Chapter 40: Shifting the Chessboard

Xaran felt it.

It was coming to him. Against all odds, Kalann Sefu was still alive, and he was bringing it back where it truly belonged. He would've laughed aloud, were there someone to hear him.

It was well-timed that Kalann Sefu should arrive on the eve of his march on Wethelnar. Once Geyron's capital city fell and the land was cleansed, the final pieces of the puzzle should turn up rather quickly. The warrior would soon be needed. He wasn't aware of his purpose yet, of course. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so foolish as to confront him and risk losing his precious trinket.

He only needed to be patient. It would be no good to strike at him prematurely. Far better to let the foolish warrior come to him. And he would come; Xaran was sure of that.

Time, after all, was firmly on his side.

* * *