Noriko spent most of the night in Zena's scrying room, reading from the texts there that tell the story of the legend of light, recount the history of Ennemarna, and contain the records of the world of light. She was frustrated that reading is still slow for her since we've had little access to books until now. I read the legend of light with her, wanting very much to know what it said.

There will come a day, it said, when great evil will rise up to take over the whole earth. It would, save there shall be born one who will be called a son of the light. Darkness shall cover his mind until the world of light brings into his life one who will part the curtains of darkness through great love and compassion. They shall walk the path together to the world of light. When the time for battle comes, they shall together step through the door into the world of light.

Well, it wasn't new to us. We've already nearly walked the whole thing. I just wish that the evil that creates the darkness that is over our world hadn't hidden the legend of light away. I would have lived my life with a lot more hope to begin with.

However, both the commentary after the recording of the legend and Noriko pointed out that if I hadn't walked in darkness to begin with it wasn't likely I would have needed her or her love from the beginning. She could have stayed home with her family is how I see it, even if I have fallen in love with her. She wouldn't have had to live as painful a life as I've lived.

The other point that they both gently made was that because I have understood the darkness, having walked in it and rejected it my whole life, I've learned the compassion that gives me the strength to stand and defend those who cannot defend themselves. That I can't argue with.

I stayed with Noriko while she kept reading, but she was stubborn and would only let me help her with the difficult words. She learned the ones she didn't know very quickly, even more quickly than she learned to speak the language. She said that she remembers what she sees much more quickly than what she hears.

When it looked like she would read through the entire night and get no sleep at all, I made her sleep during my sleep time. That much is a minimum for her and our friends will expect us to be up with them during the day to be properly introduced to the city council, at least. They may even try to introduce us to the whole city, but I think that may be a bit much given how little Noriko slept.

I spent my night hours meditating on the events of the afternoon and evening. I feel so much calmer, and like all or nearly-all of the rocks in my stomach have melted away finally. While I perhaps don't have full confidence I can walk in the light, I'm not afraid to any longer. It was enough for this night to bask in the peace of knowing that I am good. When it's time, I'll be able to walk through the door into the world of light with Noriko.

The city council chamber is like all the rooms in this place - rough-hewn from the rock that makes up the high stone walls of the city. All of the rooms interconnect with long hallways and stairs in sometimes odd places. Sometimes the rooms are the hallways. It's odd construction, but humans have made do with whatever shelter they can find or make for millennia. This room is large to hold the people who come.

The mayor sits in the head seat with the councilors and advisors sitting behind him and around to his side. Any one of the citizens of the city who wish can come to the council meetings. They sit on the floor in the center of the room or stand where they may. There are benches and chairs around the edges of the room which seems to be reserved for the elderly and for special guests.

Duke Jeida is one of the special guests who's hiding in refuge here. Enemmarna has agreed to protect those good statesmen who've been banished from their countries. Also here are Premier Nash of Donya itself and Ministers Enri and Kainowa of Guzena.

Barago, Agol, and Gaya told me that they'd been talking of searching for others when Geena came and told them that the spirits of the White Mist Forest had been visiting with her and had been showing her the six of us who'd begun to travel to reach this place. Zena had only been able to confirm that a light was approaching, and hadn't seen anything to indicate they should leave the city, nor where they would go look if they did. So they'd been waiting.

The two seers had known that morning we would be arriving when we did and everyone had gathered in the center of the city to wait for us to arrive. Now we're all wondering what's next. They weren't surprised to hear the army was on the march and close. They'd been keeping an eye on them, too.

We're standing with our friends in the back of the council chamber, waiting for the meeting to begin. A messenger runs into the room, stopping in front of the mayor, who's already seated. "Mayor Mardwoog," he says, a bit breathlessly, "the messengers of the army of Donya have just come to the gate and issued an ultimatum. The army will be arriving tomorrow. If we surrender, we are to have the gates open to let them in when they arrive. If the gates are not open, they will consider it a refusal to comply and they will attack the city."

The council chamber goes very still, then explodes into complaints against the army and the government of Donya, but there are no words of surrender, no pleas to the Mayor to reconsider his position. A debate ensues as to how it will be best to defend the city and the innocent children, women and elderly, and their honored guests, with whom they seem to be including Noriko and me.

For all that the citizens could be killed or injured, they won't bow to the corrupt officials in their government. They're indeed strong willed. Voices of the guests of the city and council from near where we stand are also adding their comments to the proceedings.

Koriki, the hotheaded brother, is saying that he'll stand with those who'll fight to protect the city. Rontarna's voice calls for negotiations or clandestine solutions. Even the older men add in calm advice and words of wisdom. It seems they've also adopted this city as their own.

As we stand watching, Noriko reaches for my hand. I can see the Teacher is preparing her words as Noriko stares into space with her head tilted slightly. When she's ready we walk together to stand in front of the mayor. We both do much better in such public situations when we can strengthen each other. When we're beside each other is when we're strongest.

"Mayor Mardwoog," Noriko lets go of my hand and clasps her hands lightly together in front of her. Her voice is calm and soft, and contains the surety of the courage and knowledge of the Teacher. The room falls silent - even our friends. They're surprised to see the strength she has earned.

"We have not come here innocently." The room goes a bit tense. In the already charged atmosphere that was perhaps not the best word choice, but she isn't perfect - just very intelligent. It certainly got everyone's attention. "We were informed that the army was coming and came quickly to arrive before them. Please hear our words and let your words and the words of your council direct us." Mayor Mardwoog gives us permission to have the floor.

Noriko turns to the council. "If possible, we would help the citizens of Ennemarna do away with this threat without injury to anyone in the city, or even property damage. We would even see the army sent away without injury to them as well, if at all possible." People are looking at us with complete disbelief.

Noriko smiles a little. "It is possible. You have the legends of light here in this place. Tell me, what do those legends say that can be of use in your defense?" She's going to allow them to teach each other, which is the most strong way to teach.

An older man says, "The city of Ennemarna is said to be a city blessed and protected - a holy place protected by the divine. Many of the people of Donya believe this, or have believed it in the past. It's because of it being the City of Light."

Noriko presses them for more details. "Are there specific things that have been written or passed down of how or in what way it was protected before?"

His brow furrows, and many others are considering the question. Answers begin to be said from around the council. "A demon will rise up from the sands and devour the people."

"The spirits of the dead will whisper death in the ears of those who turn from the path of light and attack the city."

"The warriors of the mist will come with great spears and defend the city for the people of the city so they don't have to defend themselves."

"Great sandstorms and confusion will come upon the armies that come against the city of Ennemarna, so that they can't even find the city, but are lost in the desert to wander until they die of thirst."

"A shield of light will protect the city so that their enemies can't enter it, but are repelled by truth and determination."

"If the citizens of the city stand firm in their conviction for truth and light, then they can't be overcome."

"A gentle heart and a love of service to all will bear the fruits of peace."

After a few more suggestions Noriko holds up a hand. "That's sufficient for now. Thank you." She bows to the council. "Thank you also, for your gentle hearts and service towards us since we came yesterday. If you will allow us, we will bring to you the fruits of peace." She looks at me. "Is that sufficient for you to work with?"

The room is in confused silence, still not having heard the final sum. She does like to hold it until the very last, much like a statesman or lawyer, which is why I tease her she should become one. I think of the various methods that were said, then say it to make sure I understand her conclusion, "Use the legends to create fear...like on the ship." Noriko indicates I've reached understanding.

I turn to Mayor Mardwoog. "I've been gifted with special powers. I can use the legends against the army, to cause them to fear coming against the city. Let me go to them and see if I can make them leave the desert and return home. At dawn, I'll make them believe those legends have come true because they chose to come against Ennemarna. Perhaps they will run in fear and you won't have to fight them.

"Even if I can only chase off a portion of them, it will be that many less that the city will have to face." It's too much to ask the council to believe a single man can chase away an entire army, even with special powers, but they don't need to know what I am.

The mayor looks at us, wondering who the newest guests of his city are. "You're a wandering swordsman?" he asks me.

"Yes," I answer calmly.

"What price would you ask from the city to defend it by yourself against an army? Surely such a feat would be even more expensive than a city could afford, I would think." He's testing me. I've said before it happens frequently. Those I ask to hire me look at a thin young man and don't think "strong".

"I understand that it's difficult to believe that I can do what I've said, but I can. I'm not here to extort, but to help. My first request is that the city keep Noriko safe while I'm gone. She is my beloved and her protection is the most important thing to me." The mayor raises an eyebrow and there are murmurs in the crowd. That was perhaps not the best choice of words in public, to make her blush, but I wish to convey my sincerity to the mayor. I won't leave Noriko's side without this promise. It's the same promise I required of the mayor of the flower town.

"We've come to you with nothing. I would second ask that the city provide three sets of clothing for each of us, or if that's not possible, Noriko is an excellent seamstress and enough cloth and thread for her to make our clothing would be a sufficient substitute. Two bags for us to carry them in, one for each of us. When we leave, one water bottle each and food sufficient for us to reach our next destination."

I remember what Noriko wanted to buy at the last market we were in. "Noriko also writes, but her notebooks, pens, and ink were stolen from us several months ago and we haven't been able to replace them. If a few could be spared, we would be grateful. Please continue to feed and house us without charge until we leave, although we won't overstay and become ungrateful and undesirable guests. This is the payment I require of the city to defend it from the army."

The mayor isn't satisfied. "That's all?"

Of course not. "That's what I require to even go out and attempt the job." There are noises that say the council expects me to be unreasonable if I can actually make good on my promise.

I calmly set their minds to rest. "If I can make the entire army leave the field, then I'll take as my payment however much gold from their coffers that I can carry from what they leave behind. If they don't leave any gold behind, then I require twenty percent of whatever gain you earn from the sale of the provisions, supplies, and materials they leave behind.

"If I can only chase away a few, and the enemy will still attack, then I'll take instead five percent of what you can sell of their camp, or ten percent of the gold that's found in it."

"You assume that we'll win either way," comes a complaint.

Noriko turns to the council and quietly says, "He will. Is this not the City of Light?" They are scolded to silence.

Mayor Mardwoog narrows his eyes at me. "That's still not a burden on the city. You'll take it from the enemy. Ask for more," the mayor demands, "or I won't believe you can perform it." I raise an eyebrow. That was one step too far.

Noriko puts her hand on my arm lightly. I'm happy to let her have a turn. "Mayor Mardwoog, we have brought with us a man who has been kind and faithful to us, but we can't continue to take him with us. He needs a safe place of protection to live.

"Please, as part of the payment, allow Doros to become a citizen of Ennemarna and give him a place to live and a place where he can comfortably raise his chimos. He can tell you better than we what kind of a place that would be. He can earn his keep working with the animals of the city. I know of no better person to work with animals than him."

I approve. I'd forgotten Doros. We shouldn't continue to take him with us when we leave. That would be difficult and unkind. "I agree with Noriko. That would be an acceptable addition to the payment."

Now there are murmurs of astonishment in the council and the mayor is looking very confused. "Why won't you ask for the wealth that you could ask for?"

Noriko smiles at me. I smile back. We're both happy to scold him. I go first, needing to defend my position. "Is not the happiness of your friends and the peace of the land wealth? What need do I have of more than I can reasonably take with me and sufficient to provide for my wife and myself as we travel? We have goals that the gold from the army would help with, but to greedily demand more than that from the citizens of Ennemarna is to take from them what could be used to build the city up."

Calmly Noriko adds the barb, "Aren't we trying to tear down those who are corrupt and use wealth and greed to build themselves up and subjugate the people around them? Why should we emulate them?" I laugh to myself. It was perfect. The mayor sits sheepishly silent.

There's a barked laugh from behind us that gets our attention. Barago's laugh is very distinctive. "Give it up, Mayor. No one wins against Noriko. ...Or Izark for that matter. If that's all they want, give it to them and say 'yes'. You won't find a better deal anywhere."

All of our friends are smiling or nodding in agreement. "Izark will make good on his promise," Duke Jeida says. "I will stake my reputation on it, if you need it." I bow my gratitude to the Grand Duke for his endorsement.

"...Very well," Mayor Mardwoog says. "We'll protect Noriko from the time you leave until the time you return, give Doros a place in the city to live with his animals, and collect the other things you have requested, as well as let you stay with no charge - although we would have given you that anyway, since you're our guests. As to the rest, we'll see how your battle with them in the morning goes. I don't have a problem with your requirements."

"Thank you." I put Noriko's hand into my elbow and escort her back to our friends. That went very well.

Noriko thanks Duke Jeida, then turns to Barago and smiles her teasing smile at him. "And thank you, also. I was afraid that was going to go on for another half-hour."

Barago waves his hand. "I don't have that kind of patience."

"I know. I figured I could count on you." He laughs and laughs, his barking ringing through the room. While his laugh is harsh on the ear, it's good to see him smile.

-o-o-o-

I leave Ennemarna early in the morning, long before sunrise. I slept early so that I could be up for now. Noriko is sleeping with the ladies who will protect her while I'm gone. The night is cold but the run to the army camp warms me nicely. I can see campfires and watchfires throughout the camp, but they aren't expecting anything to happen, it looks like.

I bring up the wind lightly and the fires flicker. Some of the guards shudder and look around nervously. I make the wind move the fires in unnatural ways and those begin to complain about this military action to their companions. Those who aren't devout scoff. I'll have to work hard to get those to leave.

First I run around the entire camp, placing where things are. When I come to the stored explosives, I collect them up and set them on the towers and catapults in preparation for destroying them. Then I stand on a high crate of supplies where I can see over the camp. Dawn is coming and with it the wind.

The desert holds a lot of the sun's energy - both light and fire - even at night. During the day there is more than enough of both for me to never have to become tired. I won't be scolded by Noriko this time for overusing my own energy. As the wind begins to rise from the sun warming the edge of the horizon, I hold it back, between Ennemarna and the army camp. It whips up against my barrier and with it the sands begin to rise as if boiling.

The men are rousing from their sleep, commanders calling them up to prepare to go against Ennemarna. When their eyes pass the desert where I hold back the wind, they begin to call out to each other to see the mountains that are rising up. Before the wind dies down from too much heat again, when it's at the angriest it can be, I release it and the wall of sand is pushed forward by it. The sandstorm slams into the army camp, making it so they can't see.

I drop from my height and run through the sandstorm, whispering in the ears of the men the curses of the guardian spirits of the City of Light. I remind them of what happens to men who come to battle against the blessed city. Those who are devout shiver and cry out in terror, and begin to run with the wind, away from the sand attack.

Commanders call out for order and for the men to stand fast, but panic is already setting in as it passes from terrified man to uncertain man to confused man. The wind begins to die down as the sun rises higher and I return to my higher vantage point.

I take in the fire energy that's rising. It's complex, but I use the heat of flame and smoke shaped by wind to create the image of a monster rising from the sand. I'm pleased to be playing with this much energy to create something like this. I smile to myself. Noriko is right. Sometimes it is fun to play even while being serious.

The men already frightened and uncertain start to run - away from the monster, away from Ennamarna. The difficult men still try to stand fast, choosing to be blind to what they see. It isn't difficult to take a little fire energy and light the explosives from where I am. I begin with the towers and catapults that are at the front of the camp and work towards the sides to make it seem as if the monster is attacking the camp.

There's a large exodus of men on foot and on whatever horses they can grab. A few out front took the time to get wagons together and they're packed with other men. Most of the things are left behind. Perhaps they'll be able to regroup and return, but I think I know how to make that difficult.

I let the monster fade as the wind tells me there are few to no men left in the camp. I need to see with my eyes as well, though. If they hide deep in the tents the wind can't tell me they're still there. I start at the Ennemarna side of the camp and work my way back and forth through the tents searching them as I go. I'm relieved when there are no people the more I walk. They were obedient to their commanders and properly left their tents when they were called that morning.

I put out the cooking fires that weren't put out by the wind and sand. The pots don't need be destroyed by burning the food in them. Then there's something...

I look up and see Noriko watching me, but she looks like she's asleep in her bed. The other ladies are beginning to rise from their beds. "Good morning, Noriko."

"Good morning, Izark. I see you've been successful. Congratulations."

"You look like you're still sleeping?"

"I'm disguising that I'm watching you."

"Oh, I see." I shouldn't watch her or the room since the ladies are changing, so I go back to my chore and just talk to her. She can watch me. "It looks like they've all gone. I'm going to wait just a little longer to make sure they don't come back, and hunt for the treasury. I should be back in about a half-hour.

"Just before I come I'll set off the last of all the explosives to make sure they stay scared off, and to make sure there isn't any left to attack Ennamarna with if they do come back. I've already destroyed the towers and catapults." It's enjoyable to have her company while I walk the rest of the camp.

I'm pleased with how much gold they left behind. I can carry quite a lot, but over long distances not so much. I pick up as many bags as I can hold (all of them), then hunt for a place to store them until I can retrieve them. Then I decide that's rather ridiculous, for all I'd love to not have to work for many years. I can't really carry that many while walking or riding with Noriko across the country bringing peace and light back to the people. Ennamarna will also use what they get for good purposes.

Instead I double the carrying bags and put more than double the gold in each one until I have six bags completely full. That will be sufficient for long enough for my work to be exactly and only the work of the demon of light. That way I won't have to find the awful side jobs I don't really want anyway. I'm tempted to take extra gold be give to my friends so they can also have what they need to do their part of that work, but perhaps the city will give it to them anyway. I'll request it when we meet with the council again.

It's been long enough finally that the men shouldn't be coming back until much later, so I set off the last of the explosives. I use the sand that rises up from them to hide the passageway back to the camp so those from Donya will have troubles finding it again. Then I use the wind to bury the things they shouldn't be getting their hands on again if they do find the camp, and head back to Ennamarna.

Noriko sends her love then withdraws to return so she can get up and get ready for her day. I'm looking forward to what comes next, and pleased with the results of my work this morning.

-o-o-o-

As I arrive at the city walls of Ennemarna, I can see people standing at the few high windows that look out towards the desert. Even more are waiting for me at the gate, which is through a passage of the high walls that wrap around each other for a few hundred feet. It's a very defensible passage and the gate is strong and sturdy. If the army regroups and still comes against the city, without their towers and catapults it will be a long siege that the city will win.

The mayor finds me first. "They've fled," I tell him. "The camp is empty and I've destroyed the towers and catapults. If you send out parties immediately to collect the things they've left behind they'll have even more time and effort they'll have to put into coming against you again."

He's looking at the six bulging bags over my shoulders. "Did you steal all their clothing, too?" I merely smile.

"Did they leave the tents behind?" Alef asks, his merchant brain spinning.

"Yes. Pretty much everything. A few wagons and many horses were taken so they could leave more quickly, but they didn't stay to pack up," I answer.

Barago is also the sort to plunder quite happily. "If they left behind the food and oil we should confiscate that quickly so the food doesn't spoil. Those would benefit the city greatly." He and Alef are pulled to the side by the councilors of the city that are in charge of such things to plan how they are going get it all packed up and into the city.

I see them send a few runners into the city to start people getting wagons ready. They pause long enough to ask me just how many wagons I think would be a good number to send. I give them an estimate. It's obvious that the more go, the faster it all comes back, but I don't know how many backs they can call on.

"So...how did you do it?" the mayor asks me. Several other council members want to know too.

"I just used the legends to frighten them away, and their own explosives to put some truth behind them." I don't say more, but they nod sagely and make up their own stories in their heads. I've found that answers most people best. I move away from that group, not needing to be asked for more details, since that's usually next.

"Izark! I can't find Noriko." My head snaps up and I'm staring at a worried Irktule. "I felt something ominous and was going to tell her, but I can't find her."

"Go and ask Zena and Geena if they can see where she is," I immediately order him. He's having to use a lot of energy to talk to me. That's how worried he is. There isn't much tree and plant energy out here in the desert. He disappears to my sight.

"What?" Barago cries out.

"Noriko's gone?" Alef heard Irktule also, since he had to use that much energy to tell me.

They immediately start passing the word around to hunt for her in the city, and to find Gaya and Zena. Perhaps they've gone to Zena's room. Others are sent to the breakfast room to see if they're waiting for me there. I'm closer to the room she and the ladies were in if I go outside.

I run back out of the city and around to the room she should be in, then leap up into the window of that room. It's empty and her bed is as well. Her blanket and the chimos are also gone. There isn't anything in the room to say where she might be.

I step into the room, then through the door and down the hallway just a little. Her scent out here is last night's scent, fainter than the other ladies who left the room earlier. The last thing I remember was her telling them she'd follow them down to breakfast since she still needed to get dressed and she didn't want to delay them. They'd left the room excited to hear I'd finished my job already and would be joining them.

I tremble and grasp my arm as a chill overtakes me. They left her alone. That's all it would take for Rachef to take her without anyone knowing. He could pull Keimos all the way from Calco to Reinka. He could take Noriko. Would he have taken her that far, leaving me here? I would think he'd rather have me and leave her here.

I step a few more steps down the hall and call for her, then reach for her along the heart connection. There is only empty silence. I can't feel her at all. It's as empty as if she were taken home. That thought brings even more fear. It's possible for this level of emptiness if we're an ocean and half a continent apart. That's likely too far for either of us. Still, I try to calm down and pull as much energy as I can, then send out the request for her to answer me as far as I possibly can without forcing it. There's still nothing.

I turn around and I'm looking from a long hallway of rooms to another long hallway of rooms and my dream comes forcefully back and the fear of it comes back with it. I gasp and clutch my arms around myself. I can't let the fear overwhelm me. I begin by leaping back out the window and return to the others. I should know if anyone has seen her before I continue to let my mind make assumptions.

"She's not in her room and ...she doesn't hear me."

Agol takes my arm to hold me steady, his face showing his concern. "Not even the mind link is working?" I shake my head. He's felt my trembling and he doesn't let go. I'm grateful for that level of connection today. "Has that ever happened before?"

"Yes. When Rachef took her first to the east continent. When she was at the palace and I was at the buried mansion it was a very weak connection. We've both become stronger, though, so she would have to be very far now."

He looks almost as stricken as I feel. "Is that far enough? From here to there?"

I nod miserably and he understands my pain. To have to go all the way back there ...will she even still be alive once I get there? Will he come and fetch me next? There are too many things I don't know and all of my questions only make the fear grow.

"We're still looking," Barago puts his hand on my shoulder. He looks into my eyes with courage and firm resolve. "She could have fallen and hit her head and that would be enough, too, wouldn't it?" My nod is reluctant, but that's also true. Sleeping or unconscious we wouldn't hear or be able to answer.

Then I shiver and they both look at me with wide eyes. The newest thought has brought more fear, and I've begun to change. My teeth are chattering I'm trying so hard to hold it back. "The problem is that I can't feel her. I've felt her from the moment she arrived even if I didn't know where she was or how far. If she died, or...," I can't say it. Their looks are sympathetic.

I take a deep breath and say quietly only to them, "I have to get away from the city. I've learned to control it very well, but fear is what brings out the changes. Taking Noriko is the only thing Rachef can do to shut down my mind and turn me into the Sky Demon. I'll fight it, but I can't be here while I am. Please, keep looking for her. I'll return when I've got my fear under control again."

They both promise it and let me go. I turn and run. I'm far into the desert before I'm aware enough to realize how far. All of my focus has been on getting away from Ennemarna so I don't destroy it, and holding back the adrenaline reaction as much as I can.

I've used the finer control I've learned to help me be distracted from the fear. I've not allowed the wings nor the horn, nor the spikes nor my foot claws to come. I've held on to the thought that if I destroy my clothes again I will get the worst scolding ever and I don't want that at all.

Still, the hand that grasps desperately at the sand is a black-scaled claw on a black-scaled arm. The hair that hides my face because I've fallen to my elbows and knees in weakness at the fight is light blue. The air that rasps through my parched throat passes over a tongue that cannot speak. Pointed ears lift the hair at the sides of my head and pointed teeth push on my lips. These are all things that remind me of the things that Noriko loves about me and I can't help but sob. Grief and sorrow rise to overcome the fear and the changes begin to fade.

It isn't the time to grieve, but I'll take that option over the fear and the anger that's waiting to burst out of me that I'm also holding down. Anger will be worse than fear, I can tell. I can't let that out and there would be no point to it unless I was really ready to give up on this whole world.

Without a target, a known enemy, the anger would destroy everything until Noriko came running back to me again. Then I would see the sorrow in her eyes I don't want to see. I don't want to destroy my friends who've helped me see what I really am, and I don't want to destroy the City of Light where the people are so kind.

Thinking of those who I want to protect helps me, too. Noriko would also want me to protect them. I'm able to breathe a little easier as my concern for them rises. Even my own emotions have power - power to affect each other so that the ones that have meaning and can take me the direction I want to go can move me. I reach for them. Love, compassion, caring concern for others, even hope. Hope that we will find Noriko again.

Even if I do have to go all the way back to Reinka, I can hold on to hope that she is merely the bait, waiting for me, ...and working out how to escape yet again to meet me half way. I can rise to my feet again at that thought. It's time to be working. I know wherever she is, she's also working hard to get back to me.

As I have that thought, I freeze. I can feel her. Then she's suddenly appearing in front of me, on her knees, holding the two chimos she had with her in her bed. She smiles at me but I can barely take in that she's really here. "Izark." And then she's falling.

I drop to catch her in my arms. "Noriko! Noriko!" She's very pale and she can barely draw in breath. I pull her to hold her to me and her heart beat is very erratic. The chimos move to my shoulders.

"I-zar-k," She struggles to let me know she can hear me, but she's fading fast. The last thing from her is a weak sending of love and sorrow and compassion and then she's unconscious.

I surge to my feet. "Irktule!" I cry loudly and the chimos are already taking us to him, my desperation is so great.

We land in a swirl in Ennamarna and I nearly stumble. Quickly I draw on the energy of light and fire to replenish what it took to get here. I thin the air so I can breathe it and do the same for the air around Noriko. That helps us both. Others are crying out and running up to us. I'm only looking up into the air. "Irktule. I don't know how far she had to come to me with the chimos. Will she survive if it was from Reinka?"

There are gasps of horror and then there's a warm energy that passes by me to slip into Noriko. Soon it's joined by more warm energy until I know that all of the spirits from the White Mist Forest that still have any energy left after helping us synchronize to get here two days ago are giving Noriko what they have to keep her alive. I try my best to not take any of that energy. I can get plenty here, and I do, as fast as I've learned to take it in.

I'm being held on either side by my upper arms, being directed indoors and up stairs and down halls until they make me put Noriko down on a bed. I don't want to let her go, but they promise me they won't let their eyes off of her, and she'll recover better if her body can relax in the bed. I don't move far from her, hovering over her, worried still.

Geena walks up to me and puts her hand lightly on my arm. "Mister Izark. Irktule says Miss Noriko will live. The spirits were able to give her enough she'll live. But they didn't have much more than that. She'll have to rest to recover, he says.

"He also says that some of the spirits came back and reported that a dark evil was growing over a place at the edge of the desert. He's going to go see what it might be, but he thinks it might be that she was only taken that far."

I try to recover. "Thank you, Geena." I look up. "Thank you, Irktule and the spirits of the White Mist Forest."

My eyes burn. I blink and look at Noriko. Her breathing is a little better, but the thinner air still helps her. She does look more like she's sleeping now, and her presence is inside me, not just beside me. I wouldn't move from her side, but the tears won't be held back much longer and I can't show those to the world. They are too private.

I turn and walk into the next room of the hallway to stand facing the wall. My silent tears fall down my cheeks like the waterfall that stopped our voyage on the underground river. My grief at the pain that Noriko has had to bear to come to me again is very great. She chose possible death over staying where she was to wait for me to find her.

Why can't I ever come to rescue you? My strength has no meaning if I can't even keep her protected and alive.