Still feeling a strong connection with the Flame, Warren demands that Rio heal the Flame's broken ribs. Rio holds her temper and returns to the Flame's side, using healing magic similar to Maeve's. The pain and the effort involved leave all 3 exhausted. Rio faints, but recovers quickly in Nick's arms.

At the same time, Maeve uses her powers to heal the burn on John's chest. The pain causes John, still delirious, to believe Audra is still torturing him. Just as Maeve finishes, he declares he'll tell all. Exhausted, Maeve asks Alexa to fetch her some cold water. Noticing John sobbing and fearing she hurt him during the healing process, Maeve cradles him in her lap to soothe him, at which point John realizes he's out of Audra's clutches.

When the Flame tells Warren she needs to rest, the warrior asks Maeve about safe accommodations. While he talks to the healer, the Flame thanks Rio for her help, offering payment, which Rio refuses. The Flame then asks her how she identified Warren as a member of Clan Cuccurullo; Rio avoids the question.

Maeve decides that neither patient should be moved and goes to let Xanax and Barbarella know they'll stay the night in the back room. When she returns, Rio and Nick ask her where they can sleep. Maeve offers them her room, since she intends to remain with her patients. Upon Nick declaring a need to bathe, she tells him a bath can be had in the room for an extra charge. Nick realizes he hasn't any money; the Flame offers to pay, and the happy pair leaves together.

John meanwhile has noticed Alexa. He thinks he recognizes her, but the child denies knowing him. Maeve enlists Warren's help in tending to the injured monk; when they try to move him, however, John protests that he can do so himself, fearful of being touched again. The pain makes him swoon, but he manages to turn himself onto his stomach so Maeve can see to the wounds on his back. Together, she and Warren gently remove the bloodied cloak, while Alexa stands by, ready to help.

Out in the common room, Rowena and Legolas await word on John. Nick spots Rowena as he and Rio emerge from the back room, and he tells her that John will be all right. Rio introduces herself, then leads Nick in search of Xanax, whom the young tattoo artist must persuade to bring hot water up to Maeve's room for the bath.

While Rowena and Legolas sit at their table, Simon returns from his head-clearing walk, ready to search the minds of the remaining patrons for thoughts of Audra's stepdaughter. He picks up the name "Rowena" from someone; satisfied, he heads back to the castle. There the guards force him to wait until the steward arrives. Irked, Stewart orders the guards to let in the telepath. Simon retires to his chamber and lies awake a while, trying to see a way out of the mess he's in with Audra.

Meanwhile, having satisfied himself with one of the maids, "Nikolai" heads for his chambers only to be accosted by Stewart, who tells him that a man called Tarik, accompanied by a boy, Prentis, are at the gates, seeking audience with the countess. "Nikolai" lets him know Audra isn't to be disturbed, but that Tarik and Prentis should be given beds for the night, then continues on his way.

At the same time, having followed Audra to her chamber, Minuet decides to return to the realm of the Fae for an audience with her queen. Titania tells her there's little the Fae can do. Dissatisfied, Minuet asks permission to return to the castle to find Sebastian; Titania reluctantly agrees.

Sebastian has been disoriented by the release of so much magic in his presence. After his confusion clears, he ventures out of the dungeons in search of Minuet. When he hears her calling him, he races towards the sound and a joyous reunion. Minuet then asks him to help her "rescue" Vanya, and the cat agrees.

Back in Maeve's room at the Seventh Stranger, Rio admits to feeling a connection with Nick, whereupon he tells her about his new wife, Julianne. Rio realizes there may be a link between Nick's wife and the evil sorceress, Julianne, who for some reason has taken a dislike to the young woman. She explains this while Nick slips into the bath and she begins scrubbing the coal-dust from his hair.

Meanwhile, Bantam heads for the back room in search of a healer for his brother. He boldly approaches Maeve while she works on John. Startled, Maeve breaks the magic circle, leaving herself ungrounded; the magic backlashes, transferring some of John's injuries to her. Warren and Alexa rush to her aid, as does John, who feels a little better now. Alarmed, Bantam flees. Warren sends Alexa for Rio.

Antonio notices Bantam's abrupt departure. Telling Sabrella to remain where she is, he follows the boy. Bantam returns to the room he shares with his brother, waking Nicholas, who asks what's wrong. Both are startled by Antonio's arrival. Bantam huddles on the bed with Nicholas, who assures him that Antonio means no harm and uses his magic to light the room. Bantam opens the door to the mage; when Antonio offers help, he refuses, but the mage still manages to pass some energy to Nicholas before he returns downstairs, where he contemplates how to find Simone.

In Arcadia, one of Rhodan's canine Guards, Iago, senses something amiss at the Stronghold. He hurries into the castle to find the aftermath of Simone's coup and the woman herself. He races back to the barracks, where his Alpha, Titus, and the other Guards join forces to try to contact their Master. Their attempt fails; Titus decides to alert their human Companions instead, and about half of Arcadia Barracks head for the Stronghold, led by Titus and his handler, Captain Segrand. A cat, Tabby, notices the disturbance and follows at a distance. At the gates of the Stronghold, Leo, a Stronghold guard, meets the soldiers. Segrand demands entrance, which Leo grants with conditions. While they get ready to enter, Segrand tells Iago's handler, Martus, to ride for Ashby to alert Lord Rhodan.

Back in Ashby, at the Seventh Stranger, a worried Rowena excuses herself from Legolas' company; the Elf takes the opportunity to go for a walk. Rowena enters the back room and finds chaos. Embarrassed by her sudden appearance, John pulls his bloody cloak closer to cover his nakedness.

The Flame tells Warren to bring Maeve to her, so she can balance the healer's Power until Rio arrives. With Rowena's help, Warren moves Maeve to the Flame's pallet. While the Flame examines the healer's condition, Rowena goes to John. They have a brief, bitter exchange, during which Warren asks Rowena to assist the Flame.

The Flame has begun to restore the balance to Maeve's magic. Maeve senses something odd about the Power she's using, but can't put her finger on it.

Upstairs, Rio's superhuman hearing picks up Warren telling Alexa to fetch the young healer. Nick finishes his bath, and the pair head back downstairs to meet the girl. Alexa's alarmed by Nick's resemblance to Nikolai, and she rushes back to Warren. Rio follows to assure them that Nick isn't Lord Rhodan, then tells of the presence of Julianne in Ashby. Observing all this in her crystal ball, Julianne decides it's time to hit the town.

At the Flame's direction, Warren explains the situation as best he can to Rio, then sends out everyone who isn't needed, including Alexa, who goes upstairs. Rowena takes that to mean she must go, and she stalks off into the night after a few more words with John. Rio sends Nick after her, then settles down to help the Flame.

Nick follows Rowena outside. They chat a little about the events of the day, then Rowena hears footsteps approaching, so they duck into the shadows while Julianne observes from a distance. They hide just in time to avoid guards searching for the escaped prisoners.

Meanwhile, having memorized Brother Charles' sketchy version of the lost scroll, Father Roger dons beggar's clothing and heads out to rescue Brother John. He finds himself drawn from his intended path, however; lurking in the shadows, he overhears guards talking about escaped prisoners, then he spots Rowena and Nick. Mistaking Nick for Rhodan, he uses his disguise to get close to them. Nick calls him by the name of his band mate, Roger Taylor; the abbot denies the name, then asks Rowena for news of John. She recognizes him and, passing him a few pennies to maintain his cover, she tells him to meet her in the Seventh Stranger in a half-hour. Roger slips back into the shadows to keep an eye on the guards just as Julianne, disguised as a damsel in distress, emerges.

When Rowena hears her scream, she draws her sword and steps between the woman and Nick. Julianne pretends to faint; Rowena ignores the ploy and starts to walk back to the inn with Nick. When Julianne tries to insinuate herself into their company, Rowena advises her at sword-point to find somewhere other than the Seventh Stranger to spend the night.

Elsewhere, far from the inn, Andy drops Cat at her chosen hiding-place, where she's to wait while he completes his mission, lending her his knife and giving her some instructions. Cat dismounts, then kisses Andy, a move that startles them both and causes Tamerlaine to come to a skidding halt behind them. Embarrassed and confused, she ducks into the trees. Andy tries to shake off what just happened, and he rides on towards his destination, stopping only to don the Elven monk's robe. He arrives at the circle of standing-stones and presents Talandriel with the Earl's sword, asking for the Elves' aid in defeating Audra. In reply, Talandriel promises her people's help and gives him the black sword Harbinger to take back to his master, warning him that the sword has an adverse effect on those around it, then she flees with the Earl's sword. Andy returns to his horse with a growing sense of dread.

Cat, meanwhile, has fallen asleep under the trees. A wolf approaches, and Tamerlaine leaps to her defense, warning him off. Once the wolf has gone on his way, Cat awakens. When she hears a rider coming, she climbs a tree to hide, only to see Andy on the road. After Cat returns his knife to Andy in exchange for the monk's robe, they ride for Ashby; Tamerlaine keeps his distance, sensing Harbinger's malevolence.

Back at the Seventh Stranger, the Flame asks Warren to act as a buffer between her and Maeve in case the magic reverses flow. It does, and he tries to force it back as Maeve breaks contact with the Flame, causing the Flame's Power to drain into the floor.

Rio summons a sudden burst of Power, knocking Warren into a wall as she directs it towards the women. Frightened by the unleashed magic, Maeve screams. Rio's magic heals both women, though the Flame passes out for a moment from the impact. When the sorceress regains her senses, she finds Rio begging her to remember. The young woman explains that the Flame saved her father's life in a mine collapse and gave her the ability to use magic.

Maeve's cry wakes Simon in the castle. When there's no alarm in the castle itself, he realizes the voice was his sister's, and he hurries to the stables for his horse.

Prowling his own chamber, "Nikolai" plots his complete takeover of his twin brother's life. He spots Prentis lurking in the shadows below his window and levitates the boy into his room for a discussion. Prentis tells him of Nick's presence in Ashby; "Nikolai" decides that this Otherworlder must be eliminated. He confirms that Prentis will find Rowena again as planned, then report to him about Nick, and they seal the deal with a toast while Simon rides for Ashby.

Attracted by the magical disturbance, Antonio enters the back room of the inn to find Maeve stunned but whole again. He helps her up, then puts her to sleep, laying her beside Brother John. John, meanwhile, is in the throes of a nightmare involving Audra, Rowena, and a little girl he recognizes as Cat. Seeing how disturbed the monk's sleep is, Antonio enters his mind, altering events in the dream-world; casting himself as the Lord, he tells John to be strong, then removes himself from the dream and retires for sleep, conjuring sand-scorpions for guards. John wakes to find Maeve beside him; he takes her hand and goes back to sleep.

Rio, too, bids everyone in the room good night and goes back to her room. The Flame finds Warren and brings him back to her pallet. She sees to his injuries, then they both curl up and go to sleep.

Upstairs at the inn, Alexa has made herself to home in the room Bantam and Nicholas share. She joins Nicholas at the window, where they gaze at the full moon; the boy tells her a bit about his mother and her death, while Bantam retires to his bed. Nicholas soon returns to his own bed. Alexa is about to leave, but he offers her a spot beside him. Before long, all 3 children are asleep, though Alexa wakes briefly in the night from a strange dream involving birds.

Along the corridor, Rio has retired for the night. Nick soon joins her, parting from Rowena downstairs. Rowena finds Barbarella and informs her that guards are looking for John, adding that she expects a late-night visitor. Barbarella assures her that John is safe for the time being, and that she'll have Daniel stand a watch at the door. Rowena thanks her, then goes to check on John herself. The sight of him holding Maeve's hand distresses her deeply. She finds a table in the now-empty taproom, where she can wait for Father Roger.

Arriving at the Seventh Stranger, Simon boldly strides into the back room; his appearance brings Rowena to her feet. Shocked by the sight of his sister lying next to a nearly naked stranger, he doesn't notice the young woman until she warns him off with her dagger drawn. The weapon's presence causes the guardian scorpions to waken Antonio, who leaps into action, knocking the dagger from Rowena's hand with his own and conjuring a sand-wall around Maeve and Brother John. Simon threatens Rowena and Antonio with bodily harm if they hurt his sister. Realizing that the pair is acting out of concern, Antonio leads them into the common room, where Rowena directs them to her table.

Once they've sat down, Rowena demands explanations. Simon tells her that he only wants to see his sister; Antonio relates his tale of the coming Mage War and his need to find the heir to the castle. Rowena tells him that Ashby's heir is missing, but that he can turn the item he has for the Earl's daughter over to Father Roger. Antonio knows Rowena is lying about the heir, but he leaves the pouch containing the pendant he found and a note for the abbot in her care. She excuses herself on the pretence of getting some sleep. While Rowena conceals herself in the shadows, Antonio asks Simon's help in locating Simone.

Simone, meanwhile, has met with Segrand, convincing him that she is in Arcadia to restore the guards to their rightful place. Still sceptical, Segrand agrees to accompany her into the bowels of the Stronghold. Simone leads him, Titus, Leo, Meggan, and the cat to what appears to be a dead end, but with Tabby's help, she opens a secret passage into a long-forgotten area of the Stronghold. Segrand and Leo open a final door, and they enter a grand hall, where they find skeletons of men and dogs clustered around the hearth. Through Meggan, Simone relates what she has read in the library about the Duke of Arcadia, his treasonous death here in the Hall, and the concealment of his heir.

At Simone's request, Segrand explains the relationship between the men and their dogs as best he can. After learning that Lord Rhodan may return as early as mid-afternoon, Simone suggests they all retire for the night. Segrand returns to the barracks, leaving 4 guards at the Stronghold's gates, and lies awake, pondering what will come the next day.

Farther along the road to Ashby, under Harbinger's influence, Andy and Cat experience painful memories and entertain some very dark thoughts. Eventually, Andy asks Cat to take the reins; he feels ill and fears he's been bespelled. Having tired of playing with the humans, Harbinger turns its attentions to Tamerlaine, sending a raven to attack the dog. Andy runs to Tamerlaine's aid; Cat follows and tends the dog's wounds. They then strike out for Ashby again, Cat in control of the horse. Tamerlaine, loping behind the horse, is startled when the wolf reappears to pledge his kind's aid to the Hound Table knight in his fight against the Dark One.

As they near Ashby, Cat asks Andy to guide her to a safe path into town.

In the town, Daniel lets a disguised Father Roger into the Seventh Stranger, while Rowena watches anxiously from the shadows as Antonio and Simon talk.

<< Back to the Introduction <<Chapter One <<Chapter Two <<Chapter Three <<Chapter Four
<<Chapter Five <<Chapter Six <<Chapter Seven <<Chapter Eight <<Chapter Nine <<Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven
>>Chapter Twelve >>Chapter Thirteen >>Chapter Fourteen >>Chapter Fifteen >>Chapter Sixteen >>Chapter Seventeen
>>Chapter Eighteen >>Chapter Nineteen >>Chapter Twenty

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