The Last Talisman by Licia Troisi

I’m searching for a place just like the one you were describing, or at least I think I am. … Do these arshet have anything to do with the so-called ‘spires’?” Sennar asked.
    The soldier smiled. “According to my grandmother, the word arshet is an ancient, elfish term for exactly that, spires. And that’s what the Arshet is: two strange, towering rocks that look like spires.”
    â€œThank you, thank you, and thank you,” Sennar shouted to the soldier, already racing to find his knight.

5
    Sarephen
or On Hatred
    Nihal recovered without delay. She’d never have admitted it, but she had truly required the rest. She could feel her body recharging itself, her muscles regaining vitality. Not since her battle with Dola had she taken any real time off, and now she realized just how much she needed it.
    Laio tended to her by day, applying warm, odd-smelling pastes; at night, Megisto pitched in, preparing one excellent soup after another. But Nihal wasn’t able to fully enjoy her rest. Sennar’s departure had left her with a barely perceptible feeling of unease in the pit of her stomach. The sorcerer’s words as he bid her farewell had been confident and optimistic, but there was something not quite convincing about the tone of his voice. The talisman was a danger to him.
    One evening, Nihal sensed Megisto was behaving strangely. Laio had already dozed off, and she sat staring at the last embers as they faded in the fireplace.
    The old man was taciturn as he moved the coals about with the poker. Nihal felt ill at ease. She knew Megisto could see the future. Every now and then, without warning, it would reveal itself to him, and the old man would see, for an instant, and indistinctly, what was due to happen next. On their first meeting, in his own way, Megisto had foreseen Soana’s return.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Why are you so quiet?”
    The old man shook himself out of his stupor. When he turned toward Nihal, something dark in his expression frightened her.
    â€œWhy are you looking at me that way? What is it?”
    Still, the old man said nothing, poking at the coals. Smoke rose lazily through the air. Only ashes were left in the fireplace. “Before he left, Sennar asked me to take care of you, to keep you from worrying too much over him.”
    She felt something rising to the surface, a dark premonition gradually taking shape within her.
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t keep the truth from you any longer,” the old man said grimly.
    â€œWhat is it that Sennar didn’t tell me?”
    â€œToday, when I woke, the gates of time opened and revealed the future to me. There is no spell that can contain the powers of the talisman. The force of even the single stone it now contains is already wearing down Sennar’s strength. By the time he reaches the sanctuary, he’ll be worn and exhausted. He will die there.”
    Megisto’s prophecy fell like a stone into the silence of the cave.
    â€œWhen?” Nihal asked, her voice choking up.
    â€œI can’t say. My visions are always hazy, as you know. But soon: a matter of days.”
    â€œWhere is he?”
    â€œI don’t know where here is now, but I know it will take place near a large bay, the Gulf of Lamar, at the center of which stand two enormous rocks. There.”
    Nihal grabbed her sword and began gathering her things. She shook Laio, who was reluctant to wake, and turned again to Megisto. “Why didn’t you tell me he lied?” she snapped at him, furious.
    â€œYou know well why Sennar has come with you on this mission. I wanted to be true to his wishes. I held out as long as I could.”
    As soon as they were ready, at the first sign of day, Nihal and Laio leaped onto Oarf’s back.
    â€œThank you,” Nihal whispered to the old man just as they took to the air.
    But Megisto had already turned back to stone.
    Aymar was forced to employ his entire arsenal