AN: Sorry about the delay, coursework, computer trouble, etc. Thanks (once again) to everyone who's bothered reading this far, and particularly to everyone on the Skund forum who are being very nice.
Mind in the Ankh: It's a good idea, but mine is more complicated than that.
Beka JWP: Thanks, and you'll see... I'm using quite a few ideas from the forum to begin with, but I'm nearly finished setting the scene for the proper story.

Chapter Seven: Enchantment

The Queen was feeling quite at ease here. The air was cool in the valley,a refreshing change from the frigid lands of her kingdom. Winter was beginning to thaw.
But the Queen lived in an almost permanent state of dissatisfaction. She always felt as though she was missing out. She wanted to make the most of her time here, and so did her hunters. It seemed quite... familiar.

Little Sam was to ride on the Queen's horse; they were going to take a proper look at this land. They set off south, her unease fading with every mile that passed. She could feel her power growing; there was magic in the very ground.

The Queen smiled. She could be strong here.

Carrot frowned at his superior officer. "I don't know, sir."
Vimes ignored him. He had the possibly more pressing problem of young women staring at him; it could be nothing, but his host seemed to know about it.
"And she was just... staring?"
"Yes, sir. Then she spotted me, and she looked like she'd seen a ghost."
"Right."

What am I doing here? Vimes asked himself.

Leading an army.

Rhetorical question. But - what? How am I supposed to do that?

The tone changed now; it became a distinct voice rather than a memory. It was that of a man. He sounded both younger than Vimes and much, much older.

This is not history as it wasmeant to be. My kin have vanished. My horse was shot. Everything has suddenly changed; the Muster is beginning and yet I remain in Dunharrow.

Ah. And that's a problem?

The Dead must ride to Pelargir. They have no-one to summon them. They will heed none but me.

In silence, Carrot and Vimes toiled up the hill. "Where are we?" asked Carrot.
"Hang on a minute," said Vimes, a little out of breath. They kept climbing. Vimes glanced at Carrot; the young man was still watching him expectantly. "Didn't you hear a voice?"
Carrot frowned. "Sir?"
"Sort of like...recalling a memory, only it's not yours?"
Carrot's face remained blank. The mild panic that had been bubbling beneath the surface of Vimes' mind since the first new memory rose to the surface. "Right. Right. Right. So it's just me then."

You're not going mad,

said the Voice. That wasn't necessarily reassuring.

Unseen University was in an uproar. Angua had sent a couple of Watchmen to the University to keep Pseudopolis Yard informed of any developments. Constables Shoe and Visit were loitering near the Omniscope.
The zombie was closely examining some the creatures in the Omniscope, while Visit was pestering Ponder, trying to make them change the name.
"-misuse of the Great God's name-"
"Isn't that your Corporal Nobbs?" interrupted Stibbons.

Nobby was indeed making his way towards the command centre. "Well, I was on traffic," he said defensively. "Thought I'd see how you lot are getting on."
He peered at the Omniscopes.
"Any sign of Mister Vimes?"
"No, Nobby," said Reg. He moved to block Nobby's view of the Omniscopes, but he moved too quickly and his left ear fell off. Nobby slipped around Reg as the zombie swore.

The little corporal's eyes gleamed as he saw a rather nice ring swinging like a pendulum across the Omniscope. "Look at that," he breathed, "and that chain looks pretty cheap, sort of thing that snaps with just a little pull-"
Entranced, Nobby reached out...

...and took the Ring.