Flanna and Sephira entered the Star-Tellers' chamber at Rhiamon's bidding. They felt the eyes of the wildcats burning into their fur. Flanna strode forward, Sephira at her side. Halona, Celka, and Selestina followed the metal-workers with their eyes. Rhiamon held up her paw, and the two cats stopped their advance.

"You have come to the chamber of the Star-Tellers. Why is this?" Rhiamon's guttural voice echoed from the wolf skull.

Sephira gestured to Flanna, and Flanna began to speak. "We were going to report to Queen Zeltawnis. When we arrived at the throne room, we heard a sibilant voice. It said, 'The foolish Zeltawnis thinks I will allow her to rule Redwall? Ha! I will never let her do that. If I did, I would not be worthy of my name.' To our ears, it sounded like the voice of Akili, her shadowed right-paw. Neither of us knew how we could tell Zeltawnis, so we came here, hoping that you would be able to shine a little light upon this mystery: who Akili is really working for, and how we could tell the Queen that she was going to be betrayed."

Rhiamon closed her eyes and pondered Flanna's words. "Is this what you heard as well, Sephira?" Sephira nodded. "Hmm."

Selestina spoke up as Rhiamon was thinking. "We can help you. But, only if Rhiamon allows it." Halona and Celka both inclined their heads in agreement.

Rhiamon opened her eyes, and the room fell quiet. Even the raven on Selestina's head was silenced. The wildcat leaned forward and gave her answer.

"Yes. We will help you. A threat to Zeltawnis is a threat to us all." Rhiamon pointed to Celka and Selestina, and they pulled on cords that hung next to them. The stone roof overhead creaked, and slid away to reveal the night sky floating above them. The twinkling dots of light would have looked like the epitome of pulchritude, but Halona began throwing strange, pungent herbs on a newly-kindled fire, and the resulting indigo smoke lent a sinister, but somnolent, air to the scene. Rhiamon, who had been chanting arcane words under her breath, raised her voice until the atmosphere was ringing with her harsh, gravelly tones. One by one the other Star-Tellers joined in.

"Sonori keltae ti ki ak erek kuruk sonroei zelka toyrn kaeytak!"

Halona pulled her voice out, then she was followed by Selestina and Celka. Rhiamon was the sole chanter now.

"Sonori keltae akth!"

With these last words, Rhiamon too fell silent. A tense aura seemed to seep through the open roof. Rhiamon's eyes, before closed, flew open and she let out a voiceless shriek. Her bare paws flew to her exposed throat, and she began jerking and flailing. Her legs kicked out, and the table was pushed away from her. She gave one final twitch, and collapsed to the floor.

Flanna leaned over and asked Sephira, "What was that?"

Sephira responded with a flurry of gestures that Flanna was barely able to interpret. A paw across the right leg, a slash across the arms, and a flick on the head.

Flanna mused, "So, she uses those words to summon spirits? Interesting. Do the spirits tell her what the stars say?"

Sephira nodded.

"Yes? How does that work?"

Another slash across the arms.

"She's a Northern Witch?! That's what her sleeve symbol means?"

Once again, a nod.

"Does Zeltawnis know?"

Sephira gave a one-sided shrug.

"You suppose? Well, I guess Zeltawnis wouldn't have let her into the Vulpes Felis unless she could be trusted."

Rhiamon lifted her head, a glassy, faraway look floating in her eyes. She held out a paw, and spoke in an eerie, monotone voice. It was so unlike her normal, echoing hiss that Flanna and Sephira flinched.

"The stars foretell a bleak time coming towards us. One we thought we could trust will betray us, and the wildcat Queen will be hit hardest of all. The tempestuous wildcat's first master will return to claim what he believes is his. Our foes have a secret weapon working for them. A relative of the Queen emerges under the influence of an old dream. And a shining blade forged from a star will break through the coming darkness to bring peace."

Rhiamon's head fell back. Halona rose to her paws.

"Metalworkers, do not reveal what Rhiamon has prophesied. This is between you and the Star-Tellers. If you let the prophecy slip, we will deny everything, and then come after you with unsheathed claws and teeth."

Sephira gave Halona a questioning look. Halona glanced at Flanna, and Flanna translated. "What are we supposed to do with this information if we can't tell anyone?"

Selestina stood. "Keep it to yourselves. We of the Star-Tellers must discuss a course of action. A messenger will be sent to you when we have finished."

Flanna had to ask her question. "Should we tell Zeltawnis?"

"Absolutely not!" Celka forcefully replied. "Under no circumstances are you to tell the Queen. If she learns of this, Rhiamon and the rest of us will be executed."

"Why?" Flanna asked.

"I am not allowed to use the words we used," Rhiamon croaked. She had come to during the question-and-answer session. "Zeltawnis only allowed me to join the Vulpes Felis if I promised not to employ dark divining methods. I have broken the trust. If she finds out, we will all die."

Sephira glanced at Flanna and her look told Flanna everything. 'Why did we have to come ask?' Flanna shrugged in reply.

"Now, go," Rhiamon said. "We must discuss in private."

Sephira and Flanna left the room. As they walked back into the main reception room, the silver vixen bid them farewell. Sephira nodded in reply, and Flanna answered with a curt "Adieu." The vixen shook her head as the two wildcats exited the area.

'Whatever they're up to, it had better be safe. I sure hope so, for Star-Teller Rhiamon's sake.'

A/N: The silver vixen is just worried. She would give her life for Rhiamon. Anyways, back to the notes. A new prophecy has revealed itself. Oooooh, drama! If anyone can guess who "thetempestuous wildcat's master" is will be amazing. I know, kinda lame, I'll think of something else. But I guarantee no one will guess it. Ha, I'm so evil.