CHAPTER 13

~Compiled by Catherine~

While Audra heads for the garden to meet with Tarik and Prentis, Nikolai the Younger goes to his chambers. Stewart arrives shortly with Martus and his Hound. Martus begins to describe the events of the previous night in Arcadia; he's interrupted by his Hound, who has realized that Nikki is an impostor. Martus manages to settle the dog while Nikolai looks on with some consternation, then he tells the warlock of Simone's coup at the Stronghold. Nikolai orders Martus to bring the woman to him by nightfall the following day. Martus leaves for Arcadia, Hound in tow.

Back in Arcadia, Segrand and Simone have discovered the hidden entrance to the secret rooms. Leo returns with Meggan and Tabby, and the group make their way into the passage. Meggan tells Simone that something down there is trying to warn them of danger.

The passage turns, and Segrand, in the lead, finds the way blocked, though his Hound indicates that there is something beyond the seemingly solid wall. Simone uses her aura vision and sees that a spell is in place around the archway. Using her dagger, she chips away at symbols on either side of the archway. The blockade disappears, revealing a further passage. Segrand and Night/Titus lead them on.

Following his own Companion out of Ashby, Iago catches sight and smell of Tamerlaine, who's leading Rio back towards the Seventh Stranger, on Nick Rhodes' trail. Halfway there, her super hearing kicks in, and she realizes that she can hear the voices of those in hiding. Not wanting to lead guards to Nick and the others, she tries to contact Warren, whose image she has received strongly in her mind, for advice.

Warren has joined the rest of the fugitives, reuniting Bantam with his brother, who's chatting with Nick and Brother John. Gemile opens one of the crates in the secret room and starts planning a meal, while Warren settles down with the Flame. He tells the sorceress that he couldn't find Alexa, which worries him; the Flame offers to try a Locating spell later on. She feels a surge of Clan Power that she can't explain; Warren suddenly exhibits signs of illness. The Flame realizes that the release of Power must have something to do with it and tries to guide him through it. Rowena notices that something ails the warrior and asks if everything is all right. The Flame assures her that it's nothing a little breakfast won't cure. Rowena hands Warren an apple and some cheese, then finds her gaze turning to John. Nick, meanwhile, is fascinated by the child who looks just like him. Nicholas tells him of his forest home while the 3 of them huddle for warmth. Bantam looks on, shivering at the fringes stubbornly, only taking Rowena's offer of a blanket at his brother's insistence.

After a little work, Warren identifies Rio as the source of the Power. The Flame strengthens her connection with the warrior and manages to contact Rio herself, telling the girl to stop, fearful of harm coming to either Rio or Warren. Rio finds herself unable to break the link and begins to panic. The Flame calms her down, and gradually, the link weakens. Just before breaking the connection, Rio tells Warren that she's returning to the inn; the warrior warns her that Percy is still searching the inn.

Meanwhile, Percy has begun searching the rooms upstairs. When the guard and Maeve pass him and Cat without acknowledging their presence, Andy realizes that the sword, Harbinger, must have bespelled them, a realization that causes him some consternation. While Andy directs Cat to their room, Harbinger attempts to calm his toy by presenting the thief with images of him going about his business at the fair with none the wiser.

Once all the rooms upstairs have been searched, Maeve leads Percy to the ground floor again. She catches Xanax's eye; the barmaid signals that the parlour is empty of fugitives. Maeve takes Percy through the bedrooms on the ground floor; the ensuing disturbance brings Barbarella out of her room, where she's been sitting with an unconscious Mallory. She demands to know what's going on. Percy apologizes, but insists that he's only doing his duty. Barbarella reminds Maeve to let Percy check the cellar, as well.

Maeve reluctantly leads Percy to the cellar door, where she proceeds to fumble with the keys and make as much noise as possible to warn anyone who might be down there. Once the door's open, she goes to fetch a lantern and catches Xanax for a few quick words about the fugitives, whom the barmaid believes might be in the cellar.

Hearing something outside the secret room, Rowena hushes the others so she can listen. The Flame senses the tension as she comes back to herself after "talking" with Rio. She and Warren join Rowena at the door, ready to defend the little group should anyone come in.

Meanwhile, back upstairs, Cat unlocks the door to their room, where a bath awaits. Pulling off his boots, Andy stretches out on the bed, offering Cat the use of the bath first. Uncomfortable with the idea of bathing while he's in the room, the apprentice thief reminds Andy of his promise to find Traveller/Tamerlaine. Understanding her discomfiture, Andy does the gentlemanly thing and leaves, telling her that he'll be back in half an hour with the dog.

He heads for the taproom, seeing that no one notices him. The dog is nowhere to be seen. Andy sits down to contemplate his situation and sees Prozac leading 3 men towards his table, one of whom is his former apprentice, Sterling. Andy tries to signal the other thief, but has to move quickly to avoid being sat upon. Deciding there's little he can do here, Andy leaves in search of Traveller. Isabel, a werewolf in her human form, smells Andy as he passes, but cannot see him, only the door as it opens.

Outside, Andy makes his way to the fairgrounds, where he looks for the dog, remembering how he and Ninnocha barely avoided the previous day's battle between Warren and the Flame. Pondering the young woman's fate, Andy feels as though someone is watching him.

Tamerlaine has caught Andy's scent. Leaving Rio, he follows the scent trail until he spots Andy at the edge of the fairgrounds; he trots over to join the thief.

Also prowling the fairgrounds, Tay, a vampiress, and her companion Sumner encounter Limahl, a young man singing for coppers. While Tay seduces Limahl, Arin, Conner's partner, meets Sumner and asks where she can get a bottle of ale or wine. Sumner brushes her off, busy watching Tay; grumbling at his rudeness, Arin heads off for the Seventh Stranger. Tay converts Limahl into a vampire, then the 3 of them hunt for food; they find Liselle, a laundry maid from the inn.

Arin enters the Seventh Stranger Inn and asks Xanax for a bottle of wine. Xanax sends Prozac to fetch it. While they wait, Arin inquires about the disturbance; the barmaid explains that the inn is being searched for fugitives by the Countess' guards, while Pyramis and Thisbe suss out the newcomer. Deciding Arin smells all right, except for a lingering cat scent, Thisbe leads Pyramis in search of Maeve. She gets side-tracked by wolf scent and encounters Isabel, sitting near the back of the taproom. While Arin pays for her bottle of elderberry wine and puts a deposit on a room for the night before leaving again, Thisbe and Pyramis settle down to chat with the werewolf, who's delighted at the prospect of company.

When Thisbe asks, Isabel explains how she can transform at will between human and wolf form. Noticing that Isabel seems uncomfortable discussing magic, Thisbe changes the subject a little, telling her of Charley, then she offers to help Isabel return to her pack by posing as her dog. Grateful, Isabel accepts, then asks about the others at the inn. Thisbe tells her about Maeve and the injured people who arrived in the night; she and Pyramis express concern that Charley hasn't yet returned for them. Alarmed by all this news, Isabel offers to ask around for Charley. Thisbe says it wouldn't be safe, as she'd have to go to the Castle, then suggests Maeve as a source for information. Pyramis follows Maeve's scent to the cellar door, while Isabel remains in the common room, feeling it unwise to be seen following the dogs.

Meanwhile, back at the Castle, Tarik and Prentis arrive in the garden for their meeting with Audra, who demands a report. Tarik tells her that he intercepted the messenger, but not before the message was delivered to a nobleman and his wife. None of the 3 is alive to repeat the message, he proudly informs the countess. Furious at his incompetence, Audra unleashes her magic and demands to know why he didn't leave the messenger alive for questioning; Tarik angrily explains that his policy is to leave no trace.

Nikolai arrives just as Tarik scuffles with the 2 guards Audra has ordered to take him to the dungeons. Once the guards recapture him, Nikolai probes the assassin's mind. He tells Audra that Tarik doesn't know the identities of the nobles he killed; he also relays the encounter with Lysander at the Seventh Stranger the night before. Because there seems to be a connection between Lysander and the noble couple, he suggests that they send Tarik away to await further orders, assuring Audra that Prentis can be relied upon to gather some more information about Lysander and to be discreet about it. Audra reluctantly agrees. Nikolai wonders if there might be a way to entice all their fugitives to them, instead of sending men after them, and wryly suggests a "fishing spell" for humans. Audra has a better idea, however: she will host a ball in the Great Hall, supposedly to contribute to the Midsummer festivities, in order to lure Rowena and the others into the castle. Nikolai agrees, and Audra goes off to fetch Madeline to help her plan. Once the countess is gone, Nikolai orders Tarik to return to the town, while Prentis has another assignment.

While Nikki continues to live his brother's life, Nikolai the Elder finds himself in an alternate universe, where horseless carriages speed past buildings that dwarf any castle he's ever seen. He's accosted by Steven, who's doing hair and make-up for the Band-Aid video. Steven's appalled by "Nick Rhodes'" new "look" and whisks him off to bleach his black hair. Nikolai casts a spell to prevent Steven from calling him "Nicky," a name that gives the warlock an uncomfortable feeling.

The ensuing commotion draws Simon LeBon into the dressing room. Nikolai recognizes him as Charley the Wandering Minstrel. They chat briefly, then they're interrupted by the arrival of Jules, Nick's wife, who's worried that her marriage is under some strain. She speaks to Simon in the corridor, alluding to her worries; Simon offers to stand by her while she confronts "Nick," and they enter the dressing room together. Nikolai recognizes the woman as Julianne the Sorceress from his own world, and, thinking that her resemblance may be of use to him, plays along with her.

Back in Nikolai's world, at Ashby Castle, Madeline has been eavesdropping as best she can from her chamber. Her bodyguard Gwynfor identifies Tarik as an assassin, though doesn't name him, as he doesn't know the man. When they've seen enough, Maddie orders Gwynfor to send her maid in to her; by the time Audra arrives, she's ready. When Audra tells her of the proposed ball, Maddie's thrilled, until she learns that commoners will be invited. They manage a compromise, then head downstairs for breakfast, followed by Gwynfor.

They encounter Stewart outside the morning room; Audra tells him to prepare for the ball and orders that breakfast be brought for Maddie. Despite misgivings about the ball, the steward does as ordered, and the women sweep into the morning room; a maid follows quickly with a platter of fruit and a pot of tea. Madeline dismisses Gwynfor to the kitchen for his own breakfast (and any information he can glean). She and Audra settle down to plan the gala, which will be a masked ball. They discuss things, then Maddie asks after Vanya, who was last seen with Minuet and Sebastian the cat.

Meanwhile, Julianne and a cat of a different sort, Conner, are on their way to the inn; the sorceress has enlisted the man's help in locating Nick, explaining that Rhodes may have been bewitched. Leaving a message for Arin scratched into the tree, Conner accompanies Julianne.

They reach the inn at the same time as Rio. Julianne introduces her to Conner, saying that they're about to have something to eat. Rio chides her for thinking of food while Nick's still missing, grabbing the sorceress; Julianne responds by knocking the girl to the ground. Conner watches, his growls unheard by the pair. They enter the inn, Rio with sword drawn. Conner smells dog and wolf; his eyes are drawn to Isabel, who has noticed the scent of cat emanating from him.

By now, Maeve has led Percy into the cellar. Behind the secret door, Rowena, Warren, and the Flame ready themselves; the Flame probes the minds outside and reports back to Warren. John prepares to defend Nicholas to the death if need be, while Nick huddles closer for protection and Bantam shrinks into his blanket to hide.

Maeve urges Percy into a cursory search of the cellar, but the guard is not to be rushed. Upstairs, Thisbe has realized that the healer, the guard, and the fugitives are all in the cellar; determined to prevent the fugitives' discovery, the dogs start whining and scratching at the cellar door. Barbarella, alerted by the dogs' behaviour, flings the cellar door open and, grabbing a skillet for defence, heads down the stairs. The dogs make a beeline for Maeve.

Hearing the dogs outside the door, Rowena prepares to cast a distracting charm, but the Flame assures her that the dogs are trying to draw the guard away. At the same time, Rio lets Warren know that she's in the Seventh Stranger. Annoyed, the warrior responds snappishly. Rio breaks contact, but not before she sees her mentor, Nico, enter and speak to Xanax.

At this point, Pyramis and Thisbe succeed in distracting Percy from his search. Maeve quietly praises the dogs, while Barbarella demands that Percy leave, as he's done enough damage for one day. They head upstairs, preceded by the dogs. Percy goes off to check the privies before he leaves the premises.

Standing at the doorway to the taproom, Thisbe notices the scent of cat, and she sends Pyramis to investigate. Isabel watches with interest as Pyramis approaches Conner, who responds by hissing silently, baring his short fangs. Pyramis assures Conner that he means no harm. While he's thus distracted, Rio introduces him and Julianne to Nico. Isabel follows Pyramis; she and Conner talk, and she soon realizes that he's not completely human, either. Thisbe, interested in the goings-on, steps into the taproom.

By now, Arin has returned to the tree, bearing a satchel filled with new clothes for herself and her partner, as well as the bottle of wine. She reads Conner's message, then heads back into town to look for him.

Julianne, meanwhile, has asked Rio about Nick; Rio relays Warren's order that they stay put. The sorceress flies into a rage, unleashing magic indiscriminately. Drawing her sword, Rio sends a warning to Warren. Maeve, hearing the disturbance, hurries down to the cellar to tell the fugitives to leave, if they can.

Warren tells the Flame that something's happening upstairs, but she's already sensed the Power being flung about. In an attempt to stop Julianne, the Flame gathers the ambient Power; however, her hands glow a dull red, and when she releases the Power, she collapses, retching. Rowena meanwhile has gone to reassure John, to little avail; when the Flame collapses, they both rush to her aid. Warren sends a message to Rio, while Rowena offers to fetch help, if he'll defend John. John tries to stop her at the door.

When Julianne loses her temper, Conner pushes Isabel behind him for protection, encouraging Pyramis out of the way, as well. Handing the werewolf a thin band of braided hair, he tells her to find the woman the hair belongs to if things go awry and explain what happened, then he pounces on Julianne. His actions don't even slow the sorceress down. Seeing this, Conner heads for Maeve, who's watching from the kitchen. He grabs her and asks if she knows this Nick Rhodes Julianne wants. Maeve denies knowing Nick; Conner explains that he wants to help the man, not turn him over to the sorceress, now that he's seen what she can do.

Meanwhile, Pyramis spots Thisbe, standing in the path of Julianne's magic. He throws himself at her, while Isabel stumbles out of the inn with the other patrons.

When Rio receives Warren's message, she tells Nico, who advises her to attack Julianne: she can use the sorceress' Power to increase her healing abilities and help the Flame. Rio lunges at Julianne with the Sibling's sword, aiming for her shoulder at Nico's command. Julianne collapses, and at Nico's direction, Rio places her hands on the wound, draws off some of the sorceress' Power, and sends it towards the Flame.

Having recovered a bit, the Flame senses the Power coming towards her. She warns Warren and tries to get out of its path herself, knowing that she can't. It strikes, and she screams, while Warren is once again knocked into a wall. He manages to drag himself back to the Flame's side. The blast startles John, who's standing at the door with Rowena, into some un-monk-like swearing; he takes charge, telling Gem and Nick to look after the boys, ordering Warren to do what he must to get the Flame out of there, and insisting that Rowena not leave his sight until they've reached the safety of the forest.

Warren gathers the Flame off the floor and follows Rowena's lead. When she turns for the courtyard stairs, he insists on making for the kitchen stairs, in hopes of reaching Maeve's help. Rowena goes after him.

Now that Julianne's been disarmed, Pyramis gets to his feet, but Thisbe remains on the floor; he nudges her with no response. Frantic, he barks at her. Hearing the noise, Maeve breaks away from Conner and rushes to the dog's side. Isabel, watching from outside, also runs back into the inn. At last, Thisbe comes to, giving Pyramis a swat for knocking the wind out of her. She tries and fails to get up. Pyramis asks Isabel to help Maeve; Conner steps in and picks up Thisbe, to the dog's dismay, asking the women where he should take her. Maeve leads them to a brook behind the inn, to get away from the upset in the taproom.

Meanwhile, the strain proves almost too much for Rio; she starts to cry. Nico forces Julianne, now conscious, to transport the 3 of them to her home. The effort nearly exhausts the sorceress, who collapses into a chair when they arrive. Nico announces that they'll take what they need from her, as recompense. Julianne protests, but Nico is adamant. They're interrupted by Rio, who's found a red jewel like the one her father made her; she demands to know where Julianne got it. The sorceress refuses, lunging for the girl. Nico trips her; she strikes her head and knocks herself unconscious. Nico then tells Rio to try contacting Warren again, to find out where he and the others are.

Back at the Seventh Stranger, Warren finds Xanax and asks her where Maeve is; the barmaid doesn't know and suggests he wait. Rowena tells him they have to leave now; Xanax breaks in with a request for Warren to keep an eye out for Alexa, who's gone wandering in the woods. Worried, Warren agrees to Rowena's proposal of casting a charm to make others ignore their party. She gathers everyone close, casts the charm, then leads them out of the inn, heading for the South Gate and the safety of the forest.

Somewhere out in the forest, Alexa has met with a man who greets her warmly and asks her how her day at the fair was. Her story is interrupted by the arrival of a woman who greets her effusively. The man settles the woman down, and they listen to Alexa's tale. When the girl mentions Warren, the man becomes intrigued. They then proceed to Alexa's lesson, after which the mysterious man asks the child if she wishes to return to the fair. Alexa declines, thinking of the events she has omitted from her narrative.

Meanwhile, far from the woods where Alexa meets with her strange benefactors, Simone and her companions enter a laboratory in the bowels of Rhodan's Stronghold. Something squeaks; Meggan runs over and picks up a blue-furred creature that reminds Simone of a cross between an Ewok and a Furby, announcing that this thing was once human and has been trying to warn them. Sensing movement in the shadows, Simone turns to see 2 black dragons emerge from the walls near the archway.

Segrand and Leo take on the dragons. Frightened, Meggan backs into a table, knocking over some vials. Tabby dashes in and starts lapping up the contents of one particular vial. Simone looks for a weapon, but her mind and body are invaded by a presence before she can act. Segrand defeats his dragon, which crumbles to ash, and goes to help Leo. Before he reaches his friend, however, a green mist swirls around him and the second dragon crumbles, too.

In the Tribal Lands, having rested and bathed, Simon joins Antonio and the Silver Mage, who has already dealt with another of the Goblin King's spheres. They perform a ceremony to locate Simone. In the mist of a hot spring, they see images of the events in Arcadia; as the images dissipate, Simon leaps to his feet, demanding that they do something. The Silver Mage assures him that as a God-Speaker, Simone can handle things, and he directs them to return to Ashby. Simon storms out of the Mage's tent in high dudgeon, with Antonio following. They meet Claire, who is to accompany them on their journey, and they start back to Ashby.

In the Stronghold's secret rooms, Segrand and Leo turn to see Simone has been taken over by a God. Speaking through her, the God addresses each of them in turn, telling the creature that it will be returned to its natural state but will age quickly; that Tabby will change with the moon's cycle; that Leo and Meggan are Life-bonded in the manner of the Clans and Tribes; that Segrand will have his heart's desire; and that the Hounds' bonds with their Companions will be strengthened. The God then cleanses the castle of evil and leaves Simone's body.

As Simone comes to herself, they discover an elderly wizard standing in place of the blue creature. Upon Segrand stating that they need to talk, the wizard leads them all to the restored Duke's Hall, destroying the laboratory in a magical conflagration as they leave. In the Hall, he gathers the crumbled bones of the Duke and his Hound; 2 rings fall and roll towards Meggan and Segrand. Meggan puts hers on, but Segrand has to be encouraged to do likewise. With the help of the mouse historian Mr. Greyfur, the wizard explains that Meggan and Segrand are descendants of the last Duke of Arcadia and proves it with a history-tree spell.. Having completed his tasks, the wizard expresses a wish to spend his remaining time in the rose garden, and Leo escorts him there.

After musing over the tapestry portrait of the Duke once more, Segrand gathers his little troop to discuss their next move. They're interrupted by a servant, Deedra, who brings news of a ball to be held at Ashby Castle that night; the Castle is looking for extra hands, but none of the Stronghold servants wants to go. Meggan reassures her on that score, and once Deedra has gone to report to the other servants, Meggan and Simone turn their attentions back to Segrand.

While events have been moving swiftly at the Stronghold, in another dark corner of Arcadia, Ramsall, master of the Thieves' Guild, sets out on the road to Ashby on the trail of one valuable, wayward apprentice known to him as Kit.

In Ashby, with Tamerlaine in tow, Andy heads back to the inn and his foundling apprentice. Slipping inside when the door opens, he goes to their room. Nearing the door, he hears Cat singing; her voice reminds him of Talandriel and suddenly, Harbinger starts to feel heavier. He pauses outside to listen; recognizing the rather naughty song, he smiles to himself and eases the door open. Cat, who's in the bathtub, breaks off mid-song when she hears the door creak; seeing Andy, she yelps and ducks down into the water so that she can just peer over the edge of the tub. Amused by her reaction, Andy averts his eyes and ushers Tamerlaine into the room. Grateful for his sensitivity to her predicament, Cat nevertheless remains half-hidden while advising him to close the door.

Meanwhile, Rowena and company are passing the fair. Nicholas offers to lead them to his cave. Rowena accepts, as it may be safer than trying to get everyone to the Hidden Village. Reaching the South Gate, they encounter guards. John expresses concern, as the guards will be looking for them, unlike the ordinary folks the charm has worked on. Nicholas calls on the Fae for help; Sprite, Fire Dancer, Ruby, and Truffle answer his plea and distract the guards so the group can pass. As they make for the forest, Warren is contacted by Rio; he demands to know what she did to the Flame, who's been almost senseless since the incident at the inn. Rio denies doing anything other than attempting to help and relays Warren's anger to Nico. Sensing their conversation, the Flame recovers enough to remind Warren of Rio's lack of training, while John continues to encourage the group to stay together as they head for the safety of the forest and Nicholas' home.

At the same time, having searched for Conner for a while, Arin returns to the tree near the West Gate and pole-vaults herself onto a branch to await his return.

Conner is still with Maeve and Isabel. At the healer's direction, he lays Thisbe in the shade of a birch tree. Isabel whines comfortingly to Pyramis, then realizes her slip and tries to cover it up; Conner's the only one who's noticed, but he eyes her, then asks for his ring back. Pyramis responds to Isabel's comforting with a tail-wag, then settles beside Thisbe.

Maeve examines her patient and discovers a couple of cracked ribs. She works a little healing magic, which Isabel senses. Learning that Thisbe will be all right, the werewolf offers to go to the market for some bandages; Conner, sensing rightly that she wishes to speak with him alone, asks if Maeve would mind him accompanying Isabel or if she would prefer he stand guard. Maeve assures him that she and the dogs will be fine until they return.

<< 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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