Corrinus sat at the long table in the banqueting hall of the castle. Opposite him were the remaining three aides. The Lamya ruler rubbed his eyes and then stopped to look at them as if they were naughty children.

"Zev has not returned to me and I am an aide short," he whispered. "Whose fault is this?"

The aides stayed silent, none daring to speak the truth and say he was in the wrong.

He sighed and said quietly, "I sent Zev away from me. I shouldn't have." He ground his teeth and clenched his fists – when he spoke his grating voice sounded even harsher than normal. "The swords–master has killed him. I know she has, I dreamt of her again..."

He trailed off and the aides looked at each other. Jonjo cleared his throat and raised a hand. "Sir, we're not quite sure what you mean…?"

"The girl, idiots! The Elani girl!" Corrinus sat back in his chair and calmed himself. "I've had visions of an Elani warrior, a young swords–master." He laughed in contempt at the puzzled faces of his aides. "Oh you think I've gone mad. The strain of rule is too hard for the lowly urchin. Our leader's finally lost the plot! Well this time next week we'll all be eating foods fit for a king, grown by our very own Elani slaves, and then you'll all be thanking me."

Jonjo shifted in his seat, plucked up enough courage and spoke again. "Oh we don't think you're mad, sir, quite the opposite in fact. You're a genius, the greatest leader the Kingdom has ever seen. And I know, I've lived to see four of 'em come and go."

Corrinus smiled. He enjoyed flattery. He needed it. He pondered the aide. "Yes. Yes you're right of course. Zev's gone, that doesn't matter now, but I still need another aide. Four's the number for a Lamya ruler." He stood up and strode around the table to Jonjo, and put a hand to his shoulder. "You have a daughter, don't you?"

The aide nodded, twisted his neck to get a better look at his leader and replied, "Yes, my lord. A fine woman. Millicent, my lord, that's her name."

"Millicent." Corrinus nodded. "Yes... Tell her she's just been promoted from whatever she does to be an aide to the ruler of the Kingdom of Malinas."

Jonjo nodded vigorously, almost knocked his chair to the floor in his haste and hurried for the door calling as he went, "Yes, my lord, I'll go straight away! And don't worry about a swords-master, my lord, she'll be no match for you!"

Corrinus smiled and returned to his seat. He folded his arms and looked at the two remaining aides. "Bring Noan to me," he said. "And tell him to bring the Elani called Helena."

#

Helena stood up straight and rubbed her back. She looked out across the fields to where the other Elani slaves were working. She hadn't seen White Cloud for a while now and his wife Rebecca sobbed quietly to herself nearby. She bent low again as one of the slavers drew close then, when he had passed, she shuffled over to Rebecca.

"My dear," she said, voice soft, "please don't cry. White Cloud will be safe wherever he is. They won't harm him. They need him. Please, we don't want to attract attention to ourselves."

Rebecca continued to push seeds into the freshly dug field and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Oh Helena! Is this it? Is this how the Elani are to live now? I've always dreamed of returning to the Kingdom but never like this."

Helena sighed and reached out to squeeze Rebecca's shoulder, the chains jangling at her wrists. "Other Elani will come, my Leif and Sorrel will be with them and your Little Cloud too, they'll bring help, they'll set us all free."

Rebecca stopped what she was doing and looked up at Helena from her crouched position. Helena met her gaze and nodded once. Did Rebecca understand what she meant?

A male voice made her turn.

"Which one of you is Helena?"

Rebecca stood up and dusted her hands. "I am," she said, looking resolutely at Slavemaster Noan.

Noan looked at her and then at Sundi by his side. "Is she lying?" he asked.

Sundi grinned and raised his cane to strike Rebecca. "We'll soon find out for you, sir."

Helena couldn't bear it. She placed herself in between Rebecca and Sundi and glared daggers at Noan. "I am Helena," she said. "Whatever it is you want, it is from me and not her. Leave her be."

Noan laughed and waved Sundi aside. "Helena. Good. The Lord and Ruler of all Lamya requests your company in the castle. I will take you there myself. Try to escape and I will have your friend here killed." He nodded towards Rebecca and smiled primly at Helena. "Come."

Helena found herself led from the fields and forced to follow behind the Slavemaster's horse. She gulped, knowing she was about to meet Corrinus, the most fearsome Lamya to have ever lived.

#

In Silence Gorge Mariko had accidentally stumbled across a young Elani girl when she was investigating a hollowed rift in one of the cliff faces. She was more than a match for the younger woman and now stood behind her with her keen blade brushed against the Elani's throat.

The girl squirmed and half squealed. "A Lamya! Help! Leif! Le—"

Mariko slapped a hand over the girl's mouth and backed farther into the cave. "Shut your screaming or I'll kill you, I swear." She listened to see if the cries had brought any help, then she swung the Elani round to face her and threatened her with the dagger point. "I'm gonna take my hand away, I'm not gonna hurt you but if you scream again..."

The Elani nodded vigorously, her eyes wide as slowly Mariko removed her hand.

"Good." She straightened her leather coat and looked at the Elani, satisfied she had scared the girl enough for her to do anything she commanded. She leaned back against the cave wall, throwing and catching her dagger. "Do you know the art of healing?" she asked.

The girl frowned. Mariko knew it wasn't a question she was expecting from a Lamya. The girl looked at her with suspicious eyes and asked, "You're not hurt, are you?"

Mariko lunged forwards, forcing the Elani back to the wall. "Of course not," she growled. "Do I look hurt? Don't ask such stupid questions."

The girl glanced down at the dagger and raised her hands. "No, no! Sorry! I..."

Mariko calmed herself down and took a step back. "It's a, uh, friend of mine. He's collapsed, you see. Needs help." She looked from her dagger to the girl. "All Elani know healing, right?"

"Uh... yes. Of course, all Elani know healing."

Mariko nodded and grabbed the young Elani roughly by the arm, dragging her forwards out of the cave. "Good. Come with me."

Leif and Lachlan crouched behind a pile of fallen rocks and shale and watched the Lamya with Maemi.

Leif glared at the Lamya as he spoke. "You stay here, I'll try to get ahead of them. When you see me, block them from behind."

Lachlan nodded.

"Don't harm the Lamya unless she threatens Maemi. If she uses the dagger, do as you must. Luck be with you." And with that, he hurried away leaving Lachlan to watch after Maemi.