Return of the Sorceress (31 page)

“I doubt it,” Davyn said. He thought for a moment. “Then again, Maddoc never has been one to take defeat lightly. He’ll want revenge against Asvoria, if nothing else.” Davyn could feel the first faint stirrings of new hope being born within him.

“Whatever you all decide, you can count me out,” Ayanti said. “I’m no warrior. I’m a caretaker of animals. And right now there’s a very large, very sick animal in the courtyard who needs my help. Now I’m going to go check on Raedon.”

Ayanti gave Davyn a smile before turning and clopping out of the study.

Davyn’s friends looked at him expectantly.

He knew they were waiting for him to make the final decision. Like it or not, he was their leader. But after everything that had happened tonight, could he find the strength to lead them once again?

He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then released it.

“All right. The first thing we need to do is find out all that we can about Asvoria. Maddoc spent years collecting information about her, and it’s likely that he keeps it here in his study. So let’s start looking.”

Catriona, Elidor, and Sindri grinned at Davyn.

“Right away, boss!” Catriona said. She lit several more candles and the three of them began to search through the books and papers that filled Maddoc’s study.

Davyn was mildly surprised to discover that he didn’t mind being called boss this time. He looked up at the tapestry of Asvoria.

“Don’t worry, Nearra,” he whispered. “We’ll come for you. And this time, we won’t fail, no matter what.”