"Raw no do this."

Jeb looked around as DG smiled and put a hand on Raw's shoulder. "You'll be fine."

He frowned. "Itchy."

"Sorry." DG did look sympathetic as she pushed his hand away from his face. "That's probably the pine sap."

"Could be the horsehair." Jeb put in, trying not to smile.

As if to highlight the indignity, Speedy swished his considerably shorter tail. DG kissed the animal's nose. "It's all in the name of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There's probably a medal in this for you."

Jeb came closer to inspect her work. "A medal for a horse?"

"Horses are people, too."

Jeb snorted but looked at Raw in the moonlight. After Jeb had cut it, DG had used Speedy's tail to completely cover the man's face, bare arms, and bare legs. In the darkness, Raw cut a monstrous figure.

If they could get him to act the part.

"Are you sure this is what a Kalidah looks like?" DG asked.

"I don't know. I've never seen one." Jeb smiled. "And neither have those soldiers."

"How do you know that?" DG asked.

"Because if they had ever seen one, they'd be dead." Jeb reasoned. "If the legends about Kalidahs are true."

Raw was still nervous. "What if Raw mess up?"

DG put a hand on his shoulder. "You won't mess up. You'll be fine. There are people down there that need our help. Jeb and I will be right there with you."

Raw took a deep breath and even though he was still nervous, he looked a little more resigned to his task.

"Sir Jeb!" It took a minute for him to locate the source of the tiny voice. As the Queen Mouse promised, her subjects had flocked to his aid as soon as he had called with the whistle. He knelt down carefully as the little mouse ran up. "Everything is ready. There are only two men yet awake and they guard the prisoners."

"Good." Jeb picked the mouse up and deposited him on his shoulder before he turned to DG and Raw. He felt the familiar excitement of executing a plan rising in the pit of his stomach . "It's show time."

DG shook her head. "You live for stuff like this, don't you?"

He didn't answer as he grinned and picked up his rifle.

The three moved stealthily up the brick road. Near where DG and Jeb had hid earlier, Raw left them, hurrying a little farther up the path before disappearing into the trees. The noises of the night hid their rustlings as Jeb, DG, and their little mouse friend descended into the woods.

The prisoners with their guards were closer to the camp then they had been before, but still remained on the outskirts. The mouse jumped from Jeb's shoulder and scampered across the campsite towards the tents, unnoticed by the guards.

DG and Jeb remained on the fringes of the forest. He counted to ten and right on cue, rustlings started in the woods just east of their position.

They were enough to get one of the guard's attention, loud enough to roust his suspicions. He looked to his comrade. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Clearly, the second man had been on his way to sleeping on duty.

"There's something in those bushes."

"You don't say?" Sarcasm was heavy in the man's voice. "In the Dark Forest? I'm shocked."

Raw rustled again, more forcefully. This time, the second guard noticed. "What is that?"

Some of the prisoners had noticed the noise as well and were getting edgy. The first guard sneered. "Probably my imagination."

It was then that Raw stood. The long hair that hung from his body made him seem larger and more dangerous, the shadows making the sight even more horrible. The moon shown down on him, glinting off of the long, matted hair as it hung from his arms. The shadows cast across his face, the effect giving the Viewer a more gruesome appearance then Jeb had hoped for. With a guttural roar, he ran at the men, arms raised.

Both of the guards screamed, and fumbled clumsily with their weapons.

"NOW!" Jeb yelled as he leapt from the bushes. The men didn't have time to react as he brought the butt of the rifle down on the first's head, before swinging it around to knock the second senseless.

At his mark, the tents had fallen, trapping the Long Coats that slept there beneath the canvas. Earlier, the mice had chewed the ropes that held the tents up to the point of almost breaking. When he had called, it had been simple enough for the mice to finish bringing them down in an impromptu net. He grinned as he saw the Long Coats fumbling around blindly, screaming for help.

Reaching down, he pulled the keys from one of the guards and tossed them to DG who had followed him out of hiding to stop the prisoners from taking flight. They were breathing hard, but they hadn't stampeded. She unlocked two of the men from their shackles and Jeb called them over, handing each of them a weapon he had taken from the guards.

They were still awestruck as he ordered them to cover the Long Coats. Their eyes darted between Raw who was watching the unconscious guards, Jeb, and the jumping canvas. "C'mon, gents. We're trying to save your hides, here."

The men shook off the shock and concentrated on the Long Coats they were supposed to be apprehending.

DG had unlocked the rest of the prisoners and ran over, carrying the open manacles. "Here, Jeb."

The first Long Coat had managed his way from his tent. Jeb pointed the muzzle of rifle right between his eyes. "If you'd be so kind as to stand up."

The man complied and Jeb noted that no one could look threatening when wearing only underwear. "What are you going to do with us?"

"I'll think of something."

"Nothing?" Orianah asked doubtfully. "You can get nothing from the prisoners?"

"It is my opinion, Your Majesty," General Ritnik replied, "that we can get nothing from the Long Coat prisoners because they know nothing. Zero has skillfully kept them in the dark."

The General had arrived early in the afternoon at the Queen's insistence. Ritnik was one of the few who had remained loyal to her through the Witch's rise to power. He was another dear friend that had sacrificed much in the name of that loyalty. Orianah had not forgotten.

Ahamo spoke from his position near the window. "What of the captives they have been gathering? Has any of them confessed as to why or where they are taking them?"

Ritnik shook his balding head. "Only that after the prisoners are captured, they are taken north through the Dark Forest on Zero's orders. Most of the patrols tasked with this do not return."

Orianah shared a look with her husband and faithful Tutor who stood near him. Ahamo nodded slightly. At least they were getting a vague idea of where their enemy was. Zero was keeping his alliance with the Ice Witches very close, indeed. There were no witnesses, even among his Long Coats, that would return to tell any tales.

Ritnik sipped his tea and gave Orianah an appraising look. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I wish I could be more candid." She said, regretfully, "But I fear that if I do not tread carefully, my family would suffer for it."

The general was piecing together what she was saying. "I am one of your most trusted friends, My Lady."

"I know that." With her eyes, she pleaded for a change of subject.

With a sigh, he nodded. "We have had some interesting news from the northeast that I thought you might like to hear."

Orianah tried to be subtle as she looked to her husband. DG had gone to the northeast, but odds were good that Ritnik's news had little to do with that.

"I'm pleased to tell you that the Crowley and Fielder feud is at an end."

"Oh?" Orianah felt the corners of her mouth quirk. She had always hoped those two towns could settle their differences. The quarrel had started when her grandmother was reigning and the woman had flat out refused to get into the middle of the situation. Orianah had agreed that sometimes even a queen could not intercede.

"Indeed." Ritnik smiled. "And just in time to beat the dickens out of a battalion of Long Coats that were coming to pay them a visit. A few of their messengers arrived in Central City right before I left and relayed the news."

"I'm very glad the reconciliation was so well-timed." Orianah smiled as she thought of the Long Coats under fire from something as absurd as pumpkin cannons. "And what brought about this peace treaty?"

"According to the couriers, a Viewer was able to feel the events that had transpired to cause the misunderstanding." Ritnik, smiled. It was his turn to convey silent meaning as he looked from Orianah to Ahamo.

She's alive. Orianah thought with a relieved smile.

Her revelry was ended abruptly when a commotion outside the study door intruded. There was the sound of scuffling followed by a cry of pain and a nasty oath. The doors swung open hard enough for them to bounce on the walls behind them.

In the doorway, looking travel-worn and panting, was a lovely woman with long, black hair and brown eyes. Behind her, two of the Queen's guards were picking themselves up off of the floor.

The visitor immediately dropped to a knee, speaking with a slight accent. "Your Majesty. I am sorry for the intrusion. I come on behalf of the Tin Man, Wyatt Cain."

The guards had regained their composure and were heading towards the perceived threat. Orianah held up a hand to stave them off. "Who are you?"

"Connalee LaRue, Your Majesty."

She stared in disbelief, but recognized the girl she once knew. "Come in, my child."

Ahamo moved to close the doors, allowing Mary to sidle in. He gave the young girl a smile. "We still have refreshments, dear."

"I thought perhaps you would need more, My Lord." Mary slipped the first tea service from the table with grace and replaced it with the one she held. "You seem to have quite a few guests today."

With a bow of respect to Ahamo and one to Orianah, the child made to leave the room.

Something clicked as Orianah watched the handmaid leave. All of those missions, all of those secrets . . .all of them discussed over a cup of tea.

Her lavender eyes set on Tutor so intensely that the man looked up instantly. She shifted her gaze and nodded towards the door. He nodded slowly before stepping forward, shifting and changing until he had converted to his dog form. With a small whine, he ran across the floor and disappeared down the hall.

Connalee gasped and Orianah saw the danger. If her hunch was right they needed to keep up appearances until Toto could get in to position.

"And where did you say you were from again?" Orianah urged her, trying to convey in her look that the young woman needed to follow her lead.

"Rigmar, Your Majesty." Connalee repeated in confusion. "I bear news of your daughter."

Ahamo stepped to the door and looked down the hall. All of the sudden, Toto's short, yapping barks rang out. He was out of the room in a flash.

Orianah grabbed the cream pitcher from the tray as she stood to follow him. It was cold in her hand and even with her diminished magical ability, she could sense the dark magic at work on the silver.

Ritnik and Connalee were behind her as she made her way up the hall. When they reached the room, Toto was still standing attentively, pointing at Mary who stood with her back to the wall in the small sitting room. Her wide blue eyes took in Ahamo and Orianah and the others that had followed her down the hall. In the girl's hand, she held a small, square mirror.

"Mary, Mary . . ." Ahamo said quietly. "All this time."

"My Lord," the young woman tried to smile as she spoke nervously. "I-I don't understand what this is all about."

Orianah held out her hand, "Give me the mirror."

Suddenly, the youthful face turned cold and hard. "No."

"It's over, Mary." Orianah said, hand still out. "They'll be no more messages to your superior. Give it to me."

Rage twisted the girl's face. Then, with a scream of wrath, she raised the mirror over her head and sent it smashing to the floor. The mirror broke, the little pieces scattering across the wooden floor. The broken, enchanted ice immediately began to evaporate and Orianah felt the dark magic leave the piece of silver she was still holding.

"It doesn't matter." There was a crazed, even demented look in Mary's eyes. "We have your precious first-born, Orianah. It's over."

Orianah took a step forward and had the pleasure of seeing some of that haughtiness leave the witch. "Not hardly."

She motioned to the two guards that had come running at Ritnik's call. "Lock her in her chambers. Two guards are to be posted inside at all times. If she moves, take extreme action."

The girl hissed and spat as the guards hooked her under the arms and carried her from the room. Orianah spun around to address Connalee. "They have my daughter?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Where are they?"

"The Unnamed Mountains, north of the Winkian Plains. The Tin Man and your advisor have already started to pursue them."

Orianah was already moving out the door. "Courier!"

The little man with dark hair and glasses appeared almost instantly at her elbow. "Your Majesty?"

"I need two crows." She said as she continued to stride down the hall. "One to General Gayelette the other to General Caye. I want them to muster all of the troops they have available and meet in the Winkian Plains. I'll provide a rendezvous point."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"General Ritnik."

"My Lady?"

"I want your soldiers ready to ride for the Winkian Plains in two hours."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Ms Connalee."

"Your Majesty?"

She led the young woman back into the study. "Tell me everything you know."

"We can't thank you enough." The gnarled old man shook Jeb's hand and then DG's. "We're all grateful."

The sun was shining in the Dark Forest today. DG, Jeb, and Raw had passed the night with the released prisoners, getting them organized for their trip back to the south. When the suns had risen, it was to a cloudless blue sky.

"It was our pleasure." Jeb returned. "Just follow the brick road west. You'll come to a crossroads. If you go straight, you'll find a path that will lead you a small town called Ruby Hollow. You can make your way to Central City from there"

"And be careful." DG encouraged. "There are still more Long Coats roaming around out there."

"We'll try." The man looked around. "Where's your Viewer friend? I wanted to thank him, too."

"Oh, um." DG gave Jeb a pained look. "He's uh. . . "

"Still trying to get the horse hair off." Jeb smiled. "He's a little surly."

The man laughed, hefting his sack full of provisions. "Tell him that we express our gratitude."

"We'll do that." Jeb and DG both waved as the people set out back the way they themselves had just come. The two horses were now carrying a small girl and an older man and at the end of the procession, a group of men held guns on the manacled Long Coats.

DG watched them go. "I hope they make it to Central City."

"It's the best we could do for them." Jeb looked down at her. "We've got our own adventure to be getting on with."

She smiled back as a little voice called from their feet. "Do you require any other assistance, sir and lady?"

Jeb knelt down to speak to the small group of mice. "No, little friend. The Mouse Kingdom did themselves proud. Tell Queen Pavel that I am most grateful for your assistance."

The little creatures sketched a quick bow. "It was our pleasure to be of service." And with that, they dispersed among the trees and underbrush, leaving DG and Jeb alone.

He moved away, heading for their horses. "We had better round up Raw and get moving."

"Jeb?"

He stopped and turned, but she was quiet, seeming to fumble with the words she wanted to say. "I'm glad you came."

"Me, too."