Navin sat in the railcar, brooding over his situation. He'd wanted to go with his sister, but she, along with Doctor Andrews and Morrie the robot, had told him to stay with their mother. It wasn't the fact that he'd been held back from joining Emily that bothered him. Nor was it that she'd told him to stay behind. What really bothered him was that he knew she was right, and now he felt guilty for wanting to go with her. It was a selfish desire, but hardly unjustifiable. Anyone would rather go on a potentially exciting adventure than stay stuck somewhere they know next to nothing about with people they hardly know. But he knew that, by giving in to her wish, he was doing the right thing.

Suddenly, he felt himself being tilted forward. The railcar was nearing its destination now, wherever that was, and was decelerating. Righting his center of balance, he hopped to his feet and instantly felt the tightness in his legs. He'd been so busy brooding over his situation that he hadn't even realized that he'd been sitting folded up in the back of the railcar he was riding in, and now they were cramping up, in particular around the knees. So he made his legs as straight as he could, then relaxed them, and sighed with relief as the joints cracked.

Then the kindly doctor walked up. "We're almost there," he announced.

"Almost where?" Navin asked.

"To where the rail line ends," Doctor Andrews replied. "We'll be arriving at the resistance headquarters."

"The resistance? Who are they?"

Before the good doctor could answer, the railcar came to a complete stop and the door opened. It slid upward, revealing a throng of frightened and confused people, many of them victims of the curse. The doctor jumped out, and Navin quickly followed to avoid losing him in the crowd. Among the people, standing out like an enormous beacon, was a tall and strongly-built bull. He followed his friend until he stopped.

"Balan!" Doctor Andrews called out.

The big bull turned toward him. "Doc!" he cried. He looked around. "Where's Leon?"

The doctor hesitated before answered. "He's on his way to…to Demon's Head Mountain."

Balan's face became crossed with an expression that was hard for Navin to read. It seemed to be a strange mix of shock, worry and fear. "Demon's Head?" Balan asked, clearly stunned.

"Yes."

"Why would he go there?"

"He's found the new Stonekeeper, Balan," the doctor replied. Balan's jaw dropped. "He's found the fifth member of the council."

Balan blinked and shook his head. "After all these years of searching," he said quietly, "he's finally found him." He looked at Navin, put a hand to his chest, and bowed. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Stonekeeper."

"Oh, this isn't the Stonekeeper, Balan," Doctor Andrews replied. "This time, the Stonekeeper is a young woman. She's the one who's with Leon." He indicated the others behind him. "And this is her family."

"Pleased to meet you, sir," the boy said, holding out his hand, which Balan took. "I'm Navin. The Stonekeeper is my sister, Emily."

"They're Silas's descendants," the doctor continued.

"He was my great-grandfather," Navin clarified. "On my mother's side."

"Then it's just as the elders have said for so long," Balan said.

"Yes, I know," Doctor Andrews replied. "It's begun."

"I hate to break up the whole reunion and all," Navin interrupted, "but we need to get my mom to a safe place."

"Of course, right away," Balan said. "Please follow me." He led them all up a nearby stairway that then led into another tunnel. Illumination was provided by round lights on the tunnel roof, though what powered them Navin didn't know. Nor did he really care. They worked, and that was all he needed to know.

"Where are we?" the boy asked.

"This will take up to our underground headquarters, deep below the city," Balan explained. "Here, our secrets are safe." They went along for some time before another curse victim, one who had been turned into a mouse, appeared beside them. Balan beckoned him over. "Milton!" he called. The mouse hurried over. "Show this gentleman where to take the patient please."

"Yes, Balan," the mouse named Milton replied, then looked at the robot that was nearly as tall as the bull. "Right this way."

As Milton led Bottle toward the infirmary, Navin remarked, "You said this place was your headquarters. So far I'm not seeing much of anything. What are you headquartering?"

"That I must show you," Balan replied. He reached for a knob on the door in front of them. "Welcome to the Resistance." Navin stared around in wonder. There was a wolf dressed in a pilot's uniform. A snake wearing a shirt and vest with leather gloves and a sword on his back. A monkey garbed in ninja black. A mule who wore a simple tunic covered with sawdust. An octopus sitting at a checkered table, playing a game of chess with a rat. A strange creature the like of which he'd never seen, with eight eyes on the front of its head. There was also a normal human.

"We've searched the world over for those willing to aid us in our fight against the elves," Balan explained. "They are Alledia's last best hope."

All in the room turned to look at Navin. "Look!" gasped the octopus.

"It's him!" said the wolf. "The one who will save us!"

Suddenly, a funny-looking creature skittered forward, excitedly repeating, "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Navin jumped back in surprise. The creature scurried toward him on six legs. It had four large, forward-facing eyes, two pointed ears and a tail that whipped back and forth. "It's an incredible honor to finally meet you, sir!" the creature said.

"We're ready for your orders, Commander," added the wolf.

"Sir? Commander?" Navin was lost. "Why are they calling me that? I'm only thirteen!"

"You'll find out soon enough," Balan said. "Come. There's someone who's been wanting to meet you." He led Navin out of the room, with Morrie trailing close behind.

"Who's been wanting to meet me?" Navin asked, now very confused. "Why would they want to meet me?"

"An old friend of your great-grandfather's," explained Balan. "He's also one of the first members of the resistance. His name is Father Alder."

"Well, that answers who it is," Navin said, "but I'm still lost as to why he wants to meet me. Is he a priest?"

"Not exactly." They rounded a corner and saw an old tree with bare branches. In the middle of the trunk was a tired face.

Navin looked at Balan. "It's a tree," he said dryly. "You're saying that a tree has been wanting to see me?"

"Not just any tree," Balan replied. "This is Father Alder. It has been a long time since his branches bore fruit. He's among the last remaining gadoba trees. He was planted here many generations ago; the rest are at the summit of Demon's Head Mountain, where your sister and Leon are going. It was he who foretold your arrival." He then looked at the tree and declared, "Father Alder! It is I, Balan. And I have brought the Stonekeeper's brother."

The old tree's face started to move, and Navin gaped as its eyes opened to reveal glowing slits. "Oh," Father Alder said sleepily. "At last you've come."

Navin felt a twinge of guilt. "Forgive me, sir. I didn't mean to wake you up."

Father Alder smiled. "It's quite all right, young man," he assured him. "I've been waiting to meet you for quite some time." A large toadstool spread out its top. "Please, sit down." Navin obliged and took the offered seat. "Do you know why you're here?"

"To save my mother's life," Navin replied. "That was why we came to Kanalis."

Father Alder closed his eyes reflectively. "Hm, was the reason, you say?"

"Yes, sir," confirmed Navin. "My mother was poisoned by an arachnopod, and we came here hoping to find a doctor who could help her."

"I see," the old tree said. "I suppose I would have been that doctor, if I had the medicine to give. But saving your mother is not the only reason you're here."

"How's that?" Navin asked. "I didn't even know about the Resistance until our train ride ended and I met Balan."

"That is beside the point," Father Alder said. "You are destined to do great things, Navin."

"If that's so," Navin said skeptically, "then maybe you can tell me just what I'm destined for."

"If I did that," the tree chuckled, "what motivation would you have, one way or the other?" Navin fell silent. "I've been around for so long and seen so many things. When you've been around as long as I have, you begin to see patterns in the lives of those around you. When I look into the future, I'm looking into these patterns." After a short pause, he added, "You creatures are not as complicated as you make your-selves out to be."

Navin thought about this, then said, "In that case, could you please tell me if my sister will be okay?"

Father Alder didn't answer right away. When he did, it was soft with carefully-chosen words. "If there is only bad news to tell," he said, "do you still wish to hear it? It may be easier to simply hope for the best."

"No sir, please," Navin begged. "I have to know. Will she be okay?"

The old tree closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. "I see your sister arriving at the summit of the mountain," he began. "There, she will meet my brothers and attempt to pick some of the fruit that will heal your mother. The images that follow are much more obscure. But one is crystal clear." He paused for a brief moment, the tension almost tangible. "It is the image of your sister falling off a cliff. She is un-conscious, and death awaits her below."

Navin was so shocked that all he could squeak out was, "No." Then he turned to his robot companion and said, "Morrie, we've got to leave now!" He jumped up and took off with Morrie hot on his heels.

"Wait!" Balan cried. "You need to hear of your future!"

Father Alder sighed. "Let him go, Balan. He's heard enough."

Navin rushed headlong through the tunnels with Morrie right beside him. "Navin, why are we running?" Morrie asked.

Navin answered the question with a question. "How long until Cogsley's memory is wiped out?"

"About five hours!"

"Then we're not going to stop until we get back to the house!"

"But sir!" Morrie shouted. "The house in under armed guard by the elves! How will we get past them?"

"You probably don't want to hear this," Navin said, "but I have no idea!" His prediction was correct. Morrie blew a circuit. They ran all the way back to the gathering hall. "Bottle! Doctor Andrews!" Navin called. "We have to leave now!"

"Why, what's the rush?" asked the doctor.

"We have to take back the house," Navin answered quickly.

"Take it back?" Andrews was clearly confused. "What happened?"

"My sister's in trouble," Navin explained simply. "And we need the house to save her."

"Where is it?"

"At the tenth pier, under armed guard."

"Armed guard? Navin, we can't possibly—"

"We can and we will. We have to; there's no choice!"

"But Navin, look at us! We're in no condition to fight trained soldiers of the elf army!"

"He's right, Master Navin," Morrie interjected. "We won't stand a chance. We're not fighters."

"But we are." Navin and Morrie looked over to see the resistance fighters in front of them. "Pardon the interruption, sir," the octopus said, "but it sounds like you could use some help."

"Oh, thank heaven," sighed an approaching voice. "I was afraid you'd already left sir."

"Balan," Navin said. "Not you too! Why is everybody calling me 'sir'?"

"Because you are this army's commander," Balan told him.

"C-commander?" Navin stuttered. "But why? I'm only thirteen! I've got no military background, no training, no combat skills! How can I possibly lead an army?"

"Because you're brave, smart and resourceful," replied Balan. "Which makes you perfect to command this army."

"We've been waiting for a chance to throw something back at the elves," the wolf said. "Just say the word and it's done."

The snake slithered forward, popping his knuckles. "What are your orders, sir?"

Meanwhile, all the elves sent by Luger to trap and kill Emily returned to their leader. All but two were injured in some way. One was smoking from the energy blast he'd received from the stone; another's head was wrapped in a bandage; the rest were battered and bruised or moaning in pain from broken bones. Luger looked around at them with disdain. "What happened?" he demanded, as if the condition they'd returned in wasn't obvious. "Your task was simple: Kill the girl. How hard can it possibly be for trained warriors to take out a child?" None of the men moved or spoke, hoping to somehow avert his wrath by remaining silent. "You are some of my best men. You're lucky I'm more forgiving than the king. At least I tolerate failure and cowardice."

"You've underestimated her, Luger," Trellis said. "She is a Stonekeeper, after all."

"Stonekeeper or not," Luger growled, "there's no way a girl could possibly knock out so many and cause the rest to flee. She must have the help of a powerful ally."

"She's stronger than you think," Trellis added. "Stonekeepers are known for their power."

"Tell me something I don't know," Luger spat as he fished his communicator from his pocket. The small device began to glow, and seconds later, the image of the elf king's masked face appeared before them, hovering in midair. "My lord," Luger reported, "the young Stonekeeper has escaped, and she has the help of a formidable warrior."

"Your mission remains clear, Luger," the elf king replied, his voice calm but tight. "Track them down and kill them both."

"As you wish, my lord."

"I thought our job was to capture her," Trellis pointed out. "Not kill her."

Glaring at the young man from the corner of his eye, Luger hissed, "Mercy is for the weak, boy."

"If she will not join us," the elf king continued, "then our only option is to kill her. She is far too dangerous to be left alive. Luger, when you have found and cornered her, I want Trellis to be the one to deliver the final blow. By killing her, he will prove his loyalty. Should he fail, and I expect he will, you have my permission to kill him as well. Understood?"

A sinister smile tugged at the edge of Luger's mouth. "Yes, my lord."

Though they couldn't see his face, Luger and Trellis knew the elf king was glaring at them. "Do not fail me again." With that, his image faded and swirled as the smoky magic it was encased in returned to the communicator. There was a tense moment of silence as the last of the smoke disappeared.

Finally, Trellis asked, "You would really kill me, Luger?"

The older elf looked at him with danger in his eyes. "I do as I'm told," he replied. "Something I suggest you start doing." He glanced down at the ground and spied a small tuft of fur wedged between two of the innumerable stones that made up the street. He bent down and pulled it out, studying it closely. Then he sniffed it, his keen elf senses instantly recognizing the scent. "A fox," he muttered to himself.

Just then, one of the city guard came running up to him. "Sir! My men have reported seeing the Stonekeeper and two others headed toward Demon's Head Mountain."

Luger looked at him. "Lieutenant," he ordered, "bring me the crawler hounds." Looking toward the enormous bulk of the mountain rising above the rooftops, he added, "It's time to finish this hunt."