Chapter Six: The Barrier

Zircah concentrated all her senses on the ground as it scrolled past beneath her, reaching out with her war-terror as she did so. Ideally, this would scare the Stormwings' quarry into doing something loud or stupid, but given the late hour she thought the worst it might do would be to give the humans and the animals of the valley bad dreams.

They had scoured the valley that contained the Long Lake at least thrice, blasting the whole place with as much war-terror as they could summon. The only good thing about this, Zircah reflected rather guiltily, is that I get to spend extra time with Jakaal. With this in mind, she had calmly placed herself beside the K'miri Stormwing. Her only annoyance as far as placement went was that Rikash had planted himself firmly on her other side. What is he, a paid chaperone? Stupid Moonsword. She scowled at the ground. Another side of her mind reminded her that he was currently her leader and that he was better than Jokhun. She ignored it.

As she had expected, their search proved fruitless. Either the humans were better at this than she was (she snorted at the thought) or they had fled the valley. Staghorn had not been in the least pleased, though this could have been due to the fact that a large number of the tools being used to clear land had been stolen. It had slowed clearing to an almost complete halt. No one had seen or heard the faintest whisper of thieves bar the People. The Long Lake Pack, they told her, confusing her considerably. Even had she been willing to share her People-borne tidings with her flock, it made no sense. Why would wolves have stolen the tools of men? Even if they had chosen to attack, which she doubted they would, they should have attacked the men themselves, not the tools they used. That wasn't the way a wolf thought. Something queer is going on here...

Rikash approached, fanning his wings lightly as he hovered. "I don't suppose you sensed them out, Bladewing?"

"I wasn't close enough or they aren't here. I could be wrong - sleep muffles mind-signatures." She told him. Beside her, Jakaal frowned.

"Sense?" He asked. "You have some sort of sense, Bladewing?"

"...Sort of." Zircah replied, shooting a death glare at Rikash when he glared suspiciously between her and Jakaal. "I have wild magic, which means I may speak to animals and sense them. I have a natural mind-signature radar, and my range is about fifteen miles."

Jakaal appeared fascinated. "Really...? That's unusual. I had heard you had strange talents, but not like this."

Zircah smiled, accepting this as clumsy flattery. "I'd be more than happy to explain it to you properly." She offered, trying to sound offhand.

Unnoticed, Rikash rolled his eyes at the pink-tinged Zircah. He had thought Barzha and Hebakh's exchanges were bad enough. "If you two aren't too busy," he sneered, "Perhaps we could speak to Staghorn. He wants mages to help him bring a couple of Coldfangs through."

Zircah whirled in midair to give him a withering look. "If you feel like pandering to that fool's wishes, go ahead. Send him Ludahn and Aveil. Their power is sufficient to shield and narrow-down a summoning. I'm no great mage, Moonsword. Ludahn and Aveil, however weak and brainless otherwise, are." She scowled at him pointedly.

Rikash, chastened, shot a nasty look past her at Jakaal and changed the angle of his wings abruptly. He swept away to the left to speak to the two Stormwings Zircah had suggested.

Jakaal laughed, a high grating sound. "Well, I had thought you were the beauty and he the brains, but now I see that you're both." He told her gallantly. Zircah smirked and tried not to grin like a fool.

"It took you this long?"

Zircah was speaking with the hurroks when the barrier went up around the valley that contained the Long Lake. She frowned as she felt a Coldfang nearby and ruffled her feathers thoughtfully.

Is this so important to Staghorn? She asked of a hurrok. I don't see why he's so anxious to get those tools back.

The hurrok growled and gnashed its teeth. That mage is foolish. And annoying - every time he uses his power, this collar gives off fire.

Somehow I doubt he cares. Zircah replied ruefully. The hurrok snorted and butted his nose against her shoulder.

Then he is even stupider than we thought. When we are free I will rend his fine robes and perfumed skin to dust. Then what will he do will his stinking slave collars? The hurrok's tone was deadly serious.

Zircah nodded, a look of equal anger coming over her face. You know I would remove it if I could. She paused, thoughtful. I promise to bring you a piece of his flesh if we get to him first. He insists we are only harriers, but he will use us in the front lines regardless of the cost.

Kill him. The hurrok suggested blithely. Zircah smiled. She wasn't far from taking his advice.

She left the hurrok stables and took to the sky, scowling as she noticed how restrictive the barrier would be. Experimentally, she sliced a wing at it. Then she smiled. Tristan wasn't powerful enough to erect a complete barrier for immortals. A smug smile on her face, she flew on.

A droning sound reached her and she peered through the trees as she tried to spot the Coldfang. She grimaced as she did. It plodded carefully through the undergrowth, pausing occasionally to swing its head from side to side to choose a path. Zircah banked as it looked up at her and hissed. She had always hated Coldfangs. They seemed to think that she had stolen the feathers that she wore in her hair. She watched the great reptile with narrowed eyes.

It was a glittering blue with bright slashed of gold and green and more ominous insets of dark grey and violet. Somehow the bright markings on its beaded skin served as camouflage rather than making it stand out. She circled a tower that billowed evil-smelling smoke, coughing and scowling. Another Coldfang was inside.

Damn Tristan. Does he have to put those things everywhere? They're impossible to talk to, and they're giving me a headache! Grumpily, Zircah flew over Dunlath's river to escape the whine-drone of the thief-tracking immortals.

When she came back, the immortal was nowhere to be sensed. She glided in the direction she had seen it heading, but felt only a shadow-awareness unlike anything she had ever felt. Disquieted, she left that awareness far behind and returned to her perch in the northern fort.

She was pleased to find Rikash there. She had been meaning to ask what his problem was. Before she could ask, however, Jakaal, Ludahn and two others from Jakaal's flock landed nearby. She turned to face them and traded glares with Ludahn. The brunette backed down after about ten seconds. Muttering to her companions, she took off. The two Stormwings Zircah didn't know shot glances at Jakaal for permission before they followed Ludahn.

"We spotted a basilisk on our rounds, warned him about that mortal." Jakaal grinned. "He'll get rid of her on sight now - I told him about the dragon kit she stole."

Zircah affected an admiring smile. "You must have better eyes than I to be able to spot a basilisk in these trees." Jakaal preened. They traded banter.

In the background, Rikash regarded Jakaal with something akin to jealousy in his eyes. He took in all possible weaknesses, cataloguing them for later use. He hated Jakaal, hated him more than Staghorn, or even Belden and Yolane for the way they mistreated Maura. He wasn't entirely sure why. He regarded the ground in front of the roost as though it were covered in slugs and tightened his grip upon the roost, making the wooden rail creak in protest. Jakaal had to die.

Zircah circled Dunlath castle idly the following morning and looked down in surprise as a mortal on a horse trotted briskly away from the castle. Zircah focussed on the shadowed face of the figure in the faded blue cloak and frowned. It was Maura. She swooped down to block the road. Maura reined in her horse abruptly, making the already nervous creature toss its head back. Zircah spent several moments reassuring it, then turned her attention to the guilty-looking human.

"Lady Maura, where are you off to?"

"I'm just going for a ride." Maura peeked out nervously from the hood.

"Oh? With a pack and a travelling cloak?" Zircah asked, tossing her hair back. "Where are you really going?"

Maura hesitated. "I... I can't tell you, Lady Zircah. I'm setting something right." She leaned forward, whispering urgently, "But please don't tell anyone I've gone, Lady Zircah!"
Zircah regarded the girl carefully, thinking fast, and eventually nodded. "I won't tell a soul, Maura. Keep your hood up." She winked. "And do give my regards to this king I've heard so much against..."

Maura's face lit. "Thankyou Lady Zircah." She nudged her mount forward, but Zircah didn't move. The horse slowed again.

"Be careful, you understand me?" Zircah ordered imperiously. "If you get hurt Moonsword will never stop whining..."

Maura giggled. "I promise, Lady Zircah." The Stormwing stepped out of the way and leapt back into the air as Maura urged the horse forward again. Zircah watched her go and then lifted back into the sky. Maura doesn't know about the barrier. She'll be back before sundown. She assured herself. Something told her she would be wrong.

*

A/N: Sorry it's so short, guys. =S I've been trying to make them longer, but I just don't have the knack. Just a couple of comments for reviewers…

Olorin - Well of course Zircah and Daine meet! *lol* Just not quite yet, a'ight? Patience! *thwacks hand lightly*

Kenta Divina - Maura doesn't have much left in Dunlath, not 'not much time'. *grin* Because of Yolane bein' such a bitch and all. Just to clear up some confusion there.