Salmo, Satis Orbis
Year: 4998

   In Aule's room the two girls made themselves comfortable; Daphne sitting cross-legged on the bed and Aule leaning against the wall with folded arms. 

   "Why are you looking for him?" Aule asked in a low voice.

   "Why are you?" Daphne countered.

   She could play that game too and was not about to be made the victim of this situation.

    "Revenge," Aule answered bluntly.

    "Ahhh...I should have guessed that."

    Aule rolled her eyes and pushed herself away from the wall, walking across the room to the banging shutters and securing them tighter. 

    "Now it is your turn," she said.

    "Well," Daphne began, sighing. "In simple words, he stole something that does not belong to him."

    Aule could see that Daphne did not mean to divulge anymore information on the matter and neither did she, so the conversation ended there with each girl retreated into their own minds. It was clear to Aule that now she would have no hope of shaking off the Human for they were in search of the same person. This fact made her quite miserable and for a small ounce of time, she contemplated giving up on her quest. But then she remembered why she had started it in the first place and the anger began to boil inside of her once more.

   Daphne on the other hand was going over what the Inn Keeper had said. So Hammond had rented a room? That was good. But which room? The Inn Keeper would not say. That was bad. How would they find out which room was his? Either they could do it the easy way and just knock on every door, or they could do it the hard way and scale each wall on the outside and look through every window while in a hale storm. Either way did not sound appealing to Daphne.

   "Room 47," Aule suddenly whispered.

   "What about it?" Daphne whispered back.

   Aule tiptoed over to the door and placed one ear on the smooth wood, listening carefully.

   "Someone has gone into it."

   "How do you know?" Daphne asked.

   Aule rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, turning her head slightly to look at Daphne in an exasperated manner.

   "I just know."

   Daphne raised both hands and shrugged her shoulders in a gesture that she meant no offense and got off the bed, joining Aule at the door.

   "Who do you think it is?" she asked quietly.

   "How should I know?"

   "Oh I'm sorry! I just thought you knew everything!" Daphne whispered harshly.

   Aule rolled her eyes again and listened closer for anymore movement. None.

   "Quick, we must hurry to your room," Aule ordered, ushering Daphne out the door and closing it lightly behind them. 

   The two girls snuck quietly into Daphne's room without making a sound other than the soft click of door knob. They tiptoed over to the right hand wall and both of them put one ear up against it, not even daring to breath. There was a small scuffling sound coming from room 47 and although it was obvious that there was in fact someone in the room it still remained to be seen who it actually was.

   "Why are we even doing this?" Daphne whispered, her eyebrows raised at Aule in question.

   Aule gave her another steely look and Daphne did not pursue the matter, assuming that her unpleasant companion had a good reason. 

   "I think it might be the man with the scar," Aule eventually explained.

   "Hammond?"

   Aule nodded but said nothing more, concentrating on the sounds coming from within. The scuffling continued so it was obvious that the person was moving about and there was a faint tinkling sound, sort of like someone was drumming a metal pot with their fingernails.

   "There are two in there," Aule suddenly spoke, still listening carefully.

   "What?" Daphne asked, trying to decipher any sound that gave away the fact that there were two people in the room. "I can't tell."

   "The sounds are coming from two different sides of the room."

   "Are you almost ready?" a gruff voice spoke up from room 47.

   "Stop mopin' about," another replied. "Berglund ain't got long to wait."

   Daphne gasped and quickly covered her mouth, making sure no other involuntary sound escaped.

   "Shhh," Aule whispered, placing one finger over her lips.

   "That new girl is good. Quite a prize ya got with that'un."

   "Yeah, she sure is a fighter. Got er' from one a dem travelin' circus acts."

   Daphne's face visibly changed and her hazel eyes clouded over with a hateful expression.

   "What are they talking about?" Aule asked, seeing that their words had had some effect on Daphne.

   "Berglund is the head of the grapevine, they practically run all of Satis except for the smaller provinces. The girl they're talking about is my sister."

   Aule did not reply but thought over what Daphne had said earlier. He stole something that does not belong to him, she had said. Now Aule knew that the item he had stolen was not really an item at all, but a person, and that person was Daphne's sister. 

   "So one of the men in there must be Hammond," Aule finally whispered.

   Daphne nodded solemnly.

   "What do they do with people they kidnap?" Aule asked, for there was no such organization in Arietes. 

   "It all depends," Daphne explained. "If they're strong and athletic they put them in the fighting ring. If they're too weak for that they make servants out of them."

   "Then what of your sister?" It was a silly question to ask, for it was quite obvious that any sister of Daphne's would not be weak by any means, but Aule wanted to know all the same.

   "We were both adopted by Mama Francesca who started one of the most successful traveling acrobat teams in Orbis. We were raised learning such skills and it would be foolhardy for Berglund to make a servant out of Deirdre. She's the best acrobat in our team...Even better than me," Daphne laughed slightly at the last part.

   Aule said nothing once more but looked at Daphne with a faint light in her eyes that might be perceived by some foolish being as curiosity. Of course anyone who knew Aule longer than ten minutes knew that she could not possibly ever be curious as it was an emotion so completely foreign to her that it might as well be in a language she did not understand. 

   "They are leaving," Aule finally said after her moment of daydreaming.

   Right after the words escaped her mouth the creak of the floorboard sounded out like the banging of two pots against each other, when in reality it was no louder than the scurry of a mouse across a carpet. 

   Without questioning each other what they would do next the two girls turned to tiptoe over to the door, their hearts leaping into their mouths and nearly choking them of fright. Caelum had been standing patiently behind them the whole time, silent as the grave and almost as somber. They had quite forgotten about his existence and were only reminded after a near heart attack.

   "Where are you going?" Caelum asked quietly in his small voice.

   "Nowhere important," Aule quickly replied. "You stay here."

   The two girls made their way to the door and Daphne peered through the keyhole just in time to see two burly figures heading down the stairs.

   "They're going downstairs," she whispered.

   "I know," Aule answered, her hand already on the handle waiting for Daphne to move.

   Daphne looked up at the Cieven and smiled, her face all teeth.

   "Sorry," she muttered, stepping back.

   Aule rolled her eyes in a manner that was becoming far too familiar and opened the door, stepping carefully out into the empty hall followed closely by Daphne.

   The hale storm had subsided to heavy rain and the loud pattering covered up the sound of footsteps on the old stairs, making it easier for Aule and Daphne to sneak down them without being observed by the two humans that strode outside. As the door closed the girls ran across the room and peaked through the calico drapes, managing to make out the two figures that mounted their horses and set off down the road.

   "Where can we get two horses?" Daphne asked quickly, turning to the Inn Keeper.

   "We have three in the stables. Would you like to rent them?"

   "Yes please," Daphne hurried, pulling several coins out of her pocket and placing them on the counter. 

   The Inn Keeper deposited the coins in her apron pocket and rang a small bell on the counter. A young boy entered through a back door, his ragged clothes covered in mud and straw.

   "Jack here will show you to the stables and saddle the horses for you," the Inn Keeper said, gesturing towards the boy.

   "Thank you," Daphne bowed her head politely and the two girls ran out the door after Jack.

   The stables were an extra building in the back connected to the inn by a small overhang that little to no use when it came to keeping the rain off. Aule just simply pulled the hood of her coat up but Daphne was stuck with the mess of damp curls that she had had no time to pull out of the way and a jacket that most certainly was not made to keep one dry in a rain storm. 

   "It's freezing," she muttered as they walked into the stable.

   Aule did not reply but quickly picked out two of the three horses that were in the stable, telling the boy not to saddle them.

   "We don't have time," she snapped when Daphne complained. "You can ride bareback, can you not?"

   "Of course I can," Daphne answered a little hotly. "That doesn't mean I prefer it."

   Aule ignored her and mounted a cow-hawked bay mare, turning it towards the exiting door. Daphne quickly tossed the stable boy a silver coin and mounted the sway-backed chestnut mare following Aule out of the stable. 

   The two rode down the street to the crossroads where they had seen Hammond last and looked down all three roads, barely managing to catch the whip of a horses tail and the end of the right hand street. Aule was first to react, urging the mare into a canter. Thankfully the rain pounding on heavily on the glass windows of large building covered up most of the sounds of hoof-beats and the two girls managed to follow the Humans all the way out of town. At the last building Hammond turned down a separate road than the other man that led over a grassy hill then disappeared behind it, Aule and Daphne not making it in time to see him disappear.

   "Where has he gone?" Aule asked, looking around with narrowed eyes. "We have lost him."

   "No we haven't," Daphne replied, stopping her horse. "I know where he went, but it won't be easy to follow him."

   Aule twisted round to look at Daphne with a poker face, her expression betraying nothing. 

   "Where would that be?"

   "Crow Haven," Daphne explained. "It's the main hub for the grapevine. Berglund resides there most of the time when he's not off with some Barron or other."

   There was distinct tone of dislike in her voice as she spoke of the leader of the grapevine and Aule could tell there was no mistaking where Daphne's loyalty lay. But for the time being Aule did not care who Berglund was nor what he did. All she wanted was Hammond, and she was going to get him.

   "Show me where it is."

   "We'll have to dispose of the horses and go through the elephant fields to the back. That's the only way of getting in I can think of that is even slightly realistic."

   "The elephant fields?" Aule asked, looking at the grassy hills all around them.

   "Over there." Daphne pointed to her left. "If we ride around the hill quite a ways we'll come to a creek that runs out into the ocean. Once you cross over that there's a large field of elephant grass and Crow Haven is on the East side. If we ditch the horses at the creek we have a good chance of getting to the back wall without being seen. After that I can't guarantee anything."

   "Very well," Aule said, turning her mare to the left. "We shall g"Do that way."
 

               At the Inn...

    "Did you miss me?"

    "WREN!" Evert jumped back in surprise.

    Wren quickly hushed him with a warning finger and Evert swallowed in embarrassment.

    "Sorry," he said quietly.

    There was a soft rustling movement and a soft glow of light traveled across the room as Wren lit one of the oil lamps.

    Evert was a little shocked at first, seeing the graying hair of his old mentor and the slightly wrinkled face. But apart from the obvious marks of time, he was still just as tall and strong as ever.

    "You have grown," Wren said in his gruff voice, looking the youth over.

    It was true. In the past three years Evert had shot up considerably and filled out across the shoulders and arms with a substantial amount of muscle. He cut a rather regal figure in his black scout uniform, but his regular stone expression had been replaced by the old admiration that use to reside there whenever he was around the old scout chief. 

    "Boy, do not look so surprised," Wren said in a commanding voice. "Although a crime it would be to call you boy now."

    Evert looked sheepishly pleased at the compliment but quickly recovered, realizing himself that this a time to live up to that remark.

    "What are you doing here?" he asked, suddenly hearing for the first time how much deeper his voice was than when he had last seen Wren.

    "Here to find the Princess I am."

    "But...But she is dead," Evert replied, his green eyes wide with astonishment.

    "Is she? I think not."

    Evert paused for a moment and did not answer. He was sure she had died in the fire. It was impossible...Or was it?

    Suddenly a soft knock on the door broke into his thoughts and Wren and Evert looked at each other in confusion. Wren quickly stepped behind the door and nodded for Evert to open it, holding his dagger at the ready. Evert took a deep breath and opened the door in a casual manner, but he saw no one. There was a small cough and looking down a small boy came into vision, his dark brown eyes looking up at Evert as though they were old friends.

    "Excuse me," he said quietly. "But can you help me?"

    Evert's expression was stone but his voice was not harsh when he said, "I am afraid I do not have the time. What do you need?"

    The boy tilted his head to one side and put both hands behind his back, shuffling his feet.

    "Well, it is not exactly what I need...It's more what you need. And what the Princess needs."

    That caught Evert's attention, as well as Wren's. Wren popped out from behind the door, causing Caelum to step back in surprise, and him and Evert exchanged curious expressions.

    "What Princess?" they asked in unison.

    "Your Princess," he said quietly.

    "Where did she go?"

    "Crow Haven."

    Both Wren and Evert felt their hearts sink into their boots, knowing that Crow Haven was the last place Adrastea should go. It was full of brigands and butchers who cared for nothing but robbing and killing, and of course the weekly dual between two unfortunate slaves.

     "Of course go their she would have to," Evert muttered in Arieten.

     "Find her we will have to. If they find out who she is nothing will save her," Wren said, sheathing his knife.

     He made a move to go out the door but stopped in his tracks, Evert's arm stretched out in front of him.

     "Wait...I have an idea."

               Prince Teo and Evert rode up the winding path to Crow Haven accompanied by several palace guards that had sailed with them from Arietes. The rain had subdued slightly but the wind was still fierce and biting cold, freezing anyone that stayed long enough in it. 

    "Tell me again why wish you did to call upon Berglund early?" Teo yelled over the weather.

    "Humans you should never trust," Evert replied, not bothering to yell.

    The Prince sighed but did not continue the conversation. It was too painful to talk.

    After several long minutes of riding they came atop a hill, the road winding down into a large field of elephant grass, where in towered the tall drift wood walls of Crow Haven, two men wrapped in furs standing guard on the ramparts. 

    As they drew closer one of them disappeared behind the wall and a few moments later the barred gate at the front was lifted, two guards running out and standing on either side of the entrance. They bowed deep as the royal party rode into the courtyard of the fort, quickly following behind before the barred gate was lowered. 

    The courtyard was not such a dazzling site to behold, being filled mostly with filthy men and filthy horses, but neither Evert nor Prince Teo had expected anything better coming from an organization of cutthroats. 

    When they stopped there horses the doors to the large main building were thrown open and a tall strong man wearing a long fur cape and a silver ringlet on his head walked down the clay steps, bowing deep in greeting.

    "Welcome Prince Teo!" he said in Arieten, his accent thick. "I am Berglund."

    The Prince bowed his head respectfully and dismounted, handing the reins of his horse to one of the guards.

     "Arrived early you have," said Berglund. 

     "Do not trouble yourself with Arieten," Teo said pleasantly. "Satarian is like a first language to me. We came early for fear that the weather might get worse. I hope we did not inconvenience you?"

     Evert had to wonder at the diplomacy of the Prince and decided, after taking a careful look at the surroundings, that it was refreshing. 

     "Please, come inside," Berglund invited with a large grin. "Tell your men they can roam about as they choose. My home is their home."

     Teo translated for the guards but Evert was already off his horse, leading it into shelter under a lean-to with straw and oats. There was one man sitting at one end on a barrel who looked Evert up and down slowly as he chewed on the end of piece of straw and Evert simply nodded politely, his face expressionless. 

    Now, he thought carefully. Where could she be?

                 Aule looked up at the tall driftwood walls uncertainly, squinting not only from the rain but also from concentration.

    "How on Orbis do we get over this?" she muttered to herself.

    "Eh," Daphne said, testing the strength and slickness of the wood. "It's not the best thing I've had to climb, but it's far from the worst."

    "You intend to climb it?" 

    "Do you have a better idea?...Come on. It won't be that bad."

    Aule looked from Daphne to the slippery wood. She had her doubts. 

    Daphne untied the strings on her jacket and pulled out a coil of thin cord and a small packet of a substance that resembled salt, proceeding to tie a slip knot at the end of the rope. When she finished she took a step back and let out a length of the cord, holding the loop in her right hand and spinning it around to gather up the momentum that sent it flying up into the air and looping over the end of one of the poles. Then she quickly tugged on it to tighten the loop and tested its strength by pulling herself up on it, then back down again.

    "That should be good," she said, brushing off her hands.

    Aule tried to hide the astonishment on her face but only succeeded halfway. Daphne pretended not to notice, but she was secretly pleased.

    "I only get it the first time every once out of fifty tries," she laughed, opening up the sack of powder. "Here, put this on your shoes. It will help them grip the wall better."

    Aule did as instructed and rubbed the bottoms of her boots with the course substance, handing the packet back to Daphne who did the same.

    "Good," she said, finishing up. "Now you go first since you're lighter. If the knot doesn't hold with you it most certainly won't hold with me." The last part she said with a smile but Aule did not think it very funny and glared fiercely at Daphne who simply continued to grin.

    Taking a deep breath Aule brushed both hands together and grabbed hold of the rope, placing one foot firmly over the closest knob and hoisting herself up quickly.

    "Heyyy, you're stronger than you look," Daphne said in admiration.

    Aule was not sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but at that moment her frustration and pain was too great for her to care. After a struggling second of getting the proper grip on the rope she placed her left hand above the right and pulled up once more, placing her right foot on another knob close by and slowly inching her way up the wall.

    Daphne watched closely, constantly looking over her shoulders and up along the rest of the wall for anyone coming. Though her jokes seemed light-hearted and easy going they were really just a way to trick her brain into thinking that everything was perfectly fine and they were not going to possible dies within the next few minutes.

    "If you can't find a knob try hooking your feet in between the poles. The moss stuck in between is usually pretty dense so it'll help keep you up," she called up to Aule in a horse whisper.

    Aule nodded but did not say anything, her teeth gritted and perspiration mixing with the rain on her exposed face. She was almost to the top and even though it had only been five minutes it seemed like hours since she had started. 

    Just...A little...Farther, she kept telling herself. One hand went over the other, one foot went over the other, and she just kept pressing on through the slippery pain. Every muscle ached and screamed at her. Up until that moment Aule had been fairly convinced that she was in peak condition, but this little exercise convinced her that it was time to start training harder.

    "You're almost there!" Daphne called from below.

    As if I don't know that! Aule screamed at her mentally. Taking one last deep breath she reached her right arm up to grasp the rope when a sudden cramp shot through her palm and forearm and she lost grip, her foot slipping off the knob. In a terrifying second Aule's heart stopped as she began to fall through the air, when she was suddenly jerked to a stop by a strong grip on her wrist. Aule did not scream, for she did not have the strength, but let out a sharp gasp, staring with wide eyes at the ground below where Daphne stood, looking up with terror written all over her face. Aule quickly realized she was no longer falling and jerked her head up, staring into a pair of familiar green eyes that gazed back at her in silence. For a short moment time stood still as her mind processed what was before it.

    "Hello Princess," Evert greeted her mechanically.