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The morning sun was already above the horizon when Faroz returned to his rooms. He crept through the archway neatly timing his entrance to coincide with the slight breeze that was sending ripples through the curtain that covered it so that none could see. He had ordered his door removed and replaced with a simple curtain some weeks ago, as he had found getting past the guards night after night increasingly difficult. Now, with no door to open, it was relatively easy.
As after most nights that he spent with Ashnaz he felt exhausted but somehow exhilarated as well. This night, they had spent almost three hours in silence, clutching each other’s hands and reaching outward with their minds, far into the West, in search of the Lord Annatar. His friend had assured him that the power of their Rings would allow them to commune with his lord at any distance, and that it was only a matter of time until he, Faroz, would learn how. Faroz was at first sceptical, but Ashnaz had shown him how the Ring allowed the two of them to speak without uttering any words, and Faroz had believed. How greatly he had come to anticipate those nightly conferences with his friend, as they sat together not saying a word aloud, lost in each other’s thoughts. Faroz had learned much of Ashnaz and of the Lord Annatar, and he desired – almost needed – to know more. So great a lord as Annatar was, he had much that he could teach Faroz. At the same time, the King could tell that Annatar desired much of him. There was much in Pashtia that those in the west did not know, and Annatar was ever thirsty for more knowledge. As yet, Faroz had not touched the mind of his brother king, so far away, but he had begun to glimpse a figure in his nightly wanderings with Ashnaz: distant and light, like the star of the evening just breaking the horizon in the early dusk.
The latter part of the night had been less than satisfactory. As they had been doing every night for a week now, Ashnaz and Faroz had stolen into the villa of Korak and searched where they could for the letter. Faroz had only seen it once, years ago, but he was sure that he would recognise it immediately were he to see it again. It had been much more difficult than he had thought, finding that letter. In the first flush of excitement in realising the power of the Ring he had foolishly attempted to recover the letter on his own, without the aid of Ashnaz. But it had all almost ended in ruin when he had inadvertently stumbled into the chambers of the old woman, Korak’s mother, Hababa. She had been awake and had seen her door open and then close of its own accord. She had sent out an immediate alarm and Faroz had been able to escape through a window barely in time, for the rush of servants and guards was such that no Ring could have kept him from discovery for very long. It was after this incident that he had opened his heart to Ashnaz and requested his friend’s help. Of course he had asked Faroz what was in the letter and the King had told him. When he had finished, Ashnaz only said, “This is indeed a grave and delicate matter, my friend, and I am honoured that you have confided in me. Needless to say, I will breathe never a word of this to anyone.”
What had at first seemed such an easy task had turned out to be much more difficult, for Korak’s villa was large and he had many servants, but Faroz was sure that in time he and Ashnaz would find what they were looking for…
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