Free Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 by Brian S. Pratt

right now.” As she turned away from him, Black Face came to realize he wasn’t getting out. He began baaing pitifully, pleading for her to come back but she had more important things to see to than the happiness of a sheep.
    Kaitlyn didn’t immediately head for The Sterling Sheep . As nervous as she was over what the possible meeting would divulge, she didn’t want to go alone. So trudging through the snow, she made a beeline for the home of Elle Kelon, Chad’s mother.
    Their two boys did everything together, where you found one the other usually wasn’t very far away. They even joined the Warriors Guild together. More than likely, whatever the man had to say about her son, would affect Chad in some way as well.
    Cutting through the woods as she did, she skirted the town and came to Elle’s place in short order. A small home, it seemed larger now that two of their three boys no longer lived there. The third Kelon son, Eryl, was busily clearing snow as she approached the house.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Borenson,” he said. Pausing in his work, he leaned upon the shovel.
    “You too, Eryl,” she replied. “Is your mother home?”
    He nodded then pointed to the house. “She’s inside,” he answered.
    “Thank you,” she said. Hurrying past the youngest Kelon son, she hurried to the door. The sound of Eryl returning to work accompanied her as she came to the door and entered. They had been friends long enough for them to be able to enter each other’s home without knocking.
    “Elle?” she said as she closed the door and entered the front room.
    Elle poked her head out of the kitchen. A smile broke across her face when she saw who it was. “Kate!” she exclaimed. “How good to see you.” Then her face lost some of the smile when she took notice of the worry etched on Kaitlyn’s face.
    “Are you busy right now?” Kaitlyn asked. Crossing the front room, she was met halfway by Elle.
    “Why?” she asked. “Is there anything wrong?” Laying a hand on her friend’s shoulder, her eyes sought an answer in Kaitlyn’s.
    “I’m not entirely sure,” replied Kaitlyn. Then she told of the stranger and his request to meet with her at The Sterling Sheep . “He said it had something to do with Riyan,” she explained. “I was hoping you could come with me. If you weren’t too busy.”
    Elle reached out and took her hand. She could see worry and fear in her friend’s eyes. “We’ve been friends for too long for me to ever be that busy when you need me,” she replied. “Let me take the stew off the fire and I’ll get dressed.”
    “Thank you,” she said.
    “I’ll be but a minute,” Elle said. She patted Kaitlyn’s hand then returned back into the kitchen. A minute later she left the kitchen and headed to her room at the back of the house. When she reappeared, she had on her warmest jacket, a hat, and a wool scarf. “You don’t think this concerns my Chad too do you?” she asked.
    “He didn’t say,” Kaitlyn replied.
    As Elle opened the door, Eryl was standing outside knocking snow off his boots, about ready to come in. “I’m going into town for an hour or so,” she told him. “Keep an eye on the place while I’m gone.”
    “But mama,” he replied. “Father said I could go over to Kaleb’s when I was finished clearing a path to the barn!”
    “Don’t argue with me,” she said in that tone all mothers use on a child who balks at doing what he’s told. “You can go when I get back.”
    “But…” he started to say, but stopped when he met her unwavering glare. Backing down, he said, “Yes mama.”
    “Good,” she said. Then she and Kaitlyn left him by the door as they headed toward The Sterling Sheep .
    On the way they passed friends and neighbors both had known all their lives. Other than a few quick words of greeting, they didn’t waste any time in reaching The Sterling Sheep.
    It was quiet when they entered the warm interior and made their way to the common room. This early in