39
When Tarkyn arrived back at the inn, Sheldrake rushed outside to meet him, his black coat tails flapping behind him, and blurted out, all protocol forgotten, “They are travelling through the dense, southern part of the forest. Jon worked out they had been taken through the sewers out of the city. He found their tracks near the south eastern outlet leading into the forest and followed their trail with a tracker and a squad of specialist troopers. He sent a message back to Josie, who is coordinating from the palace, and she sent the news on to us.” Sheldrake had to draw breath at this stage.
“We will find them,” said Tarkyn, with quiet certainty.
He gently but firmly steered Sheldrake back inside. “Let’s go and see what the Vines know of that part of the forest.”
They passed the two m
