Chapter 4

The first of the outposts on their list was in sight, but the short days had slowed the search party immensely: it was difficult enough, travelling in unknown countryside such as this, but in the dark, it could be treacherous. With the last of the light, as his fellows set up the camp below the crest of the hill, Paul looked out over the valley below them; he hoped and prayed that the sprawling complex he looked down on housed his sister. Lost in thoughts and memories of happier times, Paul didn't notice the approach of one of his companions at his side.

Zed put his hand on the boy's shoulder and was surprised when Paul jumped. The one thing that had struck him about Paul was his ability to know where people were even without being able to hear them. He wished he knew what was bothering the boy, but Paul would only talk to May by writing her notes on where he thought they should go next. Any questions Zed asked him, he answered with a simple shake of his head.

When Paul spun round, his long hair whipping round behind him as he did so, the first thing he saw was the red bandana tied around Zed's arm: the same one he had used to bind Helena's wounded leg so long ago. His eyes moved to Zed's face and watched as the young man told him what was happening in the camp, that their meal was ready, and then asked him if he was alright. Paul nodded hurriedly then brushed past Zed into the camp, where May was waiting. He wrote her a short note, read her reply and then sat down to his meal, suddenly feeling the hunger he had been ignoring for the past few hours.

--

"I want to rename the farm "Amazon Farm"," said Alice as she poured a mug of tea for Cat "in recognition of all the troubles we girls have pulled through this last year."

"But I don't think it's fair to the boys," added Aeryn, easing herself back into her chair.

"What do the boys think?" Cat asked.

"They haven't asked them!" Tally cried, indignantly, on her brother's behalf.

"Well, it is only Aeryn and I who will be running the place!" Alice answered.

"With their help!" Tally replied, "And mine!"

"She is right, Alice," said Tai San, always keeping one eye on Cat.

Alice slumped into her chair and looked as though she was beaten.

"I know," she said. Then, her eyes flicking straight to Andy, "Well, what do you think, Andy: you're the only resident male here over the age of two?"

Andy's eyes went round every young woman in the room once, then flicked back to his sister, who was standing with her arms folded, staring directly at him with a look that threatened death in seconds should he give the wrong answer.

"Um, I think we should wait for Zed to get back. He lives here too: he shouldn't miss this."

"A valid point!" Cat exclaimed, returning her gaze to Alice in the manner of someone watching a particularly amusing game of tennis.

"Okay, we'll wait then," Alice conceded under the massed stare of companions, "But don't think that you'll make me forget about this: I won't"

--

"I know you're not used to hearing from me, but there is something you need to know and, as my sister is busy, I guess I'd better explain.

There are, as you may already know, a number of babies on the way, most importantly Aeryn's and Ebony's. Aeryn, according to her medical history, shouldn't be able to have children and is, by being pregnant herself, taking one of our midwives out of commission for the time being. Ebony hasn't been eating enough; she was skinny enough to begin with: if she doesn't get some more layers of fat on her bones, she won't be able to deliver the baby normally. In other words, she'll need a caesarian section and if Cat isn't back here in time, I'm the only one with a hope in hell of performing that op successfully.

One thing we don't want to do is let everyone know that they have a magician as City Leader and an amateur one at that! Tai San already knows most of what's been going on, but if she's going to understand any of it then she needs to know the whole story. It ain't easy, hiding something this big from the one person who knows you inside out and back to front. If ever I had a soulmate, she's it; she has to be a full part of this.

Magic and leadership don't go well together. They make people who don't understand either of them jumpy and scared. We've only just got this city under wraps: if the general public were to find out the real source of my knowledge, there could be riots that would put all of us in danger. If we can keep this secret until the next election at least, we should be safe. I can always disappear afterwards if needs be.

I think we're safe for now though. The only person who knows anything about my sister and I is Tai San and she won't let it slip."