130 – Covering the Bases

  Karen had previously given a cursory warning about the weapons from the psi-community. First that it was even odds that they would give Alex one. Second, that through some psionic tricks, the weapon would somehow be tuned to Alex and only him, such that anyone else trying to handle it would get anything from a mild shock to bitten hard. Because of this, Steven and Rox had so far not brought up much about Alex having the sword, other than to keep it put away unless he needed to defend himself or his sister.

  Alex brought the sword over and held it out upright to his father. “This is mine. The people in the cave gave it to me. They cut a small patch of skin and hair from my head and folded it into the metal as they hammered it to shape. They said I was not to loose it or let anyone else handle it.”

  Karen spoke up in her language. “Did they send a book with it?”

  Steven again remembered the scroll, still in his pack. He answered in the local language. “Yeah, they did. Is it the Manual of Arms?”

  Karen had understanding of such weapons and their unique qualities. She knew of the book and had a general idea of its teachings. But she had neither any such weapon, nor any training from the manual of arms for one. “Most likely. I expect it is written in their script. Unless they did something to Alex, or taught him their alphabet and dictionary, he will need one of them to read it.”

  Alex listened carefully, but did not understand any of it. “What is she saying, Dad?”

  “That you need to hold on to the scroll that the people sent with when they picked you up. At some point you will need someone like those people to help you read it, unless you can read their language.”

  “You mean like when they put their language into my head? One of them did something like that. On our way out.”

  Steven remembered what Alex was referencing. “Did any of them do any of that to you, any other times?”

  “I think one of them, did, but so I could speak their language. Not that most of them did speak. Mostly they just talked in my head.”

  -Like this?-

  Alex turned directly to Karen, his boyish face full of anger. “Don’t do that again. You’re one of them aren’t you?”

  Steven intervened, before the potential conflict escalated. “Alex! Put your sword away.”

  The older women finished with Diana’s braids, and Diana and Rox switched places.

  -Right now, everyone can hear me. One of my grandmother’s grandmothers was from them,- Karen answered Alex’s accusation. -I’m from the city that you were taken to, before being sent into the caves. And I’m helping your parents to get you back and safe.-

  “Fine.” Alex picked up the scabbard for his sword, and the belt it hung from. “Stay out of my head.”

  Alex slid the sword home, and put his belt on and settled the sword to place with some evident practice and familiarity.

  Steven turned the spotlight away from Alex, and onto Diana. “What about you, Diana. What happened to you? Did you bring any thing out?”

  Diana shook her head. “Anything I might have brought was taken away. The Urnvtai gave me a necklace, but when mom took all the magic off of me, the necklace had to go with.”

  Rox interrupted her daughter. “It had some bad magic on it. I had to get rid of it to bring you home.”

  “We’re not home yet,” Diana grumped. “The Urnvtaīnī I was placed with was trying to teach me their magic. One of the things she did was to magic their spoken language into me before I went to bed that first night. Then she was teaching me their writing. The letters are a lot different than at home.”

  Caspian strolled up at this point. He was about to speak to Karen, but noticed she was halfway through a braid on Rox’s hair, and let the subject go. Not having a spare change of outer clothes, he had rinsed his current set out. Now for fun he showed off a little, and cast a spell that pushed all the water off of him, making a puddle on the ground.

  As soon as Rox’s first braid was done, Karen excused herself to go bathe, whether she actually needed it or not.

  Diana and Alex took turns talking about all that had happened to them. They had traveled with the caravan. At first they were in a cart. Then they were allowed to walk. Along the way they were given local clothes purchased in a market. Alex got a little sick from some food, but was soon better. It rained sometimes. They saw some strange animals, and occasionally someone from the caravan hunted, and skinned and cut it up what he brought back. There were twenty men in the caravan. Diana could see that one of the men glowed more than the others, the way that Caspian and Mom glow more than Dad or the other woman. At first they could only point and grunt, but soon Diana and Alex began to understand some words. There was no reason to run away, because there was no where to run to. Also both kids knew that Dad and Mom would come, eventually. None of the men tried to do anything to them, other than keep them healthy. Both kids were surprised that hey could see in the dark, but kept this to themselves.

  They were put back in the wagon and taken into the city and across the river into the castle. An important man looked at them, and the men from the caravan were dismissed. Some other men led the wagon back out of the city, and they were brought to a town where Diana was given to four Urnvtai, and Alex was given to five of those other people. They were taken in different directions.

  Diana was taken down another cave and taken to the Urnvtai village. They were not surprised that she could see in the dark like they could. She was given to a woman who had two other daughters, and a boy who was not hers. She was teaching them all magic. Her husband was a builder of some kind. The Urnvtai woman cast some spells on Diana so she could speak and understand the language. The Urnvtai kids allowed Diana to play with them, once they understood she could speak their language. Diana tried to find her way to the main tunnel, but was always stopped by the time she got to the passage to it. She did begin to learn their written language and a little of the magic the woman began to teach Diana.

  Alex was taken down a different tunnel than Diana, and into the village of the people who thought to him. These people were surprised that he could see in the dark, as they did not. Rather as an extension of their mind-powers, they could sense the world around them. That was also why they liked the phosphorescent stuff to give off light. He was given to a couple who could not have kids. This helped the wife to be happier, as she tried to mother him. But Alex hated that they thought into his head, rather than talked. The man did put their spoken language into Alex’s head, but they still mostly thought at him. The kids in the village teased Alex because he could not think into their heads. Alex was not able to explore very far. But the people were surprised that he could swim, the one time he got to the lake. It was colder than Tahoe, so he did not try to go very far.

  The man took Alex to the smithy where a small chunk of his hair and scalp were cut off. It was about the size of his finger nail, and had since healed. The bit was then folded into the middle of a chunk of metal that was being hammered into the sword he has. The smith taught him how to treat the sword and to be careful of it. When the sword was ready, another man began to teach Alex how to use it, starting with a wooden sword, like the other kids, so that nobody got very hurt.

  When Karen returned, Rox borrowed one of her knives to trim Alex’s hair, with Karen and Caspian giving advice on technique. First she cut the sides carefully, evening them to about the thickness of Rox’s fingers. Then she took the top and back. Like Diana’s it was not yet standing up the way Rox’s did. Part of this was due to the length of the hair. Neither Diana nor Alex had received a haircut since coming here. Carefully Rox trimmed Alex’s mop to a mohawk. Diana watched as the shorter hair began to stand up straight on its own. Karen took a moment when Rox was finished, to smooth things out. This because of Rox’s lack of specific skill more than anything. Alex was then sent to rinse his head off, and come back. Rox and Caspian gathered as much of the hair as they could, and burned it in the fire.

  Alex was all grins when he came back. “Can I keep the mohawk when we get home?”

  Rox remained noncommittal. “We will see.”

  Diana declined a haircut just now. Even so, her hair was standing a few fingers taller than it had the day before. She played with her braids some.

  The afternoon was uneventful. Alex and Diana pestered the animals a bit, and explored the meadow with instructions to not go up stream or down. Rox and Steven inventoried all their gear, and noted how much was left, and how far to anywhere to replenish. As this finished, Steven prepared another batch of bread. And put it aside. The couple then lay down for a short nap. Before long the kids were getting archery and crossbow lessons.

  Caspian looked his equipment over, while spending some time looking at nothing, in Karen’s general direction. It was Caspian’s turn to prepare dinner this evening. So it would most likely be a stew. He started prepping vegetables when he had nothing else to do.

  Karen mulled about, with little to do. Eventually she joined the archery lesson, mostly observing.

  As dinner progressed Steven brought up the question about languages. Steven started this meeting, as the food was being consumed. Steven sat with Rox to his left, then the kids.

  “I will start in English, and Karen is the only one who cannot understand it, but I trust she can pick up the meanings, from our thoughts.” He looked at her as he said this.

  Karen nodded in agreement and acceptance.

  Steven continued. “Between us there are several known languages, at least one of which we still need to use for a short bit. Starting from myself as point of reference, my native language is English, with Rox, Diana and Ales, also native. Caspian also speaks it, but is a bit rusty. Caspian used magic to put bits of the language of Dorston and the northern traders’ dialect into my mind. Caspian and Rox can both communicate in those. Then there is the language from Shalaia. Again a magic implant; I can remember it, and can probably understand it if it is spoken to me, but can’t really speak it just now. I think Caspian speaks some of this, and Rox is fluent. Then there in the local kingdom’s dialect. Again a magic implant. That is spoken by me, Rox, Caspian, and Karen. Diana and Alex don’t, and so I am not using that just now.”

  Steven then turned to Rox. “As for Rox, I believe I have covered all the languages she knows, though not necessarily the level of fluency or method of acquiring.”

  “Diana, speaks English, as noted. She reportedly picked up a few words from the caravan which I presume is the local dialect here. And the elves below put their language into her by magic.”

  “Alex, like Diana has English, and some local words, and the language of the people he was with, by their mind powers.”

  “Caspian has been generally covered, though he no doubt speaks several more languages to various levels of ability.”

  Caspian nodded positively to this.

  Last Steven turned to Karen, who sat next to Caspian, and across the fire from Rox.

  “Karen speaks the local language as her known primary. She also has shown some fluency with the southern trader’s dialect. Whatever else she knows beyond that is not known. Apparently she has no knowledge of English or of the Shalaia dialects. However with her mind powers, if she is listening, she can hear a person’s thoughts to understand them.”

  Karen nodded, and answered in her own language. “Yes. That is a good summary.”

  Steven watched Diana and Alex, who both showed some recognition of part of what Karen said.

131 – More preparations for . . . what?

  Steven continued. “It appears that our next planned stop is a check in at Shalaia, with the extended family; then the four of us return to our home planet.”

  Rox, Caspian and the Karen all appeared to mutually agree as Steven put this forward.

  Steven turned to Karen. “Switching languages, a moment.”

  Steven continued in Karen’s language. “How long are you staying with us?”

  Karen appeared reticent. “That depends on how things go. As I said before you went down that hole, there are things that need to happen, that I need to prepare you for. The next step includes the kids.”

  Steven made the connections and leaps instants before Rox. “Some of what you put in my mind before we went down was useful down there. Thank you for that. But there is more, isn’t there. Somebody’s machinations still involve us here in this kingdom.”

  Karen finished her bite before answering. “First to your language issue; the kids need the local language, so that anything I have to say will be understood by them. Then I can prepare you for the next bit. So, Caspian, do you want to do your language spell again, or do I do the ‘mind-power’ thing on them? Or Rox could do the spell.”

  “That is an overnight spell,” Caspian answered. “And when the talent in Shalaia did the knowledge thing to Rox it took her overnight to recover, and a little longer to process. Are you saying that is where things stop for the moment?”

  Karen nodded. “Yes, pretty much.”

  Diana spoke for herself and brother, as his mouth was full. “What are you saying?”

  Switching back to English Steven pointed at Karen and Caspian on his right, and Rox on his left, “You and Alex are going to have one of these three, use their native skills to give you the local language, and maybe also the language of the elf’s that your mother’s family is descended from. This will be done tonight. Then when we can all understand her, Karen is going to explain more.”

  Alex answered through his full mouth. “I want Mom to do it.”

  Steven nodded. He trusted Karen, somewhat, but there was something unsettling about her, more so since they rejoined company. He was not so worried about pushing her into something, as simply having her come clean.

  The discussion continued, with Rox asking about how to do this spell, and how it worked. Rox made sure to ask in English, not to exclude Karen, but to include Diana and Alex. Caspian likewise answered in English. Further to Rox’s approval, Diana listened to the magic theory.

  With the magic lesson in process, Steven gathered his crossbow, his coat and hat, and Alex. Getting Alex into his own poncho, Steven led out of the little meadow and down stream in the rapidly settling dusk. Steven walked as quietly as he could; Alex picked up on this did his best to walk quietly. They soon were a few turns down the canyon, when the floor of the canyon opened further.  Alex saw his father change, going from quietly hiking to more dangerous. The cross bow was prepared and carried before Steven, in a comfortable position.

  Steven kept track of the sky, as he hiked down the canyon. He wanted to find something to harvest, before it got so dark he would need Alex to lead him back to camp. Unfortunately luck was not with him, and they soon began hiking back up the canyon.

  Alex was delighted to begin to see in the dark again, as much for the novelty of it as the new things he saw. Alex understood what hunting was, but had never been out with his dad, as Steven did not go for some reason that Alex had never thought to ask about. Now as they hiked back to the meadow, Alex was happy just to be out with his dad, as they hiked back to the camp.

  A heavy chill settled in the canyon as full dark came on.

  Steven and Alex returned to find that Caspian and Rox had a plan for the spell, and that Caspian had been drilling Rox on its execution with Diana paying attention. Caspian explained that Rox would be casting the spell before they went to bed, and the spell would then work on them all over night. Further that the spell was of such design that it only transferred language, and not anything else.

  As this was happening, Karen was practicing her skills, climbing on the rock wall near by. The cold of the winter night seemed to be of little notice to her.

  Finally came bed time. This time the whole family would sleep under the cart and the tarp set up behind it. This simply because the kids did not want to sleep alone and their tent did not hold more than two adult bodies comfortably. Caspian would be in his tent, and Karen in the larger one.

  Under Caspian’s direction Rox cast the spell, marking every person in their group. Diana and Alex were marked as recipients of Karen’s native language from everyone, for the elf language from Rox, and the trader’s dialects from Caspian and Karen. Karen was marked as a recipient of English from all of them, and the elf language from Karen. Steven was marked for the elf language from Rox. With all of these markings in place, the spell was completed and set to its work. They all then went to bed.

  As they slept, the spell began its work. The perceived manifestations, as usual, were that the dreams had by all were in the new languages, as the spell was able to disseminate them. For Alex and Diana, as with Rox, the elf language was less new information as information retrieved form long-term storage. Karen found that English was as flexible and expressive as her native language, though the grammar different from her native language. The other languages were less remarkable, and actually provoked some almost nightmares for Diana. In Alex’s dreams, he had his sword to counter and change things.

  Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 151

  Karen seems determined to work her machinations. Rox wants to do similar. Not necessarily the same machinations, but they are on parallel tracks. Karen has things for us to do and people for us to see. Can’t she just tell us straight?

  Either way, this has been a nice rest. Time to get back on the trail the kids should be up to it.

  Looks like a storm front is coming in. The weather in this area is strange. I would expect it to be colder for how far south I think we are.

  The next morning was curious as everyone but Alex deliberately tried out their new languages. He made deliberate efforts to keep distance from Karen, even when she spoke fluent though accented English.

  Diana began singing some song to herself as things went along. Karen asked her about the song. Diana responded in Karen’s native language that she had picked the song up while underground, and it was the language they spoke, and was similar to the one from the other elves.

  With breakfast finished and cleaned up, everyone began packing the cart. The tents came down in short order and were rolled up and stowed. Everything else that was not going to be worn was packed up.

  Then Karen interrupted things. “I need to talk to Rox and Diana. There are a few things I need to show and tell you.”

  Rox and Diana went aside with Karen, where she sat down with a bag that had previously sat in Karen’s pile of things in the cart to this point. Steven, Alex, and Caspian gathered around, with Cyrril swooping in to land on a tree behind Karen.

  “Rox, do you remember how I said to deal with a demon?”

  “You mentioned silver and fire,” Rox answered. “I gather from the specific things you have tried to teach me, that this is all connected.”

  “You are right. While you were down below, I made this.” Karen opened the bag, and showed then a rope. The rope itself was to thin to try to support weight, but would serve as a lead line or for tying down cargo. But it had a metal sheen to it.

  “I brought some silver and melted it to liquid, and impregnated it into this rope.” Karen handed the bag to Rox. It was both lighter and heavier than expected.

  “How long is this?”

  “It should be long enough to touch the ground from fifteen floors up. Tie it to an arrow, and your bow should be more than strong enough to carry the rope its own length.”

  Rox was growing concerned. “And when am I supposed to use this?”

  Karen put on her professional demeanor. “I will let you know, the same way I let you know about the passage to the village.”

  “Do you want me to ask what I may have to fight?”

  “No. And I won’t answer you even if you do ask.”

  Steven spoke up with his own concern. “Why don’t you just tell us outright? Why the intrigue?”

  Karen stayed neutral. “You will understand after it all happens. You are smart and good with information. I just hope you don’t figure things out too soon. For your own safety.”

  Steven and Rox looked at each other, as they began considering this.

  Karen got up and pointed at the cleared dirt on the far side of the trees, almost to the wall of the canyon. “That is fresh. I did it myself, the afternoon before you came out. They will not be reporting to Skarg that you have Diana out of the Urnvtai village. You needn’t worry about anybody warning about Alex. I understand there are other politics involved.”

  The Caplan’s considered the dirt, that they had just been told was graves for unknown elves. Steven shrugged and turned back to Karen. Rox looked longer, before turning to contemplate Karen. Diana seamed content with things. Alex dismissed things and was ready to move on.

  Caspian turned to Karen with one question. “And their gear? Is it traceable?”

  Karen dismissed the concern. “Just standard stuff. No reason to keep any of it. If it were magic, you would already have been making a fuss about it. Let’s catch your ponies and get then harnessed. Then we can go.”

  As they traveled, Rox and Karen began team teaching Diana and Alex how to fight. Alex resisted Karen, but she persisted, and at Rox’s urging demonstrated her knowledge of using a weapon like Alex now carried. After this, and with Steven’s not interfering, Alex let Karen begin instruction on the basics.

  Caspian was friendly to Karen, but still a bit standoffish. He was particularly annoyed about her method of revealing and distributing information. However either Cyrril or Caspian was in evidence the whole time. He also took moments to review spells and situations with Rox. During this time Rox reminded Caspian of his own proclivity to keep information close. Steven found himself mostly as a wrangler, leading the ponies, with Karen’s horse again tied to the back of the cart.

  For her own part while she walked alone, Karen was particularly worried about why she had taken such a quick liking to this family of off-worlders, let alone the wizard. He was still cute, and reminded her a bit of herself. She still had to evaluate and be sure that the kids were up to the task ahead, as well as their parents. Her psionics would be helpful with that. Alex would be the most tricky; depending on how strong the bond with his sword was, and if it acted the same as with talents. The other option was to deal with him when did not have it.

  Seeing how much attention and interest Diana had in the magic, heartened Karen. Seeing that both kids had been instructed to some degree in how to fight was reassuring. But there were still unknowns.

132 – Which way do we go

  They hiked the canyon for two full days, descending in altitude as the mountain walls gave way to foothills. To no one’s surprise, the group of bandits that had tried to ambush them on the way up was long gone. Those who had been there did not mention the event to those who were not. Steven was not certain where the skirmish had happened to point it out, and the other three adults did not want to notice it.

  Alex did ask why there was no snow if it was winter; also the temperature felt like late fall or early spring, though it was colder than in the caves. They were not yet where they could see the tops of the mountains they were hiking out of; to see whether there was any snow up there. Karen was bundled against the seasonal cold as she had been the whole trip. Rox and her kids were more inured to the cold than the not-hybrids. Steven used layers as well, but kept moving well enough to want ventilation. As for the lack of snow, Karen explained that this area got maybe two real snow storms a winter, and then it was very wet, and gone in days. The rest of the winter was just cold and wet when it stormed. When the cold did stay around, everything froze.

  They stopped at the intersection with the ring road, and pulled aside into the forest to set up camp. It was cooler, and smelled of a storm; winter was going to try to make a real effort at a storm. They set up camp. Caspian and Steven demonstrated their practice from up north and made a real lean-to everyone could camp under, and used the tarp to help line it. For warmth, the six of them would line up next to each other; Steven and Rox at one end, the kids in the middle and Karen and Caspian at the other. Rox and Diana made dinner, while Alex and Karen finished with the horse, ponies and cart. A second rude covering of leaf lined branches was made for the ponies and horse to stand under.

  That night, Karen took advantage of the proximity to psionically implant information in to Diana and Alex, before going to sleep. Caspian’s presence on one side and Diana’s on the other was a little distracting, but neither of them was inclined to snuggle.

  Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 154

  Another winter storm. The ones up north were light powder blizzards. Here its heavy, wet and then icy. But we are prepared to deal with it.

  The kids slow us down from the pace we traveled without them. Maybe put them on the ponies when they get tired of walking?

  Rox and Karen both want to go get us into a fight. I just want to take the kids home. They want to confront the bully and end the situation. I just want to go home and leave the bully to self destruct. Problem is bullies often follow their targets around continuing to harass them.

  In the morning, it was self evident that the lean-too had been set up correctly regarding the direction of the storm. There were crusty patches of snow on the ground and things were wet, except for right in front of the lean-to’s open side. The animals were fidgeting to keep warm, as they huddled together under their shelter. Each one had little icicles in its mane. Everyone could see each others breath for the cold. Yet under the lean-to itself, was comfortably warm and dry. This wave of the storm was already blown over, but this had the effect of removing the insulating layer of clouds and so all the comparative warmth that they had previously enjoyed was gone. This morning they had a warm breakfast and bundled up before heading out.

  The road was frozen and crispy rather than muddy. As the sun brought the day’s warmth, the ice diminished, but the trees of the forest kept the air still and cold, with a hint of more storm. Everyone’s breath was visible as they walked.

  Karen again drilled Alex in his swordsmanship. He was less hostile to her, but still did not really like her. She asked Diana how she might fight, and got kicked in her shins for it. Diana did not kick hard, but it was enough to startle the assassin. Caspian had been watching and laughed a bit for it. Karen turned on him, and drew her sais and went half a round on him.

  Cyrril leapt clear, and Caspian energized some magic as Karen approached. The whole time Caspian smirked. Staff versus Sais had him using the staff as a bo, though he was careful of the carved figure. She got past his defenses and tried to hit him physically, but her senses warned her of the shields he had up, and just probed them more than trying to inflict damage. She did stun his left arm with a strike from her sai, numbing the arm and taking it out of service for a while. She finished by trapping his right arm with his staff between the center rods of her crossed sai’s while he had some kind of magic charged to go off.

  He was breathing about as hard as her, which was not very, but they were close enough to smell each other. She looked at his eyes for a moment.

  “Satisfied?” Caspian asked, looking at her curiously.

  Karen released his arm, and stepped back, sensing his magic relaxing. “Yes.”

  She turned seeing that Diana had stopped as soon as Karen had turned away from her. The cart and the other Caplan’s were further up the road, and had stopped with everyone watching. Her horse was glad to stop and rest; the ponies looked ready to keep going, with steam floating off the three animals.

  As they walked along, Caspian took a rare moment to actually walk with her, rather than near her. “I’m curious. I have never spared with a talent that I am aware of. Were you using your psionics, or just your physical talents?”

  Karen told him the truth. “That was just my native talents. I suspect that like you may be capable of, were I to come at you with my full capabilities, particularly to surprise you, you would not have time to stop me. “

  Seeing that the Caplan’s were ahead and out of earshot, Caspian broached the forbidden subject. “So, what happens next in this plan of yours? Cyrril told me something that leads me to believe that you probably did to the kids what you already did to their parents. Yet you have never bothered to do so with me. Do you know how much the elves in Shalaia told Rox and Steven?”

  Karen shook her head. “I only put information in. I didn’t read any or take any out.”

  Caspian pressed a little father. “So when are you going to kill me?”

  Karen looked around at the forest they were walking though. Diana ahead between them and the rest of the Caplan’s and their cart.

  “Not here. There is nowhere to hide the body.”

  This struck both of them as funny, but neither was sure enough of the other to let down enough guard to react to it.

  Steven and Rox walked a bit ahead of Alex leading the cart. Diana was still behind them somewhere, with Caspian and Karen on rear guard. Rox’s mind buzzed. There had not been time to discuss this without Karen in earshot, until now.

  “Steven, do you remember what I suggested we do, back in Shalaia?”

  “You mean that these locals will probably come after the kids again, as soon as they know we have them?  You wanted to go face them and force the issue somehow.”

  “Right. You remember what Karen told us, in the coach? That our kids would kill these monarchs.”

  Steven had also though along theses lines, but did not want to address them yet. He let his wife continue.

  “Last week, she asked how I would deal with a demon. Now she has given me the tool according to her suggestion. In a sense I am a loaded and cocked weapon ready to go off, just needing a target.” Rox looked a bit shaken by this idea.

  Now Rox got to a bit of information that disturbed her. “Last night I had another dream. I don’t remember the details, but the point was that I need to know who I am, and be ready to do some incredible magic by the seat of my pants. I don’t know what this means, Steven.”

  Steven had again dreamed about being in the fight. This time it was not the full dream, more like an abridged version. This left him a little worried. He coupled this with Karen, and her behavior. That line of thought was not hard, but she had warned him off of it. Its conclusions led to the same ones Rox’s train of though did.

  “This line of thought concludes with our kids killing someone. I know we have both done that while on planet, but I would rather they not. What do you want to do? Turn left and head back to Skarg, and knock on the palace doors, and challenge them to a winner-take all fight? Wait for something to happen? For our friendly neighborhood assassin to act?” Steven thumbed over his shoulder as he said the last.

  Rox picked up the line of thought. “She’s reviewing the kid’s abilities to fight. Frankly, Alex unnerves me with that sword of his. He does not have experience with something like that that I know of. Yet he got enough somewhere to handle the thing respectably. As for Diana, she used magic to light the fire last night. I haven’t bothered to do that, or teach it. I have taken some time to try to tell her about some of the rules I’ve had drilled into me. But I don’t know what may have stuck, and how much she can or does understand yet.”

  Steven almost asked what bothered Rox more, that Diana had potentially the same abilities as Rox, or that Diana was innocent enough to try to use what she had seen in the assorted cartoons she enjoyed watching, or books she had read, to cast magic.

  Steven paused at the next cross road, holding Rox back. Alex stopped when he got to them, and the ponies did as well. They were not steaming anymore, having dried off, but they looked very tired. Karen’s horse also stopped. It shook the last of the ice from its mane, and looked around, and nuzzled at the tarp, to see what might be under it. Diana walked around the cart and up to her parents.

  “Why are we stopping? Is it lunch time?” Diana looked around, and took the lead for the ponies as Alex handed it to her.

  Alex then stepped off the road and behind a bush.

  Caspian and Karen walked up then.

  Steven threw down a proverbial gauntlet, and frightened Karen. “You told us that our kids have a destiny in Skarg. Do we turn left here and go back now, or do we keep going north and come back later?”

  Karen had been enjoying walking with Caspian. She rarely walked with any of the local men for social reasons, as she had long ago discounted their social interests as prurient and not really in her best interest. Now walking with Caspian was a new and interesting experience, though neither said much. Observing him and herself with all her senses they were comfortable together, so far as their current relationship went. Then Steven shattered it with his question. She could see that both adult Caplan’s dispositions had altered. Her façade reasserted itself by reflex.

  “We go north to the next town, and get some fresh food,” Karen answered. “There is a crossroad there; you can decide what to do then. Particularly as Diana and Alex have not been told what you have, regarding why they are here. Whatever happens, these ponies need a rest, preferably in a barn, as this cold is wearing them out. ”

  Karen walked on, lightly touching Caspian’s hand to draw him along. The Caplan’s all watched them go past.

  Alex returned from his side trip. He looked at the rest. “So, what’s happening?”

  “We are going to town, you little twit.” Diana stepped out, pulling the ponies and cart with, causing everyone else to hop out of the way and start moving.

  Steven and Rox watched the mage and assassin walk ahead of them. They looked at each other. Steven smiled and laughed a bit. Rox likewise smirked. They held hands as they walked ahead of Diana and Alex; the siblings got back into their ongoing low level squabble.