Bleys and Fiona take turns nursing the tree with an amazing channeling spell which draws its power from the Primal Pattern. Generally it is a tricky question to answer - Where does magic come from? Some of its very nature defies description, remaining mysterious and nebulous. That's what distinguishes magic from science. Even the best practiced and most reliable spell is, at the heart of it, a chaotic event. But the Primal Pattern... it would take skills almost beyond my ability to guess at to use Pattern in a spell. I imagine that it would cause magic to be as reliable as anything real.

I offered to help, but I could see the task was beyond me. Bleys told me that the training would require effort well beyond the benefit of my assistance. The terms were not so harsh, but I got the message. There was nothing I could do there. Still, I wanted to talk to Fiona - Make the offer to help.

Whereas Bleys was maintaining the tree, feeding it from the Primal Pattern, during Fiona's breaks, Fiona was doing something more. Her spell drew from some inner strength as well as the Pattern. Her spell replaced the trees fading vitality. It was visibly draining Fiona.

When Bleys relieved Fiona I started brewing some tea at the campsite and asked Fiona what could be done to stabilize Ygg and free her to resume her normal activities. Her answer was both expected and a little surprising. She told me that an entity in Ygg had died and that it would have to be replaced. Fiona saw herself as the tragic but obvious choice. I asked her who else would be sufficient for the task. She seemed reluctant to answer, but mused the Brand would have been perfect for the job. I offered Branden, explaining who he was, and that he might be a great deal more than a shadow of Brand. It remained to be seen, but Fiona considered the idea to have merit.

Maybe we could rescue Corwin and Fiona both.