It was late afternoon when Bryant returned to the cave. Kaye was gone, and he built up the fire so it would be warm for her return. But when Celeste stopped by, Kaye wasn't with her.

"She hasn’t returned?" Celeste's anxious face turned to worry. "She left me this morning."

"I thought she was helping you find herbs today?"

"She was, but I upset her and she left. I thought she would come straight home." Celeste looked around as if Kaye would appear out of the cave wall. "You don’t think she went to Gaerlom?"

He shook his head. "She knows better. You did not see any Tarrin?"

"No. We were on the mountainside, north of the Altar."

Bryant grabbed Celeste's arms so hard she winced. "You let her wander off by the Altar?"

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"Ow, Bryant!" He released her and she rubbed her arms. "She would feel it before stumbling in there. She would know to stay away."

He squeezed his hands at his sides. How could Celeste be so stupid? The Altar was death to the Faye. No good came from that dark place, and all young Faye were taught to avoid it. "Did you warn her?"

"She is a priestess. I do not need to warn her about dark energy."

"I must find her." Bryant kicked the fire down and pushed past Celeste to the door.

"I’ll join you. It’s my fault she’s gone."

They found Kaye lying against a tree, hand around the bracelet on her wrist, unhurt but unresponsive. Bryant felt her forehead, fevered, and opened each eye; they stared blankly at him. She twitched but her eyes remained sightless, and he could tell she was seeing only out of the third eye of visions. “Kaye, wake up.” She didn’t respond, not as much as a twitch.

“The Lady should look at her.” Celeste nodded toward the cliffs. “The Altar is no place for a Faye.”

“She is not really Faye, though. She was raised Tarrin.”

“She was raised by her High Priestess—she is more Faye than Tarrin.”

Bryant gave a disgusted snort. “What a fine Faye-teacher she had then.”

“Bryant,” Celeste chided as she checked Kaye for injuries. He didn’t reply and she stood. “Take Kaye to my cave,” she said, and he scooped her up. They made the short flight back in silence.