Pyre turned his head and opened one eye. He didn't know where he was for an instant until he saw the head table. He jerked up right. Keeper, he was in the Dining Hall still. What time was it? He would get demerits for being out after hours. He yawned and scratched his head. The dorm was locked by now. There was nothing to do but make a pallet in the kitchen. He looked down at his slate. Smeared across it were scribbled words for the Transcription exam tomorrow. Idiot! He had fallen asleep studying. Angry with himself Pyre stood and made his way into the aisle between the tables. Out of no where a voice said, "Pyre." The voice was familiar. He looked over his shoulder at the Dining Room fireplace. He expected to see Zog. No one was there. The voice said, "Come, stand by the fire."

"I won't do it Zog." A force picked Pyre up and carried his flailing body to the fireplace. Angry and frightened Pyre growled, "Don't do this to me. Let me go."

All at once the room went dark. Pyre felt himself being sucked into the blackness of Transferrance. A cold wind whipped around him. His body was falling faster than it ever had before. He cried out. The velocity of his fall made him nauseous. His stomach failed to keep up with his body. He literally threw up. His vomit was above him and it did not catch him as he continued to fall. Never had he fallen this fast and this long. Where was Zog taking him! When he landed, he landed hard. He stumbled and fell face down in dew soaked coarse grass. For several moments, he lay there with eyes still closed gasping and retching. A low moan came from near by. He opened his eyes he was in a moon bathed prairie. Near him was the silhouette of an over turned cart. Someone or something moaned again. The moan sounded familiar. Was it Zog? Pyre went to the sound. He passed by a burned out fire and the body of a dead mule. In the moon’s silver light he saw Uncle Wert. The old man's body was badly twisted. One arm was broken and the bone protruded. Pyre knelt beside him, "Uncle, can you hear me?"

He did not respond. He was unconscious. Pyre touched Uncle Wert's bloody face. The instant he did, he felt himself and Uncle Wert being sucked into the darkness of Transferrance. Pyre latched on to Uncle Wert's broken body. The old man screamed. Again Pyre closed his eyes. Down, down they fell just as swiftly as before. What the hell was Zog doing? The fall seemed to take an eternity and death passed before they finally landed on solid ground again. Stunned Pyre opened his eyes. They were in a house, a kitchen in fact. A low fire burned in the hearth. Where was Zog? A man stood over them, he touched Uncle Wert’s arm and gently said, "Hello Wert."

Uncle Wert looked up at the man and whispered, "It can not be. Am I dead?"

The man said, "No you old bastard, you are not dead. Besides, I doubt you and I will share the same side of eternity."

Uncle Wert blinked hard. He mumbled, "But you are dead."

Pyre looked from the man to Uncle Wert and then back to the man. The man resembled Zog, only he was much older. The man said, "It was just a rumor. I've been living here since my so called death."

"Come Pyre," the man said, "help me get him to bed."

Pyre formed the question, who are you with his lips, but was unable to get it out. The man's tone commanded obedience, so Pyre did as he was instructed. He grabbed hold of Uncle Wert's legs.

The man said, "Up, gently now." When they lifted Uncle Wert, he cried out in pain. They carried him from the kitchen into a large room. Books were stacked to the ceiling. They lined the walls, spilled out from beneath the the bed and were stacked around the bed. The man told Pyre, "Easy now, I'm afraid he has some internal injuries." Carefully they laid him down on the bed. Gentle as they were the movement still hurt Uncle Wert and he groaned.

In the light of a flickering tallow candle, Pyre saw Uncle Wert had a long gash across his left cheek that it looked like an animal claw had made it. Pyre's mind began to spin. Uncle Wert would not be out alone. Zog and Fand would have been with him. Where were they?

The man answered his silent question. "I do not know where Zog is. Some how he has shut his mind off to me. I can read Fand though. I am afraid she is on her way to Kammin Spire."

Pyre had never heard of this place.

The man told him, "It is the city of Angs. We thought we had out witted him. We were foolish."

Alarm filled Pyre. He asked, "Who are you and what do you mean Fand is on her way to K-Kammin Spire?"

The man answered his first question, "I am Petran Schon."

Pyre could not believe this. "What? You are dead."

Impatience crept in Petran's voice as he said, "We don't have time for this now. We need to tend to Wert. Now, fetch me some hot water."

Daring not to disobey, Pyre went into the kitchen and grabbed the kettle and a towel. He brought it back to the room. Petran said, "Gently clean the gash on his cheek." Petran took Uncle Wert's hand and sat down on a low stool beside the bed.

Pyre had so many questions and fears running around inside of him. He wanted to ask, and talk, but Petran's closed eyes did not invite interruption. Pyre touched Uncle Wert's blood caked wound, he winced. Pyre murmured "I'm sorry Uncle, but I must clean this." The wound was deep and the skin was jagged along the edges. What could have made such a mark?

When Pyre finished, Petran stood. He placed his hands a half inch above Uncle Wert's body. He began to chant the healing chant. The same one Dr. Kran had said over Pyre after he had been burned. Petran's hands traveled to Uncle Wert's mangled arm. Before Pyre's eyes the bone sunk back into Uncle Wert's flesh. The bone mended and the flesh enclosed the bone. Petan's hands then went to Uncle Wert's face. The wound disappeared without a scar. This was strong magic and it frightened Pyre.

Petran placed his hands over Uncle Wert's side. Pyre heard the click of ribs. The agony on Uncle's face eased then his body relaxed. Petran said, "He will sleep now."

Before Pyre could ask any of his questions there was a knock at the door. "Excuse me." Petran went to the door and opened it. A lean, dark skinned man, dressed in black entered. Petran said, "Thank you for coming Resen."

Resen nodded. "What can I do for you at this late hour?"

"Angs has abducted a new concubine."

"So?"

"I need you to bring her back."

Resen frowned at Petran and said, "That is impossible."

"The Sonpur just abducted her and I still have a read on her. If you hurry…" Petran's voice trailed off.

The words, Concubine and Sonpur spun around in Pyre's head. Fand had dreamed of being abducted and it had come true. Or had it? Was this just some bizarre nightmare he had stumbled into?

Resen said, "I won't be risking my neck for some girl."

Petran pleaded, "This isn't just any girl. This is my kinswoman."

Resen's eyes narrowed. He said, "My mother will have your head if anything happens to me."

"Only you can do this thing. Please."

For several seconds Resen stood with his lips pursed. Pyre couldn't stand the suspense, he blurted out, "You must help her."

The man turned and acknowledged Pyre's presence for the first time. His pale golden eyes made a quick assessment of Pyre before he asked, "Why?"

"Because I love her."

Resen frowned at him. "An Apprentice in love, surely Jerue takes a dim view of that." He turned to Petran and said, "All right then. I'll help."

"Thank you son."

"Right." Resen said, to Pyre, "Now, Apprentice, tell me what you know of the girl. What she looks like, how she behaves. What her habits might be."

As Pyre spoke of Fand he felt disembodied, like he was listening to someone else describe her. When he said, "Her eyes are the most exquisite blue, like pale moonlight."

Resen grunted and shook his head.

Pyre asked, "Why did you do that?"

Resen said, "It is always the same. Those eyes. Damn them. They have cost many a girl her life."

Pyre had not imagined that Fand would be killed. "NO! Fand must not die!"

Petran said, "Continue your description Pyre. If any one can save her, Resen can. He is the best Pathfinder this side of the Wall."

Pyre asked, "The Wall?"

Petran said, "You are Beyond Pyre. Now go on tell Resen the rest."

Pyre stumbled over the rest of his description of Fand. Resen seemed pleased that she was so athletic. He said, "That is good. That will work to her advantage." He asked, "Any jewelry?"

He had forgotten Fand's dove. Pyre said, "Yes. She wears a dove on a ribbon around her neck."

Resen shook his head. To Petran he said, "Please, tell me she is not Stella's child."

In a low voice Petran said, "She is."

"I should have known." Resen looked at Pyre and said, "Thank you. This will help." To Petran he said, "Don't you think it is time the boy got back. Dawn is fast approaching."

Pyre begged, "No, please, let me stay." He had to see Fand again. He needed to know she was safe.

Petran said, "I'm sorry Pyre. You must go back. It would not bode well for your friends or family if you turn up missing."

"But-"

Petran cut him off. "This is the way it has to be. You must go now, for Fand's sake as much as for your own." Petran came and stood before him. He placed both his hands on Pyre's shoulder. He said, "You will remember this as a dream." Petran raised his hands and clapped them over Pyre's head. Once again Pyre felt the horrible sensation of Transferrance take hold of him.