Rising Sun Valley Into the Depths of Our Illusion

When the wolf said that he was Kove, a pang of recognition flit across Cicero's face. "Cicero knows Kove," he said in response. What coincidence for him to run into Scarlett, and then Kove, within a few days' time of each other. The adolescent smiled upon the memory of Kove, although it was hazy. He had not remembered what Kove looked like, but now he knew. Considering the thoughts that had occurred his mind when he had been in Scarlett's presence, many questions popped into Cicero's mind; first and foremost how and why a wolf like Kove had joined the Dark Brotherhood, for he seemed so soft, and perhaps that was why he was with Scarlett. Or perhaps, Cicero thought, Kove was only yet another wolf that seemed good to Cicero because he was too dark himself to split right from wrong.

"Yes, Cicero is going to be an Outrider," he said with a nod.

When Kove told Cicero of the captive, Cicero was surprised, although he chose not to show it on his face. He looked at Kove and shook his head. "Cicero did not know." Somehow, it seemed typical in the light of his conversation with Scarlett. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps Blackfeather Woods was a dark place. Cicero did remember that there had once been a wolf that had taken captives, but he had left the pack and Meldresi had not known of those captives, either. Was it the same wolf that had taken the wolf that had once belonged to Swiftcurrent Creek?