Thump, thump, Fand's body banged against Resen's back. She ached from being cramped in the bag he carried. The burlap itched and smelled of rotting potatoes. Regardless of her discomfort, what mattered was that she could see through the bag's loose weave. The sun was a beautiful bright orb in the blue sky. It had been weeks since she had seen sun and sky. In the distance she heard the sound of approaching horses. Their gait was not heavy enough to be Sonpur horses. Resen stopped. He called out. Fand heard a wagon halt. She felt herself being lifted and dumped into the back of it. Resen's voice moved away from her. She started to panic, and then she heard him climb onto the wagon. He was not leaving her.

An old man spoke. He said, "Thanks for fetchin’ them tatars for me."

Resen asked, "How'd you know I'd be along the road today?"

"Bruel had one of her knowings."

Resen laughed and said, "Praise the Keeper for Bruel."

"Indeed," said the old man.

The men continued to talk. Their voices drifted over Fand and soothed her with the ordinariness of their conversation. She stretched out as much as she could in the bag and stared through the fabric at the sky. It was getting dark. A strange warmth stole over Fand's mind. Someone was trying to read her thoughts. The disc in the nape of her neck turned cold. The warmth left. The intruder was gone. Had the disc just chased away who ever was trying to invade her mind? Fand touched her neck, the disc slipped into her fingers. It looked like ordinary silver. Bits of her hair had burned into it. She realized it was a miracle it had not ignited her hair when it locked into the throne.

With grubby fingers she held up the disc and stared at its surface. It was blank and then it wasn’t. Upon the surface of the disc a group of Sonpur rode on horse back. Were they close? Keeper she prayed not. She flipped the disc over. On this side were the forms of two men, one looked like Pyre, the other she did not recognize. She brushed her finger tips across the one who looked like Pyre. How she missed him. Would she ever see him again?

The wagon stopped. The old man called out, "Bruel, the tatars is here."

Fand heard Resen jump down from the wagon. The disc twirled in her fingers and then spun back to its hiding place beneath her skin. She touched the nape of her neck. There was no blood and no pain. Fand heard a door open and woman shout back, "Go on now Georg, stop your bellowin'."

Resen touched the bag. He whispered, "Curl your self into a ball." Fand did and Resen lifted her out of the wagon. Instead of positioning the bag over his shoulder, he cradled her in his arms. He pressed her close against him. So close, Fand could hear his heart beat. It was racing. He carried her inside a house. It smelled of mutton and roasted onions. She discovered she was quite hungry. A door closed and then another. Resen sat the bag on the floor and opened it. When she looked up at him, his face broke into a smile. She felt her lips return his smile. His eyes sparked. He offered her his hand and she took it. How strong and warm his hand was. He released her hand and Fand felt bereft.

The old woman, who must be Bruel had a long gray braid. Her wrinkled face was still beautiful. Her eyes were the same peculiar color as Fand’s own eyes. She lead Fand to the light of the hearth and touched Fand's bruised and bloodied jaw. She said, "Those scrapes need to be cleaned. Georg fetch me some water."

Dutiful Georg left the room.

Fand looked at Resen. He was leaning agains the kitchen counter watching her. He gave her a smile of encouragemtent. The strangest feeling came over her. She was here in this place for a purpose.

In the corner of the room was a large cupboard. Inside of it were jars and bottles of remedies and elixirs. Overhead, Fand noticed various herbs hung from the rafters. Bruel pulled out a large clay container of salve and selected a long leafed plant that hung from the ceiling. Bruel, like Zog’s Renate was a healer.

With bowl and pestle Bruel mixed the herbs and elixirs. She said, "A poultice will help the swelling and the pain.”

Fand looked down at her arms. They still had a faint glow. She asked, "Can you fix this?"

Bruel shook her head. "Nothing will right that but time, I hope."

"What do you mean you hope?"

"Girl, no one has ever escaped from Angs, we dunno what's been done to you. We will just have to wait and see."

Would she always glow? Please Keeper no!

Georg banged the door open and sloshed the bucket onto the table. Bruel poured steaming water from the hearth kettle into a wooden tub. To the men she said, "You two go on now. I need to look her over."

Fand glanced at Resen. He nodded his assurance. It was strange to have to trust someone she didn’t know. He and Georg left the room. Bruel said, "Sit." Fand took the chair Bruel had placed by the hearth fire.

With gentle fingers the old woman washed Fand's face and told her to hold a foul smelling poultice against her jaw. Next, Bruel cleaned the scratches that covered Fand's body from being hurled through the roof of Kammin Spire. When Bruel's hands went to Fand's neck. Fand jerked her head away. "My neck is fine." The old woman must not detect the disc.

Bruel's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. Instead her fingers caught on the ribbon of Fand's charm and pulled it out. A peculiar expression filled the old woman's eyes and she frowned. Fand couldn't tell if she was perplexed or afraid. She dropped the dove. In a low voice Bruel said, "That will cost you and Resen your lives if you don't get rid of it."

"What? I'm not parting with it. It's all I have left of home and my mother."

"I am surprised your mother let you wear it."

Fand clutched her dove.

Bruel asked, "Didn't your mother explain its meaning and its danger?"

"She died when I was a baby."

Bruel sighed and shook her head.

"What is wrong?"

Bruel went to the hearth. She pulled out a brick loose. Behind the brick was a small box. Bruel took it out and opened it. Inside was a dove charm exactly like Fand's.

She said, "This is the symbol of the tribe of Kedir. A symbol we don't advertise. Our tribe is scattered now and almost gone. Once we lived together. If your mother had lived she would have told you to hide your wings."

"Wings?" Fand held out her charm. "This is a dove."

Again, Bruel's eyes narrowed, "No, child. They are wings."

Clutching her charm, Fand said, "You can't have this."

A sad smile furrowed Bruel's face. She said, "I understand why you want to keep them. I kept mine. I survived my folly, may the Keeper protect you from yours."

There was a knock on the kitchen door.

Bruel said, “Come in.”

Resen entered. He looked at the two women and asked, "Everything all right?"

Through tight lips Bruel said, "Perhaps."

Resen's eyes searched Fand's. She did not answer. All at once she felt her emotions shift. Her eyes traveled from Resen's face to the open kitchen window. Outside the moon rose over the trees. An arc of rainbow light spiraled from it. She felt herself drawn to the moon and the light. She rose from the chair and went to the window.

To Resen, Bruel growled, "Get her to the cellar,"

Grabbing her from behind Resen pulled her to him. Anger surged through Fand. How dare he? She struggled against him but Resen was too strong. The old woman said, "Hurry, before Angs detects her." Georg and Bruel pushed aside the cupboard. George opened a trap door.

They were putting her down there? They were burying her in the earth. Angs would not find her below ground. She must be with Angs. Though she fought Resen hard, she couldn't get free of his grasp. She did manage to sink her teeth into his shoulder but he didn’t even flinch. Kicking and thrashing Resen took Fand down steps into the unlit cellar. Only it was not dark. Her body was creating light. It was glowing brighter. The trap door slammed close overhead. She heard the scrap of wood on wood. That daft old couple had sealed the door with the cupboard. Furious, Fand kicked Resen hard. He let go of her. She climbed up the steps and pushed as hard as she could against the door. Of course she couldn’t move it.

Softly Resen said, "Resist. What you are feeling is not true. You do not want Angs. Resist."

Resist? Resist? Everything inside of her wanted Angs. She was born for him!