Just as he feels he is about to succuumb to whatever is occuring in the temple…he is pulled from the entrance and hugged by a man he doesnt know.
Once he disengages and hears the man's explanation..he sighs and relaxes…and nods to Bane.
"It seems you know me, sir..I mean..Cynwyd….although I am certain we've never met before. Thank you for saving me just now. Its good to find an ally here… in these dark times."
Xander quickly explains whats occured from his standpoint..how he and several others defeated Sedna and her curse…went to a hospital to take care of his companions that were injured in the conflict..and returned to Amber with Prince Bleys, Aurora, Prince Bane of Atlantis..and himself..who is a son of Fiona.
"Bleys and Aurora went to the castle..which is no longer plagued with thorns. But I noticed when we defeated Sedna…that there were several forms of magic tied to her curse. We may have only removed one part of the overall curse.
We noticed..with our magical senses..a spell that is anchored to the castle…as well as to something in that pit yonder. I cant determine its nature..only that its there. Although the fact that its not Pattern based magic leads me to believe that it may be malevolent in nature.
We rode to this vicinity..and found Begman engineers using some form of mechanical elephants to cut down and use this forest in the construction of a fortress of some kind.
After we befriended the Hellhounds of Arden..who are without their master, for now..I struck their group with a lightning bolt spell of my own design..but I'm afraid that..besides causing chaos and the disbersment of the engineer corps…this fire is also my doing.
And the spell I would normally use to put the flames out..wont work this close to Amber.
The Hellhounds are finishing off the remaining forces that are..hopefully..running back to their commanders in fear."
He motions to the Temple and says..
"There is a red-headed woman I dont recognize in that temple….with snakes around her arms..using some form of scrying in a brass bowl. She seems oblivious of everything else around her.
But she does not have the Pattern imprint…and as she is using a ritual in the temple of the Grove of the Unicorn…again..I dont think she means well.
I tried to enter..but found msyelf suffocating…as if a power were seeking to smother my entering its interior."
He steps back and says..
"We're..sort of in the dark here, Cynwyd. My basic impression is that..with Amber under that curse and our Elders dispersed and recovering in their respective ways, now that part of it is gone..the Golden Circle kingdoms seem to have taken advantage of the situation by trying to invade and conquer Amber.
And there are other forces besides the Begmans that are also using their powers to attack Amber.
What can you tell us of whats occured from your point of view..and …what should we do now?"
He steps back..listening to the more experienced man's wisdom on what continues to plague Amber.
He is unsure why..but he feels he can trust Cynwyd..as if he already..knows him somehow.
He is also certain that if Cynwyd wished it..he could easily incapcitate himself..and Bane…but he has made no threatening moves towards either of them..and seems genuinely pleased to see Xander.
Thats enough for Xander to listen to him..and follow him.
He look over to Bane..who nods as well.
"Bane cant enter the temple..but together..both of us may do so…and confront her..and stop her, if she means evil to Amber."
He listens to Cynwyd's orders on the current matter.