In the morning, the three goons were anxious to get moving. Bruten said it would take a full day, or two if they did not get moving. Boston confirmed that they were about seventy-five miles or so from the next gate, so they hurried.

All through the day, Lincoln and Lieutenant Harper pointed out where the trail their guides followed turned out better than following the straight line given by the amulet. When they came to a cliff they would have had to climb, but the three guided them a half-mile to a sheltered trail that led gently up the side. Captain Decker finally told Lincoln and the lieutenant to shut up, and at least Lieutenant Harper said, “Yes, sir.”

The sun got very low in the sky by the time they reached the foot of the mountain. They stood at the top of a small hill, in an open field where they had a fair view. Bruten explained as he pointed up the mountainside.

“You see? Real mountains. Not like the hills we have walked through. They say beyond the mountaintop is a high country, much higher than the land we have been on. No one goes there. There are stories.”

Grogor interrupted. “The Were people live there. The stories say they can appear as a bear, and once as an eagle. They say when the moon turns full, they hunt as wolves.”

“Stories to frighten children,” Bruten interjected.

“But Bruten,” Thag had something to say. “Tonight, the moon will be full.”

Bruten slapped the big man on the arm. “Child,” he said.

“What is that?” Alexis wondered.

“Transylvanian Plateau,” Lincoln answered, but that was not what she pointed at.

“A wall of trees,” Roland answered. “I would say our fort.”

“Yes,” Bruten smiled and nodded for the elf. “Your eyes are like the eagle. That is the way up, blocked by the great wall. Behind it is much flat land and the village, and they say a way to the high country that does not have to climb the mountain peak.”

“You don’t know?” Lockhart got suspicious.

Bruten paused before he answered. “We trade, skins and such, but only at the village gate. We have never gone past the wall.” If it was a lie, it was skillful.

“We best move if we expect to get there before dark,” Captain Decker said, and they started down the other side of the hill.

It got dark by the time they arrived, but just twilight dark. The land appeared covered with spring, and the light stayed long in the sky. If it had been winter, they never would have made it. As it was, the men at the gate were hesitant about letting them in. They told them to go away and come back in the morning. Lockhart figured he had nothing to lose.

“We have an important message for Faya, and it cannot wait until morning.” He pulled Roland to the front so they could get a good look at the elf.

“A message from the gods?” one of the guards asked.

“It cannot wait until morning,” Lockhart simply repeated those words and with that they were let in but told to remain by the gate until the elders could come. They waited, and sat, and waited some more until Captain Decker made a confession.

“I wish you brought a deck of cards, too.”

Then they waited some more, until at last they were approached, not by village elders, but by a lone woman, a beauty of the first rank.

“Faya?” Alexis said.

“No. Hair is all wrong,” Lincoln answered.

“I am—”

“Wait, wait. Don’t tell me.” Lincoln had the database out and announced the woman’s name. “Raini. She is Faya’s younger cousin.” The woman smiled and then several men came up to join her.

“And you are?”

“Robert Lockhart, Ma’am. Ben and Alexis Lincoln, Captain Decker, and Lieutenant Harper.”

“Military,” the woman interrupted. “And with weapons I have never seen before. I can see they are formidable.”

“Yes, and Roland and Mingus are friends. Mingus is father to both Roland and Alexis.”

“Yes, the elves,” Raini said. Both had removed their hats out of respect for the Lady and though this was no goddess, they all felt she was not far from the designation. “Welcome to our homes.”

“And Boston,” Lockhart paused. “Boston?” He raised his voice. “Where has that girl gotten to?”

“Where are Moe, Larry, and Curly?” Alexis wondered, referring to their three trail guides. Katie Harper thought to speak into her wrist communicator.

“Boston. Are you there? Where are you?”

The answer came back. “Help! I’ve been kidnapped. Bruten and ow!” The voice cut off.

 “It’s damn Captain Hog all over again!” Alexis got upset. Normally, she never swore.

“Worse, I would guess,” Mingus said. “You were relatively safe with Hog. No telling what they will do to Boston.”

“Can you get a geo-position?” Captain Decker asked.

“No, sir.” Lieutenant Harper answered. “No satellites.”

“I will find her,” Roland insisted. Captain Decker already started checking his weapons.

Raini came back from wherever she had run decked out in bow and arrows, spear, and a long copper knife. She came dressed in leather reminiscent of the leather Saphira wore. The man beside her talked quietly.

“I am ready,” she said, when she arrived. “This is my husband, Koren. He will take you to the plateau to find Faya.”

“I am going to find Boston,” Roland said, and Raini smiled at him.

“I am sure you will, young elf.”

“I’m coming,” Captain Decker and Lockhart spoke together.

“No,” Raini turned to them with a firm word. “You would never keep up. You are both fine men, I am sure, and Captain, I know you are a true warrior, but we will be moving faster than an ordinary human can follow. We must if we expect to catch them before the worst happens.”

“Gentlemen, and ladies,” Koren got their attention, but only for a second. They all felt the wind, and Raini and Roland were gone.

~~~*~~~

Boston stopped screaming some time earlier. As soon as they were far enough away from the village, Bruten beat her so badly she became dizzy and imagined she had a concussion. Her hands got tied behind her back and they made her walk. She tried to go limp and refuse to go forward, but they just dragged her over rocks and through the bushes. It became less painful to keep stumbling forward.

Thag kept a hand on her rope. He kept his other hand on her person and touched her everywhere. He seemed to have a particular fondness for her left breast. She kicked him, but he just laughed. Her only respite came when Grogor complained.

“Thag,” Bruten spoke, but did not slacken the pace. “Wait until we are far enough away. You will get your turn.”

“Father,” Grogor also spoke. “I want to go first. Can I have the first turn?”

“We’ll see,” Bruten said. Thag said nothing. He just kept fondling her.

~~~*~~~

Koren explained. “The highland belongs to the Were people. The rule is no weapons. You must keep yours put away. Whatever happens, do not kill any of the animals. The Were people are the men, women, and animals. Some of the animals may be children.”

The others did not exactly understand, so Lincoln spoke up. “I read about the Were in the database. They are not exactly human—not from this earth, though no one knows where they originated. They are shape shifters, able to take on not just the form, but also the characteristics of the animals. If you see a deer or bear or hawk, there is no way of knowing if it is a natural animal or a Were person in that form.”

“Yes,” Koren said. “And when the moon is full like it is, they run with the wolves. It is the strongest of all the animal forms they take and the most possessive of their minds. They become wolves which is why it is generally the worst possible time to go up to the highland.”

“The database suggests they may have had some dog-like form on their native world,” Lincoln added.

Koren shrugged. “The main thing,” he said. “Is to keep your weapons put away, and no matter what happens, do not injure any of the animals we may meet. If you do, they will kill us all.”

With that word, they came to an upper meadow and walked silently in the night under the light of the moon, their ears open for any sound. Lockhart and Mingus followed Koren. Lincoln and Alexis took the middle. Captain Decker and Lieutenant Harper brought up the rear as they had at first back in the days of the twins, Pan, and Iris, but this time they kept their rifles safely shouldered.

They entered a forest on the other side of the meadow and Lockhart had a question.

“How far is it to the home of the Were?”

“Half the night,” Koren answered. “But don’t worry. The wolves will find us long before then.”