The search party from the Council City were camped in a cleft of rock. They were according to Resen, beyond sniffing distance of the Sonpur. The road Audra had told them about was to the west of camp. It had been hard to follow but Resen’s keen eye had seen traces of tracks and rocks tossed aside. His eyes seemed to miss nothing, nor his ears. He heard things, not even Loren could hear. It seemed a Pathfinder was born a Pathfinder or he could not be one at all.

On a ledge, flat on their bellies, Pyre and Resen stared down at the side of the mountain to where the road ended. By the tension of Resen’s body, Pyre knew he heard or sensed something. He whispered, “What?“

Resen jerked his head toward the east. “Sonpur, a mile or more away. We will soon find out how to get into this mountain.”

Pyre protested, “Get into it? Audra said nothing about getting into it.”

Silent and unresponsive, Resen looked to the road. The sky above was beginning to grow light. Along the horizon rim the sun began its ascent. A strange sound, like water falling came from the mountain. Was there a storm approaching. Pyre saw nothing in the sky. He turned his attention back to the mountain. At the end of the road large oval portal opened up. It was shimmering and liquid. The face of the rising sun refracted off the portal. In that instant Pyre was aware of Fand. How could this be? Since she had wings, he shouldn’t be able to read her thoughts, but he could. She was distressed and confused. He tried to call out to her, but he felt like he had just slammed into a wall.

From the east came the sound of thundering of hooves. In unison Pyre and Resen turned. Huge horses with Sonpurs astride them galloped up the road. Behind the horses, all traces of their tracks disappeared. On several mules were the carcasses of deer and goats. Blood fell on the white snow and then it too disappeared. What kind of magic was this? The beasts passed through the portal into mountain. There were at least ten Sonpur. It was a hunting party, come home. The portal shimmered briefly after they entered and then it vanished. Pyre turned his attention back to Resen only Resen was gone.

Frantically, he looked all around him. Below the ledge he saw the footprints in the snow. Those prints were headed for the road. Blast it all! Where was that fool Resen? Should he follow? No. He knew the answer was no. He was very likely to be detected. It was too great a risk. Pyre strained his eyes looking for Resen but he saw no one. How did Resen do it? It was as if he was noiseless or invisible. Was he invisible? Angry and alarmed Pyre leapt to his feet and went running back to camp. Rufus was seated on a fallen tree was eating bread with butter. He saw Pyre’s face and asked, “Has somethin’ happened?“

“Yes.” Pyre took in a gulp of cold air. He could not catch his breath.

Loren emerged from the cleft and asked, “Where is Resen?”

Aware Loren was not going to like his answer, Pyre told them, “Resen has disappeared. I think he attempted to enter the mountain. He may have succeeded but I don’t know..”

Loren swore. Unable to check his anger he growled, “That Pathfinder will lead us all to ruin. Every time he gets a whim it costs somebody something. Wonder what will be paid this time? The babe’s life, our lives, Fand’s life?”These were words Pyre did not want to hear.

Thoughtfully Rufus said, “He told Appocca, he works best alone. Seems the three of us might be more of a hindrance than help. And he did agree to our comin’ right quick. Maybe ditchin’ us was his plan all along. Maybe he knows what’s best. He ain’t the best Pathfinder for nothing.” Rufus paused before he asked, “How do you think he got in?“

“In the side of the mountain a portal opened up at the end of the road. It looked and sounded like falling water. The Sonpur passed right through it. I didn’t see Resen. I don’t know how he could have gotten down there fast enough to enter.”

Still choked by his anger, Loren muttered, “If it could be done, then he did it. The imbecile!”

Not sure of anything, Pyre said, “Maybe, I don’t know. He was with me one second and he disappeared the next. Do Pathfinder’s know magic?”

Loren shook his head. “They are wise and skilled, but not magic. Take us to the place where you saw the Sonpur enter. Perhaps stone may still be weak enough for us to penetrate.” Loren headed over the ledge and through the trees. His step was so swift, Rufus and Pyre had trouble keeping up with him. Once they reached the side of the mountain, Loren stopped and looked around. He held a hand up and closed his eyes. He told them, “There is magic here. Folgen’s magic. I had prayed that creature was dead, but he’s not dead. Blast it all! He should be dead! But that explains much. Sonpur are not magic and they never have been. Only Folgen could get them inside this mountain, and I bet Resen knew that all along. What he knew and what he shared are different things. Audra said she would meet us. I pray she comes soon. I don’t think Pyre and I together have the power to get us inside. Even if we did it would be a fool’s errand since we don’t even know if Fand is still alive.”

Pyre said, “I touched Fand’s mind when the portal opened. I thought I was not supposed to be able to do that.”

Loren frowned, “You shouldn’t have been able to. Something has happened but what?” He didn’t expect or wait for an answer. His eyes traveled over the surface of the stone. He placed his palms flat against the mountain’s side. After several minutes of doing this he finally said, “There is not any weakness here. I can’t read a damn thing. We can’t get in. Blast it all! We can’t get in! It’s not safe for us here out in the open. We best get back to camp and wait for Audra.” His eyes shot to the sky as if he thought he could make her materialize. She did not. He looked back down at Pyre and said, “If Audra doesn’t show soon, we will ask for Appocca’s guidance. If Resen fails we could all die.” Grimly Loren headed back to camp. His shoulder’s sagged. He was more than angry he was dispirited. Living in the real world and in the supernatural one was taxing at best, on days like today it was damnable. To have power, but not enough, to know things, but not enough, was worse than being utterly helpless. Natural helplessness meant the end of one’s capabilities had been reached. A person with supernatural power could never be sure when they reached the end of themselves. One could burn oneself up trying and end up being of no use at all.

To their dismay, Audra was not at the camp, nor did she appear. Loren tried to contact Appocca but there was some weird interference caused by the brightness of the sun. He told them, “Let’s go watch the road. Maybe we can get in too.” They took the horses to the look out and tethered them to a stunted spruce. The men lay on their bellies watching the road. As the sun made its way across the sky, Loren’s frustration grew to a dark rage. He hissed, “If Resen comes out of that mountain alone I swear I will kill him myself.”

Rufus said, “You’re wastin' your energy sir. We may have need of it before this day is done.”

Silent, Pyre prayed. His mind kept wondering from his prayers. This trouble between Loren and Resen was something he felt he needed to know. It might be to his folly but the waiting was getting to him too. Where was Audra? She said she would meet them. Against his better judgement he asked Loren, “Why do you and Resen dislike each other so much?”

The glare that Loren gave him could have singed the hair right off Pyre’s scalp. He was instantly sorry he had asked. Loren answered him, “It is a long bitter story, and I will spare you the details. His wife’s mother is my mother’s cousin. A year ago there was a fever raging in the Kal village. Resen had a woman with whom he had had a bastard child before his marriage four years ago. He spent as much time with them as he did his wife, which wasn’t much. Mother said he was not unfaithful he only went for the child. I will not refute my mother’s word. At any rate the woman caught the fever. Word reached Resen. His wife, Leben, begged him not to go. But he went anyway. When he returned he brought his son with him. The woman had died. And while he nor the boy caught the fever, Leben did and she too died. In one brief month he had lost the mother of his son and his wife. He blamed himself for both deaths. I fear his guilt has made him careless. He could not save his wife and mistress, he thinks, hopes he can save Fand, and that may be the death of us all.”

Rufus shook his head. “Grim you are. Full of blame, beg your pardon sir. I for one have heard stories of Resen, and though he may have failed in life, he has yet to fail in duty.”

These words sank deep inside of Pyre. Once again, he must choose between fear and trust. In that instant there was the sound of a crashing river. The portal opened, only this time it was not small, it was as wide as half the mountain. An army of Sonpur poured out of it. There were so many! In their ranks was a tiny shriveled man dressed all in fur. He was seated in front of a large dark beast. He shouted something and the portal closed. Off the army raced. What were they after and where were they going?

Behind Pyre, Donner whinnied and then Pyre saw Resen. Below them Resen was darting from tree to tree making his way toward them. His movement was so fast it wasnt’ human. When he reached them he said, We must get a move on. Fand is not in the mountain. I don't know where she is, but I think,” his gaze went to the disappearing Sonpur, "they do. Follow me if you can keep up!" Resen leapt onto Donner. The magnificent horse shot off in the direction the Sonpur had gone. Rufus, Loren and Pyre scrambled to their horses.