In the Town of Far Hold

Days passed, civilisation was left behind. One last bastion, as Darken Gray put it, their last scheduled stop while they travelled east.

Far Hold.

Ivory had been given lessons as they had approached.

Lessons about the ten tribes that had once worshipped Elder Oak, and how Elder Oak had eventually turned his back on them, accepting worship instead from the temple that the Guild had built for him. It was betrayal, and the Ten Tribes were driven back by the Guild backed loggers and their sorcerers.

They approached the far off outpost of 8000 people. A town surrounded by a tall, ironwood palisade.

"It is a rough place," Darken Gray explained. "loggers mostly and some farmers who live outside the walls. There are a handful of families, but most people here are just looking to strike it rich, seeking easy money."

Darken Gray flew the floating pagoda over the sharp demarcation where the old forest stopped, and the cleared ground, with its patchwork farms and new orchards, began.

The people there, Ivory had learned, worshipped, almost universally, Elder Oak. He laid requirements on the lumberjacks to protect the forests even as they harvested from it.

For following his demands and for their worship, he protected the town and its people, as he had once protected the Ten Tribes.

The pagoda descended until it floated only a few feet off the ground.

It was dark out, an hour or so till dawn, and there were no lights in the pagoda.

They were almost invisible on the edge of the trees.

"I want you to go into Far Hold, alone, and confront Elder Oak," Darken Gray said.

Ivory was surprised by the statement, and it was a few seconds before she asked, "Confront?"

"Meet with him. Do as you will. This is an exam."

"How do I pass?"

"How indeed?"

Ivory did not like it.

It seemed unfair.

"Can I take my swords?"

"Do you want to take your swords?"

That was infuriating. "Are you setting me up to fail?" Ivory demanded.

"I am giving you an opportunity to succeed on your own terms."

That was not the answer that Ivory had expected.

Her own terms.

That could mean anything.

She might destroy the entire town, leaving nothing but a crater behind.

"Fine," Ivory said, and left the pilot house.

A short time later

as she entered her room she called out, "Hu, let's go into town."

From a dark corner where he lay Hu answered, "Not this time. You are to go alone."

"Since when did you listen to Darken Gray?" Ivory demanded.

"I don't listen to her as much as agree with her test. You do not need me."

"Maybe I don't, but what if I do?"

"If you need me, I will be there, but likely that will be considered a failure by Darken Gray."

Unfair, Ivory thought but grabbed up her orichalcum breastplate. "Okay. That's fine. Maybe I'll come to not need you at all," she said without really thinking as she slipped into the armour.

"Yes, that is the end we should both seek."

Ivory had just finished locking the fasteners on the breastplate when what Hu said fully registered in her mind.

"What? You'd leave me?"

Hu did not answer.

Ivory's words were stolen by equal parts fear and anger.

Hu had been a constant since she had Exalted. Her life had been short so far, and even so, Hu's part in it had not been long, but Ivory could not fathom being without Hu now.

She almost apologised, almost let the tears that prickled in her eyes flow, but instead, she spun and grabbed her long cloak, throwing it over her shoulders and turning her back on Hu. She grabbed her short daiklaives from the stand by the door and strode from the room, stomping her feet as she went.

Neither Hu nor Darken Gray saw her off as she jumped down from the pagoda.

She looked back at the dark bulk of the structure, watched as it floated up and back over the trees, disappearing from sight.

"I don't like this," she said, then turned and started towards Far Hold.

"I'm going to do something about it."

The first thing she did was to find the, not wanting to stumble through fields and among trees in the darkness.

The sun was starting to come up as she approached the gates. Already they were open, lumberjacks and mercenaries, who protected the lumberjacks, heading out into the forests. They looked at her as they passed on the road, but they were too busy to give her anything but a cursory look.

Once she reached the gates that lack of interest changed. One of the mercenaries there demanded that she state her name and business.

She pulled back the hood of her cloak. "My name is Ivory, and I am here on a pilgrimage to see Elder Oak."

A child, walking out of the dark, alone. Of course, they were wary.

However Ivory knew that she had to play up that wariness, but not let it turn into fear.

The golden band in her hair of course spoke of money, and she was neat and well presented. She let her cloak hang so as to cover her armour and weapons.

There were four mercenaries at the gate, members of the Golden Axe Brotherhood, out of Nexus. At least that was what Darken Gray had told her of the towns guardians.

She smiled; a little girl's smile who knew a secret.

"You're on a pilgrimage?" The one who had first spoken asked.

"Yes. To see Elder Oak."

"Why?"

"My teacher told me to."

The men looked at one another, and another asked, "Your teacher? Where is your teacher?"

"Not here. I was sent ahead. I will meet up with her later." Another smile. "I hope I'm successful."

"Why do you need to see the god?" A mercenary who had not yet spoken asked. His attention was focused on her, and he was frowning.

Ivory sweetened her words with essence, made her bearing say, 'I am harmless', presented herself at that moment as just another child. "I wanna to speak to him and ask for his blessing."

Her sweet, high voice drew smiles from all of them.

"All right, go in," the one who had been the most mistrustful said. "But don't cause any trouble or likely the sheriff will thrash you."

"I understand," she answered while at the same wishing ill on anyone who might think to thrash her.

She passed through the gate, stepping to the side to avoid the large, ox drawn wagon on its way out. She moved away from the gate and out of sight of the guards. Not that she was worried about them suddenly coming to their senses, but it was possible they would start to ask themselves if they should have been more concerned about the safety of a little girl alone in the town.

For being on the very edges of civilisation, Far Hold was a large outpost, tall buildings, some as high as five stories, crowded together. While the main roads were wide enough to allow wagons to pass, beyond them were narrow, twisty ways between buildings.

Ivory walked for a time, somewhat aimlessly at first, but then, following her nose, towards a bakery. Several men were leaving, carrying bundled loaves of bread, laughing among themselves as they shouldered axes. Ivory waited for them to pass and then entered.

The interior was all clean, bare wood, though stones had been placed under the big oven and on the walls around it. The large woman dressed in white seemed to be the baker. The two young men helping her had the look of apprentices.

"What do you want?" one of the apprentices asked.

Ivory did not answer right away, watching as the Baker pounded out a light brown ball of dough. Under the white clothing, Ivory could see large muscles moving.

The apprentice who had spoken was opening his mouth when Ivory said, "A small loaf of bread please." She produced a small coin, copper and bright green. A realm yen coin might not be seen too often out here, but the apprentice recognised its value.

Paying a full coin for a single small loaf was too much, so she snapped it in half.

The apprentice did not complain as he took the half coin in exchange for the bread.

Ivory moved to the corner of the room, where she would not be in the way of anyone, and tore a piece of the thick bread from the loaf. It was still warm, a little steam rising up from its soft brown interior.

It had an odd taste, which it took Ivory a moment to identify as nuts.

She supposed it made sense.

Flour would not be easy to come by.

"What do you think?"

Ivory looked up to see the large woman watching her.

"How do you prepare the nuts?"

She smiled. "Grind them up and press out all the oil, let that dry and then grind them again into powder. Does it taste good?"

"It's different. I made bread the other night with flour."

"Flour is for special days because it's expensive."

"It tastes better."

"It doesn't taste better, just different. People here will swear by nut flour bread."

"How do you make it?" Ivory asked as she tore another piece from the loaf and put it in her mouth.

"Same way as you'd make bread with flour. You'll need olive oil though."

Ivory nodded as she swallowed.

"Not looking for a job are you? I already got apprentices, and a little thing like you would be of no use."

Ivory shook her head. "Just curious. I am supposed to learn how to cook and bake."

"Useful skill," the woman said, then walked back towards the oven. "Mix up some more nut flour," she told one of the apprentices, and to the other, she said, "go and get some more wood for the fire."

Ivory moved up to the counter, looked over it at the baker. "What do you think of Elder Oak?" Ivory asked.

The Baker tore a chunk of dough free from the mass she had been working on. She began to shape it. "What do you mean?"

"Do you worship him?"

"Most everyone in town prays to him, follows his directives. Only smart. He keeps Far Hold safe."

"Do you like him?"

The woman put the loaf she had shaped down onto a tray. "Never gave it much thought. Why do you ask?" She turned and looked at Ivory, more curious than suspicious.

"I am on a pilgrimage to meet him."

"Elder Oak?"

Ivory nodded.

"Strange pilgrimage."

"My teacher asked me to. It's educational."

"Educational? I suppose."

"Is he dangerous?"

"Not as long as you listen to what he asks, and all he really asks is that we respect the forest."

"I haven't hurt the trees," Ivory told her.

"Then he's not dangerous."

Ivory wondered about that but just nodded as she finished her bread.

When she left the bakery, the woman told her to take care of herself. Ivory thanked her.

The sun was fully up, the day warming.

She took her time, wandering the town, watching people, listening. There were not many children, so she stood out, and more than one person asked her what she was doing. Ivory told them she was on a pilgrimage to see Elder Oak, and that she had been given that task by her teacher. Only a few times she was forced to call on her essence to make those who were suspicious less so.

It was close to noon when she heard someone call out, "You girl, stop."

Looking towards the origin of the voice Ivory saw a woman, head shorn of hair and dressed in the robes of an Immaculate monk.

"Yes?" Ivory asked, scrutinising the woman.

She saw no visible signs that the woman was Terrestrial Exalted. However the blessings of the Dragons did not always show, and there were others forms of power, as she well knew, that were not always evident.

The monk hurried up to her, looked her up and down. "What is your name girl?"

Ivory considered demanding the monk's name first, or perhaps even suggesting her name was not the concern of a mortal Immaculate Monk. However, in the end, she chose to answer politely.

"My name is Ivory Peleps."

She was not concerned about using her real name. Likely this far east no one had even heard her name—yet—and even if news of her being here travelled west she would be far gone by the time anyone came looking for her.

"Peleps? Don't lie to me."

I am not lying," Ivory told her, suddenly a little angry. "I am Ivory Peleps, Daughter Jade Dolphin, a direct descendant of the Empress. Chosen of…" she shook her head. "Who are you?"

The monk looked a little surprised at Ivory's outburst, and she answered immediately. "I am Righteous Lily," she paused, perhaps surprised by how quick she had answered and then added, "monk of the Immaculate Faith."

Ivory nodded. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

Righteous Lilly looked off put by the way the discussion had gone. She took a deep breath. "Why are you trying to meet Elder Oak," she asked as she let out her breath.

"My teacher had sent me to speak with him."

"Your teacher?"

Ivory nodded.

"Well, go back and tell your teacher you are not to speak with him."

Ivory was angry of course, but at that moment more curious, so she asked, "And why should I do that? Is he dangerous?"

"Of course he is dangerous. He is a god who interacts with mortals, outside of the Immaculate Faith."

She said it with the tone of horror and distress that Ivory suspected she would have echoed before she had been chosen by the Unconquered Sun.

But that sort of belief no longer had a part in Ivory's philosophy.

"Are you here to fight Elder Oak?" Ivory asked, though she already was certain the monk did not directly oppose the god.

Reinforcing that belief was the woman's eyes widening slightly in surprise as she shook her head. "No, I only minister to the souls of those here. Remind them of the truth. It will be up to others to confront Elder Oak."

Ivory looked up at the woman, and a handful of cruel thoughts ran through her mind, cutting remarks she might say, but she paused before she voiced them.

"That's very kind of you," Ivory said. Pointless, but kind.

Righteous Lilly nodded, then seemed to remember she was an adult. "Now I want you to turn around and return to your teacher and tell them you are not to see the god."

"No," Ivory said.

"Excuse me?" she asked after a few seconds.

"I am not going back. I am going to see Elder Oak."

"Child, I don't think you understand." Righteous Lily reached for Ivory.

Ivory stepped back, out of the woman's reach. "I understand. I thank you for your concern." She decided to be polite. "But I have to do this."

Righteous Lily looked at her, then, moving fast, with a skill speaking of years of training, she shifted forward to grab Ivory.

Ivory stepped out of the way.

Her long cloak got tangled up in Righteous Lily's feet, and the woman almost fell, but she neatly shifted out of the cloth and ended up a few steps from Ivory.

A few people had stopped to watch. Righteous Lily looked towards them and then at Ivory. She looked thoughtful, face pinched by the expression.

Ivory supposed she might be concerned about her reputation were she to be seen fighting a child. And she likely realised that she might indeed have to fight.

"Very well Ivory Peleps. Go as you please, but you endanger your soul, and your behaviour does a dishonour to your family. However, once you had realised you foolishness you may seek the Immaculate Order out, and we will offer you the opportunity at forgiveness." She turned and walked away.

Ivory did not argue, though she wanted to, and she knew that the Immaculate Order would not be a place of sanctuary or forgiveness for her.

She turned and walked towards the shrine, trying to put Righteous Lily from her mind.

However, she could not help but wonder why the woman had travelled so far. Was it to impress the Dragons, in hopes of being Exalted by them? A small part of her wondered that had she not been chosen by the Unconquered Sun, had she grown to adulthood not chosen by the Dragons, would she have sought out some way to show her faith?

Shaking her head, Ivory refused to let her mind dwell on such things.

She was chosen by the Unconquered Sun, the greatest of gods.

Stopping outside of the wooden temple of Elder Oak Ivory wondered how she might approach the god. She could blow the structure away with any number of spells and then stand ready for the god and its anger.

All of Far Hold would likely be destroyed.

Was that the test? The brute force answer?

Perhaps.

She stared at the temple for a time. It was constructed all of oak, magnificently carved and built, around it a grove of young oak trees. Reaching up she slipped her cloak off and lay it at the base of one of those trees. Next, her swords, placed on the cloak, and then she unlocked the clasps on her armour and lay that by the swords.

Unarmed and without armour, Ivory was dressed in a long dress of white that went to her knees, white laced, knee high boots of kid leather with red ribbons on the ankle. Over that a short jacket with a fur collar, white as her dress.

She skipped lightly across the ground, spun on an extended toe, arched her back and spread her arms.

She had been taught to dance, as befitted a young dynast. Dance classes had been part of her life as long as she could remember. She had been good, for a child, though her instructors had always made certain she had known she lacked mastery.

But that was before she had become a Lawbringer.

That was before the essence that filled her was the essence of perfection.

Her steps, her gestures were touched by the power of the Unconquered Sun, and she danced finer than any mortal. The essence was a subtle flame within giving her impossible grace. In the movements of the dance she wove a spell, unseen by those who might watch.

And people did watch.

A few at first, stopping to look at the girl, dancing among the grove of trees. Then more, coming from the town, or out of the temple. Ivory was aware of them but discounted them. She focused on dance and magic and where the two intersected for her.

About her rose a green mist and the trees around her seemed to lean in as she passed them. Her skin took on a green tinge, and her red hair was like the leaves of autumn oaks. Flowers and vines at her feet swayed out of her way so as to not trip her, and Ivory's steps were precise, not harming any one of the plants that grew there.

She was not sure how long she danced, nor did she care, but she was aware when the one she wished to meet was watching her.

With a final flourish her dance ended, and she stood in front of Elder Oak. Spreading her hands, she lowered her eyes slightly, not a bow, but a gesture of respect.

"Elder Oak," she said.

The god was a tall, human shaped figure, with smooth bark skin and hair that was oak leaves, so green they almost seemed black. A high, noble brow and a wide expressive mouth, eyes obscured by bushy, moss like eyebrows.

"Why do you dance? Why the magic that makes you a friend of the forest? Are you here to worship me?"

"My prayers and my worship are only for one god Elder Oak. My dance was a gift, the spell so that we might better understand each other. I wish to talk to you."

"Oh ho? Your actions are strange child, and yet they do not displease me. What god do you kneel to?"

She smiled and looked up at him. On her brow, for a moment, glittered her golden caste mark. "Sol Invictus."

Elder Oak's eye brows rose, revealing dark eyes of polished wood.

"I would speak with you alone."

"Clear my temple," the Forest Walker demanded.

The people around them had not seen the mark on Ivory's brow, had heard little of their talk, but expressed some surprise at the god's demand.

"Come, and we shall talk."

Ivory followed him into the temple, unconcerned for those things she had left under the tree, confident that they would be safe.

Within the temple was more of the beautifully carved wood work, and the altar to Elder Oak sparkled with silver and gold and gems, and behind it, a model of an oak tree, ten feet tall, plated with the same materials of the altar. The branches of the tree were adorned with hundred of prayer strips. The air was perfumed by incense.

It was beautiful, and part of Ivory burned with anger she had not known before, that a god such as Elder Oak would command such worship. However, at that moment, the spell made her companion and family to the plants and trees, and her anger was tempered by compassion.

"I was sent here," Ivory announced, "to confront you."

He looked down at her. "Confront me? Why?"

"I was not told. I was to decide on my own."

The god appeared wary. "And what have you decided?"

"That I am not going confront you with spells of fire and destruction."

"I see."

Ivory walked up to the altar. "I could though."

"I am aware Lawbringer."

Ivory turned on her heel. She nodded. "Lawbringer. Do you see to the care of your forest Elder Oak."

"Always."

She looked around the temple. "And this?"

"I can protect my forest and enjoy the benefits of worship."

Ivory nodded after a moment. "Yes, I suppose you can."

"So what is left here, if you accept my actions?"

Ivory was about to say she was done but paused. "I want a piece of quartz, from somewhere in your forest."

"Pardon?"

"It does not have to be large, a little bigger than the size of my fist. Quartz, from a point of power within the forest, where the essence pools."

"What interest would I have in rock? I am not an earth elemental."

Ivory smiled. "I could summon one, set it hunting."

Elder Oak looked disquieted.

"If you help me I will tell anyone that asks you are serving Creation as you should."

"And who could you report to Lawbringer that I would benefit from such a thing?

She reached up and touched the golden band in her leafy hair. "Lady Aisha Ex, goddess of Children, gave this to me. I can have the ear of Five Days in Darkness. I might speak to a Sidereal any day now as there is at least one that is likely to bother me again."

The Forest Walker regarded her for several seconds. He nodded. "Yes, I believe you, which means there is a benefit to giving you what you ask for. There are places within my forest where perhaps I have seen such rock. I will take you there, and you will speak well of me."

"Of course," Ivory agreed.

"Then follow me Lawbringer. We will make haste and travel quickly."

"I will keep up," Ivory promised.

They exited the temple, some people watching. In those gazes a mixture of shock, interest, concern, even anger or fear among some. Ivory did not give them much attention, focusing instead on following after Elder Oak.

Ivory took a few seconds to gather her things from where she had left them, putting armour and cloak back on as she followed, placing blades at her waist.

When they left the town and moved among the orchards Elder Oak's pace increased. Ivory matched him, thanks to the spell she had cast on herself.

Passing from the cut and cultivated lands into the forest proper saw a further increase in speed and Ivory found herself then pressed to keep up.

Around them, the forest seemed to pass in a blur. Ivory and Elder Oak moved, unhindered, through the thickest growth, beneath an interwoven canopy that left them in green tinted shade.

When they finally stopped Ivory was not certain how long they had been walking. An hour, perhaps two, but she was certain they were farther from the town than such a time could account for.

Where Elder Oak stopped a spring gushed from the mouth of a small cave. No trees grew immediately around it, for the ground was either rocky or sodden and muddy. Further from the spring, the trees that grew were all tall and straight ironwoods that formed a nearly impenetrable barrier about the spring.

Essence flowed all around, almost something Ivory could taste. It was raw and clean, uncertain in its form, for it took of the wood, and the water and the rock.

A manse could be raised here, Ivory thought, the essence directed to one flavour, probably wood.

Of course she suspected that Elder Oak would prefer the area remains as it was.

And it would be impolite to raise a manse here without his permission.

But perhaps one day…

"… will be found in the cave."

"What?" Ivory asked, looking to Elder Oak.

"The rock you seek. You will find something inside the cave I believe."

"Of course," Ivory said, taking a step towards the spring.

Something grabbed the back of the collar of her dress, twisted it, so it was pressing against her neck, then lifted her up off her feet. Not enough to choke her, but close.

She kicked and twisted as she hung in the air.

Elder Oak spun. "You," he shouted at whoever held her. "You are not welcome here Dark Eyes."

"And you would stop me, Forest Walker? Stop thrashing lest I break you," the person who held Ivory yelled, giving her a shake hard enough she felt her teeth rattle.

For a moment Ivory stopped thrashing about.

"This place as the entire forest will belong to the tribes, once I have destroyed the invaders."

"You will fail. Now release my guest and go."

"Your guest?" Ivory was shaken again. "A little sorceress. Another of your Dragon Blood allies," he snarled. "What reason have you brought her here? What threat do you present to the tribes?"

"I no longer care for the tribes or their fate," Elder Oak said, seeming to grow taller. "If they can succeed in destroying Far Hold perhaps I will listen to their prayers again. Now release her and go."

"They will not worship you," the man shouted, with each word giving Ivory a shake.

Ivory's feet had been tracing out a particular pattern, though to the one holding her it might seem that she was just kicking her legs helplessly. She danced in the air the steps of the Storm Spider Dance. And as she raised her hands in the final part, as if they were the fangs of a striking spider, eight legs of lightning sprouted from her back.

Sadly the energy was not as deadly as a true lightning strike, and the one that Elder Oak called Dark Eyes likely only felt a tingling as the legs passed through him. It surprised him though, of that Ivory was certain. With eight legs to support her Ivory twisted about, breaking free of the grasp, then leaping away, the legs climbing her spider-like up the trunks of several iron wood trees.

She looked down at the clearing from about fifteen feet in the air.

The one called Dark Eyes was a tall, muscular man whose long, silver hair suggested to Ivory he was no mortal.

He stared up at her, dark eyes that named him wide in surprise.

Ivory reached for her swords.

He moved, leaping up at her.

One of her blades was knocked from her hand, and she dropped the other one, long claws having lacerated her wrist.

Ivory hissed in pain, felt tears in the corner of her eyes.

Had she been mortal likely she would have lost her hand.

Dark Eyes landed lightly, spun so he could watch both Ivory and Elder Oak.

Ivory ignored the pain as she began to move her fingers, starting the cat's cradle weave of essence.

"Enough," Elder Oak bellowed.

All around them the trees shifted, long thorns growing from branches as they seemed to lean in.

"You will end this battle, or I will help the one who is next attacked to destroy the attacker."

Ivory did the math.

She was confident she could win.

Below her, she suspected that Dark Eyes did the same calculations and came to a different conclusion for he straightened from his crouch and took several steps back towards the trees. "I will honour your wishes," he said, disappearing amidst the trunks.

Elder Oak watched where Dark Eyes had gone for several seconds before his demeanour grew less wary. "Come down and let me look at your wrist."

Ivory descended on spider legs. She dismissed the spell as she reached the ground, the legs disappearing with a soft crackling sound.

Elder Oak gently took her arm, looked at the wound. It had already stopped bleeding, but the injury was ugly, torn open to the bone.

He gently placed his fingers against the lacerations. Ivory felt a cold tingle, and when he removed his fingers, the wound was much healed.

"I am do not treat animal creatures such as you," he told her, "but you have taken on some of the nature of the element of wood. You fall, even if temporarily, into my purview."

Ivory nodded. "Who was that?"

"He is called Dark Eyes, a lunar. He is attempting to unite the tribes I abandoned. He may try to kill me if he manages that."

Ivory thought about that. "That does not concern you?"

"I am eternal as this forest. It may change, but it will take significant effort to destroy it."

Ivory did not tell him that she thought that she was capable of the effort he described.

"Dark Eyes is no longer a concern. You came here seeking a rock."

"Yes," Ivory agreed and went to the small cave from which the spring spilt forth.

Within were several rock formations, likely formed by the abundant flow of essence. She knelt down in the cold spring water and slipped deeper into the small space.

Gently she ran her hand over the crystals, essence glittering gold at her fingertips. A faceted rod of clear quartz rock caught her attention. She touched it, ran her hand across it, then carefully scored the rock with her fingernail. After a minute of work she removed it, its essence affected structure unharmed.

She crawled back out of the cave and held it up to the sun. "I have it," she said, looking for flaws in the crystal matrix and finding none.

"Very nice," Elder Oak said, his tone making it clear he cared little for it. "What do you plan to do with it?"

"I am going to make it the heart of an automaton, one that will always do as I say."

"I suppose that will prove useful to you."

She nodded as she stood. "It will be marvellous." She knew that Elder Oak did not care, but she was still happy with what she had found.

"Let us leave this place then if you have found what you wanted."

"All right," Ivory said.

He led her from the demesne, back towards the town.

"Will Dark Eyes really try to kill you?"

"I believe that was his original plan when he came here before he discovered I had already left the tribes behind. He wanted to take command of the tribes. Was I still leading them my defeat would have allowed him to do so."

"Why does he want command of them? Are they a great army?"

"Hardly," the Forest Walker said derisively. "Even with a Lunar's aid, the mercenaries are easily able to keep the tribes from being a real problem."

"Then why?"

"I do not know, though I suppose it has something to do with his master."

"Master?"

"Demons visit him, and he passes on reports to them. He may think I do not know, but I am aware of any foul creature that enters my forest."

"Do you know who his master is?" Ivory asked.

"Suspect, from old stories, but I will not say."

"Why not?"

"If I am wrong, I have no desire to bring on the ire of that one, and if I am right, I do not want her to know I have seen through her agent."

"I suppose that makes sense," Ivory said, trying to sound reasonable, but she could not help being curious. Who was this 'her'?

"You do not plan to stay long. It does not concern you."

Ivory felt a little put off by such a statement, but he was right, she was not going to remain.

She might never come back.

No matter how desperately she wished to know, she would not argue the point.

Perhaps to put her off her earlier questions, or perhaps because it was what he cared about, Elder Oak told her about the forest as they passed through it. He knew every part of it well, could tell her about when a giant tree had first sprouted from seed, and point out small, hidden glades of remarkable flowers.

When they finally reached Far Hold it was getting late in the day.

They crossed through the orchards together, towards the walls of the town. Ivory looked up at the sky, looking for the floating pagoda. She spotted it, coming over the trees when they were a few hundred feet from the gate.

"Here is my home."

Elder Oak turned and looked towards the incoming pagoda. "Remarkable," he said.

Ivory stepped away from him, walked towards an open space where the pagoda would have enough room to land. There were people around, watching in amazement as the house drifted down to float a few feet off the ground. Ivory took a short run up and jumped to the front door.

Hu was waiting there, and Ivory had forgotten much of her earlier anger and smiled when she saw him. She held up her still injured wrist. "I fought a Lunar," she said.

"I am not at all surprised," Hu replied.

The sun was down the moon not quite up.

Dark Eyes stood alone, but not far from the village where the Red Scars lived. He could hear the sound of the people, his people, getting ready for the evening meal. The warriors were singing songs, the shamans burning incense.

He had watched Elder Oak and the exalted child, he was sure she was exalted, from afar, and he had seen her leave, taken away by a flying house.

Surely it was a world of wonders.

Sighing he reached into a small pouch at his side and brought out a small, silver crystal. It was many days before one of the demons would come, but he had a manner to summon a messenger if required.

The crystal turned to power under his strong fingers, and with a snap of those fingers he flung the dust into the air.

After several seconds something small and quiet entered the branches above his head. "You call oh mighty warrior." The voice was soft, with a hint of mockery.

"Go and run to your mistress dog, tell her that a sorcerous exalted has met with Elder Oak. I do not think she is Dragon Blood, and she is not a Lunar. I don't know what she is. All I know is that she is a child with golden eyes and that she left Far Hold in a flying house, travelling east."

"Is that all?" Snide tone.

"Go, and do not tarry or your mistress will know the reason why."

The demon was fast, but even so it did not reach the city of Mahalanka until early in the morning the next day. It moved through dark streets, patrolled by ape-men and the few times it was seen it spoke pass phrases that allowed it to continue further into the city.

Finally it reached the central library where the mistress of Mahalanka spent much of her time.

There were more guards there, such that the demon could not hide from them, but they knew it and let it past.

When it found the city's ruler, its summoner and mistress, it bowed low before the beautiful lunar who lounged on a couch, a great tome open upon her lap.

The demon crouched respectfully, waiting.

"What is it?" the woman asked, not looking up from the book.

"Dark Eyes sends a message, about a child sorcerous who travels in a flying house."

The woman looked up from the book, turned her gaze towards the small demon.

It trembled where it crouched.

"Tell me more."

The demon told her exactly what Dark Eyes had said.

When it finished, she tossed a silver crystal to the demon. "Return to Dark Eyes, give him the crystal and tell him that if he learns anything new about this golden eyed child he is to send news immediately."

The demon had caught the crystal and nearly fled from the room once she had finished speaking.

The woman stood from the couch. Her perfect, lithe body was covered in Moon Silver tattoos, and she was very nearly naked.

"Bring me incense, and blocks of Ash and Rowan," she called out loudly, knowing her servants were listening.

It was time to use a favour, for the story of the child sorceress interested her for many reasons.

Few of them bode well for the target of her curiosity.