Barlo recoiled. “Me?”
“Yes,” the boy said, nodding emphatically. “I am to bring you to the place where she waits.”
Iarion’s thoughts tore off in various directions. Why did someone from the city want to meet with Barlo? It made no sense. Until their arrival on the island, no other dwarf had ever been seen before. What had made this mystery woman single him out? When they had presented themselves to the king, Iarion had been the one to speak for their party, marking him as their leader. Barlo looked just as confused as Iarion felt.
Lodariel’s green eyes lit with interest. She crouched to meet the boy’s gaze. “If Barlo is going to go with you, we have to be able to trust you. Is that fair?”
The boy nodded.
“Good,” she said. “Now, can you tell us who your mistress is?”
The boy bit his l
