Peregrine in Remaque

Chapter I

The peregrine, Arkose, standing on the tower's girdle frame, watched
Baron Comus's pale hands stroke the crystal ball. Comus's lips peeled
back from his teeth, in a fierce bare. Black orbs peered from blood
shot eyes, crazed with evilness. Shouting, "Baldadra!" the gray figure
raised its hands, curled them into balled-fists, leaving three fingers
out, and snapped. The crystal ball glowed in a deep fluorescent green
and morphed into a picture. Eyes wide with fear, Arkose remained
stupefied in his spot, watching a vision at a far away place.

Colossal cypress trees lined the swamp, giant bows elegantly draped
over the quagmire. Leaves gently quivered in the tepid breeze, swishing
gaily like a striking kitten. Wading through the swamp was an alligator
furtively flashing glimpses of hunger throughout the marsh. Suddenly,
the alligator glanced one more time around, pushed a knot on a cypress
tree and waddled in.

"Aha!" screamed the sorcerer.

There it was! The meeting place he had sought for decades! Comus had an
amoral look in his eye, just as if he would be doing something insane
very soon.
Without glancing back, the peregrine took off from his hide-away spot
in the tree. His powerful wings beat the air, creating gusts of wind.
He soared up into the beautiful twilight sky, and soon leveled out. He
flapped his wings and flew over many little towns. A cathedral steeple
loomed ahead of him, indicating a large city. He glanced down, and
plummeted one hundred and fifty feet down. Arkose landed in a back
alleyway, and shifted back into his human form. He shook himself glad
to be back in his skin, and walked to the cathedral's door. Extending a
hand, he knocked on the carved mahogany door. Arkose marveled at the
workmanship, his hands tracing runes and animals. Suddenly the door
started creaking open, making Arkose jump back a few feet. An old man
limped out the door and stared at Arkose.

"Welcome to Cathedral Tamron." the old friar wheezed.

"Thank you, father."

"Well, come in, come in. You'll catch your death if you stay out
her."

"Thank you Friar?? I am afraid I didn't catch your name."

"Jacques, I am Friar Jacques of Erlen."

"Well, thank you Friar Jacques. I am Arkose of Remaque."

The Friar nodded, and started walking in. Arkose followed closely,
being careful not to step on his leather sandals. Jacques turned around
and closed the doors, sliding them back. They grated on the grimy
wooden floor. Jacques waved to him to follow. He opened a door, and
walked up several hundred steps to reach Jacques' chamber.

"So, Arkose, why are you here?"

"I am doing work for Prince Geoffrey of Remaque. I need to get a
message sent to him as fast as possible."

"What is this work?"

"I am sorry. I am not permitted to tell."

"Well, that is too bad then isn't it?"

"What does that mean, Friar?"

"This!"

Out of the old man's body jumped a skinny, muscular man, around twenty
years old. The man started punching a kicking Arkose, not expecting him
to fight back. Arkose was a whirlwind. He kicked the man in the side,
and did a back flip, landing on the table. Arkose unsheathed a throwing
knife, and threw it. It landed hilt first on his collarbone. He heard a
sickening snap, and new that the man's bone was broken. Arkose winced,
and walked over.

"Who sent you?!"

The boy did not answer. Blood trickled down his chest and landed in a
pile on the planks. Arkose kicked him in the side making him wince in
pain.

This time, Arkose more forcefully shouted, "Who sent you!"

The man grunted and moaned in pain. "Lord Indivar of Drail"

"Good. I am glad you chose to cooperate."

Arkose kicked him in the head, making him unconscious. Arkose ran down
the stairs, and ran outside. He vomited in the bushes, emptying his
stomach of the last meal he had eaten, several days before. An owl flew
over his head, and Arkose took the chance.

"Brother!"

The owl stared at him.

*What?*

"Could you or one of your kith find someone to deliver this message to
the Prince Geoffrey of Remaque?"

*Do I look like postal service? All right, I will get my cousin to do
it. He wants an adventure.*

"Thank you. How would you like me to repay you?"

*Don't repay me. Or? can you Heal?*

"Yes."

*My mate Mousewings has a broken wing. Could you fix it?*

"Sure! Where is she?"

The kindly owl showed him where his home was. He cooed in, and his wife
came waddling out.

*I brought this mage to heal your wing, dear.*

*Oh, thank you Manjit!*

Arkose walked over to her and settled into a deep trance. He reached in
with his mind, and Healed her wing pulling the bone spurs together, and
healing muscle.

"There you go, Madam Mousewing! Take care, and eat well for a few days.
After that, you should be fit to fly!"

Arkose nodded and walked away after handing the male owl the scroll. He
shape-shifted again into a Peregrine Falcon, and flew off into the
twilight sky.

~*~*~*~

Horns blasted in the frigid stone castle, and hundreds of people
cheered. Walking down the aisle, Prince Geoffrey and Princess Aurora
had their arms interwoven. The princess's ivory dress had deer and
hawks embroidered in gold thread, heavy on the dress's lapel and cuff,
and light on the abdomen. A single silver necklace with a black opal
hung from her neck. Her groom, walking beside her, was dressed in a
scarlet overcoat and an ochroid shirt. Nearing the dais, Prince
Geoffrey squeezed his soon-to-be-wife's hand for comfort. Their heels
clicked on the marble stone floor as they walked up to the golden
thrones. Leading Princess Aurora to the royal seat, he helped her sit
down. Turning around and sitting in the other chair, he gave her a
wink. The king stood in front of them and vowed them to marriage. Rich
folk walked up to them and gave them presents. Necklaces, silver
daggers, and horses were just some of the gifts. Thanking each of the
sub-royals gratefully, their throats were getting soar and itchy from
dryness. Unexpectedly, a messenger in a muddy coat ran up to them and
handed them a letter. His face was dour under the dirt and grime,
giving the Prince and Princess something to worry about. Excusing
themselves from the party, the Prince and Princess strolled back to
their chambers, arm in arm, in deep conversation. Once they reached
their chambers, the prince hastily locked the set of mahogany doors,
sliding the metal bars into the slots. Aurora got up, and listened as
Geoffrey read the letter.

"To the Prince and Princess of Remaque: Greetings. I am afraid I bring
bad news from the city of Felandra. The Baron has found our
headquarters, and we need to act in haste, for he is going to do
something nefarious in the short future. Please be expecting me on the
quarter of the fourth hour on the quarter moon. I give my regards, and
again deeply apologize for this upsetting news."

Geoffrey's eyes were grave as he read the contents of the message, and
looked up into her sea-green eyes when he had finished.

"Well, what do you think, my love?" asked Prince Geoffrey.
"Unfortunately the Baron Comus of Felandra has been a problem since my
father's coronation." the Prince added.

Aurora looked him straight in his eye and said, "I think it very
unfortunate that this has happened, but since there is nothing he is
going to do, than we shall have to do something about the
occurrence's." "This means that we will have to consult your father,
the King, to ask what to do. That will probably give him a heart-attack
when you tell him" Princess Aurora added with a bob of her head. "We
should still tell him though, darling."

Geoffrey nodded, "Let us go into his chamber, and wait for him
there."

The walked out the door and to the other end of the castle. Geoffrey
opened up the door not expecting the King to be there.

"Father! I am so glad to see you are here!"

"Why?" King Cirrod asked.

"We have some disturbing news from Arkose."

"What? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he is fine, but the Baron Comus of Felandra has found our meeting
place in Hinamor. Arkose is coming as fast as he can."

The King sighed and put his head in his hands.

"Oh well. What happened... happened. Fortuna has spoken, and let her
decide what is right."

That signaled the end of the meeting. Geoffrey walked out with his arm
around Aurora's waist. King Cirrod watched them go thinking of young
love. He sighed into his hand, and thought of the occurrences.

Chapter II

Air brushed Arkose's onyx wings as he thought about what a beautiful
day for flying. The sun warmed his body making flying much more
enjoyable, and the wind was whisking north - his direction - making his
flight - again - more satisfying.
Feeling hungry, Arkose started peering down onto the vast plain he was
flying over. Spotting a little gray rabbit, he aimed and dove. His
wings were at his sides, making his dive faster. Nearing the ground, he
leveled out and struck the unaware rabbit on the nape of his neck.
Tearing pieces of fresh, warm meat off of the carcass, Arkose held the
rest of it in his needle-like predator claws.
Suddenly, getting a strange anomalous feeling on his neck - making his
feathers prick - he looked around his surroundings. When a sound
blasted from his right, he dropped his almost finished rabbit, and
leapt into the air. Flying rapidly, he closed in on the looming forest
in front of him.
Taking a quick glimpse over his right wing, he saw two squalls - wolves
with metal fur and two-tone hypnotizing eyes and giant eagle wings -
flying close behind him. There was a leader male with an antler crown,
three females, and one other male. Seeing them close up the remaining
space between them, Arkose feinted to the right - to the forest - and
shot up into the sun, briefly confusing his foes. Flapping his powerful
ashen wings, he flew directly in the suns' light, so that the squalls
could not see him. Within a blink, he had changed into a mourning dove
and flew out of the sun's light. Seeing a village twenty miles off, he
flew towards it dreaming of a nice bath, food, and sleep in a common
inn. Arkose flew into the forest surrounding the village, and landed in
a giant red-oak. He whispered some words to set up a shield, and
changed into a man dressed in magnificent multi-colored velvet cloak
with a brown yeoman jerkin and breeches. Stealthily walking out of the
forest, Arkose constructed a mirror in front of himself, to see if he
was respectable.
He changed his fancy clothes into a stable-boy's outfit, and replaced
his sword with a well concealed dagger on the small of his back. He
wanted to blend in, if someone suspected something of him. Soon meeting
a dirt road, with imprinted wagon tracks and hoof marks, he took it
walking with an eye always on the surroundings. Before long he was
walking down a dim road, with bakeries and blacksmith shops, when he
stumbled on an inn.
Glancing up, he read the sign as 'The Sanguine Sylph' and looked at
the picture beside it. A beautiful pixie stared down at him through
carved mahogany eyes, too magnificent to be carved except by a
professional - which would be too expensive for mere town innkeepers.
Extending a rough, calloused hand in front of himself, he pushed the
oak doors open, and walked into the swamped inn.

Bowing humbly, he said, "Would it be possible if I could be given room
and board for one night?"

"Of course not!" the inn lady retorted.

"What if I helped take care of the horses, Lady?" he asked.

The inn lady appeared to be thinking about that.

"Yes, fine, but you have to clean out all the stalls, and do everything
in there. Do you understand?" she asked in burly hard voice, glaring at
him under unruly eyebrows.

"Yes lady."

The inn keeper's wife showed him to the stables, and pointed him
in.

"When you're done, tell the servants that Dame Rheair allows you to
have dry bread and water. You get it? No wine or new bread."

Arkose said, "Understand, miss" with a slight nod of his head.

Arkose walked up to the nearest horses stall, and peeked in.
A gorgeous black mare peered down at him, through burnt sienna
eyes.

"Aren't you a big beauty!" Arkose guffawed. "I'll save you for
last!!"

Arkose started mucking out the furthest away stalls, and slowly made
his way towards the mare. Looking over his second to last stall, Arkose
thought of the beautiful mare in the stall. Closing the stall door, he
walked over to her stall. Looking to see what her name was, he glanced
down. On a drab wooden plaque her name was unruly carved. Finally after
several minutes of staring, he made out the letters as Kalli.

Kalli pranced in her stall as Arkose said "Well, don't you fit your
name!" with a large grin.

Opening up her stall, he let her sniff his hands. Her ears pricked
forward and he blew his breath into her nostrils. Thinking he had
better get to work, he picked up the pitchfork and walked around her.
Pushing the pitchfork into the thick layer of shavings, he marveled at
what a beautiful creature she was. Kalli walked up behind him and
pushed her nose into his shoulder blades. Startled, he turned around
and gazed into her eyes. They were beautiful, but what an unusually red
color for a horse. He scratched behind her ear as she grunted with
pleasure. Running over to the stall door, he shot glances around to
make sure no one was there.
He waved a hand and turned into a pony. Shaking his mane, he set up
another spell - if anyone came to look in the stall, they would see
Arkose working hard. Looking up at her, he saw her eyes widen but
quickly smooth over.

"So, you are a mage?" Kalli asked.

"Yes, I s'pose I am. You are too?" he asked.

She just looked at him and he knew.

"So, who is your owner?" Arkose asked her.

"Oh, he is the fat blob of a man, with gray hair, and dirty skin." She
told him.

"Why do you stay with him?"

"He has me attached to him, so I can't leave."

"How are you attached to him?" Arkose asked, puzzled.

"He has my golden sapphire pendant. I need that to shape change, and I
can't leave without it."

Her eyes looked hopefully at him.

"Would you want me to try and get it for you?" Arkose asked.

A tiny tear drop formed in her eye, and he knew what her answer would
be.

"Ok, I will try tonight. Do you know where he keeps it?" Arkose asked
her. "What is his name?"

"His name is Indivar, an ugly name, fits him just right." Kalli
replied.

Arkose changed back into himself, and undid the shield on her stall.
Finishing up the stall, he went out giving her one last wink. He ran
over to the kitchens and begged a morsel from the cooks, telling them
what the Lady Rheair had told him to say. He walked outside, and
climbed a tree to eat his meal. He stuffed moldy bread into his mouth
and thought of how he was going to get into the merchant's room. He
finally decided that he would shift into a mouse to get into the room.
Find the pendant and run out of the room to give it to the mage-horse.
He decided that that was a good enough plan and dropped it for the
evening. He never dreamed that things would go wrong.

~*~*~*~

Four hours later, when the clock struck midnight he crept out from his
tree. He walked stealthily through the dark hallways, and looked around
to see if anyone was watching him. Scampering into the darkest shadow,
Arkose shifted into a little black mouse, and stole into Indivar's
room. Looking around, Arkose found something he did not expect. There
were Minotaur sitting down on benches, talking to each other in their
deep rumbling voices. Looking around, Arkose/mouse found a secluded
spot. Running towards it, he started up the complicated spell. Reaching
the hole, he included a 'picture' of the stone in his spell and sent it
off into the darkness. Waiting impatiently, he peeked out at the
Minotaur again, what he saw made him start shaking with fear or
anticipation, he could not decide. An image came into his mind.

A stone sparkled amongst many other jewels, stashed safely away in the
center of the Minotaur huddle.

Coming out of his trance, Arkose knew what he had to do. Taking a deep
breath, he walked out into the dim shadows, and slowly walked up to the
Minotaur mass. Slipping underneath one of the wooden chairs, strained
by the load above it, the 'mouse' spotted the mahogany box. On the
count of three he bolted into the box, seized the aurulent pendant, and
ran towards the door. The Minotaur were trying to follow him, but being
pathetically maladroit, they just managed to hurtle into each other,
and acquire bloody muzzles. Quickly, they looked around, and seeing
that the 'mouse' was gone, they bellowed, and Indivar ran in.

"What is the matter here?" he asked.

The leader Minotaur replied in a deep voice, "A mouse got in, and tried
to steal a jewel from The Box, sir."

Indivar's face turned an ashen gray and hoarsely said, "What jewel did
they get?"

The Minotaur thought very hard about that, and said, "I think it was a
yellow stone, sir."

"You let them take the gold stone?" he said frantically.

"We didn't mean to, sir. He snuck under our noses"

"Well obviously you have to go find it. Do you know what would happen
if he got to keep it?"

"No, sir. We don't"

"Well, you don't need to. Go out right now and find it. If you come
back without it, I will get rid of you myself." Indivar finished with a
hard face.

The Minotaur guards knew he meant it, so they got their gear and walked
unsteadily out the door, hiccupping. Indivar walked back to his room,
huffing from lack of breath. Walking up to one of the human guards
guarding his room, he slapped him in the face, and shouted, "Open up
the door, you dolt!" The guard gave him a deep bow, from the waist
down, and opened up the door. Closing the door, the guard sighed and
looked in the mirror. The mirror guard looked back at him, yellow
blotches on his face.

~*~*~*~

Feet pattered on the ground as Arkose galloped into the stable, in the
shape of a dog. Reaching Kalli's stall, he leapt over the door, feet
pressing to his chest. Looking around the stall, he saw a pony, but not
Kalli. Suddenly remembering that they turned some of the horses out to
pasture at night, he scrambled up the door. Falling to the dirt floor,
checking the pendant in his mouth, he bolted out the gateway, and into
the grassy pasture. A black horse trotted up to him, her ears pricked
forward.

"Did you get it?" Kalli asked.

"Yes, I did." Arkose whined.

"Can you give it to me please? I have been stuck in a horse's body for
six moons"

"Here" Arkose said as he passed over the gem.

Holding their breath, Kalli nickered and stomped an onyx hoof on the
verdant meadow. Calcias, the North Wind, blew, pulling at the coal
horse's mane. A drab ashen cloud formed around her, and closed her from
the dog's sight. Watching her, Arkose thought about what kind of magic
this could be. Thunder boomed overhead, then silenced. Arkose looked up
into the sky, as it started to rain. Turning his head quickly, he
watched the fog lift from the mare. The thunder and lightning ceased to
nothing, and the rain stopped as quickly as it had come. A beautiful
maiden emerged from the mist dressed in a black velvet dress. Her raved
hair was piled on top of her head leaving a few wisps to fall on her
face. The dog reared onto his hind legs as a bronze fog rose over his
head. Amber encircled him, as he turned into a man, once again. He
stared at her, gawking. Kalli laughed shyly and curtsied. Bowing,
Arkose walked up to her and took her arm placing it over his.

"Are you ready to leave, m'lady?"

"As I always am, my lord."

Kalli placed her necklace on her neck, as her fingers slid to the clasp
it. Reaching it, she met another set of hands. Blushing, she let her
hands drop into the folds of her gown. Once it was done, she turned
around expecting his face to be further away. Amber eyes looked into
burnt sienna eyes, and they both smiled. Turning away from each other,
they started galloping off to the forest. Stopping suddenly, Kalli
shook her head and rolled her eyes. Seeing she had stopped, Arkose
halted and walked back to her.

"What is the matter?" he asked

"I can't run in this. That is just stupid."

She took a breath, and she changed her clothes into breeches, and a
jerkin. A sword hung at her hip, and a dagger hidden on her back.

"There, that is better" Kalli told him. "Do you think you should change
yours?"

"Sure" Arkose replied. He changed into what he had worn in the forest
earlier, excluding the velvet cloak. "I am ready." he replied.

Loping off into the forest, they remained side by side as they
talked.

Chapter III

Reaching the forest, Kalli and Arkose looked at each other breathing
softly.

"I saw a village along the way" Arkose said.

"Yes, as did I" Kalli replied.

"I think that since at least one of Indivar's men is going to follow
us, than we might as well ride a horse to disguise ourselves." Arkose
told her.

"I agree completely, my liege" Kalli replied with a wink, batting her
eyelashes at him.

Walking along the dirt bitten path, the two travelers talked about
horses, falcons, and swordsmanship. She took out her dagger and showed
it to him.

"It is a very well made dagger, as well as expensive. It took me eight
years of steady working, and no spending, to buy this."

Arkose's eyes got very large as he inspected it.

"Where did you get this?" he asked.

"My father makes them. I didn't want to cheat him out of his money, so
I bought it."

"What do the letters mean, carved in their?" Arkose asked, obviously
excited.

"They are wards, so no one can take it without my saying they can. My
father is a very well-trained smith, but he wouldn't be able to manage
that. I did it myself. I found ancient spells in one of my books, and
showed it to him. You know that a spell made or found by yourself is
more potent than if you just buy it from a shop."

"Yes, I did know that. What are the other spells on it?" he asked
gazing at her attentively.

"I put many spells on it after I bought it. I have spells so it can
change what it is, and many others." She laughed a little and said "I
wanted to have fun with it, so I placed a spell, that blood won't get
on it even if he rub it all over it. The blood just disappears."

"Can I see that for a second, please?" he asked.

"Sure, here you go" she said handing the dagger over to him, handle
first.

He inspected the dagger closely, and flipped it around. Aiming he
pushed the dagger through his hand, and pulled it out.

"That is very clever!" he said, chuckling.

"You put a healing spell, a very complicated one, on this. It heals all
of your friends?" he asked.

Blushing slightly Kalli said, "Yes, I did make that also. I didn't want
to take the risk of it getting into someone else's hands."

"Good" he said.

In a very short amount of time, they neared a village, which was
fortunately on its market day. People walked by the couple, cows
lumbering behind them. Arkose called out to the person, making him turn
around.

"Good day, sir" the man said, bowing.

"Do you know of any horses for sale, preferably two about the size
needed for my lady and my self?" he asked.

"Yes sir. There is a fine pair down the road from here. Walk down here,
turn left, and another left, and you will see a stable. Ask for Faris,
he is the owner. You are new here aint ya? Well, welcome to
Darinda!"

"Thank you very much." Arkose said, handing him two silver coins.

The townsman babbled at him that he couldn't take the money. Arkose
shoved it into the kind man's hand, and walked by with Kalli trailing
behind him. Carts drawn by oxen carried bushels of tomatoes and carrots
in them. Street urchins would leap onto the fruit and vegetables if
they fell off the cart. Kalli and Arkose strolled down to the stable,
avoiding carts and loose goats and sheep. Eventually they reached the
stable, and called out "Faris!" A middle aged man walked out of the
stable, a dog following close behind him.

"Do you have any horses for sale, sir?" Kalli asked in a strong, kind
voice.

"Just happened to get some in today, lady. Would you, and the gentleman
care to see them?" he asked.

Arkose nodded his head, and Kalli said "Yes, please".

They walked into the stable, horses head peeking out from the stalls.
Each one looked happy and well fed.

"Here they are!" Faris said in a joyful voice.

Standing in front of him were two horses of very fine blood. They
pranced in their stalls, and looked at Arkose and Kalli through very
intelligent eyes.

"How much are they, Faris?" Arkose asked.

"Ten gold coins for the stallion, and eight for the mare." Faris
said.

"Do you have any tack for sale?" Arkose asked him.

"Yes sir I do." He replied.

He walked over to an open door, and disappeared in it for several
minutes.
Brushing the horses gently on their soft muzzles, Arkose dug into his
pocket and produced two apples. Giving one to the stallion, he handed
one to Kalli. He blew into the horses nostrils, and the stallion blew
into his. Kalli gave her soon-to-be-mare the apple, and whispered
something into her ear. The mare perked her ears forward and nickered.
Chuckling gently, Kalli stroked her mares face, scratching behind her
ears. The stable-man came out carrying two saddles, saddle pads, and
two bridles.

"Got them free this morning with the horses." he told them handing it
over.

"How much for the tack?" Kalli asked.

"One silver coin for the tack" Faris said.

Arkose handed him twenty gold coins. The man reached into his pocket to
produce the change.

"Keep the change." Arkose told him. "Use it to feed your horses, or
something."

"No, I can't, sire. Tis too much."

"Just keep it. Consider the extra gold coins money for the tack."
Arkose told him, winking.

They walked into the horses stalls, and tacked them up. The horses
nickered when they patted them, and stood quietly when tacking them up.
Leading their horses outside, he walked over to help Kalli up. She mock
glared at him, and told him she could do it on her own. He let down the
stirrups on his saddle, and mounted holding the antsy black stallion
still. Glancing over his shoulder, he checked if Kalli was ready.
Nodding at him, she gestured that she was ready to leave.
~*~*~*~

Later that day, Kalli motioned that they had better stop and build
camp. Asking if he would prefer to make camp or hunt, he replied "Make
camp". Smiling, she walked over to her mare, and took off the hot tack.
She started cooling her out, walking around the grassy glade. Arkose
soon followed her lead; soon catching up, they started talking about
names for their horses. Kalli decided on naming her young bay mare
Sienna, and Arkose decided on the name Kestrel. Kalli walked away from
Arkose and started talking to her mare.

"Do you like the name Sienna?" she asked her.

*Yes, it is very pretty* Sienna replied.

Kalli looked at her, auburn eyes wide with surprise. Sienna talked out
loud and not in her head. Sienna, seeing her surprised expression,
started laughing. She saw Arkose look over at her and smile. Obviously
he had found out the same thing she had. She walked the bay mare over
to Kestrel and Arkose, and let her head drop down to the grass. Sienna
pulled up grass from the roots and lifted her head. Chewing
thoughtfully, she nickered to Arkose.

Arkose laughed and walked over to her, "Yes, I do understand you,
Sienna."

All four of them walked back to the camp, Sienna and Kestrel talking to
each other.
Letting her go, Kalli walked into the forest, a bow magically appearing
in her hand. Her feet scuffed the dirt and the wind picked up to blow
it in her face. Squirrels ran by her, and birds flew overhead, singing.
Hearing a rustle, she slowly walked over to a bush, and pulled it
apart. Inside was a tiny baby wolf covered with metal fur, ribs poking
through his skin. He looked up at her, sapphire and emerald eyes tiny
and helpless. She gently pried apart the bushes and lifted him up. He
weighed next to nothing, and probably the last thing that he had eaten
was a mouse, Kalli figured. She talked to him, asking where his mother
was, and telling him who she was. She pulled out a wool blanket, and
bundled him up in it. Carrying him, she walked deeper in the forest.
Hearing a big animal drinking, she slowly walked over to the sound.
Peeking through the brush, next to a small stream, she saw a deer with
a little fawn. 'I can't shoot that' she thought. Finally deciding, she
walked back towards the camp, and shot four squirrels, one for herself,
two for Arkose, and hopefully at least a bit of the fourth for the wolf
cub. She started walking back to the clearing when she heard a large
dog growling. She started running towards the clearing, the squall
lying in her arms, and the food slung over her shoulder.

~*~*~*~

Arkose started up a fire, with Kestrel nearby. Walking around the
vacant valley, he collected logs for the fire, and thinner sticks as
skewers. Hearing a wild lumbering near the woods, he stopped, breathing
softly. From the edge of the woods came a giant three headed dog.
Snarling, it showed foot long canines, and where it drooled, it created
lakes. Kestrel looked up and whinnied to Sienna, his hooves pounding
the ground making it seem like a stampede. The giant dog ran towards
him, nails making man-size holes in the earth. Arkose threw fire at it,
missing by two feet. Arkose ran up to him, Kestrel running next to
him.

*Get on!*Kestrel said.

Arkose vaulted onto him, landing on his withers. Pulling out his
daggers, he threw them, one after one. Blood poured from the dog's
eyes, dribbling down his whiskers, and ending up on the ground. Kalli
appeared from the forest, and called Sienna to her. She gently lay the
squall down on the ground, leapt onto her back, and pulled her special
dagger from its sheath. Galloping up to the monster, she crawled onto
his back; making her dagger into a sword, she stabbed it into his back.
Arkose stabbed his heart and stomach. Blood poured onto the
emerald-green grass, and the dog slunk to its knees, and died a very
painful, slow death. Kalli slid off his back, and landed on her feet.
She snapped her fingers, and her clothes got clean. She rushed over to
her charge, the squall wolf cub, and picked it up. She refolded its
blanket, and wrapped him in, again. Slipping in the mud, she walked
over to Arkose.

"You fine?" she asked.

"I guess. I will live" Arkose replied, touching the gash on his face
with distaste.

"I will clean it up for you. It might sting, but it helps."

She rushed over to her blood-free dagger, and brought it back. Pressing
it to his wound, she felt him wince and then sigh. She looked at it
when she had backed up.

"You will have a scar, at least for a while, but you can be proud of
it."

"Thanks, Kalli. I feel much, much better now." he smiled at her taking
her hands into his.

After lifting himself up, with her help, he went to check on Kestrel.
Kalli walked over with him, Sienna was standing there and she wanted to
talk to him.

"Where did that come from?" she asked, her face was a pale white under
her tan.

"I have no idea." he told her.

Shrugging her shoulders, she walked over to Sienna, and patted her
shoulders.

"Are you all right, girl?"

*I am fine, Kalli. Could you do the same thing to me that you did to
Arkose, please?*

"Yes, I will" Kalli replied, bringing out her dagger once more.

Once she was done with her mare, she walked over to Kestrel, and asked
him if he needed anything. He also said that he wanted her dagger-magic
on him too. She moved her hands forward, and pressed it up to his skin.
Nothing happened.

"Sorry Kestrel. I forgot that if I use it too much, I have to push more
power into it, through the moonstone on the handle."

When she was done doing so, he looked much relieved of the pain. Kalli
walked over to Arkose and picked up the squall.

"Look what I found in the forest" Kalli said.

Arkose looked at him, and gently rubbed the nape of his neck. The
squall looked up at him and whined, a high, sad, whimper.

"I found him in a bush, all huddled up, and no food."

"Did you find any food?"

"Yes, I shot four squirrels."

"Good, let's go cook them." Arkose said, already starting to walk
away.

Running up to him, she grabbed his arm.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." she told him, looking up at
him.

"It's fine, m'lady." Arkose told her.

They looked at each other, hearts pounding in their chests. Bending
down, Arkose tilted his head and kissed her on her lips. She kissed
back as fully as he was. Finally, they came back for air, both blushing
a deep crimson.

"I am sorry" Arkose rasped. "I didn't mean it to go so far."

"It is fine, Arkose. I take no offense from being kissed by a man I
like." she told him, her cheeks still a flaming red.

They kissed again and walked back to the camp sitting down next to each
other, holding hands the entire time they were eating.

~*~*~*~

Back in Darinda, terror was sweeping the streets. The Minotaur guards
rode their horses, and trampled anything that got in their way.
Tomatoes squished underfoot, and horses screamed in terror. The
Minotaur guard, Captain Weraein, called out orders, and pointed in
random directions.

"You there, Pufface! Have you seen a tall man and a black mare go by?"
Weraein called.

The person he was talking to was a wench around fifteen years old. She
doubled over, and threw up her hands, covering her head.

"No, lord. Me hasn't seen nothin, and nither has my brethren. Don't
hurt me, sire!" she whimpered, her head touching the dirt.

Captain Weraein snorted in disgust, and ran her over with his chestnut
mare.

"Commoners, they always do make good turf." he rumbled, throwing his
back in a cruel laugh.

As he rode off, a small boy ran over to her, and tugged at her
sleeve.

"Laein? Are you okay?" he asked, his voice quivering.

The girl moaned and uncovered her faced.

"Yes, Threr, I will be fine soon. Call da and ask him to come and get
me."

Threr ran off, and galloped to his father's stable.

"Father! Quick, Laein's been hurt!"

Faris came running out of the door, his shapely blonde wife running
after him with her skirts gathered up in a hand. He followed his son to
where the Minotaur had trampled his daughter.

"Laein, I am going to pick you up and bring you home, ok?"

"Yes, Father."

He gently picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder.

"Threr, run back to the house, and tell your mother to prepare a bed
and vervain tea."

"Sure, pa!" the boy called.

He galloped on the road, tearing up sand and dirt. He told his mother
his orders, and a bed was soon prepared. Fifteen minutes later Faris
walked in, and lay her down on the linen sheets. His wife Birch piled
hot bricks all around her making a cocoon.

"There dear. Now, how are you feeling?"

"Fine" she croaked, trying to sit up.

"Nonsense! And don't you try to sit up either, you have several broken
ribs."

"What did they do to you?" Faris asked.

"The Minotaur captain asked if I had seen a tall man and a black horse
go by. I said no, and that would he please not hurt me. He trampled me,
and then said that commoners always make good turf."

Her eyes welled and started pouring.

"Than Threr found me, and called you and ma."

"There, there, dear. You will be fine in a couple days." Birch said,
pity laced in her tone.

Faris motioned to her that he wanted to talk to her for a bit. She
cocked a head at him and nodded. She excused herself, and walked out of
the room, followed by Faris.

"What is it?"

"Today, a man and woman came and asked to buy horses. The man was tall,
and the lady smelled like a horse and had black hair. If I am not
dreaming, I think that they are the people the Minotaur are
after."

"What?" Birch asked, horrified. "Could they have broken the law?"

"Of course not, darling. You know the Minotaur down abide by the
law."

Birch nodded and sighed.

"What do you think happened?"

"I have no idea. The people they are after aren't criminals though. I
am sure of it."

Chapter IV

The next day, Kalli woke up to the squall's tongue licking. She got up
from her bedroll to give it the leftovers from the night before.
Grunting, she walked across the camp, to wake up Arkose. Setting the
cub down on him, she told the squall to lick his face. His tongue
slapped on Arkose's cheek, waking him up with a moan.

"Why did you have to do that?" he asked Kalli.

"It was funny." she told him, smaning. "Oh, come on and be a sport.
We have to leave today, remember?"

Arkose got up, pushing away the wool blanket, and pulled on his riding
boots. Meanwhile Kalli made a squirrel stew, with mainly herbs and
water. They ate breakfast, and cleaned up their camp. Arkose put a
large river cobble onto the fire while Kalli tacked up the horses.
Mounting up, they looked back over the jade pasture while they walked
away. Trees blocked their view as they steadily walked up the
mountain's slope.
Around noon they stopped, letting their horses rest, they dismounted.
Arkose walked into the forest, and caught two plump rabbits and a
squirrel. Skewering the rabbits and half of the squirrel, Kalli trotted
over to him.

"What should we name him?" she asked, indicating who she was talking to
by pushing her chin towards the squall playing with the horses.

"I don't know. What about Coal? Or Ash?"

"I like the name Coal." she told him.

"Than Coal it is."

Arkose called him over, and pulled out his dagger. I dub thee Coal, may
you serve your master faithfully and well. Coal squirmed in his grasp,
tired of having to stand here when it was such a beautiful day. The day
before, Kalli had touched her dagger to his back, wishing him a layer
of fat. His ribs didn't stick out anymore, and he was more playful than
he had been the day before. He still had a long way to go in healing,
though. Arkose bumped her on her shoulder, and told her that the
rabbits and squirrel were done. Calling Coal again, she tossed him the
uncooked half of the squirrel. He chewed happily on it, playing with
it, and throwing it up in the air. His wings were useless at his young
age, tiny silver flaps lay where large wings would be one day. Arkose
bit into his rabbit thoughtfully, chewing the meat, and wiping the
juice off his chin with an impatient hand. Getting up, he asked Kalli
for paper. She gave it to him, as well as a quill pen and ink. He sat
down on a sun warmed stone, and started writing. Kalli walked over to
Arkose, and sat down next to him, placing her head on his
shoulder.

"What are you writing?" Kalli asked.

"A letter to Prince Geoffrey, telling him that we are coming as fast as
we can."

"Aha, how are you going to get it delivered?"

"Gull mail" he replied, laughing at the astounded look on her
face.

Finishing up the letter, he curled it up into a nice tight cylinder,
and called a gull down from the sky. He bowed to it and asked if it
would be so kind as to deliver this message to the Prince of Remaque.
The gull told him that he would? if he would give him a nice silver
fish, in return. He agreed to that, and the gull flew away, after the
fish had gone down his plumed throat.

~*~*~*~

Later that day, Arkose and Kalli rode their steeds down to a small
secluded beach. Kicking their feet out of the stirrups, they jumped
off, and took their tack off. Kestrel and Sienna raced on the silvery
saffron sand, both winning once. After the race, they would leap into
the salty water, play biting and kicking each other. Arkose went to
study the dolphins that were leaping out of the water and to hunt some
food, while Kalli shape-shifted into a Goshawk to see how far they were
from a city or town; it didn't matter much to them. She flapped her
wings and soared through the air. Looking down, she saw fish swimming
in the water. Changing into a more suitable bird, a gull, she flew down
to the water, and caught two fish. Silvery scales soon dried out in the
warm sun, and Kalli/gull flew back to the beach. Kalli dropped the fish
in front of Arkose, and flew back out to sea. She shifted into a
Peregrine Falcon and flapped almost lazily over the sage green sea. A
snow white dove flew under her, unknowingly. Kalli dove, and struck the
bird on its head, killing it instantly and without pain. Diving down,
Kalli caught it before it hit the water, and set off home for the last
time. This time she didn't drop it in front of Arkose; she didn't even
fly towards him at all. She flew into a cave in a secluded cove and
dropped her bird onto a rock. She changed herself into her human body
and boys clothes. She enchanted a large portion of the limestone rock
in front of herself into a flawless mirror. She called her clothes that
she had bought and stowed away many years before, and started to get
dressed. She slipped on the white silk gown, braided her hair, and
coiled it around her head in a crown. She looked at herself in the
mirror and found she was respectable. Walking out of the cave, she saw
flowers growing in moss on the cave's entrance way. She picked some,
and walked back into the cave. Looking into the mirror, she carefully
wove the flowers into a crown, and placed it on her brow. Disenchanting
the mirror, she picked up the dove and gracefully, almost seductively,
she walked over to where Arkose was sitting. Clearing her throat, she
looked up at him and curtsied. Curls framed her face, accenting her
beauty.

"You look beautiful tonight, Lady Kalli" Arkose told her, trying to
keep his face straight.

"Thank you, sire, but I am no lady to you, just Kalli." "Here" she
said, handing him the dove.

Arkose took it, and held her pale hand. He looked at her as she stood
up. She walked over to him, and sat down. She looked at him, and him at
her. She tilted her head and he reached towards her. Kissing
passionately, spots burned on Arkose's cheeks.

"I have never had a crush before." Arkose told her looking at his feet,
his hands shaking.

"Neither have I, Arkose. Should we hide it in the city?" she asked
thoughtfully.

"Probably, my love."

Arkose got up, and plucked the milk-white dove's feathers. He rammed a
skewer through its limp body, and set it over the cooking fish. Arkose
walked over to the ivory dressed woman, and bowed.

"May I have this dance, milady?"

"Sure, sire, my card is empty." Kalli replied, her face was red, her
mouth laughing.

He swept her body off the stone seat, and placed his hand on her waist.
She grabbed his hand, and they swept off dancing to the ocean's music.
Kalli twirled around Arkose's arm, her hair spilling out from her neat
crown. Laughing, she stopped dancing and pointed a calloused finger at
the dove and fish. Arkose ran over to it, and took the bird from the
fire. He motioned to Kalli that it was ready. She grabbed a part of her
dress in her hand, and walked over to him. She sat down on the stone,
warmed by the fire. Arkose was fiddling with something out of her view.
He turned around and placed it in front of her. A carved mahogany box
lay in her lap. Turning it over, she marveled at the amazing
craftwork.

"Open it up Kalli." Arkose told her.

Kalli opened the box and gasped. In front of her was a ring. A dragon
was carved in silver, its head and tail holding a moonstone of the best
quality.

"I can't take that" she told him, her voice shaking.

"Take it, and study it." Arkose winked at her.

"Why?" she asked, still puzzled.

"I don't want you to forget me in the city."

Kalli laughed, a deep heartfelt sound that came from deep inside her.
Her eyes and cheeks were wet, and glinted in the moonlight.

"Thank you Arkose. But you should know I would never forget you. You
saved me from my slaver, Indivar, and loved me when I was a
horse."

Arkose bowed to her and gave her roast dove with clams and seaweed
salad.

"I hope you enjoy it Kalli."

"I am sure I will"

She bit into it, and her eyes widened.

"What did you stuff it with?"

"Seaweed and clams"

"It is very good"

"I am glad Kalli, I tried." Arkose said as he bent down to eat his
own.

~*~*~*~

Coal was the one who warned Arkose and Kalli about the night intruders.
He ran over to Kalli and licked her face. Kalli looked around and heard
the clattering of metal wings. She sucked her breath in and ran over to
Arkose, leaping over the fire. She landed next him and urgently shoved
him awake.

"Squalls" she told him in a hoarse whisper.

"What?" Arkose asked, alarmed.

"Squalls have found us here, and there are probably fifty of
them."

Arkose jumped up, thrusting the blanket off him. He asked her if she
had the bows they had bought in the same village as Kestrel and Sienna.
Nodding her answer, she ran over to get them. Thrusting one of them
into his hand, she put her face right next to his ear.

"Want to try a complex weave magic?" she asked him.

"What were you thinking of?"

"A net."

"Okay, you tell me how to do it."

Kalli explained it to him in a miraculous two minutes. Arkose nodded
showing he understood. They murmured the entire spell, and waited for
the dawn sunlight to come. Half an hour later, the sun was shining over
the horizon, and they saw their intruders. The squalls came down on
them, and the travelers shot them. Pulling back the draw string Arkose
looked at Kalli and nodded. They both shot the magicked arrows at the
sides of the furthest away squalls. An invisible net enveloped them,
growing smaller every second. In just a few minutes, the invisible air
net was the size of a horse, than a dog, then a bird, then nothing.
Giving sighs of relief, Arkose looked at each other and rolled their
eyes.

"Well that was easy. Good idea"

"It was" Kalli replied.

Kalli wavered, and fell into the sand in a dead faint. Arkose ran over
to her, and rolled her over. A large gash ran from her chin all the way
to her abdomen.

"Kalli? I am going to do something to help you. Ok?"

Arkose breathed into his lungs and slowly let it out, falling into a
deep trance. He reached into her body and pulled together the skin and
muscle. Reaching in with his mind/hand, he pulled out several strands
of metal fur. He burned out anything that was infection, and pulled out
some sand. Coming back out of his trance, he woke her up.

"Kalli? Wake up." Arkose said in a hoarse voice.

"What happened?" Kalli asked him, trying to sit up.

"You got a slice from your chin to you abdomen. I healed you."

"Oh, yes. I remember now." Kalli managed to push herself up. "Where is
Coal? Is he fine?"

"I don't know. I will ask Kestrel to find him."

Arkose called Kestrel over, and asked him to find the baby
squall.

Chapter V

They woke up at early dawn the next day, and ate the leftovers from the
night before. They were both gloomy about having to leave the nice
secluded beach. They stiffly walked around the fire, cleaning up their
remains. Arkose was picking up a log, and turned around.

"Do you want to come with me to Remaque?"

"Of course!" Kalli told him, astounded that he would ask that
question.

Arkose smiled and got back to his work. Kalli finished her work where
Arkose had positioned her. She trotted over to Arkose, and offered to
help him with his job.

"Do you want me to finish it for you?" Kalli asked him.

"Thanks. You're sure?" Kalli nodded. "I will go get the horses
ready."

Arkose loped over to Kestrel, and started brushing him.

*So, you have found a special friend?*

Arkose turned scarlet and said "You have found one too Kestrel."

The big war horse pinned his ears at him, and playfully snapped his
teeth pulling back his lips.

"Stand still so I can brush you."

Kalli completed Arkose's original job, and ran over to Sienna.

"Hi girl." she said to Sienna, kissing her on her shedding ivory star.
Sienna mussed Kalli's raven hair, making it stick to her muzzle. Kalli
laughed and started brushing her, fur falling to the sand, creating
fluff balls floating into the ocean. Coal ran over to her and leaped
into her arms. He nuzzled her cheek, staring at her with amazing
emerald-sapphire eyes. Coal whined, and his little gray legs started
quivering. He jumped out of her grasp, and galloped over to the
surrounding forest. He growled with a slight undertone of a whimper,
and barked. A small herd of unicorns with wings walked out onto the
beach, the sand crunching under their diamond hooves. Sienna and
Kestrel galloped over to them and bowed, forelegs crossed in front of
them.

"Rise my kith, you have no need to bow in front of your own mother."
the lead unicorn told them in a soft voice, like the morning breeze.
"You have come a long way from where you were, Sapphire." She turned to
look at the stallion, and said "You have grown more mature since I saw
you when you were a year old foal, Raven. I am proud of both of
you."

Sapphire asked, "Excuse me, Lady, but who are you?"

"Do you remember being a foal?" she asked her.

Raven and Sapphire shook their heads, their knees still crossed in
front of them.

"You were sent from my land to here because of your destiny. When you
were born, a Seer unicorn came to tell what you would be. The strange
destiny you will still have to find out. You will also have to find
your wings and horns. Look deep into you heart for those two, for they
will hide well. You have to find them within the next month, or else
you won't be able to use them, even if you find them. I will give you
two gifts, one for each." She turned to look at Raven. "Your gift is
the gift of invisibility." Turning to look at Sapphire, she said "Your
gift is the gift of tongues."

She motioned for Arkose and Kalli to come up to her.

"I am Queen Tilamine of the Tribe of the Moon Goddess, Seline."

Arkose and Kalli stared up at her trying to not gape.

"You have led a long a perilous journey, meeting evils that no one has
seen for centuries. You have a long way to go still, so I shall also
bestow a gift upon thee."

Tilamine nickered to the lead stallion, a magnificent nineteen hand
palomino. He trotted over and blew in her ear. His teeth were holding
two items. Arkose could not quite figure out what they were.

"Here, Kalli" the stallion rumbled with a voice deep in his
throat.

He handed her a gold necklace with gilt unicorns carved in it. Kalli
blushed and curtsied.

"Thank you, sire. May I ask what its use is?"

"If in your adventures you find evil beyond imagine, toss that trinket
over your shoulder, and your peril shall desert you. Here, Mage." He
told Arkose without stopping for breath. "This is a cloak made from the
finest silk in the country. Throw it on yourself, and you will turn
invisible. One word of caution for the two of you, Kalli. When the time
comes for you to discard the jewel, don't hesitate. It could lead to
the death of everyone you love?. It could even ruin the entire
world."

~*~*~*~

The sun was setting over the horizon when Arkose and Kalli smelt a very
large city nearby. Each were deep in thought hugging their precious
gifts to their chests. Finally Arkose switched his traveling clothes
for finer ones, and asked Kalli to do the same. She put on a light
scarlet dress and added fake rubies to adorn her neck. She called Coal
over to her to hide in her silver cloak. Kalli nodded to him that she
was ready, and they walked into the market square. Arkose roared to
make way for the 'Duchess', and the crowd neatly split to let them
through. Their horses clipped neatly through, snorting and giving a
warning hoof flick if a commoner came close to their saddlebags. When
they neared the castle's gate, they whistled to the soldier
guard.

"Sorry, Lady and Sir, but we aren't allowed to let people in if we are
not notified before hand."

"You don't recognize me, do you Sapharb? Or may I say SnarkClot?"

"Snub?"

"Yes!"

"Well, come in, come in!" Sapharb said, waving them in with his sword
arm.

"Sir Thomas of Mildard and his lady Duchess Lianne of Mildard!" the
guar called as he walked them into Prince Geoffrey's suite.

"Good, Roland. You are dismissed." He said to his guard.

He watched the guard walk out the door. Quickly, he ran over to it, and
blocked the doors tightly with the wooden lock.

"Sir Thomas?" he asked, his eyebrows quirked.

"We had to think up something, Geoffrey." He told him, shrugging his
shoulders.

Arkose shook himself and glanced over where Kalli was standing.

"Oh my! Where have my manners gone? To the Manticores maybe? Prince
Geoffrey, Kalli, Kalli, Prince Geoffrey."

Geoffrey turned white, "Sister?"

Kalli nodded, her eyes bright.

"They told me you died at child birth."

"I was taken from here because of a prophecy stating that I would be
captured and kept hostage by a sorcerer, who would give me a sleeping
draught. The curse would end when I was sixteen. Fortunately, I am
older than that now."

Geoffrey ran over to her, and gave her a huge bear hug. He quickly
retained himself, and pushed himself back.

"My wife has gone out riding on her palfrey. She shall be back
soon."

"Arkose, why did you call her Kalli?"

"That is what she told me her name was? no... that is what it said on
the stable door."

"Sister, why don't you tell him your name?"

"My name, Arkose, is Tr??."

A scream erupted from the castles interior, and they heard bulls
grunting. Arkose and Kalli looked at each other, and mouthed
'Minotaur'. Geoffrey looked at them, his face white. He ran to the
door, and opened them up. Standing outside was a gorgeous woman dressed
in a scarlet gown, her hand reaching up for the knocker. The prince
looked at her and released a deep sigh of relief. They embraced each
other, and ran over to the other couple.

"This is my bride, Aurora"

Kalli extended her hand, and studied the woman's face.

"Nice to meet you, as I have just arrived, I can't say that I have
heard wonderful things about you." Kalli replied, smiling.

Aurora grinned, her crimson lips parted to reveal ivory teeth.

"I am glad to hear so."

"What is happening downstairs?" Arkose asked as more screams
erupted.

"Minotaur have broken into the castle, and has killed several people.
My instructions were to depart as fast as possible." Aurora
replied.

She walked over to a tapestry hanging on the wall and lifted it up. She
pressed a finger to her lips, and waved her hands, motioning for them
to follow. Geoffrey walked in first, and grabbed her arm. Kalli waited
until they were out of sight, and ran over to Arkose.

"They tracked us here?"

"That would appear so, darling."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Make this door appear as stone."

"Aha, I will leave you to your work. Meet you in the tunnel."

Kalli turned on her heel, and walked back to the hidden door. Arkose
sighed and started working on the door. He breathed in and slowly let
the air out, pursing his lips.

"Furina guide me." he said in a hoarse voice.

Lifting his hands, he stroked the door with one hand as the other
painted ancient runes on it. The door creaked as it petrified into
stone, still obtaining the grain. Muttering last words, Arkose prayed
again to the gods. Suddenly a banging erupted from the hallway. Arkose
blinked, and started sweating.

"Check the rooms, they can't be far." a female voice said in a harsh,
ordering tone.

"Yes lady!" the Minotaur replied in a deep bellow.

Arkose wiped his forehead with a hand and tried to remember why that
voice sounded so familiar. After a couple seconds his head snapped up,
he remembered! She had attended the same mage school as he had, and had
been top of the class in assassination. 'It was just like Cillianne her
to join a chase like this.' Arkose thought. He made the air seem like
stone, and feel like it too. Hearing voices nearing the chamber, he
added one last spell, and ran over to the tapestry. He lifted it up and
stepped inside. Once safely inside, Arkose constructed a 'wall' behind
the embroidered drapery. Just to be on the safe side, he draped his
invisible cloak over his broad shoulders, and tied the waist with a
strip of leather he carried around. Arkose's feet kicked up dust from
the passage way, and covered his black boots with cinders. He suddenly
heard a slight mewing and whining from one of the many shadows. He
walked over and bent down. He swept his cape off his back, and slung it
over his shoulder. His hands extended and touched two furballs. He
picked the closest one up, a cat. He brought her up to his face and
looked at her eyes. Magnificent sea-jade eyes looked up at him. He
patted her head, and felt a warm sticky content on her head. The kitten
whimpered and buried her head into his chest. Arkose reached back into
the darkness and picked up the other. This time, it was a small puppy.
When he picked it up, he only felt three legs. He deposited the kitten
into his cloak pocket, and stroked the dog's back. The dog griped as
Arkose's hands poked his back right leg.

"Oh, you poor things!" Arkose said, pity veiling his voice.

He put the puppy on his other hip, and put his coat back on. Suddenly
an explosion erupted in the distance behind him. He felt the animals
curl tighter, absorbing his body heat. Voices cracked, madness
flavoring the sound. 'They must have found the spell' Arkose thought,
grinning mercilessly. Arkose was dreaming of the mushroom cloud that
must be clouding over the castle when he heard horses nickering, and
smelt hay and manure. Sighing a gasp of relief, he walked over to a
board that had a horses hoof painted on it. Poking around, he felt a
hand hold, and pushed. The door grated open, and he looked through. No
one was there. He opened it a bit more, and raced over to the stalls.
He ran down the hall looking in each of the horse's stalls looking for
Kestrel. His faith was running very low when he was nearing the end of
the stalls. The last stall he looked in beheld his horse.

"Kestr? no, Raven!"

"Brother! Kalli came and brought Sienna out, and the others brought out
their horses. Oh, and call us by our old names, not our 'new'
ones."

Arkose nodded, and led his horse out. He vaulted into the saddle, and
raced to the Royal Forest.

"They told me to tell you to meet them near the petrified tree. Do you
know where that is?"

"Yes, I used to play there with Geoffrey when we were kids."

"Oh, good."

Arkose looked down at Kestrel's iron hooves, 'Iron?' Arkose thought,
pound the ground. Trees covered them, creating a leafy canopy above
their heads.

"Turn right at the cave strewn with Thunder Lyre Flowers" he told
Kestrel.

When they neared the florescent apricot and mauve flowers, Kestrel
slowed down to a trot and rounded the corner. Facing them was a
gigantic Minotaur, the same Minotaur that Arkose had stolen the jewel
from.

"C'mere, rat!" he grunted, his eyes squinting.

He ran at Arkose, spurring his mount onward. Kestrel fluidly dodged
him, his light rider burdening him less than the other horse's. Arkose
through one of his hidden daggers at the guard, and it gave out a
'plunk' as it hit hard muscle. The guard grunted in pain, and reached
up to pull the dagger out of his chest. Arkose threw another one,
getting lodged in the Minotaur's eye. The guard stumbled and flew off
his mount, a brilliant chestnut mare. Arkose dismounted quickly, and
gently threw his cloak with the puppy and kitten over the saddle. He
then trotted over to the fallen soldier. He unsheathed his sword, and
brought it up, getting ready to plunge it down on the guard's
now-bloody chest. What he saw made his hands go numb, and drop the
sword. His sword fell to the ground and lay embedded in the fertile
soil. The Minotaur's furry muzzle was slowly turning into a human face.
His wiry fur turned smooth as a beard plated a dark tanned face. It was
the guard that tried to kill him in the church. He blinked and looked
up, his hard mouth turning into a frown.

"You!" he growled, his voice still burly.

His gray eyes glaring at Arkose through bushy black brows. He jumped
up, his wounds in his shoulders suddenly not constricting him anymore.
He lunged and grabbed Arkose's sword that had lain forgotten several
minutes before. He yanked at the hilt, and pulled with all his
might.

"What did you do to this thing, idiot!" he yelled at Arkose, sweat
beading down his forehead.

Arkose taking advantage of these precious moments plucked a fallen
dagger from the dirt. He snuck up behind the raving man, and plunged
the cold steel into his heart. The man slumped forward, his face cold
death. Sighing, Arkose walked over to the guards mount, and patted its
shoulder. The mare nickered, and rubbed her head against his
shoulder.

"Come on girl. We best get out of here and find our friends."

On second thought, he walked back over to the sword, and tried to pull
it. He pulled and pulled on it, wiggling it back and forth. He suddenly
laughed, and let it go. When he had dropped it, Aiesar the Smith God
must have stuck it in the ground. He shrugged his shoulders, and walked
back over to the saddle. He mounted Kestrel, pulling his cloak over his
shoulders again. He then tied a rope to the mare's reins and looped it
around Kestrel's saddle. The mare happily clopped after the stallion
and his rider.
~*~*~*~

After several hours of riding, Arkose finally got to the petrified
tree. He dismounted flinging his boots over Kestrel's rump. He walked
to a cave behind the tree, and cooed in. Kalli walked out, a bloody
naked sword unsheathed and held in front of her. When she saw who it
was, she ran over to him.

"What took you so long?"

"A Minotaur guard. The same one that I stole the jewel from."

"Oh, my, love. I am so sorry." she replied.

She walked over to him and kissed him on his lips, and hugged
him.

"I was so worried." she said, "especially when I saw the cloud that
rose from the castle"

Arkose laughed, his chest heaving.

"What did you do?" Kalli asked him, her voice suspicious.

"A long time ago I went on a trip that took me to the Clashing
Cliffs."

Kalli stared at him, not sure of to where this was going.

"While I was there, I took some water from Chak Reka. The water will
create a mushroom cloud for one hour when put under charred
stone."

Kalli nodded her head, telling him that she understood.

"Why don't you come in and un-tack your horses." Kalli said to him,
motioning to Kestrel and the mare.

Arkose nodded and whistled to the stallion, his chapped lips pursed.
Kestrel and the chestnut mare walked over, and followed Arkose into the
dim lit cavern.

"They're here!" Kalli called, her voice echoing in the grotto.

"Oh good!" a masculine voice called.

A muscular form sauntered out of the shadows, and daintier shadow
followed.

"Now, for the good manners. Aurora, this is Arkose and Kalli, and you
two, this is my beautiful wife, Aurora." Geoffrey said, pointing to
each of his friends.

Aurora curtsied, her ruby dress swishing about her ankles.

"Nice to meet you all, and it is nice to know that I have a sister here
in the realm." Aurora said in a pretty feminine voice.

Kalli flushed and replied "It is nothing, milady."

"But of course it is! I grew up with parents that didn't love me,
siblings that wanted to kill me, and kith that tried to manipulate me
to get closer to the Saravian throne. Believe me, it is nice."

Kalli shaped her lips into an 'o', and sucked air in through the
hole.

"Oh my, I am sorry. I grew up with a smith and his wife. I never
experienced any killing?. Or wishing to kill, for that matter."

Aurora nodded, accepting her apology.

"Well! Why don't we sit down, and eat what my lovely princess made
us!"

The all gathered around a flat granite stone in the center of the
cavern. Sitting in the middle was a pile of bright orange vegetables.
Everyone looked at each other, waiting to see who would go first.
Arkose broke it first, reaching in with his long arm and pulling out a
gnarled carrot. He bit into it, his ivory teeth crunching the tender,
juicy pulp. Suddenly, the carrots were gone, and people's hands were
stained orange.

"Goddess, I am tired!" Arkose yawned, covering his mouth with his
hands. "Time for me to beg sleep from Morpheus! Night everyone! Morzana
protect us." Arkose said, waving to everyone.

"G'night everyone. I guess it is time for me to fall asleep too."

"Oh my!" Arkose said.

His face turned pale as his hands fell into his pockets. The puppy and
kitten fell into his hand, shaking them awake. The puppy started
grunting and whining, his stomach a hollow cavern.

"Oy, poor things! Where did you find them?" Aurora asked, her voice a
well of pity.

"In the passageway. They were crying in the shadows."

"Can I see them?" Kalli asked.

"Sure!" Arkose said, gently handing them over to her.

Kalli took them, and patted their heads. She took out her dagger and
barely touched the cat's head. The blood welled for a second, and then
disappeared. She handed the kitten back to Arkose, and clutched the
puppy. The onlookers could tell that she was inserting a lot of force
into the healing process. She brushed her dagger over the dog's lack of
leg, and it squirted an herb salve over it. She tore a piece of her
clothing to make a bandage.

"There you go?. What are their names?" Kalli asked him.

"I don't know, I haven't thought of one yet. Aurora, Geoffrey, help us
with this one, please!"

Everyone was thinking very hard when Geoffrey snapped his
fingers.

"What about Sileni for the pup?" he asked them.

"Yes, that will work." Arkose said, grinning.

This time, Aurora spoke up.

"Chiron?" she asked.

"Oh! Like the centaur?" Kalli replied.

"Yep."

"Do you like it Arkose?" Kalli asked, turning around.

"Yes, I do. Sileni and Chiron. It has a ring to it."

~*~*~*~

The next day, they woke up to a cave that bore no pleasures. Arkose got
up, mumbled, and rubbed his eyes. He walked over to Sileni and Chiron,
and picked them up to go outside. Arkose stepped out into the bright
sunshine and saw Kalli with Coal.

"Good morning, love."

"Oh, hey!"

"You never got to tell me you real name. Could you tell me now?"

"Sure. I am Princess Trinity, sister of Prince Geoffrey."

"Thank you. Trinity fits you."

"Thanks." Trinity said. "I was so worried yesterday when you didn't
show up. I didn't know if you had?" then her voice cracked and she
started weeping.

Arkose walked over to her and lifted up her chin. He kissed her lips
and wrapped his arms around her.

"It is fine, love. I am here, nothing to worry about. Besides, we each
have adventures ahead of us. The oracles say so. You know they wouldn't
let us die."

Trinity wiped her eyes and nose and nodded.

"Should we go now, and distract the Minotaur so that the royal couple
can get back to the castle?"

"I think that would be a good idea, darling." Arkose said. "Why don't
we go and tack up our horses and leave."

Trinity nodded and walked over to where the horses were stable. Sierra
and Kestrel were standing next to each other when the couple walked
in.

"Okay! News? we are leaving now to distract the Minotaur so Geoffrey
and Aurora can get back to the castle unscathed."

*Are we taking the mare?* Sierra asked as she pointed her nose to where
the chestnut mare was standing.

"Yes." Arkose answered. "We want all the horses we can get."

*Right. Well, didn't you say you wanted to leave soon? Than lets go!*
Raven replied whinnying.

They laughed and threw the tack on.

"Should I ride the mare, since I rode you very hard yesterday?"

*If you want. I am not tired though.*

"I will ride you soon, Kes."

Arkose left the saddle on Kestrel, and went to put on the mare's tack.
In a few minutes they were ready to leave. He mounted up, and swung his
leg over the mares back settling comfortably on her withers.

"Lets go!" Arkose called.

Trinity pushed her heals into Sienna's ribs and pushed her into a
canter. Kestrel followed, soon accompanied by Arkose and the
mare.

*What is her name?*

"I don't know! Want to ask?"

*Sure*

Kestrel arched his neck and nickered to the mare. She looked up at him
and whinnied.

"Well?"

*She said the Minotaur guard called her Bonebrawl. She didn't like
it.*

"What does she want to be called?"

Kestrel nickered to the mare again. After she had replied, he cocked
his head.

*She says she wants the name Chesna.*

"Than Chesna it is." Arkose patted the mares shoulder.

Trinity dropped back next to Arkose.

"What is her name?"

"She called herself Chesna, the Minotaur that was riding her called her
Bonebrawl."

Trinity wrinkled her nose and snorted.

"What a gross name!"

Arkose nodded.

"Why don't we stop and have lunch in the village over there?"

Chapter VI

They walked past a tavern, The Cerulean Inn, and went into one called
The Rednalian Tavern. A large burly man sat on a stool, drinking a pint
of beer. Trinity and Arkose walked over to him and sat down. Arkose
extended his arm and slammed it down onto the table.

"Two waters here please." Arkose barked.

The tavern keeper walked up to him, and stuck his drunken face into
Arkose's.

"We only serve Ale here, Lighttwit. It's either Ale or a broken
face."

Arkose shrugged and looked at Trinity.

"What do you think, Kal?"

Trinity looked up at Arkose and giggled.

"I think we should get out of this dump, and go to the tavern we saw
down the street. If this numbskull thinks us stupid, than he will lose
his money, now won't he?"

Arkose nodded, and wrapped his arm around her waist. They walked out
the door, and ran down the street. Suddenly they turned around and saw
the inn keeper running after them with a knife in his hand.

"Oh, goddess. He is crazy!" Trinity said.

When they saw him coming, they started running down the street. They
turned the corner, leading into an alleyway.

"Turn here!" Arkose whispered.

They turned, their boots scuffling the dirt. A massive wall loomed in
front of them. Arkose and Trinity scaled it with miraculous ease. Once
they landed on the other side, they heard the crazed man
shouting.

"Chaifshy will get you for that!"

"He really is crazy."

"I would guess so." Arkose replied, his forehead sweating.

The rounded the alley corner and ended back up at the tavern to pick up
their horses. Trinity whistled to the horses, shrilling In the air.
Sierra, Kestrel, and Chesna cantered over. This time, Arkose mounted
Kestrel. Trinity saw the relief in the big stallion's eyes.

"He was jealous?"
*Yes.* Sierra replied rolling her eyes. *You'd think he'd know better,
wouldn't cha?*

Trinity shrugged. They trotted over to the other inn, a nicer looking
place. Once they got there, the riders dismounted. They handed their
horses off to the hostler, a middle-aged man with gray hair. Arkose
flipped him a silver coin. The man caught it, and put it between his
teeth. He bit it to check it was real, finding it was, he nodded his
thanks to Arkose. Trinity walked into the tavern and asked for some
drinks. The waitress, this time a red-haired girl around twelve nodded
and ran off to the kitchen to complete her request. Arkose walked in
and saw where Kalli was. He walked over to her, and sat opposite
her.

"I just ordered water, if that is all right."

"That is fine. That is what I wanted."

"Good. Do you think we should start searching for Sierra and Kestrel's
belongings?"

"Yes. That is what Queen Tilamine said. We can't finish this job
without succeeding the other prophecy, the horse's."

"Once we are done here, let's go."

Right then, the waitress walked out carrying two flasks of water.

"'ere it be, lady." she said in a commoner's accent.

"Thank you." Trinity said, handing a copper coin into the waitress's
hand.

"Thank ya, mistress. Is 'ere anythin else I can do for ya, thin? No?
All right thin. Thanks agin."

Trinity nodded and motioned for Arkose to leave. They got up from the
bench and walked out the door, carrying the flasks. Trinity went into
the stable to fetch the horses, Arkose to fill their flasks with water.
Arkose came out first carrying two leather flasks of water. Trinity
soon followed with all three horses trailing behind her. He handed her
one of the flasks, watching her hook it to her belt. Mounting their
horses once more, they cantered towards the forest, each explaining to
the horses what they were going to do.

~*~*~*~

Once they reached the forest, they slowed down to a walk. They were
just about to enter another grove of trees when a harpy flew down and
tried to grab Trinity's necklace. Not knowing that Trinity had very
fast reflexes, she did not get two inches away from Trinity when she
felt a very painful sensation where her tail feathers were. She glanced
back, and saw Trinity holding her prize up, five emerald-azure tail
feathers.

The harpy shouted, "You little clod! You pulled my gorgeous feathers
out!"

"Give me back my necklace, and I will give you your tail
feathers."

The harpy glared at her.

"Quiveae will do no such thing. Ya here?" she stuffed her face in
Trinity's, "It is vixens like you that have made us choose to stay with
the dark side."

Trinity laughed, aggravating Quiveae even more.

"'Vixens' like me? I am afraid that you haven't looked in the
mirror!"

The harpy finally cracked and dove towards Trinity. Thankfully, she was
expecting this, and already had her dagger out. She raised it, and the
harpy skewered herself through it.

Quiveae mumbled "I will get you for this clod!" and died.

Her body burned up and disappeared leaving no ashes or even
smoke.

"Well, we should go on. Put your necklace back on and we will ride
towards the east. I have a calling there."

She nodded, and clasped the necklace around her neck, tucking it safely
underneath her tunic.

"Thank Feivat that is done!" she said.

"Yeah. I wasn't expecting that."

"Neither was I."

They laughed, and started trotting.

"What was your Smith-Father's name?"

Trinity glanced up not expecting that question.

"Sir Edan of Pyralis. His wife was Lady Cardia of Shirley."

Arkose nodded.

"Did they name you, or did the King and Queen name you?"

"Actually, I think Geoffrey named me."

"Really!?!"

"At least, that is what I was always told. I don't know, maybe it isn't
true."

"Want to stop?"

"Sure. What do you have?"

"I have?." Arkose was pulling something out of his saddlebag, "meat,
cheese, and bread."

Trinity nodded, and halted her horse. She gracefully dismounted, her
boots landing on a soft meadow-grass spot. Arkose walked over to her,
holding the meat and cheese in one hand, and the bread in the
other.

"Would you like to cut, m'lady?"

She nodded. Arkose gently dropped the food in her lap. Trinity picked
them up, and started slicing. When she was done cutting up several
pieces, she motioned for Arkose to help himself. He reached down and
picked up two slices of bread, one wedge of cheese, and one slice of
meat. Gently laying pieces down on the bread, he sat down opposite
Trinity. They raised the food up to their lips and bit in.

~*~*~*~

Back in the cave by the Petrified Tree, Aurora, Geoffrey, and the five
animals were getting ready to leave. When they had woken up that
morning to find no Arkose and no Trinity, they had been very anxious.
But when they looked at the animals and saw that they weren't worried,
they settled down. Geoffrey was walking over to where the horses were,
and started tacking them up. Meanwhile, Aurora was cleaning up the cave
of what was there. Earlier that morning she had gone out into a meadow,
and had picked acorns to be boiled over the fire to be made into a tea
along with other herbs.

"Ready, darling?"

"Yes, Geoffrey!"

She gathered up the items that were bundled in sacks, and walked out of
the cave's mouth. Geoffrey was waiting for her there holding two mares,
one bay and one gray. He handed her the bay, Kessia, and took the gray,
Lynome. Geoffrey mounted after seeing Aurora mounted.

"Ready!?!"

Aurora nodded her head and pressed her heals to Kessia's sides. She
bolted forward, her rider perfectly stable. Geoffrey smaned, and
galloped up to her side. The wind whipped her golden hair around her
ivory face. Her cheeks turned red in the cold autumn air, creating a
contrast of color on her mouth. All the way back to the castle he
thought of what it would look like. He hoped his father was still alive
and unhurt. Aurora saw the worried expression on his face and thought
about whether to say something or not. She settled on saying
something.

"Your father will be fine. He has always been a fighter."

Geoffrey looked at her, his mouth hard and grim.

"I know? but he is seventy-four years old, Ra!"

Aurora nodded her head in understanding.

"You wouldn't have been able to do anything anyhow. The guards will
have taken care of them? and him."

They were getting near the castle when their horses reared up in
fright. A large herd of onyx unicorns were trotting through the trees.
Their evil crimson eyes shone through the trees. They carefully
retreated their horses into the heavily endowed grove of trees. They
tried to stay as quiet as possible, but it was hard when the unicorns
came several feet within seeing them. Suddenly the largest unicorn
trotted to the center. The unicorns filed around him, creating a
sphere. The large unicorn cleared his voice and shouted for every one
to be quiet.

"Lord Indivar and Baron Comus have instructed that we guard around the
castle. Make sure no people come in! If people try to get in, do what
you do best."

A slightly less black, smaller unicorn stood up.

"What would that be, Sir?"

"You are trained to be quiet and not ask questions. Are you
stupid?"

The smaller unicorn blended back into the crowd, clearly seeing that he
was a disgrace to the herd.

"Do you get it soldiers? No getting in! No one!"

That signaled the end of the meeting, and the unicorns slowly
disappeared into the forest. Once they were gone, the Prince and
Princess stared at each other, the faces ashen.

"They took over the castle?" he asked.

Aurora nodded her head.

"That is what it appears."

"We need help. We have to hope that Arkose and Trinity are coming back
soon. Meanwhile, we stay very small near one of the villages to the
south."

Chapter VII

The sun's rays were beating down on Arkose and Trinity forcing them to
take cover under the trees. They were going under one such tree when
they heard a fox yelp. They both turned around and walked a bit deeper
into the forest. A vixen lay in a trap, her paw was caught in a snare.
She whined and squirmed trying to get loose. Arkose walked up to her
murmuring "It'll be all right, it'll be all right." Once he reached
her, he slowly extended his hand and let her sniff it. She grinned and
lay still. He put out his other hand, and started untying the snare.
The metal wire cut into his hands, drawing blood. Finally, after
several minutes of fiddling, he got it undone.

"There you go, miss!"

The vixen got up, her paw hanging useless.

*Thank you, kind sir. Here is a tuft of my fur. If you ever need any
help, just twist it and throw it behind you, and I will be
there.*

Arkose was just starting to mumble 'It was nothing', but the vixen
disappeared leaving a cluster of scarlet fur. Arkose didn't say
anything, he just bent over and picked up his gift. Trinity stared at
him and followed when he walked away. They remounted and started
trotting away from that particular grove of trees. Arkose took out his
water flask and sipped at it. A roar emerged from behind a rock,
indicating a large water source. They smiled and walked their horses
around it. A waterfall was cascading down a sheer cliff landing in a
large pool. Trinity shouted in joy and ran down to the pool after
dismounting. She jumped into the crystal clear water after tearing off
her boots. She plummeted into the water and came up gasping for air
after several minutes. Her hair was drenched, and lay inactive on her
shoulders. She walked out of the water to retrieve her flask that lay
dormant on the ground. Trinity picked it up and ran back to the
waterfall.

"Come on in Arkose! It's beautiful!"

Arkose nodded and walked over to the water more gracefully than she
had. He took his boots off, and lay them against the rock. He ran over
to a lower part of the cliff, and climbed it. Once he was ten feet
above the water, he dove in. He re-emerged next to Trinity, combing his
short hair away from his face.

"I saw some soap-root over there." she said, pointing towards the east
with her finger.

She sunk under the water and swam towards the precious root. Reaching
it, she emerged from the water, and plucked a few roots. She broke it
up, and rubbed it over her face and hands. She ducked under the water
to rinse off the soap and came face to face with a Kelpie. That was
strange in itself. Kelpies were supposed to appear by tired travelers,
she was not tired! She came up for air and the Kelpie came with her.
Trinity extended her hand and let the Kelpie sniff her hand. It was a
foal Kelpie that was standing in front of her.

"Where are you parents, little one?"

The horse just stared back at her and sang. She quickly plugged her
ears with her hand. If she listened to the song for too long, she would
become oblivious to the rest of the world, no matter what happened. She
walked away from the horse, her finger still corked in her ears. After
several seconds of walking, she found it was very hard to lift her
legs. Trinity's legs felt like they were trying to walk, with her legs
stuck under an elephant. She started singing at the top of her
lungs.

"Sing, MOUNTAIN GODDESS, sing through me
That anger which most ruinously
Inflamed Achilles, Peleus's son?."

Walking started getting easier and soon she was able to walk without
having to think much about her feet. Several minutes later she climbed
out of the water and unblocked her ears.

"Whew! That was close!"

Arkose looked at her.

"What happened out there? I saw you come up for air, and then I saw
something next to you. Then I heard you sing? you have a very pretty
voice you know?"

"Thank you. It was a Water Kelpie, a foal. It started singing, so I had
to plug my ears and sing at the top of my lungs to get away from it. I
thought that that was a good song."

He nodded.

"It was a good choice. It is always good to sing to the gods when in
trouble."

"Why don't we fill up our carafes and get away from here."

He nodded in agreement, and walked back over to the water. His hand
unclasped the clip on his belt attaching the flask to him. Arkose
dipped it into the water, quickly filling it up. He drank his fill and
refilled it. Trinity was walking over to it when she heard a quiet
waling. It was coming from the water! She walked into the water and
bent down. In the water was a fish whose tail was stuck in between two
large rocks. She reached down and lifted the top one. The fish darted
out of the crevice and paused.

In a tiny voice it said "Thank you, kind lady. While in your greatest
doubt or trouble, twist my scales and throw them behind you. Your
troubles will desert you!"

"Thank you, kind sir." she said, and the fish was gone.

Trinity walked back over to Arkose and handed him the fish
scales.

"He said the same thing that the fox did. Why don't you keep it since
you have the fur too."

"Sure"

Arkose took the scales and put them in his money pouch where he had put
the fur.

"Well, ready to go, m'lady?" he asked.

"Yes, lets ride on, Sir Arkose!"

They mounted their horses and cantered off. Unbeknownst to them, the
little Water Kelpie had climbed out of the water and was following them
at a safe distance.

~*~*~*~

"A village!" she whispered, her heart fluttering in her chest.

Arkose nodded, his face crinkled in a tired grin. They had been riding
for three days straight, with only a couple hours of sleep. Their
horses were weary, and dragging their hooves on the ground. They had
just topped a hill, and hadn't seen the village before. The news jolted
power into them, making them perk up a bit. Sapphire, Raven, and Chesny
started walking faster, and in a half hour, they were just entering the
town. People were walking dressed in black, no one smiled, and horses
were black. Everything was black. Arkose walked up to one of these
people and tapped them on the shoulder.

"'scuse me sir, but why is everyone in mourning?"

The peasant man looked up at him, a startled expression plastered on
his face.

"You aren't from 'round here, are ya sir? Well, I guess if you were,
you wouldn't be asking that would ya? Well, it is a kinda long story,
but I will make it as short as I can." The peasant straightened and
took a deep breath. "It all began seventeen years ago when the Queen
Sara was with child. She and King Roger summoned an oracle to tell them
what would happen to her. They overjoyed when the prophet told them
that their daughter would be beautiful. But on her seventeenth birthday
a giant who knew everything would kidnap her. Now, she has been gone
for two months, and no one knows of her whereabouts. The King and Queen
have made it that anyone who finds her will have her hand in marriage.
But if they fail, than they will have their head." The peasant finished
the long speech with a bow.

Arkose thanked the man and started walking towards the castle.

"Welcome to Orel!" the man said.

Trinity followed smiling at the man. She trotted up to Arkose and
leaned over.

"We are going to search for the Princess aren't we?"

"Yes darling, we are. If the giant knows everything, than we can easily
find the things we have been searching for."

"Ah, right."

By this time they were several yards away from the castle. The King and
Queen sat there on golden thrones. Arkose walked up to them and bowed.
Trinity took his horse after he dismounted, and walked away from the
Royals before they saw her.

"I believe there is something you would like, your highnesses?" he
asked.

"Yes" the King barked, looking very impatient.

"I can find her for you, m'lord."

"We would be very grateful for that Sir ??." the Queen said.

"Arkose, lady"

"We would be very grateful for that Sir Arkose. But if you come back
without her, than we will get your head. But! If you come back with
her, you get her hand."

"I understand the consequences, Queen. But we would still like to look
for her. You see, we have had?? dealings with this 'monster'." Arkose
crossed his fingers as he lied.

"Oh!" the Queen said, more interested. "You have our leave to search
for our daughter."

"Thank you, beloved Queen. We are honored."

"We?? Oh?. You have a companion? I can't wait to meet him."

Arkose didn't even bother to try to correct her.

"Well, I best be going, m'lady! Goodbye."

Arkose walked away and towards where Trinity stood behind some
trees.

"Was it just me, or did she seem like a snotty royal brat?" she asked
him laughing.

Arkose, acting mock stern, said, "Now, that isn't very nice. The Queen
was a charming lady?. as was the King!"

"Right?." she said sarcastically. "We'd best be going."

"Yes'm"

The both got on their horses and squeezed them into a hasty ground
covering trot. The King and Queen watched them go, their eyes narrowed
in hatred. The Queen suddenly smiled and turned to her husband, King
Kelvin.

"Kelvin they won't come back, you know who is hiding her. We chose Him
wonderfully. Remember what the Profit said. Only a Man and Woman who
ride Unicorns can slay Him? and they certainly weren't riding unicorns
and Arkose wasn't riding with a woman."

"Right?" Kelvin said slowly perking up. "We still have to be wary? if
anyone even begins to suspect us, than we are gone."

"Yes, Kelvin? I know. Let's just hope?" Queen Narissa said in a haughty
voice.

"They die!" King Kelvin finished for her.

~*~*~*~

"Arkose! Look!" Trinity whispered.

Arkose rode up and glanced down the hill. A herd of rainbow unicorns
grazed on emerald grass, water trickling down in a bubbling stream. A
crimson colt was chasing a silver filly across the field. When they
were several yards away from Trinity and Arkose, they suddenly realized
that they were there.

*Mama! There's strangers!* the red foal nickered.

A chestnut mare trotted over to where the foals were playing.

*Excuse me, Strangers.* The mare said in a soft voice.

Kestrel nickered.

*It's ok, madam. They are our friends. I am Raven, this is Sapphire,
Arkose, and Trinity.*

The chestnut mare just stared at him at loss for words.

*I am Iliana, and this is my son Ciaran. What is your business
here?*

*Nothing. We were just riding by? we are on a quest to search for the
missing Princess of Orel.*

Suddenly Iliana got very grave.

*You better come with me.* When she saw their surprised expressions she
said, *Oh no! You aren't in trouble. Don't worry.*

She laughed and started walking away. Raven and Sapphire followed
closely, peering around the beautiful surroundings. In a few minutes
Iliana called to the guards that stood on the sides of the cave.

*Oran! Tell Roark that he has visitors.*

*Ok, Iliana.*

He left the other unicorn to guard the door.

*Sholto! How is your wife?*

The golden unicorn blinked at her.

*She foaled this morning!*

*Congratulations! What is the foal's name?*

*She had twins. A colt, Shadow, and a filly, Patience.*

Sholto couldn't even begin to mask his joy. Iliana turned to Trinity
and Arkose.

*He has been waiting for a few years for a foal.*

Iliana's facial expression forbade them to ask questions.

Oran walked out and said, *Roark says to come in and make yourself
comfortable. Iliana, come be their guide. I have to get back to
guarding!*

*Okay, Oran.* Iliana said. *Thanks*

*Anytime. Well, go in, go in!*

Iliana snorted.

*Come in Arkose and Trinity. You will be able to sit down in a few
minutes.*

"Thank you" Arkose and Trinity chorused, and smiled at each
other.

Iliana laughed and walked into the cave. Trinity followed after
dismounting, nodding a quick thank you to the guards. Arkose followed
Trinity's lead, dismouting. He thanked Oran, and wished Sholto luck on
his foals. The cave was warmed by the baking sun.

*Over here.* Iliana said.

She showed them into a small lounge that looked exactly like it was
made for humans, not unicorns. Arkose sat down on a wooden chair beside
Trinity.

"I wonder why Iliana sounded so? grave."

"Yeah."

Trinity suddenly got very thoughtful.

"Where are we going to look for the Princess?"

"I heard that there is a castle in the East."

"We go there, then."

*So! What are you four doing here?* a deep voice boomed.

Arkose looked up quickly and saw the lead unicorn, Roark. He jumped up
a bowed.

*No, no, no! No need for that, Arkose!* he stopped to take a breath.
*What are you doing here?*

"We are searching for the Princess of Orel."

*Why?*

"We have a calling to do it."

*A calling? Oh, I understand.*

"Raven and Sapphire! Come talk to Roark."

Raven and Sapphire walked over.

*Hello, Your Highness.*

Roark stared at them.

In answer to the unasked question, they answered *We have lost our
wings and horns.*

*Ah. Ok.*

"So, what is so bad about searching for the Princess?"

*Her parents sent her away with the Sorcerer. They were fairly
confident that no one could find her.*

"Is she in the East?"

*Yes. How did you know?*

"A calling."

*Right. Well? she is impossible to get. The doors are guarded with ten
guards. Those ten guards each have a hundred arms and eyes. Then,
inside the castle are five ogres carrying wooden clubs. The Princess is
hidden in the tallest tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon.* Roark
finally ran out of air and had to take a deep breath.

Trinity turned to stare at Arkose, her eyes laughing.

"Lets go get 'em."

Arkose started laughing.

"After you, of course, m'lady!"

"Thank you very much, Roark."

*Wait, wait, wait! The only way you can get past the hundred armed and
eyed monsters are by sprinkling them with Notoginseng. It will numb
their senses so that you can pass. Getting past the ogres and dragon?
well, you can figure that out on your own. Have a safe trip.*

"Thanks again Roark!"

"Yeah" Trinity added.

"Come on Raven and Sapphire."

*Yep*

Raven and Sapphire walked over to the large stallion. They folded their
legs in front of them and bowed.

*It is a pleasure to meet you, King Roark.* Raven said in a deep, gruff
voice.

*Yes. We thank you for your kind welcome.*

*Yes, yes, yes. It is a pleasure. Now, get going, get going! Good bye,
good bye!.*

The two humans and horses walked out of the cave and reemerged in the
bright sunlight.

Chapter VIII

They walked back to where they had left Chesna on the road.

*What did they want?* she asked.

"They warned us the dangers in getting the Princess. We are going to
the East, where we saw the castle, and where the calling is."

Chesna nodded her head, her chestnut mane quivering in the breeze.
Trinity turned around on Sapphire and looked across the beautiful vast
plain that they were leaving. She waved to Iliana, and turned
around.

"Well! Lets go!"

They started trotting down the same road that they had been riding on.
Sunlight gleamed down on them making their faces sweat. They had been
riding for several hours when they saw a small town frosting the
horizon. It was in the same direction they were going, so they decided
to go there. Dust flew in their faces as they neared their destination.
A large draft horse whinnied and set up a whole chain of horse calls.
Squeezing their horses into a faster walk, they scampered across the
dirt-way, dodging camels. Men had there heads tied up in cloth turbans,
turned brown with mud. One particular man was dressed in a turban and
rags, but he was walking with an air about him that the other men did
not even begin to have. He glanced over his shoulder and started
walking faster in the market. Arkose stared at Trinity and mouthed,
"Should we follow?". Trinity nodded her head. She bent over as if to
rub her leg.

"Watch where the man goes."

*Okay, sister.*

Trinity dismounted and walked behind one of the buildings. Arkose
followed her, and rubbed dirt over his already-dirty clothes. Finishing
adorning themselves in that manner they walked around and patted there
horses.

*Turban-face went into that alley right there.*

"Right. See you later."

They walked over to the alley and waited until no one was looking and
snuck in. When the man turned the corner, he tripped over a cat and
fell down. He swiftly unsheathed his dagger and sank it in the cat. He
got up on his shaky legs and started walking away. As soon as he was
out of sight, Trinity ran over to the cat and picked it up. Its life
had slipped away in a mere second. She let the cat slide to the ground
and got up. She rounded the corner in time to see the man scaling the
walls. She quickly slithered back to where Arkose was.

"What is going on?" he asked.

"He is scaling the wall right now."

"Why! I want to know why! Too many questions."

Trinity's eyes suddenly widened.

"Let me try something."

Arkose stared at her suspiciously. She looked around and knelt on the
ground. Within a blink of an eye, she had turned into Phoenix. She
flapped her wings a few times and soared up into the sky. The man
climbing the wall lost his grip on the wall and started to fall.
Trinity flapped her fiery wings and extended her claws. She dove after
him and caught his body in her talons. The man screamed and started
hitting her feet. She ignored him and coasted down to where Arkose was
standing. She unceremoniously dropped the man at Arkose's feet. By the
time her feet touched the ground, she was herself again. She panted and
felt her arm muscles burning with too much use.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I am just a little tired."

Arkose stared at her, his brows knitted together in a worried frown. He
turned back to the man.

"Who are you?"

"Sef Menafor"

"What is your trade?"

"Murder"

"What were you trying to do?"

"Kill the Jeweler."

"Why?"

"He gave me this scar on my cheek."

"Why?"

"I assaulted his daughter."

Arkose stared at him.

"How old is his daughter?"

"Ten"

"You assaulted a ten year old?"

"It was a bet."

"You assaulted a ten year old for a bet? You dirty scum bag. You tell
me the information I need to know."

"Why?"

"Or your death will be bloody and painful."

"What is your question?"

"Who lives in the castle to the East?"

"Sorcerer Pi'ilani."

Sef started fidgeting and looking around. Suddenly he jumped up onto
his feet and ran forward. Arkose unsheathed his dagger and threw it
towards the escapee. It thunked in his ribs lodging in his heart. They
heard a sickening crack as the dagger broke the man's ribs. Trinity
walked over to the man and flipped him over after pulling the blade
out.

"I am glad you are dying like this. He would have been a lot nicer had
you stayed there. But this? this is how you deserve to die."

Sef took one last breath and let it out, blood frothing at his lips.
His eyes glazed over and his body went limp. Arkose trotted over.

"I'm sorry I did that. I just didn't want him to get away."

"It is ok, Arkose. You did what you had to."

"Did he say anything else?"

"No."

Arkose bent down on his knee and ripped open the man's now-bloodstained
tunic. He searched through the man's belongings and found jewels sewn
into the man's tunic.

"This guy was walking scum! Look at all the stuff he stole."

Trinity leaned over.

"Oh, Aiesar! Look what the wyvern brought in!"

"Lets leave his belongings here so maybe the jewels can get back to
their owners."

The started turning away.

"Wait?" she said her hands searching his boots. "Aha! I thought
so."

"What is it?"

"Look what I found!"

Her hand was holding a signet ring with a kelpie engraved in it.

"The castle's emblem! He was part of the sorcerer's people."

"Lets take it? it might have its uses."

Arkose nodded.

"Lets. Now? lets go."

They walked away leaving the man sprawled on the ground. Unknown behind
them, the foal water kelpie had been watching the entire time.

~*~*~*~

"Raul! Can you get the goat? she is in the pasture again!" an old lady
called.

Geoffrey turned around still getting used to his 'new' name.

"Yes Laurente."

Geoffrey turned around and ran out the door.

"Come here, Aja."

Aja turned around and baaed. Green herbs were draped across her mouth
as she chewed the greens. Geoffrey walked over to the goat and grabbed
her collar.

"Come on, girl."

He tugged on her collar as she followed obediently. Geoffrey led her
over to her pen and locked the gate again, this time tying it with
twine.

"There! You won't be able to get out now!"

He had been working for the lady for a month now, being a farm hand.
Aurora was pretending to be 'Charona', a village lass trying to make
her way in the world. She was working for Laurente as a seamstress. She
already had many clients, and with that came many custom orders. She
was starting to get the reputation as the greatest seamstress in the
kingdoms for miles. She got an order from a duchess the day before to
make a silver dress with rhinestones sewn into it. That particular
order had to be done in three weeks and Aurora was already worried
about it. She was getting paid twenty gold coins for the entire dress?
that was if she finished on time. Geoffrey shrugged his shoulders and
walked over to the stable. He had to train a three year old stallion
for Smithson, Laurente's husband. So far he was having extremely bad
luck? the stallion was turning out to be more of a handful than
Geoffrey had expected. He had started training him the day after he had
started working there, and Geoffrey was still working on getting the
saddle on him. He hoped that today would be the day. Geoffrey started
whistling a merry tune and stepped inside the stable's door. The
stallion's head poked out the stall door his ears pricked. Once he saw
Geoffrey his happy face grew strained as he pinned back his brown ears.
As Geoffrey walked near him, the stallion turned around, his back
hooves facing the door. The horse had never learned that Geoffrey would
never fall for that trick.

"Archippos, we go through this every single time! You know I will get
you too!"

Archippos turned around his ears perked forward again.

"I am not stupid! I am not going to fall for that one either!"

Geoffrey stopped talking and dug an apple out of his pocket.

"Now, maybe if you're nice I will give you an apple? but only if you
are nice. Understand?"

The horse bobbed his head as if in a 'yes'.

"Ok, now, if you bite me, I will punch you with all of my might? and
you know I will too!"

Geoffrey slipped the halter over his head, the horse remarkably willing
to let it be done.

"There we go! Good horse." He said giving the horse the apple.

Archippos crunched the apple happily, and shook his head. Sticky apple
remains flew onto Geoffrey's face.

"Thanks? thank a lot. Now, let's go."

Geoffrey hooked a long lead rope to the horses halter and led him
outside, being careful to avoid the big horse's hooves. He walked out
to a deserted area filled with sand. Flicking the lead rope, the horse
moved out, his feet dragging in the sand.

"Trot!" Geoffrey said clucking.

Archippos started trotting, his tail held high. Geoffrey watched amazed
as the horse moved through his routines flawlessly. After a half hour
of warming up, Geoffrey whistled the big stallion in. They walked back
to the stable Archippos crunching another apple that 'magically'
appeared in Geoffrey's hand and disappeared into Archippos's mouth. He
picked up the fleecy pad and let the horse sniff it. Seeing that
Archippos wasn't afraid of it, he slowly draped it across the horse's
back. Picking up the saddle, he again let the horse sniff it. The horse
reared up in fear. Geoffrey pulled with all his weight to keep the
horse down.

"Whoa! Whoa, boy! Steady."

The horse came down, his eyes rolling back in his head. Geoffrey patted
his neck calmingly. He thought of something and walked over to the
fence with the horse following. He climbed up on the fence Archippos
timidly following. He tied the 'rein' to the other side of the halter.
Geoffrey steadily placed his weight on the stallion's back. The horse
shuddered but stood still.

"Good. Steady."

Geoffrey finally got his right leg over the horse's back. He settled
his weight evenly on the horse's broad back. He gently squeezed the
horse.

"Walk."

Archippos walked, quickly getting used to the extra weight on his
back.

"Trot!"

Geoffrey started bouncing around on the stallions back. After a few
seconds of trotting he slowed the horse down to a walk, and than to a
halt. He got off as slowly as he had gotten on.

He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good boy!"

He led the horse into the stable and rubbed him down; an amazing amount
of sweat had accumulated on the horse's fur. Geoffrey led Archippos to
his stall patting him on his shoulder. He unlinked the chain and hung
it on the stall. The stallion turned around in his stall and ruffled
Geoffrey's hair. Still frozen with shock, Geoffrey patted the horse on
his shoulder one last time and walked away. Checking the sun to see
what time it was, he decided that he still had plenty of time before
the supper meal. He walked back into the barn and started cleaning out
stalls. Right when he was finishing the fifth stall, he heard the
clicking of boot heels hitting dirt. He peeked out the stall and saw
Smithson.

"Hello sir."

"Hello Raul and how was Archippos today?"

"Wonderful! He went through all of the gates flawlessly. The only thing
is, is that he will not allow a saddle on his back."

"Ah, right."

"But! He allowed me to get on without a saddle or anything."

"Really!?!" Smithson said surprise tainting his voice.

"Yes sir."

"You will have to show me tomorrow."

"Okay sir. May I ask why you are down here?"

"Of course. I came to ask you if you would like to go down to the
market day the day after tomorrow."

"Really?! I would be honored."

"Good. We will be selling some of the clothes Charona is making, jelly
that my wife made, and a few of the pigs."

"Thank you sir. How many people will be going?"

"Lets see. Laurante, Charona, you, and me."

"Okay. Thanks again sir. I am honored."

"Good. Now come have supper."

Geoffrey nodded and put the rake away. He followed Smithson towards the
house and they disappeared inside.

~*~*~*~

The castle loomed in front of them, a gray fortress built for a fight.
The travelers heard screeches coming from the citadel and then saw
harpies flying over the forest searching for travelers such as Trinity
and Arkose.

"Put on your cloak just to be safe." She told him.

"All right? wait, what will you do?"

Trinity shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll think of something. First, we have to think of a plan."

"Right."

"First of all, how are we going to get past the
hundred-handed-and-eyed-ones?"

"Roark said that Notoginseng would take care of them."

"Yes, but do we have Notoginseng?"

"No? I guess that would be a problem."

"Let's see? where can we find it? What is its habitat?"

Arkose started beaming.

"This is wonderful! This is the exact habitat that it would grow
in."

"If it enables you to get by those hundred-thinged people, wouldn't you
think that it would make it extremely rare?"

"It is a weed. It grows everywhere where you don't want it to
grow."

"Well, then lets start looking! What does it look like?"

"It is a funny looking flower. It has blue petals sprinkled with pink
droplets. It is about so big" He shaped his fingers into a fairly large
circle.

Trinity nodded motioning that she understood.

"Where should we start looking?"

"Near a pear tree."

"A pear tree? What a strange place."

"Raven! Can you smell any pears?"

Raven sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring.

*Yes! Over there.* he shoved his nose to the west.

"Let's go!"

"You lead, Raven." Trinity said.

They started cantering and within several minutes they were beside a
pear tree.

"Start searching."

They both got down on their hands and knees and started searching the
clearing that way. While they were searching that way, the horses
started sniffing the ground searching for a mint-lemon smell. Chesna
was the first to find some. She whinnied softly and everyone came
running. She pointed a hoof to a little sprig of the herb.

*Is that it? Did I find it first?*

"Yes! Good job, Chesna."

"Oh, and look there is some more over there!" Trinity called.

Chesna looked very happy and pleased of herself.

*Harpy! Hide!* Raven nickered.

Everyone scattered hiding in bushes and under trees. The lone harpy was
circling as if very intent on finding something very near the peach
tree. Another harpy flew up to her.

*See! There is nothing here except the peach tree.*

*But I was so sure, Rymva!*

*Yes? but see, again I am right. I am always right. Remember that next
time Ynopiae.*

*Yes Rymva. Let's fly back now, we won't need to check this area for a
few more days! That means more orgies!*

*Orgies! That is all you ever think about? and I think about! Let's go!
I love orgies!*

*Who is going to hold it?*

They started flying off and their voices got muffled in the fast
rolling in fog.

"What was that all about? Why would they get suspicious? Did we leave
something behind, or did someone spot us?" Trinity asked still
whispering.

"I don't know? Raven, Sapphire, or Chesna! Do you know if we left
anything behind, or if anyone saw us?"

Sapphire shook her mane.

*I don't know Arkose. I don't think so. Chesna would know since she has
been trailing us. Chesna! Did we drop anything?*

*No, Sapphire. Nothing.*

"That is very strange. I will have to think on it."

"You do that? but now we have to know how to sprinkle it on. Does it
need to be dried or can it be fresh? We'd better hope it doesn't
matter, 'cause we don't have enough time to dry it."

"Let's just use it as it is and hope it works? if it doesn't, than we
just have to think up another way of getting inside."

"How do we sprinkle it on?"

Arkose looked up in the sky in exasperation. A bird flew into his
vision answering the question.

"Can you become the Phoenix that you became when you saved Sef
Menafor?"

"Yes? a Phoenix though? Wouldn't that draw way to much attention to me?
What about a more common bird? like a golden eagle. I have seen a few
of those here."

"A golden eagle? yes, I believe that would work?"

"So, I change into an eagle, sprinkle the hundred ones with the
Notoginseng, and then we get into the castle just to find guards that
will try to kill us. Why not just fly up to the tower to get the
princess and deal just with the dragon?"

"We don't know if the horse's wings and horns are here. We have to
search for them."

"Ah, right. Oh! How about I change into an eagle sprinkle the herb over
the hundred every-thinged ones so you can get in. You put on your
invisible cloak and go into the castle. I fly up to the princess and
get by the dragon. I change into a phoenix and carry the princess of
into the woods. If you are having trouble shout "My love the gray one
has come at last!" and I will come for you."

Arkose stared at her dumbfounded.

"And who taught you strategy, miss captain?"

Trinity laughed.

"My father. He was once considered the best knight and commander in all
the lands."

"Really! Wow."

"Yeah? he taught me everything he knew."

"Ok? when do we go?"

"Tomorrow morning at the first break of light."

"Right? well, we have some things to prepare. Let's get to work."

Trinity nodded in agreement.

"Where is Raven?"

Chapter IX

Sunlight was starting to peek over the horizon, sapphire started
tinting the sky covering up the night stars. Birds had been up for
hours singing their merry tunes. Trinity had already seen several
golden eagles fly by, and she was getting antsy to try out her
wings.

"Are you read Arkose!?"

Arkose nodded his head, his mouth grim.

"Ready"

"Let's go!"

Trinity transformed into an eagle and flew over to Arkose with her foot
extended. He placed the bag in her grasp, and she flew off. Arkose
watched her go, his heart sagging in his chest.

"Be careful, my love." he whispered blowing a kiss towards the
now-distant eagle.

He whistled to Raven and vaulted onto his back.

*Let's go, brother.*

Arkose clucked him into a gallop and raced up to the edge of the
forest. Trinity was flying over the hundred ones and Arkose could see
her tearing open the bag. Mini droplets fell from the pouch landing on
the monsters. Within minutes they were flailing their arms and rubbing
their eyes, a few minutes later their arms went limp and they couldn't
move. Arkose heard Trinity scream her hawk voice like a predator about
to get a kill. He nodded up to her, knowing that she wouldn't be able
to see him. They cantered up to the gate and opened it up. The
notoginsing emitted an extremely pungent smell filling the courtyard.
Raven rushed past them stopping at the next gate. Arkose dismounted to
open it and found it was locked. He ran over to the hundred ones and
searched their belts for keys. Several minutes later he found the
captain's key ring and sliced the belt with his sword. There was only
one key on the entire ring that was big enough to fit in the hole.
Arkose inserted it and turned the key until he heard to lock click
open. The door creaked open allowing Arkose inside. Before he went
inside, he made sure to put on his invisibility cloak. His cape swished
about his ankles with the contrasting breezes. Sure enough he found the
five ogres sitting there with clubs resting in their hands. Easily five
times as tall as Arkose, they talked to each other in their deep gruff
voices. Arkose strained to here what they were saying.

"The harpies have been bugging the master about the supposed invaders."
The hairiest ogre was saying.

"Yeah, M'ndir told me." The second ogre said.

"Do you believe it?" M'ndir asked.

"Not one bit." The third ogre said.

"Really? I believe it. Strange things have been happening
lately?"

"You believe it, Ygore? The third ogre sneered.

"I don't know? maybe?" Ygore muttered starting to blush.

Arkose started sweating, how had the harpies found out about strangers?
He started creeping along the wall of the inner courtyard.

"Hey! Who is there?"

Arkose froze.

"Where?"

"Right there along the hedge?" M'ndir pointed.

Sweat started trickling down his back, he was standing right next to
the hedge.

"It is just a bird, M'ndir. Why are you so jumpy?" the hairy ogre
asked.

"I'm not jumpy, J'li't." she punched the base of his chest. "I am going
to go check it out."

"Ok M'ndir, go check out the scary little birdie."

M'ndir rolled her eyes and walked a few feet next to Arkose. She
squinted through him, her eyes trying to focus on something that
'wasn't' there.

"Is it a scary bird?"

M'ndir shook her scruffy head and walked back to the others rubbing her
head, confused. The ogres decided not to ask her what was going on.
Arkose stopped shaking and thought of something. He turned around and
walked out of the inner courtyard. He looked around and found a long
thick cord lying forgotten in the shadows. Grinning, he walked over to
it and picked it up, carefully avoiding the hundred ones. He tied the
cord across the courtyard three feet above the ground. Smiling to
himself, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled three shrill
notes. He heard the ogres inside quarreling over who should go outside
and check what was going on. J'li't was the one who decided to go out.
He lumbered outside and closed the door behind him. Arkose was watching
him, his naked sword lying in his hand. The ogre looked around and
started jogging towards the numb hundred ones. His feet got caught in
the rope and he fell down on the ground, knocking the wind out of
himself for a few seconds. Arkose used that time well. He ran over to
the down ogre and swiftly slit the monsters throat. J'li't was dead
within a few seconds. Arkose smiled, happy with the goings of his plan.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and screamed as loud as he could.
This time he heard all of the ogres get up and run out the door,
unknowing of the ambush that awaited them. When they opened up the door
and saw the dead ogre, they shrieked in rage. They ran towards him and
fell down on the ground, the same way that their predecessor had.
Arkose ran up to them and slit three more throats. By the time he had
finished the third, the fourth ogre, Ygore, had gotten up and had
unsheathed his sword.

"Prepare to die, human! Trespassers answer to us!"

Unknowingly Arkose's cape had slipped down while he had been working.
Arkose ignored him and unsheathed a dagger quickly. The ogre was
faster. Ygore threw one that was already in his hand. Arkose received a
shooting pain coming from his left thigh. Blood sprouted from his
thigh, trickling down his leg. His unsheathed dagger flew straight and
true into his opponent's lower stomach. Ygore clutched his abdomen as
he stumbled back. Arkose launched himself on the ogre's back. He tried
to climb around to the front so he could slit his throat like he had
the others. The ogre, realizing what he was trying to do started
shaking his head. Arkose clung on with all his might and managed to get
to the ogre's front. He stabbed him in the neck with his sword. The
ogre stumbled back and fell down. Arkose slit Ygore's throat and jumped
off as the ogre finished hitting the ground. Arkose winced as he felt
his bloody thigh getting weaker and weaker. He whistled to Raven,
calling him. Raven peeked into the courtyard and seeing Arkose he
cantered over to him.

*So, I gather that you had a tricky situation?*

Arkose smirked at him touching his thigh.

*You got hurt? Is it bad? Are you ok?* Raven asked suddenly
worried.

"I'm fine. It isn't bad and I am fine. I just need to get this knife
out of here!" Arkose tugged at the knife. With a final yank, he got it
out.

"There! Finally! Where are Sapphire and Chesna?"

*Oh? they are coming.*

Arkose nodded.

"We have to get in there to search for your stuff."

*Right?*

Just then, Sapphire and Chesna came cantering into the courtyard, their
silky manes floating behind them. When they saw what had gone on, they
stopped in their tracks, sliding a bit in the dust. Sapphire walked up
to one of the ogres and sniffed it, and sneezed once the dust and
settled in her nostrils.

*Do we go in?*

~*~*~*~

Trinity finished sprinkling the notoginsing on the hundred ones, and
flew off towards the distant tower. She flapped her powerful wings and
rose further up into the sky. The sun shone on her wings and glinted
off. Her feathers sparkled in the sun's rays as diamonds in a fire pit.
She neared the tower with a light heart. When she got closer up, she
couldn't see the dragon. She circled the tower, thinking this a trick.
After several minutes of searching, she decided to go into the tower's
window. As Trinity was expecting, the Princess was in the tower. She
flew into the window and landed on a carved dresser. The Princess was
sitting down on a small couch reading a book. Trinity screeched softly
and flapped her wings. The Princess's head snapped up and she quickly
shut the book.

"You see, the swallow really is bigger than a robin, Ndelia!" the
princess looked up. "Ndelia was trying to tell me that robins are
bigger swallows! I told her!"

Trinity stared at her.

"Emperor Pi'ilani?"

Trinity shifted back into a person. The princess's eyes grew very
large.

"Who are you?"

"Lady Trinity of Remaque. You?"

The Princess grew several inches.

"Katherine of Castle Koludo."

"Castle Koludo?"

"This is Castle Koludo!"

"Oh, ok."

Katherine suddenly started shaking. She bent down on her knees and
bowed.

"I am sorry Emperor Pi'ilani. I did not recognize you? please don't
punish me!" Katherine started whining and quivering more.

"What do you mean? I am not this 'Emperor Pi'ilani' that you have been
talking about."

"What?" Katherine asked.

"I am Lady Trinity of Remaque. I have come here to rescue you and take
you back to your home."

"What do you mean? This is my home."

"No? let's see? how do I explain this to you?" Trinity took a breath.
"You are a daughter of King Kelvin and Queen Narissa of Orel."

"But to be a daughter of them?"

"You would have to be a princess, and you are. You are Princess
Katherine of Orel."

Katherine stared at her dumfounded.

"How can I be sure that you really aren't Pi'ilani?"

"Trust."

"Ah? right? trust."

"Tell me, why did you start muttering those things when I came
in?"

"Pi'ilani doesn't want me reading, so I have to convince him that I am
crazy. If I do it like that, then he just thinks that I am too stupid
to read a book."

"Right? I did think that you were a little unordinary?"

Princess Katherine smiled.

"Thank you. I am glad."

"Are you ready to leave?"

"How are we to leave? The castle is guarded by a dragon!"

"I couldn't find it."

The princess started looking worried.

"The dragon is always guarding the tower? why would he not be
here?"

"Something more important is going on? like a person attacking the main
part of the castle?"

"Yes? that would probably be it?" Katherine said shakily.

"Ok? do you know how to get out?"

"The castle has no doors? only windows?. And we can't jump out of
those, or else we would die?"

"Would you be afraid if I were to carry you down?"

"In an eagle shape? I know eagles are strong, but I am heavy!"

"Phoenix."

"Phoenix? Ah? right. Than, can I get ready quickly?"

"Yes? but make it quick? we haven't much time to spare."

Katherine nodded her head and disappeared into one of the other
chambers that connected to the one they were standing in. Trinity
noticed a tray sitting untouched on a table, laden with food. She
walked over to it and picked up a small slice of cake.

"Is the cake alright?"

"Yes! It is very good? have as much as you want."

"Thanks."

Trinity nibbled at the cake, catching every loose morsel. It was lemon
with a hint of spearmint woven into the taste. The top was slathered in
mint icing, dribbling down the side. Katherine walked out dressed in
brown cotton breeches and a white lace blouse. Hanging at her side was
a small purse of money.

"Are you ready?" Trinity asked.

"Yup."

Trinity ate one last cake, and shifted into a silver and scarlet winged
Phoenix. She squawked and flew over and out of the window. Katherine
trotted over to the seat sitting next to the window and lay down. The
Phoenix grabbed her tunic and lifted her off the chair and carried her
out of the tower. Trinity's feet were curled around Katherine's slim
body, slightly squeezing. She flew down and leveled out skimming the
trees lightly with her wings. Suddenly she heard the words 'My love the
gray one has come at last!' coming from the castle. She started flying
faster, and dropped Katherine near the Pear Tree. She muttered a quick
explanation, and flew back towards the castle. She shifted into a
raven, and flew threw the courtyards searching for the voice.

~*~*~*~

Arkose and the horses walked into the inner courtyard and looked
around. Arkose closed the door behind them and walked to the front of
the 'herd'.

"Do you have a calling?"

Sapphire and Raven looked at each other.

*Sort of? well, it's kind of like a trickle? it's running down our
spines and makes us want to gallop around in circles. So? yes? we are
having a calling. Sapphire agrees.*

"Right? what direction is it calling you too?"

Sapphire thought for a moment.

*That way.* she pointed north-west with her nose.

"What about you, Raven?"

*North-east. We have to split up.*

Arkose did not look very happy about this, and he said so.

*Don't worry. We just form groups.* Chesna said in her usual comforting
tone.

"Who goes with whom then?"

*How about Sapphire and Chesna go towards her calling, and Arkose and I
go towards mine. Would that work?*

A feeling of mutual agreement shuddered throughout them.

"I agree. Let's go!"

They all said bye too each other, just in case they wouldn't see each
other again. Arkose was the first to turn, soon followed by Raven.
Sapphire and Chesna turned at the same time and started walking towards
the calling. Arkose patted Raven's shoulders, and started walking away.
They were silent for a while until he asked the horse where to
go.

*Right*

Arkose nodded and turned right, carefully avoiding furniture.

"Whoever lived here must have been a scalawag!"

Raven nodded, not answering.

"What is the matter? You are never this quiet."

Raven stopped and stared at Arkose.

*I? um? know some things and ways around the castle.*

"What? How?" Arkose asked looking confused.

Raven took a deep breath.

*I used to be a prisoner of Emperor Pi'ilani. He made me his chief
stallion to ride. I don't think he knew what I was. I got tired of
being pushed around, so one night when he got drunk, I slipped out of
the castle.*

Arkose looked very confused. After a few minutes of thinking, he
started smiling.

"I think I know how to get close to this so called 'Emperor
Pi'ilani."

Raven looked startled.

*How?*

"I am going to bring him back something or rather someone that he
wants."

*No? I don't think that is a good idea.*

"And why not? You won't get injured I guarantee you."

Raven started thinking.

*All right.*

"Good. First we find your stuff."

Raven nodded and took the lead turning several times, leaving Arkose
dizzy and befuddled. After over an hour of turning, Arkose reached a
hand up to Raven's shoulders.

"Is there any other way?"

*No, and be quiet. I hear him.*

"Right." He whispered.

Raven gently pushed a door open with his nose. Sitting at a desk inside
was a middle aged man with gray hair. His bearded face was trimmed to
perfection, his hair oiled into perfect shape.

"I was not expecting you so early, Darnoc." Pi'ilani said in a high
voice that surprised Arkose.

"Darnoc?"

Raven turned to Arkose.

*I am Darnoc. I work for Emperor Pi'ilani.*

"Trator!"

"Maybe he is, but he is a good one all right!" the man slapped his knee
with a hand, laughing at his own joke.

Pi'ilani suddenly stood up.

"I have something to show you?"

"Thomas"

"I have something to show you Thomas. Come with me."

Arkose stared at him.

"Well, come on, come on. We haven't got all day."

"Why should I come with you?"

"Because they will get you if you don't."

From behind the Emperor came dwarves holding maces and spears in their
arms.

"Will you come with me, or stay? It is your choice."

Arkose thought for a second. Either way it was suicide. He might as
well take the one that gave him a slight chance.

"I'll come."

"Good. I'd hoped you'd say that."

Pi'ilani suddenly cheerful walked over to Arkose and took him by his
arm. Arkose was surprised at the cold clammy hands that were wrapped
around his arms. He shook the arms off, and stepped away.

"Don't touch me, sir."

"Oh good!" the Emperor laughed. "You still treat me with respect. You
are going to be so much fun!"

"So much fun for what, Emperor Pi'ilani?" he spat.

"Now, why would I tell you and ruin my fun!?!"

"Maybe because the look on my face would be better now, than when I
kill myself?"

"Fine. Play stubborn. Though if you die, it is just easier for
me."

Arkose shrugged.

"What have I got to lose?"

"Everything!" Pi'ilani finished with a triumphant shout.

Chapter X

"Raul! Are you ready?" Smithson called.

"Yes sir!" Geoffrey answered as he finished hooking the wagon up to the
horse.

"Now Laurente dear, you sit in the back. Charona you sit in the front
next to me and Raul will be riding Archippos. Does everyone get
it?"

"Yes dear." Laurente said in her old scraggly voice.

Aurora nodded along with Geoffrey. He walked over to Archippos and
mounted the bare horse. Geoffrey's feet hung barely touching the
horse's elbows, strange for how tall he was.

"Ready!" Geoffrey called.

Smithson nodded and clucked to the driving mare. His reins slapped
against her neck as the cart took off bumpily down the gravely road.
Geoffrey followed on the now-well-mannered Archippos. It took several
hours to get there at the pace they were going. They had left early in
the morning for a reason. Nearing the city's market, they started
running into large packs of people pushing and shoving to get there
first. Geoffrey was surprised at how careful Archippos was being at not
stepping on little children's feet if they got underneath him. He
slapped his shoulder often, caressing the soft fur. A few times,
Geoffrey thought he had lost the wagon when too many people shoved in
front of him. Fortunately, the wagon was always there. A couple times
he looked into the forest, he saw the demon unicorns standing there
guarding. They were always guarding something, Geoffrey didn't know
what.

"Hey Raul! You alive back there?" Smithson called back grinning as he
always was.

"Yes sir! I'm just fine."

"Good, 'cause we're going to stop for lunch."

Geoffrey nodded gratefully. His legs were getting sore from sitting
dormant on the horse too long. He had been trained to ride for hours in
a saddle, but on a light horse, not a draft one. They got out of the
way of traffic, and went a little bit into the woods. Geoffrey saw one
of the unicorn guards move away, but very close by. There was something
different about this unicorn. He didn't seem all evil. 'No' Geoffrey
thought. There was something he recognized about him, something
majestic even.