A few hours later, Estela was being stubborn again, as usual. The woods were still around them and showed no signs of going anywhere. They had changed directions several times and needed to get closer to their goal. Though at least the light came down from the trees nicely. There was also a breeze, which kept them cool.

Even so, Relma sighed as they passed that same stump again. She'd seen it several times already and was tired of it.

"We're lost, and you know it," Relma said. Why couldn't Estela admit she had no idea where she was going? Relma probably knew better, but Estela would never listen.

"We're not lost," said Estela. "We're just finding our way."

"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't broken my compass, you know," said Ronald.

"I didn't break your compass," said Estela. "You passed it to me badly." Why was she like this?

"Could you just admit you dropped it?" asked Ronald.

"After you passed it to me badly," said Estela.

"Just keep walking in one direction," said Ronald. "We're sure to come out somewhere."

"Assuming the wolves don't track us down," said Relma. "They're sure to have discovered I'm gone by now. We must get to Gel Carn quickly, or things could be bad."

"What's the rush?" asked Estela. "You don't think they'll march straight to war over a couple of squires, do you?"

Relma decided not to blab the truth and gave a look to Ronald. "Well, you never know." was what she said.

Estela must have noticed before she looked at them hard. "Actually, you do," she said.

At that moment, Anya slung over Estela's shoulder and woke up. She started struggling. Straining against her ropes and thrashing. She glared hatefully at Relma. "Mmmph! Mmmph!"

"Well, it sounds like our prisoner has woken up," said Estela. "Come on, let's keep moving." Anya kept shouting and thrashing as they walked. It became increasingly irritating as they walked. Relma was afraid that they would attract attention. "Did you tie her properly?"

"Of course," said Estela.

"She's making a lot of noise," said Relma.

"You know, if you'd made a bit more noise, we wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place," said Estela.

"I couldn't," said Relma. "Ajax did something to make me fall unconscious."

"It's calling hitting someone over the head," said Estela flatly. "An ancient technique that is known only to the greatest warriors. One that has been passed down in Ronald's family for generations."

Did she have to be so snide about all this?

"No, I mean he put a cloth over my mouth," said Relma. "When I breathed through it, I fell asleep." Anya kept yelling. "I wish we had one of those now."

Ronald hit Anya over the head again, and she fell unconscious. "I can improvise."

"Will you stop doing that?" asked Relma. "You could hurt her."

"She was attracting attention," said Ronald. "Do you think it was some kind of spell?"

Relma looked down. "No. I know spellwork when I see it. It must have been a poison of some kind."

"What did he want you for anyway?" asked Estela.

"He wanted to marry me," said Relma. "I think he was stalking me before now. But right now, Telix is transforming villagers into wolf people."

"So werewolves," said Estela.

"What's a werewolf," asked Relma.

"Mmmph!" screamed Anya again.

"A person who transforms into a wolf when the Moon Spirit is at its zenith. We have them in Escor. Father killed one a long time ago. Although," she switched her grip on Anya to a bridal hold, "this one seems to be only half transformed. And the moon isn't high. So it isn't a werewolf.

"Mmmph." hissed Anya.

"Shut up," said Estela. "Ronald, could you hit her again?"

And then there was a long howl. It reached throughout the forests and chilled Relma to the core. Estela hardened and set down Anya. "Wolves."

"Come on!" said Ronald. "We've got to go."

"No, don't run," said Relma. "You can't outrun wolves. So instead, we have to climb a tree."

"But I'm terrible at climbing!" said Ronald.

"Mmmph," said Anya in amusement. Estela kicked her.

"Just try," said Relma, "I'll help you."

"It won't do any good anyway," said Estela, drawing her sword. "We'd have to abandon our hostage. And something tells me these people can climb themselves."

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"Mmph," agreed Anya.

"We have to do something," said Relma.

Estela considered things. "Both of you climb that tree. I'll keep our hostage here and see if we can negotiate."

There was no more time to talk. The howls were drawing near. Quickly, Relma helped Ronald up to the lowest branch, and when he began climbing, she did her best to follow. Several times, she slipped and hurt herself and nearly fell.

Even so, she managed to clamber up a few branches. Enough that a wolf couldn't leap up and bite her, she hoped. She and Ronald looked down from the tree.

Estela was sitting cross-legged. Anya's head was on her lap, and her sword was at the wolf girl's throat.

That was the scene when Ajax burst out of the trees with many regular wolves with him. They formed a circle, but Estela stood dead still. They halted as they saw the blade.

"You have something that doesn't belong to you, human," said Ajax.

"Actually, I've got several things that don't belong to you or me," said Estela. "Your sister is one of them. And unless you want me to spill her blood all over the ground, you will do exactly as I say."

Ajax laughed. "Come off it. We'll be on you in a flash and devour you the moment you do that. Then we'll take what we came for anyway."

"And you have a dead sister at the end of it," noted Estela.

Ajax paused. Father would want me to at least try to save Anya. All right then. Hand her over, and I'll grant you and that halfling boy safe passage out of here. I'll take my prize, and nobody has to die."

"See, that's a bit of a problem," said Estela with the usual false bravado. "Ronald and I had to leave Gel Carn without leaving to rescue 'your' prize. If we return empty-handed, we'll be thrashed with nothing to show. And I'd rather be eaten by wolves than admit defeat."

"We could wait in shifts until you nod off," noted Ajax.

"I could cut her throat when I start to get tired," shot back Estela. That was ruthless. Relma knew Estela was bargaining, but stalling seemed all they could do here. And if she made Ajax angry, it could get them all killed.

Ajax paused. "...Well, if we can't negotiate, what can we do?"

"Not much. Killing all of you will be a lot of trouble for me," said Estela. "And you can't kill me without losing your sister."

"I can wait," said Ajax. "Sooner or later, you'll make a mistake."

"And I'll spill Anya's blood all over the ground," said Estela proudly. Far too proud to be genuine. "I'll return her to you only once I have your word that all three of us can leave in peace."

The stalemate continued.

"...Estela is buying us some time, I guess," said Relma with a sigh. "But what do we do now?" Then she looked up and saw that Ronald had clambered over to the edge of one of the far-reaching branches. He had poured two flasks of oil all over it. Now, he was working at it with a flint and fuel to create a spark. Relma clambered up after him. "Ronald, what are you doing?"

"Starting a fire," said Ronald. He got a spark, and the branch burst into a merry flame. The wolves above sniffed the air and looked up.

"You're setting the tree on fire?" asked Relma. "We're on top of it!"

"Don't worry, I brought a saw with me," said Ronald, drawing it out.

"What has that got to do with anything?" asked Relma.

She saw what he was doing soon. He began to saw at the branch to cut it off and send it into the underbrush. But before he could finish, sparks flew out and caught on nearby trees. Even as the branch fell from the tree, the nearby wood began to go up in a blaze of flame. Whimpers of dismay came from the wolves as they broke for it. Ajax rushed after them, calling for them to return.

"Um, I think I miscalculated," said Ronald.

"Get off the tree!" cried Relma.

They leaped. Relma felt the heat rise up behind her. As she landed, she looked back to see the flames burning ever larger. Scrambling over to Estela, she halted.

"Well, that's not good," said Ronald.

"What did you do?" asked Estela.

"Started a forest fire," said Ronald. "We've got to get out of these woods!"

"What about the trees and animals?" asked Relma, worried about how this would look later. "The spirits!"

"They work for Telix," said Estela. "They're our enemy."

Relma took her point. They could hardly complain about Relma fighting back. So they rose and ran for one of the few areas not writhed in flames. As they did, the fire spread all around them. Smoke rose up in the air, and the heat grew worse and worse. Relma felt her lungs burning, and sweat dripped down her eyes, stinging them.

Wiping them away, she saw a bush set ablaze before her. However, Ronald pulled her out.

"This is no good!" said Ronald. "We'll never outrun it at this rate!"

"Mmph!" said Anya fearfully.

Then, the flames arose in front of them as well. They were trapped and running out of space. "Wonderful plan, Ronald," said Estela. "We were surrounded by bloodthirsty wolves waiting to kill us. Now we're surrounded by flames that aren't waiting to kill us! You imbecile!"

"Waiting..." said Relma. Realization dawned as she saw the obvious solution Aunt Pan had taught her. "Of course!"

"What?" said Estela.

"There is a spirit behind everything in nature," said Relma. "Fire is no exception. Aunt Pan taught me that forest fires happen when a fire spirit is awakened." She stepped forward and called out.

"Listen to me; I am the Heir to Anoa the Bright! The Heir of Kings!"

The fires peeled back like the wings of a bird unfolding before them. A great head like an eagle's was raised with flaring eyes for a moment.

"...Did that just work?" asked Estela.

At that moment, the flames formed into the shape of a monstrous, demonic face. It had eyes of blue fire. "You have called me into this world, Relma Artorious. What have you to say?"

Artorious? Was that her last name?

"Um, I'd really appreciate it if you could not kill us," said Relma. "We'd like to be opened a path out of the woods."

"The Heir of Kings makes a request of me?" asked the spirit. "This is a rare thing. For your ancestors invoked me often and gave me fuel of all kinds. Their offerings have ceased since. But in recognition of my friendship with Anoa the Bright, I shall do as you ask."

"Also, could you not kill anyone?" asked Relma.

"I have already killed hundreds of woodland creatures," replied the spirit proudly. "And the answer is no. However, I shall see that my flames do not consume any that you consider equals.

"Now, be gone. You test my patience."

The face disappeared, and the fires returned to reveal a burnt woodland path. They ran for it.

"Well, that worked," said Ronald.

"Yeah," said Relma.

"How did you bluff a spirit?" asked Estela.

"Um, I didn't. I really am the Heir of Kings," said Relma.

"Of course you are," scoffed Estela. "Let's just keep moving. We're almost out of the forest."

Then they emerged, blinking into a landscape Relma had never seen before. Gel Carn was nowhere in sight.