"So what is this recital all about?" Tennessee asked Beatrice as they walked up the side of a steep slope.

"It's about birds," she said nearly slipping in the lose rocks. "I have a solo as a beautiful pink flamingo." She curtseyed. "Wysteria and another dancer are kingfishers and Ladybird leads the flock of little red breasted robins. Tweet, tweet, tweet. My Grande Jete is perfect."

Tennessee smirked. "I'd say you're jealous of Ladybird."

"Me!" Beatrice shouted. "I could never be jealous of Ladybird." She stopped her accent and crossed her arms forcing Tennessee to stop too. "Even if she is very pretty and nice and proper." She shook her head. "She always tried to help me even if I didn't want it. And she always forgave me even when...I didn't deserve it."

Tennessee nodded. "It sounds to me like you're missing your sisters," he said. "Are you ready to turn back?"

"No," Beatrice said firmly. "I'm not missing anyone." She quickly wiped a tear before it escaped.

"Then let's get going," Tennessee said. "We've delayed long enough."

"You make it sound as though it is entirely my fault."

"Until I get this chain off, I'm blaming you for everything that goes wrong."

"You would do that!" Beatrice shouted. "How could you be so—" her words were cut short by his hand going over her mouth. Beatrice struggled to remove it but he was dragging her back down the slope and behind a weak tree.

"Shhh!" he hissed as she struggled in his grasp. He drew his sword with his free hand and searched the slope. Tiny pebbles rolled down and he looked to the top, waiting for whoever was walking on it to come into view.

Beatrice finally pulled his hand from over her mouth. "What is it?"

Tennessee pushed her back and readied his sword as footprints approached. At the top of the slope a red hood appeared. "Red Herrings!" he hissed. "What do they want?"

"Don't go out and ask them," Beatrice said. "We're chained together, remember?"

"I come in peace," a small voice flowed down to them.

Tennessee sighed and stepped out from behind the tree, still holding his sword. "What do you want?" he demanded.

The Red Herring reached up and pulled down her hood revealing a smile. "I am sorry to have startled you," she said. "I wasn't sure who was on the slope. I was on my way to deliver a message to Napoleon regarding the plans of the Windstalkers." The wind caught her cape revealing her duel Katana swords.

"China Doll!" Tennessee gasped. "You're Napoleon's eyes on the inside?"

"Is that such a surprise?" China Doll asked. "I am cautious so he does not worry. It can get very dangerous out here. Windstalkers are getting more brazen. They are killing Red Herrings and Knights in broad daylight before the eyes of all. I am glad it was only you, Tennessee."

Beatrice snickered behind the tree and with a yank of his arm Tennessee sent her rolling out. "Ouch!

"This creature chained to me is Beatrice Winters," Tennessee said as the girl got to her feet and dusted herself off.

"So you took her," China Doll said.

"You know about her running away?" Tennessee asked.

China Doll gave a deep nod. "I left the Windstalkers on the pretense of tracking down her sisters," she said. "I'm reporting home instead." She turned to Beatrice. "You're sisters are out looking for you."

Beatrice crossed her arms. "That's impossible. Ladybird would never leave the comfort of home to come looking for me and Wysteria would obey her."

China Doll looked at Tennessee and shrugged. "Perhaps I have the wrong one."

"You have the right one," Tennessee said. "She's just stubborn."

China Doll smiled. "So you are looking for Amos Winters' treasure."

"We are heading toward Yellowstone to find the ring of trees," Tennessee said.

China Doll looked up the slope. "Well you're heading in the right direction. I'm looking for my horse. It was spooked by wolves." She tossed her long black braid over her shoulder and looked them over. "Chained together..." She shook her head.

"Long story."

"Ah, well I think you could use a little assistance," China Doll decided. "I'll take you a day's journey in the right direction and tonight I will feed you. The wild is unkind to ones wearing chains."

"Can't you just strike it with your sword?" Beatrice asked.

China Doll laughed. "She is silly, Tennessee," she said. "That would ruin my katana blades." She nodded for them to follow her and being chained to Tennessee, Beatrice was forced along.

She crossed her arms tightly. These people and their blades.

/

That night they sat around the camp fire. Beatrice and Tennessee gnawed the rabbit's bones hungrily as China Doll repaired a tear in her coat. Beatrice remembered Samantha doing something similar when they were going to visit the Candlewoods once.

"I love clear nights like these," China Doll said. "Were not for our limited eyes, we could see straight into heaven."

"I still can't believe Napoleon sent his most precious asset to do something so dangerous," Tennessee said.

"You really are an idiot," Beatrice said. "You can tell by the way she's been talking about him without let up that they are in love. It's not just about duty."

China Doll watched the two of them exchange words and wondered how they had survived being chained together so long. "It is dangerous, yes," she said softly but it got both of them to be quiet. "But two years ago Napoleon's good friend was killed by a Windstalker. That was before I started going on missions. I was very skilful and the Windstalkers wouldn't recognize me, so I was chosen to join them and find Andre's killer."

"Have you?" Tennessee asked.

"No," China Doll said bringing her head down. "He could be living away from the base or he could already be dead. It's not easy pretending loyalty to January, he is very frightening. I earn his trust by sharing my skills; just enough to make them feel good and not enough to lead an attack against my family."

"I don't think I could give them an inch of knowledge," Tennessee said, "but who am I to question what you do, I'm just a messenger boy?"

"Still?" China Doll smiled. "I could have a talk with Aster and Brigit if you wish."

Tennessee quickly shook his head. "Thank you but this is something I must earn on my own."

China Doll nodded. "It appears a lot of us must earn and learn things in time. I learned all my sword skills from spying on my father. One day he caught me but was too impressed at how well I did to be angry. He agreed then to teach me martial arts." She looked down. "I do feel a little shamed that I am teaching some of it to mercenaries for hire."

"I think he would understand," Tennessee said. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll be honest, I detest Red Herrings."

China Doll dipped her head.

"But..." Tennessee went on. "I admire your sense of honor."

Putting her palms together, China Doll bowed to him. "Nǐ yěyǒu róngyào."

/

For the next morning and into the afternoon, Beatrice enjoyed having another girl around. China Doll was constantly pointing out that Tennessee had forgotten the proper ways to treat a lady.

It was at noon high that they came to a soft stream where the three all filled their canteens. China Doll splashed some of the icy water over her face then wiped it dry. She then pointed up stream.

"Keep following it north," she said. "This stream comes off a waterfall in a wooded cliff. I've never been farther than the falls so I don't know if that's where the trees are you are looking for, but there are some big ones that grow around there."

"We were told to look for a waterfall by some other travelers so that might be the place," Beatrice said.

"It looks like an easy walk from here," Tennessee said.

China Doll nodded. "But remember my friend, the more you expect the journey to be easy the harder it becomes." She took his hand in both of hers. "I hope you find what you are looking for. And when we meet again you will no longer be a messenger boy, yes?"

Tennessee laughed. "Thank you for your help, China Doll."

"And as for you, Beatrice. Stop doubting the power of love." She turned suddenly toward the grassy meadow and whistled. In the distance a horse returned with a whinny. China Doll turned back to them and bowed. "That's my way out," she said and with a swish of her long black braids she cleared the stream and raced in the direction of the horse.

Beatrice shook her head. "How do you train an animal so well?"

"Gatling is trained that well," Tennessee said.

"Gatling?" Beatrice frowned. "Oh, your horse! I'd forgotten."

"Well at least you've stopped calling him a Dalmatian," Tennessee said.

"I'm sorry for him," Beatrice said as they started walking upstream. "He must be afraid, wherever he is."

Tennessee shook his head. "Not Gatling," he said. "If they corral him he'd just jump the fence and make his way home."

Beatrice narrowed her eyes. She doubted that. "I never finished telling you about the recital," she said, quickening her pace to match his. "I just as well, since we won't be back in time for it."

As Beatrice talked Tennessee listened and both put one foot in front of the other, bringing them closer to the ring of trees.