CHAPTER 17

~Compiled by Catherine~

Isabel takes Pyramis & Thisbe to meet Hamish. The alpha werewolf is gracious, but unhappy that Isabel has brought strangers to the village. His displeasure increases when she tells him of Conner. Hamish asks her to arrange a meeting of the Council, then dismisses them all. Isabel leads Thisbe & Pyramis to her cottage, where she introduces them to her daughter, Abbey. She then instructs Abbey to shift back to her human form and tend the fire & their guests while she does Hamish's bidding.

When Isabel returns, Abbey is showing the dogs the vegetable garden. Isabel tells Pyramis & Thisbe that they've been invited to participate in the Council, at the main werewolf village of Taur-in-Edhel. They meet up with Hamish and his mate, Marigold, and portal to the abandoned Elf village.

Meanwhile, back at Ashby Castle, Conner tells Nikolai about the werewolves. Imagining how he'll present the werewolves to Audra as a wedding-gift, Nikolai asks what Conner will give him if he can change the half-cat fully into human. Conner pledges his very life. Nikolai questions him closely about Isabel; when asked, Conner admits that he can't find the werewolf village, but he may be able to find his way back to the portal-stone Isabel showed him. Nikolai warns Conner that he'll be treated fairly, but only if he does his best. They take horses and a cadre of guards and ride for the Forest.

At the same time, guards have taken Rio & Nico into custody. Audra orders them housed in separate cells in the upper dungeon, allowing Julianne access to them. While she & Julianne discuss what's to be done with the prisoners, they're observed by a servant girl, who's come to fetch the Countess' and Rhodan's torn clothing from that morning's dailliance. When a guard demands to know her business, she answers him sharply. Hearing their voices, Audra orders them to come forward. Struck by the girl's beauty & her initiative, the Countess asks her name; the girl introduces herself as Sahara. Audra decides to test the girl & commands her help in creating a costume for the Ball, then accompanies Julianne upstairs.

In the guest chamber assigned to Vanya, Gabrielle attempts to befriend Rhodan's consort, with limited success. She uses her Power to give Vanya a disturbing glimpse into her ancient soul. Vanya stubbornly insists that her loyalties lie with Nikolai, and, having finished dressing Gabrielle's hair, orders the girl from her presence.

Sahara, meanwhile, asks the steward for access to Rowena's old room. Stewart denies her until Sahara reminds him that he can't afford to incur Audra's further displeasure, whereupon he grudgingly hands over the key. Sahara soon finds what she wants, a trunk containing some of Mina's things. Removing a gown, she leaves for Audra's chamber, pocketing the key so she can have it copied.

Rowena herself has decided to continue into Ashby, distressed by Brother John's admission that he kept Maeve in his thoughts while in Audra's dungeons. Maeve, however, asks her & the others to wait while she explains things to John. Faran reminds Rowena that John's useful to them. She conceeds the point, then asks Legolas about his day.

John admits at last that he can't see any reason to keep Maeve from going with Simon, then he asks her about the scroll. Maeve tells him it's at the Seventh Stranger with the rest of her things. John invites her to join them, offering the protection of Lorcan's glamour. Maeve consults Simon, who agrees to accompany the group back to Ashby. Glad to be on the move again, Rowena starts off quickly with Faran; the others follow, leaving a somewhat hurt & bewildered Brother John to take up the rear guard.

As they make their way to the West Gate, John hurries to catch up with Rowena, determined not to let her face the guards alone. Despite Faran's insistence that they discuss their plans for infiltrating Audra's castle, Rowena asks John about his attachment to Maeve. Confused, John tells her that though he's only known Maeve a short while, he believes her to be trustworthy. Frustrated and jealous, Rowena reverts to business, and they discuss what they'll do when they reach the town. Sensing some emotion, John asks if she's okay; Rowena answers him curtly. He mistakes her hostility for fear; she tells him she doesn't trust any of the group they've gathered, then accuses him of not caring for his "girlfriend's" safety. Realizing she means Maeve, John denies any romantic feelings for the healer, then, thinking his actions at the cave are to blame, he apologizes for kissing Rowena, who admits to enjoying the kiss.

John explains that he focused his thoughts on Maeve so he wouldn't betray Rowena to Nikolai, never knowing that it would be Maeve's own brother reading his mind. Rowena accepts this as they reach the gate. The guards challenge them; hoping that Lorcan's glamour works, John tells them he's a farmer, come with his wife, brothers, & sisters-in-law to the Faire, where they hope to sell their horse. After a cursory search for weapons, the guards allow them to pass.

Meanwhile, Bantam has found his way out of the Forest to the North Road. Seeing a rider approaching, he ducks into the undergrowth. He's not fast enough; Ramsall spots him and, stopping, encourages the lad to step out, then offers him a ride into town, which Bantam accepts after hesitating. As they ride, Ram introduces himself as "Raysel" & gives the lad some food. He spins Bantam the tale of his runaway "brother," & asks for his help in finding "Kit." Bantam agrees, though he adds that he doesn't know how helpful he'll be.

At the North Gate, Ramsall tells the guards he's visiting the Faire with his brother; as they let the pair pass, he asks about inns. One guard lists 3; Ram decides on the Rum Runner for now & heads into town.

The Faire is in full swing. Sisters Giavanna & Magdalena bring a troop of orphans; Gia can't help but remember bringing little Cat in past years. She spots Father Patrick hurrying on his way to St. Julian's.

Cat's woken by Tamerlaine. Figuring that he needs to go pee, she lets the dog out of the room, gathering the clean laundry from the stool outside the door where Xanax has left it. Back inside, she sorts her things from Andy's, takes a longing peep out the window, then turns back to the bed. Her body reacts to the memory of Andy's kisses; Cat doesn't understand the feelings he stirs in her. She crawls back into bed without waking him & kisses him softly before dropping off to sleep again.

Tamerlaine goes downstairs to the kitchen, where Barbarella nearly trips over him. Recognizing the dog as Andy's & realizing that he needs to go out, she lets him into the rear courtyard. Tamerlaine relieves himself, then returns to the door. Distressed to find it shut, he scratches at it.

Parting from Claire outside the Seventh Stranger, Arin & Vladimir enter. Arin asks Prozac about the room she's reserved. Prozac, in turn, fetches Xanax, who's been upstairs delivering Cat & Andy's laundry. Xanax hands Arin a key & gives her directions to the room.

Upstairs in their room, Vladimir & Arin start getting romantic. He presents her with Madeline's necklace. Undressing him, Arin's alarmed by the rips & blood on his shirt. He tells her the Nightboat & her crew were destroyed by the Arcadian fleet, and that he himself narrowly escaped death on the pyre. Relief overwhelms her, & she falls into bed with him. While they make love, Vladimir puts his fangs into her neck; Arin's not alarmed until she realizes he's taking more blood than usual. She struggles briefly before passing out. Satisfied, Vladimir opens a vein in his arm & feeds Arin; his ministrations restore not only her life but her youth. He takes her again before going into hibernation.

Meanwhile, Claire re-enters the inn, having tended to her horse. She feels a Pulling and is horrified to realize that the source is Arin. As she starts towards the stairs, the Pulling ceases. Sensing that Arin is still alive, Claire uneasily finds a seat.

Out in the courtyard, Tamerlaine gives up on the kitchen door and starts searching for another entrance. He finds the cellar door unlatched. Once in the cellar, he scents some familiar humans and follows the trail to the hidden room. Inside, Alexa's alarmed by the strange noises. Tamerlaine senses her distress, in true Hound Table fashion, he tries to reach her, scratching at the secret door. Xanax arrives to check on Alexa and is startled to find the dog. Recognizing Tamerlaine, she speaks to him. Hearing her voice, Alexa calls to her mother. Xanax explains the dog's presence, then, assuring herself that Alexa's all right, she takes Tamerlaine upstairs. The dog hurries back to Cat & Andy's room, where, finding himself on the wrong side of yet another door, he flops down for a nap.

In another room, Arin wakes and tidies up a bit. She watches Vladimir in his death-sleep for a time, then, hearing Tamerlaine in the corridor, she blocks the door with a clean blanket so the dog won't smell the vampire and alert anyone to his presence. Having made things as safe as possible for her lover, she goes back to bed.

Downstairs, Sterling enters the taproom, bearing a message for Andy, whom he's so far been unable to find. When Xanax approaches, he remembers Andy saying that she's trustworthy; he orders an ale and asks for a word with her. Xanax brings his drink and bluntly asks what he wants. Roundaboutly, Sterling tells her he's looking for Andy. Xanax won't admit outright that Andy's at the inn, but she offers to give him a message if she sees him. Guessing what she isn't saying, Sterling passes her a bit of parchment, pays for his drink, and leaves.

Simone arrives through a portal, having left David Cassidy in Segrand & Meggan's care and the Silver Mage training 2 pairs of youngsters in magical defence. She enters the inn and orders a drink. Claire recognizes her from Antonio's description. They eyeball each other warily. Meanwhile, out in the desert, Tribal leaders Rodge, Logan, & Yasmin meet and ride towards Ashby with 3 mages.

Antonio himself heads to the Seventh Stranger, arriving ahead of Rowena & her band of fugitives, who have decided to stagger their entrances. Rowena goes first, riding Faran. She leaves the stallion in the care of the ostler, then enters the inn; she asks Prozac for Barbarella. The glamour has lost strength with distance, and Prozac recognizes Rowena. She fetches Barbarella, who offers Rowena the use of the parlour again. Rowena accepts; Xanax goes with her to help tidy up while Barbarella arranges for food and drink.

Simon arrives next, with Legolas & Maeve. He recognizes Antonio & Simone, but doesn't acknowledge them, not sure if the glamour's still in place. Rowena pokes her head out of the parlour and beckons Simon just as Maeve leads Legolas upstairs so she can fetch her things and Brother John's scroll.

Maeve's dismayed to find her room in a shambles. The scroll and some packets of orchid powder are missing. Legolas comforts her. He's about to kiss her when they're interrupted by Tamerlaine, who's been disturbed from his nap. He picks up a scent and starts to follow it. Legolas tells Maeve to report what's happened to John while he goes with the dog.

The rest of the fugitives arrive. John chides Rowena for leaving the parlour door unlocked, while the Flame and Lorcan sit at the table; Warren joins them. Xanax goes to tell him that Alexa's safe at the inn. He's glad of the news and tells Xanax to let Alexa know he'll be with her soon. The Flame looks daggers at Xanax because of the way she speaks to Warren and is alarmed at her feelings of jealous rage.

Meanwhile, over at the Rum Runner, Ramsall orders ale for himself and Bantam. Bantam doesn't drink his. Ram asks Mary the barmaid, whom he met in the street, about information on his missing brother's supposed companion. She suggests he ask Mabel, who's due in shortly to work. At that moment, leprechaun Sean O'Leary appears on their table. Mary shoos him off, but Ramsall asks if Sean might know the man for whom he's looking. Using ale as an incentive, he questions the leprechaun, who eventually recalls seeing a man fitting the description Ram gives him in the Rum Runner a night or 2 previous with a young, warrior-type woman, adding that the fellow's name might begin with "A." Sean then proceeds to entertain the patrons by bursting into song.

Having overheard this exchange, Sterling, who's been lurking in a dark corner of the taproom, leaves in search of Andy again, even more concerned now. Guards dispatched by Stewart arrive; they recognize Bantam and arrest him as a fugitive. Ramsall promptly denies knowing the boy.

The guards return Bantam to the dungeon, putting him in a cell near Nico & Rio, who's already contacted Warren to inform him of their predicament. They attempt to strike up a conversation with the lad.

Maddie & Gwynfor have returned. Maddie finds Stewart and demands that he send guards to find her stolen necklace. Stewart refuses; Maddie flounces upstairs in search of Audra.

Audra's in her chamber, contemplating all the work to be done before the Ball. She responds to Sahara's knock by opening the door magically. Sahara doesn't flinch, merely presents Audra with the gown. Recognizing it as having belonged to her predecessor, Audra's unsure if she should be pleased or angry until Sahara explains that the sight of the Countess in her mother's gown will doubtless distress Rowena greatly. Seeing that Sahara is an Elf, Audra voices the suspicion that the maid and her stepdaughter are related. Sahara denies this, adding that she does bear a grudge against Rowena & her dead mother. Audra agrees to wear the gown and sends it to be altered.

Meanwhile, Julianne has arrived at Vanya's chamber to collect Gabrielle. Sensing the tension between the 2 girls, Julianne blames Gabrielle and grabs her by the hair. Harsh words ensue. Learning that her father and her half-aunt are in the dungeon, Gabrielle uses her Power against her mother and attempts to find them.

Audra senses the magical burst and runs into the corridor, calling for Nikolai in her mind; she doesn't notice Maddie & Gwynfor's arrival. They follow to see what the fuss is. Audra traps Gabrielle in sticky green magic and forces her back to her own guest chamber, reminding her to behave herself. Gabrielle pretends to submit. Julianne meets Maddie and thinks she recognizes her, but Maddie denies it. When Audra emerges, Maddie tells her of Stewart's refusal; Audra sends Gwynfor to order the steward to send out guards in search of the thief, then she does her best to soothe her friend. They return to Maddie's guest chamber, then Audra leaves her to prepare for the Ball.

After Audra leaves her, Gabrielle has a vision of a place of Satanic ritual. Sensing her mother's involvement, she renews her determination and uses her magic to search for her father.

Meanwhile, Father Patrick arrives at St. Julian's. Seeking Abbot Roger, he goes to the refectory, where Brother Abelard greets him and informs him that the abbot requested that he not be disturbed following the guards' search of the monastery. Patrick gives Abelard the news about the vampire; Abelard promises to pass on the message.

Said vampire, Vladimir, awakes. Seeing how Arin has covered herself in his presence, he recalls Tarik's ability to describe her scar; the thought that she's been with other men enrages him, and he tears the blanket away to inspect her. Arin awakes; they confront each other. To placate Vladimir, she offers him her body, declaring that she's known no other lover but him. They make love, then dress and head downstairs.

Maeve has returned downstairs, having tucked her distinctive hair under a mob-cap. She encounters Antonio, Simone, & Claire outside the parlour door; she recognizes Antonio, who then introduces his companions.

John opens the door to Maeve when she announces herself. Antonio takes Rowena aside as he greets Lorcan, and they begin to discuss the coming Mage War. Rowena's upset to learn that her battles with Audra have been prophesied, and she rebels at the idea until she consults with Faran. She vows to Antonio that she will rule Ashby well.

Maeve tells John about the missing scroll. He's deeply upset, but makes sure that she's all right. She tells them that Legolas has gone in search of it.

Tamerlaine's nose has led Legolas to the Rum Runner. Jarlath, one of Audra's assassins, has arrived ahead of him, looking for the guard who stole the scroll and the orchid powder, which have since come into his possession. He finds the man indulging in the narcotic effects of the orchid.

Meanwhile, Tarik's been listening to Ramsall question Mabel; he approaches the thief to offer his services. Ram is suspicious; he can't afford Cat falling into the wrong hands, nor does he trust Tarik's methods of persuasion. They debate a bit, then Ramsall agrees to let Tarik question Mabel, who clearly knows more than she's told Ram, while he himself heads out to do some legwork, noting the dog & the Elf who have just arrived.

Jarlath senses something's up; he hails Legolas, compliments the dog, then asks what the Elf seeks. Trying to be cautious, Legolas merely tells him a friend has been robbed of something, then follows Tamerlaine to the carousing guard. He questions the man, who grows belligerent until Jarlath steps in. Leaving his apprentice to call in some guards, he leads Legolas back to the bar and offers him a drink. He deduces that Legolas' friend is a woman and attempts to get information out of the closed-mouthed Elf. He drugs the wine and asks the Elf's name; under the drug's influence, Legolas slips and says "Orlando" before correcting himself. Jarlath's curiosity is aroused. He has guards arrest Legolas and muzzle Tamerlaine.

Meanwhile, Percy Petal decides to ask Maeve to the Ball. He picks her some wildflowers and heads to the Seventh Stranger, where he asks Prozac for Maeve. The barmaid heads for the parlour and tells Barbarella that a guard is looking for the healer. Barbarella tells Prozac to tell Percy that Maeve's running errands, which she does; disappointed, Percy leaves the flowers with Prozac.

News of the guard's presence alarms everyone in the parlour. Antonio offers Simone's services as a portal-builder; even John accepts. Simone mentally asks Simon for an image of the cellar, which he draws from Maeve's mind. Simone opens the portal, much to the others' astonishment. Antonio goes through first, followed by Lorcan, then Warren & the Flame. Their sudden arrival in the cellar causes Xanax, who has gone down ahead of them to alert Alexa to her father's presence in the inn, to faint from fear.

Elsewhere, another sort of portal leaves Isabel and the others in Taur-in-Edhel. While Thisbe babysits Abbey, Pyramis accompanies the rest into the Wolf Hall, where the Council is gathered. With the arrival of Gray & Amelie, the alphas of all the werewolves, the Council hears Isabel's story. When they learn of Conner's defection to Audra's castle, some accuse Isabel of endangering them all. Pyramis leaps to her defence. Gray settles the Council; they debate what's to be done to protect themselves.

Meanwhile, Conner has, by trial and error, led Nikolai to the portal-stone. Nikolai works a spell over it which allows him a view of Isabel's village, but there is no one in sight.

At the same time, having fled Gemile & Daniel's care to search for Bantam, Nicholas perches high in a tree, watching Nikolai & Conner. Nikolai senses the boy and demands that he show himself; Conner adds his own encouragement. Drawn by his curiosity, Nicholas emerges from the trees; Nikolai recognizes him from Audra's description. He talks to the boy, recounting how Audra caged him; Nicholas blurts out that this Rhodan isn't the one who witnessed that cruelty. Nikolai distracts Conner from the boy's words by continuing to speak gently to Nicholas. He tells him that Conner is half cat, asking Conner to show the boy his spots. Cutting off his braid, Conner does so; fascinated, Nicholas draws nearer until, realizing he's left the safety of the forest, he turns and bolts back to the trees in alarm. In doing so, he trips and hurts himself. Conner hurries to his aid; Nikolai follows, casting a soothing spell to calm the boy.

Nikki's elder twin, meanwhile, is still trapped in 1984. He nearly strikes Jules for daring to touch him, but recalls himself when he catches his reflection in the dressing-room mirror. Jules apologizes, but insists that she must bear his child. Nikolai tells her they'll discuss it later; Jules reacts by snapping that she's off to take a nap.

Meanwhile, the werewolf council has ended with the decision to evacuate Isabel's village and bring the pack to Taur-in-Edhel. Back at the village, Hamish informs the pack of the evacuation order. Isabel takes Abbey home to pack their things, followed by Pyramis & Thisbe.

<< 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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