To Whispercrest

They were back at the inn, all three of them gathered in Xanth’s room with Lyra sleeping safely in another room. Ryder paced quietly, his arms crossed on his chest, his eyebrows furrowed and his mind still trying to grasp what Xanth had just revealed to him. It caused him to worry because this could prove to be a hindrance to his plans. They would have to move.

“And you are certain?” He asked Xanth for the umpteenth time. He knew his answer would still be the same and he trusted in his honesty but he just had to ask again.

“She claimed to be the girl’s mother.” Iris spoke up. “But from what I saw she was probably much too young to be anyone’s mother. I say she’s not.”

“No, it is not just a claim. I am certain that she is Lyra’s mother.” Xanth spoke out.

They had returned to the inn early in the morning, an hour or two before dawn. Iris had been the first to return after Xanth had told her to, and he had returned less than two hours after she had. Xanth had come in, behaving rather str