Giga Games 1/Giga Games.iso/net/d_d/caltech/fluff/faerling.flf

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                            Faerling,  Part I
                              by Deb Atwood

                           Caught in the Rain


     Genna watched through the clouded glass of the window, staring
unblinkingly at the man outside.  She knew he thought her chack uninhabited, as
he peered through the blinding rain at her front door, and she wondered what
he'd do when he found her inside.  Not that it was truly her home, but she had
been there for nearly four months now, and found herself with little desire to
move on.  She moved away from the window, suddenyl realizing that perhaps
this man was the original owner of the hovel, and at the same time, hoping he
wasn't.
     The door flew open and rain blew in before the stranger hurriedly shut and
bolted the door behind him.  Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew an object
the size of a pebble, and at a whispered word, the pebble blazed into light,
easily lighting the single room of the shack.  Instinctively Genna shrank back
against the wall, wishing for a place to hide.
     She knew when he saw her by the sharp indrawn breath and the scrape of his
sword leaving its scabbard.  "I cannot harm you," she hastily assured him in a
shaky voice.
     He didn't replace his sword as he moved closer to her, his eyes widening
as he noticed her gently pointed ears, wide eyes, slender shape, and
green-tinted hair.  As he stared at her, so she stared at him, looking up to
see him dark-haired and dark-skinned, broad-shouldered, towering over her.
Genna began to know what he was thinking.
     "So I'm of the Faerie.  So what," Genna said calmly.  "'Tis no shame."
     The stranger chuckled in a rumbling voice.  "No, no shame, but rather a
suprise.  It's not exactly usual to run into a half-Faerie when I'm just
looking for a place to stay dry."  He bowed low, a mocking smile on his face.
"My many apologies for invading your home like this."
     Genna recalled the stories she had heard about Faerie retribution on
unwanted visitors and wished, not for the first time, that along with the
looks, she had also inherited the powers of the Folk.  "You needn't worry about
anything.  'Tis no more my own home than 'tis yours."  She raised her chin
defiantly, daring him to guess that she had nothing to defend herself with.
     He backed up and sank into a chair by the dilapidated table in the center
of the room.  "And what are you called, Faerling?"
     "Genna," she said softly, fully aware of the insult implied by the name
given to those of partial Faerie blood.  "And who are you, mighty warrior?"
     He laughed again.  "To me, that sounds like a good enough name.  However,
you may call me Alec Ravenwood."
     Genna nodded silently and turned back to looking out the window at the
rain.  A few minutes later, Alec started speaking again.
     "Genna?"  She spun at the sound of her name.  Alec was leaning back in the
chair, feet propped on the table, picking at the arm of the chair with his
dagger.  "I was thinking," he continued, "that I might just be looking for a
companion..."
     "Companion?" Genna squeaked, her face paling.
     "Not like that, Faerling," he reassured her.  "I have need of the Faerie
magic in my travels."
     "I have no magic," Genna stated, cutting him off, suddenly angry with
herself for admitting this fact.
     Alec raised an eyebrow.  "Well, then, perhaps the other interpretation of
my offer..."  His voice trailed off as he saw the look on her face.  "I didn't
mean it, Faerling," he said softly.  "It was a joke.  I take it you haven't
spent much time with people if you don't recognize a joke when you hear one."
     "No, I haven't," Genna said matter-of-factly.  "And I think 'twas rather a
rude joke, too.  People may take Faeries and Faerlings as having bits of fluff
for their brains, but 'tis not my way to be like that..."
     Alec cut her off.  "Please, don't get so upset."
     "And why not?" Genna asked.
     "Why don't you have magic?" Alec asked, changing the subject.  It was
beginning to occur to him what a ridiculous situation he was in, sitting in an
old shack in the middle of a huge rainstorm chatting with a magicless member of
the Folk.
     Genna turned back to staring out the window.  "When came time for me to be
born, my mother was banished from the Folk for they could see that I would
not be of them, except in appearance.  She died without their magic to sustain
her, leaving me alone in the woods.  'Twas pure chance that brought two
adventures my way, to find a babe starving in the wood, and 'twas they who
brought me to the church of Mirya to be raised."  Genna laughed bitterly.
"'Tis my guess they thought the Goddess of Magic would look favorably upon one
of her children living in her house of worship.  "Twas a mistake however, and
the goddess let her priests and priestesses know this, as one tragedy after
another fell upon the town while I was there in the church.  Finally, it burned
down and I had to leave.  I heard later that the town, 'twas fine again since I
had gone, and the priests blamed me for all the trouble that had befallen.  So
'tis my fate to be forever without magic."
     Alec was surprised at all she'd said.  "How have you lived?" he asked.
"How DO you live now?"
     Genna laughed.  "I do believe it is quite possible to survive in this
world without magic," she said, laughter still bubbling in her voice.  "Or do
you, Sir Mercenary, find it so difficult that you must rely on spells to live
from day to day?"
     Realizing the truth of this, Alec had to smile.  "It's just, I thought the
Faerie could only survive by magic."
     "'Tis true, but I am only a Faerling.  Half my blood runs humankind."
     He nodded.  "My offer still stands.  I could use the company, and if
you've survived this long alone, I assume you might be help to me."
     "How do you know you can trust me?"
     "I don't."  Alec stared at her, a frank expression on his face.  "But what
better way to find out than by spending a night in a shack with no one but you
for company?"
     Genna easily saw the truth of that and, without answering the original
request, curled up in the chair and slowly faded into sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            Faerling, Part II

                              Dreamy Nights


        The woman was dressed in black, but an odd cloth it was, as it faded
into the very black of night behind her.  She had not said her name, nor, in
fact, had she spoken at all.  Rather she sat, staring, simply watching.
Finally, she turned away and started to speak.
        "The Folk have always been My children, but the humans are only a
pastime and an amusement.  Yet, I often find their trials far more amusing than
the lives of My children.  And there is one of both worlds who believes that
she is not one of My children.  Befriend this one, and take her to..."
        The images swirled, fading and then growing brght, and finally
exploding into a fierce sound, startling the dreamer out of weary sleep and
into the hazy light of dawn.

                        -----------------------------

        "Are you asleep?"
        Genna yawned, rubbing her eyes.  "I find myself awake now."  She turned
toward the voice, her darksight picking out the spot where Alec had chosen to
rest.  As her regular sight adjusted to the dim light of dawn, she could see
him watching her.  "'Tis early."
        "I thought you might be awake already.  You were restless."
        Genna considered this.  "My back itches, but I was indeed sleeping."
        "My apologies for waking you, Faerling."
        Alec's gaze caught Genna's, and she saw that he was laughing.  "I meant
no insult from the term.  It simply seems to fit."
        "If I am to accompany you, you could use my name."
        "Genna."
        "Yes, Mercenary Alec."  She grinned and stretched, reaching a hand
behind her to scrath a shoulder blade.  "But I do have one question.  Where are
we going?"
        -And take her to...-  Alec spun to look behind him at the sound of a
voice in his head.  "I... I'm not sure.  I was returning to Zamir to collect my
payment - I freed some slaves - and then look for another job."
        Genna paled slightly at the thought of entering a town.  "Alec, my
people are not looked on kindly by most of your people."
        "If you can do a job, they don't care what you look like.  I have seen
Dark Elves trusted to work for pay."
        Genna didn't answer, collecting together her few possessions, while
Alec saw to his horse outside.  Only minutes later they were both astride that
horse, riding in silence to Zamir.
        Upon entering the town, Genna could see people staring at her, and felt
her face grow hot with embarrassment.  When she heard men calling rude comments
to Alec, she tried to slide of the horse to run away.
        "Hey!"  Alec caught her as she started to slip.  "Watch your balance."
        "I was," Genna said hotly.  "I have no business here and think 'tis
time to take my leave."
        "I'll protect you."
        She glared at him.  "I don't want protection.  I want to leave."
        Alec ignored her, clamping arm tightly around her midsection, pinning
her to the horse.  "No one is leaving.  We are going to an inn, taking a room,
and getting some breakfast.  End of story."
        "*A* room?" Genna repeated.
        He grinned at her.  "You can trust me.  We only had *a* room last
night, didn't we?  Beisdes, I'm afraid you'll take off if you get the chance."
        "'Tis truth in that statement."
        "No kidding."  Alec slowed his horse in front of the Laughing Bear Inn
and slid off, taking Genna with him.  He let go of her long enough to tie his
horse to the post, then grabbed her arm and led her into the diningroom of the
inn.  "Food first, then we'll get a room.  Then we can look for work."
        The serving wench came over, practically falling into Alec's lap on her
way by.  "Greetings, Alec," she purred.  "We've missed you here."  But when she
saw Genna, she forgot about him and simply stared.
        Genna glared back.  "Alec..."
        "Two ales and two breakfasts, Meg.  Big breakfasts," Alec ordered,
waving the wench away.  He watched her appreciatively as she walked away,
thinking that perhaps two rooms might be in order after all.  However... he
turned his attention back to the unusual girl across from him.
        "That's mine."
        Genna wasn't paying any attention to Alec, but was rather staring at an
elven man who was clutching a brooch in his hand.  "That is mine," she repeated
angrily.
        The elf stared back at her, all wide-eyed innocence.  "M'lady, I was
simply retrieving it for you from where it had fallen upon the floor."
        Genna snatched it from his hand.  "'Tis more likely that you supposed
to prey upon a hapless faerling!"
        Alec laughed inwardly.  For someone who didn't want anyone to pay
attention to her, Genna was creating quite a commotion.  "Genna."  He waited
until she had turned to look at him, then motioned where she couldn't see for
the elf to leave.
        "Yes?"
        "You may want to keep your voice down.  The other people are staring,"
he calmly informed her.  When she looked ready to run at the sight of everyone
watching, he put his hand over hers to keep her still.
        "Where did he go?" she suddenly asked, noticing the elf had left.
        Alec shrugged.  "It is of no matter, as long as you have your
belongings."
        Genna unclenched her hand to show the brooch.  It was a gold brooch,
intricately wound into a symbol Alec didn't recognize.  "It was my mother's,"
Genna explained.  "'Tis my only good possession and I didn't want to lose it to
some thief.  It *was* in my pocket.  I'd have known if it had fallen, same as I
knew when he had took it."
        Alec examined the brooch, trying the figure out why it looked so
familiar, then handed it back to Genna.  The serving wench returned to
hurriedly place food in front of the two and then disappear.  Alec motioned for
Genna to eat.
        "We have to talk about something."
        Genna looked up.  "We do?"
        "Yes."  Alec set his fork down.  "You can't run away from here, because
if you do, I will find you."
        "Why?"
        "I don't know."  He shook his head as if to clear it.  "I dreamt last
night, at least I *think* I dreamed it, just before dawn.  And I was told to
take you somewhere, but I don't remember where."
        "How do you know it was me?"
        "How many other half humankind, half Folk have I met?"  Alec grinned.
Genna smiled slowly in return.
        "Then you have been quested with my safety," she stated solemnly.
        "I have been what?  Oh, I guess that's one way of putting it.  Suffice
to say, I have to protect you, but I don't know why yet."
        She nodded.  "If some god has charged you with me, I shall remain."
        Alec felt bemused by her sudden change of heart.  But still, it made it
easier to get along with her, that was for sure, so he'd accept it.  When they
finished eating, they reserved a room for the night, and went in search of
work.

                        ------------------------------

        It was just dark, but Donal felt that was the best time to check the
rooms of the inns for interesting items.  He slipped in through the kitchen
door, slipping a copper piece to Meg on the way by, pinching her behind and
whispering a promise to return when he was done for the night.  He knew she
wouldn't squeal on him - after all, he had been making his living through the
inns of Zamir for three years now, and no one had found him yet.  And dusk was
the best time, since all the room owners would be at dinner, and they often
left their belongings behind.  And from what he'd seen when scouting the dining
room all day, the pickings should be good that night indeed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            Faerling, Part III

                                  Fever


        "Are you sure you're not planning on running away?" Alec grinned.  One
glance at Genna's pale face, however, informed him that it ws not a time to
joke.
        "I'm not planning on going anywhere," she said quietly.  "I only want
to sleep.  I'm so tired."
        "You look rather green."
        She smiled weakly.  "I'm always rather green.  'Tis in the blood."
        "Just rest," Alec said, heading out the door.  "I'll bring some food up
in a little while."
        Genna watched Alec leave, then sat swiftly onto the bed.  She reached
behind her to scratch her shoulders and back.  The itching had grown worse as
the day wore on, adding to her misery.  She now realized that she *should* have
asked Alec to find some salve for her back, but she just couldn't seem to think
straight today.
        Without thinking about it, Genna slowly fell back onto the bed,
instantly asleep.

                        -------------------------------

        The room was dark, but with his darksight Donal could see a figure on
the bed.  The body appeared to be unsually warm, but Donal wasn't concerned with
the health of the individual.  He simply planned to quietly remove a few
trinkets and make his escape.  He slipped up to the side of the bed, where a
leather pack had been dropped careslessly to the floor.  He halted and stood
still as the figure on the bed moaned and turned over.  When all was still
again a moment later, Donal knelt down next to the pack and quietly opened it.
He reached in to the small leather bag inside and opened it, spilling its
contents into his palm.
        Donal stared at the ornate gold brooch in his palm.  He recognized it
from the morning and was pleased to have it in his possession again.  He
decided that it would be enough to gain from this room and slowly stood.  The
piece should garner him a lot of money, between the unusual design, fine
quality of gold, and the intricate work.  He was slipping the jewelry into his
pocket when a sound from the bed caught his attention.
        He turned slowly, the brooch dropping from his fingertips into the
depths of his pocket.  The Faerling he has seend that morning was sitting up on
the bed, her eyes wide but unfocused, sweat beading on her forehead.  She was
muttering something under her breath in a language Donal didn't understand.  He
waited in silence, hardly daring to breathe.  Her head turned toward him, and
her eyes cuaght his.  Her voice suddenly became clear.
        "T'shal hli cahm dento, sritorr.  T'shal hli cahm dento."
        Donal couldn't understand the words, but he could almost feel the air
of the room grow heavy.  He tore his eyes from her face , the voice and words
ringing loudly in his head.  An ache grew swiftly at his temples, and a moan
escaped him involuntarily.  His hands went to his forehead, pressing against
the pain.
        "T'shal hli cahm dento."
        The words echoed in Donal's head, ringing in commanding tones.  The
pain in his head overwhelmed him and he blacked out.

                        -------------------------------

        Voices nearby drew Donal back to consciouness.  His eyes flickered
open, and he was relieved to find the room still dark and only occupied by the
still figure on the bed.  He heard a key turn in the lock and reflexively
rolled under the bed to hide.

                        -------------------------------

        "Meg, I'm flattered, but I have to take Genna's dinner to her."  Alec
gently tried to disengage the serving wench's arms from about his neck.
        "Ah, but she's just a Faerling.  I'm human," Meg smiled seductively.
"And I'm soft and warm and..."
        Alec pushed her away.  "Next time I come through I *promise* I'll be by
to see you.  But not now."
        Meg pouted and leaned against the door to Alec's room.  "But none are
so strong as you, my warrior..."
        Alec laughed.  "Meg, I know you for what you are, and I know you don't
save yourself for me alone.  Now let me by."  He transfered the plate he
carried to his left hand and set down the flagon of ale so he could unlock the
door.  Stepping inside he retrieved the ale and shut the door saying firmly,
"Goodbye, Meg."
        He turned, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness before stepping
further into the room.  He set the plate and ale down on the single table in
the room and lit the oil lamp, sending a flickering light into the small room.
No sense wasting a light bead, he figured, when an oil lamp was available.
Besides, he didn't figure to be awake for longer than it took Genna to eat.
        He moved to the side of the bed, saying softly, "Genna, wake up.  I've
brought back your dinner."
        The figure on the bed didn't move.
        "Genna?" he asked, slightly louder.  He sat on the edge of the bed,
reaching out to shake her shoulder.  He drew his hand back quickly, startled,
for her shoulder was burning hot.  He drew the sheets back and rolled her over
onto her back, noting the dark cast to her skin, the beads of sweat dotting her
forehead and rolling down her cheeks.  As he watched, she mumbled something
about her shoulders, and tried weakly to roll back over.
        Alec allowed her to roll back onto her side and then gently drew down
the back of her tunic to reveal the dry reddened skin of her shoulders.  A
slight touch revealed this to be the center of the heat on her body.  Drawing
the covers back up over her, he grabbed his moneybag and quickly left the room
in search of a healer.
        The moment Alec left the room, Donal rolled out from under the bed and
stood up, checking his pocket to make sure the brooch remained within.  Then he
smiled and made his way to the window, opening it quietly and stepping out,
over the edge, and climbing quickly down the outer wall of the inn.  Glancing
back one more time at the window of the room from which he had just come, he
shook his head and then raced off into the night.

                        -------------------------------

        "I'm afraid there isn't any more that I can do."
        Alec glared at the cleric.  "What do you *mean* you can't do anything.
Does your goddess simply close her eyes to the misery this girl is in?"
        The cleric shook his head.  "I mean no such thing.  But I have prayed
to Aylia many times now, and she has seen fit to make the Faerling comfortable,
but the fever is beyond Her power.  All you can do is wait, and try to help her
remain comfortable.  This salve should help the rash on her back and shoulders,
and cool water will help the heat."  The cleric stood and handed a small pot of
salve to Alec.
        "How much do I owe you?"
        "Nothing," the cleric said softly.  "Simply remember Aylia and Her
people, and aid those who you can.  That is all."  He turned quietly and left
the room.
        Alec took a cloth from the table and dunked it in cold water, wrung it
out, and placed it on Genna's forehead.  "Fine," he said to himself.  "What a
fine mess.  Get yourself trusted by the gods to take of a simple girl and next
thing you know she falls sick, probably to some sort of nasty plague that'll
wipe out the whole town before the month is done."  He pulled up a chair and
sat on it to watch her.  Bowing his head, he said quietly, "Aylia, if You are
still listening, please help this girl make it through the night."

                        -------------------------------

        Around midnight Alec woke to hear Genna hoarsely speaking in a strange
tongue.  "Genna?"
        She sat up and looked at him.  "My back itches!" she said loudly and
matter-of-factly.
        "Turn around," he directed.
        When he turned, he lifted up the tunic and spread some of the salve on
her back.  The redness appeared to have gone from most of the surface,
centering now on the areas around her shoulder blades.  When he finished
applying the salve,  he instructed her to go back to sleep, only to find that
she already had.  He pushed her back down and covered her again with the sheet.
Drawing his long legs up into the chair, he tried again to get comfortable
while he watched her for any change.

                        --------------------------------

        Genna screamed.  The pain in her shoulders had become excruciating, and
she hardly heard Alec trying to quiet her.  Tears ran down her face, and her
head ached.  She felt as if her shoulders were on fire,  and licks of heat flew
through the rest of her body.  She felt as if she would literally burst into
flame soon, if the heat didn't stop.  She reached behind her, trying to scratch
her back.
        "Don't scratch," Alec instructed.  "You'll make it worse."
        "No it won't," Genna sobbed incoherently.  "Please... please..."
        She arched her back, screaming again.  Her voice was dead from the
abuse she had given it, and all that emerged was a harsh croak.  Alec grabbed
her by the shoulders, pushing her back down as she tried to get up and run from
the room.  Suddenly, he felt all the tension go out of her.  He released her in
surprise, and watched as she crumpled to the bed, apparently asleep.  As he
pulled the covers his hand brushed her arm, and he noted that she seemed
cooler.  He watched her for a moment, but she continued to sleep deeply,
breathing evenly, the dark flush of her skin fading.  Sighing in relief, Alec
made himself a bed on the floor and fell asleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part IV

                              Mirya's Symbol


        Donal held the brooch out in front of him, not quite allowing the
jeweler to take it from him.  He rotated it slowly, allowing the light to shine
off of it.  The gold glittered, as did the jeweler's eyes.  He held out his
hand expectantly, and Donal hesitantly placed the piece in his palm.
        The jeweler held it up to look at it closely and his face paled.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
        Donal shrugged.  "Where do I obtain anything, you may ask.  These fine
pieces of jewelry I bring you simply happen to fall into my possession."
        The jeweler handed the piece back to Donal.  "Then I recommend that
this piece find its way back to its original owner, and quickly."
        "Why?"
        "The piece is a symbol.  An old symbol from older times," the jeweler
explained.  "To those who know what it is, it would be beyond price.  But I
don't know of anyone who would be looking for one."
        Donal felt confused, but tried not to show it.  "Perhaps you could tell
me more about the history of the piece."
        "It is a symbol of Mirya," the jeweler began.
        "Of Mirya?"  Donal laughed.  "Even I know that this bears little
resemblance to Her symbol."  He examined the brooch again.  "Well, perhaps a
small resemblance, but no more than that."
        The jeweler sighed.  "As usual, you do not listen.  It is an *old*
symbol, older than you, probably older than your elven parents' parents.  The
symbol has changed through the years, and only the oldest of Her children still
possess the older symbols.  The older symbols are more powerful in Her magic
than the newer ones, but only to those who can use them."
        Donal thought, recalling that it was a half Faerie from whom he had
removed the piece.  He also recalled the fever with which she had burned and
figured that by now she had left this world.  "I see."  He pocketed the piece
again.  "Then perhaps, should you happen to hear of a buyer, you could direct
him to me?  I'll be staying at the Darkstar Inn for the week.  And you needn't
worry about the previous owner of the brooch - she is dead now, and through no
fault or deed of my own."
        The jeweler smiled faintly.  "I am sure that is the case.  And I will
be sure to send any news to you should I hear of a prospective buyer."  He
turned to place the pieces he had purchased earlier from Donal into his locked
cases, effectively dismissing the half-elf.

                        -----------------------------

        As Donal walked back towards the inn, he slipped his hand into his
pocket until it closed over the brooch.  He traced the delicate gold work with
his thumb.  He figured he had two options.  The first was to wait until a buyer
who knew the true worth of the piece presented himself.  This could make Donal
a rich man.  But it could also make Donal a very dead man, should the piece be
as powerful as the jeweler claimed.  Sighing, he released the brooch and let it
fall deeper into his pocket.  He followed Tam, the god of fate, and thus knew
that no matter what he decided upon, Tam had already made His decision, and
there was nothing Donal could do about it.

                        -----------------------------

        Genna woke and stretched.  There was a gnawing empty feeling in her
stomach, making her feel nauseated.  "I'm hungry," she announced to the room in
general.
        Alec came instantly awake.  "Genna?"  He turned to see her starting to
climb out of bed, then stop as she realized she wore only her tunic.  She
turned to him, bewildered.
        "I find my mind especially blank this morn'," she said, blushing
fiercely.  "I have forgotten what I did last night."
        A laugh rumbled up and Alec could not keep from letting it out.  "You
have forgotten?  You were only deathly ill for most of the night."  He gestured
towards her bare legs.  "Your pants are gone only because the cleric and I
thought you might feel better without them, considering you were positively
burning up with a fever."
        Genna cocked her head to one side, trying to remember, but she couldn't
recall anything after breakfast the previous morning.  She shook her head, then
scanned the room for her things.  Her pack lay on the floor at Alec's feet and
her pants were draped over the back of his chair.  He saw the direction of her
glance and handed her the items, then heading for the door.
        "I'll leave while you clean up, and I'll bring back breakfast."  He
grinned.  "But no falling sick on me this time.  This time, when I bring food,
you'll eat it."  He hastily left.
        Genna climbed out of bed and quickly dressed, then splashed some cool
water on her face.  She truly didn't feel as if she had been ill recently,
although she had to admit that her tunic felt as if she had been wearing it for
a week.  Her nose wrinkled.  It smelt rather bad as well.  She grabbed her pack
and began looking in it for a comb.
        Alec returned a few minutes later carrying a plate heaped with hot ham
and two mugs of coffee.  He paused as he stepped into the room, for Genna had
spread every item from her pack onto the bed and was shaking the empty pack
upside down over the bed.  "What's wrong?"
        "'Tis gone, Alec."  She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.  "The gold
piece my mother gave me 'tis gone."
        He sat down on the edge of the bed and glanced over her things.  "Here,
give me that and go eat."  She obediently handed him the pack and went to the
table where he had set the food.
        Alec checked the pack to find it empty, and then carefully lifted each
item off the bed, shook it, and replaced it in the pack.  He was done quickly,
for Genna owned little, and hadn't found the brooch.  When he looked back to
Genna to tell her this, he saw her strangely contorted, trying to reach around
to her back.  "What are you doing, Genna?"
        "My back itches," she complained through clenched teeth.  "And I can't
reach it very well to scratch."
        Alec walked over to her, grabbing the pot of salve on his way.  "We can
buy you another one," he announced, quickly slicing the back of her tunic open
before she could protest, removing a "v" of fabric so that her back would
remain free to the air.
        "Feels better already," Genna sighed.  "Without the pressure upon it,
the itching is not quite so bad."
        "And this'll make it even better," Alec told her, rubbing the salve in
to the area around her shoulder blades.  The skin was not as red as the night
before, but he could feel a strange roughness, and it looked as if the bones
would punch through the skin, they stood out so much.  Having finished, he
stashed the salve in his pack, making a mental note to pick up more before
leaving town, and then quickly told Genna what had happened during the night.
        "Now what?" Genna asked.  "Would you like to rest the day while I go
and look for a job?"
        Alec chuckled at her naivete.  "If you looked for a job, Faerling, I
doubt you'd like what you found."  Genna blushed, making him laugh harder.
"Actually," he continued, "I had been thinking of taking the day off and
beginning to teach you to defend yourself.  A staff, I was thinking off, since
then you can carry no obvious weapons and still be able to defend yourself."
He held his hand out to her.  "Come on, Faerling, let's go find you a nice
walking staff."

                        -------------------------------

        Donal sat staring into his ale, wishing the lord's private army hadn't
happened to be in town at this exact moment.  Every single serving wench was
fawing over those brawny warriors, making it difficult to order alcohol, let
alone get anything else.  He glanced around the crowded room, a plan
half-forming in his mind.  If all the lord's men were here, then his manor
might not be well protected.  His eye lit on the bartender, and he was about to
approach the man in hopes of gaining information about this lord of the area,
when he noticed that the bartender was speaking to a dark-cloaked man and
gesturing in Donal's direction.  Donal changed his mind about moving, and
slouched down in the seat, a careful appearance of nonchalance.
        "Greetings, sir."  Donal glanced up to see the man standing in front
of him, drawing out a chair to sit on, a mug of ale in one hand.
        Donal nodded his greetings.  "Well met.  Have a seat?"  He gestured at
where the man had already seated himself.
        The man chuckled.  "Don't mind if I do."  He sat back, and glanced
around the room for a few minutes, sipping at his ale.  Donal took the time to
study him from lowered eyes, surreptitiously taking in details about the man.
Not that much could be seen, but he could see the hint of a sword poking from
the cloak, and a glint of silver on the man's hand, each time he raised his mug
to drink.  The cut of the cloth was fine as well, indicating that this man was
probably fairly well off.  Probably an adventurer recently come into money, he
decided, and waited to find out what was wanted.
        Finally the man set down his half-empty mug and turned to Donal.  "I
believe we have an acquaintence in common.  Tural, the jeweler?"
        Donal nodded.  "I have met the man, yes."
        The stranger leaned forward.  "I find myself unable to mince words
about this subject.  You have a piece of jewelry, fine gold work - a symbol of
Mirya.  I would like to buy this piece."
        Donal shrugged, picking up his ale to swallow deeply, signaling a wench
for another when he realized the mug was empty.  "How much are you willing to
pay?"
        The man chuckled.  "The piece itself is beyond price.  However, I am
generous, and I will most certainly make it worth your while to deliver the
piece to my home."
        "I don't work without a price," Donal stated flatly.
        The man reached under his cloak and drew out a bag heavy with coin.
"This sack contains over twice as much as you earned from Tural this morning.
I am prepared to give you this now, and five times this when the piece is
delivered on the morrow."
        Donal did some hasty calculations in his head, coming up with a
staggering sum.  "Where shall I take it?"
        "The manor on the hill.  Take it to the servants entrance, and ask for
Blacky.  I will meet you there."
        "'Tis done."
        Donal watched as the man stood and slowly made his way to the door.
When he was gone, Donal slipped his hand into his pocket, allowing his fingers
to close around the brooch.  It would make him a very rich man indeed!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part V

                            Fighting Lessons


     "Block.  Strike.  Block.  Block, dammit!"  Alec stomped into the area he
had cleared for Genna's training and roughly separated the two combatents.
"Hold."  He turned to grab on of the staffs, now held loosely as Genna gasped
for breath.  "Genna, when I say block, you *block!*"
     She weakly tugged at the staff, still not turning to look at him.  "'Tis
true I am no warrior, like yourself.  'Tis also true I should have blocked, I
know."  She turned slowly to face him, and Alec could see a heavy bruise
spreading across her bared right shoulder.  "But I am not a warrior, and I
didn't block.  And I am tired."  She released the staff into Alec's hand.
Reaching up to brush her sweat-damp hair off her forehead, she announced,
"I'll be in the room."  Walking in as dignified a manner as her aching body
would allow, she headed back to the inn.
     "Genna!  *Genna!*"  Alec turned to the boy who was watching interestedly.
"What's wrong with her?"
     The young man brushed a sweaty lock of hair out of his eyes and handed
his own staff to Alec.  "You've had her working all day, sir.  And it's nearly
dinner.  And she's doing well, but she's still been hit a lot.  She got a
couple good strikes in on me, too."  He rubbed his leg where Genna had gotten
a particularly hard hit through his defenses.
     Alec glanced around, finally noticing how late it had become.  "I suppose
its a good enough time for a break, Jamie," he admitted.  "Go on in and clean
up.  And thanks."
     The lad grinned at him.  "My pleasure, sir.  The lady's pretty and she's
been fair to work with."
     A clatter of hooves distracted both men and they turned to see a horse
and rider pull up swiftly in front of the inn.  Jamie ran to take the horse as
the rider slid off and collapsed onto the ground.
     Alec saw blood seeping from under the stranger and quickly ordered,
"Jamie, get your father now.  Then ride for the cleric who was here last
night.  And do it fast!"  The boy turned and ran.
     Alec gently turned the stranger over, and loosened his leather vest.
The vest was mostly destroyed, anyway - a few hard strikes of a sword had
split the leather, striking deep into the man's body.  As soon as the inkeeper
came out, Alec shouted to him to hold the door open, carefully picked up the
stranger, and carried him quickly up to his room.
     "Genna, open up!"  Alec kicked the door, having no hand free to open it.
     "What?!"  She opened the door roughly and turned away, not really seeing
him.  "Can't I rest?"  She stormed back to the other side of the room.
     "I don't care if you rest or not," Alec informed her in measured tones,
"but I have a very injured man here and I would appreciate it if you would
hold the door open long enough for me to get him inside and onto the bed."
     Genna spun around, and finally seeing the bleeding body, ran to open the
door wide.  "What happened?" she asked quietly.
     Alec shrugged.  "No idea.  He just rode in, and I don't think he could
have made it much farther anyway."  As he talked, Alec hastily stripped away
the vest and tunic, baring the wounds.  "Get me some water."  Taking the water
from Genna, he began to clean the wounds, talking as if to himself.  "These
strikes were made by a rough edged sword - not a warriors sword.  Not any sort
of knife or dagger, either.  The cuts are too deep and long for a small blade.
No, I'd guess some sort of goblin pack roaming the woods, and this man had the
luck to find them."
     Genna took a strip of the cloth which she had cut from her tunic earlier,
dipped it in water and placed it on the injured man's forehead.  "Will he live?"
     "The cleric is coming, and then we'll have to trust to Aylia."

                         -------------------------

     The cleric of Aylia knelt by the bed, laying a thin hand on the stranger's
forehead.  "Aylia, let this man rest comfortably while You and I heal his
wounds."  The stranger visibly relaxed, and the cleric turned to Alec and said,
"He should remain asleep through the pain of our probing his wounds."
     Alec glanced around to make sure Genna was no longer in the room, then
quickly stripped the stranger.  The wounds were centered on the chest, as Alec
had already observed, except for one minor slice down the left leg.  Alec then
stepped back to allow the cleric space to work.
     The cleric stepped up, placed his hands on the body, and closed his eyes.
"Aylia, guide my hands."  A soft glow surrounded the cleric as his hands passed
lightly over each wound.  As his fingers grazed the edges of the wounds, the
glow intensified at his fingertips and, as Alec watched, the flesh seemed to
knit together.  Alec had never seen a healing before, and unnatural sight of a
body repairing itself made him feel slightly queasy.
     After about ten minutes, the cleric fell back into the chair, the glow
fading immediately.  "That is the best I can do.  Now I must rest."  The cleric
grinned weakly at Alec.  "I would warn you, sir, against further injury.
Between your Faerling friend last night and this man his this morn, I fear I
have taken much of Aylia's time this day."
     Alec smiled back.  "Perhaps a few more bruises, but no real problems, I
assure you."  He glanced at the sleeping stranger.  "How long till he should
wake up?"
     "A couple of hours, perhaps.  Sleep does Aylia's work."  The cleric braced
himself against the chair and slowly stood.  "I shall now take my leave and
return to my home for rest."  Bowing slightly, he said, "May your stay in this
town be without further incident and need of me."
     "May your rest be good and your future remain in Aylia's hands," Alec
responded automatically.

                        -------------------------------

     "Faerling!"  Alec looked around the common room, searching for Genna.
Finally he spied her, deep in conversation with the inkeeper's son, Jamie.
Grabbing an ale on his way by the bar, he strode over to her.  "Greetings,
Faerling, Jamie," he nodded at both.
     Genna glanced up at him, then back down at the food in front of her.
Pointedly ignoring him, she continued her supper.
     Alec glanced at Jamie, "What, may I ask, did I do this time?"
     Genna looked up, glaring at him.  "How did you rate my performance this
day?" she asked.  "Was my pitiful attempts up to your usual standards, or do I
get to be beat upon more on the morrow?"
     Alec paused, looking her over.  Aside from the bruise on her shoulder that
he had seen earlier, and which he had to admit looked painful, he could see no
further signs of injury.  "I think another day of practice would do you good."
     "Oooh!"  Genna stood up, knocking the table, upsetting Alec's ale onto his
lap and the floor.  "Good!" she stated emphatically, as he stared at the mug in
his lap.  "Enjoy your drink."
     Alec watched as she walked slowly out of the room, favoring one leg over
the other.  Setting the mug back on the table, he hurriedly got up to follow.
     "Faerling..."
     "Don't call me that!" she snapped.  "Is that man still in the room?"
     Alec sighed.  "Yes, in fact, he's not awake."
     Genna stopped outside the door.  "Okay, then *you* can share the room with
him tonight.  I'll go ask for another one."
     Alec chuckled.  "Planning on running away?"
     She had opened the door and was halfway into the room before he spoke.
When she heard his voice, she stopped and turned, facing him, "No, I am *not*
planning on running away.  However, I *am* planning on locking my door so that
I may sleep the morn away and so I can take a nice warm bath and hopefully heal
my bruises."  She had lost some of the bite to her voice when she admitted, "I
think I have bruises *everywhere.*"
     "If you don't work out tomorrow, it'll be worse the next day."
     Genna sighed.  "I know, but for now, just let me rest."
     The figurre on the bed groaned, and both Alec and Genna hurried to his
side.  His eyes flickered open and he glanced around the room.  "Where...?"
     "Laughing Bear Inn," Alec supplied.  "In Zamir."
     The man glanced at the chair, then tried to sit up.  "Where are my bags?"
     Alec pushed him back down.  "Your bags are with the innkeeper, and *you*
are not going anywhere.  You need your sleep."
     The man sank back onto the pillows and closed his eyes.  "I was set upon
by kobolds..."
     "I figured as much."
     His eyes flickered open again, focusing on Alec's.  "My name is Tirbald,
and I am a footsman to the Lord of Ellesmere, but five miles north of here.  I
was returning to him with an important message from his sister to the east."
     As Genna watched Alec, she thought she saw a flicker of recognition at
the lord's name.  "I know of him," Alec admitted, "and I also know where his
manor house is located.  I can deliver this message, if you would like."
     Tirbald simply looked at him.  Alec took his sword from his scabbard and
held it by the blade, pommel towards the messenger.  "If I should lie, you have
my solemn oath that you will run me through with my own sword."
     Tirbald nodded.  "Please."
     Alec made a motion toward the door with his head, and Genna followed him
into the hallway.  "Go down and arrange for another room.  I'll gather our
things and get Tirbald's pack and meet you in the room.  We'll be off early in
the morning."
     "Who is this Lord of Ellesmere?" Genna asked quietly.
     "Someone I've once met."  Alec reached into his belt pouch and took out a
smoothly rounded stone of a deep green shade and handed this to Genna.  "Keep
this in your pocket.  That way, if you need to contact me ever, you just hold
the stone tightly in your palm and concentrate on me.  I'll be able to hear
you."
     "Why?"
     "Don't ask."  Alec placed the stone in her palm and folded her fingers
over it.  "Just do it."  He grasped her shoulders and turned her towards the
stairs, giving her a slight push in their direction.  "And don't forget -
you're getting the day off from practice tomorrow!"
     Genna turned to face him.  "'Tis true at that, but will I get my own horse
to ride this time?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part VI

                            Blackthorne Manor


        Donal stepped up to the servant's entrance of the manor and knocked
loudly.  It had taken him most of the morning to make his way to the manor, as
it was situated on top of a high hill, with no visible path going up.
Therefore, he had had to slog through the forest, leading his horse, until he
reached the manor, from where he could easily see the path leading back down.
So now he was angry and tired, and frustrated, since no one had bothered yet to
answer his knock.
        He picked up a large stick from the ground and banged on the door with
it.  In a few minutes, he heard footsteps from the other side hurrying in his
direction.  The door opened a tiny bit, and a young girl's face peered through
the crack between the door and the wall.
        "Yes?"
        She sounded young and easily intimidated.  "I'm here to see Blackie,"
Donal growled.
        The girl paled.  "Blackie, but..."
        Her voice trailed off as a hand grasped her by the shoulder and pulled
her back.  The door was thrown wide and an extremely large woman stood before
Donal, hands on her hips, still facing the cowering young girl.  "Go clean the
front hall, Gil," the woman ordered brusquely.  The girl ran off quickly, not
glancing back.
        The minute the girl was gone, the woman's whole attitude altered.  She
smiled at Donal, and motioned for him to step inside.  "Blackie told me you
would be here," she told him, "and asked me to wait for you.  I am to inspect
the piece before full payment is made."
        Donal nodded.  "That sounds fair, but I do believe the jeweler could
have given him an accurate description."  He stepped inside and sat in the
chair by the table.
        "An accurate description perhaps, but Blackie trusts my own judgement
more," the woman explained.  She motioned to the other end of the table, where
Donal could easily see 5 bags, heavy with coin.  "There is your payment.  You
may take it now, and hand me the piece.  Then please wait, while I inspect the
item."  She smiled.  "And if it is not what Blackie wants, then leave those
bags.  But the first two remain yours for your trouble."
        Donal moved to the other end of the table to sit near his money,
removing the piece from his pocket as he went.  He placed the brooch on the
table before him, nudging it with one finger towards the woman.  She held it
loosely between her fingertips and squinted to inspect it.  "Yes, yes," she
said quietly.  "I do believe it is everything Tural claimed it was."
        There was a crash behind Donal, and he turned quickly to see and
extremely large man barge into the room.  A pain struck him between the eyes,
and then he saw only darkness.

                        -------------------------------

        Genna looked around her at the trees close by and the thin path they
followed.  "How did you ever find this path?" she asked.  "'Tis almost
invisible, but easy to follow on horseback."
        "I told you once, I have met Ellesmere before," Alec responded flatly.
His tone implied he did not wish to speak of it further.  Still, Genna, not
used to interpreting such signals, pressed on.
        "If you did not like the lord, then why do you now offer to help him by
bringing this message to his home?"
        Alec glared at her, realizing she wouldn't take the hint to stop
talking about it.  "Faerling, I have known Jason Blackthorne since I was a
chlid.  There are things I do not like about him, true, but there are also
bonds that go beyond those feelings."
        "Are you related?"
        Alec didn't answer.  Instead, he was thinking about the last time he
had seen Jason Blackthorne, and the circumstances under which they had parted.
It had been 5 years since, 5 years in which Alec had spent his time as a
warrior for hire, and during which Jason had improved his land holdings.  He
glanced at Genna, and mentally checked his inventory of magical gadgets.  He
had one lightstone left, and that with only a few charges.  He had already
given her the telepathy charm, and he hoped it worked as the mage had said it
would.  The charm had been his payment for a job about 1 year past, and Alec
had had no need to test it since.  The only other magic he carried was a ring
which had been in his family for years, and which provided protection against
certain spells.  Not an item that would help Genna much, since she would likely
not be affected by those spells in any case.
        "'Tis magnificent!" Genna cried, startling Alec into looking to see how
far they had come up the path.  He was surprised to see the manor rising in
front of them.
        "Yes, it is rather impressive," he agreed.  "As you will find Jason, as
well, I am certain."  They rode up to the main gate, Alec greeting the guard
there.
        "Hail and well met."
        "Hail," the guard responded cautiously.  "And who might you be?"
        "The lord's messanger, Tirbald, was attacked outside of Zamir
yesterday, and arrived at the Laughing Bear Inn.  I saw to obtaining a cleric
for his injuries, but he was still unable to continue his journey for a few
days.  He stressed the importance of his message arriving here as soon as
possible, and I thought to bring it to Ellesmere and possibly renew an old
acquaintance at the same time."  Alec bowed, as best as possible while seated
on a horse.  "You may tell him Alec Ravenwood has come to call."
        The guard went into his small guardhouse and soon they saw a small boy
run from the guardhouse, on the other side of the gate, toward the manor.  A
few minutes later, a tall, sandy-haired man strode out, calling as he came,
"Alec!  I never would have expected to see you here!"
        As the gate was opened, Alec dismounted and stepped forward, grasping
the other man's hand strongly.  "Jason."  He turned to Genna and motioned for
her to dismount.  She slid off the horse, catching herself on the saddle as her
knees threatened to buckle.  Releasing the saddle, she cautiously stepped
forward until she was beside Alec.
        "Greetings," she said softly, brushing her hair back from her eyes.
        "Jason, Genna," Alec introduced them.
        Jason Blackthorne stood staring at Genna.  "Faerie or Faerling?" he
asked.
        "Faerling," Alec replied for her.
        Jason glanced sharply at Alec.  "You always *did* tend for more unusual
companions."  Alec grimaced.  "Ah well," Jason continued.  "Come inside, and I
will provide you dinner and a night's lodgings, in return for your graciously
bringing my message to me."  He gestured at the pack, which Alec handed to him.
        Genna was amazed at the size of the manor - never having been inside
anything larger than the Inn in Zamir.  When Jason offered her a chance to rest
and clean up before dinner, she quickly accepted, not noticing Alec's worried
glance.  Her body still ached from the previous days fighting lesson, and the
riding had not helped in the least.  A soft bed and some sleep sounded
wonderful to her, and she followed the butler to her room.
        As Alec watched her leave, he heard Jason walk up behind him.
"Amazing," Jason said calmly.  "That one of your type should be in the company
of a Faerling."
        Alec looked at him, locking eyes.  "For the sake of one night, let us
forget any differences of the past."
        Jason shrugged.  "Whatever."  He led Alec to his den for a drink,
glancing at an ornate chart of the months, moon, sun and stars as they walked
by.  Alec followed Jason's gaze, realizing that the chart was new since he had
last been here.  He looked back to find Jason watching him.
        "I believe we have no worry that the past will repeat itself, at this
time," Jason said softly.  "Do we?"
        "We won't stay long," Alec commented.  "We are looking for work."
        "Adventure I would assume."  Jason poured two drinks, handing one to
Alec.  "How barbaric, but then, what more could I expect?"
        Alec took a sip of the liquor, and made a face.  He could never get
used to the finer liquors, preferring ale and wine.  "Jason, for only one
night, couldn't we possibly put aside our differences?"
        Jason turned to look at him, his eyes narrowed and angry.  "I will try,
but if you remember, she *was* my sister."  His tone was final, and the subject
was closed.  Alec sat quietly, sipping at the liquor, while Jason talked of the
prosperity of his holdings.
        "I believe..." Alec's voice trailed off as he tried to stand and founds
his knees wobbly.  "I believe... I might like a rest... before..."  His eyes
opened in surprise, "You...", then closed as he crumpled to the floor.  Jason
simply glanced at the fallen figure, and then finished his liquor.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part VII

                                Take Flight


        Genna stretched luxuriously as she slowly returned to wakefullness.
First she'd had a warm bath for her aching muscles, then a nice nap on a
comfortable bed.  Her eyes flickered open, and she spied a dress draped over
the back of the chair, with a note pinned to it.  She picked up the dress,
dropping the note back on the chair since she couldn't read it anyway.  A quick
inspection of the dress found it to have a high back, low front, long sleeves
and full skirt - all together very uncomfortable.  Genna dropped it back over
the chair, preferring her tunic.  The back had been cut off (more neatly than
when Alec had first sliced it) to ease the itching of her back, and the sleeves
removed so she could easily move to practice the staff.  After splashing some
water on her face, Genna decided to head down for supper.  She wasn't certain,
but she thought she remembered the way.
        The hall was well lit, and Genna headed confidently towards the stairs.
She had been placed in one of the tower rooms, as the tower was reserved for
guests, according to the butler who had brought her here.  She ran lightly up
to the door at the head of the stairs and tugged it open.  And stopped in
surprise when the door remained shut.  She grabbed the knob with both hands and
tried again, to no avail.  Turning slightly red, she turned the knob again and
tried to push.  Then she stared at the door, puzzled.  If the door wouldn't
push, and it wouldn't pull, then how was she supposed to open it to get down to
the dining room?
        "It's locked."
        Genna whirled at the sound of an unfamiliar voice behind her.
"Who...?"  She stopped at the sight of an elf, lounging against the side of the
doorwat across from her own room, arms crossed across his chest, watching her.
He looked strangely familiar.
        He straightened up and walked towards her, one hand out.  "Let me
introduce myself.  My name is Donal, and you are the faerling from whom I...
shall we say... appropriated?... a brooch which has landed me in the same
precarious situation as yourself."
        "What?"  Genna was genuinely perplexed.  She wasn't even certain if the
elf was truly speaking a language she understood.  Then one part of what he
said penetrated her brain.  "Wait, *you* stole my mother's brooch!"
        He shrugged.  "It was my misfortune.  Believe me, next time I find an
article someone tells me to stay away from, I'll stay away from it."
        "But what are you doing *here*?"  Genna glanced at the door.  "And why
can't I go downstairs?  And where is my mother's jewlery??"
        He laughed.  "You can't go downstairs because the door is *locked*."
His expression clearly indicated what he thought of her intelligence.
        "But, why?"  Genna sat down on the floor, drew her knees up, and
propped her chin on her hands.  "When we arrived, Jason greeted Alec like and
old friend.  And then he said I could rest while they had a drink before
dinner."
        "My guess is," Donal began, sitting down next to her, "is that now that
he has a symbol of Mirya, he wants one of Her children to go with it."
        "But I'm not!"  Genna protested.  She had no idea why she had once
again told this to a complete stranger, but now that she had she just had to
hope no damage had been done.
        Donal shrugged.  "Whether you are or you aren't doesn't matter to him.
If you aren't what he wants, he'll likely kill you."  He watched Genna's face
pale.  "He's probably already done so to your friend."
        Genna was quiet, thinking hard.  She refused to believe Alec could
possibly have been so easily killed.  "Are there any windows?" she asked
suddenly.
        "One, at the end of the hall."  Donal pointed, and Genna could see the
one window, high above either of their heads.  "Perhaps we could see out, if
you stood on my shoulders, but then what good would it do anyway?  We're very
high up."
        Genna jumped up and lightly ran to the window.  "Help me up."  Donal
walked over, and braced himself as Genna climbed onto his shoulders.  He
wondered about the sanity of the girl, trusting an admitted thief, then decided
not to wonder.  If it got
him out of this place, he didn't care how it worked.
        Genna peered out over the courtyard far below.  She could see Jason
walking slowly, carrying something heavy over his shoulder.  She climbed up onto
the sill of the window, so she could see better, tucking her feet under her so
they wouldn't hang out into the open air.  The height of the window, so far
from the ground below, didn't bother her, but it was better to be safe.  As she
watched, the object over Jason's shoulder moved, and she saw the familiar color
of Alec's clothing, and was relieved he was alive.  "He's alive!"
        "Who's alive?" Donal asked, looking up at her.  Just watching her on the
ledge gave him the shivers up his spine.  If she lost her balance, *splat* all
over the courtyard.
        "Alec.  Jason is taking him somewhere.  He is alive, for I did see him
move.  I would suspect he is injured, thought, to allow Jason to carry him as
he does."  Genna smiled down at Donal.  "Would you get me my pack?"
        It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but something stopped him,
and he went to bring the pack.  By standing on tiptoe he could hand it up to
her, and she dug into it, pulling out a deep green stone.  She closed her hand
tightly around it, watching the stable across the way where Jason had brought
Alec.
        -Alec,- she thought as hard as she could, concentrating on his face
until she could almost see him standing before her.  -Alec, 'tis Genna.  Answer
me, please!-

                        -------------------------------

        Alec felt as if his head were filled with cotton.  His eyes hurt as if
someone had pushed sand under the lids and then sewn them shut.  He didn't even
try to open them.  He could tell he was sitting on something very hard,
scratchy, and cold, but no more than that, since his arms wouldn't obey the
simple command of reaching out and touching the nearest surroundings.
        As he sat, he thought he heard Genna's voice calling him, but it
sounded strange, almost as if she were somehow inside his head.  He let his
mind go blank, not a difficult task considering how he currently felt, and saw
an image of her, eyes shut tight, hands clenched around and object, obviously
concentrating very hard.  -Alec,- he heard.  -Alec, 'tis Genna.  Answer me,
please!-
        What the hell, he figured.  He assumed he was dreaming, but if Genna
was so insistent about talking to him, the least he could do was answer.  -What
is it, Faerling?-  His thoughts seemed sluggish, as though he couldn't quite
remember what he wanted to say long enough to say it.
        -Alec, 'tis awful!  Jason has locked me up in the tower and has put you
in the stables and 'tis also a thief up here with me, and we don't know what to
do.-
        Alec chuckled mentally.  Even in his dreams Genna was confusing.
-Faerling, why would Jason lock you in the tower?  And with a thief?  And I'm
not in the stables, I'm in my room, resting until dinner...-  Even as he
thought this, he felt it sounded strange.  He dimly remembered sitting down
with Jason for a drink, but nothing further.  And the surface beneath him was
rather cold, and scratchy for a bed in Jason's manor.  And as for locking Genna
in a tower...
        He heard Genna sigh.  -Alec, 'tis no dream!  'Tis the magic stone you
gave me to call you!-
        Alec's memory was jarred by her words.  He had given her the stone
because he didn't trust Jason, and now Jason had locked her in a tower... he
struggled to open his eyes.  -Hang on, Faerling.  Jason has drugged me, and I
find my responses somewhat dulled at the moment.-
        -When you get out, look up.  I'm sitting in the window.-
        Alec tried to respond, but found the link broken.  -In the window?- he
thought to himself.  -The girl's brains must be addled.  What if she *fell*?-
He slowly tried to sit up, opening his eyes.
        The room was slightly blurry, and his vision cleared with agonizing
slowness.  His muscles felt leaden, but he found he could stand, and with each
minute he grew stronger.  Strangely, Jason had taken his weapons as Alec had
expected.  Jason likely thought that with or without weapons, Alec was as
dangerous a foe.  A pity that wasn't true, for Alec knew he wasn't what the
Lord of Ellesmere thought.  Frustrated with his dulled reflexes, Alec moved
slowly from the stables and out into the courtyard.  He glanced up and saw
Genna sitting in the window, feet tucked up under her.  She waved when she
saw him.
        -Don't move, Genna,- Alec thought, wishing she were still using the
stone.  As he watched, she turned to say something to someone behind her, he
assumed the thief she had mentioned.  Then as she turned back to watch the
courtyard, she seemed to slip somehow, and as Alec watched, fell forward, her
hands missing the edge of the window as she went.

                        ------------------------------

        "He's fine!"  Genna turned to Donal, a wide smile on her face.  "He
just came out of the stables, so now we can try to find a way out of here."
She turned back to see if Alec was going to *do* anything now that he was awake
again, and felt herself slip off the edge.  She grabbed for the edge of the
window, feeling her fingertips scrape against the rough stone sill.  Time
seemed to slow down as she fell.  She could see Donal leaning over the sill
above her, reaching out towards her.  She could see Alec watching from below.
        A terrible pain fired across her shoulder blades.  Her back arched and
she screamed, a horrible cry wrenched from her, as her shoulders seemed to rip
apart.  She reflexively closed her eyes, praying for the welcome blackness of
oblivion, as, with an incredible wrenching feeling, she stopped moving.
        It took her a few moments to realize that she hadn't hit the ground.
The first indication was the lack of pain, except for a slight throbbing in her
shoulders.  She opened an eye, cautiously, and saw Alec standing on the ground,
staring up at her, and incredulous expression on his face.  She wondered what
had happened - had time stopped?  She craned her head around to look back up
towards the tower window.  Her whole body pivoted unexpectedly, and she caught
sight of Donal as she spun around, dropping a few feet.  There was a pulling
sensation in her shoulders as she stopped falling again, and it occured to her
to find out why.
        She reached behind her, her fingers stretching to reach her shoulder
blades, from which she could feel something extending out from her back.  She
followed it with her fingertips, feeling a lacy membrane beneath her touch.
She instinctively jerked away from her own touch, and spun around again,
falling slightly.  This time she concentrated on not falling, and the pulling
sensation in her shoulders grew stronger and she move upwards a slight amount.
Grinning at this wonderful new thing she had discovered, she turned to look at
Alec again.

                        -------------------------------

        Alec watched helplessly as Genna fall.  He heard her scream, and knew
that they would likely soon have company in the courtyard.  He moved forward,
attempting to position himself to break her fall.  As he watched, waiting, arms
outstretched, she seemed to twist in midair, and then, from the area around her
shoulders, lacy, membranous wings appeared, and quickly began moving to stop
her descent.  He stood, dumfounded, as she hung there in midair, suspended by
the rapid beat of her wings.
        A sound behind him alerted him to the presence of another, and he
turned rapidly, drawing his sword.  Before him stood a great brute of a man,
his hands made into huge fists, his face drawn into a snarl.  With a growl, the
man moved forward menacingly.
        Alec had no desire to kill Jason's henchmen, and sheathed his sword,
hoping to rely instead on his agility and strength.  He doubted his strength
came close to matching that of the brute, but he hoped his own agility would
even out the contest.  He moved forward, lightly on the balls of his feet,
ready to dodge and strike.
        The brute made a grab for Alec's head, and Alec easily ducked the heavy
hands, moving around behind his opponent.  He clasped his hands together and
lowered them at the base of the brute's head, the most vulnerable spot on the
neck.  It was as effective as hitting the side of the castle, pain jarring into
Alec's shoulder as the force of his strike didn't penetrate the brute's skin.
The brute only growled and turned to face Alec again.
        As he dodged, hoping the brute would soon tire, Alec spared time for a
glance up at Genna, sighting her still far above him, apparently fascinated by
her new wings.  Whenever he glanced up, she was still hanging in midair, slowly
spiraling up a little ways, and then down again, but not progressing far in
either direction.

                        -------------------------------

        Donal let himself slide back down from the windowsill into the hallway.
When he'd seen Genna go over the edge, he'd jumped up, landing on his stomach,
arm outreached to try to grab her, but she fell too quickly.  When she had
suddenly sprouted wings, however, he knew she should be fine on her own, and
decided to try to use the disturbance to his advantage and escape.  He
shrugged.  For that matter, why not appropriate the girl's belongings?  He
picked up the backpack, which still lay at his feet, and slung it over his
shoulder.
        A soft sound by the door caught his attention, and he backed into a
shadow against the wall.  As he watched, the door opened, and a slender figure
entered the room and went to the room in which Donal had awakened earlier.  He
crept up behind the figure and grasped it around the neck and waist, pinning it
to him.  "What do you want?" he growled.
        "I came to let you out..."  The thin, high voice trailed off as its
owner gasped for breath.  Donal let the woman go, and she turned towards him,
her hand held out, a glint of gold in her palm.  Donal, recognizing the
faerling's brooch, reached for it, but the girl snatched her hand back before
he could grasp it.  She raised her eyes to his, and he recognized her as the
young wench who had met him at the door.
        She held her hands behind her back as she spoke.  "I know you could
easily kill me and be done with it, or steal the piece and escape, since I
opened the door."  She paused, a hand snaking forward to brush an ebony
lock of hair from her eyes.  "But could you kill a girl in cold blood or leave
her to be tortured when your disappearance was known?"
        Donal stared at her coldly.  "You want to go with me."  It was a
statement, not a question.  He knew that if she really wanted to follow him
out, there was not much he could do about it, but he didn't intend to make the
decision easy for her.
        She bit her lip, her free hand toying with a lock of hair, snaking it
around her finger.  "Yes," she said softly.  In truth, she simply wanted to
leave this place, and this seemed to be the easiest manner in which to
accomplish her desires.  She untied a rope from about her waist, releasing a
pack she had had tied under her cloak, which she handed to Donal.  "I found
these below, and think they may belong to you."
        He took the bag and glanced inside to find a case containing his bow,
his quiver of arrows, his sword and sheath, and 3 daggers.  He glanced sharply
at the girl, but her expression was carefully innocent.  He'd *had* a fourth
dagger, but he wasn't about to inquire where it had gone at the moment.
        The girl started moving down the hallway.  "Follow me," she whispered,
drawing her cloak close around her, stepping down the stairs, remaining close
to the side of the hallway and the shadows.

                        -------------------------------

        Alec ducked a blow, the fist grazing his skull.  His reactions had been
growing slower and slower, and he knew the effects of the drug Jason had given
him were still upon him.  As he thought of Jason, he wondered just why the Lord
of Ellesmere hadn't yet shown his face in the courtyard.  Alec considered the
slim possiblity that Blackthorne was afraid of him, and dismissed it.
Blackthorne obviously considered Genna important enough, for whatever reason,
to try to kidnap her, and therefore would probably make an attempt to keep her.
Then again, he *was* making an attempt, as was obvious since this brute was out
here battling with him.  Alec felt his head begin to spin, and reflexively
ducked left as he saw the brute's hand come up.  A sharp pain burst in the side
of his head, and he stumbled, falling to one knee.  He struggled to free his
mind from the cobwebs, dropping to the ground and rolling out of the brute's
reach.

                        -------------------------------

        Genna heard a shout from below her, and glanced down to see Donal
running out the door, followed by a figure cloaked in black.  Alec was on the
ground, rolling sideways while a huge man attempted to grab him.  She started
spiraling downwards, wanting to help, even if she wasn't certain how.

                        -------------------------------

        Donal ran from the manor, the girl close behind, and saw the brute who
had clobbered him when he had first arrived.  Drawing his sword, he shouted to
the man, and ran up into range.  The brute turned and growled a challenge.
Donal jumped at him, sword out, attempting to strike through the shoulder.  He
intended to injure, but not kill, for the girl had been right.  Despite
everything, Donal could not kill in cold blood.  Why *she* had chosen to stake
her life on that fact, he didn't know, but then, it didn't matter at the moment
either.
        His strike landed on target, the impact jarring Donal as the sword slid
off the tough skin of the brute's arm.  He ducked and rolled by the brute,
standing and spinning to face his opponent's back.  The brute moved slowly, and
Donal took the chance to jump at his back.  Realizing that this was *not* a
defenseless opponent, Donal didn't hold back on his attack, and drove his sword
deep into the back of the brute.  The brute stumbled forward and fell, Donal's
sword coming clean of the body.  He hastily wiped the sword and resheathed it.
        "Is he dead?"
        Donal turned to see an unfamiliar, brawny, and slightly groggy man
towering over him.  He glanced back at the brute on the ground, nudging him
slightly with his toe.  "I don't believe so," he said slowly.  "He has tough
skin, and I felt my sword slip off target as it entered."
        "Good."  The stranger turned, and Donal saw Genna floating slowly to
the ground some feet away.  "Faerling, I think this might be our cue to leave."
        Genna hurried over to Donal, and reached up to take her pack from his
shoulder.  He considered resisting, but didn't, instead keeping a careful eye
on the large stranger he assumed to be her protector.  He shook his head at
the thought of her naivete.  If *anyone* needed a protector, the faerling did!
        "We have to share horses, and I hope you can ride well."  The cloaked
girl led the horses which Genna and Alec had brought up to the group.  She
glanced toward the house.  "And I'd say we should leave soon, before m'Lord
figures out what has happened."
        Alec vaulted onto the horse, reaching down and easily lifting Genna up
in front of him.  "Follow me," he commanded.  "I know these woods as well as
Blackthorne himself."  Wheeling the horse around, he raced off.
        Donal shrugged at the girl and climbed up onto the horse, reaching a
hand down to help her.  "I hope you can ride," she muttered as he took the
reins and kicked the horse to a gallop.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part VIII

                                Interlude

        Every bone ached, and her rear end felt as if it were a mass of
bruises.  Still, Genna knew she hadn't had the worst of it, for Alec had held
her on their horse.  The pair riding with them had found themselves in the
bushes not far into the woods.  However, they had simply climbed back on and
held on for dear life as they raced after Alec.
        The morning sun, filtered by the trees,  made Genna blink as her eyes
flickered open and she struggled for wakefullness.  Her body ached so much that
she wanted desperately to return to sleep, but the scent of cooking meat
pulled her to consciousness.  She glanced around and spied a slender,
raven-haired, young human woman sitting cross-legged, watching her, nibbling on
a piece of meat.
        "Your hair is green," the stranger observed.
        "So are my eyes," Genna answered inanely, still not fully awake.  "Who
*are* you?"
        "Gil."  The stranger coked her head to one side, staring at Genna.
Genna stared back, her eyes caught by Gil's strange obsidian orbs.  "You're
wings are magical," Gil observed.
        Wings!  Genna had completely forgotten about them.  She sat up and
twisted around, trying vainly to see her shoulders.  By reaching behind her, she
could feel the wings, a lacy membrane folded neatly against her back.  Even as
she thought about it, they unfolded and fluttered behind her.  Genna craned her
head around to see the lacy green wings.
        "Will you stare at them all day, Faerling?"  Alec came up behind her,
chuckling.  He felt eyes upon him, and turned to see Gil staring at him,
obsidian eyes narrowed.  He shook his head, a sharp "no",  as she started to
say something, and Gil's mouth closed as she made a face.
        Genna hadn't noticed this exchange, so enraptured by her wings was she.
"They are magical?" she asked, suddenly realizing what Gil had told her.
        Gil turned to face the faerling.  "They are magical.  *Why* is your
hair green?"
        Genna was startled by Gil's sudden question.  It seemed the girl had an
ability to change topics midstride easily and without warning.  "Because it
is," she answered simply.  "'Tis the Faerie blood."
        "Ah."  Gil nodded.  "You are a Faerie, then."
        "She is a *Faerling*," Alec corrected.  "Can't you tell the difference,
little mage?"
        Gil glared at Alec.  "Forgive my ignorance," she said bitingly, her
manner overly formal,  "but I am only recently arrived on your world and find
myself unfamiliar with your customs and heritage."  She recited the litany as
if she had done so many times before.  "My apologies if I have offended you in
some way."
        Alec simply stared at her.  "You make little sense, even for a mage."
He turned away, thinking to himself, -'Tis said that magic can addle the
brains.  Could be 'tis true, with Genna and this one for examples!-
        "Alec!"  He turned quickly at Genna's shout, finding her on the other
side of the clearing, kneeling over where the fourth member of their group
still slept.  As he strode over, she lifted the blankets from the ground,
shaking them angrily.
        "He's gone!" Genna said indignantly.   She scowled at the area of
ground where the blanket had been.  "And only he knew where my mother's jewlery
is."
        There was the sound of a voice behind her, a swish in the air, and a
crackling feeling all around, and the brooch of Mirya floated in the air in
front of Genna.  She reached out and took it, and the crackling feeling was
gone.  Holding it tightly in both hands, she turned to see Gil leaning against
a tree, smiling to herself.
        As she watched, Gil straightened up - she was a tall girl, Alec noticed
- and said, "I believe the elf will be quite surprised when he realizes
that he is no longer carrying the gold piece he thought he removed from my
pouch this morning."  She shook her head, remarking, "Sheesh, the longer I stay
here the more I talk like you guys!"
        Alec raised an eyebrow at this, but decided not to press the point.
"Genna,  eat breakfast, and then we can find our way from these woods and move
on to another town and perhaps some work at last."  Genna needed no other
coaxing, immediately grabbing a well-cooked bite of meat from the fire.

                        -------------------------------

        Donal moved quietly through the woods, not far from Alec's group as it
descended towards the town.  He knew that alone he stood a good chance of
getting lost in these woods - they were by far the most confusing woods he has
seen in his travels, almost as if they *tried* to confuse the traveler.
However, by following Alec, who professed to know the area, he thought to find
his way out and then leave the party.  He knew they weren't heading back to
town, for they would have been there already, and thought that perhaps the
warrior meant to make most of his traveling to the next town through the woods,
hopefully discouraging any possibility of pursuit.
        When night fell, Donal set up his own camp near the others.  Although
he had been traveling on foot, he had had little trouble keeping up with them,
for travel was slow through the woods.  But he was still tired, and it didn't
take long before he slept.

                        -------------------------------

        Alec had divided the night into 3 watches, giving Genna the first,
himself the second, and Gil the early morning.  He still wasn't entirely
certain if he trusted the young mage, but it seemed he had little choice at the
moment.  Perhaps when they reached the town she would travel her own path, but
until then it appeared she would follow his.
        Genna paced around the fire, periodically glancing at the sleeping
forms by the fire.  Her ears pricked at some sound, and she moved to the edge
of the small clearing in which they had made camp.  It felt as if something
drew her forward, and she stepped from the clearing and into the woods, moving
as if drawn.

                        -------------------------------

        "T'shal hli cahm dento, sritorr."
        The words, chanted in a lilting, high pitched voice, woke Donal
from a deep sleep.  He sat up quickly, and looked around, using his darksight
to see if was still alone.  He sighted a warm form, only slightly smaller than
hinmself, moving towards him, through the trees.  It moved slowly forward, then
stopped, still several feet away.
        "T'shal hli cahm dento."
        Donal blinked, and when he looked again, the figure was no longer
there.  He shook his head.  Perhaps he still dreamt.  He tried to go back to
sleep, but echoing in his mind were the words,  "Return to me, half-elf.
Return to me."

                        -------------------------------

        Alec woke to find the moon high above him and the clearing still.  He
glanced around, quickly taking stock.  Gil still slept, snoring gently, and
Genna was leaning against a tree, staring off into the distance.  He stood and
went over to her, gently tapping her on the shoulder.  Her eyes flickered open,
and he realized that she had been dozing off.  Placing an arm about her
shoulders, he led her to her bedroll and watched while she quickly fell asleep.
Then he began pacing the camp, keeping a watchful eye out for any trouble.

                        ------------------------------

        Gil liked the morning hours before the rest of the world was awake.  It
was then when she could wake from her disturbing dreams and find the world
peaceful, still undisturbed by humanity.  Actually, that was one thing she did
like about this strange, new world.  It was still raw, and unformed by humans.
And better than that, it had *magic*.  Gil concentrated slightly, and her eyes
grew pitch black, seemingly infinitely deep, and then she looked at the world
around her, seeing the magic auras surrounding and touching the earth and
trees.  A pale green glow, the glow of a magical creature, was darting in and
out among the tree tops, being chased by a another glow.  Gil assumed these to
be the Jithri, smallest of the Faerie Folk of this world.
        She glanced to where Genna slept, seeing the green glow of creature's
magic again, centered on her back.  She'd seen it when the girl had arrived at
Ellesmere Manor, but had kept her mouth shut, as she had learned to do.  Her
ability to see magic so easily seemed to be unusual, even here.  Not that she
had been able to do this *before* arriving here, but it seemed to set her apart
from most mages of this world.
        She stood and stretched, allowing her eyes to return to normal sight.
She could still see fairly normally while her eyes were tuned to magic, but the
images were hazy, as if they were out of focus while she looked at the magic.
The morning light was finally breaking through the trees, and she saw Alec and
Genna beginning to awaken.  She called out to Alec, asking him to find some
breakfast and offering to start a fire while he hunted.  He groggily stood,
wiping the sleep from his eyes, and taking his bow, headed off into the forest.
        Wishing instead for a nice lake to bathe in, Gil searched her mind for
the proper words for a simple cantrip to strip the dirt from her clothing.  She
had only been on this world a few months, and had already learned much about
magic during that time.  However, she had to admit, she most missed having a
private bath with running water and scented soap and *heat*.  Sighing, she
recalled the cantrip again and cast it upon her clothes and body, and then her
pack.  She *hated* feeling so grubby all the time!
        "Greetings, ladies."
        Gil spun at the sound of the voice, and Genna instinctively rose a few
inches into the air, her wings creating a cool breeze.  Gil almost laughed,
wishing she had known the faerling during the summer when she had so wished for
air-conditioning!
        Donal stepped into the clearing, a strange expression on his face.  He
didn't quite know *why* he had returned to the group, only that he had.  And he
knew that if he tried to leave again, he would only find himself returning once
more.  It was strange, but he accepted it, since he knew of no way to fight it.
He glanced at the two girls.  As he watched, Gil's eyes narrowed, becoming a
deep black, until he could see no more color or white in them.
        Gil stared at Donal, tracing the deep blue of bonding magic around him.
It was a strange spell, one that she hadn't seen before, but it was definitely
some sort of geas.  Beyond that, she couldn't tell.
        "What are you doing here?" Alec asked angrily as he strode into the
clearing.
        Donal shrugged and leaned casually against the tree, his arms crossed
across his chest.  "I decided that perhaps we might have a use for each other.
You can guide me out of the forest, and I can scout for you.  I'd also be
another pair of eyes to watch at night."
        "And what proof do we have that you won't stab us in the back one night
and be gone by morning?" Alec asked bitingly.
        "I didn't when I left before," Donal said simply.  He held out his
hands in a gesture of supplication.  "I ask only to travel with you until the
next town.  We can travel far better together than alone."
        "He is geased," Gil commented quietly.  Alec glanced at her
questioningly, while Genna wondered what she meant.  "He has the binding magic
twisted around him," Gil elaborated.  "This ties him to some purpose.  Whether
he's on our side or not, I can't tell."
        "Let him stay."  Alec glanced at Genna as she spoke, thinking that her
strange habit of trusting everyone was likely going to land them in hot water
some day.  Still, he could see no reason not to let the half-elf stay,
especially considering the fact that he would be near them anyway if he didn't
stay.  As long as he was in sight, they would be safer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                Faerling, Part IX


        Alec stood, his back to the room, gazing out the window to the treetops
beyond.  He glanced at the darkening sky, watching the shadows cast by the
waxing moon creep across the treetops.  -Not much longer,- he thought to
himself.  He thought of Genna, of whom he had become quite protective since
meeting her less than two weeks past.  Soon he would have to rely on her
ability to take care of herself, if only for a short while.  -Only two days...-
he thought, turning to lean against the window sill.
        "Greetings!"  The door slammed open and Donal entered the room,
striding quickly to the table and slapping a deck of cards down upon it.
        Alec grimaced.  "For one in your profession, you can be very loud."
        "And you can be very grim," Donal returned.  "Now, relax a little for
the night.  I found some cards to help us while away the time in this dull
village, since you refuse to allow me to engage myself in anything more
interesting."
        Despite himself, a smile came to his face.  "I thought you had already
found a, um, diversion..." Alec commented, moving over to seat himself at the
table.
        Donal shrugged, shuffling the cards with the grace of an experienced
player.  "The wench is willing, 'tis true, but not till after the hours of the
Merry Lady."  He raised an eyebrow and grinned.  "I am to meet her later."  His
fingers flew and the cards were dealt rapidly.
        Alec took the cards before him and leaned back.  "You do understand, we
will not play for money."
        Donal placed a carefully innocent expression on his face.  "Why not?
After all, 'tis a simple game between gentleman to pass the time."
        "No wagers."
        Donal sighed.  Well, if he couldn't actually earn anything this night,
at least he could hone his skills for the next time he could get a *real* game.

                        -------------------------------

        Gil leaned close to the flickering candle, barely able to make out the
words in the book before her.  Genna already slept on one of the cots in the
room, and Gil dared not use a better light for fear of waking the girl.  But
this late at night was the only time she could be sure of no interruption to
her studies.  During the day Genna and Donal would constantly bother her,
neither showing an ounce of patience as they waited in this town.  She dipped
her pen in the inkwell and began that night's entry in her studybook.

                This inn sucks.  Yeah, I know that doesn't have
                much to do with magic, but hey, this place is
                deadly dull.  Ugh.  Scary to think I agree with
                Donal on that point, too.  But at least *I* don't
                go around annoying people.  I have my studying to
                keep me busy.  Sigh.  But we *have* been here a
                week already, and so far we've gotten some
                menial labor, but nothing really interesting.
                I mean, I've used my magic more while practicing
                this week than actually *doing* anything.  Ah,
                well, back to the books.

                My project for the day was the geas on Donal.
                And a little study tonight on the idea of
                creation magic.  I mean, I can create some
                small things (tiny flames, little sparks, stuff
                like that), but I've been having trouble making
                of the any really cool stuff... like giant
                flaming spheres raining down from the sky.  Hm.
                I *could* always try to do it as an illusion.
                Illusion magic doesn't take so much out of me.
                But if there is anyone else out there who can
                see magic like I do, illusions are pretty obvious.

                I got sidetracked.  Back to Donal's geas.  Okay,
                it's a really different form of bonding magic.
                I mean, there are a *lot* of forms of bonding
                magic.  Some are imposed upon people, some are
                by mutual agreement (like the mental bonding that
                occurs during a marraige ceremony here -- it
                really *is* a binding ceremony here!).  This
                appears to be an imposed bond, but the magic is
                completely different from any I've seen before.
                I can unravel a little of it, but it seems like
                it's a lot simpler than I expected.  The problem
                seems to be that the source is a lot, well, I'd
                say *older* than I've used before.  I mean,
                *magic* is really old here, and the version we
                use isn't the one that's been around for eons.
                So this seems like the same stuff, but just enough
                different so I can't really understand what it
                says or where it comes from.  But I can tell one
                thing -- it's a kindly binding, not a maleficent
                one.  I mean, its for us, not against us.  So
                it's okay that he travels with us.  Giggle.
                In fact, I think it may well be the reason he
                hasn't left yet.  I mean, Donal doesn't seem the
                type who'd normally travel with a group.  As for
                me, I don't really know much about this world, so
                staying with this group or leaving is all pretty
                much the same to me.  So I think I'll stay.  Safer
                for the time being.

                Yawn.  I'm too tired to deal with this tonight.
                Besides, I'm sure there'll be plenty of time
                tomorrow to study.  So much for adventure, hm?

        Gil set the pen down slowly, so it didn't spatter, and closed the book.
She held the book in one hand, laying the other hand on the cover, and
concentrated.  The book began to warm in her hands, and she smiled, satisfied,
and set it down.  She had already warned the others not to touch her book, but
she saw nothing wrong with reinforcing the idea.  She went to her cot and was
quickly asleep.

                        -------------------------------

        A loud scream split the still of the early morn.  Alec sat bolt
upright, sleep quickly flying from his brain.  The scream had come from the
room next door, and his first thought was Genna.  He scrambled out of the bed,
pulling on his pants as he ran towards the door.  He nearly bumped into Donal
in the hallway, coming from the stairs, apparently just returned from his
rendevous.  The both burst into the other room just as the screaming stopped.
        Genna sat up in her bed, sheets clutched up against her chest, staring
wide-eyed at Gil.  Gil was standing in the center of the room, her nightshift
swirling around her as she looked back and forth.  Her eyes, black as night,
focused on Genna momentarily and she intoned, "All around there is crystal."
Her voice was hollow, and unusually formal.  She turned again and stopped when
she caught Alec's eyes.  "In the crystal are the reflections of the soul and
the reflections of the outer body."  She stopped to breath deeply before
turning to look at Donal.  "'Tis time to choose and time to see what is truly
visible.  And four shall travel and four shall return, and how shall they be
changed?"
        The girl stiffened, and then relaxed, so suddenly that Alec had to move
swiftly to catch her before she fell to the hard floor.  He picked her up and
set her back on her bed, while Genna looked on, a confused expression on her
face.
        "What do you think she was talking about?" Genna whispered.
        Alec glanced at her, then back at Gil.  "Seems to me, Faerling, that
she was just dreaming.  Perhaps it meant nothing at all."  He turned back to
Genna, a smile on his face.  "Go back to sleep, little one."  Motioning for
Donal to move out, he left the room, shutting the door securely behind him.
        As they walked back to the room they shared, Donal asked, "Do you
really believe her chatter meant nothing?"
        Alec shrugged.  "Why should it mean more than the ravings of one who is
asleep?"  He knew he lied as he said it, for Gil's words had reminded him of
his own strange dream when he first met Genna.
        Donal shrugged in return.  "It just seems to me, when she spoke of four
people, that we are a strange traveling group."
        "Do you plan to continue to follow us, elf?"
        "Half-elf, if you please.  And yes, I find myself with no desire to
leave your company, strange as it seems."
        Alec sighed as he got ready for bed again.  It seemed that his life had
been taken from his own control.  The problem was, he wasn't entirely certain
*whose* control it *was* under now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Faerling, Part X


        Genna flew up the stairs of the inn, a piece of paper clutched tightly
in her hand.  The flutter of her wings in the tight area created a draft felt
by all in the common room of the inn, but after the past week, all were used to
the faerling.
        "Alec, Gil, Donal!"  She landed at the top of the stairs and raced
lightly down the hall, bursting into the room the men shared at top speed.
"Look!"  She held out the letter, as proud as if she had written it herself.
        "So what's it say, Faerling?" Alec asked, a hint of laughter in his
voice.  He was leaning back in his chair, his long legs stretched out across
the floor.  Donal sat on the edge of the table, looking down at the cards in
his hand, only glancing at Genna after her arrival.
        Genna's face fell.  "I don't know," she admitted quietly.  "I can't
read."
        Alec reached out to gently take the crumpled paper from Genna's hand.
Unfolding it, he read silently.
        "So you can't read, eh, little one?" Donal chuckled.  Genna watched
interestedly as he calmly slipped a card from his sleeve and into his hand,
sliding a card from his hand back up into his sleeve.  She had never seen a
game played like that, but then, she had learned that Donal had some strange
quirks.  She thought to later ask how to play, perhaps when the men weren't
actually playing at the time.
        "Where did you get this?" Alec asked, still reading.
        "I was down in the common room, listening to the bard sing," Genna
explained, she flew up into the air a little ways, coming to rest on the top
bunk in the room.  Perched on the edge, her feet dangling over, she leaned
forward to continue talking.  "Then a girl - younger than Gil or myself even -
came into the inn, looking for a group that traveled such as ours.  The
innkeeper pointed her to me, and she gave me the letter.  She told me that we
should send our answer to the house of..." Genna wrinkled her nose, trying to
remember the name she had been told.  "Oh!  The house of DiLian.  They are the
nobles who watch this area."
        Alec didn't try to correct Genna's view of nobles "watching".  He knew
she would likely forget the lesson as soon as he told her.
        "What's up?"  Gil strode into the room, her lanky gait easily taking
her to the chair Alec had vacated in a few steps.  She turned the chair around
and sat on it backwards, leaning over the back of the chair.
        Alec waved the letter at her.  "We've been asked by the Lady Athanasia
DiLian to aid in finding her brother in the north."
        Gil paled.  For the first time in the week the group had been together
she seemed to lose her composure, and her voice trembled when she spoke.
"Damien?"  She took a deep breath, looking as if she would say more, but
remaining quiet.
        Alec looked at her curiously.  "Yes, as a matter of fact.  And her other
brother, Gerard, as well."  He glanced again at the letter.  "It appears that
they have adventured to the north and have not returned in some time, and the
Lady DiLian is becoming worried.  She states here that she sent her sister to
the inn with a notice for any adventuring groups in the area."  He glanced at
his companions.  "Like us."
        "I'm not sure," Gil said slowly.  "She doesn't say anything about us
specifically, does she?"  When Alec shook his head, she continued, "I'm still
not sure I would trust her.  Tansy is a crafty woman - worse than some of the
ones I knew back home."
        Donal shrugged.  "Does she say how much she'll pay?"
        Alec checked the note again.  "No.  She asks us to meet her at her
house to speak of terms."  He glanced at Gil.  "*Why* do you not trust this
woman?"
        Gil wouldn't meet his eyes, saying quietly.  "I knew her a few months
ago, and she usually has an ulterior motive.  I'm not sure I could work for her
for any amount of cash."
        Donal grinned, sliding off the table and walking around until he stood
behind Gil.  He leaned over her, placing his hands on her shoulders.  "So,
mage, can you make me invisible?  If you were to do that, I could ...
perhaps... scout around this lady's manor and find out just what she has
planned for us..."
        A slight smile showed on Gil's face.  "I think I might be able to.  But
I've never actually tried before.  I'd have to study first."
        Donal held out hand to help her stand.  "Then go study, my dear, and
I'll spend the evening scouting."
        Alec looked unsure of this plan.  "I'm not so sure it's a good idea to
trespass on the lady's property..."
        "Why not?" Genna piped up.  She floated to the ground, landing in front
of Alec, hands on her hips, head back so she could look up at him.  "If Gil
doesn't trust her then if Donal finds out what she wants then we'll know if we
can trust her so we can take the job.  And we *do* need money," she pointed
out.
        "I think I liked it better when she was too shy to talk," Donal
whispered to Gil, his head spinning from the faerling's chatter.


                        ------------------------------


        "Do you really think you can make me invisible?"
        Donal sat on the edge of the table in the room Gil and Genna shared,
leaning back as Gil paced the room, staring fixedly at the book in her hands.
"Gil?  Are you even listening to me?"
        Gil stopped pacing and turned to look at him.  "Look, I *need* to
finish reading this, and *then* I'll explain it all to you, okay?  Unless, of
course, you want me to do some major mistake and blow your brains into itsy
bits instead of turning you invisible..."
        Donal blanched slightly, and he decided against further comment.  In a
few minutes, Gil stopped pacing and gently closed the book and set it on the
table behind Donal.  Curious, he turned to glance at it, but at a sharp "No!"
he turned to look at Gil instead.  "Well?" he asked.
        "Stand up."  Gil's voice was curt and no nonsense, and when Donal
continued to lean against the table, she reached out and yanked him to a
standing position, pulling him into a clearer area, away from obstruction.  "I
need to be able to see all around you, or else I might miss an area," she said
shortly.  "Now, stand still and be quiet."
        Stepping back from him, she reached up and postioned his head so that
their eyes locked.  She stared at him, her eyes glazing to black orbs,
seemingly infinitely deep.  Donal found himself trapped by her gaze, staring
into the darkness.  He felt his body relax and felt as if only stood through
the help of some unseen outside source, his legs grew so limp.
        Gil's mind reached out to touch the colors swirling about Donal.  She
reached a hand out to him, and saw that her hand glowed with the yellow aura of
alteration magic, tinged with a small amount of illusion.  With a single finger
of her raised hand, she began to trace yellow lines about Donal's body.  She
slowly walked around Donal, her finger tracing circles of light about his body,
as she whispered words of magic.
        A voice came to Donal's ears from far away.  His eyes were still glued
to the spot where Gil had stood, and he could see as she passed in and out of
his sight as she moved around him.  His arms felt leaden, and it felt as if
ropes dropped about his body, growing tighter and tighter.  His ears strained
to hear the words being spoken, but they didn't make sense to him.
        Gil stood back and checked her work before setting the spell off.  She
hadn't missed any spots, and if all went as she expected, it should work.  She
closed her eyes and reached her hands out, touching the strings of magic.
Opening her eyes again, she tugged hard on the strings.  Donal felt as if all
the pressure on his arms were suddenly released, and he stumbled forward, not
even realizing he had been straining against the feeling of being bound.  He
looked up and realized that Gil was watching him, and unusual expression on her
face.
        He straightened up and looked down at his hands, wiggling his fingers
before his eyes, wondering why he could still see them.  Then he stepped in
front of the mirror, and made faces at his reflections.  Turning to Gil, he saw
the same curious expression on her face.  "Why didn't it work?" he asked.
        Gil shrugged.  "The magic is there, and it should have worked.  I don't
have a clue why it didn't.  Maybe next time."
        Donal laughed.  "Well, I'll just have to depend upon my own abilities
then to sneak into the lady's place."  As he started to leave, Gil caught his
arm.
        "Donal, I realize that you are good at what you do, but you *don't*
know what Tansy's like!  She'd skin you alive if she caught you, and she's...
well... she's likely to catch you unless you have help."  Gil's eyes were
deadly serious.
        The door burst open, startling both, as Genna breezed into the room.
"Hello, Gil!  'Tis dinner and Alec and I are going to the common room; would
you like to join us?" Genna landed, her wings softly fluttering to a halt.
"Gil, is there a reason why you are holding your hand out like that?"
        Gil caught Donal's eyes and they both grinned.
        "Gil?"  The faerling walked over to her, and stopped in surprise as she
felt someone blocking her way.  Then comprehension dawned and she began to
smile as well.  "Oh, 'tis Donal.  He is truly invisible, then, Gil?"
        Gil nodded at Genna, still grinning.  Then slowly her grin faded as her
expression grew serious once more.  She turned back to Donal.  "I don't have
any idea how long the spell will last, Donal, so you should probably get going
and hurry up.  And remember what I said about Tansy.  She can be one mean
bitch.  Just watch yourself, okay?"
        Donal nodded, and Genna felt a brush of air move by her, and Gil turned
to watch as he left the room.  Gil turned back to Genna, a slight smile for the
success of her spell still on her face, and said, "Now, did you mention
dinner?"


                        -------------------------------


        Donal crept up to the side of the mansion.  This one was older than
Ellesmere Manor had been, but was also more opulent.  It seemed as if the
nobility within in preferred luxury to living quietly.  He moved to a vine
which entwined the side of the house, climbing around the windows, all the way
to the roof, where it traveled along the edge until it disappeared into the
limbs of a nearby tree.  Donal reached out and tested the strength of the vine.
He had seen such vines before -- had even climbed such vines before -- but with
Gil's warnings still in mind, he worried what kind of traps he could find for
thieves within this mansion.
        The vine seemed sturdy, and well-attached to the wall, and he gingerly
climbed a few feet up it.  From there he bounced lightly, again testing the
strength of the vine before continuing upwards.  If he were to fall, he
preferred to do it from as low a height as possible.  Most importantly, of
course, he preferred not to fall at all.  The vine seemed safe, so he continued
upwards until he reached the window at the top of the mansion.  Glancing around
to check that no one on the grounds could see his activity, he gently raised
the window the slightest amount possible and then wriggled through.  Once in,
he brushed the dust from his body and then carefully lowered the window once
more.  He glanced at the cloudy glass one time before he left, again noting the
opulence of the mansion.  To have glass covered windows in what appeared to be
simply an attic storage space was extravagance.  Even if this area had once
been servants' housing, glass windows would still be unusual.
        Now that he was inside, his next step was to find the Lady DiLian's
quarters and see if he could find out anything interesting regarding this
assignment she wished them to take.  He moved to the door, carefully avoiding
stepping on any of the seeming junk and making noise, and cautiously opened it.
A set of stairs led down into darkness, and Donal stepped carefully onto the
stairs, hoping that they didn't squeak.  He moved slowly down, hesitating each
time a slight squeak alerted him to a rotten board.  When he arrived on the
next floor, he could see a dim glow off to his right from under a doorway, and
he moved silently down the hallway until he stood outside the closed door,
listening caerfully to the sounds within.
        A commanding, feminine voice was speaking in clear tones.  "You
delivered the message to the inn."
        "Yes, m'lady," a timid voice answered.  "I delivered it to a faerling
girl whom the bartender told me was part of an adventuring group that waited at
the inn until work could be found."
        "Hm," the first woman mused.  "A group with a faerling is unusual.  Are
you certain it wasn't a full faerie?"
        "No full faerie exists grown to more than my own height, m'lady."  The
girl sounded more sure of herself.  "No, t'was definitely a faerling, which
means that the group may be unusual enough to aid you."
        Donal heard movement in the room, and the clink of glass against wood.
There was a rustle of fabric and then the first voice began to speak again.
"That will be all for now.  Return with my nightclothes in one half hour."
        "Yes, m'lady."
        Footsteps approached the door, and Donal poised himself to slip in as
the girl stepped out.  The door opened, and a slight girl, not yet into her
early adult years, stepped through, balancing a large pitcher on each hip.
While she turned slowly and struggled to close the door behind her without
dropping the pitchers, Donal slipped through, into the hazy light of the room.
        It appeared to be a boudiour, with a large canopied bed in the center
of the room, enclosed by hanging diaphanous curtains.  A heavy oaken wardrobe
stood to one side, one door hanging open displaying a large press of gowns
within.  On the other side was a standing screen, from behind which Donal could
here slight sounds of movement and an occasional splash.  Directly across from
the bed, next to the door, stood an ornate desk, covered with papers and
inkwells and pens.  Donal moved closer to it and glanced at the papers.  He saw
several copies of the note which Genna had brought upstairs, all penned in the
same hand.  He also found financial records of the area, notes about upkeep of
the mansion, and other uninteresting items.  Nothing on the desk appeared to
have any bearing on the task the lady had in mind for their group.
        He turned to look at the rest of the room, his gaze sweeping over the
table and basin near the screen in the corner, the oaken table by the bed, the
lamp's flickering flame hazily lighting the room.  He moved closer to the table
by the bed, his gaze caught be a slim book lying atop the table.  Glancing at
the screen to make sure the lady was still busy, he gently picked up the volume
and opened it.
        As he lifted the cover of the book, a bright flash went off,
accompanied by a loud *crack* in his ears, temporarily blinding and deafening
him.  As he shook his head to clear his eyes and ears, he slowly heard a voice
through the pounding pulse in his ears.
        "Who is there?  Who *dares* to..."
        Donal heard a splash, and then wet footsteps padding across the room
closer to him.  The book had fallen from his hands to the floor, and he
remained as still as possible, praying to Tam that she wouldn't somehow walk
into him.  His vision slowly cleared, and now that he could see he started to
back up slowly, moving further from her so she couldn't bump into him and
therefore find him.
        Kneeling down to pick up the book was a statuesque woman, still damp
from the bath.  Her blond hair hung over her shoulders, dripping water onto the
floor.  As Donal backed into a darker corner next to the wardrobe, the woman
stood, remaining in the center of the room, looking around.
        As Donal watched, her gaze swept by him.  He remained frozen, hardly
daring to breathe.  He watched as she then walked over to the table and
replaced the book.  The door burst open as the young girl ran into the room,
leaving the door standing open.  Donal slowly edged his way around the room
toward the door while the two women talked.
        "M'lady, what has happened?"  The younger woman looked frightened as
she hurried to the other woman's side.
        The other woman shook her head, her long blond hair spraying tiny
droplets of water about the room.  Her gaze swept the room one more time, her
eyes narrow.  "It would appear that my book fell of the table, opening on
impact and releasing the protective runes I set upon it."  Her expression was
hard as she spoke, and Donal knew she realized that someone besides herself had
been in the room.  "It was nothing."
        The younger girl looked relieved.  "In that case, m'lady, would you
like to finish your bath or shall I lay out your nightclothes?"
        The lady walked slowly to the bed and sat down.  "I believe I would
prefer to sleep now."  Glancing at the door, next to which Donal now stood, she
added, "And please close the door first.  I find the draft from the hallway
disturbing."
        Holding his breath, Donal quickly sidestepped through the open door,
watching as it closed behind him.  Leaning against the wall outside, he let his
breath out slowly, finally relaxing, as his back slid against the wall until he
sat, leaning heavily, and rested for a while.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Faerling, Part XI


        Alec paced the small confines of his room, his face taught and tired.
His mind raced between problems.  First, Donal had yet to return from his
excursion of the night before.  Alec could only assume that he had either ran
into trouble, or -- more likely -- stopped off to see his "friend" at the Merry
Lady.  And then there was the problem of the evening.  He glanced at Genna, who
sat perched upon the top bunk, ankles crossed, feet swinging gently as she
stared off into space.  He had to leave the group for a few evenings -- even
now he could feel the familiar restlessness upon him -- and although he knew
Gil and Donal could care for themselves, he worried about Genna.  He knew that
she already trusted the other two completely, and he worried that she could
come to harm somehow.  Her naivete was sometimes astounding.  He stopped pacing
by the window, pushing the curtain aside and leaning out into the sunlight,
gripping the pane so hard his knuckles whitened.  If only he had another
choice.
        Gil felt relief when Alec finally stopped pacing, for the steady sound
of his feet was enough to drive her mad.  She knew he thought Donal merely
sidetracked, but Gil worried that the situation was far worse.  Tansy was an
unusual woman, and didn't take kindly to intruders.  Sighing, Gil only hoped
the invisibilty spell she had cast had lasted until Donal was through with his
explorations.  She normally liked to test spells extensively before actually
using them out of neccessity.  Magic still seemed new and strange to her, and
she wasn't always certain she could trust her own abilities.
        Alec leaned up from the window sill, clasped his hands behind his back,
and began pacing again.  Gil groaned inwardly as the steady "tromp tromp tromp"
of his booted feet against the hard wooden floor wore against her nerves.  Her
fingers drummed upon the table, as she began to worry again.
        "Will you stop that infernal tapping!" Alec exclaimed, whirling to face
the mage.
        Gil looked up from where she sat, her hand poised in midair, then
glanced at her hand.  She slowly lowered her hand to the table.  "Sorry.
Didn't even know I was doing it."  She watched as Alec started pacing again,
and gritted her teeth.  "How 'bout this.  If I stop tapping, why don't you stop
pacing?"
        Alec stopped and looked at her in surprise.  "I did not realize it
bothered you."
        "The sound of your feet is like a bass drum pounding inside my brain
and driving me up a wall," Gil explained through gritted teeth.  "I guess you
could say that 'bothers' me."
        The door swung open wide, crashing into the opposite wall, but Alec saw
no one standing outside.  "Greetings, all!" came Donal's cheery voice, and
footstep moved toward the center of the room.
        Donal walked over to Gil, dropping an arm about her shoulder.  "My
dear, your spell worked wonders.  Unfortunately, I took a short nap in the
hallway which is why I was late in returning here.  However, I *did* learn that
the Lady DiLian sent her brothers to investigate the legends of the Crystal
Palace, which is supposedly located in the frozen wastelands to the north.
They have yet to return,which is why she requests our help.  I also heard --
not from the Lady, but during my travels -- that the crystal palace has not
been found in centuries and that the group that does will gain treasure beyond
belief.  I think we should go."
        Alec glanced over at Gil, from where he could easily hear Donal's
voice, but he still saw nothing.  "I can see the success of your spell, Gil,
but would you mind dispelling the magic so that we may see Donal again?"
        Gil glanced at Alec, and then returned to stare at Donal, who stepped
back away from her.  "He's still invisible?" she asked in surprise.
"Incredible.  I really expected the spell would wear off."  She concentrated,
switching to her magical vision, reaching out to examine the yellow bands about
Donal's body.  "Amazing.  The spell is still as strong as when I set it."
She grasped a thread in one hand and a jerk of her wrist broke it, the bands
falling loose about Donal and fading away.
        "The crystal palace," Alec mused, a hint of familiarity about the place
hovering at the edges of his mind, only just out of reach.
        Gil stood and stepped away from the others, moving to stare out the
window.  "The frozen wastelands," she said softly.  "How long ago did they
leave?"
        "About two months," Donal said, his manner more serious now.  "She
seemed truly worried about them."
        Gil laughed shortly.  "Amazing that she would deign to worry about her
blood kin.  But two months..."  Her voice trailed off, and she bit her lip as
she thought.  "I agree," she said, turning slowly to face the others.  "I think
we should go."
        Genna hopped off the top bunk, floating gently to the ground.  "Shall I
send a messenger?" she asked cheerfully, glad to be seeing something happen
finally.
        Alec looked slightly distracted as he answered her.  "Yes, send a
messenger."  He dug into the pouch on his belt, pulling out a coin and placing
it in her hand.  "Pay the messenger this, and tell him to deliver a message to
the Lady DiLian that our company will be visiting her shortly after the noon
meal today."
        Genna nodded and flew through the open door.  With her leavetaking,
silence descended upon the room, as each of her companions remained quietly
lost in thought.

                        -------------------------------

        The room they stood in had all the opulence of grand royalty, despite
the fact that the Lady DiLian did not come from an impressive line of nobility.
The ceiling arched far above them, with ornate carvings covering the beams
above.  Alec watched, amused, as Genna flitted about the room, flying up until
she could touch the carvings, then swooping down to inspect the paintings on
the wall, then spiraling slowly up again until she perched on the chandelier,
kicking slightly with her feet until it swung as if pushed by a slight breeze.
        Gil glanced up at her nervously.  "Genna, I think you should get down
from there.  The Lady may not like tit if she finds you swinging on her
chandelier."
        "'Tis no problem, my dear," a cool feminine voice came from the top of
the curved stairway before the group.  "Those of the Folke are playful by
nature, and I knew to expect a faerling in your group."
        When the group turned toward the voice, they saw a statuesque blond
woman, dressed in a rich satin gown, gliding down the stairway.  As she caught
sight of Gil's face, her own face registered surprise.  "Why, Gillian!"  She
hurried down the stairs, still moving gracefully, until she stopped in front of
the tall girl.
        Both the Lady DiLian and Gil were tall, but where Gil seemed lanky, the
Lady was lush.  Seeing them standing together were like watching a confident
woman and a terrified teenager who didn't know quite what to do with her arms.
Gil's expression varied between defiant and nervous, and her fingers twisted
the material of her cloak around and around.
        "Greetings, Tansy," Gil said quietly.
        Tansy nodded.  "Greetings to you, my dear Gillian."  She turned, a
charming smile on her face, to look at Alec.  "You can't imagine my surprise at
seeing Gillian accompanying your group.  She left after a bit of an argument
more than two months ago, and I never expected to see her again.  'Tis
wonderful that we now have a chance to patch up our little disagreement."
        Tansy walked gracefully over to Alec, her hand held out.  He took her
hand in his and bowed low over it, brushing the back of her hand with his lips.
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you, m'lady."  As he stood back up, he heard the
flutter of wings beside him, and felt the cool rush of air that accompanied
Genna's descent.
        "And this is the faerling," Tansy said sweetly, turning to look at
Genna.
        "Genna, if you please," Genna said, her voice unnaturally sharp.
        "And I am Alec Ravenwood," Alec said smoothly, trying to distract Tansy
from the faerling, for it seemed Genna didn't appreciate the lady's
condescending manner.  "These are my associates, Donal and Gil."
        "As I said before, I have had the pleasure of knowing Gillian in the
past," Tansy said smoothly, walking over to stand before Donal.  "However, I
am pleased to meet you, elf."
        "Half-elf," Donal corrected, bowing low, hoping his relief didn't show
on his face.  He had been nervous about meeting her, positive she would somehow
recognize him as her invisible intruder of the previous night.  However, she
had greeted him with no flicker of recognition in her eyes, so he knew he was
safe.
        Tansy walked toward the archway on one side of the room, motioning for
the group to follow.  "Come.  We shall sit while I tell you of this small
errand I have need for you to do."  She took Alec's arm, leading him to a sofa
where she then sat.  "Sit, all of you, and I shall tell you what I need done."
        Gil perched on the edge of a chair, looking ill at ease in the room,
and Genna fluttered upwards to seat herself on the back of the chair behind
Gil.  Neither looked pleased and both looked as if they would dart from the
room at a moment's notice.
        Donal relaxed in a chair, his manner easily comfortable in any
surroundings.  He looked amused at Gil and Genna's discomfort.
        Alec found himself seated next to the Lady DiLian, and it was his
attention that she held when she began to speak.
        "As I mentioned in my note, my brothers have adventured to the north,
leaving nearly two months ago, and have yet to return.  I am looking for a
strong adventuring group to send after them."
        "How can you be sure we could find them?" Donal asked curiously.
        Gil bit back a sharp laugh, controlling her voice carefully so that it
came out calm.  "Donal, when Tansy says she'll send us after them, she means it
literally.  She'll use a spell to place us wherever she wants us to go."
        Tansy smiled at Alec.  "Gillian is correct.  I can use my own magic to
send you to the exact place I sent my brothers to, and from there you should be
able to discover their whereabouts."  She smiled prettily, capturing Alec's
eyes with her own.  Her voice, when she spoke, was full of conviction.  "I am
certain that you will able to find my brothers and bring them home safely."
        Alec met her smile with a broad grin of his own.  "I am certain we
will, m'lady.  How soon do you wish us to leave?"
        "Do you need anything from the inn at which you stayed?" Tansy asked
softly, her eyes still glued to Alec's face.
        He shook his head.  "We all travel lightly, and are carrying all we
own."
        Tansy smiled.  "Then if you will follow me to my study, you can be on
your way right away."
        Alec stood, holding a hand out to Tansy, who took it and daintily
stood, then tucking her arm around Alec's.  She led the way out of the room,
Donal following close behind, muttering about how annoying it was that Alec had
all the luck with this lady.
        As the others left the room, Gil glanced up at Genna, who was still
perched behind her, and laughed.  "I take it you don't like her much, either,
huh?"
        Genna shook her head solemnly.  "She spoke to me as if I were but a
child."
        Gil laughed again.  "Genna, to her we are all children."  Sighing, she
stood and stretched.  "Still, it seems as if the men have been captivated by
her charm, so maybe we should catch up to them before we lose them."
        "I still do not like her," Genna stated as the two walked down the
hallway, following the slow-moving trio still in sight in front of them.
        "You don't have to like her.  The guys like her, though, and as long as
we're a group, we're pretty much stuck."
        -Besides,- Gil thought to herself.  -There's always Damien to think
about.-

                        -------------------------------

        Genna and Gil entered Tansy's study only shortly behind the others.
Tansy motioned for them to stand together on one side of the room.  She stepped
back from the group, instructing them to hold hands.
        Gil groaned as Tansy began her spell.  She had always found the Academy
magic Tansy used inherently clumsy.  Still, she could feel the power in the
room growing, and by shifting her sight could see the magic coalescing about
the group.  She felt something take hold of her left hand, and looked to see
Donal holding on to her hand.  She reached out to her right to grasp Genna's
hand, seeing that Genna already grasped Alec's hand.
        Gil watched as the spell formed around them, the magic swirling in
patterns, trying to divine how the spell was made.  It suddenly occurred to her
that Tansy had never mentioned bringing the group back, and Gil instinctively
knew that the group would be on their own as soon as this spell took hold.  She
saw the magic closing in on each of them, clouding her vision until she
couldn't see anything except the magic.  And then it was dark.




========================================================================


                          Faerling, Part XII

                            by Deb Atwood


        Gil cowered in the corner of her room, hiding in the darkness.  She
didn't want to light her lamp, didn't want anyone to know she was awake.
Shouts and angry yells could be heard from the foyer below -- Gerard bellowing;
Damien's calmer, but still angry, voice; Tansy's sweetness and light voice
above the others.  She heard her door creak open, saw a crack of light for an
instant, then heard it shut again as light footsteps padded across the room to
where she hid.
        "Gil?" a tentative voice whispered.
        "Right here, Amile," Gil called softly.  She heard the youngest of the
DiLian family moe closer to her, until the young girl sat next to her, huddled
against her.  Gil could feel her shaking, terrified.
        "I'm afraid, Gil," the girl whispered, her voice shaky.  "They're
arguing and I'm afraid."
        "Your brothers wouldn't hurt Tansy," Gil reassured the girl.  "Gerard
wouldn't, and Damien definitely wouldn't."
        Gil could feel the girl shake her head.  "I'm not afraid of *them.*
I'm afraid of *her.*"
        Gil sighed, and drew the girl close, trying to lend some comfort.
Amile was only 12 years old, 5 years younger than Gil, and she looked up to Gil
for guidance.  Gil knew Tansy didn't like the way Amile looked to her, but
there wasn't much she could do to stop it.
        A crash shook the stairs, and an angry stomping moved down the hallway.
Gerard's shouts from the bottom of the stairs couldn't be understood, but
Damien's response, as he stopped outside her door, were easily understandable.
        "My dear brother, I am *going* to leave.  You are welcome to accompany
me, as are my sister and our guest.  You are also welcome to remain.  However,
you cannot stop me from leaving."  The door cracked open, and Gil could see the
silhouette of a figure leaning in.  "Gillian, are you in here?"
        Gil stood and ran to him, flinging her arms around him.  He held her
quietly for a moment, then said, "If we are to leave, we must leave soon."
        Gil glanced back into the shadows.  "Amile?"
        The girl stepped forward, shaking her head.  "I will be fine," she said
softly.  "Go."
        Gil ran to the dresser on one side of the room and grabbed her old
pack, hastily throwing a few essential items into it.  In minutes she was
ready.  She looked toward the door, suddenly realizing Damien had left.  She
peered out into the hallway, relieved to see him coming towards her from his
end room, his pack over her shoulder, buckling his scabbard about his waist.
He grasped her hand on his way by, leading her down the stairs.
        "You should not leave," Gerard said solemnly as the two passed him in
the foyer.
        "You cannot stop me," Damien informed him, still pulling Gil behind
him.  She glanced back at Gerard, her eyes apologzing as best she could.
        She followed Damien out and waited while he saddled a horse for them to
ride.  As she sat before him on the horse, she began to have a strange feeling
at the back of her mind.  -Something is not right here,- she thought, a
confused expression on her face.  She turned to look back at the House of
DiLian, fading into the distance as they rode away.  -This isn't the way it
happened.  I didn't leave with Damien.  I sneaked out the back one night, by
myself.  I didn't even say goodbye.-
        "Stop!" Gil said sharply, reaching out to tug on the reigns until the
horse stopped abruptly.  She slid off the horse, not looking at the hurt
expression on Damien's face.  She looked around, panic growing.  As she watched
the sky, it grew darker, and she wondered what was happening.  She grabbed for
Damien's hand as she saw a dark shape descending from the sky, blocking out the
light of the moon, terrifying her.  A scream was torn from her throat, and she
screamed until she was hoarse, shrieking in terror.  The dark shape landed
between her and Damien, tearing her hand from his.
        "You didn't think you could really leave," a feminine voice said
coolly.  The darkness cleared slightly and Gil saw Tansy's ice-blue eyes
glaring down at her.  "You are ungrateful, child.  I find you, educate you, and
this is how you repay me.  You disrupt my life, disrupt my family, and then you
think you can leave."
        -Dear God, no!- Gil screamed inwardly.  -This didn't happen!  It
didn't!  I *know* it didn't!-
        A strange feeling crackled in the air as Tansy gestured towards Damien,
and when Gil could see again, he was no longer there.
        "What did you *do* with him!" she yelled, throwing herself at Tansy.
The oter woman easily brushed her aside, and Gil fell heavily against a tree by
the path.
        Tansy shrugged.  "Nothing much; simply sent him home.  I'll deal with
him later.  For now, I'll deal with you."
        Gil's eyes narrowed.  She would have to fight fire with fire, magic
with magic.  Her eyes blackened, and she could easily see the protective spells
Tansy held around her body.  She could disrupt them easily, given the time and
energy, but it would be far easier now to try to circumvent them.  She searched
her mind for the proper words.
        Pain ripped through her as she felt a blast of magic wrap around her.
She'd been caught off guard, unable to see Tansy's action because her normal
sight was disabled while she looked for the magic.  She looked at the magic
still surrounding her, trying to remember through a hazy mind just *what* the
angry red energy that pulsed around her was.  Something to do with motion... it
was some kind of motion spell... she tried to read the pattern, tracing the
threads of light with her thoughts.  Teleport!  It was a teleport!  Tansy was
sending her somewhere, somewhere in a world she didn't know, a world she still
didn't understand...
        She felt the magic grasping at her, pulling at her, and tried to rip it
off of her.  It grabbed at her arms, her legs, her hands... she pulled until
she could feel nothing more tugging on her.  There was a wrenching sensation, a
terrible feeling, and then she felt a hardwood floor beneath her, and a kindly
voice saying something she couldn't understand.  Her head ached so much, but
she tried to speak.  Her voice didn't seem to work, and her throat felt almost
as bad as her head.  She rolled over and opened her eyes.  The world swam
around her, bringing a sick feeling to her stomach and making her head worse,
so much worse.  Closing her eyes tightly against the pain, she blessedly lost
consciousness.

                        -------------------------------

        When Gil awoke, she was surprised to feel soft grass beneath her prone
body.  Her whole body ached as if she had been through a battle, and her mind
felt hazy, swimming with strange ideas and unsual memories.  She tried to sort
them out.  She remembered the fight in Tansy's house... she remembered slipping
out the back way in the dark of night to leave Tansy's house... she remembered
a wrenching teleport and winding up in the manor of Jason Blackthorne... she
remembered approaching Blackthorne Manor to ask for work when she was
starving...
        She sat up, looking around her.  The air was sharp and cold, and she
could see her breath forming little clouds as she breathed.  She startted to
stand, then stopped as her mind began to clear.  She remembered going into
Tansy's study, grasping Donal and Genna's hands... then the feeling of the
magic surrounding her as the teleport spell was cast... and then that strange
dream.  Ah!  Yes, it *was* a dream.  That explained why it was so strange.
        Gil stood and looked around her, a curious expression on her face.
There was only one problem with everything she remembered.  If they had been
holding hands when the spell was cast, then where were the others?  She was on
the top of a grassy hill, and could see mountains not far to the north, and a
valley and village to the south, just on the edge of a large forest.  But she
saw no sign of her companions.  She looked around once more, trying to see if
they had perhaps been with her but had wandered off.  No footprints could be
found.  Sighing, she dusted herself off and hoisted her pack.  She started
down into the valley, towards the village.  It was almost dusk, and she had no
desire to be caught in the open after dark, on her own.  Not when her head hurt
this much.



========================================================================


                            Part XIII

        It was nearing dark when Genna drifted back into consciousness.  She
sat up, trying to remember what had happened, why she was alone in the middle
of a forest.  She remembered the Lady DiLian casting a spell, then a terrible
wrenching feeling.  The sensation of the actual teleport had been like nothing
she had ever felt before.  It was as if she could feel nothing around her, see
nothing, hear nothing.  The only sensation she got was the feeling of Gil's
hand on her left and Alec on the right.  Wrinkling her nose, Genna thought
hard, trying to remember the end of the spell.  She remembered another
wrenching feeling, and then... she vaguely remembered Gil letting go of her
hand, then a falling feeling, and then she was waking up here.  She stood and
looked around again, trying to find some sign of the others.  Even if they had
somehow become separated during the spell, surely it couldn't have placed them
too far from each other.
        It was approaching darkness, but that didn't bother Genna.  After years
of living alone in the woods she easily adapted to her situation.  The howl of
a wolf nearby bothered her slightly, but she hoped to find some sort of shelter
before sleeping the night, and if she couldn't, she could always make her bed
in the treetops.  She had done that before, and awakened in the night to see
hungry wolves nipping at her provisions on the ground below, leaving her
thankful for her forethought in climbing the tree.
        The forest was thick, and it seemed as if Genna had been placed in the
center of it.  Her fingers tightened around her staff as she walked and the
howling moved closer to her.  It seemed to be following her now, as if it
stalked her.  She wasn't certain she could fight off a pack of wolves, but it
sounded like a lone wolf, and that she had a chance against.  She walked
onward, hoping to reach the edge of the trees.
        A crashing sound came through the bushes to her right, and she whirled,
staff in her hands, held out in front of her.  With a harsh growl, a wolf
leaped from the side.  She sidestepped, falling back onto her knee, thrusting
her staff upwards.  The wolf's claw caught her arm, opening a fine line of
blood down her forearm, making her feel slightly ill.  Her staff caught the
wolf in the stomach, sending it off-balance and giving herself enough time to
regain her own footing.
        Genna held the staff in front of her, circling slowly as she and the
wolf eyed each other warily.  The wolf's eyes glittered, and saliva dripped
from the side of its mouth as it growled at Genna.  She stabbed at, watching
how it reacted to her attack.  It grabbed at her staff with its teeth, snapping
angrily when it missed.
        Genna was caught off-guard when the wolf finally stopped circling and
leaped at her.  She dove to her right, rolling when she hit the ground with a
thud that jarred her shoulder.  It was the same arm the wolf had hit with its
claw, and now it ached so much she could hardly grasp the staff.  She scuttled
backwards on the ground, the wolf advancing again.  It rushed at her, and she
rolled left, his teeth catching her ankle.  She poked at its face with her
staff, trying to catch its eye or injure it enough so it would let go.  Its
teeth *hurt* and she could feel the blood running down her leg as the wolf
tried to pull her forward.
        She was beating the wolf over the head with her staff and trying to
pull her leg from its teeth when a dark shape descended onto the back of the
wolf.  There was an angry hiss from the shape, and the wolf let go to challenge
this new threat.  Genna rolled backwards into the bushes, dropping her staff in
her haste, and hid to watch the outcome of the battle.
        A black panther circled the wolf, hissing and growling.  Now that she
wasn't as panicked, Genna could see that she *had* injured the wolf, and that
its desperate hunger had kept it after her.  The wolf was little more than skin
and bones, and it didn't take long for the panther to dispatch it.  Genna stood
slowly and moved cautiously out of the bushes.
        The panther stood over the dead wolf, glaring at Genna, growling with
its teeth bared.  Genna knelt slowly, never taking her eyes off the panther,
and pulled her staff towards her with her healthy hand.  As she stood again,
the panther, no longer growling, backed away from the dead wolf.  Genna stood
still, stiff and wary of the panther's strange behavior.
        The panther lowered its head and pushed at the corpse, nudging it
towards Genna.  Genna stared at it, confused.  The panther looked up at her
again, its eyes catching hers with a strange light, and then lowered its head
and nudged the corpse a little further in Genna's direction.
        Genna took a hesitant step towards the wolf.  When the panther didn't
move, she walked more confidently towards the corpse, when she reached it
bending down to slice a chunk of what little meat there was from the side.
Grasping the raw meat in her hands, she returned to her side of the clearing,
sitting down the skin the bit she held.  The panther, now ignoring her, tore
into its meal with relish.
        Now that it no longer watched her, Genna felt a little more comfortable
while she hastily built a fire and skinned her meat so she could prepare her
dinner.  She hand't realised how hungry she was, but the smell of the cooking
meat made her mouth water and stomach grumble.
        As she ate, she heard a hiss from the other side of the clearing.  She
glanced up to see the panther glance at her once before moving swiftly into the
woods until it faded from view.  There was still some meat left, and Genna
quickly skinned and cooked that as well, eating the meat while it burned her
fingers.  She knew from experience not to waste food, for who knew when she
would find it again so easily.
        Once the terror and hunger wore off, she remembered her injury, and
checked her arm.  The numbness that had set in after she had hit her shoulder
had worn off, and the scratch on her forearm had stopped bleeding.  Altogether,
it did not appear that she was terribly injured.  She washed the cut as best
she could with the small amount of water she carried in her pack, and planned
to search for a stream in the morning.  She could survive being thirsty until
then.
        Her leg was a different matter.  The teeth marks were large and angry
looking, and very painful when Genna tried to put her full weight upon that
leg.  She tore the bottom of her tunic into strips, making a mental note to
find new clothes soon for this tunic was losing pieces at an alarming rate, and
wrapped her leg tightly in the makeshift bandage.  It still would hurt, but she
would have to try to ignore the pain until she could find a village with
someone with healing knowledge.
        She placed her pack on her back and searched quickly for a tree with
wide enough branches to sleep upon but low enough branches for her to climb,
and finding one, settled in for the night.

                        -------------------------------

        When Genna awoke the next morning and glanced down, she saw catlike
footprints around the base of her tree.  Leaning up againt the trunk of the
tree were a rabbit and some sort of woodland bird, both freshly killed.
Genna's stomach growled at the sight and she climbed down the tree as fast as
her aching leg would allow.  As she breakfasted, she planned for the day.
        With her leg aching as much as it did, she knew she couldn't walk too
far.  And she didn't yet know how long she could fly, either, for she hadn't
tested the endurance of her wings.  She did know that her shoulders tired
somewhat after a while, but she wasn't sure how far she could push herself.
But perhaps, with a mixture of walking and flight, she could find her way
through these woods.
        Breakfast done, she pulled herself to her feet, leaning heavily upon
her staff, and took a few experimental steps.  Every step she made with her
right foot sent slivers of pain through her, and after only a few feet she had
to stop.  Sitting down against a tree, she carefully undid the bandages.
        She felt ill at the sight of her ankle.  She washed away the dried
blood with her remaining water, but the sight didn't improve.  The wolf's teeth
had torn her ankle severely, and the skin around the wound was red and puffy.
Genna tore a few more strips from her tunic, shivering in the cool air, and
wrapped her ankle again.  After struggling to her feet, she gritted her teeth
against the pain and concentrated on rising into the air.
        After a few minutes of flying, the pain in her ankle began to subside
soemwhat, enough so she could concentrate more easily on her direction and
plans for leaving the woods.  As she flew she heard the sounds of animals
around her, and she kept a careful ear out for anything that sounded large and
hungry.  She knew better than to tangle with another wolf, and planned to
simply fly as high into the treetops as she could should another come after
her.
        She heard the crack of a branch being stepped on to her right and
froze, hands clutching the staff, eyes darting nervously to her right.  She
couldn't see anything at first, but thenshe caught a glimpse of a hazy shape,
large, moving through the bushes.  She waited, but it moved on ahead,
apparently not interested in her in the least.  Sighing in relief, she
continued on.

                        -------------------------------

        It was nearing dusk again by the time Genna reached the forest's edge.
She had found water along the way, but no more to eat.  And after a day of
mixed flying and walking, both her shoulders and leg ached so much she could
hardly think.  From the edge of the forest she could see that she was in a
valley, nestled between snow-peaked mountains, and that there was a small
village not too far off.  However, she decided to sleep the night at the edge
of the forest instead, not entirely certain she could make it the village by
nightfall, and not wishing to be caught on open plains in the dark in her
condition.  She found a low tree and painfully climbed it, again settling in
for the night.  As she listened to the sounds of the woods, she slowly dropped
off to sleep, arms wrapped tight about her body as she shivered in the cool
valley air.





========================================================================

                             Part XIV

        Donal's head ached.  He blinked against the harsh afternoon light from
the window, each ray of light sending shooting sparks through his mind.  He
could concentrate better if he closed his eyes, so he did just that.  Soft
voices came to him from the other room.
        "Yes, Miss, my boys found him lying aside the road on their way out
t'work this dawn.  Thought he was dead for sure, but there was still warmth in
the body so they brung him on home t'me."  A gravely voice that Donal thought
was female spoke.  He assumed that his own body was the one that had been
found.
        His body felt as if winter's cold had settled in his bones, and when he
raised a hand to cautiously touch the back of his head he found a tender lump.
His fingers came away covered with dried blood.  His head swimming, he leaned
back against the hard pillow quickly.
        He heard footsteps moving closer to his room, and the sound of a door
knob clicking open.  A familiar voice spoke.  "I thank you, Mrs. Grimes, for
your care of my companion.  When do you think he will be able to move?"
        There was a gravely laugh.  "Well, dearie, that'll depend on when he
wakes, now won't it?  'Tis always chancy with a head wound, and he was knocked
hard."  She laughed again.  "Them pointy-eared folk ain't always the hardiest
of folks either."
        The door creaked open.  Donal raised his hand, the slight movement
catching Gil's eyes.  She grinned wryly.  "I don't think we have anything to
worry about, Mrs. Grimes."  She walked over to the bed and placed a hand on the
half-elf's shoulder.  "How do you feel?" she asked in a low voice.
        "I feel as if I were a target dyring weapons practice," Donal
commented, his throat rough and dry, his eyes still tightly shut.  He carefully
leaned forward so Gil could see where his head was injured.  Opening his eyes
cautiously he saw Gil watching him, concern in her expression.  "My mouth
tastes like something died inside it."
        Mrs. Grimes laughed, walking slowly to the bed, leaning heavily on a
wooden cane.  She was a thin old woman, her gnarled knuckles and stiff legs
indicating the stiffening limbs of old age.  She lifted a gnarled hand to the
rickety table beside the bed, grasping a cloth which had been soaking in a
basin.  She wrung it out slowly, and Gil turned away from the scent that rose.
She placed the cloth over the lump on Donal's head.  Despite the nasueating
odor he found his head felt better.
        Gil turned to face the old woman.  "Mrs. Grimes, would you mind leaving
me alone with my friend here?  I would like to speak with him privately."  She
watched while the old woman looked carefully at her, then at Donal.  Then, with
a creak of old bones, she turned and slowly left.
        As the door clicked closed behind her, Donal closed his eyes again.
"Would you please close the curtains?" he asked, his voice still low and
gravely.  "The light is painful."  He heard Gil's footsteps, then the closing
of the heavy curtains, and a moment later he felt the weight of Gil's body as
she sat on the bed.
        "How do you *really* feel?" she asked softly.
        "Like absolute hell."  His eyes opened, his sight adjusting easily to
the darkness.  "Might I ask what happened?  And do you see anything to drink?"
        Gil unhooked her waterskin from her belt and handed it to Donal,
waiting while he drank.  When he handed it back to her, she took a sip herself,
then hooked it back onto her belt, speaking again as she did so.
        "How soon will you be able to move?" she asked, her voice still pitched
low in concern for Donal's aching head.  "We have to find Alec and Genna
because I mucked up Tansy's t-port spell and we all got scattered all over the
place but we *are* in a valley in the mountains of the frozen wastelands and
since you're here I don't expect Genna and Alec can be too far away."  Gil's
speech was hurried and soft, and she couldn't meet Donal's eyes.  She knew they
were lucky to be alive, for disruption of such a spell was *very* dangerous.
        Donal sat up slowly.  Without the light to hurt his eyes his head did
not swim so much, and the nausea had passed.  As he moved, the damp cloth fell
from his head, landing with a damp thunk on the pillow behind him.  Gil
wrinkled her nose at the odor that rose anew.
        "Help me stand," Donal's voice was stronger, not so scratchy and
hoarse.  He carefully swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet falling
flat on the floor.  Gil stood before him, grasping his hands in hers, pulling
him to his feet.  Donal stood for a moment, his legs wobbling, then grimaced as
he tried to take a small step forward, lost his balance, and pitched forward
into Gil's arms, knocking her over.
        "Are you always so gentle with the ladies?" Gil grinned at the half-elf
sprawled across her lap.  Donal glared at her, rolling over to lie on the
floor.
        "It appears that I am weaker than I thought," he said slowly.  "My head
still aches somewhat, and I find my knees weak, but with food in my stomach and
a horse to carry me, I should be able to travel."
        Gil stood and reached out to help Donal to his feet.  Dropping arm
about his shoulder, she instructed him to hold her about the waist, and in this
clumsy fashion they both managed to remain standing.  "Mrs. Grimes!" Gil called
sharply.  The door opened so quickly they knew she had likely been listening at
the door.
        Gil turned to face the old woman, her arm still firmly about Donal's
shoulder.  "We'll need to buy at least two horses, and would like as many as
four.  Also, is there an inn or something in this town where we can purchase
food for our travels."
        The old lady laughed.  "I can lend ye two horses, but ye won't find
more likely.  I can't sell ye my horses because I need them to do my farmin'.
As for food, if you go to th' general store a few miles down the road t'wards
the forest y'might be able to get something."
        Gil glanced at Donal.  She sincerely doubted their chance to return the
horses, and had little desire to cheat the woman out of her belongings.  Before
she could say no, however, Donal spoke.
        "I thank you greatly, for your care of myself and for your kind offer
to lend us your horses," Donal said, his voice charming and his smile
disarming.  "We shall be certain to return them as soon as possible."
        The old lady nodded, then turned and headed slowly out the door.  They
could hear her yelling out the door to her sons in the field to bring the
horses in.  Gil turned to Donal, her eyes angry.
        "*Why* did you say we'd take the horses?" she asked sharply.  "You know
we need them permanently, not on loan."
        Donal shrugged.  "'Tis my profession."  He glanced up to catch Gil's
glare.  Sighing, he added, "I also thought we could leave the horse's at the
general store she mentioned, and perhaps find out about others there."
        Gil's expression softened.  "As long as we return the horses."
        The old lady stepped back inside, motioning Gil and Donal forward.
Standing outside were two heavy work horses, obviously born to pull a plow
rather than for speed.  Two large young men were unstrapping harnesses from the
horses, but no saddles were in sight.  Gil groaned inwardly.  She had only
learned to ride upon arriving in this world and still had not fully mastered
the activity.  Nor did she think Donal would be up to riding bareback.
Stepping forward, she motioned for the second horse not to be unharnessed.
        "I think we can make do with one horse for now, rather than leave you
unable to do your work for the day," Gil said quickly.  Mrs. Grimes smiled.
        "I thank ye, miss, for that.  Horse is a strong one and should be able
t'carry ye both."
        Gil nodded, and taking the reins from the hands of one of the men,
climbed awkwardly up the side of the horse.  Reaching a hand down, she helped
Donal up before her.  Glancing back once more at the three watching her, she
said, "I thank you again for your kindness and aid for myself and my friend.
We will return the horse as soon as possible."
        Turning to face straight again, Gil urged to horse forward, happy when
it responded to her feeble nudges with her feet.  Donal leaned heavily back
against her, unable to remain sitting up for long, as they rode towards the
town.


                        -------------------------------


        Donal leaned back against Gil, his eyes closed, seeming almost asleep.
He startled her when he spoke.  "T'was good dealing with the blacksmith, Gil,"
he commented quietly.
        "People have a lot of respect for magic," Gil explained.  "Somehow they
seem to think it takes a lot more effort than it usually does.  So two
magically lit lamps seem like a fortune to the average person."
        Donal sat up slowly.  "Four horses, a promise to return the one we were
using, several skins of water, and provisions for the next week.  As well as a
change of clothes for myself.  And all you had to do was make two lamps stay
lit."
        "True, but it took awhile, so there's where we lost out."  Gil glanced
up at the darkening sky.  "It's getting dark and we haven't even reach the
forest's edge yet."
        "What makes you so sure we should go to the forest?"
        Gil shrugged.  "Instinct.  Besides, I think we'll find Genna there,
since she *is* by nature a forest creature.  And Alec would look for her
there."  Sighing, she wished their little caravan of horses would move faster.
"I think we should continue until we reach the forest, even if it gets dark."
        Donal nodded.  "T'will be safer to camp just within the edge than to
find a place in these plains," he agreed.  The howl of a hungry wolf split the
air, and Gil shivered in response, instinctively trying to urge the horse
faster.
        "We should camp either in the trees or in a protected cave," Donal
mused, "so that we have some defense against the wolves."
        "I take it you're a regular nature boy, aren't you?" Gil said
sarcastically, unwilling to think this city dweller could know what he meant.
        Donal's voice was cool when he answered.  "When you work in my
profession, you learn what to do to survive."  Gil was silent in response.
        It was another hour before they reached the edge of the woods, and by
that time it wsa dark and the howls had grown closer.  Donal led the horses to
a tree, tethering them on long ropes so they could defend themselves if need
be, and then motioned for Gil to climb the tree.
        "You want me to sleep in a tree?" she said sharply.
        Donal nodded.  "Unless you'd rather stay on the ground... with the
wolves..."  He let his voice trail off as he threw a length of rope over his
shoulder and began climbing.
        "But what if I fall?"
        Donal grinned down at her.  "What do you think the rope is for?  I'll
tie you securely.  You won't fall and you won't be eaten by wolves.  Sounds
secure to me."
        Gil swallowed, gathering her courage, then quickly climbed the tree
after him.  She bound herself about the waist to the trunk of the tree, and set
another loop so she could hold it in her hands, watching as Donal did the same.
The howls of the wolves could still be heard, but they didn't seem to move any
closer, although Gil could occassionally hear the snap of a branch as something
prowled nearby.  At one point before she fell asleep she heard the horses
moving restlessly and saw a dark shape pass near their tree.  She let out her
breath when nothing happened, and finally managed to relax enough to fall
asleep.


                       Faerling, Part XV


        Humans stank.  Their scent, mixed with the leather they wore
and the scent of the horses they rode was bitter in the panther's
nose.  He stopped as he circled the tree, sitting back on his haunches
to look up where he could discern two figures crouched in the branched
above him.  He smelled fear, and exhaustion and sickness.  The smell
was unpleasant.
        A wolf howled, somewhat closer than it had been earlier, so
the panther started to move again in the direction of his enemy.  He
had killed one wolf yesterday for the Bright One and hoped to kill
another for her today.  Not only would the death of the wolf save her
from attack, but it would provide a hearty meal for them both.  Eyes
glittering in the moonlight, the panther moved away.


                        ------------------------------

        Gil woke, stiff, the next morning.  She felt something move
past her and saw Donal drop out of the tree onto the forest floor
below, startling the nearest horse.  The horse whickered angrily, but
Donal just laughed.  Gil groaned as she tried to stretch her stiff
limbs.
        "I take it you feel better this morning," she called after the
half-elf, who was heading towards the thick of the woods.
        "Better than I felt yestermorn," he called back.  He moved
through the bushes, seeming to melt into them, away from her sight,
returning a few minutes later.  "The injury seems slight, and I find
myself able to think again today.  The pain is less as well."
        Gil grasped the trunk of the tree, slowing letting herself
slide down until she could drop the last few feet to the ground.  Her
legs buckled under her and she fell into an undignified heap, long
legs tangled.  "That hurt!"  She looked around.  "Is it late?"
        Donal nodded.  "It appears that I have slept longer than I
usually do, more than likely due to my head."
        Gil nodded, her mind still not fully awake.  "'Scuse me," she
said quietly, as she moved into the trees.  She hated the natural life
she had to live here, and really missed modern bathrooms.  She
wrinkled her nose as she made sure there were no unpleasant plants in
the area and thought that even an outhouse would be better than
*nothing*.  She kicked aside some branches to make a small clearing
for herself.  The sound of a breaking branch seemed very loud to her,
and she nearly jumped at the sound.  She turned to look behind her,
seeing nothing.  Shaking her head, trying to convince herself that
there was nothing to harm them, she started to walk back to Donal.
        Something lying in her path, almost under her feet, stopped
her, and she screamed before she could stop herself.
        "What is it?" Donal called, running to find her.
        Gil turned away, dropping to her knees, hand over her mouth.
Her face was pale with the effort not to lose the breakfast she hadn't
had.  Donal stopped when he saw what had surprised her.
        Lying on the path, where it hadn't been earlier, was a wolf
corpse.  The corpse had been dead for only an hour or two, and was
heavily mutilated.  Donal knelt to examine it more closely.  The
throat had been ripped out by sharp teeth, and Donal assumed that was
what had killed the creature.  The stomach was likewise gnawed, but on
the haunches were unmistakable knife marks, where the wolf had been
partially skinned and meat sliced from it.  The corpse was dirty, as
if it had been dragged to this point and then left.
        "What's so great about the wolf?"
        Donal looked up to see Gil standing over him, trying to look
him inthe eyes without seeing the corpse.  He gestured at the sliced
haunch.  "Knife marks.  Maybe Genna?"
        The thought struck them at the same time, and they started to
laugh.  Gil was still giggling when she commented, "Genna?  Kill a
wolf?"
        "Speaking of Genna..."
        Gil turned to look at the half-elf, who was watching her
speculatively.
  "Yes?"
        "Couldn't you..." Donal's voice trailed off as he waved his
hands in the air in front of him.  "Well, couldn't you use magic to
find her?"
        Gil's eyes widened.  "God, I am *such* an *idiot*!"  She
slapped Donal on the back.  "Thanks, friend."  She started to walk
back to the horses, muttering, "That's it girl.  Just forget about
your magic like the stupid twit you are.  It was the corpse.  Made me
forget all about it..."
        Back at the camp, Gil pulled her notebook from her pack and
started to go through it.  "Summoning?  Or finding?"  She wrinkled her
nose as she thought.  "I thought people only summoned demons and
monsters?  If I summon a person, would it be a summoning or a
traveling - like a teleport to me?"  She shook her head.  "Better just
try to scry for her - safer that way.  Besides, she may not feel well
after her last experience with a t-port spell."
        Gil sank to the ground, her legs crossed as she sat.  When
Donal entered the clearing, she called out, "Go get me a skin of
water, and pour it into one of the deep plates."  She didn't wait for
an answer before returning to reading her book.
        Donal placed the plate in front of her, watching intently as
Gil's eyes moved from normal color to black as midnight.  She
whispered strange words that fell like water over Donal's ears as she
moved her hand over the plate.  Finally she reached into the water and
drew her hand out as if she drew a fine strand of silk out.  She was
then quiet as she sat, staring at the water.
        Donal walked away, pulled out his knife and began to flip it,
tossing it high in the air and watching as it thunked into the soft
earth at his feet.  Finally, he heard Gil move, and he turned to see
what she had found.
        "Well?"
        Gil's voice was tired, as if the magic had sapped her
strength.  "I didn't see either of them exactly, but scrying isn't
exactly exact, if you know what I mean.  I saw a tree with a panther
curled at the foot of it, asleep.  I saw a fight with a panther, as if
through some predator's eyes, and I saw myself climbing a tree, with
my arm and leg paining me incredibly.  That's all."  She hadn't moved
from her seat on the ground, and looked like she would pass out any
moment.
        Donal helped her stand and climb onto a horse.  He pulled
himself up behind her, the other horses following in a train behind
their own.  Gil slumped back against him, and it took all his strength
to hold her taller body on the horse in front of him.  He peered over
her shoulder and saw that her eyes had closed, and that her breathing
was shallow but strong.  He shrugged and started slowly on the path
through the forest, positive that that would bring him to where Genna
was.  It seemed as if all Gil had seen were trees, so trees must be
where Genna was.  And possibly Alec as well.


                        -----------------------------


        Genna sat cross-legged on the ground, her foot paining her
too much to continue walking.  She rubbed at the bandage, willing it
to stop hurting.  Finding no relief, she leaned back against the tree
trunk and closed her eyes.
        She reached out with her left hand and felt until she found
her pack, pulling it towards her.  Lazily she opened it and started
fishing around in it, still without looking.  Finally her hand felt a
smooth stone surface and she pulled out the stone Alec had given her.
Grapsing it tightly, she concentrated on her friend.
        -Alec?  Alec, can you hear me?  I'm hurt, and I can't walk
any farther...-
        She groaned when there was no response, and rubbed a hand
across her forhead.  Her head was beginning to ache now as well,
and she felt warm despite the chill air.
        She wrinkled her nose as she concentrated harder.  -*Please,*
Alec!  I can't have lost you all... I feel so awful.-
        She thought she felt something answer her, but she couldn't
hear the words.  Then a feeling of protectiveness settled over her,
the warmth stealing through her limbs, making her sleepy.  She curled
up, the stone still clutched tightly in one hand, and fell asleep.


                ---------------------------------------


        It was growing dark as Donal moved slwoly down the path, deeper
into the woods, and the moon was already high in the sky.  He was nodding
off, tired from the strain of holding Gil's still unconscious form on
the horse before him.  When the horse shied, he was nearly unseated,m his
arms pulled painfully as Gil's body threatened to fall from the horse's back.
He barely got the horse under control, then slipped off, lowering Gil
to the ground.  He propped her against a tree, then tied the skittish
horses while he investigated what was bothering them.
        He could hear sounds from not far away, the growls of animals
fighting.  He moved silently up on them, stopping when he could see
what was happening.
        Not far from the path a panther and a wolf circled each other.
The wolf was gaunt from hunger, his ribs showing easily through his
skin.  Saliva dripped from the wolf's mouth as he eyed the girl
slumped against a tree trunk nearby.  The panther growled each time
the wolf glanced at the girl, and kept himself placed between the animal
and her body, almost as if protecting her.  The two had apparently
already attacked each other, for there was a deep gash in the wolf's
side, and blood dripped from one ear of the panther.
        As Donal watched, the wolf lunged forward, snarling, teeth
snapping at the panther's throat.  The panther slipped sideways, avoiding
the wolf's bite, lashing out in return.  The wolf, seeing the way
open to the girl, lunged at her instead.
        Donal jumped from the bushes, dagger drawn, screaming at the
wolf.  Almost as if he recognized and ally, the panther took advantge
off the wqolf's confusion and fastened his teeth on the rangy creature's
neck, while Donal placed himself between the wolf and the girl.
        The panther clung to the wolf, his teeth pushing deeper as
he tried to tear his opponent's throat out.  The wolf lashed out
with claws, opening huge scrapes down the wolf's side and forelegs.
Donal could see no easy opening to help, and had to let the panther
finish the fight, hoping that once done with the wolf, he wouldn't
turn on himself and the girl.
        Finally, the wolf's movement slowed, and then stopped.  The panther
released his hold, allowing the corpse to drop to the ground.  He sat
behind it, and pushed it forward with his head, towards Donal.  Donal
looked at him curiosly, but didn't move.  The panther grasped the wolf's
neck again between his teeth and carried the corpse over to the girl,
setting it down and nudging it forard again.
        Donal glanced down at the girl, curled up in a tight ball at
the base of a tree.  There was a dirty bandage on one foot, and another
on her forearm.  Beads of sweat ran down her face, and she shivered in
her sleep.  One hand was held against her chest, clutched tight.
Her face was down, so Donal couldn't see it, but once his eyes registered
the pale green tint of the hair, and the lacy wings folded against her
back he knew he had found Genna, and she was in even worse shape
than the young mage.
        He turned to the panther, and was only somewhat surprised to
see it sitting, staring at him, head cocked as if waiting for something.
        "You stay here and watch Genna," Donal found himself instructing
the animal, as if it actually would understand him.  "I've got to go
gert Gil and the horses."
        He moved quickly back through the forest to where Gil was stirring
slightly near the horses.  He helped her to her feet, and pushed her
up onto the horse until she lay across its back.  He then led his
little caravan back to where Genna was and helped Gil down, laying her
next to Genna where she quickly fell back asleep.
        Donal sat down and built a small fire, carved a little of the
stringy meat from the wolf, and cooked his dinner.  He pushed the
corpse towards the panther, who still sat there, and commented, "Go
aheda, have some.  I don't think the girls will be interested tonight."
        The panther tore some meat from the corpse, and ate its fill.
It then moved further away, sitting down to clean its wounds and
keep a watchful eye out for more wolves.
        Donal felt sleep stealing over him and glanced over to see the
panther seeming to stand guard not far away.  His eyes flickered
closed as he lay down near the girls and joined them in slumber.



                           Faerling

                  Book 1 - _Crystal_Mirrors_

                           Part XVI


        The sharp sound of a cracking branch nearby woke Donal from
his sleep.  He glanced to where the panther had sat guard, but the
beast had apparently left during the night.  Another loud crack and
the sound of something large crashing through the bushes brought Donal
to his feet, hand on his sword, spinning to face whatever  beast
should appear.
        He heard a muffled groan, then the thump of a body falling
to the ground.  Then silence.  Donal drew his sword and cautiously
moved towards the sounds, scanning the ground before him.  He found
his quarry, feet tangled in long roots, prone and trying slowly to
sit up.
        Donal approached carefully, then more quickly as he recognized
the man.  "Alec?" he called out.
        Alec turned towards the voices, his eyes blank of recognition.
Blood flowed freely from scratches on his face and more heavily from a
deep wound over his ear.  He blinked once at Donal, then his eyes closed
and he fell over.
        "What is it?"
        Donal spun at the voice, the tip of his sword coming to rest
just beneath Gil's chin.  He lowered the blade slowly, his expression
dangerous.  'Do *not* sneak up behind me, or you may find yourself
without something you consider important."
        Gil's eyes narrowed.  "I was *not* sneaking.  *You* must not
have been listening."  She raised her eyes to look over Donal's shoulder.
"Christ!  Is that Alec?"  She pushed past the half-elf to kneel beside
the warrior.  She peered at his face, checked his eyes, felt for a pulse.
Finally she sat back and shook her head.  "The big lug's *asleep!*"
        As if in answer, Alec moaned and rolled over, curling up, his
movements revealing a deep gash along his arm.  Gil bit her lip as she
saw this wound.  Glancing back up at Donal, she commented, "This doesn't
look good.  I'd say go get Genna since she's easier to carry and
maybe we can rig something up with the horses?"
        Donal shrugged.  "Why not?  Yesterday I spent the day holding
you upon a horse I can hardly ride myself, today we can carry Alec.
I've always wanted to see the world in this fashion."  A grim look
on his face, he turned on his heel and headed back to get Genna
and their equipment.
        "Mowaru..."
        Gil bent over Alec's still form, unsure if she had heard him
correctly.  She leaned close, her ear only inches from his lips and
heard him whisper again, "Mowaru..."
        She sat back and thought, but couldn't place any meaning for
the strange sounding word.  It certainly wasn't magic, or elven either
- at least not part of the elven she knew.  She glanced back at Alec, but
the man was quiet again.
        When Donal arrived back, gently laying Genna on the ground next
to Alec, Gil instructed him to go fill their skins with water and then
boil it for her.  The half-elf looked at her strangely, but when she
glared back he decided it might be better to do it than to argue.
Gil then pulled a spare shirt from her pack and tore it into long
strips.  The shirt was still clean, luckily.  When Donal had the water
boiling, Gil dipped a strip of cloth into it and began to gently wash
Alec's wounds.  Already the wound above his ear and the one on his arm
dripped puss and looked infected.  She cleaned it as carefully as she
could, pouring Donal's ale over it before she bandaged it.  She was
more worried about the wound above his ear, for it looked as if the
ear were practically ripped from the body.  She had no thread with which
to stitch it though, so she merely bandaged it tightly against his
head and hoped for the best.
        Once done with Alec, she moved on to Genna's wounds.  The faerling
was already running a fever, shivering and shaking, her fist still
clenched around some object.  Gil pried the girl's hand open, slipping
the stone from her palm and placing it in her own pocket for safekeeping.
She glanced back over her shoulder to see Donal's speculative gaze on
her pocket.  When he felt her gaze, he met her eyes, his expression
carefully innocent.  Gil made a face and turned away from him again.
        She reached out to catch Genna's right ankle in her hands, quickly
stripping away the dirty bandages covering it.  The wound was a deep,
raking wound, several stripes of skin peeled away by some creatures
teeth.  The wound was warm to the touch, and Genna flinched when Gil
touched it.  Gil touched the warm cloth to it, and puss oozed with an
awful stench.  The young mage's nose wrinkled, and her stomach turned.
She turned her face away, trying hard to keep her stomach well.
        "Is it bad?" Donal asked, moving closer.
        Gil looked up at him, guilt in her eyes.  "It's bad.  Deep, and
infected.  She's running a fever, in much worse shape than he is.  She's
unconscious.  At least he's only asleep."  She turned away, unable to
meet his eyes.  "We have to get to a village... no a city, with a healer.
And if we don't do it soon, it looks pretty awful."  She sighed and
then wailed, "Damn it, *why* did I have to muck up Tansy's spell!
Everything's a mess, you three were all hurt because I was so stupid.
I feel like such a fuckup."  She turned back to Donal, tears running
down her cheeks.
        Donal looked at her helplessly, never too certain what to do
with a crying female, and knowing he couldn't employ any of his
more usual methods to cheer her up.  "Um..." he said slowly.  "Perhaps
'tis not so bad as you think.  If you clean the wound, and bind it,
we can tie her and Alec upon the horses and make our way back to the
village, and from there to the nearest city.  I'm sure the village
knows where the nearest healer might be."
        Gil sniffled and turned back to cleaning Genna's leg.  She
ws silent as she worked, bathing the wound, then binding it tightly
with the clean strips from her shirt.  She then unwound the bandages
from Genna's forearm.  This wound was much better than the other,
already healing with only the slightest indication of infection.  She
cleaned it as well, also bathing the large bruise on the girl's
shoulder.  She left the arm wound open to the air, hoping fresh air
would help the fresh healing.
        Finally she sat back, wiping a hand across her forehead,
spreading grime across her face.  "That's the best I can do.  I'm
going to go wash my face and hands, then we can get ourselves on
the road."  She looked back at Donal.  "Do you know the way back?"
        Donal grinned a quick grin.  "I always remember where I've
been.  Makes for quick exits."
        Gil smiled wanly back at him.  "Good.  I'll try not to pass
out on you this time."
        When she returned, it took both of them to push Alec's body
upon the horse.  Gil braced him there while Donal wound ropes around
his prone body, tying him firmly onto the horse.  Genna was next,
and as they propped her on the horse, Gil heard the girl whispering
something about a magic stone.  She fished the stone out of her
pocket and looked at it carefully.  It was worn smooth, but was no
more special than that.  Still, when she placed it against Genna's
palm, the girl clasped her fingers about it and quieted.
        Donal took the rest of the ropes and fastened links between
the horses, then climbed up onto one of the empty horses.  He held
a hand down to Gil.  "If I remember correctly, you love these beasts
as little as myself.  Would you care to join me?"
        Gil looked up at him, then back at the one horse left.  Placing
her hand in Donal's, she climbed up behind him, holding on around his
waist.  "Let's hit the road."


                -----------------------------------


        The journey back to the village took only a day, and from there
they were given directions to a larger town only another's day's journey
from there.  They passed the night in the blacksmith's stable, with Gil
and Donal taking turns watching over Alec and the faerling.  By morning
Genna burned with fever, and her leg was hot to the touch.  Gil cleaned
the wound again before they set out, and worried again as she saw the
darkening skin around the edges of the wound.  Alec, now awake, looked
worried as well.  He ran his fingers through his dark hair, his
expression concerned.  He was still running a slight fever, but when Gil
made him sit still while she checked his wounds, she was pleased to
see that they looked to be healing well, the infection lessening.  When
she asked about where he had gotten injured, his expression darkened,
and he refused to answer.
        By midmorning they set out for the town to the north, Alec upon
his own horse, Genna's body curled up again him.  Donal was silent as
they traveled, but he kept looking back at Gil, as if he were about
to say something, but then he'd turn away without speaking.
        "What?!" Gil finally shouted.  "What is it?"
        Donal looked back at her in surprise.  "Nothing."
        She urged her horse up to his.  "You keep looking at me
like something's my fault.  And I know this whole thing has been
messed up because of me, but really now you could just get it out
of your system rather than just *looking* at me like I have two heads
or something!"  She paused for a deep breath, and Donal cut her off.
        "'Tis just that we had a job to do, and it bothers me
that we are not doing what we came north for."
        Gil glared at him.  "And tell me, do you happen to know just
where the Crystal Palace is?  Hm?  Can you guide us there?"
        Donal grinned and sniffed the air.  "It's near.  I can
smell it in the air."
        Alec chuckled.  "That is not surprising.  Money calls to
the greedy."  He glanced down at the girl curled up in front of
him.  "However, much as I also wish to complete our mission, I think
Genna's health is more important at this time."
        Gil looked ahead, down the road.  "We're traveling farther
north," she mused softly.  "And if we find the Palace, what else
will we find?"
        She sat quietly then, half-formed images floating through her
mind.  A man with a bright smile looking at her, making faces behind
his older sister's back.  Mirror's rising high around her, her
image stretching off in all direction.  Someone screaming, screaming
until the walls shook and terror rocked the air.  A wrenching feeling,
blackness, fright.
        "Who goes there?!"
        The group drew their horses to a halt.  "Alec Ravenwood and
his companions, looking for a town to pass the coming night," Alec
called out.
        Two men stepped out from the trees along the sides of the
pass.  Donal glared at them, angry at himself for not having spotted
them ahead of time.
        One man glanced at his companion.  "Search them."
        The second man moved up to the horses, his sword drawn.
"Dismount.  Place all weapons on the ground before you.  All weapons
must be peacebonded or relinquished to the guard before entering
Tyrial.  Drawing a weapon or engaging in any sort of brawl within
the town borders will result in your arrest.  Once you have met
our requirements, you will have a week's pass to spend in the
town."
        "Pretty strict, hm?" Donal whispered to Gil.  She glared at
him, her eyes trying to tell him to keep quiet.  She slid off her
horse, slipping her dagger from its sheath and dropping it on
the ground before her.  Grimacing, Donal also climbed down from
his mount and began the lengthy process of removing his weaponry.
Each time he stopped, he saw Gil glance at him and raise an eyebrow,
and he'd rmove another weapon from his person.  Until finally, when
she looked at him, he just shook his head and raised his empty
hands.
        Alec was last, as he slid carefully off the horse,
carrying Genna with him.  He set her limp body gently on the
ground and gave the guardsmen a look that dared them to search
her.  Then he unbuckled his scabbard and lay it on the ground,
followed by the bow and arrows from across his back.  Finally
his hunting knife was dropped as well.
        "What ails the girl?"  The man gestured with his
sword, and Alec stepped protectively in front of her.
        "She's been hurt, and is in need of healing," he
said, his voice deceptively low.  "We were told there is
a healer in your town...?"
        The man nodded, his eyes still on Genna.  "Is it
a faerling?"
        Alec glared at him.  "Yes."
        Seeing the dangerous expression in his eyes, the
stranger didn't ask any more questions, but simply knelt
to bind the weapons to their scabbards before handing them
back to their owners, while his companion stood guard
with his own sword drawn.
        When the last item had been returned to its owner,
the two guardsmen stood aside, leaving the path open before
the small group.  "Welcome to Tyrial," one man said, bowing
slightly.  "You may stay the night at the Blue fox, and
you will likely find one to heal your wounds at the
temple to Kala.  May you enjoy your stay."
        The men waited expectantly until the group
bvegan to move down the path towards the town.
        "A temple to the goddess of Fertility and
Harvest and no brawling."  Donal grimaced.  "Probably
no gambling or wenching either.  It's going to be
another great experience."