"We have to move on," Lain said.

"Oh. Alright. I'm sure she'll find us soon," Ivy said, climbing onto the horse's back behind Lain, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"So, how did I do that to her?" she asked as they continued on. "I don''t remember it, so I must have been transformed. Was I angry or scared?"

"Angry," Lain said.

"You were bending to the will of . . . " Ether began.

"Ether, do not say another word," Lain quietly ordered. "Ivy, we need to be silent."

"Whatever you say," Ivy eagerly agreed, turning to whisper mockingly to Ether. "You got yelled at."

As they traveled further into the mountains, the horse's footing faltered more and more frequently. Soon they would have to leave it behind. As they rode, Ivy rummaged through the saddle bag that contained the provisions Lain had secured. She ate and offered to feed some to Lain as he guided the horse, but he declined. She even offered some to Ether, who remained furiously silent. It was the first wise thing she had done in some time. Lain did not know how or why Ivy had come to believe that Myranda had survived, but he had to travel as far as he could while the delusion persisted. While she was happy, this journey was infinitely simpler.

In order to avoid being seen, they had been traveling up the slope of the mountain in as direct a route as possible, avoiding roads entirely. The horse had been navigating ably, but now they had reached the point that would be more climbing than walking. Lain stowed the tip of his sword that had served as a splint and flexed his painful but functional hand. After transferring as much of the useful equipment as possible to their backs, the issue of Ether needed to be addressed.

"Naturally I shall have to be carried until I have recovered sufficiently to a.s.sume a more mobile form," she stated.

"Well, why are you still rocks anyway? Is it that hard to turn into something else? At least something lighter," Ivy asked.

"The merciless a.s.sault you unleashed upon me, coupled with the abundance of strength squandered to quell said a.s.sault and the consequences my mark levied upon me, has taken a considerable toll. I would prefer to remain as I am until my flame form can less riskily be a.s.sumed," Ether explained with exaggerated calmness.

"Well, when I first met you, you were a squirrel. Why not do that again? Then you would be easier to carry, and you would be cute!" Ivy suggested.

"I have no interest in doing anything that would bring you ease or enjoyment," Ether said.

"Fine," Ivy huffed. "But this makes us even."

"Hardly," Ether replied.

Lain cut the bag free, Ivy slung it as comfortably as she could over her shoulders, and the group began to climb. At first the going was slow, but Ivy learned quickly and soon the grace she had shown in the past began to appear here as well. Before long they were scaling the face as quickly as one might a ladder. Alas, the long night quickly fell upon them, bringing with it the painfully frigid temperatures and heavier snowfall that Lain had hoped to beat. Climbing had been treacherous before. It was far more so now. Regardless, Ivy and Lain continued.

Ivy's fingers were numb, but she continued without a word. This was all part of the test to her. Another way to prove to Lain that she didn't need to be hidden away from them. Another way to earn her right to stay with him, and with Myranda. Why did Ether think she was dead? She remembered her in the fort. Fire all around her. Lain said they had left her there, but that couldn't be. That was no dream. It was too real. She was there. She said not to worry, that she would follow. She wouldn't lie.

Lain kept a careful eye on her at all times, mindful of any falter. Prior to his involvement in this, he seldom traveled with others. When Myranda became his constant companion, willing or unwilling, he had been forced to slow himself to accommodate her. He had never become accustomed to traveling with one who was so near a match of his abilities. Even when the fatigue began to show in her eyes, she did not slow. Even as the snow caked on her white fur and stung at her eyes, she kept pace. She was a testament to a dying race.

Before long the slope eased and the smell of burning firewood signaled their arrival on the outskirts of the town. The darkness and blowing snow concealed it from their sight, and more importantly, concealed them from the prying eyes of any of the residents. Thus concealed, the time had come to decide what was next. They each dropped their loads and crouched on the ground. Lain silently thought while Ivy sat, the tattered remains of her cloak pulled tightly about her.

"Why did we stop here?" she asked, shivering. "I smell a fire over there, and I don't smell any of the teachers. Maybe the people there would share their fire."

"The people will share nothing with us. Listen closely. Do not allow them to see you. Our kind is hated by the humans. They will do you harm as readily as any of the D'karon," Lain whispered.

"But why?" Ivy asked, quickly adopting a whisper as well.

"It is the way they have been taught. It is the way it has always been. It is the way they all are," he replied.

"Myranda doesn't hate us," she said.

"Myranda was different," he said. "Don't expect to find another like her for as long as you live."

"Myranda was blinded by duty, compa.s.sion, and naivety. She was that rare human who had true potential, but she lacked the objectiveness to make the most of it. I am almost tempted to mourn her pa.s.sing, if such an act were not utterly without purpose," Ether added.

Ivy shot an angry look at the source of the voice. Pulling open the bag from where she dropped it, she tipped it, spilling the contents.

"Oops," she said flatly.

The disembodied voice of Ether began to object, but Ivy interrupted as though she didn't notice.

"Then why did we come here?" Ivy whispered.

"There is a man here who may have the skill to repair my sword," Lain said.

"Is he human?" Ivy asked.

"He is," Lain replied.

"So he is going to hate you, then. How are you going to get him to help you?" she asked.

Lain was silent. He had yet to determine an answer. Amid the whistling of the constant wind, the pile of stones that had been rolled from the bag moved of their own accord, clattering and gathering together into a ma.s.s. Suddenly they shifted from solid stone to water, splashing to the snow below and seeping in, melting a good deal of it. Eventually the pool seemed to leap up, twisting itself into Ether's human shape before giving way to flesh and cloth. The whole of the event had a labored feel to it, as though she would have been better served by a few more hours of recuperation before attempting it. Ether cast a vaguely threatening look at Ivy, prompting her to flinch and raise her hands in defense from a presumed act of retribution.

"Give the weapon to me. I shall see that it is repaired," Ether said.

Lain considered the offer. Ether was not in the habit of being helpful. This was clearly an attempt to curry favor away from Ivy. The offer would have been a reasonable option, were Ether as capable of blending as well socially as she did physically, but such was not the case. Reluctantly, he retrieved the two pieces of the weapon. This would not be without its usefulness.

"I sincerely doubt that you are capable of doing so. But until I can determine a more appropriate method, you shall have your attempt. Listen closely. The smith is named Flinn. You must speak directly to him. If the sword is allowed to be taken by a go-between, it will not be returned quickly, if at all. Inform him that payment will be rendered upon completion of the repair. Under no circ.u.mstances should you reveal that you are Chosen, use violence, or threaten violence. Most importantly, do not appear to be anything more than a human," he warned.

"An act of the utmost simplicity," Ether said.

She made her way toward the city. When she was far enough that Ivy knew she would not be heard, she spoke.

"Do you really think she can do it? " Ivy asked.

"No. But the scene she is certain to make will serve as an adequate diversion. Stay here, and stay hidden," Lain said.

He vanished swiftly into the darkness. Ivy giggled lightly, eyes trained in the direction of the town, eagerly antic.i.p.ating a furious Ether storming back defeated. Every so often, however, something distracted her. Her ear would twitch, and she would look over her shoulder. There was a sound occasionally, just loud enough to be heard over the sound of the wind. A horse. Ivy crouched a bit further behind the drift.

Lain crept lightly around the outskirts of the city. He had never come to this place himself, but it was clear which of the precious few buildings was the proper one. Already the raised voice of Ether could be heard berating the young woman who greeted patrons. Lain moved swiftly to the roof. There were no windows to speak of, but near the sharply sloped peak there were vents to let the smoke of the forges out. A screeching clash of wills was taking place. Right now, all that he had to do was listen. Observe. It would be a simple act to find Flinn and offer him his life in exchange for this service, but he had long ago learned that a task performed on pain of death tended to result in a poor outcome. Indeed, confronting Flinn himself would end badly. Men such as he conducted lives separate from the public. They had go-betweens, front men. It was these individuals that must be the first targets. Through them a proper meeting could be arranged. One that would leave the primary target at ease, prepared.

As he listened, memories of a hundred such nights flashed through his mind. Prior to his acceptance of the a.s.signment that led him to Myranda, this was the norm. This was how he conducted business. The crunching footsteps of an approaching horse prompted him to make a cautionary shift away from the road. The wind blew toward the sound. He pulled in a long slow sniff. No scent from the horse or rider, but amid the burning wood and sizzling metal there was a familiar smell. One of the women inside. The smell wasn't precisely familiar, but he had smelled one like it. The blood wasn't the same, but the bloodline was. It was difficult to determine which woman it was, but there were only two inside aside from Ether. A moment later, after a blistering a.s.sault by Ether on the human race as a whole and the greeter in particular, the shape shifter stormed out, followed shortly by the young woman. Her scent thus separated from the rest, he could be sure. It was she. She, then, would be the target. The screaming continued in the snowy road for a minute more before the young woman finally slammed the door on Ether.

Clutching the blade of the sword in a furious grip tight enough to prompt a dribble of blood, she set off toward the edge of town where Ivy was waiting. As she did, a man on horseback rode by her. The man's eyes lingered on the sword for a moment. The glimmer of recognition was unmistakable. Lain's eyes narrowed. The man's eyes were the only things showing, so bundled was he against the cold. He wore a suit of armor, its surface unmarred by a single nick or gash, only caked with the blown snow. The helmet hung from his saddle, as the thick hood and scarf could not be worn beneath it. Lain scanned the street once more. No one in sight, and all doors closed. The man guided his horse to a small stable behind one of the buildings. Lain leapt silently to its roof. When the man emerged Lain leapt down and pulled him behind the stable, dropping him on his back and placing a foot on his throat. He pulled the scarf from his face.

"Desmeres," he hissed.

"Been a while," Desmeres croaked.

Lain removed his foot from his neck and pulled his former partner to his feet.

"You have been following me," he said.

"You couldn't know that," he said, looking at Lain incredulously.

"Do you deny it?" Lain asked.

"No, but you couldn't know that. Steps were taken . . . unless. You felt it, didn't you? That bizarre sensitivity to being watched. I'd forgotten about that," Desmeres realized.

"Why are you here?" he demanded.

"Look at me, Lain. If it isn't obvious, I have been remiss in my duties," he said.

Lain drew to mind what he had seen earlier, but kept his eyes locked on those of Desmeres. The half-elf knew him better that any other creature in this world, and at the moment it was not clear that he could be trusted any longer. Aside from the immaculate armor, he recalled a familiar shield had been hanging from his side, and a more familiar hilt protruded from his sheath. A sword hung, in its sheath, from his belt. It was the sword. The one that had begun this crusade. He was dressed precisely as the fallen swordsman in the field had been, the one he had found and watched Myranda approach. The one that had sealed her fate.

"Why would you pretend to be chosen?" he asked.

"Misdirection. Adding a dash of truth to a cauldron of lies," he replied. "A highly effective tactic."

"To what end?" Lain asked, patience wearing thin.

"To aid my new partners, of course," he said.

Lain's hand went to the grip of one of the stolen daggers.

"Then you have become a tool of the D'karon," he said.

"Surely it doesn't come as a surprise to you. Wasn't it to be expected? It takes the D'karon - indeed, the entirety of the Alliance Army under their control - to equal the skill and opportunities afforded by yourself as an individual. I approached them and offered my services. Doing so without being killed proved an interesting task. They were quite open to the idea, once my allegiance was established. Another challenge, might I add, but one I rose to. They eventually embraced my presence. All save Trigorah. Still bears a bit of a grudge I am afraid. They have her on a rather short leash, however. She's been removed from active duty and confined to the capital. Odd. Regardless. I shared with them a few choice pieces of information, and proposed the idea of posing as a Chosen. I would appear to be on the side of the Alliance, thus making the public less likely to believe that the true Chosen might be opposed. In addition, it was believed that by appearing to be a genuine Chosen One, my presence might flush out the rest of you," he explained.

"Why follow me?" Lain asked.

"Why would they accept me into their fold if not to find you?" he asked.

Lain drew his weapon and placed the blade against Desmeres' throat.

"And tell me. What is it that you intend to do, now that I am found?" he asked.

"Very little," he answered.

"Why should I believe you?" Lain asked.

"One would hope that years of partnership and familiarity would be enough," Desmeres offered with a weak smile.

The blade pressed harder.

"You aren't worth enough, Lain," he added.

Lain twisted the blade slightly.

"I am serious. They have no interest in only one or two of you. And they certainly don't want you killed. They were spa.r.s.e on the details, but they want no less than four of you, five if possible, and simultaneously. And under no circ.u.mstances must any of you be killed!" Desmeres said urgently.

Lain removed the blade.

"Why?" he asked.

"They wouldn't tell me. All that they did was give me the names and descriptions of who to watch for," he said, rubbing his throat. "You, of course. They know a great deal about you. They also targeted the shape shifter, and something they called 'The Fourth,' another malthrope. She was with you. And I suspect the shape shifter as well. Conspicuously absent is Myranda. If you were to ask me, I'd say their plan is to take on the full force of the Chosen as a whole. I can't imagine why."

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you," Lain said.

"I could refer to the aforementioned years of partnership, but more convincing is the fact that I have the ability to feed disinformation to your many enemies within the Alliance Army. They gave me an object through which I am told to keep them updated on my actions. I recently informed them that I would be checking this town for you. It might be useful to you if I were to report that I had found nothing and was moving on. Less useful would be a missing followup that might indicate the need for closer inspection," he warned.

Lain considered the statement.

"I can't say I know what they have planned for you. Having been in their clutches before, I imagine you know what to expect. One would a.s.sume another capture would result in more of the same for both yourself and the others," he added.

"How have you been following me? How is it that I was unable to detect you?" Lain demanded.

"The D'karon mystics have a number of rather unique specialties. Most wizards concerned with stealth deal exclusively with attempted invisibility. The odd eccentric has tinkered with rendering one's motions silent. Once accepted into their cloister, I found volumes of runes and enchantments dedicated to rendering one undetectable to all senses. Vision, smell, even senses I have never heard of. Indeed, senses I cannot fathom. And the crystals, Lain. The possibilities they afford," Desmeres gushed enthusiastically. "They are truly inspiring. I have been able to infuse your weapons with pa.s.sive defenses, but these crystals can fuel active, aggressive spells. And the techniques they have can produce weapons so quickly. This sword is a replica of the masterpiece the swordsman had carried. I managed it in days. Not weeks, days! I have got a few blades in the works . . . it pains me to be away from them. Revolutionary. One in particular belongs in no hands but your own, Lain. When it is complete, you shall have it. No one else could do it justice. It is the pinnacle of my art, Lain. I don't care if it finds its way to my throat a heartbeat after it reaches your grasp. This is a blade worthy to taste my blood."

"Enough! How did you follow me?" Lain asked.

"Intuition. Familiarity. A secret or two I choose not to reveal," he replied.

Lain's eyes fell to his neck. Then back to his eyes.

"Very well," Lain said, taking a step away.

"Wait," Desmeres said.

Lain lingered just at the edge of a shadow.

"How did you break my sword?" he asked.

"It failed me in battle," he replied.

"Was it broken by another sword?" Desmeres asked, almost desperate for the answer.

Lain stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It was broken by the hand of another Chosen," he said.

Lain slipped fully into the darkness.

"The Chosen . . . it took the sp.a.w.n of the G.o.ds themselves to break it . . . I can accept that. Very well. But listen. Do not let that pretender, Flinn, charge you a copper for what he will do to that sword. The techniques he will steal from it will make him rich enough without charging a fee as well," he said.

His request fell upon an empty darkness, but he knew Lain had heard it. He walked slowly back into the stable. As he did, he felt for something around his neck, finally pulling forward his chest plate to glance at where it had been. The tooth he had taken from Myranda, Lain's tooth, should have been hanging around his neck. It and the spell she had brought back were largely responsible for allowing him to track Lain so quickly. Realizing what had happened, he chuckled and shook his head.

"He certainly hasn't lost a step," he said, readying his horse to move on.