"Pitiful."

Jo blinked. The word had come, but, even in the firelight, he was sure the lady had not moved her lips. As if it had touched his very being.

"That goes for your friends too," she said aloud. "Pitiful."

His eyes didn't want to leave her; or the diamond, moonstoned and amethyst-decored spear that had turned, the monster, into burning ruins on the grass. But leave her he did to turn, and see beyond the fire, the welcome shape of a hand-cradling-arm Suzé; and an on-hands-and-knees and coughing Jay. Both staring at the dark skirted and greaved, and pale booted, jumper'd and haired lady.

"Speechless?" a second voice said from the edge of the trees to Jo's left; coupled with the slow strides of a lady with shades that caught the firelight. "You should be."

"In your beds whilst the adults get to work," the first lady added, a cool lavender breeze replacing the rose fragrance.

Coughing and trying to stop the waves that wanted to pull him back down, Jo pushed himself onto shaking hands and knees. Watching the second lady who, except for dark shades and the upper sleeves of her dress, was pale from head to boots. Like the rose petals coming from the direction of the... lake...

"Play time's over," she said, voice like a cool breeze, firelight bright on her visor-glasses. "You're with the big girls now."

"Jones," Suzé said from a strained throat, "Look."

He turned to Suzé; now upright but still holding her arm. Yet sideways onto him and looking toward the trees in the direction of the still-beating Tropira House. Out of the eaves - shadow-caped yet metallic clothed - stalked another Vane; rose petals swirling around an arm rising to pull out a sword. Jo's knees almost went; then blood turned to cold tap water upon the sight of a second emerging from the edge of the trees on the left; petals coursing around both arms. And the third on the path; as Jay began to cry and Suzé put an arm across her stomach, made him want to –

"Very good idea," the second lady said as the cool breeze increased. "The trees on the left take you to the main path. Keep to it if you wish to get to your beds."

Jo could only open his mouth as Suzé struggled to bow and Jay almost hit the ground.

"See it as debt," said the first lady, walking past Jay with her teal blue-lit spear. "We'll call it in another time."

"T-thank you," Suzé said, hopping forward, pulling Jo with her, and Jay being launched forward as if he had been pushed too. It was too much to get out of her grip, but Jo was able to turn. Turn to see a sword the colours of the noon sky in the hand of the shades lady; a breeze flowing around her and her spear-wielding companion. As equally bright whips and swords appeared in the hands of the striding statues. Appeared as the rose swirled and flame-eyed Vanes began a three-chambered growl.

* * *

Out of the light. Into the darkness of the under-canopy. Only with the flashes of light from behind, and the not-too-distant intervals of light in front, it wasn't exactly full-tilt gloom. Not even silent, as the clash of steel upon steel rang above the odd growl and a full-on roar that sent Jo almost into the back of Suzé. That or the outstretched lower limb of a nearby tree.

But all linked by the still partying beat from the Tropira House. Or was it another pounding from within? Hand went over eyes as he crashed out into a new illuminate pool. Made from a lantern he had thought had been another pillar trunk. A second lay on the other side of the path or road to the left; whilst a smaller path seemed to flow down toward the surface of the lake; with more lanterns, and was that house lights, beyond.

Stolen story; please report.

"Main path, remember," Suzé said, touching her upper arm as if it were the surface of a hot plate.

"S-sorry," said Jo, glancing at Jay who looked on the same level as a pale moon. "Are you okay?"

"Chimney..." said Jay as Suzé's mouth opened. "Like a falling chimney."

Jo looked at him, then at a frowning Suzé.

"Couldn't breathe. Like everything had been smashed out by - by that - monster. Yet she killed it with a spear."

"We'll do this later," said Jo, blinking back the sight of what had been about to finish him, transfixed by a jewelled, flickering lance. "Come on, you heard what she said, we have to keep to the path."

Down became side; up the opposite side. A pulse rippled from the front to the back of his head, but the side that was now the road felt more like a bed. A bed from which he could see Suzé's outstretched arm as she ran over to him.

"Don't just stand there," she said, checking Jo's head and chest and touching her arm, "Help me, James."

"It's - it's - alright," Jo said, or felt himself say as if through water. "I can - get up."

"This isn't right. This isn't right," Jay's voice came as he stepped over, "Smelt like a florist; looked like a metallic statue and hit like - like -"

"Me if you don't help!" Suzé snapped. "Do you want to meet another one?"

A sharp intake of breath came from Jay as he got the roadward side of Jo and Suzé got to the skyward side. "He'll have to go between us," she said, as the road mattress left Jo's side; to be replaced by hands that moved him into a sitting position, then got him onto his feet.

"Really, I think it was just a turn," he said, strength coming back to both feet.

"Not till we've reached the road," said Suzé. "Last thing we need is you crashing into a tree when we start to run. Ready, Jay?"

A parakeet chieeik broke through the air, launching Jay and Suzé into a carry jog, even as Jo tried to match their strides. Down the lantern-lit path that may as well have been a road with trees on either side. Not far into it though, the road split into two; one veering off to the left; the other to the right.

"Left one's narrower," Suzé said, "We'll take the right."

"G-good idea," said Jo. Although it had lights, the left one seemed darker and more tree-enclosed. Whilst after only a few steps, the other road opened out onto a grass bank with the outline of rabbits. "Joggers," said Jay. "Like joggers."

"Mustn't be far now," said Suzé. "You're doing well."

"Killed that - that thing and dressed like they were going for a j-jog."

"I'm sure the second lady didn't have a scabbard," Jo added, feet now in tandem, then tapping for them to stop. "Was if the sword appeared –"

"Out of thin air," Suzé said, stopping and letting go of Jo as he let go of Jay.

"Like Worrs - what's - it," said Jo. "Only she could control it."

"Which would be right; Apphso being an Hourblade like Gowbrinn."

Ice-water refilled Jo's veins.

"... No..." said Jay.

"Didn't you feel it?" said Suzé. "It was dim, but still there, along with the breeze. Apphso and Gowbrinn: the sun and moon arms of Chorus and Orchestra."

Thunder may as well have crashed in Jo's head as the two ladies walking toward the three vanes flashed across his mind. Flashed as the waves returned to his head.

"Another pair..." he whispered.

"One throw," Jay said, head in his hands. "Killed it with one throw."

"Something else for the debrief," said Suzé holding her upper arm again.

"Are you sure you're okay?" said Jo. "I'm fine moving myself."

"It'll pass in a minute," Suzé replied, flexing her fingers. "We should keep moving."

Lights flared up from the gloom of the trees further down the path as it curved to the right. Lights accompanied by the gentle hum of engines and the chitter of parakeets.

"No," said Jay, sinking to the ground. "Not again. I just want to go home."

"We still can," said Suzé, pointing to the left. "Look."