The motion of the horse beneath Fand was rocking her to sleep. She was so weary. All she wanted was to get off this damned horse. Ahead of her Resen rode. His back was straight and his eyes were scanning the area. Donner's black mane blew in the wind. They made a striking picture. Beyond them along the horizon were mountains. They did not look anything like the Ruhe Mountains of home. The Ruhe Mountains did not jab the sky with their bare rock precipices. Fand prayed they were not their destination. Currently they were in a vast prairie. Shelter of any sort was not visible. Where would they sleep tonight?

Resen reigned in Donner. Fand rode to his side. He said, "Steady your horse." Fand took a firm grasp on the reigns. He spoke a single word, “Now.” The ground in front of them rumbled and opened up. A platform appeared. Donner stepped onto it. Resen said, “Follow and hold your horse firmly.” Fand did as she was told. She had no idea what was about to happen and she was afraid. There was a whirring sound and then the platform plunged downward. It took all Fand's strength to keep her horse from bolting. The speed of the platform was terrifying. Abruptly, the platform came to a shrieking stop. Her horse attempted to leap forward, but Fand held on to the reigns and softly said, “You are safe.” The tension in the horse relaxed. Fand looked around her. They were in a cavern. She asked, “Where are we?”

Resen said, “The Abode of Pathfinders,” and guided Donner off the platform. Fand on her horse followed. As soon as they were off the platform, it rose upward at an amazing pace. Far above was a tiny square of blue sky. Too quickly, the platform blotted out the sky. Resen urged Donner into the cavern. Up ahead orange light wavered. The clip clop of the horses hooves echoed on the stone floor. The air inside the cavern was stale.

Underground, again underground. Fand did not want to be underground, but she suspected she might be in this place longer than any others. This was where Resen lived. Would it be where she would live?

They passed out of the cavern into a huge open area. Fand looked up. Stout rafters braced the carved ceiling. Her eyes followed the rafters and traced them to the walls and finally the floor. In the distance squat houses and shops lined the outer edges of the cavern. In the center of the cavern was a large orb of blue light. A group of children were playing in its light. Resen rode toward the group.

A little boy with blonde hair called out, “Papa!”

Resen leapt off Donner. He ran to the boy and scooped him into his arms. The child gave him a fierce hug. "I have missed you, Papa."

Tenderly, Resen snuggled the boy, "And I you!"

Resen had a son! Why had he not told her?

The boy tilted his head back and laughed. The beautiful sound of his laughter echoed inside of Fand's heart. He said, “Granma said you’s comin’. She got the house ready.” He bellowed, “Granma they’re here!”

Resen asked, "Tugg, was that necessary?"

"Yes.The Keeper gave me a big voice and I like to use it." He laughed again.

A woman with delicate features came out of a house to Fand’s right. She walked to the edge of her yard and opened her gate. As she neared them Fand could see that Tugg took after the woman. Fand slid off her horse. She watched the woman approach. She moved with grace. When she reached them, Fand saw the fine network of wrinkles that lined her face.

Resen helped Fand off her horse and said, "Elise, this is Fand. Fand, Elise."

"Pleased to meet you." The woman had a sweet voice. She said, "Come, I know you are tired and hungry."

"I am."

Resen put his son down. "I need to go check in. I will be back as soon as I can Tugg."

The boy said, "I want to come with you, Papa."

"You know it is not allowed until you are a certified Pathfinder." He glanced up and said, "Hopefully this won't take long, Elise."

"I will keep a plate warm for you."

Much to Fand's surprise Tugg put his hand in hers. His grip was strong for one so small. He said, "My papa saved you didn't he?"

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"Yes."

The smile of satisfaction that creased little boy's face was one of deep pride. But Fand wondered, as she looked down at him, how often did he see his father? It had been what, two months or more since the Sonpur first abducted her? That was a long time in a child's life. He yanked her hand and said, "Come on, I'm hungry! And Grandma made chicken pie. Its Papa's favorite."

*

After supper Elise prepared a bath for Fand. Alone in the kitchen, Fand unbraided her hair. The disc slipped into her hand. She brushed the letters with her finger tips. No images appeared. She placed it on the chair beside the tub and pulled off her grubby clothes. A dress was laid out on the chair. It was sky blue wool. Fand had not worn a dress since she had been in Kammin Spire. The image of Zog suddenly swung in her mind. With trembling fingers she reached for the disc and held it to the back of her neck. It did not slip through her skin or numb her feelings, but it steadied her. With it in one hand, she scrubbed herself with the other hand. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She dunked her hair beneath the water. Debris and dirt floated to the surface. How filthy she was! As quickly as she could she finished her bath, reached for the towel and dried herself. She wasted no time braiding her hair and shoving the disc back into her braid. The disc against the nape of her neck was not the same as the disc beneath her skin. It did not bringher comfort. Why? Was it weaning her from its influence? If so to what end?

Fand put on the undergarments and the dress. She slipped her feet into the kid skin shoes. The clothes and shoes were a little large but it was good to be dressed, shod and clean. She opened the kitchen door and went to the front room.

Elise sat on wide bench mending small britches. Tugg stood at the window. His shoulders drooped. Worry pricked Fand's mind. What was taking Resen so long? She took the chair nearest to Elise.

To Tugg Elise said, "Come sit."

Reluctantly, Tugg climbed up beside his grandmother. He propped his sleepy head on his grandmother's shoulder. A huge yawn escaped him. He asked, "How much longer till Papa comes back?"

"I don't know sweet heart."

The little boy sighed. He closed his eyes, in seconds he was asleep. His blond lashes lay against his cheek. Elise waited until he was in deep sleep before she scooped him up and carried him through a door to the right. Inside the room were two beds. Elise put Tugg on the trundle bed. He rolled over and she covered him. Gently she kissed his forehead.

Fand looked away. Tears pricked her eyes. Had Uncle Wert ever put her to bed like that? Surely he must have, or at least she knew Zolla would have. Zolla was the closest thing she ever had to a mother. How she missed her. Restless and upset, Fand went to the window and looked out.

The lamp at the center of this village burned low. A door opened across the common. Fand saw a man coming toward the lamp. It was Resen. His head was down and his shoulders were stooped. He must have bad news. Her eyes followed him. When he saw her in the window, a smile momentarily chased away his somber expression. He crossed the yard and opened the door. For several moments he stood in the door way looking at her. Softly he said, "You look lovely."

The warmth of a blush stole over Fand's face. She cast her eyes down. The instant she did she became angry with herself. How easily she forgot what mattered most. She turned her eyes back to Resen's face, braced herself and asked, "Do you have any word of my uncle?"

Seeing her stiffen, he came to her and took her in his arms. He said, “Your uncle is in the Council Prison along with Petran and Pyre.”

Uncle Wert was in prison, but he was alive! For how long would he be alive? And now Pyre was in danger too! Zolla, poor Zolla! Tears welled up in her eyes. Zolla must not loose Pyre.

Gently he said,“We will do our best to save them. We are leaving tonight.”

"I will get ready."

"No, you are staying here."

Neither had heard Elise come into the room. Elise protested, “But Resen, you need to rest, so does Donner.”

“There isn't time. I’ll take Sophie, she’s fresh.”

Fand disentangled herself from Resen. "I am coming with you.”

"No. You are safer here. It will take all my skill and the help of another to get them out of that prison."

With a tinge of bitterness, Elise said, "Go, kiss your son goodbye, again." Resen had heard the bitterness too. He dropped his eyes and left room. Elise looked at Fand. Her eyes were sad, but not angry. She said, "This is the life of a pathfinder. My daughter was not suited to it. I can see Resen is taken with you. Be wary. Too many goodbyes are not healthy."

This was a truth Fand understood.

Elise went into the kitchen.

Fand remained where she was. Her mind was spinning. Resen's mother and now his mother-in-law both confirmed what she did not want to think. Surely they were wrong. As for herself, how did she feel about Resen? There had been far too much trauma to determine that.

The sound of Tugg whimpering came from the bedroom. Poor little boy. After awhile, Tugg quieted. He must have fallen back to sleep. Quietly Resen crept out of the bedroom. He glanced at Fand, his eyes were bright with tears. In a low voice he said, “I will not be gone long. When I return I will not be alone.” Through his tears, Fand saw his fierce determination. With all her heart she wanted to believe he would succeed in rescuing her uncle and Pyre.

She went to him and hugged him. Though she honestly was not sure, she told him, "I know you will bring them back to me." Suddenly, his lips came down on hers. Moist, firm, not reckless the way Pyre's had always been. When he pulled away from her, she saw the fear in his eyes. Fear that he had done the wrong thing. Compassion filled her. He had risked his very life for her and was about to do the same for Uncle Wert and Pyre. She returned his kiss. The hunger in him coursed through her. His arms tightened around her. She could not breathe. This was the kiss of a man, not a boy. He pulled away from her and without a word, went out the front door.