To Dr Spiggly:*waves across the fandoms* Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your review; it warms my heart so much to know that there is someone who has read even one word of this!

I admit the continuity is a bit iffy -as I hadn't actually read the book in years and I'd forgotten some of the timelines. Here we have to imagine that after Sparhawk had his showdown with Kael he got word that Berit and Khalad were in trouble, but he didn't give up his power until after he did his thing here.

Any way today is a snowday so that means: midweek update, yay!

Berit threw down a scroll in disgust. He was disgusted at it's contents: a very graphic description of some sort of ritual sacrifice that the author had decided wasn't graphic enough so included diagrams. Diagrams! He was also disgusted as the quality of the penmanship – if you're going to make a clear and detailed record of human sacrifice you could at least do it neatly and start again if you spill ink. He hoped it was ink. He was also disgusted at the waste of his time.

He had spent the better part of two weeks holed up in the chapterhouse library. With Sparhawks authority he had searched through every scroll, ledger and parchment: the mundane and the usually-off-limits just the same. He looked for legends about the Bhellium, myths about healing, spells that touched on death – anything that could be remotely connected to his ... condition.

And he had found nothing. Well not nothing. He knew a lot about several obscure cults and knew a recipe for a great sleeping draught which might actually be useful for those nights that he saw dusk to dawn. But he was no closer to understanding what Sparhawk had done to him.

He hadn't expected to find the exact scenario of 'what happens next when your friend brings you back from the dead using the power that creates worlds' but a hint would have been nice.

Berit looked around at the mess he had made in this little corner of the library, and wearily stood to start to return books to their shelves. He had been putting this off: a signal of defeat because he didn't really know where to start searching next. Berit had been trying to avoid thinking about what would happen if he didn't find an answer – he didn't want to face that particular fear as he was sure it would grip him and never let go.

He was so deep in his musing that he didn't even hear Khalad approach until he was standing right behind him.

"So this is where you've been hiding." The squire said, voice echoing between the shelves.

"I've been doing some research for Sparhawk." Berit tried to hide his surprise at Khalad's sudden appearance – he wasn't usually this oblivious but was sure Khalad wouldn't miss the opportunity to rib him for it.

"And the reason you were avoiding me before then? Come on, I'm not stupid. You leave every room I enter, barely talked to me on the way back from Tamuli and have been locked up in a library for a fortnight! Have I done something to offend you?" Khalad was right, though Berit hated to admit it. He didn't want to avoid his friend. He was confused and afraid by the gods he was starting to get afraid. He could really do with a friend to talk to. Sparhawk was often busy and it wasn't quite the same unloading this burden on the man who caused it.

"No, of course not, nothing like that." Berit lied. He wanted to tell the truth, but as they days rolled on and he had found no helpful information his fear increased. He had tried to approach Khalad on several occasions, but backed out at the last moment fearing his friends reaction more than facing this alone.

"Is it to do with what happened in the desert? Berit, you nearly died, of course that is going to have an effect on you. Don't be fooled that anyone else around here could just brush of an experience like that. They just do a good job of hiding it." Khalad was reaching out a hand, his concern clear. Berit could do it now, come clean. He could tell Khalad everything – the things he had seen and felt, who had actually bought him back. He could help, Khalad was smart. Khalad was... his hand was falling. His face turning from compassion to hurt as Berit missed his moment and Khalad took his hesitation as rejection, distrust.

"Fine. Sparhawk had to go to the palace for a few days, asked me to pass this to you." Khalad's tone was short as he delivered the message. Sparhawk had been trying to persuade Berit to talk to Khalad for days now, so it made sense that was how Khalad found him. The squire handed over a tightly rolled piece of parchment.

'This might help: The Second Codex in the library of Duke Meltit' was all it said. Just as Berit had run out of possibilities here, Sparhawk offered him a glimmer of hope.

"We'll talk soon, I promise." Berit said, meaning it "But it will have to wait. I'm going to visit Duke Meltit in the morning."

Khalad was showing no small amount of satisfaction. "Well it just so happens that Sparhawk wants an update on the Duke's progress on subduing bandits in the area. So I will also be travelling in the morning: we can talk along the way."