Not for the first time, Zilik cursed his own cleverness. Why did he send Alex to the north? Why not the swamps where the alligators hated the Anolis? Or the rainforest where the Anolis were similarly despised? But why did he think it was a better idea to send her north, where it was unbearably cold?

The chill of the air seeped into his bones despite the heavy layers of winter clothing and the crackling warmth of the campfires. He had to find her today, for he knew he couldn't last another day up in these unforgiving mountains. He briefly wondered if Lok would have been able to fare better, but then dismissed the thought - it wouldn't do to risk Lok's life because of his own foolish choices..

At least the horse didn't care about the cold and trotted obligingly through the dying grass of the plains. He could only hope that Alex had followed his instructions to the letter and kept on northward alongside the river. There was no other chance for them to be reunited.

"Alex," he called out yet again. "It's me, Zilik. I need to talk to you."

"Hang on." Alex swooped down with the agility of a hawk, her fingers grasping Zilik's wrist in an instant. Arrows whizzed past them, slicing through the air as they ascended again. "You were followed," she said firmly, her gaze sweeping across the ground below them. "I saw the ambush from the air."

Zilik chattered incoherently, his long arms, legs, and tail wrapping around her body as they soared through the sky.

"Sorry to surprise you like that," she said, trying to soften the shock of the situation. "But it's better than being shot to pieces."

His voice was low and raspy. "I never... We never knew you could fly."

"Your kind was already freaked out about me. They would have lost their minds if they knew I could fly. I didn't want to be chained down. Now, which way do I go?"

"Huh?" Zilik was still twined around her.

"I'm heading south, but you'll have to direct me. Where should we go?"

"Chameleon City. We'll be safe there. I can hide you. How do we find it from the air?" Zilik sounded more coherent, but still had a death grip on her.

"It won't be easy. I only have this little wrist compass, but we have no other choice. You feel so cold. Best to stay wrapped around me until you warm up."

***

After a few hours, Zilik's breathing evened out, and his energy returned. After sunset, he navigated them to just north of Zilik's.

"You have to keep us alive now," Alex said as they set down in the thick bushes.

Zilik flashed a playful grin. "Staying alive is a Chameleon specialty. Now follow me."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the shadows and into the moonlight. His eyes scanned the park for any witnesses, then he shrugged his shoulders to relax his stance. His fingers intertwined with hers as they emerged onto the city street, walking casually as if nothing had just happened.

Alex squinted in the half-light of the evening, trying to make out the details of Chameleon Quarter's iconic architecture. Red brick buildings stretched skyward, topped with ornate grey cornices and intricately carved statues. Her companion walked slowly, seeming to take in every detail of their surroundings before finally turning his gaze to her.

"What was so important that you risked your life for?" Alex asked.

"It's your friends. According to my sources, they, and the revolution, are in serious trouble."

Alex clenched her jaw in anger. "What contacts? What revolution? So that's what Gabe shut me out of. He thinks he's so tough. I should turn him into the Portal Guardian for disobeying her direct orders."

Zilik's lips twitched as Alex angrily ranted. "Deela is my contact," he said softly. "You know, the Kuni has claimed them and added them to her personal harem. Frankly, they don't stand a chance of breaking free on their own. I figured you'd want to know and help them out."

"Who me? I'd get them killed, remember? I'm useless."

Zilik placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Alex," he said simply.

Alex exhaled wearily, her tense shoulders drooping. "I know I should help them—that's all I ever wanted. Well, that and throttling Cla is a pretty close second."

"We'll talk about that later. Here's my place," Zilik said, pointing.

The building was a massive red stone edifice. One story, red brick arms jutted out from a central two-story building. Alex admired the carved grey stone cornice crowning the red building. A large fountain bubbled in the forecourt. Two marble Chameleon statues reached toward each other over the center entrance.

Alex's jaw dropped. "You own a palace?" she asked incredulously.

Zilik grinned wickedly. "Just an apartment inside it," he replied. He guided Alex to a heavy wooden door at the back of the building, then pulled out a small set of keys from his pocket and unlocked it. "We won't be staying," he said. "Everyone knows where I live and you must hide." As they stepped inside, Alex was astonished by the opulence surrounding her. The ceilings were intricately decorated and, velvet adorned furniture while richly coloured tapestries adorned the walls.

"Nice pictures," Alex said as she looked around his apartment. There were frames scattered in every corner of the main room. Each picture showed Zilik with various species, and Alex bet they were all female. "Sleep-mates, Zilik?"

"What?" he called out from the bedroom. He poked his head out for a look. He rumbled in his throat in what Alex figured was his version of a chuckle. "Some are. All ancient history, though. I collect pictures of friends and acquaintances. I don't know why, but I like looking at them."

"A trophy case," Alex replied, too low for Zilik's hearing, she hoped.

Zilik offered Alex a thick, black cloak that smelled of lavender and rosemary. She complied, taking off her heavy coat and wrapping the soft fabric around her body. He grabbed his small suitcase and walked her to a small waiting carriage in the back of the building. Zilik climbed into the driver's box, and Alex squeezed in next to him. He took the reins and clicked them lightly against the horse's back, and they embarked on their journey.

"Zilik, you're a lot more important than you've let on, aren't you?"

"I would love for you to consider me important," he replied cheerfully, but at her reproving look added, "I'm the secondary to the Chameleon Council member."

"I'm not surprised. I bet you're involved in a lot of new policies and treaties, aren't you? You travel constantly; you have contacts in high places with lots of species; you hang around with dangerous types such as revolutionaries and alien mammals. You're working more to change the politics on this planet than all the Council members put together, aren't you?" Alex asked.

Zilik smiled wryly as he shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't go that far."

"I would. Zilik, you are a radical. Don't try to deny it. Tell me what I'm getting involved in," Alex said.

Zilik's face grew serious, and his black eyes set on the horizon. His voice was laced with an urgency that rose with each word. "Freedom, my dear, freedom. You can sympathize, I'm sure. I don't think all these dictators and oppressive monarchies should flourish because no one wants to intervene."

"Dangerous thinking, Zilik. Could start a lot of wars," Alex warned.

"But I'm right. I believe—"

Alex patted his shoulder. "Zilik, I agree with you. There's no need to convince me. It's still a dangerous idea. I should have known only a bleeding heart would care what happened to me."

"A what?" he asked.

"Doesn't translate well. Not exactly accurate if you're willing to start wars. Where are we going?" Alex asked.

"I know where some revolutionaries are hiding. We'll find out their plans," Zilik said.

"Will Deela be there?" Alex asked.

"No, she's deep in Anolis territory. She's also a secondary to the Kuni. But she's been sending us word and she told me about your friends. That's when I decided to find you."

Her gaze panned out to the sprawling cityscape before her as a tinge of worry crept into her face. They mean everything to me." Alex stared moodily at the landscape. "That reminds me. Is Razz okay?"

"Safe and sound. Here's our stop." Zilik climbed out of the carriage, lead rope in hand. He attached it to the horse's halter and secured it to a hitching post.

"Disreputable, isn't it?" Alex eyed the dilapidated buildings.

"This isn't the half of it. We're walking the rest of the way."

As they walked, Zilik pulled Alex out of the grasp of several disheveled reptiles of various species. "One problem with being an open society," he explained, "Is that a lot of the rejects from other cities come here. They expect everything handed to them. Needless to say, they're disappointed."

They arrived at a brick wall topped with decorative iron spikes, and in its center hung a metal gate that Zilik opened with a key from his pocket. A staircase descended into darkness and old cobblestone steps seemed to groan under their feet. As they rounded a corner, Zilik knocked on a windowless door, and after a few moments a small panel slid open, revealing a reptilian eye staring back at them. There was the sound of metal clanking against metal before the door opened slowly.

The Chameleon holding the door asked, "Were you followed?"

"You insult me," Zilik said in a good-natured tone.

Alex stepped into the room and was overwhelmed by the sound of clanging armor and hushed chatter. Female Anolis warriors with swords and shields stood shoulder-to-shoulder. A handful of Gilas lurked against the walls, their gazes darting around the room.

"What do you mean by bringing this mammal in here?" an Anolis warrior asked.

"Quiet." A neighboring Anolis smacked that Anolis' arm. "Deela has vouched for it. It's here to help us."

"I don't trust it," the Anolis replied.

"Neither do I. If it helps us, it'll be executed by InterSpec," another Anolis said.

"Or live in hiding the rest of its life. It must be a spy for InterSpec," a fourth Anolis female added.

"I hadn't counted on such outright hostility," Zilik whispered to Alex.

"Naïve," Alex whispered back. "Always count on hostility." She raised her voice and said, "One, I am a she, not an it. Let's mind our pronouns here. Second, I'm already living in hiding. Haven't you heard that I escaped the Institute? Your Kuni ordered my death at the hands of your scientists. No one objected except Zilik. I have no love of InterSpec and no fear of execution."

"Why would it help us? What does it know of Amal?" an Anolis asked, ignoring Alex and speaking to her compatriots.

"I know nothing of Amal." Alex crossed her arms and watched as they talked excitedly before she interrupted again. "But if you're talking about the Kuni, then I know that Cla serves her. Cla has humiliated me, stolen my sleep-mate, tried to assassinate me, and the Kuni ordered your scientists to torture and kill me. Are those good enough reasons?"

The reptilian creature sneered at Alex, pointing to the pale patches of healed scars that crisscrossed her arms. "Maybe, but what good are you? What with your tender pink skin, you still bear the marks of Cla's blade."

"You don't know half of what I can do," Alex said. "Your hide makes shoes and purses on my world."

A Gila ran his fingers along the blade of a broadsword, tracing the scratches and gouges that marred its surface. "Any good szarek will have knife marks," he said, turning to face his cohort with a solemn expression. "If you require that all your warriors know and hate this Amal in order to fight, then I'm afraid that excludes all of us."

The other Gilas nodded their agreement.

Gratified that grudging respect entered the Anolis' eyes, Alex said, "If you don't trust my abilities or my loyalty, give me some test. Anything to prove myself."

"Alex, that wasn't wise," Zilik whispered in her ear.

"I told you wisdom wasn't my strong suit. Do you have a better suggestion? They aren't my adoring public," she whispered back.

The Anolis huddled together in tense silence until one of them stepped forward, his voice clear and authoritative. "Your mission is to rescue one of your friends from the palace. Deela gave them vital data on the Kuni's forces; when communications were lost due to the Kuni's initial attack, we desperately need that intel. If you don't return with a friend, Cla will kill you."

"What else is new? I accept," Alex replied nonchalantly.

"Alex, don't." Zilik sounded appalled.

"It knows of us. What if Cla forces it to tell what she knows?" an Anolis asked.

"Know what?" Alex challenged. "That there's a group of revolutionaries in Chameleon City? They must suspect that already. If they don't, they're bigger idiots than I think. I know nothing of your true numbers or your plans. You're in no danger from me."

"Well said, szarek. These females have nothing to lose and everything to gain by sending you. I wish you victory," a Gila rumbled.

"If you are successful, find Zilik and he will find us," an Anolis warrior said.

"This is absurd," Zilik protested. "Alex, you'll be slaughtered the second you step near the Kuni's palace. How do you expect to sneak in?"

A female Anolis crossed her arms and said, "That's not our problem.".

Another spoke up, "There's a way." She received several hostile glares but continued bravely. "There's a ritual that will allow you a chance to reclaim your friends."

*****

After the Anolis outlined her plan, Alex agreed it was clever. The hardest part was entering the palace, but once in, if the Anolis adhered to their own traditions, she would have a chance.

An Anolis warrior waved at Alex. "Now leave us, mammal. We have plans to make."

Without a word, Alex turned on her heels and strode out of the room, Zilik trailing in her wake.

"I don't like this," Zilik complained as they walked back to the carriage. "I'm coming with you."

Alex marched forward, ignoring him, and increased her pace even more. "No."

"You'll need help entering the palace." Zilik kept up easily with Alex, who was briskly walking ahead without making a sound.

The strong breeze blew strands of her hair in all directions as she stayed focused on what lied ahead. "No," she answered without turning around.

"I won't let you go alone," Zilik said.

"No. I can drive myself, if you'll loan me the carriage," she replied, her voice tight. "If you don't, I'll fly there."

"I didn't bring you back so you can get killed," Zilik said.

"You brought me back to help my friends, and that's what I'm going to do. What did you think?" Alex finally looked at him and held up her hands in frustration.

"I thought we would get some help, get back-up. Not you, traipsing off alone, on some impossible mission."

Alex opened her palm as if to present a plan already outlined. "It's not impossible. You heard the plan."

"You need help. I'm going with you," Zilik insisted.

"For the last time, no." Alex stopped, gripped Zilik's shoulders, and looked him in the eye. "Zilik, part of this is personal. This is trivial in the overall plan of things. You're needed for the big picture, to make all those policies and treaties, and change the world, remember? You're too important to 'traipse off' with a crazy alien mammal into enemy territory."

Zilik lashed his tail. "But—"

"No buts. Are you loaning me the carriage or not?"

"Yes." Zilik's shoulders slumped and his gaze fell to the floor. "May I have a picture made of us first? For my memory wall?"

***