Pio wrapped the crystal box back into the piece of silk and put it in her pocket. She slipped out the door, telling Veritas she would be back in a moment. One of her reasons for going was that she didn't want to be there in case Mith asked to speak with her. Child and he seemed to be having a long and serious conversation, and she left them to figure out the logistics of the problem.
She ran back to her room and leafed through the stack of ballads she had stored with her small harp. Aah! there it was! The one that Bird had mentioned. She read through it quickly and then went up on deck to see if she could find Frodo.
Frodo was no where to be found. But Stacey and Prim and a somewhat somnolent Sam were just making their way to the stairs leading down to the cabins. Pio drew near Stacey and handed her the folded up piece of paper.
'Can you get Frodo into your cabin somehow and tell him Bird and Child want him to take a look at this. Then all of you need to meet with us as soon as we can. Keep the paper hidden until you get somewhere away from any prying eyes.
Stacey unfolded the paper and glanced quicly at the words:
THE DEMON LOVER
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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