Chapter 20

Mei'An had but just closed her eyes, relaxing into a dream state that she was long practiced in. Luan would stand guard. She couldn't be in safer hands. Her entrance to the dream state would sound a soft chime in the minds of all the Wind Readers, summoning them to the Hall of the Readers. This was only used rarely. Mei'An could not remember the last time she had been summoned to the Hall.

All would meet in a great hall. None knew exactly where it was. It seemed to exist only in the dream. There were doorways in the walls, but they led nowhere. It was the strangest thing. If you walked through a doorway to try and leave the hall, you simply walked into the hall from the other side. Like stepping into a mirror. The problem was, you might not find yourself emerging exactly as you left. Only a few had ever tried to solve the riddle, until finally it was banned. Some had entered with brown hair and emerged with pale golden hair on the far side of the hall. Nothing but a single step in time separating them. Some had entered and not emerged again for hours. Convinced they had only just stepped through the door. They had seemed to have aged many years though and a few who tried had fled back into the door to reverse the process. They had re-emerged one step later on the far side of the room, little more than children. Holding hands with tears streaming down their faces, no one had been brave enough to try sending them back through the doorways again. The last person to enter one of the doors, a single door near the rear of the hall, had simply not re-emerged. She had been heard calling in an increasingly alarmed voice for hours after, until her voice finally faded into the distance, like a person who has wandered far away. Now no one tried entering any of the strange the doors. Each seemed covered by a shimmering curtain of mist, just too thick to see through. The Wind Readers were effectively confined to the Great Hall.

Mei'An expected to find herself on her feet in the hall, with the tones of the chime fading slowly. Other Wind Readers would soon appear.

What she didn't expect was what happened next. Instead of a soft muted chiming, a boom that nearly split her head sounded. The noise was so loud, the tone so deep that it seemed the very breath had been driven from her body. She found herself on her hands and knees on the floor of the Great Hall, head hanging down, trying to breathe. She realized she had stars before her eyes. Gasping with shock, Mei'An was just about to try rising to her feet when the huge bell sounded again. It hit her like a hammer blow on her back. She was flattened to the stone floor, spread eagle on her stomach, with her cheeks pressed to the cold stone floor. The very stones were vibrating with the low frequency of the sound. A fleeting thought came to her. What would be happening to her in the real world. What happened here was just as real in the waking world. Luan would be in a panic. He would not hear the bell. Only see her contortions, see her stress. He would not be able to rouse her. "I must return, I must get out of this dream." She muttered.

Mei'An felt too weak to stand. She tried to step out of the dream, but just as she was about to the bell tolled again. This time so loud she thought her bones were breaking. It wasn't in her ears so much, as in every fibre of her body. She thought she was being crushed, and howled wildly in pain. It only ceased as the sound rolled away into the distance. She lay on the floor, almost unconscious, panting like a dog in hot weather.

Through the pain filling her mind, Mei'An realized she could see through the doorways of the hall. There was a garden out there, with bright flowers and a fountain. She could hear the singing of birds.

She squeezed her eyes shut as the bell tolled again. This time it was almost at its normal pitch. Mei'An sighed with relief, and struggled to try and sit up. It was too much.

Yes, she could see through one of the smaller doorways. She realized with a start that she could also see through the large entrance doors. There were fortress walls, and towers out there. A vaguely familiar young girl almost Antonin's age, perhaps younger stood in the doorway, her clothes flickering through different changes. At one stage the girl was quite naked.

Finally, in a dress of pure yellow, the girl crossed the hall and went through the door into the garden. She hadn't seen Mei'An, prostrate on the floor in the shadows of the huge supporting columns.

Slowly she regained her strength. She sat up, taking deep breaths to steady herself. She could not step out of the dream now. She had to find out what was happening. She pushed herself to her feet and dusted off her blue silk gown. She felt ragged, but at least in the dream she was able to brush away all trace of her previous distress.

With some frustration she realized that she could no longer see through either the main door, nor the garden gateway. The girls was nowhere to be seen. She might have been the Inn Keepers daughter from Xu Gui, but it seemed unlikely. It was a mystery that needed solving. None but Wind Readers had ever been in the hall, and to Mei'An's knowledge no one had ever seen past the doorways. There was after all something other than the hall, and Mei'An was determined to find out what.

The hall began to fill with people. Wind Readers were arriving from all over the world. They had all suffered distress as a result of the bell's chimes. Mei'An most of all though. She thought she must have precipitated the tolling. It had been she who had stepped into the hall first. Now she was not so sure. There had been that young girl, young woman really perhaps about seventeen years old Mei'An thought, who had entered through the main hall doors.

Mei'An was considering all this when she noticed a circle widening around one of the women in the hall. She had cried out slightly and was now looking intently around her, as though trying to see someone. Someone others could not see. The huge bell tolled again. Not so loudly this time, but all talk stopped. With a start Mei'An realized she was looking at the young woman who had come in by the main doors. Mei'An had also heard her softly utter Antonin's name in the moment before the bell tolled. She seemed to be talking to someone beside Sarweio, the Wind Reader who had caused some of the others to move away from her. Mei'An knew her of course. Knew that she lived in far off Hua Guo. Suddenly the woman went as straight as a flagpole. Someone other than that young girl was talking to her. Try as she might, Mei'An could not discern what or who it was. To her utter amazement, Antonin appeared just in front of Sarweio. He looked just as startled as Mei'An felt, but it was because something was being said to him, through Sarweio. Mei'An sighed. So Antonin was in Hua Guo, and apparently safe. The girl winked out of sight. Mei'An knew the signs. The girl had stepped out of her dream and back into her body.

A fierce wind swept through the hall, as Sarweio made her way to the podium at the end of the hall. She would speak to the assembled Wind Readers. Young and old alike, all were gathered here. When someone took the stand, on the podium, deference was given her and all attention was given to the speaker. Mei'An was a little taken aback. It had been she who had first summoned the gathering after all. Events had taken over it seemed. However, it had been fruitful. Mei'An now knew where Antonin was. She only need a few moments with Sarweio to find out exactly where he was.

The reaction to Sarweio's words, repeated exactly as they had been given to her, was stunned silence. Even Mei'An could not believe her ears. They were in The Blue Tower. Their power derived from The Keeper of The Blue Tower. The Keeper was a woman. Perhaps an immortal. Mei'An's eyes went wide with dawning knowledge. The small figurine in the box that the inn keeper had. Rees had said that it had called - spoken to him as, The Keeper. It was the link. She must return immediately. With that little statue in Antonin's hands, he would be linked to The Blue Tower, and he would have access to untold power. All the strength he would need in the coming battle.

Mei'An pushed her way through the throng, ignoring mutters, and surprised looks.

"Sarweio, Sarweio." She called. The Wind Reader looked toward her.

"Sarweio, quickly, what is the village that you are in right now? Which Inn? Where is the boy? You must keep him there until I arrive. I leave now."

Sarweio told her all she knew, and with that, Mei'An stepped out of her dream leaving the others none the wiser. She found herself on the floor of the inn, staring up into Luan's worried face. Her dress was dusty, and her hair was in disarray. She knew she looked a fright. "A gentleman would not leave a lady resting on the floor of a common room." She said quietly. Luan blinked, his face like a granite block. He helped Mei'An to her feet and escorted her from the room, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. She only stumbled once. Rees shook his head in wonderment. The woman had been prostrate with pain, wailing and trashing about on the floor. Now she walked from the room as calmly as from a royal ball. No thought of apology for having frightened everyone out of their wits. Elsa kept her own council. Her thoughts hidden behind an expressionless face. Wind Readers were held in great respect, almost reverence, and what they did was beyond knowledge or understanding. Especially by a warrior maiden. Elsa turned to Rees. "A strange day, and not over yet I fear."

"Yes, mark me. We will be on the road before the sun rises on another day."

Antonin still sat in the chair in the common room of the inn far across the world from where he had started out. Sarweio had been taken back to her room by M'belie. Led on stumbling feet. Her last words had been a message from Mei'An. "You must not leave this village, nor this inn. You must await her arrival, as long as it takes. If the battle begins, it must be fought here. Your life, and the lives of all you hold dear depends on you staying in this spot."

Sarweio had reached the door, and turning had added in a whisper, "She comes with The Keeper of The Blue Tower." Antonin could not believe the events of the last hour or so. Desare, little Desare from his home village, caught up in this chain of events. She said she loved him. He was in unknown territory here. He was not sure of his feelings. She had made him promise to stay put until she arrived. No - until she could meet him in his dream. He had no idea what she meant. Two people had now asked him to stay where he was. He had promised one, and so would keep his promise. If the last battle started here, then so be it. He suspected it would not though. Not yet.

The Tharsians still held the Key to the prison wheel of Sara Sara. Cinnabar and the Morgoth hordes still pursued them, and Antonin pursued both. The Dark One was not yet free. How far the wheel yet had to turn he did not know. He hoped it was an age. A thought began to form. Based here in Hua Guo, he was on the far side of the Forest of Gloom, the redoubt of the Tharsians. Perhaps he could organise forays into their lair from this side, and maybe, just maybe, secure the Keystone.

Elsa and Catharina watched Antonin. They watched everything in the room, but mostly they watched Antonin. He was smiling and muttering under his breath. The recent events had been the doing of a Wind Reader. None of their business. No danger to Antonin, although he had certainly been surprised at the appearance of the girl Desare and that strange almost naked woman she had been with. Both girls had seen her clearly, although Antonin claimed to have seen only Desare.

"Well," said Antonin aloud. "This is a fine pickle. Here we are. The combined armies of all the Mare Altan, and Asha Altan descend on Ha Hu seeking the battle. Mei'An is on her way here if I understand correctly. Desare is to meet me in my dreams. We have no idea where the armies of the Dark One are. Desare says she loves me," Catharina gave a derisive snort, raising Antonin's eyebrows. "…and I am the Dragon Lord returned --- and have no idea what to do next."

This was not how it was supposed to be. Of that he was sure. In every story he had read, the hero always took charge. Everything went according to plan. The hero won the day, and the heart of the girl of his dreams. Not two girls. One girl. Which girl? Antonin shook his head. It was too confusing. He wished Gaul were here. He would know what to do. Gaul was back in the home village though. Half a world away.

Catharina was thinking along the same lines. She knew Desare, although not well. How had she become involved? Was she a Wind Reader? It was girls born with the talent. Catharina knew that. If a Wind Reader declared her love for Antonin, what hope did she, a lowly warrior maiden have? Catharina was proud of her status as a Warrior Maiden. She had been Antonin's friend all his life, and if they were not meant for each other, well, no one had said so. When it came time to put aside the spear and the bow, she knew she would go to Antonin, not to some as yet unknown Asha Altan warrior as was usual. She also knew that she could not compete with someone who might be a Wind Reader. The girl Desare was also quite beautiful, with her yellow dresses and long hair.

"Men." Muttered Catharina, looking directly at Antonin. She made a great fuss of clattering out of the common room and into the hall. Moments later there was the slamming of a door in the upstairs hall that shook the windows.

Antonin looked questioningly at Elsa, who only raised her eyebrows and smiled that secretive smile that was guaranteed to drive him to distraction one day. Antonin stomped out of the common room. Moments later the crash of his door slamming told where he would spend the night. Elsa picked up her wine glass.

The common room was filling again, the musician had arrived. There was dancing to be done.

 

 

The next morning, before even the sun began to lighten the horizon a small party was leaving the inn in far away Ha Hu by the rear gate. The soft clop clop of the horses hooves on the cobble stone of the stable yard sounded muffled. The steam blowing in great clouds from the horses nostrils told of a deep chill that frosted the air. The clink and clank of riding gear and softly spoken words as riders quietened the animals told of a party intent on leaving with as little fuss as possible. Mei'An, Luan, Rees and Edina were mounted and each had a smaller pack horse in tow. No one had had much sleep as preparations had pushed on through the night by Mei'An. The figurine of the Keeper of The Blue Tower was wrapped in soft leather and packed, along with the other objects. It was strapped on behind Rees's saddle.

The plan was to ride to the coast and take ship for Hua Guo. No one thought it possible to go overland. The deep forest redoubt of the Tharsians was simply out of the question. It was going to be a long journey, months perhaps. It had to be done. What would happen when the warriors of the Star Field Plain arrived was anyone's guess. Luan thought it best if they were used to clean out the Morgoth warriors and any Tharsians they found. That the Inn of the Blind Man was important in the scheme of things was in little doubt. Lord Bornale would take charge there. A runner had been sent to rouse him. He knew what was needed immediately. The party set off for Doran Head many weeks travel to the south, even by the Great North Road.

Nothing stirred in the grey early dawn except the riders, and a lone raven perched high up on the spire of the barn. It's glinting eyes fixed on the riders below. In single file, the riders moved out through the gate and through the quiet streets. The guards on the city gate took little notice. They were there to watch for people coming in, not going out.

The black ribbon of road stretched away into the mists of the early morning. None knew how long this strange road had been there. It was from an age long forgotten. Some said the age when the vast subterranean caverns had been built. Some said even older. None knew for sure though. Everyone used the Great Road. It was like a lifeline drawn across the world. Rees had often thought of following it on past the Great Sandy Blight, just to see where it led. Now they were headed in the opposite direction to the city port of Doran Head. Both Rees and Elsa were looking forward to that. Neither had seen any place larger than Ha Hu and it was said you could not ride through Doran Head in less than a day.

The city wall fell further behind the group, who kept up a steady spine jarring trot in order to be well clear of the city by sun up. The first golden rays were already glimmering on the horizon. Once well away from the city, Mei'An slowed the horses to a walk. The group began to bunch up and the road started to climb toward the foothills of the Dragon Spine Mountains. If the warriors from the Star Field Plain were travelling toward them it was doubtful they would be seen. Except in the high pass. There was no other way from the plains up to the high plateau where Ha Hu stood. Mei'An wanted to be well south of the pass before they stopped for a rest. By her calculations that should be a little after noon The first oasis on the other side of the pass, and just off the road would be ideal. They would rest in the hottest part of the day there, then set off again and ride through the night. Mei'An meant them to be in Doran Head in under a month if it meant sleeping in the saddle. Eating too for that matter. The horses would need resting of course, and fresh mounts would be purchased along the way. The road became much steeper and they began the climb up to the pass. The road wound back and forth, following the mountain ridges upward. Finally, with the sun now high in the sky the pass itself came into view. Like a huge axe wound in the mountains, its sheer sides reaching up to the very heavens. The pass was still in deep shadow at road level. There was no doubt that it was man made, but not even Mei'An could guess at what sort of power it must have taken to remove such massive amounts of stone.

Nothing stirred. Not much lived at these heights. The air was thin, and sweat ran from every pore of both horse and rider as they pushed up the last steep slope to the summit. Luan was first onto the almost level point right at the crest. He drew reign and waited for the others. He set the example by taking a long drink from his goat hide water skin. He dismounted and poured a measure into a bag for his horse to drink, then watered his pack animal as well.

The others caught up, Rees bringing up the rear and they all took a moment to rest and water the horses. The place was eerie though. It had a strange feeling of waiting about it. An almost un-worldliness to the air. Rees thought it must be because up here they were so far above the common problems of everyday life. Almost a bird's eye view of the world. If a little limited by the confines of the pass walls. The city of Ha Hu could be still seen. Just a hazy collection of shapes away out on the plain. In the other direction only the narrow cleft of the pass was visible, the sky a hazy blue-grey.

They stood high up in the Dragon Spine Mountains now. Hopefully the descent would be easier on man and beast alike.

Without a word, Luan swung into his high cantle saddle and took up the lead rope of his pack animal. He turned into the pass and began to draw away before the others had even mounted. Luan eased his sword in its sheath an few times.

Edina noticed this, and although she was not relaxed to the point of casualness, she automatically checked her bow and quiver and hefted her short spear a few times. It would not do to be caught unawares in a place like this. Rees and Mei'An checked their loads, and pack animals and followed on. Rees again in the rear. Hi last glance back the way they had come showed him a lone black raven perched high up on the crags. A long way out of bow shot. Was it the same raven that had watched their departure from Ha Hu? Rees thought it likely. It had to be following them. There was no carrion, no wildlife at all this high in the mountains.

As if to assure him that this was indeed one of the watchers of the Dark Lord, a low rumble could be felt in the rock beneath their feet. The Wheel of Sara Sara had moved another notch toward the freedom of the Dark Lord. Rees pushed his horse to catch up with the others. Mei'An just starting to disappear down the slope at the far end of the pass. The raven dropped from its perch and wheeled its way high over head to become lost from view in the high peaks.

Rees soon cleared the cutting itself. He was glad of it. A more forbidding place he had never seen. He was now back out in the full glare of the late morning sun. It was a long way down to the oasis, and it would be late afternoon at least before they reached it. The air seemed clearer on this side of the Dragon Spine for some reason. The brown carpet of the plains stretched out to the horizon below them. The mountains curved away in a large crescent on both sides. Away to the right as they began their descent the high peak of Sara Sara could be seen. It stood a long way behind the Dragon Spine mountains, yet its vast bulk was so huge that even at this distance its smoke belching peak towered over the ranges in front of it.

Within that mountain it was said, turned the prison of the Lord of Darkness. A huge stone like a giant millers wheel. The prison was but a cavern cut into the stone of the wheel. The prison placed on the outer rim of the wheel disappeared from view as the wheel turned slowly on the axis that drove all the way to the centre of the world. It took an age upon age, and even longer for the carved prison cell to appear again at the opening. The wheel had been built by the Creator. The Lord of the Light, to hold fast his enemy, the Lord of Darkness. Everyone knew the stories of those vast battles that had raged across the land so far back in time. They had turned now to myth and legend. Only the smoking tower of Sara Sara still there to remind the world of what had happened. Only the forces of good and evil still carrying on the battle. Everyone who believed the stories knew that one day the wheel would again bring the Dark Lord around to the opening. He would then step free on the world again.

At the last minute of the great battle fought by the Malachite King before his death, a key stone had been placed through the axle of the Wheel of Sara Sara. The wheel had tightened onto the key and with a groan that had shaken the world it finally came to a stop. The Dark Lord could not escape now.

That had been the case. Now they knew that the Morgoth, the followers of the Dark One had somehow been able to remove the key stone and carry it off. The Morgoth however had been overpowered by the sheer force and brutality of the Tharsian, and the key stone was now in their possession and doubtless hidden in the vastness of the deep forests.

Rees heeled his mount gently, and started after the others down the winding road to the plains below. There was no sign of the thousands of warriors having passed this way yet. Rees thought there should have been some sign. Even a dust cloud from so many feet. Perhaps they were not coming after all.

The day wore on, and still they had not cleared the foot hills. The party was strung out in single file, the horses walking at a steady mile consuming pace.

Slowly the ground flattened out, and the last ridges and low hills were behind them. The endless plain stretched out before them, only the black ribbon of roadway like an arrow directly south giving any sense of direction. The stark and forbidding massif of the mountains now way behind the riders. The sun was well down. It would be night fall soon and they still had a long way to go to get to the oasis. Rees didn't think they would make it. He hurried forward to Mei'An's side.

"Perhaps we should make camp here while we have light, and press on in the morning?" Mei'An glanced at Rees in a non committal way. "Perhaps." Was all she said. Rees stayed alongside for a few minutes and was just about to fall back, thinking he would get nothing else for answer, when Mei'An said.

"Yes, I will take your advice Rees. I should listen to your advice more often I think, in the light of recent developments." She trotted ahead and placed a hand on Luan's arm and spoke quietly to him. He glanced at Rees, then pulled his mount around and off to the side of the road. Rees just sat his horse, with his mouth hanging open.

Mei'An had miscalculated it seemed. She had thought they would reach the oasis on the Star Field Plain in time to wait out the noonday heat. In fact they had ridden slowly on under the burning sky, until late into the afternoon. The oasis was still not in sight across the shimmering plain.

Luan had been pushing ahead all the way, but Rees and Edina had been slowing the party down by hanging back. Mei'An was torn between saying something to speed them up, or slowing Luan down to a walk to allow Rees and Edina to come along with them.

Rees was normally quiet. He found himself with less to say to Edina than normal. He could not understand it really. Edina was a good friend. They had known each other since childhood, and were comfortable with long familiarity. Rees had been surprised when he found himself looking at Edina as though he had just seen her for the first time. Up in the high pass, she had stopped a little ahead him. Her grey mare shivering its skin as horses do to disturb the flies. She had the goat skin water bag held up, her head back, the smooth skin of her neck stretched taught. Her plaited hair tail hung straight down, and the posture necessary to hold up the water bag forced her breasts to strain against the soft hide of her jacket. Rees had blinked in surprise. It had suddenly dawned on him that Edina was a beautiful young woman. He looked away in confusion, twisting in his saddle to check that the crate holding the figurine and treasures was still secure.

Edina smiled to herself. 'Men.' She thought. 'As blind as bats.' She hung the water bag on the saddle horn and kneed her horse into a canter. It had taken a moment for Rees to collect his wits and start after her. Confusion creasing his brow.

The sun was now a molten ball on the horizon. It seemed to be melting the very earth, forming a huge liquid pool that spread out along the line of the plain.

There was no shelter. No trees of any kind. Even the tallest shrub was only ankle high and the plain stretched away without a dip or rise in its entire surface.

It was because of the strange affinity between Rees and the statue of the Keeper of the Blue Tower that had decided Mei'An on her course of action. Rees was without doubt strongly linked to Antonin. The forces that that had been set in motion revolved strongest around Antonin. They were also swirling around his companions Rees and Gaul, though to a slightly lesser degree. Mei'An had noted though that things just seemed to happen around Rees. Even he was not truly conscious of it. It might be best to let events take their course, and be prepared for the unexpected.

So at Rees's suggestion, they would make camp where they were. Way out on the Star Field Plain, with only the night sky covering them. Mei'An could not understand why they had not reached the oasis. She had been sure that it had been less than a day's ride from the high mountain pass. She couldn't believe they had missed it. It was a mystery she would like to solve.

Everyone was dismounted now. The horses tied to a rope picket that Rees had quickly set up. Unsaddled, the riding horses fed on grains and watered. The pack animals unloaded and fed and watered. There was plenty of short grass and vegetation for the animals to nibble at. Edina soon had a small fire of twigs and grass going. Striking her flint into the pile, her eyes had been on Rees, squatting across the cleared circle from her. The quick sparks from the flint stone had reflected in her clear eyes like shooting stars in the night sky. Rees had cleared his throat in embarrassment, sure that he had been staring. Mei'An spread a ground sheet by the small flickering fire. Luan was standing like a statue, off to one side. He was staring off into the gathering gloom, slowly turning a full circle so that eventually he had scanned the surrounds from horizon to horizon. His granite like features were silhouetted against the last light of the sky. All planes and angles, his features appeared to have been hewn from stone by a mason with no time to attend to fine details. The most prominent feature was his nose. A prominent hook nose beneath bushy eye brows proclaimed him a native of Arafella, far to the west.

His eyes were deep set pools of black, and his long dark hair was straight and hung to his shoulders. All together he had the appearance even down to his fingerless leather gloves, that he was not a man you would trifle with. He swung his fur collared cape about himself and slipped away into the gloom, soon disappearing from sight.

Rees noted his going, but kept his thoughts to himself. He was born on the Star Field Plain, and was alive to every little sense of the place. There was nothing out there. The almost inaudible chirping of crickets, the faint rustling of lizards, the very whisper of the wind in the short grasses assured him all was well. If Luan wanted to spend the night looking for trouble then he was welcome to it.

Rees handed a piece of dried meat to Edina and settled himself back on one elbow. He chewed at his piece of meat, and watched the thin trace of smoke drifting away from the small fire. He had also share the ration with Mei'An, and handed her a piece for Luan.

Slowly it came to Rees that all sound had ceased. Not even the insects moved. It took but a heartbeat and at the same time Edina was crouched like a cat ready to spring, facing out from the fire. Rees was on his feet, his sword in hand. Mei'An was up on her knees, and out of the corner of his eye Rees could see a faint blue haze surrounding her. 'So she had her defences after all.' He thought. His concentration was heightened though. Only something on the prowl in the night would cause such a hush. Rees looked for Edina. She had disappeared. He was not surprised. The Mare Altan were very good. If they did not want to be seen, you could stand on one before you realized it was too late. Mei'An relaxed a little and sat down again. Luan loomed out of the gloom. He was accompanied by two Asha Altan. Their clothes of brown and green, soft leather boots soundless on the plain, and almost trackless.

Rees was not about to relax yet. It took a moment, and a step closer for him to recognise that one of the two was Jardine, the leader of the clans in the district of his home town. The other was unknown to him. Luan stepped over to Mei'An and squatted on his haunches. The two Asha Altan stayed where they were. There was no sign of recognition on the face of either, so Rees was not about to relax. Suddenly the unknown one's face broke into a huge grin. He started laughing openly as if he had suddenly thought of a huge joke. He took a step forward, and Rees then saw that Edina was at arm's length behind him, her short spear with its wicked barbed point planted firmly in the small of his back. The man thought it was a joke! Were they all mad. Rees shook his head. The man with the spear in his back slowly turned his head until he could see Edina. "A fine joke from the Running Dear," he laughed. "I warrant you will spread this tale far and wide among the Mare Altan."

"Not so," smiled Edina. "To catch a man is easy. To be caught by one is much harder." She laughed the words and dropped her spear to her side and stepped forward.

"Welcome my brothers. What brings you here with the man of stone?" She was referring to Luan.

"This Companion came to us. He saw where we were camped, he is very good." A nod to Luan brought a slight inclination of the head in return. "He bid us welcome to speak with the Wind Reader, of events and developments."

Rees sat back down and indicated the others were welcome to do the same.

"You may build up the fire if you wish, there are no others but us, and our camp, on the plains this night." The Asha Altan settled around the small fire with Rees, Edina, Mei'An and Luan, who finally relaxed enough to sit cross legged on the ground.

"The combined clans are reluctant to cross the mountains." Began the Asha Altan. "Without some assurances that the battle will be wholly around Ha Hu."

"It seems that you are right to be cautious. Even now we head south to take ship to Hua Guo. I have discovered that The Lord of the Dragon Armies is waiting for us there." No one asked her how she knew this. She was a Wind Reader. It was enough.

"Should you wish to follow us, you will be welcome. The storm will centre around the Dragon. It will take all we have to win out. The Tharsians have the Keystone, and while they have it, the wheel continues to turn. We do not know what role the Morgoth play in this - nor indeed the Tharsians - only that they both have and want to keep the key. The Dark One will do all possible through his followers to prevent us replacing the key stone in the axle of the Great Wheel."

Tessalan, the man with Jardine, spoke. "For our clan I speak, we will proceed with you to Hua Guo." Jardine glanced at him. "Tessalan is ever ready to rush into battle, but forgets to watch his back." There was no crack of a smile on Jardine's face, but the tiny creases at the corners of his eyes gave away the joke to the watching Tessalan. "Ha. I can see I will never live this night down." Laughed Tessalan. He was a younger version of Jardine, lean and muscular, dark eyes ever watchful. His clothes were much the same. Soft hide, all brown and green. These men could fade into the landscape and be right under an enemies nose without them knowing it. "Jardine," said Tessalan with the ghost of a smile still on his face." What would you suggest? That we all continue to Ha Hu? When the battle is moving away from there."

"Not so," replied Jardine. "I am suggesting that we send one clan only on to Ha Hu, there to make contact with our friends in the city. They can keep the city safe in the event that the Lord of the Dragon Armies returns by the same means by which he left." Jardine looked at Mei'An. "Of course, we take your advice above all Wind Reader."

Mei'An sat tapping her finger against her lips. For long moments she was silent. Finally she shook her head as though coming to a decision. "Where is the oasis that we stopped at on the way here?" She said. "We have ridden all day, and should have seen it by now. It was only a short way from the Great Road, and less than a day's ride from the mountains."

"Our scouts report nothing but featureless plain all the way to the mountains Wind Reader." Said Jardine.

"Then the forces of the Dark Lord himself are trying to thwart us. Only such as he could wipe all trace of an oasis from the face of the earth. Jardine, you should do as you suggest. One clan to secure Ha Hu, the rest accompany us. It seems the dark one knows of our journey, and would stop us if he can. The safety of Antonin, Rees and Gaul are paramount.

Rees sat up straight, a surprised look on his face. "Me!" He exclaimed.

"Yes. You and Gaul both." Said Mei'An.

"Ahh.." Began Tessalan.

"Yes?" Queried Mei'An, one eyebrow raised.

"Even now Gaul is in the village discussing events with the two Traders. There is only a small core of Maidens there to protect the village itself."

Mei'An's indrawn breath hissed through her teeth.

"Then you must send a clan back to the village. They are in great peril. Even though the Seal of the Creator be there, an arrow in the night will kill as surely as a thunderbolt. As well, there is the Inn Keeper's daughter."

Everyone looked at Mei'An in open surprise. She said nothing more. A long pause, then she said softly. "Now Jardine. Tomorrow may be too late."

Jardine leapt to his feet and sped away into the darkness. Tessalan was on his feet. "And I, Wind Reader?"

"Tessalan, go to the clans you have gathered. Jardine is to take the Water Mark clan to Xu Gui. There are enough in the clan? Yes. You will send the Black Hands to Ha Hu. They will stay in the city. Two other clans of your choosing will also go, but they are to continue into the subterranean caverns, and proceed with great caution to clean out the Tharsians encamped there. That will be most dangerous. There is some monstrous engine there that roams unchecked. Your people must stand aside from it when it passes. It cannot be stopped. To try brings death. They will need oil for lamps, and food and water. The caverns are dark and barren."

"The remaining clans Wind Reader? My own clan, the Running Men?"

"Will accompany us to Hua Guo." She finished his sentence.

Tessalan exhaled with a rush, and was grinning from ear to ear.

"Good." Was all he said, but it was plain that he was pleased to be heading toward the centre of the coming storm. Antonin. He turned to go. "We will be back within the hour. The clans will move tonight." Then he was gone into the night.

Luan had said nothing, but now he moved into the flickering light of the fire.

"Mei'An, so many people. Six clans. So many ships needed now to transport everyone at one time. We can't manage it, surely?" He said.

"Fine my Companion. Then we go on foot. We must follow the ancient trade route. So many warriors will give any aggressors pause for thought. Yes, I know it goes directly through the country of the Tharsians now. Perhaps they will not see us?"

Luan grunted. He didn't seem to appreciate the joke. Mei'An glanced at Edina, who seemed like a cat on a hot roof, hopping from one foot to the other.

"No." Said Mei'An firmly to the girl. "You must stay with Rees. You are his protector." Mei'An held up her hand to stop Rees, his mouth already open in protest. "Edina, I tell you now. If you run with your sisters in the clan, both you and Rees will die. Rees must be protected even at the cost of your own life. Will you take this responsibility upon yourself? This honour, for truly it is." Edina glanced away into the night, then looked directly at Rees. "So protecting the life of a village boy brings me much honour does it? Very well. We will see." She sat, looking not well pleased.

Mei'An spoke quietly to her. "Edina, you will be protecting the right hand of the Lord of the Dragon Armies. This village boy is no less than the Marshall of the Hosts. It will be he who stands at the head of the armies destined to follow the Dragon, the King of the Malachites."

Edina's eyes were as big as plates. Rees no less, his mouth hanging open. Luan was looking at Rees with something close to keen interest. Rees was speechless. Even more so when Edina bent her knee in front of Mei'An.

"Beat me without mercy Wind Reader." She cried into the dust. "I doubted your wisdom, and placed my own selfish wishes first. I am unworthy." Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Her fists clenched. She fully expected to be beaten for her transgression. Mei'An was a little taken aback. She knew discipline in the warrior septs was harsh, but she didn't expect it was this severe.

"No Edina. You give yourself much honour by accepting your mistake, but I will not beat you," She paused. "But if you let harm come to that village boy... I will assure you that a beating will be the least of your punishments. Get up girl. You are no help down there at my feet."

Edina got to her feet, dusting off her clothes. Her eyes were down cast and even in the weak fire light, the rosy flush of her embarrassment was plain beneath her sun darkened skin. She dared not look at Rees. Suddenly he was there beside her, even with his arm about her shoulders.

"Edina, I don't know what this is all about, but if you will stay with me on this journey as my friend, I would count it as a personal favour to myself. I …," he hesitated a moment "Would miss you if you went your own way." Rees was amazed at himself. He had never been this bold in his life. He had to admit though that he would miss Edina if she left. He had grown to enjoy her company very much. Edina turned to face Rees, his arm still on her shoulder. Their faces were very close, and Rees thought he might become lost in her pool dark eyes. Luan coughed, and they sprang apart like surprised birds.

"Very well Rees. It is good. Let us keep our company, and see what comes to pass." Edina gave Rees a fleeting, very intimate smile, and returned to her blanket.

"We rest an hour or so, and begin the journey at moon rise." Said Luan. The party settled on their blankets. Only Luan standing like a statue, just out of the firelight. the man seemed not to need sleep.