Rufus, who had been fumbling with the straps that tethered the goat to him said, "Get this goat off of me," Instantly the goat disappeared. He gasped. His face went completely white. His voice trembled as he asked, "Did I do that?”
Had he? Pyre had once thought he understood the rules of Transferrance, but now he wondered how stable were those rules and who were they truly limited to?
Resen growled, "Of course not. Maybe Fand did.”
Was that possible? Along with her wings, had Fand gained the power of Transferrance?
Loren snapped, “If it was Fand why in the hell would she Transfer a goat to her instead of Transferring herself here? You are grasping at straws!”
Resen said nothing. The tension between the two men was heavy and it filled Dr. Kran’s small office.
Pyre told them both, “You are wasting precious time. We need to find Appocca.”
”Indeed we are,” said Resen. He spun around and opened the door. He took off at a run down the hall. Rufus and Loren followed. All out distanced Pyre. Since his accident, his normal stamina had not returned. A stitch formed in his side. Far ahead of them all was Resen. The man could run! He reached the Council doors first and disappeared inside. Pyre saw Rufus, then Loren enter. When Pyre reached the new double doors a ray of sun glanced off the latch bolt. It was blinding. The brightness reminded him of sunlight on ice. In memory he saw Fand. Those huge white wings stretched out, her feathers dancing and her hair caught in the wind. What a beautiful and terrifying spectacle she had made. He would never forget it. He wonder if her wings been strong enough to carry her and the baby to safety? Was she safe now? Had the Sonpur caught her? If so, was she alive? If she were dead, wouldn’t he know? If she was alive they be able to find her? She must be alive, they must find her. Desperately he prayed, Please, please. He pulled open the door and went inside. Out of breath, Pyre limped to Appocca’s office. Through the open door he heard Appocca speaking. His voice was harsh, “What? You did what?”
Pyre entered the room. Resen stood with his head bowed. He said, “Sir, I am sorry. Due to my arrogance a world of chaos has erupted.”
Fury rose in the Head Councilman’s eyes. “Now tell me slowly, what have you done.”
Resen’s shoulders slumped. Still, he raised his eyes to meet Appocca’s. I went after Fand and inadvertently lead the Sonpur starlight to her.”
Slamming his hand down on his desk, Appocca shouted, “You fool! I told you to go home. Why did you not go home? Fand was safe with Renate.”
Resen dropped his gaze.
Loren said, “Sir, we must hurry. Fand is in danger. We need to do something now. No telling how long her wings will hold out.”
The color of Appocca’s face changed. It flushed an angry red and his eyes shot out a fearsome light. He rose and shouted, “Fand has wings and you failed to tell me because?”
Loren dropped his voice to a whisper, “My mother said not to.”
Again he struck the surface of his desk. He glared at Loren and asked, “Are you a boy or a man?”
Loren faced Appocca. He held himself erect. “It was wrong, it will not happen again. My mother is dead.”
The anger in Appocca’s face drained away and was replaced by concern. “She did not survive the birth?”
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“No sir.”
“I am truly sorry. You said Fand was flying. Flying where?”
Resen answered, “She is in the Tangor Mountains, near the Fields of Ice.”
“Keeper in heaven!” Appocca gasped. “This is bad. It has been decades since the Sonpur have been in those mountains. A troop must be dispatched immediately.”
Loren asked, “Would that be wise? Fand is beyond your jurisdiction. The powers that be would not appreciate your intervention. It would put her in even more danger.”
The Head Councilman, glared at Loren and said, “The powers that be have never appreciated my intervention, but sometimes it is necessary and now is one of those times.”
Resen said, “This is not one of those time. I agree with Loren.”
”Well, this is a first. The two of you in agreement. What do you suggest?”
The gist of this conversation struck Pyre as very odd, while he loved Fand and wanted her safe, the intensity of Appocca confused him. What about her would make Appocca risk hostility from Beyond?
Appocca asked, “if the Sonpur have her where do you think they took her?”
Resen responded, “The old quarry most likely. That is why we have not detected a trace of them.”
Appocca moved from behind his desk. He came very close Resen, “Who do you propose I send to rescue the Pathfinder?”
“Me.”
“How could I trust you? Why would I trust you?”
”Fool that I am, I am still the best Pathfinder in the field. I will not make another mistake, I promise.”
Appocca’s eyes narrowed. “Can you keep such a promise?”
”Yes Sir.”
”If I send you, you will need supervision and help.”
Resen shook his head. “No, I work better alone.”
Appocca cast his gaze down at Resen and asked, “Oh, do you?”
At this question Resen colored and hung his head. He bit his lip and said, “You are correct. I am not objective where Fand is concerned and that has cost her too much already. Who do you propose?”
Slowly, Appocca met each of their eyes. He said, “This lot will do.”
Though he was willing to go, Pyre had not expected to be included in this mission.
Before he spoke, Resen took in a slow breath. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Now, go pick good horses, you will find Donner in the stables where you left him. Rufus, go gather supplies. Loren send in my secretary, I will have him make preparations made for a fire in the Common. Also go pack you medicine bag. Pyre, you will remain here with me until it is time to leave. I need your assistance in prayer for the Keeper's guidance and protection.”
Though prayer was an activity, it at times felt like nothing. To sit quietly and focus when inside all Pyre wanted was to DO something. Prayer was such a hard discipline.
After the others left, Appocca said, “Pyre, this will be hardest for you. I do not know what you will find when you do discover Fand. While you will not be able to catch her thoughts, she may be able to catch yours. You must use your heart in this. Trust your instincts. No one knows Fand like you. No one can anticipate her actions like you. If you think Loren or Resen are being carried away by their old grudge, or their own arrogance, you must speak up. Can you do that?”
“Yes sir. But could you tell me what their grudge is?”
“It is not my story to tell Pyre. And it will not help you to know it. Now, let us pray. Prayer travels farther and faster than man, beast or angel.”
Though he did not want to Pyre knelt down on the kneeler in Appocca’s office. He closed his eyes and began to pray the prayer of protection. The words poured out of his mind but he had no idea if they reached the Keeper’s ears.
*
It had been months since Pyre last sat on a horse. His palomino mare was nervous so near the fire. Her hooves clicked uneasily on the stone street. Resen’s horse, Donner was calm, but Resen was not. Poor Rufus on his roan was a pitiful sight. His face was red and huge drops of sweat dripped down his jaw line. Impatiens to be off Resen asked, “What are we waiting for? Let’s get on with it.”
From his white horse Loren said, “Brace yourselves.” Instantly, Pyre’s body and that of the mare plunged into the cold darkness of Transferrence. The horse did not flinch beneath him. She must have been Transferred before. When they landed they were in a snow covered valley. Immediately Rufus threw up.
Disgusted and angry, Resen exclaimed, “Bloody Hell! Now you’ve left scent. The Sonpur will sniff us out for sure.”
Rufus mumbled, “Sorry sir. The fall makes me feel squeamish. Twice in one day was more than I could do.” He took in a deep gulp of cold air.
Resen dismounted Donner and kicked snow over the vomit. He turned toward the mountains. Pointing at the tallest one he said, “There, that is where I think they are. According to Legend the Sonpur quarried the stone that formed Kammin Spire from that mountain. Some say it is completely hollow. The problem has always been access. No one has been able to figure out how to enter, but we must.”
A cold wind swirled around Pyre. Another miracle was necessary. Would they receive another miracle? Keeper let it be so.