Chapter Seven

Danburite

While the Royal Family was confronting the ever-unpleasant Queen Beryl, Lady Setsuna had slipped from the peaceful confines of the Temple of Chronos at dawn and took the form of a wolf. With that, she bounded, paws striking the ground as she made for Calpeart. Taking the rough path through the forested borders she crept through the dense underbrush, ears pricked for a sound. She bayed, her voice loud and unwavering. Finally, she heard a soft growl. Immediately, she lowered herself to the forest floor in respect as the alpha wolf appeared. He was dusty brown with silver hairs around his muzzle and eyes. He barked in good humor and settled down on the floor. "What brings you to my domain, Lady?" Lady Setsuna stretched her legs out and sat back down. "I wanted to know if you had seen Lord Danburite of late." The wolf shook his head. "Rumor has it that he visits the wretched plains where the Bramble lies." The fur on her back stood up at the mention of the Bramble. Her mind whirred with questions. Why the Bramble? What was he visiting it for? Why was he visiting it now? "What about Calpeart? Isn't he supposed to be advisor to the Queen there?" The wolf chuckled. "Advisor? He's not much more than a wet nurse to her. But he has been drifting farther and farther away from her castle, come to think of it. No one knows why either. I'll stand attentive if anymore hearsay about him or Queen Beryl finds my stealthy ear."

"I know you too well not to doubt that," She affirmed, getting up. She thanked him for his help and after promising to visit, continued on her trek.

She decided to make for the Bramble after the wolf's tip-off and sped through Calpeart, taking care that no one saw her as she slipped through the wilderness. By the time she had reached the border, she was unrecognizably thin and scruffy, her olive fur now matted with dust and burrs. She nearly yelped with joy and relief at the sight of the stream that marked the boundary and walked right into it, satisfying her thirst and letting the dirt come free of her coat and wash away. She sighed happily and returned to her natural form at last, not noticing the eyes of the pasture trained on her or that the animals belonging to them began to creep toward her.

Lady Setsuna stiffened as she heard the unmistakable sound of someone stepping into the water. Someone had managed to track her, it seemed and she peered over the tall grass that hid her from view. She couldn't believe it. Could it even be possible? Yes there was no time to waste. Not caring that she was as naked as the full moon overhead she leapt to her feet and raised her arms in a gesture of peace. As they struck she stood, shouting words she'd hadn't spoken in centuries:

"Animals of the Forest

Turned against me

Wake-up and find

A friend to thee!"

Her hands glowed emerald with the power that drifted from her fingertips, sending the forest-dwellers into a state of lethargy. They stood there in a trance for perhaps a minute and then slowly blinked as realization dawned in their eyes and scampered away. As they left, the enchantress waved her hand and instead of morphing, pulled on her travelers' cloak and robes and tugged her hood over her face. After so long a period in that state, she was reluctant to return to her furrier form even if it would shorten her journey.

At dusk, she cheered up somewhat at the sight of a lonely farm. Tugging at the hood of her cloak so as to hide as much of her face as possible, she knocked on the door. A small boy answered it, staring agog at the tall stranger in black that towered over him. "Please, may I ask a night's lodging and a meal?" The stranger enquired her voice low and husky in the cool summer's air. She took a few gold coins from the purse at her belt and proffered them to the boy's father. He looked flabbergasted. The boy looked back at his father's face and answered for him. "I think Father means yes. Come in, ma'am." Lady Setsuna followed the boy inside, shut the door, and proceeded to hang up her cloak on a peg, revealing a long dark green gown and an unmistakable coiffure. The little boy's eyes widened. "My Lady," He whispered reverently. Lady Setsuna nodded. She had been more than a little reluctant to stop here but she preferred this to eating in town where unknown enemies could see her and spread word that could reach Lord Danburite's ears. Should such news be heard, he would undeniably slip through her fingers once again and she'd have to start all over again. She prayed that the money she gave them for their trouble would also pay for their silence. It would be a shame if I had to fog their memories, she thought as she slipped off her boots so they could dry by the stove of the farmhouse.

After a hearty supper of soup, cheese and a roasted hare, Lady Setsuna turned to the farmer's wife who was gathering up plates and cutlery. "Thank you so much for the meal-"She began but the woman cut her off. "Nonsense, my Lady, it's in good taste to be kind to travelers and you seem to have traveled far from home to stumble upon the likes of we."

"I have," Lady Setsuna replied truthfully. "But I still have a ways to go." The farmer's wife nodded. "Still tonight you rest your weary limbs, your Ladyship."

That night Lady Setsuna slept in the best bed her host had to offer. Although the mattress was thin and the blankets were rough, she fell almost instantly asleep, too exhausted not to accept the family's generosity.

She woke early and dressed to go downstairs for breakfast. The farmer's family was already at the table. "Good morning your Ladyship." The farmer greeted, stooping to bow while his wife bade her to sit down and eat. When breakfast was finished Lady Setsuna turned to the gracious couple. "I wish to thank you for your hospitality," she said seriously. "Little one, would you come here, please?" The boy stepped forward. Lady Setsuna bent down. "Hold out your hand." She dropped something into his open palm. He looked down and his face fell with disappointment. All that lay in his palm was a twig a mere scrap of wood. Lady Setsuna smiled, a knowing look in her eyes she watched him glance back at his parents' expressions. She winked and the boy's eyes swelled with wonder as the twig grew into a branch as thick as a man's arm, sprouting leaves and buds which became blossoms and then transformed into heavy bunches of the biggest and most aromatic cherries he had ever seen. The boy fair staggered under the weight; his father and mother had to help him. As they did, they never noticed the streak of olive fur that flew out the door.

It was several hours before she had finally adjusted to her usual speed but by that time Lady Setsuna felt at home in her wolfskin again. By then, daybreak had come and dust colored her a dull brown. Had a soul been listening that morning, they would have heard naught but the soft footfalls of Lady Setsuna's paws beating the ground.

It was just as the sun was beginning to falter that Lady Setsuna looked up and stopped. It was not the cloudless skies nor the colors gathering in the west but the bright speck in sky that her eyes locked on, growing bigger and bigger as it came into view. She squinted; her gaze made out outstretched wings and a stallion's head when she realized what it was. A pure white Pegasus swooped, heading straight for Lady Setsuna who sat frozen in recognition.

It touched the ground gently, eyes regarding her as if they could see right through her. Lady Setsuna transformed, wrapping her cloak about her. She chuckled. "Lord Helios. I should have known."

The Pegasus tossed its head and in its place stood a man. His clothes caught themselves on his figure as he waved his hand, his transformation from Pegasus to man not affecting the solemn aura he affected nor the piercing gaze he held. He was motionless, nothing but his eyes giving away that he had even acknowledged Lady Setsuna. Her ears pricked for the smallest sound, it was a minute before she realized that Lord Helios had stopped his surveillance of the land. Clearly, he was tracking someone, but as to who she did not bother asking, it was obvious he wouldn't stop to answer. "He's not here," He pronounced, voice softly harsh as he said it. Lady Setsuna smiled in spite of herself. He's the same as always, that Lord is. She thought, eyes flickering over his features. There were worry creases in his eyes, perhaps a little deeper than before but he was still essentially the same man he had been all those millennia ago. As he looked to the east, Lord Helios's long hair was flying about him exactly the color his wings had been, snowy white. He was getting a mouthful of his own locks for his efforts but still he trained his line of vision there. Finally, he found what he was looking for. He spit out the hair, leapt into the air and transformed. Sensing they had a common goal Lady Setsuna followed suit, streaking after the bird in the hopes he would lead her to the most elusive of the Unalone-Lord Danburite.