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Chapter 3

Yuri was upstairs with Zaldon. They were in Zaldon and Julyan's home, and Julyan was not there, as he'd had patrol the night before. It was a bright and blue morning, and they expected Julyan home at any moment.

Downstairs, Yuri could hear everyone laughing and talking around the barren fire pit. Kilyan was there with his wives Lea and Ohana. With them had also come Wynn, Kilyan's headstrong eleven-year-old daughter, and her inseparable friend Inden, the dark gray boy with the wings. The occasional sound of infant coos rose among the happy chatter, and Yuri knew that little white LiAnh was no doubt clinging to Lea's neck or being bounced on Kilyan's knee. He was almost one.

Keeno and Zalia were likely with Enya, in the home she now shared with Yuri. Enya's parents had arrived at their home that morning and would be staying with them the week through. Enya had been able to talk of little else the entire month prior. No doubt she and Keeno were laughing and playing like children right at that moment. Yuri smiled to think of it.

"You're seventeen now," Zaldon said heavily, turning from the wicker closet. The great white wolf was already prepared for that morning's rounds: he wore his feathered talisman, a feathered cape with blue feathers - which meant in the sun village that he was a pretty damned important sorcerer, even while he competed with the court sorceress Tahki - but Yuri was surprised to see that Zaldon was carrying a staff.

Staffs were used to focus magical energy and make it easier to cast. Zaldon rarely used them and preferred his paws. He had used one recently to open a portal and bring a few family members over, but the staff he was holding now was not the same one. The new staff Zaldon carried had blue feathers - not brown like the other one - and the smooth branches at its top curved to hold a glittering white crystal.

Yuri stared at the staff, blinking her long lashes in surprise when Zaldon smiled and passed it to her. She carefully took it in her small blue paws and looked at it. She could feel it responding, the vibrations of energy that tickled her fingers right up her arm. Only sorcerers used staffs to channel powerful magic (while shaman used rattles), and the fact that Zaldon had given her one meant that she was now ready to leave her apprenticeship. She was a full sorceress and would go on her own rounds, blessing fishing nets for pay, curing illnesses and selling charms.

"I wanted it to be a wedding gift," Zaldon said, smiling at her mistily. "But now that I'm bringing the family over, it will be so busy and crowded, I know I won't have a chance to pull you aside . . ." Zaldon frowned. "What's the matter?"

Yuri was looking at the staff with frightened sable eyes. She shook her head and her long blue mane flowed smooth around her worried frown. "I . . . can't," she finally managed. She felt the power thrum again - it stung her paw and she abruptly dropped the staff.

"Yuri!"

Yuri didn't know how it happened, but when she opened her eyes again, she was in Zaldon's arms. He was kneeling on the floor, holding her. His frantic black eyes and frantic white face filled her groggy vision. He was saying something, but it was a jumble to her. His large fingers carefully tapped her cheek, and she blinked the pain in her head away as his two faces meshed into one.

Yuri frowned. "P-Papa?"

"Oh, thank god," Zaldon whispered and suddenly held Yuri tight to his chest.

Yuri dropped her cheek on Zaldon's shoulder and closed her eyes, grateful as ever for his strong arms around her. She put her arms around his neck and began to cry. Her paws were shaking. What had happened to her?

"Ever since the cliff," Zaldon whispered miserably. "When you let loose all that energy. There's a reason why we must never cast spells in anger. It's takes so much out of you . . ."

"I'm s-sorry . . ." Yuri whispered.

"No, I'm not scolding you." Zaldon pulled back, and Yuri saw him pinch the flesh between his eyes and sigh heavily. They both got up from the floor - Zaldon caught Yuri's paws and watched anxiously when she stumbled - then he helped Yuri into a chair and set the staff against the wall.

They were in the bedroom Zaldon shared with Julyan. A large canopied bed stood against the wall, and on the bedside table were small jars of lube, feathers, and other little sex toys that Yuri pretended not to see. Woven baskets of pillows and extra sheets hung lazily from the ceiling, rocking gently in the breeze that came through the open window.

Yuri slouched down against the cushions, suddenly feeling weak and drained. What had happened to her? Since the incident on the cliff a year ago, she could feel it - the magic all around her, in the earth, in the air. It was as if her senses had been heightened. Zaldon once told her that moon wolves were naturally more adept when it came to magic. It had something to do with their origins and their worship of the moon. Yuri looked across the room at the staff, which stood quietly against the wall: the crystal that glittered gently at its top . . . looked like a full moon.

"Dos ve don . . ." Yuri muttered in moon wolf.

Zaldon snorted. "You got that right." He had been looking out the window at the street below, but he looked over his shoulder at her thoughtfully. His big white body flexed when he put one elbow on the windowsill and leaned his cheek on his fist, regarding her. "The crystal . . . you feel vibrations from it?"

"Yes!" Yuri said, surprised. She had told no one about her heightened senses for an entire year. She'd been too afraid to tell anyone, believing it would just go away. Thinking of that dismal day on the cliff, Yuri's sable eyes darkened: but the past never just went away.

Yuri looked at Zaldon sheepishly. "I didn't tell you because . . ." She swallowed. Because why? She didn't even have an excuse.

"I had that staff imported from the mountain village," Zaldon told her calmly. He glanced at the staff, then at her. "Mountain wolves have a lot of magic, you know this. And perhaps . . . the crystal having come from a place that holds bad memories for you . . . you could sense the aura of that place."

Yuri glared at the staff. She could feel the anger coming back - the rage that had welled up inside to see Zaldon crumpling to the dirt and Enya . . . Enya lying in a pool of her own dark blood.

Zaldon crossed the room and put the staff in the closet. "I'll get rid of it," he told her. "I'll get you another one. One from this village, where you have happier memories." He turned to her. "Maybe I'll even have it destroyed," he said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. "It's dangerous. It makes you angry, and that anger amplifies your powers."

Yuri rose from the chair and came to Zaldon. She took his arm with a shaking paw.

Zaldon looked down at her and saw not the seventeen-year-old blue beauty she had blossomed into, but the small and frightened child he had loved and protected for eleven years. He touched her cheek. My little child. Don't be afraid. I'll get rid of the staff.

"Maybe you'd like one with a pink crystal?" Zaldon teased. He was glad when Yuri smiled. "Shaped like a heart!" he added and she giggled. She still looked shaken but seemed to be coming around. Whatever that staff had done to her, it had knocked her off her feet. He suddenly wanted her away from it, and putting his big arm around her, he led her to the door.

As they passed into the hall, Yuri glanced back and saw the wicker closet glowing. The crystal on the staff . . . was reacting to her. She swallowed hard and looked away again.

"You really had that staff brought here just for me?" Yuri said happily as they went down the stairs together.

Zaldon chuckled. "Just for my little Yuri."

Yuri glanced at him fondly. Zaldon didn't know it, but "my little Yurisia" was something her father used to call her. No one knew her full name, though. Not even Enya. After her mother died, she decided she was Yurisia no more. Yurisia was the frightened little girl they molested on the ship. Yurisia was the slave and helpless victim of Prince Anokinoton's bullying and pranks. That little girl was dead. She was simply Yuri now.

"Talib wanted you to have it," Zaldon went on.

Yuri glanced at him and thought he sounded a little irritable. He had been corresponding with Talib for the past year, she knew. They wrote back and forth about Alea and Teesa, and Yuri knew that Zaldon had promised to look after Teesa's daughter - who lived right there in the sun village. It had taken some time, but Zaldon and Talib had become good friends. Yuri knew why it had taken time: Zaldon initially hated Talib.

Talib had lusted after Yuri, led her along on a leash, fingered her in front of Zaldon and later had sex with her multiple times. It was no small wonder that Zaldon had wanted to twist his head off. And even now that the two of them had become friends, Zaldon was still irritable anytime Talib showed Yuri the slightest affection.

"Talib?" Yuri said lightly, trying to sound casual.

Zaldon was also irate anytime Yuri showed any affection for Talib - who she still considered her friend after everything that had happened. Zaldon and Enya both hated it, but Talib actually wrote Yuri letters as well. He kept the flirting to a minimum and seemed sincerely concerned with her well being. He also encouraged her to help Zaldon look after his niece, whose only family in the sun village was her father.

"Yes," Zaldon confirmed, still looking irritated. "I wrote him asking about a custom job. He decided to chip in by picking out the crystal that would go on the staff." His eyes softened. "He'll be upset to know you had a bad reaction to it. But it's the thought that counts."

Yuri frowned. "Why couldn't Talib come to my wedding again?"

Zaldon avoided her eye. "He's only just been reinstated as king. He can't just up and leave, not when things are so delicate. His tribe is still regaining his trust. . . ."

"Ah. Translation: you don't want him to come."

Zaldon's ears flattened guiltily. "Can you blame me?" he demanded. "You're a child and he put his paws on you! He's lucky I didn't strangle --"

"Papa! We both know Talib humiliated me because Enya told him to."

"And because he wanted to. Stop pretending he didn't enjoy what he did!"

"Stop pretending I didn't enjoy what he did."

Zaldon's cheeks flamed the tiniest bit. "You saucy girl," he said with a laugh. He put his big arm around Yuri. "Who are you? And what have you done with my innocent daughter?"

Thinking of all the times she'd kissed Enya as a pup, Yuri had to wonder if Zaldon had any clue how innocent she wasn't. There had been so many times when she and Enya - after having spied on Keeno and Zalia making out - would go to some bush and try to imitate what they'd seen. And as they grew older, they only experimented more. Enya broke Yuri's maidenhead with her fist. Something that had seemed impossible turned out to be quite possible . . . and quite pleasurable. Yuri could only count herself lucky that she wasn't one of those girls who experienced intense pain that first time.

"Talib should come," Yuri said, frowning. "He should come to see his niece! Perhaps take her home with him."

Zaldon glanced at Yuri sadly.

"What?"

"Talisa should never leave her father. He's sick . . . perhaps even dying, I'm not sure. And he and Talib . . . well . . . they aren't exactly friends."

"Ah," said Yuri, nodding sympathetically.

"Talib would do well to just keep sending gold. He shouldn't show his face here. Talisa doesn't want to see him anymore than her father does."

Yuri frowned sadly to hear such a thing. Before she could question Zaldon further, they entered the sitting room. Everyone looked up and greeted them cheerfully.

Kilyan was sitting on the couch with Wynn on his knee - though the eleven-year-old was looking far too big for such a thing. Wynn had her arm around Kilyan's neck and was happily swinging her skinny black legs. She was a pretty little girl with her father's green eyes, and her long black mane was plaited in two braids either side her impish face.

Young Inden - Kilyan's earnest foundling - was standing beside the window looking shy and awkward. Yuri had always felt sorry for the boy. She knew what it was like to be among wolves who considered you family, even though inside you knew you'd had another family once . . . long ago. She, too, was a foundling. For this reason, she always tried to make Inden feel welcome among them, and the gentlemanly boy was always very grateful for the effort.

Lea and Ohana were sitting around the fire together, but they rose when Yuri entered with Zaldon and came to them. Yuri smiled as sweet Lea - cradling little white LiAnh on her hip -- hugged her tight in one arm, and she laughed when Ohana poked Zaldon in the chest and made a joke about his smell.

". . . like you put on an entire bottle of mane oil," Ohana was saying as the room was filled with laughter.

Zaldon only chuckled. "Still got your father's smart mouth, I see."

Ohana smirked and tweaked her uncle's nose. "And when is Daddy coming? You said you'd bring him and Mother."

"Same time I teleport Kel and Aliona, I'll get your parents," Zaldon answered. "Loryn and Kira will come today as well," he added, looking at Lea.

Wynn bounced up from Kilyan's lap and came to Yuri, beaming up at her. Yuri smiled down at Wynn. The little girl was very close to Enya - all the tickling matches they'd had over the last year had been events nothing short of epic - but she also admired Yuri and loved to follow her around.

"Lea and Ohana are gonna buy stuff for your mane, Yuri," Wynn squeaked eagerly. "Can I do your mane for the wedding?"

"Only if I get to do yours," Yuri returned and gave one of Wynn's long braids a playful flick that sent it over her shoulder. She jerked her head at the window, beside which Inden stood looking shy. "Why's your boyfriend being a wallflower?"

Wynn made a face. "He's not my boyfriend! Daddy says that until he is my husband, he is my friend. We only ever - kissed," she said, looking guilty.

Yuri smirked. Given the way Wynn often bossed Inden around, it was fairly obvious the aggressive girl had probably forced some awkward puppy experimentation on him. "Do you remember what we talked about?"

Wynn's expression turned sour. "My daddy talks about it all the time," she said, rolling her eyes. "Wait until --"

"Your first mating season," Yuri finished for her. She took Wynn's paw and they sat together on the couch. "Are you going to dance with him at my wedding?"

Wynn blushed a little. "But I can't . . . I can't dance," she said, twisting her fingers.

Yuri's eyes crinkled mirth. "I bet Inden can."

"I bet not," Wynn returned. "He's too clumsy. And he's much taller than me."

"So stand on his feet. It's how I learned. Zaldon taught me . . . here." Yuri got to her feet and offered Wynn her paws. Wynn looked at her uncertainly, but took the offered blue paws and stepped carefully on Yuri's feet. Yuri moved in playfully stiff circles and Wynn began to giggle as they turned about the room. Inden sank into a chair and watched them with interest.

"Look," Lea said happily. "LiAnh wants to learn too!"

Everyone laughed as little white LiAnh waddled over to the dancing pair. He looked at Wynn and stretched his pudgy arms. Wynn rolled her eyes and was sullen when Yuri stopped dancing.

"He butts into everything!" Wynn complained, stepping off Yuri's feet.

Everyone laughed when LiAnh immediately stepped on Wynn's feet and took her paws. Wynn huffed and rolled her eyes, but the two began to dance in slow circles, and Yuri saw her smile reluctantly.

"You know," Zaldon said, clapping Kilyan's shoulder, "that's the first time I've ever seen your youngest children get along!"

Kilyan laughed, but it was true. Wynn and LiAnh usually did nothing but fight over toys and throw food. But now, they were laughing and dancing. Wynn giggled girlishly when LiAnh stumbled and slipped off her feet. She swung him up by the arms - and everyone stiffened, waiting for the horrid moment when her shemale super strength would rip LiAnh's arms out. But nothing happened. LiAnh regained his balance and the two children continued to dance, giggling softly and smiling into each other's eyes.

"Must be all the love that's in the air," Kilyan said, smiling at Yuri. "My niece and my son are getting married!"

Yuri blushed happily when Kilyan reached over and squeezed her paw. Kilyan had always been very kind to her. She remembered being frightened and uncertain when Zaldon brought her to the summer village, but then Kilyan looked at her with his gentle green eyes, and she wasn't frightened anymore. Much like Zaldon, he had always made her feel safe . . . and wanted.

"We are going to make you look so gorgeous, Yuri," Ohana said eagerly, and her slanted gray eyes danced over Yuri, as if she was already calculating how to style her mane.

"And your nails," Lea added. She took Yuri's paw and looked at her long pink nails. "We can stain them black maybe."

"Black? Lea, are you nuts," laughed Ohana. "White would match the gowns."

Lea snorted. "Wasn't Enya going on about wearing some scandalous transparent dresses?"

"Scandalous? The girls are already naked!" Ohana cried, amused. She waved a paw at Yuri, who was indeed naked.

In the sun village, females did not wear any clothing before or after they were married - not even shawls. Only those of a higher station wore clothing: members of the village council and their families, royalty, and sorcerers. Even warriors were naked. For the most part, the sun lands were simply too hot for wolves to go about in layers of clothing.

Now that her apprenticeship was over and she was considered an adult, Yuri would wear a criss-crossing garment to cover her breasts. Marrying Yuri would also raise Enya's status and allow her to wear garments as well. If she so chose.

"I keep forgetting," Lea said, looking at Yuri mistily, "that we aren't in the summer village. At home, you girls would start wearing shawls after your marriage. But here . . . I can't believe everyone just trots around naked!"

"Yuri will wear clothes. She's a sorceress, Lea," Zaldon assured her gently.

"But will Enya?" laughed Kilyan.

Yuri saw them all exchange looks and knew what they were thinking: Enya wasn't going to wear clothing. Enya was going to go about naked, perhaps announce that she wanted to be a warrior. Yuri had been dreading such an announcement for an entire year. She was glad when Enya seemed content enough just fishing, but sometimes she still worried. . .

"Dad, I'm booooooored," Wynn complained. She clung to Kilyan's arm and dropped her head against him, looking sullen.

Zaldon smiled. "I'm about to head out on my rounds. Would you and Inden like to come? You can stop by the chief's hut with me and meet the princes. I'm sure they'd love to play with you. Especially the little ones."

"The little ones? How old are they?" Wynn said suspiciously and glanced at LiAnh, who was now curled up on the couch and falling asleep. Yuri knew she didn't want to play with anymore babies.

"Prince Taigi is seven years old and Prince Honiahaka is three. Old enough?" Zaldon answered, amused.

Wynn nodded. "Old enough," she said, taking Zaldon's big paw. "Just don't let the little one _drool_on me."

Everyone laughed.

"I'll be back with them for lunch," Zaldon said, going with Wynn and Inden for the door. "And then I'll bring the rest of the family over. Julyan should be here any moment . . ." He stopped and frowned. "Hmm. Where is he?"

"I'll send Julyan your love," Yuri assured Zaldon.

Zaldon smiled at her. "Thank you, little one. Alright," he said, glancing at Wynn and Inden, "let's go, pups."

"Ohana and I are going to the market," Lea said, gathering a sleepy LiAnh onto her hip. She held out an expectant paw to Kilyan. "Where are the trade beads you promised us?"

Kilyan went to their discarded bags, and after digging through them, returned with a satchel. Yuri knew it was filled with pretty glass beads - which were the equivalent of gold coins for commoners. Kilyan's hard-earned beads would be traded at the market for expensive oils and ribbons and combs and plenty of things to make his wives breathtaking for the wedding.

With the satchel handed over, Lea and Ohana pecked Kilyan on his cheeks and moved past him. They asked Yuri if she didn't want to come along, but Yuri politely declined. She hated shopping and was a bit surprised when it turned out that Enya loved it. As a little girl, Yuri had been dragged around the market by Julyan one time too many, bored and sleepy and more often than not carried home in his arms. Julyan loved to shop as much as Enya, and Yuri had known Hell on earth each time the two of them dragged her to the market.

"Suit yourself then," Ohana said, still studying Yuri's long mane. "I'm going to find something nice to clip in your mane for the wedding. Perhaps a butterfly."

Yuri tried not to wince. Oh god. She pasted on a smile. "That sounds lovely."

Ohana beamed.

When everyone had gone, Yuri saw Kilyan take a seat on the couch. She sat with him. Outside, the sun was rising higher in the sky. It was almost mid-morning. The village was already a-bustle with children laughing and females chattering, males talking in deep basses as they returned home from a late night patrol. Yuri frowned, wondering anxiously where in the world Julyan could be! It wasn't like him to be this late!

"Think you're ready for married life, kid?" Kilyan said eventually. Yuri saw him draw one of the bags on the floor to himself. He pulled out a pipe and lit up.

"Is there such a thing as ready?" Yuri answered with a half-smile.

Kilyan glanced at her fondly. "You always were the smart one. Think you've rubbed off on Enya yet?"

Yuri laughed. "She's doing a lot better, Kilyan. She really loves fishing everyday. Makes her feel like she's helping. She hates the thought of being a . . . housewife."

Kilyan grinned around his long pipe. "I can imagine." He frowned. "But how are you? Been sleeping well? No nightmares about . . ."

About Enya lying in a pool of her own blood? Yuri silently finished for him. Since the battle on the cliff one year ago, she'd been having nightmares about Enya dying, Enya lying in her blood and staring at the sky. She would awake shaken and tearstained and frantically pull the sheets off Enya to make sure she was really alive.

Enya expressed her concerns to her mother . . . who in turn expressed her concerns to Keeno . . . who in turn blabbed to Kilyan. And now everyone was worried about Yuri and her nightmares. But everyone had always been worried.

Yuri closed her eyes, thinking of her mother. Old nightmares, new nightmares. She glanced at Kilyan and saw he was watching her anxiously. She smiled for his benefit. "I'm getting married. I couldn't be happier!" That part was true. Her smile became dreamy. Very true.

Kilyan smiled and nodded. "Good. You better damn-well be," he said, making Yuri laugh. "You kids have got us all scrambling, ripping our hearts out to please you - where is Roan, anyway? He and Theo were supposed to come see us."

And Julyan, Yuri thought, frowning.

As if Kilyan's words had summoned them, Theo and Julyan entered the front door. Julyan was distraught. Theo looked grim and angry.

"What is the matter!" Yuri cried, astonished. Her pretty sable eyes fluttered wide as they trudged in.

Kilyan set his pipe on the end table and rose. "Theo . . . where's Roan?"

Theo didn't answer. He slumped into a chair. They watched as he slowly leaned forward and dropped his face in his paws.

Kilyan looked at Julyan, who was standing over Theo's chair and watching him anxiously.

"We don't know where Roan is," Julyan said quietly, heavily.

Kilyan shook his head. "What the hell does that mean?" He looked at Theo, then went to stand over his chair. Yuri saw him hesitate before touching the top of Theo's dark gray mane. Her ears flattened when Theo's shoulders shook: he was crying.

"Theo," Kilyan said softly. "Theo . . . look at me. Please."

Theo slowly looked up. His mouth was open and his face was streaked with tears. His dark eyes glistened with them. He stared at Kilyan miserably.

"You have to tell me what you know," Kilyan said gently, "so we can find him."

Theo sniffed and nodded. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. "The last time I saw him was when he left for patrol." Theo shook his head darkly. "I should have walked him," he said to the floor.

Yuri's ears pricked forward. "And then you'd both be missing," she said at once. "Don't blame yourself, Theo! Pull yourself together," she said, rising from the couch, "so you can help us find him!"

Julyan smiled sadly. "That's my girl."

"So that's where you were all this time?" Kilyan said to the older male. "With Theo looking for Roan?"

"Roan never reported for patrol. He was always talking about quitting," Julyan said heavily. "So no one thought anything of it. Theo came looking for him this morning when I was leaving for home." He glanced sympathetically at Theo and rubbed his back. "We got a few males together and started looking. We looked all morning. Found his spear and his warrior necklace - as if it had been lost in a struggle. But . . ." Julyan cleared his throat. "At least there was no blood. Maybe they just took him."

"Right off the street!" sneered Yuri. "Slavers."

"We don't know that," Kilyan said at once, though Yuri could tell he was trying to convince himself, not her.

"Pft!" Yuri waved an angry paw. "It happens all the time! Moon wolves come here and think they can take whoever they want!" She hissed and swore in moon tongue, the sable eyes flashing.

Kilyan and Julyan exchanged looks, and she knew why: neither of them had ever seen her so angry. But they had not been there that day on the cliff . . . Theo, meanwhile, had no reaction: he was staring vacantly into space. Yuri thought he looked as if his whole world had just crumbled.

"Theo!" Yuri stepped forward, grabbed his toned arm, and shook him. "Wake up!" she hissed. "Get your spear! Roan needs you!"

Theo looked at her hollowly.

"And what are you suggesting?" Julyan demanded, looking at Yuri with wide lavender eyes.

Yuri glanced at Julyan and could hear the scolding tone in his voice. He was going to play father and tell her she could not do this, disregarding the fact that she was now legally an adult.

"I agree with Julyan," Kilyan said, shaking his head. "Yuri, you stay here with Theo. Julyan and I will go to the council --"

"Ha! And what will the council do? They don't care about the slave trade and they aren't going to care about one young wolf!" Yuri tossed a paw, her sable eyes burning fury. "If we don't move now, the ship will have gotten away with Roan - and we will never see him again!"

That seemed to make them think. Kilyan and Julyan looked at each other. Kilyan looked torn between anger and misery. Julyan looked as if wanted to join Theo's tears.

"Yuri's right," Kilyan said. "We'll go and get Keeno --"

"There's no time," Yuri said at once. "What's more, Enya will overhear - I don't want her involved. We all know she'll insist on coming."

"Like you are?" Kilyan said, amused. "Fine, let's go. Time's wasting - Julyan, stay here and let Zaldon know where we've gone. Theo - get up, son." Kilyan took Theo by the shoulders and hauled him up from the chair. Theo nodded miserably and Kilyan clapped his shoulder. "Good boy."

"Kilyan, you can't be serious," Julyan said weakly. He sank onto the cushioned chair behind him. "You're going to take two kids and storm a slaver ship?"

Kilyan picked up his spear. "What choice do we have?"

"Besides, I can use Glamour to sneak us on," Yuri said adamantly. "We'll walk right on the ship. They'll think we're slavers. We'll get Roan and we'll walk right off." She moved past them, and they saw her go up the stairs. "Wait for me! I need to get something!"

"Stall the others as long as you can," Kilyan told Julyan. "Tell them we went to pick up the rings. If we're not back by tomorrow . . . tell them the truth."

"Oh god," moaned Julyan. "Don't talk like that."

"And please try to be a good liar for once," Kilyan added fondly.

Julyan laughed sadly. "I'll pour my heart into it. Still . . . I don't like the idea of my little angel . . ."

"I don't want her to go either. But we have no idea where Zaldon is right now. He's on his rounds and there's no time to go chasing after him."

"You two should have more faith in Yuri," Theo said quietly. They both looked up to find him standing grimly at the door, holding his spear. His long dark mane was tousled from the anxious paw that had run through it, and his face was still streaming tears of sorrow and rage. He sniffed and shook his head darkly. "You weren't there that day on the cliff. You didn't see the kind of power . . . Trust me, if something happens . . ." His eyes went to the stairs and he smiled. "Yuri will be able to protect us."

Kilyan and Julyan followed his gaze and froze: Yuri was on the stairs with a staff, the crystal of which was glowing with a dazzling light. Her long blue mane beat about her on an ethereal wind, and it took them a second to realize . . . her feet weren't touching the stairs.