Oren unrolled the parchment and read quickly. He could read and speak in various languages. The Gibbor had taught him. The handwriting was in the Gibbor’s spidery scrawl. 

            ‘To His Royal Highness, Ranald the Warrior, High King of Casoria and her Royal Highness, Queen Laveth. The Sea Star spends its glory at the Earth Child’s birth. Surely, thy reign has been blessed. I hesitate to interrupt what must be a time of festivity, but allow the authority of the Blue Stone to prevail. I do not use this authority lightly, but as one who speaks for Jah, Blessed be His Name. Send the babe to me at once. He is in mortal danger, for many seek his life. Oren will guard him.  He wears a mark, a token of Jah’s trust.” 

            “Well, Seer of the Brethren, Guardian of the Blue Stones, and Sikestran of the Eld Forest,” said Oren, handing back the scroll. “This will certainly raise hackles at court.”

            “Bah! The titles are ammunition. I promised to retrieve a ravaged soul and I did. The feather is proof of redemption.”

            “What if the child is already dead?”

            “He is alive. Else why would Jah demand that he be rescued?”

            “Why is a rescue necessary?” Oren’s words came out in a rush. “Elymas has been the Earth Skyll for as long as anyone can remember. Even if one were to replace him, he’d still have power at court and a fine home in the country.”

            “But could he still enter the garden” asked the Gibbor.

             “I don’t know.”

            “The answer is no. Only the reigning Earth Skyll can enter the garden and the garden is where Elymas wants to be.”