It's in the Family

by GilShalos

The Hunter's Saga Part II: Slightly AU. Once everyone is healthy, our team heads to the Tower of Fang as per the instructions left by Cleo's father. OrphenCleo HartiaMariabella

20. Chapter 19

Disclaimer: The usual, the characters from Sorcerous Stabber Orphen belong to Yoshinobu Akita, Yuuya Kusaka, TBS/Bandi and ADV.

This is set after Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge. This is based off the Anime only using the English terms. Warning Spoilers!

Author's Note: I figure I've delayed you long enough... so I'll simply say on with the story.

---

Volcan and Dortin were trudging along the road after Volcan's usual obsession. 'Okay, Volcan's only obsession.' Dortin sighed, 'Why do we always do this? They leave. We follow.'

"Why else would they be traveling on foot rather than using the wicked evil sorcery to simply travel to the Tower of Fang in a flash?" Volcan proclaimed to the sky, "Not to mention leaving in the dark of night. It's just like that sneaky sorcerer to cheat me out of the treasure like that."

"But Brother, he always travels on foot." Dortin groaned, thinking 'Why is it we're constantly lost except when it comes to crossing paths with Orphen. Fate hates me.'

"Details." Volcan continued, like Dortin hadn't said anything. "Details. It's my treasure and I'll get it from that evil, wicked and vile sorcerer."

Volcan proudly stomped down the path, stopping when a vaguely familiar armor clad figure stepped out in front of them. "I would have a few words with you."

"And if I don't want to?" Volcan said belligerently.

"I think maybe we should go back to Totokonta." Dortin whispered tugging on Volcan's cape trying to get him to retreat away from the soldier in the armor adorned with the emblem of the Tower of Fang. Dortin thought, 'We've seen him before…somewhere, while following Orphen at his school? Maybe, but… no that couldn't have been it.'

"It would be to your great monetary benefit to hear me out." The soldier replied, ignoring Dortin.

"Money. Really? Give me something just for listening. Then we'll see."

The man dropped a gold socket in Volcan's waiting hand. "There's more where that came from, so you will listen?"

Eagerly, Volcan nodded. "You have my attention." He thought a moment and greedily added, "For a few moments, more will cost you."

"I'll make it quick. There is a group of travelers who have stopped for the day just over the next hill. They have some valuable paperwork and drawings that I want to recover. Bring that to me and you will be rewarded." The soldier thought, 'Agan, you owe me for going out on this limb for you.'

"How much?" Volcan asked eagerly, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"You will get what you so richly deserve." Said the armor-clad figure in front of him.

"Oh no." Dortin muttered seeing trouble coming their way again.

"Shut up Dortin."

"But...but..." He tried before sighing and trudging along behind his brother, "Here we go again"

---

A while later the two trolls approached a camp and quickly ducked behind some bushes after recognizing Cleo, who was collecting several sets of folded clothes. She was clearly upset and talking to her Wolven pup.

"I can't believe Devon. He encouraged Alik to start throwing the mud and then it all got out of hand. Although, I must admit, I loved seeing all of them having fun. But, how dare Orphen blame me and Alik for the mud fight? I never even touched the mud and, thankfully, didn't get hit by any either. It was so priceless when Orphen got splatted in the face by Hartia." Cleo grinned as she thought about when that happened towards the end of the fight.

She also remembered shortly afterwards, watching Orphen stalk towards her, anger present in his face, even though it was mostly covered by mud. He was almost to her when he got hit in the back by one last mud ball she wasn't even sure who actually threw it.

"That's it!" Orphen shouted turning away from Cleo back to Alik who Orphen seemed to think had thrown the mud. "'Junior Brat' you've done quite enough today. Control yourself. This is not a game."

Alik looked sheepish in spite of the congratulatory pat on the back he was receiving from Devon, when Cleo jumped back into the fray. "Stop it. It was only a bit of fun and after the last few days, even you have to admit that's welcome."

"You're not covered in mud."

"No…" Cleo paused, stifling a giggle. "I'm not," she added putting her hands out to prevent Orphen who was once again stomping towards her. "And I'm going to stay that way or we won't continue until I've taken a long HOT bath which means you'd have to heat it for me."

"It won't be a problem, if you'd get your stray under control." Orphen hissed once he was close enough. "No more hijinks like that, or the pine cones or the acorns in my boots."

"You know that play is a good sign…" Cleo countered, softening her voice as she continued, "especially considering the hell he's been through."

"And you haven't Cleo?" Orphen whispered matching her tone, suddenly serious with gentleness in his eyes as he looked deep into hers. She knew he was trying to draw her out…and as much as she wanted to answer him, she couldn't. She knew the pranks Alik had been pulling on Orphen during today's walk had been similar the actions she took with Orphen when they traveled and he was in one of his moods.

She shuddered, not wanting to think about the last turn in the conversation from earlier. 'I'll think about it… later. Right now, well I was thinking about earlier because I wanted to do something …what was it. Oh…that's it!' Absently she checked to make sure the necklace was in place before focusing on Leki.

"Is Argenthua around? No…only Policarpos. Oh…well could you relay my thanks to her for lifting me up out of range of the …um…mud-slinging. Or maybe I should just tell her later. Okay…that's the last of it. Five sets of clothing for five…" She giggled slightly, "muddy boys. I swear sometimes the men are more childish than the boy. And then, Orphen tells me to stop Alik's antics? How dare he!? I mean I wasn't even involved…and he totally glossed over his 'antics'. I mean he was throwing as much mud if not more than the others. He was smiling and having fun, too… I think, well at least until Hartia, or was it Devon got that cheap shot in. With all that mud flinging…who knows?"

She stepped out of the camp carrying the clothes and walking down what seemed to be a narrow but recently cut path. Although they were close to a common camping area, they had elected to carve out a new spot rather then endanger any other travelers on the road between Totokonta and Alenhatan.

After watching her collecting the clothes, Dortin briefly wondered who the five boys or men were. Although that really wasn't important at the moment, he surmised that since she was collecting clothes, the path lead to water where the men were bathing and likely to be indisposed for a while. He knew that if they absolutely had to search the camp, this would be the best opportunity they would encounter, but he silently hoped Volcan would just leave. 'No such luck,' Dortin sighed feeling Volcan's hand grab his collar dragging him along.

"Even better, money and getting even with that vile sorcerer. I, Lord Volcan Polkano, will be triumphant."

Going with the flow, Dortin followed Volcan into camp and started helping him dig through the belongings. Watching Volcan throw everything around, Dortin sighed again, 'This isn't going to be pretty…and we're gonna get blasted again, to the moon for real this time.' He knew he couldn't do anything to stop the inevitable, but to keep things quieter, he went to Cleo's pack, figuring he'd put it back in the same order so she wouldn't pound them before they got blasted. To his surprise, he found some paper in the outside pocket that he recognized as a map and started to examine it.

He was about to put it back when he noticed that Volcan, had been distracted in searching for the papers. Dortin closed his eyes, repeating, "This isn't gonna be pretty." He wanted to blot out what he saw, Volcan had found Orphen's jacket vest and was putting it on.

"Don't mess with his jacket. He's going to be mad enough about us going through their things."

"It's mine now, besides he owes me."

"He's going to kill us."

"What do you have in your hands?" snatching the paper from Dortin. "Ah-ha…my map." Volcan said examining the map, "I knew it. They're after my treasure."

"But you didn't even know about the map."

"Details." Volcan replied dismissively.

"You don't even know if it leads to a treasure," whined Dortin, even though he knew it was futile.

"Shut up Dortin. I am the older brother and I know things you don't. It's valuable. That map is mine." He rubbed the jacket vest he was wearing and added while preening, "and so is the jacket."

Looking around fearfully, Dortin whispered, "We should leave before they come back."

"I know what I am doing." Volcan said after giving Dortin, who was nervously watching the woods, a dirty look.

Dortin pointed to the map, "Isn't that what we're supposed to be looking for?"

"He only paid us for our attention, so I don't have to bring him anything. Let's go find my treasure."

Cleo rushed into the camp, laughing and talking to Leki, "Can you believe that after all this time Majic is still shy about me seeing his underwear, even if he wasn't wearing them. Sheesh, it's not like I don't do my share of the laundry when were' traveling. I even wash…" She paused blushing, "well maybe I can see his point. And then Alik offered to model his…no shyness there. Yet anyway. But when Hartia…offered…to, to… and he was in the water. At least Orphen dunked him and by proximity Orphen got Devon, too, who was about to add something…and I so don't want to know what he was gonna say. At least they're going to be busy for a while splashing around."

Noticing Leki's low growl Cleo tensed, looking around for danger before realizing the camp was in complete disarray. She took in the mess of their belongings barely registering a familiar pair making a hasty exit. At the top of her lungs she screamed at their now running figures, "Come back here you filthy little monsters!"

After two steps into her pursuit of the trolls, Cleo stopped, hurriedly glancing around the camp trying to decide if they'd stolen anything important, 'Oh crap, they did. I can't let them get away.' She thought as she charged after them yelling at the top of her lungs belatedly realizing there was more then one reason for shouting.

"When Orphen catches you he's really going kill you for daring to place your greedy hands on his jacket! And then he'll fix you and kill you again for wearing it."

Hearing the commotion and immediately recognizing Cleo's distressed cries, Orphen grabbed his pants, threw them on and quickly teleported into camp, but did not see her there. Although noticing the state of the camp, he was more focused on what he did not see, neither Leki nor any other Wolven were there, that meant they were at least following her. That knowledge allowed him to breathe again, but damn it she knows better than to run off. 'Not again… I can't… she's so…' he thought as he started tracking her by the noise she was making.

Hartia arrived from the pool next only in his underwear, after his panicked 'port. He saw Orphen's pants only form vanishing in the direction of the shouts.

"Crap!" He cried out as he started to chase after them only to realize that he wasn't going to be any help until he got some clothes on. He went to grab his pack, ducking when out of the corner of his eye he saw Devon approaching at full tilt. Hartia opted to stay in the tuck and Devon literally leapt over him giving Hartia a choice of views, neither of which were appealing.

Alik heard Cleo's screams and panicked running off after Devon with Majic hot on his heels, neither of them had taken the time to dress. "Alik!" Majic cried as he caught up to Alik and grabbed him. "She's okay…Listen to the sounds, does she sound angry or hurt?"

Still almost on the verge of tears, Alik started to intently listen and said, "Umm… Mad?"

"Right, Someone or something has made her angry…she's not hurt and soon she'll let us know what upset her, whether we want to know or not, right?" Alik sniffed a couple of times and nodded. "Now…let's get some clothes on before I …err, we completely embarrass ourselves in front of her when she gets back." Alik and Majic dug in their packs for fresh clothes and quickly dressed while Hartia was shouting at the unwelcome visitors he was in the process of kicking out of the camp.

The sounds of shouting changed and Devon's voice was added to the din. Orphen stepped into the clearing barely containing his laughter. Majic, Hartia and Alik saw why when from behind Orphen, Cleo and Devon appeared. The Wolven were in their full sized forms and Cleo was being held in Argenthua's mouth by of waistband her dress. She was obviously fuming but had given up on struggling.

Devon on the other hand, had not given up on the struggling and was being carried in Policarpos and Polikapi's mouths by his arms. He was cursing, kicking and shouting. Bird, his falcon familiar, who'd returned earlier that day, was diving frantically at the Wolven to help free his companion. Even though by causing the Wolven to have to dodge its attacks, the bird was causing Devon to be alternately stretched or compressed like an accordion.

Once everyone was safely ensconced in the camp, Orphen gave vent to his anger at Cleo, "I thought that you had stopped running off."

"Let me go. Put me down."

"I don't know." He replied, smirking and tapping his chin like he was considering something, "If you're there you can't get into trouble or get away from our discussion. You can't keep putting yourself in danger. You can't just run off every time you feel like it."

"Wait a minute!" Cleo snapped, frustrated that for once she was following the rules and was still getting in trouble for it. She shouted back, "That's why I kept yelling so you could find me, but I guess you weren't listening as usual!"

Devon, oblivious to the building Orphen and Cleo fight, snarled at his Wolven captors. "Let me go! Listen here you flea bitten mongrels, if you don't let me down I swear that I will have you made into rugs!"

In spite of himself, Orphen started to snicker slightly at Devon's insults leveled at the Wolven knowing full well the Hunter had just gone too far. He also noticed that Hartia, Majic, and Alik were snickering at Devon. Cleo had even noticed and was biting her lip to keep from snickering herself.

Polikapi, sent a telepathic message to Hartia, Orphen and Majic, "Sorcerers, keep your Hunters under control." As he and Policarpos unceremoniously dropped Devon on the ground with a loud "Owww!"

Orphen looked up at Argenthua and stood under where she was holding Cleo aloft, "Give her to me before she starts to spit fire." She slowly lowered Cleo into Orphen's waiting arms and he held her princess style. She looked up at his stony glare and blushed slightly before she attempted to get out of Orphen's arms. "No."

Hartia seeing the impending fireworks attempted to lighten the mood, "Bad Hunters you shall be punished severely."

Shaking his head Majic muttered worriedly, "This is gonna get us all killed." Hartia stepped up behind Majic and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.

Alik ran up to Cleo and Orphen tugging at her shirt to get a better look at her, "Are you okay? Were you hurt? What happened?"

She wiggled out of Orphen's arms to stand in front of him and turned to Alik. Orphen did not let go of Cleo, opting to simply keep his hands resting lightly on her waist. Cleo answered Alik, "Of course I am. Those darn trolls took off with my father's map, the rubbings and the jacket that belongs to the deaf sorcerer behind me."

"My jacket?"

"The trolls?" Hartia said and he fingered something that was behind his back.

"The rubbings?" Majic whined, "Oh no, those are the originals."

"Why is that such concern?" Devon asked.

"Arrgh…Volcan, I really am going to kill you this time." Orphen avowed.

"This time?"

Cleo started to explain with a sigh, "Volcan and Dortin, the Trolls. They are the bane of our existence. They keep turning up, causing chaos and getting us into trouble."

"More trouble than you Cleo?" Hartia teased with a grin, in an attempt to keep the mood light.

Almost growling, Cleo answered, "Hartia, I'm going to hurt you for that one."

"The trolls are more trouble," Orphen said but added with a grin, "But not by much."

With a groan, "Not you too."

"I'd say it's too close to call." Majic added.

"Majic, how could you take their side?"

"Easily it's the truth, and you can't deny it."

"Arrgh!," Cleo exclaimed in frustration, "Oh you're all so insufferable. I'm not talking to you men anymore."

"Can I have that in writing?" Orphen's amused voice came from behind her.

"Can we get that in triplicate please?" Hartia teased.

"I remember them… They're more trouble than her." Alik chimed in defending Cleo. "Even for …even for…" Alik broke off, unable to continue.

Cleo broke away from Orphen's grasp and hugged Alik who had started shaking, "Yes, they were." She answered, but realizing from his change in demeanor that wasn't a topic to continue with right now.

"But you remember?" Alik asked, looking first at Cleo then at Devon.

"Yeah, Bro, I do." Devon answered quietly, gulping, "I just didn't remember them 'till…"

"Enough." Cleo cut Devon off, with a glance that said this isn't the time or place. She rubbed Alik's back until he stopped shivering. Once he'd calmed down a bit, she released him and took his hand to walk with him towards the pool where everyone had been bathing earlier. "Come on, I'm not going to expose you to this anymore."

Devon gingerly stepped closer to Cleo and Alik, he offered her his arm, "Alright, let's go."

"Um…Devon, maybe you should put some clothes on." Cleo said only just noticing that he was clad only in his boxers, Hartia was in… and …'oh my goodness, Orphen only had his pants on and they were half undone… did he? ...oh he isn't?' Cleo blushed profusely and looked away from Orphen.

Orphen noticed the direction of her gaze, her blush and gave a predatory smile. Even as a faint blush colored his cheeks, he thought that it was nice to know she noticed him the way he noticed her. That said as soon as she was out of sight he wanted to get underwear on, 'Damn but the leather chaffed. Note to self, never wear leather without underwear again. Plus' he added, shifting from foot to foot, 'avoid running through the forest barefooted. Wait a minute, she's going nowhere with Devon especially with him dressed like that and I still haven't finished shouting at her for running off,' grinding his teeth, he realized, 'I let Hartia get me off topic. Again! He keeps doing that to me… I'm stopping that as of now.'

He picked up the conversation, which had continued while he'd been musing, to see Alik giggling while he watched Cleo poke Devon in the chest shouting, "… the sticker bushes."

"I did not, you're the klutz."

"You liar, I-I… may have klutz attacks but this time it was all you. You creep, you're the one who tackled me to the ground. Stay away from me, all of you!" Cleo screeched, turning away form Devon, glaring at everyone around the camp.

"Umm… does that mean me, too?" Alik asked hesitantly, still shaky and needing reassurance from Cleo. He had been able to relax a bit with Devon and Cleo's usual bickering, but when she moved to leave, the normalcy threatened to leave again.

"Not you, Alik. You, I love with all my heart, as for them I am not even sure I like them at all any more." She said shooting a dirty look at everyone in the camp.

"I love you too… um…can I?…" He reached up and whispered something in Cleo's ear.

"Oh Alik..." Cleo looked insecure and more than a little worried. "I-I'm honored but are you sure?" She glanced quickly towards Devon, who had stepped away and was going though his pack to get something to wear, before adding, "Are you sure it's what you want?"

Alik hugged her and nodded. Glancing over his shoulder, Cleo noticed that Orphen's glare he'd given her when she glanced at Devon was softening. She smiled slightly to in an effort to reassure him that she was okay, frowning when he started speaking.

"Cleo, you know it's for your own good." Orphen started watching her frown at his words, even though he was trying to gentle his tone of voice as he approached them, "I - we want to keep you safe but you've got to stay with us or we won't be able to."

"Don't do it." Hartia said quietly to Majic when Orphen started speaking.

"He's dead meat." Majic whispered back to Hartia.

Now getting his clothes, Devon paused rubbing his hands together at the idea of a rift between Orphen and Cleo, "This will be good."

Alik interrupted both of them as he quietly asked Orphen, "Why are you mad at Cleo?"

With a sigh, knowing he couldn't blow up at her right now with Alik so worried, Orphen answered, "No, but I was worried and sometimes when you're worried it sounds like you're mad and you might say things you don't really mean."

Cleo chimed in with a reminder of her own, "Alik, we've talked about this before. It's okay, just because an adult gets upset does not mean they don't care."

"Right, just because I get upset or angry, I still care, understand?"

"I know… I… me, too. Or…Uncl…Orphen. Um… so you still love Cle…" Alik paused, knowing Cleo agreed and Devon said it was okay, he decided to try, "Ma… err." He started, gulping as he realized he wasn't quite ready to address her like he would his mother, yet. "Well, Cleo, right?"

"That's enough Alik." Cleo said, not wanting to force the issue.

As Devon was throwing some clothes on, he watched the scene unfold carefully. When Alik asked his question and stumbled over what to call Orphen, Devon's eyes narrowed and he glared at Orphen. 'That wasn't what was supposed to happen.'

"Saved by a kid, he has all the luck. There goes the dinner show." Hartia continued to exchange quips with Majic.

"He lucked out again." Majic replied, but glancing at Devon he pointed towards him and added, "But, as for the dinner show as you put it, there's still hope."

"Alright what the hell is going on?" Devon demanded.

Ignoring Devon, Cleo redirected everyone to what she saw as the problem at hand, "Look the trolls are still out there and have the papers."

"Don't forget my jacket." He grumbled because that really rankled because …well the jacket was a gift and he never wanted to forget the man who'd given it to him.

"Um… guys I…" Hartia was now seriously trying to get a message across.

"That's right we…" Majic added.

"Well, if it wasn't for the dog patrol…we might have a chance to have caught them, as it is they're long gone by now." Devon interrupted, criticizing everyone.

Cleo rounded on Devon when he tried to blame everyone but himself, "It was not them who tackled me to the ground. Or more correctly, who tripped over his own two feet, knocking me down and landing on top of me in the sticker bushes. Now, we will have to split up and search for them.

"Well, actually we have…" Hartia started again only to be interrupted again.

"Argenthua, can you find their scents so we can track them down, please?" Orphen asked.

"We will try. As it is partially our fault that the small ones, who smelled of the old den, entered the camp and later escaped it." Argenthua 'pathed to everyone.

"Damn straight, it's your fault." Devon accused.

Argenthua started to growl at Devon, and Cleo interrupted, "No, Devon it was a group screw up, and now we all have to fix it."

"Why are we going after his jacket and some papers? It is not like they are important."

"We aren't after the jacket…."

"Yes, we are!" Orphen snapped.

With a glare at Orphen, Cleo continued like he hadn't interrupted, "as much as the paper inside it and my father's map. The map my father left me leads to the Hunter's weapon."

"The Radiant Blade… You? You have a map!? To the Blade? We have to get it first! Now!" Devon interrupted, "Not head to some stupid sorcerer's clubhouse to…"

"No, Devon! We're going to the Tower of Fang!"

"Like hell we are! We have to get that first!"

"Drop it! Right now we don't have the map. The point I was getting to is that it's been taken along with some other important…"

"Nothing is as important as getting that blade. I thought it was lost when your…"

At Cleo's flinch, Majic pushed his way between Cleo and Devon, "Stop! You insensitive jerk! This isn't getting us anywhere."

"If you'd listen…" Hartia interjected.

"Butt out, sorcerer!" Devon spat at Hartia while glaring at Majic.

Cleo recovered from her surprise, and pushed around Majic, "Devon drop it! We know the sword is important but to find it we have to find the trolls! Who took off with…"

"My Jacket." Orphen snarled as Majic winced seeing the look that promised pain on his Master's face.

"Will someone let me…" Hartia cried.

"Nothing matters more then getting that sword. It …"

"Devon, damn it!" Cleo shouted, "We'll take care of that later! Right now we have to find those trolls!"

"I'm not moving a muscle until you promise we'll get the sword. First. Before we go anywhere else."

"This is getting ridiculous!" Cleo shrieked, punctuating each word to Devon with a poke in the chest. "Now let me finish. We're going to the Tower of Fang, first. And only after we get everything back. The map's important but there are also rubbings that came off of what Ga… G… " She paused backing off slightly before she gulped and continued, "he was sealed in and there may be a clue as to how to stop him in them, so yes Devon we will be getting our things back, you will be helping and we're going to the Tower, in that order. Understand?"

"Will someone please listen to me!" Hartia finally shouted in exasperation, seeing that Cleo was shaking again after attempting to say Garik's name again and Alik clinging to her in response. To his surprise, Devon had also seemed to flinch slightly when Cleo stumbled over Garik's name. Hartia resolved to think on that, once things calmed down, that is. "I already have them back I found the trolls back near the camp. They must have doubled back."

"Master Hartia you ducked to avoid Denon's leap and ended up face to ass with Volcan! That's how you found them." Majic clarified, laughing.

"Details." Hartia waved Majic's statement off, silently hoping he'd be able to distract everyone from that event, "I found them that is what is important." He brought the jacket out from behind him and handed it to Orphen. "I tried to say something earlier, sorry."

"Good…now that the jacket and papers are returned. Give me the map so I can go get the sword."

"We're going to the Tower…or did you forget Devon. You were supposed to be going to the Tower for training."

"With the sword, who needs training…"

"Good Grief Devon! Do you even know how to use the sword?" Cleo berated Devon, pausing momentarily while she remembered something, "Devon…recite the first rule!"

Without thinking, Devon responded, "Know your weapon so… you bitch!"

"Can't finish it…let me…Know your weapon so you can use it to its fullest abilities. Now I'll ask you again, do you even know how to use the sword?"

"Arrgh! I… you…" he spluttered, glaring at Cleo even as he thought frantically for a comeback but the simple fact of the matter was that he'd only heard about the Radiant Blade.

"You don't do you? So it's settled, we're continuing to the Tower."

Devon turned away, grumbling, "As if those damn sorcerers would know how to use the Hunter's sword, they can't even touch the damn thing."

"But didn't the sorcerer's make the sword?" Alik asked Devon.

"No clue, Bro. It works, that's all that matters."

"Alik, I'll be sure to look that up when I'm doing research at the Tower." Majic offered, "You want to help?"

"Sure." Alik chirped back as Majic led him away from the argumentative trio.

"I'd be interested to find that out as well. So now that's settled." Cleo started.

"It's not settled." Orphen turned to level a glare at Hartia, demanding, "Where are the damned trolls? Before we do anything else, I'm blasting them to the moon this time!" Orphen shouted.

"You always try that and they still keep coming back. Besides… we have everything back… and we have better things to spend our energy on. Besides, you know they'll find us again later and you can blast them then." Cleo said trying to sooth Orphen's wounded pride while shifting from one foot to another, before going on to something she thought was more important, "Majic do we have any lotion to help stop itching?"

"What …Are you hurt? Why didn't you say something sooner? You're supposed to tell me when something is wrong." Orphen grabbed her and started to check her for the injuries.

"I'm fine…I… err, we fell into some sticker bushes. It itches, but it's better than poison ivy."

"Let me see."

"No!"

"Cleo! Damn it! Do as you're told."

"I won't 'cause it's not serious!"

"Yes," Majic offered, trying to keep Cleo and Orphen from rolling into another fight, "I have some. It's in my pack…I'll get it."

"That won't be necessary; I'll be healing her as soon as she follows instructions."

"I told you already, no!"

"Cleo!" Orphen started approaching her with purpose in his eyes that told her she'd better tell him why she was reluctant. He grabbed her arms and was starting to examine her again.

Cleo saw not only the stubbornness in Orphen's eyes but also the underlying concern. As soon as he was close enough she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.

Orphen blushed faintly before slightly before tensing, "Fine! We'll take care of it in private! But first I still have something I want to talk to you about and maybe if you're itching it will stick in your brain for once." Orphen growled the volume of his voice increasing with each word. "What were you thinking running away from camp, without me, Majic or Hartia. Yes, I know you had Leki and at least one other Wolven with you but damn it, you can't keep running away from me, and you won't anymore if I have to tie you to me."

While Orphen was shouting at Cleo, Alik backed away from the scene and Majic, seeing the boy's nervousness, came up behind him. Wordlessly, put his arms on Alik's shoulders.

"I don't like him anymore." Alik muttered as he looked intently at Orphen lecturing Cleo with an intensity that even surprised Majic. He even felt a tremor run through the boy.

"Oh," Majic prompted, suspecting what was coming. Cleo and Devon fighting was one thing, but Orphen and Cleo hadn't really fought in front of Alik much until they started traveling, "So, why have you changed your mind about him?"

"Well, umm… he's being mean now."

"Mean? Like protecting her even when she doesn't want it; just like she does you?"

"Oh…well, he's still being mean. Cleo always explains."

"Really? What's her first reaction when it's really serious?"

"She yells… Oh I see, so… but that means he treats her like he's her daddy not her boyfriend, why?"

"Well… part of that is a long story… and that reaction can apply to couples, too."

"If they're fighting…" Alik paused momentarily thinking before his face brightened and he proclaimed, in a loud voice that ended up filling a lull in the conversations, "then they need to do what mom and dad did."

"Which was?" Majic prompted with a smirk, noting that they now had everyone's attention.

"When they fought, they always kissed afterwards."

"He's right you know." Hartia said egging Orphen on, noting with a great deal of amusement, the shock on Orphen's face, the blush building on Cleo's and the dagger ridden glare Devon was nailing the giggling Alik and Majic with.

---

Cleo's bath ended up delayed, while the boys had to bathe once more. Chuckling, Orphen had to admit that was somewhat of a blessing since that meant that Cleo had to clean up the mess at the camp. Now it was her turn and Orphen was the human on guard for Cleo's bath. A chore he had been established as permanently his once they departed Totokonta, despite Devon's whining. When she gave the all dressed signal, knowing the Wolven were near, he usually just walked back ahead of her to afford her at least the illusion of a bit of privacy. Something he knew she got precious little of now.

However tonight, especially after Hartia's challenge, he had something very different in mind for their time away from all prying eyes. As she was walking she started to talk to herself or maybe she was talking to Leki. With a grin, Orphen decided to listen in on her rambling, first.

"Damn Hartia, why can't he leave it alone?" Cleo ranted, throwing her arms up in frustration, "He keeps pushing but I know he does not like being pressured."

"Grrrrr, Devon and his stupid stubbornness in persisting that we are engaged." She stopped, putting her hands on her hips, "He's even pushier than Hartia can be, especially with these last bits. Does the dumb ass really think I wouldn't notice him instigating those stupid little fights? And to top it all off, he's trying to use Alik to get what he wants. He keeps trying to use the fact that I care about him and Alik and twisting it into something more than the love of a sibling." Cleo shrugged, starting to walk again, "Why can't he understand that I'm in love with someone else?"

"And Alik," She stopped again, wrapping her arms around herself, "he needs so much, I don't know what to do. He asked me if he could call me, mom. God, what an honor, and even more so if I weren't fairly certain Devon was behind it. Oh, but how can I refuse… I'm not ready to be a mother yet. I can barely take care of myself, Orphen, Majic and you, Leki,…" Cleo paused picking Leki up for a quick cuddle, "So, I guess I'll have to permanently add Hartia to our group…no, our family, now since he seems to have joined us."

"It's nice most of the time, he can…" She let Leki down who cocked his head and followed her movements as she paced around him, "Oh… how to say it… I guess plainly, he can keep Orphen's ego in check better than Majic or I with all his teasing. And he is a good match for her with their stupid comic book secret stuff. I wonder if she's told him she's just as obsessed yet. Anyway… he really does give Majic a different perspective on spells and such. Of course, I'm still worried about Majic, in addition to bringing everything that happened with his mother and brother to the surface, he won't stop feeling guilty about…"

Sighing largely, she stopped walking altogether and plopped down on a log. Leki immediately jumped in her lap and she started nervously stroking him. "I've done everything I can to reassure Majic, but I can tell it still bothers him. I-I know roughly what they saw… Ga… he wouldn't let me avoid that, how could Majic not think otherwise."

"Now I've put everybody in danger, again, since that-that... monster wants me, or rather my blood." She grimaced, lifting her hands up and opening them, examining the faint white lines; scars that will never go away. "Should I leave them and lure …him away from them? I can't, they would just come after me. Or could I go with the Wolven? No, I can't leave them without the Wolven protection, they're targets, too. Maybe I could go after we get to Alenhatan. I know the way from there and can make it to the Tower without them, but could I do that? Or could I go for the sword from Alenhatan like Devon said? Then I could defend myself once I… well, I can't use it until I've learned… and that means the Tower."

She trailed off, looking at her feet, while Leki growled lightly in his throat, voicing his opinion of that thought. She scratched his ears while he watched the path back to camp. "I know… but, I hate everyone being in danger because of me. Or would I make it worse by leaving. It's a circle… and I-I just don't know what to do."

"Of course, as usual, the crux of my problem is him. I'm so confused. I love him so much, but I'm still not sure of how he feels for about me. I mean when we're close, I believe it…but when I can't see him, it's hard."

She paused a moment before continuing, after Leki nudged her under her chin, "I know, I know… you've told me what you think before… and I'd really like to believe it too, but… I mean, we have kissed a few times and I-I don't really count this last time, it was just a peck; all to satisfy…those interfering… busybodies. I-I wonder if I dreamed those kisses and everything else or worse what if it's just guilt or residual from-from the c-cave? Or worse still could… G… he, he have, planted that… those memories… I mean… Orphen just isn't… like that so… can I? Should I?"

She started to sob quietly, "I can't. I'm so afraid to say anything, 'cause that would be like forcing Orphen. Oh no….what if he f-feels that he said it in a moment of weakness and now regrets it but won't go back on his word? I-I mean he couldn't possibly love me. I-I'm just too much trouble to love."

'Okay….That's it I've heard enough. Obviously she needs more reassurance.' Orphen thought. 'Of course, I guess I should have expected this.' He took a step forward, before pausing, 'Not yet, I need to think on what I've learned. Sure, it was interesting to hear her take on Hartia's teasing and that the twit isn't any competition…that to her, Devon's like Majic, only a brother. That's a relief and one less worry on my mind since I can't exactly chase Devon off. Now, Majic… that's another problem. If something's bothering him…. she'd know it. She reads his feelings well… mine, too. Although not lately. I should, no; I will turn her loose on him later.'

'Still what the hell brought this on? I stopped fighting against my feelings and trying to distance myself from her after the coffee incident, so that's not it. I wonder, she mentioned earlier that Alik was pulling pranks to get attention... much like she used to do all the time…' He grinned faintly, remembering what happened after the mud fight, 'She treats Alik like a son, even if she's still unsure of the role, it really suits her. But damnit, I've got so many other things to deal with without catering to the insecurities of a junior… brat…'

Orphen trailed off, running his hand through his hair, 'Other things to deal with? Shit. Nothing's more important than her…them. But could that be it? Have I?' Orphen reviewed the different things that had been happening, the fighting both inside and outside of their group and his old traveling habits kicking in, 'I've been all business…and only giving her attention when forced. Just like I used to do all the time when we traveled. Shit… I really did it. She's scared and she thinks things are going back to 'normal'. She's even been quiet about it, which I've always know is sign she's unsure, scared or up to something. But things have changed, and realizing that almost kicked my ass and she's damn well going to appreciate it, with none of this self-doubting bullshit. I'll show her.'

"Enough!" He growled, stomping through the brush near her.

"Eeep, Orphen, you scared me." She cried in shock, even though she knew that Leki wouldn't have been so relaxed if anyone but a friend got that close to her, when Orphen seemingly appeared across the clearing in front of her from out of nowhere. She'd barely recovered from the initial surprise, when she realized just what she'd been muttering about. 'God I hope he didn't hear me…' she thought before she stammered, "Um… did you finish checking everyone's feet already? Or… did I take too long getting back from my bath?" hoping he followed his normal pattern of not listening to her ramblings. She kept her eyes off of him afraid of seeing anger or resentment in them. She looked down and tensed up as he walked closer, bracing herself the yelling about to take place.

Instead of his voice berating her, she heard the crunch his boots on the leaves and grass until she saw his boots right in front of her. She felt him grasp her shoulders and looked up in surprise to as he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Even more astonishing to her was that his gaze was filled with an emotion she couldn't name and only saw for a moment before his lips descended upon hers. Her doubts from earlier melting away under the onslaught of the feelings of warmth and passion he was projecting. All thought leaving her, she let herself simply bask in his attention.

In an effort to convey his message non-verbally, he poured all of his feelings into the kiss. He felt her tense momentarily before giving into the feelings, and responding with a passion to match his own. The kiss was as much to assure her as it was to make his claim on her so she would understand that their relationship had matured and would never again return to the status quo that they were content with before. Even though, he didn't want to, Orphen pulled back, enjoying the glazed look in her eyes that told him she'd enjoyed it as much as he did.

She barely registered when he pulled back even though she felt bereft at the loss of contact with him. As she opened her eyes, she saw him step back and with a smirk that could only be described as pure male satisfaction, he set her back down on the log, turned and headed back to the camp. She heard him call back, "You're worrying for nothing. Better hurry back or one of those pushy and annoying family members of ours will come in search of you. Sweet dreams my Vixen."

---

Tending the evening meal, while waiting on Orphen and Cleo's return, Hartia watched a dance of sorts start with Devon and Majic. 'Boys will be boys…sorcerers, hunters or not. Just what we need, another pissing contest.' He thought shaking his head and looking down.

He noticed sitting close to him was Alik, who was also intently watching the building tension between the elder boys. 'Time to distract the youngest,' he thought before catching Alik's attention by seemingly pulling a socket out of Alik's ear.

Across the camp, Majic crammed the last of the items they'd retrieved from the lake in the pack before grinding out, "Devon will you stop and sit down. Stop making me regret healing your feet.

"Who asked you too?"

Choosing to ignore his outburst, Majic simply said, "They'll be back when they're back."

"Why him? She's mine, I can…"

"We've been over this already."

"And we've going over it again. At very least, we should take turns protecting her!"

"Why so you can peep?"

"No, so you can't."

"And where am I?"

"Shut it Majic-boy! Before I make you."

"You and what army?"

"I don't need an army, I'm a hunter and we take down namby pamby sorcerers like you for breakfast."

"I've taken you before and I can do it again. Now settle down we have a long day tomorrow with a very early start. Or haven't you noticed our schedule." Majic added in thought, 'Though how I'll never understand you whine louder than Cleo does…err, well did and that's saying something.'

"Big talk from someone who's still scared of the dark," Devon taunted standing over Majic while thinking, 'That always gets him!'

Majic stood and got nose to nose with Devon's before cautioning in a hiss barely loud enough to be called a whisper, "Who are you trying to insult? In case you'd forgotten, someone else is afraid of the dark now, although…maybe he's not important to you, after all he's only your brother. Besides, I overcame the need to defend that fear a long time ago."

Devon's retort was interrupted, "Ladies dinner is ready." A smiling Hartia called out in a sugary voice, triggering Alik to fall into a fit of giggles.

Devon whispered to Majic, while they both stepped to the fire to sit down for dinner, "This isn't over. And Cleo's still mine."

Majic just shook his head, muttering, "Delusional."

---

"Achoo!" Orphen sneezed and wiped his nose which had taken to running off and on for the last few days as they progressed on their meandering trek towards Stephanie's and then to the Tower. At the moment, they had paused for a quick but necessary stop.

"Krylancelo?" Hartia called.

"What?" Orphen looked back from where he was watching the path.

"Maybe we should stop here for the night?"

"Why we're just an hour outside of a village?"

"You really want to stay in Bahnberg?" Hartia said cautiously.

"What? Oh Hell!" Orphen cursed, remembering. "We'll stop now. Has she?"

"Not yet, however if we go much further…" Hartia trailed off, when they heard a response to Orphen's curse.

"What's wrong?!" Cleo shouted.

"Nothing. We're going to set up camp just off the road for the night." Orphen called back, before answering Hartia more quietly. "We'll go off the road again to avoid the town. I think there's a stream of fresh water about ten minutes off the path… with luck there will be a good camp area there too."

"But…" Devon cut in since he and Alik had stepped back onto the road close enough hear Orphen's announcement as the others gathered and started following Orphen and Hartia off the path. Sulking, he followed.

Once a suitable clearing was located, Majic and Hartia went off to collect wood for the fire while Cleo was fussing with Alik and some skinned knees. "I'm almost out of bandages in my first aid kit Orphen, do you know if Majic has more?"

"He commented earlier he was running low. We'll get more in the next town."

"Oh for crying out loud! If we need supplies then why the hell didn't we just walk another hour down the road to the village of Bahnberg? I mean… they've got a great inn there with a suite that's perfect for a group of our size. It's got four bedrooms surrounding a common room and would be a…" He stopped when he saw that Cleo had gone pale and was looking worriedly at Orphen with a question in her eyes. Orphen closed his eyes briefly and nodded. When he opened them again, Devon was pierced with a glare that almost frightened him.

"I-I need to go…" She said quietly as Leki and Argenthua fell in step with her. As soon as she was out of sight, Leki came bounding back and leaped on Orphen's shoulder.

"She send you back, mutt?" The only reply he received was a lick on this face. "I'd rather you'd stay with her." Before really thinking about it, he started to reach up to scratch the pup's head but stopped himself, after all, he knew that Leki was no normal dog. Not putting up with that, Leki pushed his head against Orphen's hand until he re-started the scratch while he thought. 'I know she's worried about me and that damned town… it's nonsense, she's alive, she's staying that way and that's all that matters to me.'

After a moment, Orphen set Leki down before starting to layout his and Cleo's bedrolls when he noticed Devon just standing there watching him. "What do you want?"

"Why'd you just let her go? You of all people should know how dangerous all this is and for a girl to boot. You know she can be used as leverage against me and yet you just let her wander off. You're alternately harping at her about the danger and throwing her into it. Make up your damned mind before you get her killed in front of…"

"Drop it! Devon." Orphen shouted, flinching at the images Devon's words unknowingly invoked.

"No! I will not!" Devon shouted back, gesturing around the camp, even though in the back of his mind, he noticed Orphen's reaction was in opposition to his words, "Everyone here seems to defer to you but you don't seem to give a fig about anyone but yourself and I'm getting damn tired of it. Now you're going to explain what that was all about and why the hell we're camping when there is a nice comfortable inn nearby."

"No, I will not. Suffice to say we have a damn good reason."

"Oh, I see you pissed off someone in the town and can't come back. So we all have to suffer."

"No. Damn it! Even Cleo understands. We're avoiding all towns for good reason!"

"What the hell do you mean by…"

"Drop it!" Hartia's voice came from the edge of the campsite, where he'd just arrived with an armful of sticks and branches. "Jeez, we can't leave you two alone for minute before you start fighting… wait alone? Where's….."

"He just let her walk off alone."

"You two fight again?"

"No…and she isn't alone. Argenthua."

"Oh… then why?"

"Bahnberg."

"Crap! You want me or Majic to..."

"She'll be fine, I suspect she was more worried about us."

"You mean… man… you must really trust that Wolven."

"If they're going to be out allies, we have to." Where Devon couldn't see, Orphen held out a hand, which was anything but steady.

"It's the right thing and you obviously know it."

"I can't believe you two. She's out there alone with nothing but an animal and you're calmly talking about it like it's the weather. I can't believe you!" Devon started to storm off when Bird dove at him trying to remind him of something. "Will you get out of….oh wait…" reacting to the squawk from above. "Bird, find Cleo."

Leki growled and barked at Bird before walking up to stand beside Alik who was watching the events looking a little lost and nervous.

Hartia and Orphen watched as one of the Wolven appeared from the forest momentarily as it followed Devon. They both shook their head and continued like Devon hadn't said or done anything.

"Yeah. It better not go to anyone's head, but someone I know once told me that if I stifled her I'd loose her. I'm trying."

Hartia muttered, "At least yours is right here." He looked up and back in the direction of Totokonta.

"Jeez… you've got it as bad as I do."

"You know Krylancelo, that's not a bad thing."

"It's a weakness."

"True, but it also gives us strength, besides would you change anything now?"

"Yes…but it's not with her…er them." He said as he glanced at Alik who was still watching the forest for one of them to return. Orphen walked up to the boy and placed his hand on his shoulder. "They'll be fine. The Wolven are watching."

"I know. But, I….can't stop worrying."

"Guess what?"

"What?"

"Neither can I. Well, about her anyway."

"You do? So it's not me just being afraid almost all the time." He said in an almost whisper.

Orphen added this other hand to the boy's shoulder reassuringly. "Remember this Alik, as long as you don't let fear control your life, there's nothing wrong with being afraid."

"But mo…er," Alik paused, shaking his head, he still wasn't ready, "Cleo says you're never afraid of anything even when you faced off all sorts of monsters."

"Well…I'll let you in on a secret if you can keep it."

"Sure." Alik eagerly agreed.

"I was afraid but I used that extra energy to help me fight."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"So I guess it's okay to be afraid if you don't let your enemies know. Is that where she learned to spit in a d-demon's face, from you?"

"I don't think she learned that kind of bravery from me. Although I would classify spitting in your enemies face as fool-hardy."

"Yeah… the first time was right after she got there." Orphen glanced over at Hartia who was bustling Majic, who'd barely arrived with the wood, away to give Orphen some time alone with the boy considering the subject that might be about to come up. Orphen sat down next to Alik and nodded for him to sit as well.

Alik continued in a toneless voice as he remembered something, "Erin told me to hide when he brought her in. He was staggering and threw her in a cell across from Erin and disappeared for a while. When she woke up, she and Erin talked a bit and then he came back. He threatened her and she announced that …and I know now she meant you, Orphen would rescue her and that you'd never let her down and wouldn't start now, then she spit in his face. He didn't like that much an' slammed her against the bars of her cell for it. I don't want anything like that to happen to her again."

"It won't." Orphen affirmed as he gathered the boy in his arms. Although Alik wasn't crying he was trembling at the memories. As much as Orphen was grateful for yet another glimpse of what happened in the cave he was seething at what that bastard did to her, to Alik and the others. He also had to admit, if felt good to have the trusting set of young arms around him as he calmed the boy, his surrogate son, down.

Slowly Alik started to disengage himself from Orphen and pulled away slightly. He looked slightly embarrassed so Orphen just let him get up and move away. Alik muttered thanks as he walked away, leaned against a tree and crossed his arms in a stance that was almost like looking in a mirror for Orphen.

Alik tried to look very serious as he continued his best Orphen imitation. Orphen responded by quirking an eyebrow at Alik, who blew the image by laughing. He then looked up as the shadow of a bird crossed overhead and he remembered something else he wanted to talk about. "Why does Devon do that?"

"Do what?"

"He keeps being mean to Bird."

"Bird?" Orphen questioned Alik's choice of words, but Alik didn't really hear or if he did he didn't want to loose his train of thought.

"I mean he doesn't even give her any attention or even a decent name. Father always said we would get an animal companion, a f-familiar, and that we should take care of it. When the falcon chick appeared, I remember Dad was so proud 'cause flying familiars are supposed to be really powerful. But Devon always said he didn't need it. I ended up taking care of her… a lot. Why do I feel like that is so wrong of him?"

"If his bird looks to him as a friend it should be treated well. Think about it, what does Cleo do with Leki?"

"She's always doing something with or for him both fun and work. Also, she asks him to do things not just orders. Why doesn't Devon do that? I was always told I would get a companion… um, familiar like Devon and that it would be a big part of my being a Hunter."

"I wish I had an answer for you now but I can say I will do everything I can to find an answer. I would expect that if, as your father said, having the familiar is part of being a Hunter, Devon better learn to accept it and…" Orphen trailed off realizing, Devon has the falcon and Cleo gained Leki when she was just sixteen.

'Duh, of course, Leki's her familiar,' Orphen thought, 'that's why he came to her and pretty much refused to leave. I wonder if she's made that connection, I guess I never thought of it that way. Arrgh! More damn confirmation that she's a hunter and she's gonna want to fight. I can't let her but… can I really suppress her… her very nature, after all she always was championing some damn 'injustice' in her words that we just had to fix… and…'

Orphen broke off in his thoughts when he heard Alik shuffling. 'Back to the issue at hand,' he thought quickly trying to remember where he left off, "And deal with it."

---

While Orphen and Alik were talking, Majic had an idea he brought up to Hartia. "I don't really like doing this or even want to but I'm probably the best option. You know, we need to re-stock the first-aid kits and obtain news about what to expect on the road ahead."

"Just get to the point."

"Well, I can go into the town, pick up supplies and news. I-I know we're almost to that town, Cleo may not have noticed, but I did."

"We were hoping that neither of you would notice but, it's not like it's a secret now. Cleo knows, too. Devon gave it away."

"Oh…well that's not surprising. Is she okay?" Majic asked, but answered his own question before Harita could react, "She would be…that wouldn't be her problem. But um, as I was saying, I can go into town and talk to the apothecary. He's quite the gossip so I should be able to get information from him while purchasing supplies. I-I really don't want to go into that town…but I think you and Master should avoid it even more."

"True." Hartia said looking back over at Orphen sitting next to Alik. From the tension in their shoulders, Hartia suspected Orphen was learning something he didn't like, which I'll have to drag out of him later. They were starting to get bits and pieces from the pair, but it wasn't really enough.

He sighed, maybe they should have gone into the town and confronted those memories, especially since they still didn't even know exactly how the switch was performed. 'Although if we'd gone there that town might trigger… No' he thought, 'it's too soon, we desperately need that information but she's not ready. Hell, he's not ready… me either. Damn it, I hate it when the apprentices are right.' Even more he really, really didn't like Majic going on his own. " You arrived right after up…and I really don't like you going alone. Why don't I go back…"

"No. Part of the reason is for news, not just the supplies and you can't find out what's going on ahead of us back in Totokanta. Besides," Majic added with a smirk, "I won't be alone," gesturing towards the other side of the clearing, "Cleo's back now so either Leki or Argenthua can go with me. After all rules are rules."

"I'd ask Argenthua." Hartia said watching Leki coaxing Alik into playing with him. "Leki seems kind of busy."

Majic chuckled, "I think Leki has been thoroughly enjoying having someone who doesn't tire out too fast to play with. You distract Cleo, I'll go let Argenthua know. I'd just assume not let Cleo know, right now anyway. I don't want her to add to her worries anymore than I have too."

Hartia and Majic shared a glance, both aware of the consequences of their actions…but unable to decide on a better course. Hartia broke the silent moment, "Understood. I'll keep wonder boy busy, too."

Majic, gave Hartia a blank look, "Wonder boy?"

"Devon. Or should I have called him Devie the Wonder Ninja?"

"Only if you want to piss him off. On second thought, I'll use it later."

"Seriously though, where is he?"

"He left with his pain in the ass falcon. Also one or two of the Wolven followed him. He said he wanted to scout around a bit."

"He is not far," Argenthua interrupted, "He has been doing several circuits around the camp site, looking for signs of danger or predators. Two of the adults guard the Hunter. Do you wish him to return?"

---

With Argenthua following, Magic rushed out of the apothecary's shop and hurried into the alleyway panting heavily "You heard?"

"Yes. This is urgent. I will see you back at camp. Quickly now." Arguentha said, glancing around the surroundings before stepping into the shadows and transforming.

Following Argenthua's lead, Majic decided to use his fastest option for returning to camp. Even though he knew he wasn't really supposed go that length yet. Taking a deep breath to steady his breathing and focus then bracing himself, he tried his first unaided distance teleport back to the group.

The next thing Majic knew, Orphen had yanked him off his feet by his collar. Before he could even get his bearings, Orphen blasted him with, "You're not to teleport long distances yet! What the hell were you thinking?"

Majic gulped realizing what a narrow escape he'd had, especially considering his feet felt hot, but that wasn't important. Hartia was about to add to Orphen's rant when Majic cut him off, "Stop it!... I-I," Majic gulped, even though he knew he was over stepping his bounds by ordering both his masters, but this was critical, "I have news."

Cleo stood, giving Orphen a pointed look that said you'd better update me when I get back. She took Alik's hand and said "Let's go."

"But, I want…"

"Alik. Now." Cleo ordered, grabbing the empty buckets to fetch water. "Let's go. We're going to need water for tea and coffee in the morning." Kicking at some sticks, Alik stomped ahead of her.

Orphen watched them head off, inwardly wincing at the glare he received from Cleo, knowing he'd have to cover this ground again or there'd be hell to pay. 'Prioritize, Majic first,' he thought before rounding on him, "In spite of what news you found out, you aren't cleared for unassisted teleport yet. And the next time either one of you," he growled including Hartia is his glare, "get the hair-brained notion of going off on your own, I'll kick both of your asses. Now, what did you learn?"

Majic, looked down and shuffled his feet, before getting ready to answer only to be interrupted when Hartia spoke up. "Krylancelo, as I told you before I authorized him to go with a Wolven escort. And you agreed that we needed the news."

"I did, but I didn't want Majic to go for exactly this reason. Even you said he wasn't ready for…"

Majic cleared his throat trying to get Orphen's attention, twice before interrupting, "Enough. This isn't important now! Do you want the news or not?"

"Grrr…" was the articulate response from Orphen. "Of course. But damn it, you can't just go abandoning allies or did you forget Argenthua?"

"But, Master. It's Agan! He was released." Majic blurted out.

"What!" both sorcerers cried in unison, eyes riveted on Majic.

"That's why I teleported back. Agan is alive and free. They had to free him and apologize," Majic spat out, "for holding him. It happened about ten days ago. No body, no crime."

Majic wilted slightly sitting down before continuing in a more normal voice, "Apparently someone, well, the apothecary said it was a woman, who came from Totokonta and gave testimony that Cleo was alive. After, and this is what reportedly has the council and judge divided, but once this woman arrived with her proof that Cleo was alive, Agan subsequently started claiming he knew that it was a golem and that it was a nasty practical joke that went wrong. Key to the disagreement is that Agan started talking about what happened only after her arrival and after she visited him. Now, he's saying he wants to find us, to apologize."

Orphen snorted in disbelief, even as Hartia was shushing him to allow Majic to continue.

"Of course, the apothecary is appalled by both the fact that he was even released and that folks who aren't even questioning the fact that Agan's willing to pay. And I don't mean just a typical reward, I mean more sockets than… than… well a hell of a lot okay and just for news of our whereabouts more, much more, than someone would offer as a bounty on a criminals head."

"The apothecary also mentioned that the Judge tried hard not to release Agan, joke, trick or not, he slit a throat. Even if he couldn't be held for murder, the judge wanted him in prison for assault, attempted murder or fraud. And he sure didn't want the town council to offer him restitution for 'wrongful imprisonment.'" Majic emphasized those two words by holding up his hands and flexing his first two fingers on each hand, "The apothecary called it a crock. I can think of much better insults for that. But that's the news…and I-I…well maybe I should have waited for Argenthua. But she said I should get this news back as quickly as possible."

"And someone was setting up an ambush for him. It has been dealt with." Came Argenthua's voice from the tree line.

"Did you tell Cleo?" Orphen asked.

"I have now."

"Shit!"

"You would keep it from her?"

"No, but I wanted to be there when she found out."

"Many emotions are swirling in her scent, but fear is not the foremost." She paused a moment before adding, "She is also returning. The pup is in the care of the elder pack member."

"What kind of ambush was it Argenthua?" Hartia asked.

"Humans. Like the ones we have encountered on the trip. But, these were only searching, they did not have…" she paused looking for the right word, "Claws…no, weapons. We did not hurt them, only deterred from their actions." She finished, her eyes glowing green and snarling menacingly before shifting again into a human smile.

"Son of a bitch! What did I tell you Hartia! It was too dangerous for him to go alone! This is what happens when you go against my orders!"

"Krylancelo," Hartia shouted, "Just stop it! Who are you really mad at! Us or the news! Think about it, could you have gone to that town now?" Orphen was gearing up to blast back at Hartia, but he continued, "You couldn't now and you know it. We have a much bigger fish to fry… once that one is out of the way, then we can take out the trash."

From edge of camp, "Allow me to second that. It's obvious you're upset. It's also unnecessary. I'm fine. We all are. He's not going to hurt any of us so why let it upset you." Leki was sitting on her shoulder and an adult Wolven was standing on her other side.

"Why do you think Cleo? Agan is free! You remember him, the bastard who beat you, killed you in front of us allowing Garik to capture you! I want him dead now. I'm going to finish him off now."

"Um…Master, I agree but it might also…" Majic started, trailing off under the glares he was receiving.

"Don't move Krylancelo. Let Majic finish." Hartia said blocking Orphen's path before turning his attention back to Majic, "Well?"

"Couldn't it be a trap? I-I thought some of the stuff the human bandits had when we were attacked may have had the Montevello seal…but I wasn't close enough to be sure. Um… is it possible, that knowing we… we were coming in this direction, it… he…" Majic paused, realizing he needed to clarify, even as he glanced apologetically at Cleo before continuing, "Garik might have tried to set this up…um…" Majic gulped, knowing this was dangerously close to giving up too much and likely going to cause an explosion, "to divide or weaken us? I know it's ridiculous but…"

"It's not Majic." Hartia replied, "Intentional or not, it almost worked, didn't it Krylancelo? Didn't you, one of our strongest fighters, protectors almost go off alone on a useless quest for vengeance?"

While Hartia was talking, Cleo walked over to Orphen and grabbed his hand, squeezing it for strength and support. "I trust you. You'll protect me… us, no matter what. Please say you're not going to leave?"

Orphen nodded, as much to her as to Hartia. He moved her hand up in to let it rest in the crook of his elbow as he crossed his arms in thought and to put his other hand on hers. Internally he was furious at Garik's manipulations and just how well he played them. 'And the fact that once again, I fell for it.' He squeezed her hand slightly before saying out loud in a commanding tone. "We'll take care of the small fry after the bigger fish, unless he places himself in our path. Then he's mine, understand."

"I don't think anyone will argue with you about that, brother."

Cleo tugged on Orphen's arm slightly to get his attention, "Um… He wouldn't try to go after Mariabella will he?"

"Hartia." Orphen cautioned, reminding Hartia to practice what he preached with a glare.

'Oh hell no he won't,' Hartia thought before answering, "Once we have all the information out of Majic, I'll go check on them. So no punching this time, okay." Hartia said pulling a white handkerchief out of his pocket, waving it while grinning in the hopes of reducing the tension. Turning to Majic and Argenthua, "Was there anything else you can remember about the discussion with the Apothecary? And anything about the ambushers you remember Argenthua? As we've found, even a small detail, such as the seal Krylancelo and I missed during the marathon day can be important. In fact, it might be a good idea to have a general discussion going over any potentially important details tonight after dinner or over breakfast in the morning."

Orphen found having Cleo right there holding his arm almost therapeutic, he was quickly calming down and added, "Agreed. Also Majic, despite my words earlier, and you know how much I hate to admit things like this. Thank you, I doubt I could have gone into that damnable place.

"We will need to check in on the rest of the family, however," Orphen paused with an apologetic look at Cleo. "If dividing us was their goal, we'll have to wait until everyone is back at camp before allowing anyone to return to Totokonta. Also, I suspect that if he was going to do something it would have been done earlier. Argenthua, have you heard anything from the Wolven guarding the mansion?"

"All is quiet there."

"Good so once we're better settled here, Hartia you can go back and double check on them. Also, since you're going back, why don't you ask if they'll send a breakfast along?"

"Sure. In fact, if Cleo or Majic can give us a list of supplies, I can re-stock without anyone having to go back into town."

"Oh!" Majic exclaimed, "Um…that's good cause…um, I just realized I left the supplies and our first aid kits back at the apothecary's shop."

"That's settled then. I'll go get supplies and breakfast after we've eaten dinner and covered our tracks off the main road to this camp. The demons might be able to find us regardless, but any of Agan's goons or lackies searching for us would need tracks. Let's just avoid that additional complication. So, Majic, a Wolven and I will go back and wipe our tracks away."

"No," Cleo reached out to stop Majic who was turning to follow Hartia, "Please, go now. Majic needs to stay here and rest." Cleo paused for a moment, like she was listening to something distant, "Since they're on their way back now, Orphen you could take Devon to help with hiding the tracks, although he may not have outright said anything but I think he's been hiding our tracks when we camp at night. Tracking was part of the training he's received from his Dad so he'd be a good resource to know what should be covered besides just footprints to keep someone from tracking us… well, no, that won't work you two will just argue…" she trailed off trying to think of a better solution.

"That works in part," Orphen gave her hand a quick squeeze before gently moving her hand off his arm, "You and Alik start re-heating dinner while Majic sits and writes out the supply list. Additionally you might want to write a note to your mother keeping her updated on what's going on. Yes she'll get the info from Hartia later but you know she'll want to hear it from you as directly as possible. Hartia, Devon and I will, with the Wolven's assistance, cover our tracks." Grudgingly he also added, "We'll fill Devon in too." Although he added in a mutter, "If he listens," which earned him a glare from Cleo.

"That works." Hartia said understanding exactly why and where Cleo had been overridden. As much as he wanted to hurry to Totokonta in spite of the Wolven all clear they'd received, he knew this was for the best. They could not afford to split their forces, especially considering the latest… well, trap that had been set for them. He wondered what else was in store for them, but at least this time it was caution not luck that helped them avoid the latest trap.

"How're you feeling after that 'port Majic?" Orphen asked grinning slightly at how obviously exhausted Majic was.

"Tired." Majic replied, sitting down where he was, grateful for the reprieve. After a moment, he pulled some paper, quill and ink out of his pack to work on the list.

"I've caught dinner." Devon announced walking into camp, holding up a string of fish. Looking around the camp, he noticed Cleo was tending dinner, Majic writing and Orphen and Hartia deep in conversation. He added, "I've saved us from the horrors of Cleo's cooking with fresh fish."

"She didn't fix it," Majic answered not looking up.

"It's about time you got back. We have a job to do." Orphen said standing and walking out of the camp.

"Come on Devon," Hartia called following Orphen.

"So what do I do with the fish?" Devon muttered.

---

A couple days later after skirting around Bahnberg, their meandering course had returned to the main road for a while when Hartia and Devon who were walking in the lead for their turn noticed that the weather is changing, for the worse.

"Does any one know of a shelter in the area?" Devon asked eyeing the skies warily.

Seeing where Devon was heading with his question, Hartia answered grimacing, "True, I don't like the looks of those clouds."

Stepping up behind them, Majic answered. "There is a cave we have used in the past just over the ridge."

Alik, who had been walking right next to Majic, stopped and shuddered before asking, "Are there any bats?"

"Nah, we cleaned them out. Would you believe we didn't want to deal with the shrieking?" Majic grinned, pointing towards Cleo. He waited for the explosion, but was surprised when she was quiet. He looked back at her and realized she wasn't paying attention. He sighed, 'It was nice to avoid the explosion but damn I wish she'd rise to the bait more often. The 'new' Cleo is nice and more mature and all, but,' he sighed quietly, 'I miss the old noisy Cleo.'

As they approached the cave, Alik shifted from giggling at Majic's story to fidgeting nervously at the prospect of entering the dark of the cave. Seeing the growing trepidation building in Alik's shoulders and slowing movements, Hartia took action. A few spell words and a wave of his hands later, Hartia succeeded in distracting Alik by creating several different colored balls of light and juggling them. While the boy was excitedly watching the flying balls, Majic got the fire started.

Outside, Cleo had stopped eyeing the cave warily. When Devon stopped too and looked back at her, she smiled and pushed him lightly on the shoulder towards the cave. "Go on in and make sure Alik is okay, I want to stay here for a moment and think for a bit. I'll be right in."

"You sure…we're here 'cause it's about to rain." When she nodded, he added, "Be careful and you'd better stay in plain view of the opening." Devon warned before turning to walk into the cave. Just before the opening, he decided to be nice again and turned back to ask, "You sure you don't want me to stay with you?"

"No, thanks Devon." Cleo answered forcing a smile, "I've got Leki here and yes I will stay in plain view of the entrance. Would you believe I need a minute alone? Away from all you men. Besides, I want to think a few things though." Unable to keep the pretense of the smile, Cleo turned away from Devon before whispering, "Thanks for the offer."

Devon shook his head entering the cave to see the three sorcerers setting up the camp…well, two of the three anyway. With the fire going, Majic was heating dinner, consisting of the fish he'd caught last night, although how they kept it fresh was beyond him. Alik and Hartia were laying out the bedrolls. Devon, almost laughed, Alik's help consisted of chasing dancing balls of light while Hartia did the actual arranging. Frowning Devon noticed that as usual, Orphen wasn't doing anything but leaning against a wall. Although every once in a while Devon thought he might have been watching Cleo but the sorcerer's eyes were mostly closed. Deciding that he would listen to Cleo's wishes he announced to the group "Mark this down on your calendar's Cleo wants to think."

Cleo heard the laughter from the cave at Devon's joke she smiled a bit then turned back inward to her thoughts. She admitted to herself that what she told Devon was partly true, she was worried because Orphen had been quiet all day. She knew that part of it was due to Devon and this current overeager puppy routine. If it grated on her nerves, she could only imagine how much worse it would be for Orphen, for that matter Hartia and Majic as well.

Still, it was Orphen that worried her the most because of the larger and more dangerous issue, Agan being alive and free. Orphen had been sneezing and snapping at everyone all day, especially her. 'If we didn't know about Agan…I'd be really worried about what I'd done to piss him off 'cause I can practically feel his anger,' she thought. 'Even though he did try to reassure me the other night, in his way. Still, something's not right, he's also been sniffling for most of the day. I really hope he isn't getting sick. I don't think I can …err, we need that.'

She looked back up at the cave and shuddered at how dark and foreboding it looked. Although she could smell it, she couldn't even see the light of the fire. Loosing the battle with her courage, she looked away from the maul of the cave, absently noting that Leki was still by her feet and a couple other Wolven were standing like sentinels near the entrance of the clearing.

Leki nudged her leg, pushing her to move towards the cave. "Inside, rain soon"

Turning towards the entrance again, that brought her back to the main reason she stopped, she simply couldn't make herself move any further. She could see the cave, a cave they'd been in before and knew… but….it was too much like….. 'I can't. I can't go any further. He won't get me back in there again. He won't.' She repeated in her mind, going from the present to a time not so long ago past.

"Damn it. She should be in here. I'll be right back." Orphen stepped out of the cave to see Cleo standing staring vacantly at the cave opening. "Come on Cleo." He said as he reached out to grab her arm and pull her into the cave.

With a shrill cry, Cleo pulled away but didn't seem to be focused on Orphen, "Don't touch me!"

"What?! Cleo come on it's about to rain, we don't have time for this." Orphen reached for her arm to pull her towards the cave again.

"NO! I CAN'T! I WON'T LET YOU! NOT AGAIN!" She yanked her arm away avoiding Orphen's grasp and slapped him when he reached for her again before running off into the woods. For a moment Orphen stood stunned by her reaction and the absolute terror he'd seen in her eyes.

Hartia witnessed the exchange and stopped Orphen, as he was about to go after her. "Wait! Krylancelo, remember what the doctor told us…"

Alik who followed Hartia unnoticed interrupted, "We escaped once. He yelled at her, threatened me 'n Erin and then grabbed her to drag her back into the cave, it was almost… storming, just like…now. I-I forgot about that." Alik started to shake as his own memories came close to the surface. "I-I'll go get her. He can't… not again. I couldn't then… and now… I…" Alik started to run after Cleo.

Inwardly, Orphen cursed himself for not thinking about that, he caught Alik calling his name. Alik struggled against Orphen. Sitting down, he pulled Alik in his lap realizing, Alik was reliving something. "Alik" He called, trying to break through to the boy. "Come on son," Orphen whispered, holding Alik's shaking form close, when he suddenly blinked, shuddered and clung to Orphen.

"I'm scared. I don't want anything to happen to my new Mama."

"I won't let anything happen to her. And you're the bravest boy I know." Orphen said, awkwardly rubbing the boys back, looking towards the woods, knowing to keep that promise he would need to get moving quickly. First things first though, "Can you do something for me?"

"I need you to stay here with everyone. I need to you watch over Hartia to make sure he doesn't cause too much trouble. That way I can go after Cleo to make sure she is safe. Can you do that, for me and her?"

"I can do that for you both." Alik said, wiping his eyes and pulling away from Orphen.

"Don't forget this." Hartia said as he took off his cloak and tossed it to Orphen. "You're going to need it more than I will. Try to find a semi-dry place to hold up. We'll see you in the morning and stay safe." Hartia turned to Alik, "So, want to be my second in command tonight and help me keep the others in line?"

"Even my brother?"

"He's one of the others isn't he?"

"Thanks." And after Hartia's nod, indicating he understood that one word was for several things, Orphen turned and ran off after Cleo.

"What in the hell's happening?" Devon's voice came from the cave as he ran back to the entrance his sword unsheathed, ready for anything. He looked around at the calm scene and hesitated, "I was exploring deeper in the cave when I heard Cleo screaming again." He scanned the area, "Where is she?" he asked, lowering his sword realizing although tense, they weren't ready for action so apparently there was no immediate threat.

Watching Orphen's retreating form, Hartia turned to Alik after gesturing to Majic to fill Devon in, "So you want a story about the greatest super hero of all time 'The New Black Tiger.'"

Majic groaned and knew it was going to be a very long night, before he answered Devon, "Cleo got spooked by the cave and the storm, she and Orphen will be back later."

"Jeez," Devon muttered, re-sheathing his sword, "That's something I'd expect from you. So where the hell are they? And why in the hell did you let them go off alone!"

"Just go back inside." Majic said exasperated, "Besides, did you forget Alik in your zeal to insult me once again," Majic snapped, while looking towards the forest where Orphen disappeared.

Devon opened his mouth to retort when he registered what Hartia was telling Alik. Turning towards them, he snapped at Hartia, "Stop corrupting my brother with stories of that wimpy wanna be super hero." Devon walked over and sat down next to Alik, "You know who the best superhero of all time is, right Alik?"

Alik giggled, before standing and raising one arm up and tucking the other up close to his body like he was ready to fly calling out. "Golden Condor!"

"That's what I'm talking about!" Devon encouraged.

"That hack!" Hartia exclaimed.

Even though Alik's enjoyment of the debate completely distracted him from those that were absent, Majic still tuned out the ongoing debate between Hartia and Devon in favor of staying close to the entrance to gaze outside for a while. After a few moments, he went to the fire to check on the status of dinner, silently resolving that if Orphen and Cleo weren't back by the time they had finished eating and Alik was asleep, he'd go find them. Honestly he didn't expect them back till after dark.

---

Orphen had barely started hurrying after Cleo when he found Argenthua or more accurately, she found him and led him directly to Cleo. 'Having Wolven in the party certainly has its advantages.'

He approached where Cleo was huddled at the base of a tree. Even from a distance he could see her shaking. He took one step towards her, when a twig snapped and the deluge hit. She didn't seem to even notice the rain. Her gaze was riveted on him, as she quickly stood and looked ready to run again. "Stop this, Cleo."

She looked in Orphen direction but slightly higher. "No! Garik, you can't make me." She suddenly charged up to Orphen, and punched him. However instead of running again while he was in shock, she crumpled on the ground, "No, don't hurt him!"

'What the hell?' Orphen thought as he once again rubbed his jaw because she hit him, just like in Garik's cave. 'Oh damn it, that's what's wrong. God, Hartia's going to be insufferable to have been right.'

Quickly he put his arms around her pinning her arms to her side. He knew she'd struggle but he figured close contact was how he'd soothed her when she'd had that nightmare and he hoped that would work now.

She screamed when he touched her and struggled to get out of his grasp. He moved his mouth next to her ear murmuring reassurances, but she continued to scratch and bite to try to get loose from him.

Finally in a broken voice, Orphen whispered in her ear, "Please, come back to me. I can't lose you again. Come on sweetheart, it's me. It's Orphen. Look at me."

"O-O-Or-phen." She whispered back brokenly. She craned her neck back and saw that it wasn't Garik who held her but Orphen. She immediately relaxed.

As she relaxed against him and into his embrace, he clasped her tighter. "Thank God." Then easing his hold on her, he shifted her so she faced him and he could look in her eyes. In spite of the rain he could see the tear streaks on her cheeks. He framed her face with his hands and gazed into her eyes, to his increasing relief, he could see the fear receding from her eyes. He gave her a gentle smile and slowly leaned forward giving her time to evade if she wished.

He touched his lips to hers in what he intended to be a short reassuring but chaste kiss. As she realized what he was doing she brought her hands up to his shoulders to embrace him and lean into the kiss, needing the physical reassurance. Once their lips met, it was almost electric for both of them. Without realizing it, Orphen deepened the kiss hungrily as she responded, his arms moving from her face to pull her even more tightly against him.

When he started to slip his hand under her shirt, he realized he had to stop before they went too far. He was not going to have their first time be in the forest in the middle of a thunderstorm. That thought brought him swiftly back to reality from the bliss he'd been slipping into. Slowly he started pulling away from the kiss. "You deserve better than this."

She looked up into his eyes "You are the best." and then saw the beginnings of her handiwork on his face. She reached up and touched his cheek. "I-I'm sorry."

"I'll take care of it later. Are you okay?"

"Now." She snuggled closer and he could feel her trembling. He wrapped both cloaks around her and laid her across his lap as he sat down under a tree. She started sniffling and then crying, "Why can't things go back to normal? I was feeling better and it was just like we always traveled together …even with the extra heads. And then this happens."

"We'll work on it, together. The sooner you can talk about it the better it will be. What happened Cleo?"

"I-I-I…" She looked away unable to continue.

"It's alright." He murmured reassuringly. "I can wait."

"Liar." She said with a slight grin.

"True. I will though, even if I don't like it. But Cleo, there will come a time soon when we will have to know exactly what happened. I don't want to force you but…" He was thinking how grateful he was that she still had the spark to fight back at him verbally considering what she'd been through.

"I know. Thanks." She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

He sat there in the rain, thinking about what a close call that had been. Absently he was rubbing her back while he rocked slightly. 'She'd never regressed back to the time in the cave before. This isn't a good sign and yet, it's given me another clue. Alik said they escaped before the attempt where I met up with them. Since Garik had to pull her back in, or…no wait didn't she say 'Don't touch him?' Oh lord I'll bet he used Erin or Alik to get her to submit. I can't stand this! I have to know but she still can't talk about it. This is so damned frustrating. I need to get her back to the cave, the last thing we need is for her to get sick again but it's dark and I…' His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a footstep nearby. It was Majic.

"Master, is she okay? It's been a while and… I-I well, I'm sorry if I interrupted anything?" Majic said tentatively, wondering if he should bring up that he brought them some dinner yet.

"You didn't, but I don't know, if she will ever be okay." He paused frustrated with himself and his need to talk, he didn't use to be so dependent on others. Reluctantly, he continued, "She scared me tonight. I need to know what happened to her."

"You can't make her talk about it. The doctor said to encourage her to talk now but that she'll only talk when she's ready. I've heard you both tell anyone who asks Alik, not to push him. It's going to have to be the same with Cleo. No matter how much we want err...need to know. How are you doing? Do you need to talk?"

"She thought I was him."

"What?"

"I-I almost could not calm her down and bring her back." Orphen replied in a subdued voice. "What did that bastard do to her?"

Majic shrugged before answering, "She'll tell us when she can, you know that. In the mean time, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you. Both of you, when you need me just ask. I'll be right here if you need to talk or vent. Do you want some of the soup I brought?"

"I have a question for you. Have you had dreams so real that you don't know that they are dream until you wake?" He seemed to hear what he asked and shook his head. "Never mind, forget I mentioned it. Instead, I would like you to do some research for me on a sorcerer named Kylanthin. I don't have much to give but I think he was at the Tower several hundred years ago, maybe when Garik" Cleo whimpered in her sleep when Orphen said his name and he winced at having forgotten her reaction to that name, "was sealed."

"I will be able to that when we get to the Tower but, which should come first the translations or the research? Do I need to keep a low profile on this?"

"The translations have to take priority and yes...it's a low profile thing. The name is familiar to me but I don't remember exactly where I heard it."

"Oh...that's easy Master. I remember that from my one of my very first classes. He is listed as one of the founders of the Tower. You know, I think the Tower was founded around the same time G...err he was at his strongest. Is that why you want me to research him? Or does it have something to do with Cleo or you…" He looked at Orphen as his voice trailed off "You're not going to tell me are you?"

"No."

"Will you eventually?"

"If I can. Mostly you're verifying something. If I'm wrong, it won't matter."

"I can accept that. I know I'll probably get in trouble for this but, you know, you should try to be nicer to Devon, he isn't Ga… you know who." Majic paused, looking at Cleo to see if she reacted. Once satisfied she didn't stir, he continued, "'Devon does care for Cleo too."

"He cares too much." With a sigh he continued, "I know I should but he is a convenient target."

"He is part of this whether you like it or not so, and," Majic took a deep breath before forging ahead, "forgive me for saying it this way, but you'd better learn to deal with it. Very soon, she's going to notice and-and well I don't want to guess what she'll do and I really don't want to deal with her in that mood, okay?"

Majic looked up at Orphen, praying he hadn't gone too far even as he hoped he'd get through, "So… um, just try to be nicer or at least more understanding with Devon. Although we can empathize with him and it doesn't excuse his behavior, he and Alik have lost everyone in their family and are being forced to deal with that shock as well as the one who caused it. In a way, if you think about it the right way, you know what that's like, what they're going through. Besides, you don't honestly think that bastard will give up getting the Hunters do you? We will need to protect them all including Devon, right?

Orphen ground out, "I know and I have thought of that parallel. But damn it! He doesn't make it easy either."

"Do any of them? Majic asked, chuckling when he remember Orphen saying something similar about Cleo early in their travels. "I wonder if that's a Hunter trait."

"Sounds like more research for you once we get to the tower."

"Okay, I will. But anyway, I… well I got off track, my original point that I was trying to get at is you can shut Devon up for good. Why haven't you?"

"You, of all people, shouldn't have to ask that." Orphen snapped. "You think I haven't thought about that. But how in the hell can we start ...well you know, with everything that's hanging over us."

"How can you not?"

Orphen didn't reply he just shook his head.

"I guess I can't stop you from letting him control your life."

"Majic, you go too far," Orphen hissed.

"Maybe, but like it or not it's something you need to think about. Anyway, I think you need to have a talk with Devon. I'm no fan of his, I think he's a pain in the ass…and has been for years," Majic sighed, "But we both know, he really isn't a villain, a cocky SOB yes but not a villain. Besides, if you two are to be partners when you reach the Tower shouldn't you try to be friends too."

"Damn it, I don't need you to tell me that. I know." Orphen ground out. "I'll try. I know he cares...about both of them. In a way, that is part of what worries me, he cares too much and is too desperate. Desperate men do desperate things, I should know."

"Is that why you kept distancing yourself from us, again?"

When Majic just received a glare he decided, he'd pushed Orphen far enough. He was returning to normal, which was all Majic was trying for.

"Let's get back to the cave. Where she can get warm by the fire and you can dry off. I really don't want to deal with either or both of you getting sick. I will lead the way. I remember the light spell."

As Majic was walking, he heard Orphen clear his throat to get Majic's attention. Once he looked back, he and heard Orphen mutter, "Sorry….habit." Majic heard that, smiled and nodded.

Orphen had been thinking about what Majic said earlier as they walked back towards the cave. He hated to admit it, but his apprentice was right. Since they'd hit the road, he'd been systematically pushing both of them away. Majic more than Cleo, but there still wasn't an excuse for it. 'It's annoying, but it's also a part of being close to others… and in a… in a relationship. I'd forgotten what it was like…' He looked down at Cleo and held her tighter, 'It feels good and …I'm never giving up… I will keep her by me and safe.'

---

"Wake up damn you." Devon growled kicking at Orphen's back.

"What?" Orphen grumbled, lifting his arm to rub the sleep out of his eyes and swallowing a few times absently noticing his throat felt a little sore.

"We need to talk now, so come on." Without waiting to see if Orphen followed him, Devon left the cave.

Orphen sat up, concentrating to clear the fog from his sleepy brain. He coughed a couple of times before remembering when he brought Cleo back late last night. 'Oh yeah, I told him we'd talk in the morning when he copped that damned attitude with me. I don't want to deal with his crap but if I don't…' He looked beside him where Cleo was still sleeping. She was fidgeting in her sleep, not like she was having a nightmare, just restless. 'Probably means that she's gonna be waking up soon. Better make this quick.'

Slipping out of his bedroll and sitting up, Orphen glanced around and saw Majic sitting by the entrance of the cave, where he'd been doing his stint on watch. He grabbed his boots seeking Hartia and Alik in the dim light, although not sitting up, Hartia's eyes were open and he appeared to be keeping an eye on Alik who was sound asleep.

While he was slipping his boots back on, Orphen noticed that he was feeling achy and his nose was clogged. After a few days of sneezing and sniffling, this progression wasn't good. Worse he figured after last night Cleo'd blame herself even though he knew this had been creeping up on him for a while. Dismissing those thought, he thought, 'I'll rest when we get to Steph's place.' Once he boots were on he stood and gave Majic some instructions. "Watch over Cleo and call me if anything happens or if she starts to wake up."

Orphen exited the cave grumbling, "Stupid Hunters always have to wake up before the crack of dawn." He walked to where Devon was waiting. Silently, Orphen approved of Devon's choice of location, they were far enough away that they wouldn't disturb the others with their discussion but close enough to hear if there was any trouble. Not particularly looking forward to what he suspected would be more Cleo is mine posturing, Orphen prompted, "I'm here."

"What the hell happened to Cleo last night? Why did she freak out like that?"

Orphen paused trying to decide how to answer him. 'What the hell does he expect? She and Alik and the others were all held by Garik in a cave. Jeez, Majic's right, delusional.' Orphen started with, "Look, we're all under a lot of stress right now…"

"So she cracked under the pressure you've been putting her under you fricking slave driver. No inns, nothing but the hard ground and cold baths. It's a wonder she didn't crack before this."

"What the hell…" Orphen started before realizing, there might be an element of truth there. 'Cleo does like her comforts, but she seems to understand or… is it just a front. Nah…she can't put up a brave front to… oh, she can now. For Alik, too.' Orphen thought wilting slightly. 'Damn it all, she needs to stop that. Another thing we have to talk about later.' Finally answering, he conceded, "All right Devon, we'll try to get to an inn to rest. Maybe not tonight…but soon, that's the best I can do given the circumstances."

"Well…at least you can see reason. Hope you're proud of yourself. Just goes to show, I know her better then you and can take better care of her then you."

Silently counting to ten before he interrupted, ignoring the usual, predictable declaration, "Devon. We need to work together whether we want to or not. Cleo…"

"I know that! Hell, someone's been spouting that rhetoric almost every other breath. I'm not stupid." Devon continued, ignoring Orphen eye roll. "I know that I have to partner with one of you in order to defeat this or any of the other demons. I've trained for this all my life, hunt renegade sorcerers like Krylancelo and destroy demons like Garik. To protect."

"I understand and believe me, I want Garik's head on a pike for what he's done…"

"Exactly we want the same thing. Garik dead. So we work together for now."

"Okay." Orphen replied thinking, 'that was relatively painless.' He turned to go back to the cave when Devon's voice stopped him.

"You've gone on about how Garik wants us hunters and you sorcerers are far down on his list. Maybe we could turn the tables on the bastard."

"Oh?"

"My father was a smart man, in spite of what Uncle C said…

"Uncle C?"

"Cleo's dad, the hunter families were all descendents from three brothers, children of the original Hunter."

Orphen flinched inwardly, remembering his dreams, somehow he knew whose children those were.

"So we're all distantly related," Devon continued unaware of Orphen's reaction, "hence the uncle, aunt and cousin titles. Plus there was intermingling of the lines if one of the hunters only had girls to keep the lines unbroken. But anyway, what I was getting at is, Garik spies on us. Let's turn the tables on him. My Dad always used to say, 'if you can't beat them, join them.' Have some sorcerer play turncoat, like you. You're evil looking enough."

"No. It won't work."

"Why?"

"Because once you sell your soul to him, he owns you. You betray him, he kills you. It's called a blood pact. Heard of them?

"No."

"You set terms, if either of you break the terms, the others life is forfeit."

"So…if…"

"Don't even think it Devon. You don't make a blood pact with a demon lightly. And he wants Hunters and their families dead. All of you so there can be no more to stand against him. So forget that hair-brained scheme." Orphen ground out suddenly feeling like he was talking to Cleo instead of Devon.

"Arrgh!" Devon growled, rubbing his temple and side of his face, "Now I'm getting a damn headache from this shit." Devon stopped realizing this wasn't why he wanted to talk to him, "You let me get off topic."

"What topic?"

"Cleo."

"What about Cleo?" Orphen asked, thinking that he'd better wrap this up quickly or she'd wake up.

"She's not yours… so back off."

'Back to the posturing,' Orphen thought before answering, "We've covered this ground. That's for her to decide."

"She's been mine for years. That's not going to change."

"How about this," Orphen smirked, "We work together to kick Garik's demon ass and then we'll see who is the better man, agreed?" holding out his hand to seal the agreement.

Devon sneered and clasped Orphen's outstretched hand, "Agreed. After all that takes priority, he killed my family, tortured my little brother and…me. My friends and brother paid the price for my escape, I owe that bastard for a lot of pain and suffering. So I think we can both agree we need to destroy him, especially before Cleo gets it into her head to fight him herself. No matter what the Wolven say she's no Hunter."

Orphen was inhaling to contradict Devon when an all too familiar scream came from the cave.

"Shit," they both shouted, exchanging glances and nods. Orphen focused and vanished in a purple light while Devon took off at a flat out run.

After both men vanished from the area, an armor cloaked figure chuckled from his perch in a tree just outside of the clearing. "As Garik said, the Wolven blocks were the key to find them. And this news will be very interesting to him. Now before they notice me, 'Towers in heaven that dance around me'." Shigan cast, returning to the Tower of Fang.

---

Author's Notes: Again, I can't promise the next chapter won't take as long, but considering that the next chapter has an event that everyone has been waiting for since the first story, I may be able to get inspired to finish it faster. And one thing I am going apologize for in advance is that there will be more grammar issues from here on out since I'm relying on Word and my own lousy grammar instead of a really good beta reader. That's also why I've slowed down; I write and then have to go away from it a while, edit and repeat.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the story and I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my story. If you include your E-mail or sign-in under your profile I do try to respond personally. And since it's important to acknowledge those who take the time to review, I'm doing my usual general thank you to all reviewers: Ayumi –Night Beauty-, Briar 1717, CelestaRedFlower, CLEAO girl, CrypticAngel, kmf, lovestoread, Orphen chica, Palmtree, Satomika and Starrynight.