Free The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling by Holly Barbo

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placement atop each henge. All of that should be ready within a day
at most.”
    “We can’t leave right away because of the
blocked road. Hopefully we will see the guild caravan very soon. We
will need the security men with us as well as some to remain here.
I need a sage to stay here. If Alliz is not well enough it will
have to be Lor. I haven’t decided if I want Lor with us or to stay
here. I need to get in touch with all of the mayors and let them
know we are coming. We will be delivering the glow stones for the
posts and the discs to be buried, but our private task will be to
locate and activate up to six latent sages. Erin, when the caravan
is back and Keir and Nuit are here, I need to speak with them
through you about possibly delivering some of the small tigereye
enhancers.”
    Gyan stopped to eat. Erin and Drune, who had
listened while Gyan talked, were finishing up their dessert. Erin
waited as he finished his meal. Just before he started his dessert
she asked, “Gyan, I have some questions, if you don’t mind.” She
waited for his nod then went ahead. “What is the significance of
the city henges?”
    He paused, gathering his thoughts. “You know
that there are posts in front of every founder city and now you
know that they are, technically, henges. I am sure you know that
the founder cities were established where they were because of
geothermal vents and a certain type of rock formation that allowed
them to build the city right inside the rock face of the mountain.”
Erin and Drune nodded. “Those spots are also link points between
the planet and the sages. It is like a thin spot where the special
power that is within us is communicated to our world and stabilizes
it. That is why the mention in the ‘Shield Knot’ message that we
need at least two sages per province. Our people are free to move
around our realm but it is definitely better if we live scattered
fairly evenly across it.” Both Drune and Erin were looking at him
with their eyes wide with comprehension. It made sense.
    Erin nodded then went onto her next question.
“The Wild Henge. When you heard that you became concerned that it
might not be there.”
    Gyan shrugged. “We will deal with that when
we go there. We need the place. It has been a number of years since
I have seen it or even thought about it. I can’t worry about it
now. We will just have to see.”
    “Because I became a sage without any guidance
there are a number of things that I am just now learning.” Erin
continued. “I asked Drune about Enhancers. Apparently Ree made sure
I had some, though I didn’t know the additional significance of the
gifts or the term. I guess they are sort of focus talismans for our
skills and for our energy toward the planet. I think I have the two
that were special for my parents. I took them as mementos. Could
they be used by some of the latents if they resonated for
them?”
    It was Gyan’s turn to be surprised. “You have
them? May I see them? I will be able to answer your question if I
may touch them. One at a time.” Erin stood and took them out of her
pocket. First she gave him the one that had belonged to her father.
It was a small copper disc enameled with a leaf design. She had
meant to look in the symbol book to see if the emblems were there.
Gyan held it, rubbing it between his fingers. His eyes were closed.
“May I see your mother’s piece?” He gave her back the copper disc
and she exchanged it with the exquisite picture jasper bead that
had a feather etched delicately on it. She wondered how he knew
that the first one had been her father’s when she hadn’t said so.
“These are indeed their enhancers. It is remarkable that you took
them with you when you didn’t know their importance. Before I
answer the second part of your question I would like to ask a favor
of you.” Erin looked at him expectantly. “Could you please place
your parent’s enhancers and yours on the table in a row.”
    She took the rutilated