Days passed, and, eventually, Aunt Pan got her way. On their departure day, a cloudy gray sky was overhead. As Ronald and Relma packed their things, Relma halted. "Well, this is it?" she said.

"What is?" asked Ronald.

"Well, I mean, I've always wondered what Gel Carn, the castle, looked like," said Relma. "And now I'm finally getting the chance to see it."

"Speak for yourself," said Ronald. "I don't much want to go."

"Oh, come on, it'll be an adventure," said Relma.

"But I won't be getting back for years and years," said Ronald. "It feels like we barely had time to say goodbye to anyone before they pulled us off into the blue. And I'll be completely out of place among castle folk."

"You don't know that," said Relma. "Aren and Aunt Pan think you'll do fine."

"Your Aunt Pan pulled us off because she didn't trust me not to blab," said Ronald with a sigh. "She doesn't actually think I'll manage."

Relma put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll both manage Ronald."

They finished packing and went out to meet Aren. Aunt Pan was nowhere to be found. She'd left the previous night on some business of her own.

"Hasn't Aunt Pan gotten back yet?" asked Relma.

"I'm afraid she'll have to meet us on the road," said Aren. "Come, we'll get underway at once."

They left behind the farm, and Relma gave a final glance back at her old home. Then she turned and walked onward. Yes, she was leaving behind the familiar, but she was going toward the new. That enthusiasm kept her walking. Ronald seemed far more conflicted.

Something strange began to happen as they walked. Relma realized she didn't regret leaving at all. Nor had she been looking forward to leaving. She hadn't been excited or sad. It was a bit strange.

Relma had always known she wasn't like other people. She didn't see things the same way. Leaving everything she'd known behind her was just... mundane somehow. As if she'd always known she'd leave the place behind and hadn't gotten attached.

She wondered if she'd ever think of it again.

Then a question occurred to her. She approached Aren. "Aren, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course, dear girl," said Aren.

"What was Anoa the Bright like?" asked Relma.

Aren considered it. "Magnificent. But also pitiful."

Relma blinked. That didn't sound at all like the Anoa she'd met. "What do you mean?"

"How shall I put this?" asked Aren, looking at the sky. "Some men become great because they succeed in performing great deeds. Others become great because they are given no choice but to achieve them. Anoa was a bit of both.

"He didn't want to be a King, but he did his best. And he did an excellent job for a while. He united all the feuding chieftains and established Harlenor United. The trouble was that bad things just kept happening to him. Finally, toward the end of his reign, he started to fall to pieces.

"It was a mercy; it ended there, actually."

"When he ascended into heaven, you mean?" asked Relma.

"Yes," said Aren.

Aren had been there. From the way Aren said that, though, Relma wondered if that was what really happened. His gaze had gone distant, and his expression dark.

"What's wrong?"

"His reign didn't end very happily," said Aren. "The beginnings of Harlenor are a sad story for many reasons. However, it was after Anoa the Bright that the golden age began. He laid the foundations on which his descendants built your legacy.

"Where is your aunt? She should have been here by now?"

At that moment, a snowy white owl landed on the road before them. It suddenly changed shape and shifted into the form of Aunt Pan.

"I'm here, Father," said Pan.

"Pandora, what took you so long?" asked Aren.

"I had to say a few goodbyes in the village. And get a few things for the journey," said Pan. "Come, we'd best move quickly."

So they walked. For the whole day, they walked under the trees, and as they did, Relma once again wondered why it didn't excite her. Several times they passed travelers on the road. Finally, the sky began to go dark above them. Aunt Pan came and went as an owl several times throughout this period.

Eventually, Aren halted in a clearing when the light started to die. "We'll stop here for the night. But, Relma, I think I had best start teaching you to read. Ronald, you may as well learn too if you don't know already."

"I already know my letters," said Ronald. "Father taught me."

"Well, then you can help Relma learn hers," said Aren. "I don't know what your aunt was thinking."

"Is she really my aunt?" asked Relma.

"In a very indirect fashion, yes," said Aren. "Another daughter of mine married one of Anoa the Bright's descendants. One of the benefits of immortality is that you have the chance to see how things turn out. Usually, long after, the ones' who set things in motion have moved on."

"Moved on?" asked Relma.

"Yes. Reincarnation happens," said Aren. "People die and come back in one form or another, and I often meet them again. For example, I meet my daughter every so often and see how she is doing. Though she usually doesn't remember me."

"How did you become immortal?" asked Ronald.

"It was a gift bestowed on my daughter and me by Elranor in return for extended service. We were permitted to drink of the Grail of Immortality," said Aren. "That story is also very long; you won't hear it from me tonight. Now let's begin."

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Learning to read was as dull as it sounded. Aren brought out books, and Relma had to memorize things. Letters and concepts like sentences and such. It was incredibly tedious, and Ronald was of little help.

As it turned out, Aren wasn't a very good teacher, and he seemed to know it.

"I think we'd better leave the rest to your Aunt," he said. "I've never been good at teaching this sort of thing. Teaching magic is easy. You just instruct someone on the basics and let them build themselves up with practice.

"Reading and writing are more difficult. And I hate the New Harlenorian language."

"Why?" asked Relma.

"Because it is obscenely overcomplicated," said Aren. "As much as I hate Baltoth, he understands good sense. The written languages he created are simple, with each letter used for a single sound.

"You'd never catch Calishans using three separate letter combinations for one sound."

"Why is New Harlenorian so complicated?" asked Relma.

"Because it isn't a single language," said Aren. "It's a misshapen mass sewn together from the corpses of older, better languages. Then resurrected with dark magic. It's got elements of Elvish, Dwarvish, Old Harlenorian, Giant, and others. I've never been able to grasp it fully, to be honest. Tuor always was..." He trailed off.

"Who was Tuor?" asked Relma.

"An old apprentice of mine," said Gail. "He was far too orderly for his own good. It led him down a dark path."

Tuor was the one who killed her parents. But Relma couldn't ask directly about that. Not without revealing she'd met Anoa.

"What path?" asked Ronald.

"He had no appreciation for freedom," said Gail. "He came to regard the Harlenorian Nations with contempt. Then, rather than wait for Harlenor Reunited, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

"He joined with Baltoth. And did many unforgivable things in his service."

Relma nodded.

Then suddenly, figures came out of the woods. They were tall and burly men wearing furs, and they carried weapons. Gail arose in a moment and threw back his cloak. As he did so, they halted.

"Step aside, old man," said one of the men.

"I think not," said Gail. "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

"You don't need to know that." said the man, brandishing his weapon. "You need to know that we're taking the girl with us."

"You might want to reconsider this, good sir," said Gail. "I'm in no mood to humor thugs."

"And I'm in no mood to humor idiots," said the thug. "Take 'em!"

He ran forward and swung his axe. At that moment, Ronald rushed forward, holding a short blade in his hand. "Aren!"

"Ronald, get back, you fool!" cried Aren.

The sword was knocked from Ronald's hand in a moment, and he was thrown down. The thugs came forward toward them. Gail raised a hand, and green light blazed within his palm.

And then, from around the road, there came an unruly howling. A halfling upon a massive wolf came riding. He wore heavy armor that covered his whole body, and a lance was in his hand.

"Gel Carn! Gel Carn!" he roared.

"Leg it, it's Frederick." cried a bandit.

They scattered and made a run for it. One of them was too slow, and he got the lance to the back. It pierced through him and was driven through his body. Frederick halted his charge and drew out the lance as the rest of them left.

"Sir Frederick, your timing is impeccable," said Gail.

"I had words of bandits taking to the roads," said Frederick, dismounting from his wolf. "I came to hunt them down. Though I did not think to complete my other mission so quickly."

"What mission?" asked Gail.

"I bear a message from the Steward Benarus," said Frederick. He wishes to speak with you immediately, having heard you have arrived in Gel Carn."

"What about?" asked Gail.

"The wolf demon Telix has entered the forests near us," said Frederick. "He and his brood have been devouring the flocks of the shepherds and making off with young maidens. Worse still, they've allied with the black dragon Wrynncurth."

Gail sighed. "Telix again? I knew he had changed his haunts. I did not know he was coming here."

"Who is Telix?" asked Relma.

"The result of Baltoth's union with a wolf spirit. One made while passing through Seathorius," said Gail. "He stealth wanders from forest to forest and steals the shepherds' flocks. I've been meaning to put an end to him for some years, but he always slips away."

"Still, why would he ally with Wrynncurth?" asked Relma. "I thought the black dragons were ancient friends of Harlenor."

"Sometimes," said Aren, "but things have changed since the old stories. Still, we'll get there in our own good time. Return to Benarus and tell him we are on our way and will be there soon."

"But time is pressing," said Frederick.

"Time is not nearly so pressing as most people think," said Gail.

At this moment, Aunt Pan got back. "Don't show your age, Father. Of course, we'll come at once. Relma, Ronald, pack up the camp. We'll make our way there at once."

"My thanks, Lady Pandora," said Frederick. "However, I cannot lead you there. I am needed in Gel Carn. My liege may need my sword soon."

"And I am certain it shall be put to valiant use, Sir Frederick," said Pandora.

Then Frederick looked to Ronald. "You, what is your name, lad?"

"I'm Ronald. Son of Fulsof," said Ronald, looking awkward. "You're Sir Frederick?"

"I am," said Frederick. "You have a stout heart. But you should be less eager to bare it to the knives of your enemies until you are older." Then he mounted his wolf and rode away.

Aren glared daggers at Aunt Pan. "Why must you rush me, Pandora?"

"People's lives are on the line Father," said Pan.

"The ones who die will be reincarnated soon enough," said Aren with a shrug. "A few will go the heaven, a few will go to hell. You can't afford to run yourself ragged over a few lost sheep, Pan."

"A few lost sheep can make all the difference, Father," said Pan. "And what kind of example are you setting right now?"

Aren sighed. "Fair enough. Where have you been?"

"Scouting," said Pandora. "The taint we sensed in the forest has slipped away."

"Past you?" asked Aren. "Age must be catching up with you, my dear."

"It is not," said Pandora. "Whoever it was has been stalking around for some time. I'm not sure how long."

"I remember we felt like someone was watching us," said Relma. "Back when we were going fishing. When I fell into the river."

"Why didn't you say something?" asked Pan.

"We thought we had imagined it," said Relma. "And with almost drowning it didn't seem important." And meeting Anoa.

"Well," said Pandora, "we cannot do anything about it now. Let us hope that they did not see anything that interested them. Now get to work."

They set out soon after. Relma had time to consider things. Other people didn't feel pain when they tried to lie. But Relma did. She'd always needed to understand why. And what was all this about someone watching her.

If they had been watching her, then could they have seen Anoa?

But surely Anoa the Bright would have sensed them and done something about it. Or, at the very least, not been so obvious about the truth. But, then again, it took her time to puzzle things out. And she wasn't like other people.

Maybe his hints had been genuinely subtle, and she was just brilliant. Or possibly everyone else was just stupid. That was a somewhat mean thought.

Then Relma considered that intelligence really was relative. A genius among ants would be far less intelligent than a simpleton among humans. So it could actually be both. And neither. "Why didn't you want to go right away, Aren?" asked Ronald suddenly.

"I don't like Kings thinking that I am at their beck and call," said Aren. "It does well to remind them I don't exist to solve their petty differences. Of course, I do my best, but they have to sort out some things for themselves at the end of the day. I'm just here to keep things on the right path. What they do on the path is their own business.

"Your aunt has always had the opposite viewpoint. She felt we should intervene in every little thing. Which I why I gave her the task of raising Relma."

"But people could die," said Ronald.

"And it's unfortunate," said Aren. "The truth, however, is that sometimes you must let a bad thing happen. That way, the person it happens to learns to fix their problems. If I sheltered them from everything bad that happened, they would grow dependent on me. And anyway, that isn't in my power to do."

"Would you be saying that if it was my home getting raided by wolf demons?" asked Ronald.

"Excellent point, Ronald," said Pandora.

"I would probably act," admitted Aren. "Relma has an important destiny, and her getting killed would be disastrous for the world. Also, I'm something of a hypocrite.

"The sad fact is that not everyone is a hero of legend. Some people are born to be great. Others simply live and play one or two parts in the great story of history. You have to learn to prioritize these things, my boy."

"And what if we don't want to play one or two parts?" asked Ronald. "What if we want to be heroes?"

"Well, there are some who manage to become great by determination and grit," said Gail. "But by and large most people are chosen for one thing or another. Fighting against it just makes everyone worse off."

"Don't listen to Father," said Pandora. "He's just set in his ways. He is ancient, you know."

"Of course I am," said Gail. "And with age comes great wisdom."

"Does it? I hadn't noticed any in you," said Pandora.

"Fine words from the one whose messes we're walking to clean up, daughter," replied Aren.

Relma decided that she liked this life better than the other one.