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Chris watched as the Grandmaster himself met them at the gate and gathered Skye into his arms like a worried parent. He only half listened as the old man berated the boy for getting up to mischief, it was only when he stopped for breath that Skye was able to interject that there was more to his disappearance than simple mischief.

"I'd feared that was so." The Grandmasters voice sounded sad and defeated, "we will wait for Bayle and Grev to arrive. Or you'll have to go over your story three times."

Chris's stomach growled loudly into the silence, mercifully his blush was hidden beneath his fur.

Tess piped up "I think they haven't eaten yet, seems they forgot to pack a lunch for their picnic" and stuck her tongue out at Chris.

"Well then, let's head to the meeting room. You young lady can go organize them something to eat." The Grandmaster said after muffling a laugh. Tess harrumphed loudly, gave Snow a quick hug and stomped off. The exchange wasn't lost on the old man who looked at Snow from under his bushy eyebrows. "Well then, let's retire to your barracks and await the others."

Bayle and Grev found them seated at the tables, each devouring the hearty stew that Tess had brought. Grev placed a paw on Chris's shoulder and looked at him inquiringly. Chris nodded his head, conveying that he was unhurt. Bayles' stern muscular form towered over them, the sun behind him making him seem like a haloed silhouette. "You three have some explaining to do." His voice was full of command and veiled threat.

"I think we should speak in private sir." Snow answered as he pushed his bowl away from him.

Chris and Skye did the same as they all stood.

"I think we shall retire to my study for this then." The Grandmaster announced turning and leading the way to the Keep.

When they had reached the outer door the old man turned "Except for you young lady, I'm sure you have other things to occupy your time"

Tess hesitated for a time, Chris thought she was about to protest when instead she dropped her head and turned to return up the path.

It was a silent procession as they walked through the halls and up spiralling stairways. The Grandmaster in the lead with the lithe scarred form of Grev beside him and the wall of muscle that was Bayle behind, Chris, Snow and Skye brought up the rear. They looked furtively at each other, it was a fantastic tale that they were about to tell their only evidence was the destroyed clearing in the forest.

When they finally reached the Grandmasters study the three elders took up station behind the great desk. Chris, Skye and Snow standing before them in silence, not one of them knew how or where to start.

Bayle snarled down at them, the Grandmaster sat himself down and stared at them impassively. Grev held Chris's eye and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Chris quickly glanced at his friends' then spoke, unconsciously wringing his paws in front of them.

"Sirs, we have a bit of a tale to tell. However first you should know that the Imperialists were in the forest. Here just outside the Mage Keep."

The old man folded his hands under his chin, Bayle snorted contemptuously and Grev's eyes widened slightly. Chris knew that Grev believed him, there was no reason for him to lie and his mentor knew him better than anyone.

So it was that they spent hours in the study, the three Elders asking question after question as the tale unfolded. Pulling every detail from the three friends as if they were searching for a needle in a haystack one piece of hay at a time, eventually exhausted the tale having been told again and again they finally seemed satisfied that there was no more.

Bayle and Grev had pulled chairs up and the three youngsters sat on coloured cushions on the ground.

"There is something that still doesn't make sense to me." Grev said shifting on his chair. "You say that you were chasing them down from midday to night, already being quite a way into the forest. However when you three woke up, it was near midday already, yet it only took you a few hours it seems to make it back again."

It was a point that had already been brought up before and still they had no answer for it.

"Chris I'll go with you tomorrow to this clearing, see if there's any tracks to be found." Grev continued.

"I would like to go as well. There may be magical traces to be picked up." The Grandmaster interjected.

"Sir, with all due respect, we could not assure your safety out in the woods. It would be best if you stayed here. If the Imperialists are still out there you could be handing this war to them on a silver platter." Bayle almost thundered from the chair he sat on, his large frame making it seem like a child's stool.