"What was his Highness's response?"

Hella strode across the room, her long gown swirling against Consiflore's legs as she passed. She stopped by the tiny desk and toyed with the feather of her quill pen. "His Highness has forbidden me entrance to his quarters." She broke the feather between her fingers and hurled it at the wall.

"Did he say anything about- about- the woman?"

She marched back to where the Count stood, eyes blazing. "You mean the Pennistyle woman? Did he ask if I threw her from the castle walk? What's the matter Consiflore, too squeamish to say the words?"

He blanched from her tirade, wisely holding his tongue and wiping a faint spray of spittle from his cheek. Circumstances had changed and he felt inclined to watch the wind before declaring his loyalty. If the King were able to enforce his authority, Hella might not be quite the threat of power she seemed; a judicious approach to the political aspect of events was called for.

"What are you staring at?"

"Nothing my Queen, I was, ah- I was just thinking how apprehending the boy soon, would ease your current dilemma."

"Brilliant! Just brilliant! I thought that was the whole idea in the first place, you IDIOT!" Hella threw up her arms and returned to the desk. "When can I expect to hear you have the boy?" Her voice dripped with menace.

"Soon, M'lady. I trust very soon." He felt a trickle of sweat beside his ear and wiped it away, pretending to adjust his wig of brown curls. "With your leave, I'll go and assess the situation with my men."

"GO! And return quickly with good news, Consiflore. My patience grows very, VERY, thin."

The Count hurried back to his quarters, summoning his aide and transferring the Queen's threats to the unfortunate subordinate. "You will ride hard after Captain Gar and deliver his report back to me—with good news."

The soldier spread his hands. "But sir, I know not what direction—"

"FIND IT! FIND THEM! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

*****

The solitary rider drove his horse relentlessly, following, he hoped, the path of the king's soldiers. The information, learned in Dyst, sent him thundering along the route Gar and his men had taken to avoid the Great Plain. His determination and concentration were such that he completely missed the trio with the wagon and mule hiding by the roadside.

*****

After making certain that the soldiers had left the vicinity, and puzzling only briefly over the solitary rider, Derrick relaxed and lit a small fire, brewing some tea and breaking out a ration of dried meat to share with his guests. William and Mary ate hungrily, surprising themselves with their ravenous appetite.

"For such seasoned travelers you don't seem too well prepared," Derrick observed.

"We have encountered a few misfortunes on our journey." William disclaimed his host's remark. "As you saw, many of King Graf's soldiers follow our path."

Dolly snorted noisily in the shade of a large tree and Derrick chuckled aloud. "Tell me again about this Pennistyle fellow."

"We carry grave news of his family. News that is important for him to know as soon as possible."

Derrick sipped his tea, watching them. "He reluctantly told me that he was seeking someone in the village of Dyst. We traveled there together then parted. The soldiers were only half a day behind at that point."

William frowned. "But we just saw them streaking southward, I don't understand. If they'd caught Jep they would be heading back to Graf."

Derrick put down his cup, picked up a small twig, and began scratching in the dirt by his feet. "I think I might have an idea. If Jep didn't find this person in Dyst, the next town in that direction is Nygard, on the far side of the Great Plain. Now a man could cross the plain on foot, although the risk would be great, but a man or men on horseback could never do it."

"Why not?" Mary asked.

"The Loamites." Derrick answered.

"What are- are Loamites?"

"They are a race of tiny people who live beneath the plain in great caverns and tunnels. They live on the roots of a special grass that grows in abundance on the plain, but they also will attack anything that steps upon their territory."

"Why would a team of fierce soldiers fear this race of tiny- tiny- moles?" Mary pressed.

"Because they pull you down from beneath the ground, and suffocate you with the earth in the tunnels. Trust me, almost no one would take an animal across the plain."

"Almost?" William's ear pricked up.

*****

Jep sat on the rickety stool watching the beautiful young woman as she brewed tea over a crude fireplace in the corner of the room. Along with the meager glow from the fire, only one narrow window let any light into the rough confine. Certainly, she could have provided better for herself using one of the stones, he thought, if, that is, she is the Gwendolise I seek. The woman carried two mugs to the small table and pulled up another stool, joining her guest.

"It's hot so be careful," she said, blowing on her own and taking a dainty sip. "So, why would you be asking for me, sir?" The faint light from the tiny window rested on half of her face, accentuating the clean shine of her skin.

Jep turned his mug slowly on the table top, framing his response. "My name is- Jep Pennistyle."

He watched her face and just caught a flicker of recognition. "My father is Harkham Pennistyle." This time her face remained bland. Jep waited a moment then tried again. "My great grandfather, four times removed, was Aaron Penni—"

This time, she gasped aloud, her eyes darting to the doorway and back in fear. She fumbled her mug onto the table, spilling some of the hot liquid and gripped Jep's arm. "Why are you here? What do you want? You should never have come." She got up and went to the door to make sure they were alone then returned, dragging him to a far corner of the room.

"You are Gwendolise Bogendancer, aren't you?"

"Shhh!" She hissed, covering his mouth with her hand. "How did you find me?"

Jep took her hand away, retaining his grip on her slender fingers. "Bits of gossip, rumours... and the advice of an old woman called Prize." A look of dismay came over her face and she sagged back against the wall. "What is it? What's the matter?"

Very quietly and quickly, Gwendolise told Jep all about her search for the Teacher family, how her father had told her of the curse the stones had brought their ancestors and that she was charged with finding and disposing of all of them before someone gained full control.

She learned about the Key and who the guardian was but she also learned that her sister had people tracking her as she traveled from town to town, and how she finally wound up in Dyst, hiding in the home of the woman Prize. When enough time had passed, Prize told her how to reach Nygard and how to join the community without giving away her purpose.

In return for her help and protection, Gwendolise had gifted Prize with one of the small stones, imploring her never to tell how she came by it. She paused, frowning at Jep.

"She told me nothing, I swear. I did not know she held a stone. But tell me, why did you undertake this life? Why didn't you just confront the Teacher family if they were here?"

Gwendolise smirked, shaking her head. "Because, the Teacher family rule Nygard. The Grand Duke is Keebooten Teacher, the last of his line save for Rodney Dunbar, his eldest sister's son. His wife died bearing their first child and rumour has it, his youngest sister Pricilla and her husband were taken by the plague."

"Is that how he rules this town, with the stones?"

"The people think he has mystical powers. They are very afraid of him, but he treats them well, as long as they do as they're told and never leave the town."

"Never leave! You mean nobody can leave Nygard?"

"Not alive."

Jep shook his head, completely befuddled. "So then you and I are really trying to do the same thing." He said after a moment. "Find all the stones and get them back to Mount Drood."

Gwendolise considered him in silence, and then nodded.

Rodney Dunbar pulled quietly away from the alcove just outside the door, his eyes gleaming with delight at his discovery. His uncle, the Grand Duke, would be very pleased to know that his fair town held the likes of Gwendolise Bogendancer and the upstart heir of Aaron Pennistyle.