The Moon of Morning Mists gave way to the Moon of Falling Leaves and in the Moon of the Hungry Wolf, which followed, Tom roamed the north with a special cavalry unit. He was intent on hunting down Morgon and the remnants of his army.
The Empire was abandoning its outposts. Morgon had gathered the troops made available by this change in Imperial policy and had created a new force. Tom failed to make contact with him and returned to the south feeling frustrated.
He made straight for the royal apartments and was told that the queen was indisposed. From what his girls of his guard said it seemed more likely that she was dead. The information about Adrina was even more confusing. Some said she had died in the marshes. Others said she was alive and well.
He reached his room and found the door partly open. There was a shadow on the other side and it moved as he approached. Two feet were visible, clad in soft leather boots. He drew his short sword with his left hand and grasped his long sword with his right. The feet disappeared and he continued up the last few stairs, humming a little tune. Light spilled through the door. He drew his long sword and swept into the room in a two-sword stance, ready to take on any number of assailants.
'Oh ... Sky Warrior.'
He froze, swords poised menacingly. Adrina was sitting in a corner combing her long black hair. Her face was pale and she looked ill. But her dark eyes flashed as seductively as ever.
'Do you always enter your room in this manner?'
Her voice was mischievous but lacked its former carefree nature. Tom returned his swords to their sheaths. He was shocked to see how much weight she had lost. Her once shapely figure was scrawny and an ugly scar ran down her neck. He knelt beside her.
'I did my best to help.'
'There's no need to blame yourself.' Adrina squeezed his hand. 'What happened to me at Baddon Marsh was willed by the Holy Mother as a punishment for my presumption.'
'For your presumption?'
'I was vain and the Holy Mother blessed me with her lesson.'
She went on to tell him about her flight into the marshes and how she had met Alison. Tom listened as she told him about how she had suffered for her shortcomings and how Alison and Fury were suffering for theirs. It seemed they were being reborn.
Tom found it all very depressing. The idea of being reborn through suffering was sick. He was horrified to hear that Alison was going along with it. Miralda had indoctrinated her. The queen had told him about the strange old woman in the marshes.