Inside the cavern, Pyre and Rufus placed Renate’s shrouded body on the stone floor. One by one, they picked up stones of different sizes to place over the body. It was strange, Pyre had never buried a body above ground, nor had he buried a body without earth. It chilled him to place cold stones over Renate’s body. Rufus, who had been absolutely useless at the birth, was totally focused on this task. He placed stones as if they were pieces of a puzzle. It was a peculiar talent, but it comforted Pyre. The tighter the stones were, the less likely it would be that rats, if there were any rats, would desecrate Renate’s remains. When Rufus place the last stone, Pyre could not help but say, “This is a sad and lonely grave.” Renate’s grave like her life was destined for solitude. He went to fetch Fand.

Inside the room, Fand held the baby. She was silently crying. He could guess what she was thinking, this child like herself was destined to grow up without parents. It was a cruel fate. If only Zog could have known his child. If only…there were too many if only’s in this life. He told Fand, “It is time.”

Silently she nodded and stood. The baby made a soft snuffling sound. Everything in Pyre wanted to take Fand in his arms, but he dare not. He feared if he took hold of her he would never be able to let go. Was that so wrong? Why had he been destined to love her so fiercely? It was a curse, but it was not a curse he wanted to be freed from.

In the cavern, they stood before the pile of stones. Rufus held a small torch. The baby made gurgling sounds in her throat. The sound of new life, in this place of death was unsettling. Pyre said, “Let us pray.” They bowed their heads and he began the recitation of the Burial Chant. The chant began low and rose and fell like waves. It swept through him. As he spoke in Ancient Tongue he could hear the sound of Fand softly crying and the baby squirming. Only Rufus was completely silent and still. When Pyre completed this chant, the plan, according to Fand, was that he would take the baby and Rufus back to the Council City. The baby needed a wet nurse. Fand planned to remain in the cavern until a woman named Audra came to get her. She was expected to arrive the next morning. Pyre’s plan was to wait for Audra to come, but Fand had refused to even consider this. According to her, the baby needed human milk. Did Fand really think he would leave her here all alone? It was not happening. A terrible argument was going to break out. For once his will MUST be stronger than hers. It was not going to be an easy battle but he was determined to win this one time.

Just before Pyre finished the last verse, a sudden breeze swirled around them. The air was frigid cold. It seemed to be coming from above. He looked up. A thin slice of sky appeared in the cavern roof. Small stones fell and scattered. The silhouette of a man was descending on a rope. Pyre faltered. It could not be!

Noiselessly Resen landed beside them. He smiled. It was a smile of triumph. This was not triumphant. This was lunacy. Pyre asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to fetch my bride.” Resen turned away from Pyre and looked at Fand. Though Pyre could not see Resen’s face, his body language spoke for him. His shoulders and spine flinched as if he had been struck.

Resen asked Fand, “What, what happened to you?”

Pyre could see Fand’s expression. Her eyes were hard and angry. Her voice, though low was filled with venom. “You are what happened. The trick you pulled restoring my hand, well, some of the magic went from my hand to where my wing buds used to be and these,” she shrugged her wings, “appeared. Lovely aren’t they?”

Stunned Resen did not answer.

She continued, “Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I couldn’t marry you now. I have to go to a land where those such as myself reside. You made me a freak. I can never go home because of you. I could have lived with one hand. It was you, who could not have lived with me only having one hand. Now you will have NONE of me.” Fand spun around so fast her feathers rustled. Her strides were that of a march as she passed through the open door.

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Amazed at himself, Pyre actually felt sorry for Resen. At least when Fand had refused to marry him, she had been kind. Resen turned to him and asked, “Did I really do that?”

“Yes.”

In a hoarse whisper, Resen said, “Damn me.”

All at once a roar rent the air. The slice of sky in the ceiling became larger as huge clods of dirt and rock tumbled down. They jumped back. Rufus exclaimed, “What the hell!”

Pyre looked up. Huge beast creatures were sliding down vines into the cavern. Keeper! It was the Sonpur! There were so many of them. Rufus grabbed Pyre and headed for the room. Resen followed behind. Once they were inside, Resen slammed the stone door shut. The cupboard slid back into place

Fand asked, “What is it?”

“Sonpur,” said Rufus.

Fand’s eyes became large with fear. “No.” She looked at Resen and said, “They followed you.”

Red faced and shamed Resen said, “I think so. Damn me! I should have listened to Loren.” He asked, “Fand, do those wings work?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must use them. It won’t take the Sonpur long to break through. Gather what you can quickly, wrap the baby and yourself as warmly as possible.”

Confused, Fand said, “Why can’t Pyre just transfer us out of here?”

Pyre said, “This stone is in penetrable. It must be opened and I am willing to wager more Sonpur are outside waiting at the other door. I can attempt a Transferrence, but it might fail. You have to be prepared to fly.”

Quickly Fand gathered and filled the teats, while Pyre filled a pack with blankets, nappies, dried meat and fruit. He placed the pack over Fand’s shoulder and gave her a quick hug. Hopefully they would survive this experiment. The door behind the cupboard shook. The sound of the Sonpur’s axes rang. Soon they would be inside.

Rufus put the candle down on the floor. Fand faced the door. Resen and Rufus each held a wing. The goat was harnessed to Rufus’s belt. In Fand’s arms was Zog’s child. Resen touched the panel with a stick and the door slid open. Pyre began the incantation, but he was not fast enough. The cupboard crashed to the floor and Sonpur poured into the room. Swirling wind extinguished the candle.

Resen shouted, “Flap your wings!”

Fand set her wings in motion. Huge gusts of wind pushed against them all. The Sonpur fell back. In that instant Fand rushed out the door and threw herself into the air. Her wings beat hard and she began to fly. Pyre had never seen anything like it. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. All at once everything was obliterated. Blinded and suffocating Pyre felt himself slide into the cold void of Transference. Who had them now? He tugged at his face. It was the hood. Who had sent the hood? What about Fand and the baby? His heart thudded hard in his chest.

Finally, Pyre’s feet touch solid ground. He ripped the hood from his face. They were in Dr. Kran’s office. Loren stood rigid glaring at them. He was clearly angry, no enraged would be more accurate. His voice held not a single trace of its usual kindness or compassion. “So Pathfinder, did you find what you were looking for?”

Resen did not speak, but the goat bleated.

Silence hung heavy in the room.

Pyre had no time for this. He blurted out, “Where is Fand? Can you get a fix on her and bring her here?”

The anger drained from Loren’s face. “I’m sorry Pyre. I don’t know where she is.”

“Why not? Your powers are far greater than mine.”

“I can not detect the where about of winged angels.”

Fear twisted inside of Pyre. This was bad. “What are you talking about? Fand is flesh and blood.”

Loren’s eyes grew somber. He said, “And she now has wings. Those wings possess powers that we know very little about and one of them conceals their owner.”

This was not what Pyre wanted to hear. “Isn’t there anything you can do? What about the baby? Can’t you get a read on the baby?”

“No, she is in Fand’s arms and besides that she is too new. Her thoughts are not things I can read yet. We must go to Appocca. He may know what to do. I am out of my depth here.” His voice faltered as he asked, “Where is my mother? Did she go with Fand?”

How could she go with Fand? Pyre tried to form the words, but he found himself suddenly choked by his own tears. It was Rufus who said, “Sir, she did not survive the birthing.”

“I feared as much. At least,” Loren’s voice broke, “she finally knows peace. Come we must hurry.”