---

Jane marched down the mountain, fists clenched at her side. It was a beautiful day, and she would have been enjoying the walk were it not for her mood. She had risen before everyone but Pepper that morning and set off up the mountain, to talk to Dragon.

Jane growled to herself as she remembered how that conversation had gone. Dragon had been even less reasonable than usual, and when she had refused to turn down the mission, he had exploded. When empty threats and yelling had failed, the big lizard had started sulking, and refused to talk to her. Jane had eventually given up and turned to go, at which point he seemed to change his mind, and tried to talk her out of it again, but Jane, her patience sorely tried, had refused to listen.

"Not even my mother is that ridiculous," seethed Jane. "He must realise there will be duties that he cannot perform with me."

Sighing and unclenching her fists, Jane turned her mind towards the quest that Gunther had suggested. She was still baffled as to why he had, but she would do her best to make it successful.

What time are we supposed to leave? Jane glanced up at the sky. It was still quite early in the morning, but Gunther would probably want to leave before the heat of the day set in. She began jogging in case she was keeping him waiting. The last thing she needed was to start this trip on a sour note.

---

"Jane, there you are!" Jester ran towards Jane as she entered the castle yard, slightly out of breath. "I thought you'd left with Gunther, but Pepper said you'd been in the kitchen this morning . . . ." He looked relieved to see her.

"Left with Gunther?" asked Jane, puzzled. "Has he gone already?"

"No one has seen him since last night, and Sir Theodore is fuming," Jester paused before continuing. "It looks like he wanted to take this quest alone."

"He what?" Jane spun on her heel and began running towards her tower. "Have Smithy ready a horse for me, I shall ride until I catch him up!"

"That is the other thing," began Jester, but Jane was out of hearing. He sighed and turned for the stables.

---

In her room, Jane grabbed her sword, stuffed a change of clothes and a few supplies into a leather sack, and turned to go, before noticing the bundle on her bed. It had been on her windowsill when she woke up, but to Jane it had simply looked like a rolled up shirt. She'd tossed it aside for inspection later, and then forgotten about it.

Worrying her lip, Jane glanced at the door before scooping up the roll of cloth. It was the grey colour that Gunther wore, and now she thought about it there was a certain weight to it.

Unrolling it, Jane saw that it was one of Gunther's shirts, and it had been wrapped around . . . .

"A silver arrow?" Jane frowned, glanced at the door again, and then stuffed the arrow and shirt into her sack and ran out of the room. She would have to think about it later.

---

Smithy stood by the gate, holding a horse by the reigns. Sir Theodore, Pepper and Jester stood beside him, Pepper with a small package.

"Breakfast," she said, handing it to Jane. "You have not eaten yet today and you need to keep your strength up. There is more food in your saddlebags."

Jane thanked her, and then inclined her head briefly at Sir Theodore before mounting the horse.

"Take care, Jane," he cautioned her. "This is all becoming quite strange."

"Yes, Sir," she promised firmly. "If I ride through tonight, I should be able to catch up with Gunther, assuming he stopped to rest his horse."

"That is the thing though, Jane!" Exclaimed Jester, agitatedly. "Gunther didn't take his horse!"

Smithy nodded up at Jane. "She is still in her stall. In fact," he added, almost to himself, "He has not been near her since he got back."

"He is on foot?" Jane frowned. "Then I should catch him today." She looked at Sir Theodore. "Shall I bring him back, or . . . ?"

"Complete the quest if you can, Jane, but return if you need to. Do not take unnecessary risks."

Jane nodded, and then looked towards the mountain. "Can someone tell—"

"I will be sure to let him know, Jane." Jester smiled at her.

"Thank you." Jane took the reigns from Smithy, and then took off at a trot, breaking into a gallop once she was past the village.

If Gunther thought he could leave her behind, he had better be ready to think again.

---

It was never really the best idea to travel through forest at night, Jane knew, but she had yet to find Gunther, and the weight of her sword on her back reassured her.

She was confused, though, as to how she could have failed to find him. He was on foot, while she had a horse, and this was the only direction he could have come. There was only one road leading away from Kippernia Castle, and although it eventually branched into two smaller roads, one of those simply led to the distant little Shale Village, and no further. Unless he had gone across the county-side, which made no sense.

No, he has to have come this way. Jane mused. Maybe he saw me coming and hid until I passed. He could be following me.

She slowed her weary horse and debated turning back when a howl echoed through the trees.

Wolves. Jane cursed as her horse whickered nervously beneath her. There would be no point in turning back now; she was more than halfway through the forest. She could make out the sudden break in the path ahead, where the forest ended in a deep valley, and any traveller who wanted to cross had to follow the side until the ground levelled out. There was an inn down there too, she was sure.

"Calm down, boy," she spoke softly to the horse, leaning forwards to pat its neck. "We will get down there and stop for the night." Maybe Gunther has done the same, she added to herself.

There was another howl, and it sounded closer. The horse shied away from the noise, and Jane nudged it forward.

"Not far now . . . ."

Five wolves jumped from the gloom of the trees and onto the path, snarling as they began surrounding the horse. Jane drew her sword and slashed at one as it leapt for her horse's throat, but several others jumped forward, snapping at the larger animal. With a terrified scream, the horse kicked out, knocking one of the wolves back before darting forwards, leaping over the wolf Jane had struck down and tearing towards the end of the path, and the valley beyond.

Jane gave a wordless cry as she tried to stop the horse, but the animal would not be halted, and the last stretch of ground rapidly vanished as it leapt out over the ravine.

Jane's heart seemed to stop as the horse made the leap, but then her head took over, and she quickly jumped from the saddle, throwing her sword ahead of her as she twisted in the air and reached back towards the valley wall with both arms.

She hit the edge with a thud and a flash of pain, and scrabbled for purchase on the loose stones of the path. Most of her upper body was on the flat ground, but the rest of her hung over the edge, and she couldn't get a grip . . . .

There was a distant crash, and Jane knew her horse had hit the ground. She closed her eyes and grimaced, trying to focus through pain and horror and grasp the ground. She could feel loose stones cut at her fingers, but ignored them as she continued to struggle.

There was a menacing growl, and Jane looked up to see a wolf stalking towards her. Her sword was lying on the path in front of her, but if she reached for it then she'd lose hold. She closed her eyes again, trying to keep calm and sort through her options, when a yelp made her open them. The wolf disappeared in a blur of dull colours, and she could hear the sound of a fight as the other wolves turned towards their attacker.

Jane tried to see what had happened, but lost her hold and slid over the edge.

---

A rather short chapter, this time, sorry. And a cliff-hanger, too. Again, thanks to KrisEleven, and anyone who's reviewed. Even if I don't reply to your review, I really do appreciate it.