Wrapped in tight blankets Pyre blinked his eyes. He was on watch and struggling to stay awake. By the alignment of the stars dawn was not far away. What would the new day hold? Would they find Fand? His head nodded again. He jerked it back up. Slowly he scanned the surrounding area. Nothing moved. Sleep tugged on him hard and pulled him under.

The first ray of the sun hit Pyre full in the face. He woke up with a start. Blast it all, after all his effort to stay awake he had fallen asleep! Quickly his eyes darted to the three sleeping forms beneath the tarp. There were only two. TWO! Resen was missing! Of course he was missing. It was too much to hope he had gone off to relieve himself. Pyre turned his attention to the horses. Donner was also gone and he had slept through the entire thing. Angry with himself for falling asleep, he muttered, “I am such an idiot!” It would be easy to blame Resen, because it was possible he would have been able to leave unnoticed even if Pyre had been awake. Regardless, he was gone! Again! Blast that Pathfinder!

Behind him, Pyre heard an unfamiliar male voice say, “Morning Apprentice. Enjoy your nap?”

He spun around. He had not heard this man’s approach. Not only had he lost Resen, now he had let someone enter their camp! What a fool! Before him a man stood still as a statue dressed in some sort of white fur coat, leggings and boots. He was a very tall man with a thatch of blonde hair. A sword gleamed in his left hand. Panic leapt into Pyre mind and heart. His heart, his stupid heart started beating like it was trying to race itself to death, and maybe it was. Why had he fallen asleep?!

Rufus was instantly on his feet with his own sword drawn. He demanded, “Who you be?”

The man said, “Ah, a member of the Council Guard, only one, what was Appocca thinking?”

Rufus face flushed red with anger. He took a step forward.

Loren, now awake said, “Put down your sword Rufus. His name is Eken. I know him.”

Reluctantly Rufus lowered his sword. The man, Eken, nodded to him and then turned his attention to Loren. He asked, “And how is your mother?”

Loren’s eyes narrowed. His voice caught a little when he said, “She has passed.”

“What? That is sad news indeed.” Eken’s eyes darkened. “By whose hand did she die?”

So Renate had had other enemies.

With a shake of his head, Loren said, “No one killed her.” He didn’t say how she died, nor did she give Eken the opportunity to ask. Instead he asked, “What are you doing out here?”

Eken’s face became stern. His voice was harsh when he said, “Come to take the likes of you into custody. You have crossed the border without permission. Its not safe here and you know it. So does Appocca. We can’t have you mucking up the works when we are about to have a row with the Dark Devils.”

“What?” Loren’s voice became hard as he said, “You are starting another war. How many times will you try to annihilate the Sonpur?”

Eken gave a harsh laugh. “With any luck a battle today will do.”

Silently Loren looked out across the ice plain. Pyre followed his gaze, he saw hoof prints in the snow, Donner’s hoof prints. A swirling dark cloud that didn’t quite look like smoke formed in the morning sky. Pyre did not like the look of that cloud. Further more Donner’s hoof prints were headed in the direction of that cloud.

Catching the gaze of both Loren and Pyre, Eken asked, “So, who deserted you?”

At this question, Pyre’s heart stopped its stupid racing. If Resen had gone off, then Fand must be near. Near? Near to that cloud? His heart took off again.

Loren did not answer the question.

Angrily, Eken called out, “Men!”

Seeming to materialize from the snow itself, twelve men on horse back appeared around them.

Pyre’s mind began to move very fast. Resen had most likely heard and been aware of the approaching militia. He had most likely known they would be captured or detained. And he had acted, alone, gone alone, not bothered with consulting any one. The man functioned on instinct like an animal and he had known when to leave. This brought some comfort to Pyre.

Loren asked, “What do you plan to do with us?” He paused an instant and added, “If you can.”

Eken cocked a blonde eyebrow. “No Magic, Loren. None. IT is important do you understand?”

Mutely Loren nodded.

“Now,” Eken said, “Gather your gear. We are escorting you back to base camp.”

Rufus brandished his sword and growled, “I’d like to see you try!”

Three of Eken’s men leapt forward. One knocked the sword out of Rufu’s hand, the other pushed him down and the third tied him up. Eken said, “You know, we could have done this civil.”

Two of the men, jerked Rufus to his feet. Rufus struggled in their grasp.

Eken said, “Guard, you are out numbered and responsible for these two young men. Getting yourself killed will not serve any of our purposes. Did you consider that having a Council Guard delivered hog tied into camp will create quite a sensation? Oh, I can just hear the boys laughing now.”

Furious, Rufus tried to lunge forward. Loren said, “Rufus calm down. They are not the enemy. It is best we do as they say.”

Rufus said, “Sir, I don’t trust them.”

“You are wise not to.” Loren turned to Pyre, “Let’s gather our things.”

By the time they gotten their bedrolls and travel packs together the distant cloud had grown. Pyre wanted to know what it was, but he didn’t ask. Loren wouldn’t tell him anyway. Whatever it was, it was bad and he was now sure it it had something to do with Fand. They mounted their horses. Still tied up, Rufus was thrust onto his horse. The militia headed in the same direction Resen had gone.

A wind as sharp as needles began to blow. It was impervious to the heavy wool coat Pyre wore. He had never felt such cold in all his life and the air reeked. What was that smell? He had smelled it before. Then he remembered, the exploded flesh of Angs on Fand’s body had stunk like this. Poison. It had been burning poison.

The militia guards veered from the path Resen had taken and headed south east. As Pyre turned his horse he was instantly aware of Fand. Her thoughts traveled in the wind. Though he could not get a read on Resen, Fand was indeed with him and she was afraid. His mind touched hers. All at once her voice came to him, Pyre are you safe?

Silently, he responded, For now, and you?

She responded, I don’t know.

As soon as her thoughts had come to him they vanished. Had something happened? He goaded his horse and rode up beside Loren. “I just had a word from Fand.”

“I know.”

“I can’t read her thoughts anymore.”

Loren frowned. “Nor can I. I don’t know if Fand can veil her own thoughts or not. My hope is that she is with Resen.”

Fand was near, but where?

Loren looked at Pyre, and said, “We must hope and pray Resen keeps her safe.”

Trust, hope, prayer, Keeper was that the answer to EVERYTHING? Fand was alone with Resen. He had done her great harm to her in the past. Had Loren already forgotten?

Reading his thoughts Loren said, “Now is not the time to get all muddled and angry Pyre. Fand would be better served if you do not dwell on her. Folgen has a sensitive and powerful mind. He is looking for her and Resen has done and will do what is best.”

Frightened, angry and frustrated Pyre asked, “What makes you so sure?”“A knowing in my gut. I trust it, I trust him. He has the luck of a pathfinder, and things will open for him that would never open for a normal man.”

Pyre’s first thought was, Like Fand’s heart? If Loren had forgiven Resen, did that mean Fand might as well? And what if she did?

Low in his throat Loren growled, “You must stop thinking such thoughts Apprentice! They are just the sort of thoughts Folgen will read and use to his advantage. Do you want that?”

“No.” In that moment Pyre felt something or someone pulling at his mind. Something or someone was hovering on the edges of his thoughts, guiding his mind to go where he knew it must not go. A chill ran through him. This was great evil. It must be Folgen. With all the mental strength he could gather he forced his mind into prayer. Memorized prayer had its uses, and even though he was scarcely aware of what he silently recited, it diverted his thoughts as they rode.

Ahead, a gathering of snow tents appeared. The sounds of men and horses were whipped into the wind. When they reached the tents, they were ordered to dismount. Pyre looked around him. The army that camped here was vast. Surely, the Sonpur were greatly outnumbered.