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As Trinel exited the carriage, she spotted a look of concern in his eyes that Talon missed.  She turned towards the boy with hands outstretched saying, “Come here, love.  Sit beside me.”  He did and she leaned forward and lifted up the seat he just left.  It hinged on the back revealing a compartment underneath.  “Time for hide and seek.”  He crawled into the compartment and as she laid the seat back down she said, “And remember you must keep quiet.  That’s part of the game.” 

Talon nodded. 

She placed her finger to her lips.  “Shh.”  She forced a silly smile and added, “Don’t let daddy know.”  But behind that smile simmered the dread that this was more than a greeting party.

Talon nodded enthusiastically.  He liked these games and wasn’t about to let his father know where he was. 

Mushina told herself it was just a precaution.  She looked out the window and counted maybe fifty riders coming their way.  That meant they were out numbered almost two to one.  She rebuked herself for allowing Trinel to talk her into bringing Talon.  “Some learning experience,” she mumbled.

Trinel, who now sat on a horse next to the companion captain, turned and saw Mushina and waved her back.  At first, she was a little put out by his forcefulness and then a wave of fear washed over her and she sat back rigidly.  She closed her eyes and prayed silently.

i    i

Only the slimmest sliver of light came into Talon’s compartment and already it was getting hot.  But he held back and breathed little so he could listen.  Despite the fact that he couldn’t understand a lot that was said and that most of the time he couldn’t tell who was speaking, he was able to piece together the following.

Scroll 1: History's Mirror                                                                                    Chapter 1: Treasures from the Past