Chapter 74: Decision Time

SEAMUS

Again, Aliah's grip on Seamus' arm tightened, almost unbearably. Wanting to calm the situation down a little he asked, 'Why was there such a rush to get us here?'

'Before entering the trial caves, all candidates must spend the night before in prayer and contemplation to rid the mind of all but the coming ordeal. As all but special trials are traditionally held on the day of a full moon, which is tomorrow, the reflection period needs to occur tonight. If we miss this, we would have to wait another moon turn before we could test you. By then, the Carsten invasion would be well and truly over and we may have missed the opportunity to fight off a great evil.'

'But you said this is about more than the Carsten invasion.' By the tone of her voice, Seamus could sense Aliah becoming more frustrated.

'It is, and it is not,' Caraig said.

'Let me guess, you cannot tell us until we have passed the trial?' Seamus asked dryly.