Chapter 10

Highland Camp

NO! I don't approve this," Skuld shouted from the porch.

He looked up seeing her long black hair with the house behind her, riven with signs of wear and yet, there were sure signs of its long term recovery; like a long dead tree showing the first tentative signs of life. He closed his pack rechecking everything in the courtyard as the shadow came over him, standing up to smile at the girl who had grown to womanhood before his eyes.

"Why are you doing this?!" she demanded once again.

"Don't worry Skuld I'll be back. I just need to check on a few things."

"Funny. That's exactly what big-sis said, on the day she died."

"Unlike her I will come back Skuld. I promise."

"How? How exactly do you think you're coming back? Are you more adept at facing things than Big-sis?!"

"No. Which I'm hoping will give me the edge."

"WHAT?!"

"Urd and Belldandy were prominent targets. I doubt anyone is looking for me. Especially after all this time."

"Yeah well - maybe we should keep it that way!" she shouted. "At least let me come with you."

"You are the last person I want coming with me."

"Why?" she asked stepping back, her feelings suddenly hurt.

"Think about it. Urd? Belldandy? Maybe it wants you too."

"If someone did they would have gotten me a long time ago."

"Except they didn't. Which suggests you haven't been in the right place."

"Meaning?"

"My guess is Urd and Belldandy were lured somewhere, either because they had to be, or because dealing with them elsewhere would have drawn too much attention. Which reminds me - have you ever felt you were being manipulated to go somewhere, but for some reason or accident you didn't go? And if so, who asked you?"

"Hmm, other than the times the kids tried to work the word

'ice cream' into the conversation when they were small - I don't think so. And even in that case, since it worked most of the time I think we're safe."

"Okay," he said picking up the pack.

Skuld's small frame stood stubbornly in his way. "You know I could put my foot down and stop you if I wanted," she said.

"I'm sure you'll be keeping an eye on me," he said walking around her across the courtyard. "We don't know where Urd and Belldandy went off to. But you know where I'll be. It's just these mountains here. Besides, you want to know what happened as much as I do."

She stood at the gate thinking up her last arguments, "You know you're not great, but you're kind of all we have left."

"Don't worry Skuld I'll be back soon. No one's looking for me, and I can't find the answers I need behind these walls.

Or with you standing over me."

"Perhaps. But then again, maybe they'll just kill you."

"Hmm I hadn't thought of that. Well I'll see you in a few weeks Skuld," he said heading out the back gate.
Skuld muttered something in reply following, "And this is really worth it to you? Your life?"

"I need to know what really happened to her Skuld. I need the truth. No matter its cost," he said starting to climb the hills.

"And then?" she asked.

"Oh don't worry about that Skuld, I've got a plan," he replied searching his way tentatively up through the bushes.

"Good. Tell it to me."

"Well. . . parts of it are still kind of in flux," he said disappearing into the undergrowth.

"Idiot," Skuld muttered watching him go.

"That's it? You're just going to let him go?" said Sora appearing from under the trees.

"Don't get excited," Skuld replied. "He's not the first thing I've tracked. Have you already forgotten your teenage years?"

Takumi ascended the hills behind the temple until he reached the old trail, moving along ridgeline northeast then north until reaching the Kobotoke pass. Over the next week he walked the mountain trails, moving continuously as he headed northwest into the slopes of the National Park. The climb gave him time to think and clear his head. He could see much of it now, set out like some perverse set of dominos falling one into the other: Belldandy's loss, the ignition of the war, and Keiichi's withdrawal from the Heavens, ultimately resulting in Skuld's isolation and the eventual abandonment of Tariki Hongan temple. Yet somehow she wouldn't let it be destroyed though, probably because she both loved and hated it; the place that had brought her so much joy and sorrow. Her last connection to the human world and her sisters.

His thoughts turned to Belldandy. He knew one thing now for certain. Whatever she had gone out to face that day she must have thought it posed a grave threat to their or the realm's existence. It was the only way to explain putting Keiichi and her son's happiness in jeopardy. But where was Odin in all this? His eldest daughter perishes, then Belldandy and he doesn't act? Why? Was it some rule, some constraint I still don't know anything about? Yet Skuld did say Bell's death started the war, a war in which the old rules against killing seem to have been thrown out. Was that Odin's doing?

It's possible Skuld might not have wanted to relay any information that could be seen as tarnishing Keiichi or Belldandy's memory but – neither she nor Lind seemed to know anything concerning those responsible for such acts.

He needed more. But for that to happen he needed whatever it was trailing in the miles behind him to come a bit closer. He first felt it the morning he crossed the pontoon bridge at Tozura, continuing at a steady pace until he reached Mount Kumotori that evening. Yet still it hung back. He pressed on hard through the pine forests along ridgeline for the next two days, hiking until he reached Mount Kobushi. There he rested for a day recuperating, time enough to demonstrate he was truly alone. The next day he prepared carefully, setting out until he saw the peak of Mount Kinpu rising before him. He set up camp well off the trail in the shadow of the south face that night building his fire, shielding it well, making sure all was ready as he walked to the edge of the cliff wall. Standing with the forest behind him he looked into the valley below. "There is food -," he said calling behind himself finally. "And you are welcome to it." Still the woods behind him remained silent. "I have no weapons - no money," he said.

"I bear you no ill will," he continued extending his hands on either side of him. "You have nothing to fear from me -," he murmured quietly.

"What a relief!" replied the shadow behind him sarcastically. "I was hardly able to control my fear . . ."

Takumi turned as the traveler came within reach of the fire's light. "I know you . . .," he said leaning down to pick up a bowl, setting down the utensils. The being before him appeared much changed from the last time he'd seen her. Her frame was leaner, the hair more tousled, the cloak more worn. But there was no mistaking it, for her eyes still held the same irascible fire. It was her, the demon Urd had once called friend. "Your name – it's Mara is it not?"

"I'm not surprised you remember me," she said sitting down self-satisfied, helping herself to the food.

"Oh and there's bread," he said tearing off a piece throwing it to her. She looked it over, biting into it suspiciously.

"You didn't eat as well last night, or the night before," she said.

"I was saving up for a special occasion," he replied.

"So why are you out here?" she said. "Not happy with your designated life at the temple? Not fitting into the program?"

He kept his temper in check. "Just wanted to have a private peaceful conversation with those kind enough to visit after all these years," he said evenly. "Based on what I heard, I assumed Skuld would not be inviting you in anytime soon."

"Oh no, not her. She's a true believer," Mara replied.

"Of what?"

"Whatever they are selling," she replied. "But then I suspect you know all this."

"All I know, is that something was laid up in the trees outside the barrier at the temple. Something bigger than a squirrel."

"Yeesh. If that's true we're more screwed than I thought," Mara replied.

"My real question to you is, why are you here? I don't know anything. Given the length of my incarceration I can't possibly know anything that would benefit you. And my powers are far below yours."

"I was thinking the same thing," she said reaching for the last of the cooked sweet potato. "I suppose you're an easy meal," she observed. "Then again maybe I'm just here for payment."

"Payment?" he asked preparing himself.

"Yeah payment! You guys put me through a hell of a lot of trouble you know! Especially with everything that's going on!"

"Like what?" he said puzzled.

"Like getting presents to Sora on Christmas! Like watching that play that Keiichi and Bell put her in when she was little.

I mean I know she was only a flowerpot but – god that was tedious! I mean I'm aware it was only a bunch of little kids but I'm just saying - I was very aware I was watching a play!"

Takumi smiled in spite of himself. "It sounds like you deserve a medal Mara," he agreed.

"I haven't told you the worst part!" she continued. "There were so many Valkyries in the audience because of - well you know - I was sweating bullets in the front row the whole time! Still I did what I could," she said helping herself to the Tequila Takumi had put between them. "But it was hard looking after her! Especially with the maniacs she has decided to surround herself with."

"What's going on down there?!" they heard suddenly above them. "Do you have a fire down there? That's illegal!"

"Shut-up!" Mara replied throwing a rock at the voice in the darkness. "Don't make me come up there and kill you!" she complained. Takumi joined in as for a moment the two miscreants threw rocks in the darkness like idiots.

"Um would you really - do that?" he asked.

"Well I'm kind of drunk, and it is comfortable by the fire."

"We could be making problems for ourselves."

"Eh, we'll be gone tomorrow," she shrugged drinking.

"And that's why you sought me out? Because you made some sort of promise you made to her?" he asked, trying to see what lay behind her eyes in the darkness. "Do you know where she is Mara? I'm desperate to know -," he said, supposing now was the best chance he'd ever get. "
"No. And that . . . can't be good."

"Yet still you came," he said admiringly.

"Don't even try to understand what holds demons together Sato. It will only frustrate you," she said taking another drink.

"True," he replied taking a sip from the bottle. "In truth I can't understand anything. Not in this world. Everything I thought we would have, the two of us together, is from another time. But that time . . . is gone," he said growing quiet.

"Oh don't be like that!" she said swiping the bottle back.

"No, everything is broken. It's all gone wrong!" he cried.

"She warned me you might be like this," Mara muttered rummaging through her bag. "Where is it? Ah yes - here it is."

"What could you give me now that could possibly make any difference?"

"But this is not from me," she said taking out the pouch, pulling from it a small crystalline shard whose interior glowed with an azure brilliance in the evening light. "She said it would bring you back if I gave it to you. Do you see?"

He looked at the fragment uncertain. "Is that? But how?!"

"I brought it out of the Demon realm long ago."

"I thought the whole of the stone was vaporized."

"Much of it was," she said holding it up. "What's left is only a fragment, a mere shadow of its former self. And yet its true substance remains, uncorrupted, just as strong as the original. Just as bright because, nothing can dim its true essence - the perfect within the imperfect," Urd used to say, her voice growing tight. "Though it shattered under the strain, it continues to shine just as brightly as before. Why? Because it was all part of the same thing, forever indivisible. And so every part no matter how small holds the same essence; the same power. You would do well to remember that, for our lives are long. It was something you once believed. Something I'm sure she still hopes you do."

Takumi took the crystal replacing it into the pouch. "Once upon a time," he said.

"Isn't that how most stories start?" Mara questioned.

"She told you to give this to me if -."

"If you got lost," Mara nodded. "But you're not wrong in all of it. For the world outside is indeed broken. More broken than you know. Some of it you suspect already. But there is more. Somewhere deep down, I think you know the truth."

And so we come to it, he thought. "Which is?" he asked.

"They are lying to you Takumi Sato . . ."

He watched Mara hold the blanket over the fire to capture its heat, looking for a moment almost angelic in the light. His eyes moved over her worn clothes. "If that is so why aren't you in your capital; given all that's happened? You could have sent word from there. We could have met somewhere - safer."

"And where would that be?" she replied finishing her bowl. "As for the capital - it fell ages ago," she said.

"The capital of the Demon Realm is gone?!"

She pulled the cloak around her, "I would have thought your friends would have told you that," she said. "Interesting. But then, perhaps you're not as friendly with them as you suppose."

She must be lying, he thought. But why? "Hild put up no defense during the attack?"

Mara looked back surprised. "The Daimakaichō had long since disappeared by that time."

"Disappeared?! Where to? What happened to her?"

The demon's eyes glittered in the firelight. "Who can say?" she replied. A deep sense of fear began to creep over him. Belldandy and Hild? The world began to seem quite different now, the mountain more isolated. He wondered if he had misunderstood Mara's intentions in coming here tonight.

"There are those who say the agents of Yggdrasil took her."

"Do you believe that?" Takumi asked.

"I did. For a long time. It was many years before I ascertained the truth. Hild was pulled far afield on a certain day, a day which is no doubt carved into your mind – drawn out into the forest on some urgent business," she said staring into the fire.

"To meet with Urd?"

"That is the rumor."

"And then?"

"I'm sure you know the rest."

"Hild and Sora."

The demon nodded.

"It's strange. I had a dream about her. I think it was right about the time she and Sora parted company. What do you know about what happened after that?"

"Well, there things start to get a little fuzzy. Sora returned, Hild . . . did not."

"Which is why you think the Heavens has her?"

"I did for a long time. Except then several of my superiors began to search for her – quietly of course. Why would they do so if they knew the Heavens had her? And so I grew unsure. And it was during that period that other things began to grow, unwelcome things as the demon realm grew – less stable over the next few decades. Right up until the day they came."

"You say your superiors searched. Could they have suspected that Hild might have gone off to pursue her own agenda - find Urd, get Sora back, etc.?"

"Without the power of the demon realm? I doubt it."

"You said they came. Who was it that came?"

"A force from the Heavens. They broke through the Demon Realms defenses directly above the citadel."

"How could that be? I was led to believe such a thing was impossible; for either side!"

"I as well. Yet I know it happened, for I saw it with my own eyes. I was on the outskirts of the city the day it happened. Fortunately. But then, perhaps they had help."

Takumi shook his head feeling unsteady. He couldn't believe it. The demon capital? "What happened when they came?"

"Every one of the central towers were thrown down. Without warning their forces tore through the dimensional gate over the citadel as their army poured in. They stabilized the breech as more followed. Wanton was their destruction of all that lay before them. On that day powers that would normally have worked against them failed; for reasons I do not know. We fought to hold them, hold them off from the citadel and the city. But they were too great. Soon all the lands as far as the eye could see where aflame. From there their terror spread to every corner of the realm."

He found it difficult to believe. "The citadel's loss was so important? You make its loss seem greater than the citizens."

Her countenance grew dark. "It mattered to us Sato. It was the symbol of our new life!"

He felt his thoughts racing trying to make sense of it all. Careful. Why is she really telling me this? To get me on her side? Or some other purpose? Some kind of test to see what I know? "If Hild was gone decades before the attack, who was in charge of the city defenses?"

Mara's eyes narrowed. "They. The watchers."

What the hell is she talking about? Is this the truth or a lie? But why would she lie? Especially now? What difference could it possibly make? "These watchers, they fought on the front lines?"

Mara's smile became even more ghostly in the firelight. "Ha - no. Not until there was little choice."

"Where did they come from?"

"There are always those who are dissatisfied, particularly in the Demon Realm," Mara replied.

"It doesn't sound like you were a fan of theirs."

"No," she said warming her hands around her cup.

"Is that why the Heavens were able to overrun so much of the Demon Realm?"

"Demons are strong, individually stronger even than Valkyries. But we've never been terribly good at working together. Too much want of personal glory I suppose. Not unless we have very strong leadership. That is why the realm has always had a single unified leader, despite our high respect for personal freedom."

"So you're telling me the trouble wasn't just with the Heavens. There was some kind of civil war within the Realm itself?"

Mara nodded wistfully looking at the night sky, "And in time, there was little left."

"What happened to those that remained?"

"Depends. Those like myself with sufficient knowledge of the Terran realm fled here, mostly scattered as individuals making it harder for either side to track us down. Not an efficient allocation of resources you could say. Not for a single demon. Not yet anyway."

Should I press her about Hild and Urd? Why would they meet that day if they did? Especially with Sorano in tow? Was it to tell her about my actions? Or did she think Hild might possess some special knowledge about Belldandy's circumstance? "Mara can I ask you something? Is there any way Hild might have been able to get Belldandy released from Yggdrasil?"

"From prison? I don't see how," Mara replied. "Hild has immense power over her own realm, but no one would be granting her any favors in the Heavens. In either case, I can't imagine anyone capable of helping Belldandy not already having contacted Urd long before that day."

She's right, he thought. "Wait could Urd have -." He didn't want to think about it. Hild's capture in exchange for Belldandy's - and somehow it went wrong? Hild did wind up with Sorano but . . . What was Hild's plan? And where is she now? Did she have something to do with Belldandy's fate?

"Sora told me that she and Hild traveled together for a long time in the forest until she was found. Does that make any sense to you Mara?"

"Found? Or set up?" she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Ask yourself, do you think Hild would voluntarily give over her only granddaughter to an enemy?"

He shuddered to think of it. For he had glimpsed her powers and knew the fight she could give would be truly horrifying.

"I see you're getting the idea," Mara said rolling over searching his pack as Takumi spied a tattooed on her ankle, perhaps a hint her past. "Do all demons have those?" he said.

"Hey! What are you looking at?!" she hissed running her tongue over a fang. "You mean you haven't seen Urd naked yet?" she countered.

"We were taking it slow," he said sarcastically.

"I can see why she likes you," she laughed. "Weirdo always did have a strange taste in men," she muttered. " I'll tell you this much Sato. Be careful in whom you place your trust. Things are not as they once were. Bell's family does not have the reputation it once held."

"Why is that?"

"-Two sister's disappearing under mysterious circumstances? People think it's weird. The whole family's choice of partners they think is odd too. Factor in Urd's reputation was never great to begin with and Belldandy's role in the beginning of the war - the result is that many people in authority are not fans of the family. Some regard them with outright suspicion, despite their widespread support on Terra."

He nodded, yet crossed his arms walking back to the canyon wall, looking out at the lights of Koshu and Yamanashi a dozen miles distant. "You're probably lying Mara but let's put it to the test," he said finally. "What Christmas presents did you get Sora? Speak quickly!"

"I can tell you one I enjoyed the most," she shot back. "I was just getting this really nice mahjong set packed up for her -."

"Mahjong? You mean as in gambling?"

"Hey sometimes you need to make a few quick bucks, even in the third grade - and you don't want her to get suckered so you need to start young. Anyway, I was almost done wrapping when I spotted one of my ex-employees sneaking around in the bushes. Of course I wanted them to know just how 'great' it was for me to see them again, so I decided to glue them to the top of the box as an additional decoration. Which looked great by the way. But wouldn't you know it, just as I was finishing one of the other little bastards jumped out and jabbed me in the – ah well never mind!"

"But at least Sora got the gift?"

"Oh yeah, though it did take a little while to get her off."

"And Belldandy's pint-sized minions never came to your place for revenge?"

"Well I keep a lot of hungry cats around, you know -."

"So you'd have me believe you're like Santa Claus these days, simply handing out gifts?"

"I consider myself more of a Yule Lad actually."

"Which is?"

"Well it depends. See there's specializations. Like Tekkjarstaur, who harasses sheep -."

"I don't wish to know anything further -."

"-And Giljagaur, who hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk!"

"You're making this up -."

"-And Stúfur who steals pans, eating the crust left on them."

"I'm not sure who works out worse in that deal -."

"-And Þvörusleikir the spoon-licker who steals and licks spoons!"

"Well at least they're clearly named, though that last one might actually be Urd."

"-And Askasleikir the bowl-licker who hides under beds, waiting for someone to put down their bowl.

"There seems to be a lot of licking in these stories, which I find disturbing -."

"Hey they're not all like that! There's also Hurðaskellir the door slammer - who likes to slam doors!"

"That's idiotic!"

"-And Bjúgnakrækir the sausage-swiper, who hides in the rafters snatching sausages that are being smoked!"

"Well who doesn't like a good smoked sausage -," he laughed.

"-And Gluggagægir the window-peeper, who looks through windows in search of things to steal!"

"Stealing seems to be a big part of these Lads MO."

"Oh yeah stealing's the main thing! Like Ketkrókur, who uses a hook to steal meat!"

"You demons got a lot of problems, don't you? I can't even imagine what the outfits look like -."

"- And Kertasníkir who follows children, in order to steal their candles!"

"As long as it's candles I suppose it's fine. You do know what century this is right? Man, if that's your idea of Christmas I'd hate to see what you get up to during Halloween," he muttered.

"Of course the gifts are part of it too. If it helps. Did it help?"

"Of course," he replied taking the pouch. "I miss her."

"Do you?" Mara asked.

"Of course I do!"

"Then what are you going to do about it?"

"Not sure there's much point now," he shrugged.

"Oh you definitely need help in this," Mara observed.

"Why is that?"

"Because you're a terrible liar Sato!" she laughed taking another swig of tequila. "I doubt you could fool Skuld, and you're trying to fool the likes of me?!"

"You?" he replied his eyes narrowing. "I can't even figure who your real enemy is."

"At this point? The world . . .," Mara replied.

"Why?"

"Oh you'll see. You will definitely see . . ."

"Do you have some sort of plan?" he asked.

"Uh-huh. Go back."

"Go back? What is there off these mountains for you to go back to?"

"I didn't say I was going back. I said we were going back. Now let's get some sleep.

. . .

The next morning Takumi awoke early, crawling close to Mara to consider his next move. On the one hand the smart thing to do would definitely be to strike, drawing power from her to both strengthen himself and see into her thoughts. Most importantly it would allow him to know for certain if she had been telling him the truth about any of it, perhaps even allowing him to see things she might have held back. Tempting, he thought. But then she was Urd's friend, and he was also aware it could be a trap. After all he was uncertain of her true speed and strength, and it would definitely inhibit any future interactions if she was on his side. In the end he decided not to risk it, a move which turned out to be wise as Mara awoke suddenly beside him, noticing his close proximity to her. She eyed him suspiciously. He thought quickly of something to say. "Mara," he said leaning down.

"What?" she replied sitting up.

"Your friends from last night, it looks like they're back," he said pointing to the ridge, only to surprise himself to see that there were indeed people heading toward them.

"What? That? Don't worry about that," she said yawning.

"What?!"

"I want to sleep a bit more," she said rolling over. "Wake me when they're closer."

"Mara . . ."

"Oh alright," she said raising a hand, as immediately a large batch of rocks began tumbling down as though set in motion by an earthquake. As the slabs began to fall people moved off, taking cover as steeper parts of the path tumbled down.

"You're sick -," he said witnessing the destruction. "You know this is all kind of like a national landmark?"

"It's a gift -," she replied continuing to gather her things. "Besides rocks have been tumbling down here for a long time."

"Looks like we're not going that way," he observed.

"Yeah, and neither are they. Sometimes the only way out is through, right?" she remarked

"Hey, who told you that! Did Urd tell you that?!"

Mara only laughed.

"That's personal stuff! What else did she tell you?!" he said alarmed.

"Hmm you look kind of concerned Sato," Mara observed. "Come on. We have more than a few mountains to cross today," she said heading out. Within an hour they had crossed the Spine and collected clean water from ice gullies that lay along its shadow. Just before midday they reached Ogawayama, affording them a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks. "You're a good hiker," he observed removing food for their lunch. "I wouldn't have expected that."

"Yeah, but I'm freezing my ass off up here! And there's still a long way to go! I think I'm going to go on up ahead and find some warmer shelter," she said impatiently.

"Unlike you I can't fly. At least try not to be seen Mara. I have a strange feeling people flying through trees still freak folks out even in this time period. And if you're going to go, at least take the tent! I can give you some of the food as well."

"You're going to give me advice on not being seen?! Believe me when I don't want to be seen I'm invisible," she said as he handed over the tent and a bag of assorted treats. "Keep heading that way. You'll cross a trail, then under the north-south power lines. A few miles ahead of that you'll cross the road. At that point you only have about a mile and half left," she said rising. He watched her float, zipping through the trees below as a child in a group ahead of him began to point excitedly. Takumi could only shake his head continuing to walk. The hike was long and the sun had almost set when he reached the summit of Mount Yokoo. To perhaps little surprise he found no Mara. He sat down considering his options.

"It took you long enough!" he heard suddenly from the distance. He looked down over the side of the peak to find nothing. Nothing but trees. "Mara?" he called.

"Ah having difficulty seeing me? Come down. About a hundred yards ahead of you," she said.

Tentatively he navigated the steep terrain but still saw nothing. Then he smelled the fire. "Mara?" he whispered.

"Keep coming -," she said. A moment later the fire sprang before his eyes as he almost fell over onto her and the tent.

"Wa - what?" he said looking around, only to see Mara seated calmly around the fire eating salty seaweed chips in front of the tent. "How did you do that?!"

"I bend the light so it casts no shadow and no reflection. Once done, the volume within the created lens 'disappears.' It's similar to what humans do with a paraxial multidirectional Rochester Cloak."

"Why didn't you do that last night?!" he asked.

"I didn't know everyone was going to make such a big deal about it! Besides it takes a fair amount of power. But it's fine since we only need the firelight for a few hours."

"-And as for the food, you're going to need to slow down. I only have enough for three more days."

"That doesn't matter, we can use it all up tonight. We'll be off the mountain tomorrow."

"Oh? And where will be going?"

"About three miles from here. There's a place I want to - visit," she said, rubbing something he could not see around her neck.

He nodded wondering at her words, reaching into the pack to remove the remainder of the snacks. "Here," he said handing them over. "Tonight we'll eat well by the fire."

They took in the last of the alcohol, feasting on hard cheese and anything they could skewer and roast over the fire, mostly summer sausage and marshmallows. Not exactly the most balanced diet, but neither of them were terribly picky.

"During the time I was away did you visit Bell and Keiichi often?" Takumi asked.

"Not too much -," Mara said, experimenting with roasting the chips. "They had a tendency to collect rather problematic guests (Lind, Megumi . . . Banpei) at times, but I did go occasionally for some of the smaller celebrations in the beginning after Sora returned. What was that, a hundred years ago? Still, Bell was cute with the kids. I remember Sora running around her one time, running like crazy in circles, just running with her hands out." Mara smiled at the memory. "I don't know why I remember that . . . My turn. Did you ever take Urd camping?"

"You mean like this? We went to the ocean a lot but no - now that I think of it we never really did."

"Ah so I'm one up on her!" Mara remarked.

"I suppose. My turn. Who was it that told you about Urd's loss?" he said suddenly.

"I -."

"Why do you hesitate?" he asked leaning in as Mara realized too late he was now close enough to bite.

"The Watchers told me," she replied reflecting.

Slowly he raised his head. Whatever its meaning he saw there was no lie in her eyes. No, now is not the time to play that card, he thought. He looked away to the forest letting the moment pass. "It's good they informed you," he said sitting up. "After all - you were her friend."