choice but to endure Caedryn’s twisted temperament.

“He’s a vagabond. He took a ship in the south. I’ll never see him again. Not as long as Caedryn’s alive. But Kenrik did ask me to do one thing for him.” Kelyn pulled a velvet pouch from his pocket, untied the strings, and slid an object into his palm. He held it out. “Kenrik wanted you to have this.”

Shimmering in his palm was a round pearlescent stone attached to a silver chain. A precious jewel I thought I’d never lay eyes on again.

My dragon stone.

I placed my palm over Kelyn’s. He clasped my hand and pressed the rock firmly between us.

I closed my eyes as they brimmed with tears, anticipating. Nervous. Seren… Seren?

With her voice came three words, which gave back everything—affection, family, and home—that I had been missing for so long.

I am here.

***

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