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White Paw, the king of the Wolves, chief of all chiefs, and the Maker's chosen one, stood beneath the shaded cover of trees where the forest gave way to several acres of open ground atop a rocky bluff. To the south, a similar promontory lay tantalizingly out of reach on the opposing side of the River Muur's narrow, swift canyon, where the fast moving water clawed relentlessly through the rock that hindered its progress to the sea. Jak had traveled far to see Airy's homeland, and what he observed from his high perch seemed a pleasant and fertile country. He was as eager as Airy to place his paws on that beckoning shore, but the time to enter therein was not yet nigh. Reluctantly, he turned his gaze to the West, where, like the hair on a tonsured monk's head, the forest encircled the hillock's bald pate so that a wall of trees faced him from the other side.

It was a beautiful site, but the scenery was irrelevant to his needs. He chose it specifically for its suitability for an extraordinary meeting. It was neutral territory, it was open, and the woods that surrounded it offered abundant cover to hide warriors against possible treachery. Though peace was the desired outcome of the pending encounter, Rabbits and Wolves were still bitter enemies. The friendship that Airy and Jak had developed would take time and persuasion to instill in others of their kinds. Until then, the leaders of both sides and their followers would feel more secure with a place to conceal reserve troops to observe the propriety of the parley.

Dozens of Wolf warriors already crouched unseen behind Jak and Airy ready to fight to the death for their new chief. Though each of those warriors had been a stranger and potential enemy just a few days ago, they were now his to command. The ease with which he acquired their obedience astounded him. He had underestimated the power of miracles and belief to sway opinion and build loyalty. Upon further reflection, he was beginning to understand the desperate desire his fellow Wolves had harbored for generations to reconnect with their Maker and to relive the past when Olivia had walked among them. Now that White Paw was her representative on earth, he became the focus of their adoration and the vessel within which to place their hopes for the better future that they believed the Maker was going to deliver.

Jak knew better. Olivia's powers were limited beyond her own ice bound valley. He and his kind must forge their own destiny, but that was made easier when a divinely blessed hero appeared to guide the way. Jak was that hero. The story of his challenge fight with the seven chiefs was evolving into legend and growing more outrageous with each telling; Tigan was ensuring that by entertaining any new Wolves they met using her Maker magic -enhanced ring to embellish the tale. Soon the greatest possible honor a Wolf could hope to achieve was to serve and fight alongside Olivia's champion, White Paw.

Jack saw the reverence in the eyes and submission in the posture of his warriors whenever they looked to him. He was more than a hero to them; he was becoming their de facto king and savior. Thanks to the acceptance of his leadership by the seven defeated chiefs and their enthusiasm for spreading the miracle of his victory, within a moon all of the Wolves of the West would proclaim him their chief of chiefs. Bear and the other chiefs were already traveling through the pack lands to spread the news. Their willingness to bow before Jack was key to convincing the other chiefs and their tens of thousands of pack mates to acknowledge White Paw's sovereignty.

With so many Wolves coming under his care, Jak despaired of ever meeting them all. When he was Chief of Blackrock Pack, his pack consisted of no more than four or five hundred individuals. He considered it his duty to know all their names and something about their lives. Now he was responsible for a hundred times that many. Their names, their faces, their hopes and their concerns were a mystery to him. Jak longed to be able to visit each of the packs in turn to meet all of his new subjects, spend time in their villages, come to know them as a chief should, and consolidate his power, but time forbade it.

A more paramount duty to his people now demanded his attention: reconciliation with a stable and peaceful Rikifur. Much needed to happen in the next few weeks to set the stage for that implausible goal. Most urgent was the need for Airy to assemble an army and secure territory in Rikifur before the Anti-Royalists learned she truly had returned. Once they realized she was a threat and moved against her, all would be lost. Her preference was to recruit from among her own kind, having Rabbits willingly flock to her and recognizing her righteous cause. As idyllic as that scenario would be, such an effort would have the unfortunate effect of exposing her to the AR before she was ready to defend herself. Another source of troops was needed.

Thus, a call went out from White Paw to all of the packs for warriors to be sent south to the border to serve in a Wolf army that would fight alongside the Rabbit queen. The privilege to join their new chief of chiefs was enough to begin the migration of thousands of warriors, but to entice the packs to send all the able-bodied fighters they could spare, a proclamation and sworn oath by Airy was included. In it, she pledged her devotion to peace and reconciliation with the Wolves of the West and made a promise to share the wealth and wonders of Rikifur if they helped her claim her throne and birthright as queen.

That same promise was sent to Feneval with lesser expectations of immediate and unconditional assistance. Even if Feneval was inclined to help, the Fox nation was too far away to provide timely help with the first, most critical stage of Airy and Jak's plans. Esseff sent Glic home anyway with the ostensible purpose to arrange for whatever aid the Foxes might be persuaded to supply. Airy suspected the real reason was that the slippery Fox wanted to publicize among his own people the generous largesse that she had granted to him. Having developed a sense of pragmatism that was essential for good leadership, Airy had forgiven Esseff's previous offenses and made him the sole recognized ambassador from Feneval to her court. She had acquired the wisdom to see that her dislike for the Fox and his devious methods was poor reason to abandon such a useful tool. Just like a sharp blade that could maim its owner if mishandled, a well-crafted sword was too valuable a weapon to cast aside. The trick was in controlling it so that it always cut your enemies and never yourself.

No weapons would matter, though, whether they were made of fur or steel until Airy was reunited with the small contingent of Rabbits still loyal to her known as the Princess Cult, or PC. They were mostly young nobles, who had come from Rikifur's officer corps. With their servants and retainers, they numbered less than a thousand, but Airy hoped with their experience, they could train the Wolves to fight as disciplined units with steel weapons and lead them into battle. Based on Airy's experience and Jak's confirmation of the melee fighting style that the Wolves preferred, it would not be an easy nor a rapid task. The sooner they started, the more prepared they would be to fight a real army.

The urgent need for this reunion meant that within just a few days of becoming chief of chiefs, Jak left Border Pack with his familiar traveling companions, an honor guard of nearly forty of Bear's best warriors, and most importantly, Airy, the rightful Queen of Rikifur. Four days of uneventful walking was all that had separated them from the encampment of the Princess Cult. It was a ridiculously easy and uneventful journey compared to the hundreds of other miles that separated Jak and Airy from their first meeting. Fear of the unknown, hazardous terrain, and hostile peoples were just fleeting memories of past troubles. The apprehension and anxiety that had stalked every step of their path around the Earth Spine was replaced by a grim determination born of their newfound responsibilities.

Where personal survival had been their overriding concern for so long, it was now a detail left to others. Plenty of Wolf warriors were grateful for the right to protect Jak and his Rabbit ally. If all went well with this meeting, a host of loyal Rabbits should soon join them. The addition of so many new and unknown faces gave fits of distress to Esseff, who had ambitiously assumed the role of head of security. It was not an unreasonable self-promotion. Protecting Airy was critical. Everyone knew it, and the Fox had a natural talent for the craft.

Esseff tried his hardest to limit access to Airy by anyone but those whose loyalty was certain, but the Princess insisted she could take care of herself refusing to cooperate with his security measures. Esseff was forced to turn to the still bitter Cat for her help.

"I know you hate me and think I'm a creep, but we still need to work together."

"I know you are creep, but I save my hate for those vorthy of the honor."

With his tail twitching, Esseff growled his frustration. Cat's mocking smile was all he received in return.

"What is your problem? I explained everything to you about what happened. I never deliberately betrayed you. Why can't you forgive and forget?"

"Explained?" Cat spat the word back at him like it was poison.

"You are very smooth vith talk and explanations. Those mean nothing. Actions matter. I don't vant your clever talk and dubious promises."

"What do you want?"

"You, oh so clever little Fox. Figure it out."

Esseff opened his mouth to speak, but Cat held the claws of one paw in front of his face.

"No more vords. I know vhat you vant. I vill guard the bunyic. In return, you vill keep avay from me until you prove to be more trustvorthy and less selfish."

The Fox wanted to protest, but he knew better. When Cat issued an ultimatum, she meant it. Forced to retreat, he trudged away with his tail between his legs brooding on his stupid obsession with the obstinate feline. Anger warred with depression as he considered how unfair it was of her to continue to treat him like an enemy. Now that he had everything he wanted, why would he betray any of them and risk losing it?

A more germane question was why had he fallen in love with such a spiteful and unreasonable creature? The answer eluded him, and pondering it only left him baffled as to how he could be such a fool. He consoled himself with the fact that at least Cat was doing something to help him by protecting the Princess.

It was true he was obsessed with protecting Airiphryone from assassins but only because her as queen was the keystone of his success. Without her, everything he had built was doomed to collapse, leaving him as nothing but a lowly spy again. Around Cat he was fool, but he was not yet so addled that he thought he had eliminated all risk. The battlefield was a fickle place where a stray arrow or a collapse of a defensive line could lead to the death of anyone, even a queen or a king. Esseff wanted to keep Airiphryone and White Paw away from the dangers of combat, but both insisted they would not lead from behind. He silently vowed to change their minds about that.

Unlike Esseff in many ways, Airy and Jak accepted death as a hazard of their leadership responsibilities. Neither one paid the possibility much heed. Instead, their thoughts were fixed on the fates of others. Everything that they did since Jak became chief of all chiefs would affect not just themselves but the lives of nearly every fur. Would their efforts reduce the number of deaths or prolong and expand the existing conflict? Not even Tigan could predict that with any certainty, but either way, the many decisions that Jak and Airy would make would bring with them the responsibility for thousands of deaths.

Though he had fought mostly in small skirmishes with neighboring packs, Jak knew enough of war to know it was a savage, ugly and evil business. It was true that a righteous cause could temper the brutality by allowing moments of glory and heroics to counter the pain and suffering, but the bitter truth was that many Wolves and Rabbits whom otherwise might live long and happy lives would perish before their time. Their blood would forever stain Airy and Jak's paws.

It was a sobering burden, but the pair of monarchs had no intention of turning away from what they assumed to be their inescapable duty. Esseff's poker analogy was apt. They had thrown everything they had into the pot, the cards were dealt, and they had to play to win. Their initial hand was weak, but there was much they could do to strengthen it. They could bluff. They even had a few cards hidden up their sleeves. Altering Jorveth's burning powder so it released energy faster was just one of numerous new ideas the Horse was gleaning from Olivia's book that potentially could be harnessed to give them a military advantage.

Just as important was the information contained in the book Camorra had received as her gift from Olivia. In it was a wealth of information on the subjects of government, politics, diplomacy, legal systems, and social psychology. Camorra became Jak and Airy's indispensable guide to navigating the social pitfalls that plagued all revolutions and social upheavals, since much of what they hoped to accomplish was indeed revolutionary. Peace between the Rabbits and Wolves was only the first tentative step on a long road of change. Preparation necessary to confront Storfay required more than an armistice in the West. An alliance of mutual protection and defense among Rikifur, Feneval and the Pack Lands was essential, but developing an acceptable structure that would endure was daunting. Camorra argued for a confederation of states unified under a single central government; a radical idea that required revolutionary changes to successfully unify and merge the three different races.

"Excessive change imperils our cause, but continuation of the existing orders dooms it completely. The cultures of the three societies: Rabbits, Wolves and Foxes are too different and incompatible to unite into a new nation without first creating a unique order that each can flock towards without feeling that they are submitting to the mores of another race."

Airy, Jak and Esseff all opened their mouths at once to speak, but Esseff won the race to be the first to disagree.

"I don't see how that is possible. Whatever system you devise will offend one party or all of them."

"It's true, that each race will have to sacrifice long cherished traditions while accepting new ideals that contradict them," agreed Camorra. "In order to get them to do so, we must offer them something in return that makes that sacrifice not only advantageous, but so highly desirable that they cannot resist it. Each group has something that the others want. Rikifur is already in turmoil and ripe for change, but there are other incentives they desire. Many noble families want new lands for expansion. Much of the Pack Lands is undeveloped and ripe for agricultural exploitation. The Rabbits will also benefit from trading and selling steel to the Foxes and Wolves. The Foxes and Wolves will in turn benefit from the sharing of Rabbit technology. Wolves will have the chance to reunite with their kind in the East. The establishment of a system of schools like the one Jorveth created in Storfay will ensure the development of many more wonders to the benefit of all."

Jak spoke next, but instead of looking at Camorra, he kept his eyes locked on Airy.

"Wolves will never accept the Rabbit's way of treating females. Female Wolves may not become chiefs, but that is all that is denied them. In Rikifur, does are more akin to slaves with the sole exception of the royal family."

It was an ugly blemish on the face of her culture. Airy had fought against it her entire life. Though she would love to see an end to the disparate status her sex endured, it was a grueling path that she had traveled herself with great personal misery and struggle. She fidgeted uncomfortably before speaking. Her nose and her left ear twitched.

"Maker knows I hate male chauvinism as much as any doe can. I have fought my whole life to prove I am as good as or better than any buck, but it's a deeply held belief in our culture that's made harder to dispel by the fact that female Rabbits are smaller and weaker than males. Most does believe it's the Maker's will that they be subordinate. How do you free people who don't want to be freed?"

"You do what you are doing right now, you Majesty," urged Camorra. "You lead by example and show what they can be. You show them the benefits that come with equality."

"What about Feneval?" Jak asked of Esseff. "How do you regard your females?"

"Somewhere in between Wolves and Rabbits, but more like Rikifur, I am afraid, but this is a minor issue. More important to my people will be who rules this confederation. I may be the Lady Airiphryone's loyal servant, but that does not apply to all Foxes. My people will not stand for her rule or the rule of her descendants. If this "confederation" is to have a single leader, then there must be an equal chance that that leader can come from any of the three species."

Camorra lectured the others on the various forms of representative democracy. The concept of elections was strange to Airy and Jak, but not foreign to Esseff.

"In Feneval, there is an elite class from which come all of our rulers at all levels. They hold positions of leadership for a fixed time like in your examples, and they vote among themselves to determine who will serve in each post. It is hard for me to imagine the elites of Feneval letting anyone else vote or serve in an office of power."

With a sly glint in his eye, Esseff regarded Airy and Jak.

"You two are effectively absolute monarchs. How willing are you to surrender to the will and judgment of another? Would you step down if a vote went against you?"

Neither answered at first. Esseff began to speak again, but Camorra interrupted.

"I don't think that is necessary, at least not at first. Each nation could keep its internal structures while agreeing to abide by the decisions and laws made by a higher level body."

"That seems like a sneaky way to accomplish the same end," protested Esseff. "If White Paw and Airiphryone agree to this, they have effectively abdicated their power to another."

"It does retain the comfortable and familiar structures in place for each species."

Camorra looked to Airy and Jak for their reaction. Jak growled unconsciously before speaking.

"Wolves follow strong leaders not popular ones. It has always been that way. It will take time for them to accept new ways like this, if they ever can. However, as long as I am the chief of all chiefs, they will do as I say. If I accept the dictates of this higher that body you propose, they will also. I cannot promise that they will ever accept electing leaders from among themselves."

"With time and patience..."

Airy interrupted.

"...We can do anything. I agree that hereditary rule should be discarded eventually, but I feel that by ending it, I am ruining forever something precious that was worthy in its day."

"It is for the best, my Lady. The Foxes and Wolves may accept your leadership through the crisis of fighting Storfay, but they will never agree to a permanent dynasty of your descendants ruling over them. Without some way to balance the power among the races, we cannot keep this new nation together."

"You are right, of course, but what terrible irony it is that in order to save Rikifur, I must destroy it."

"Not destroyed, re-made. If I may be so bold, Rikifur shall be improved in this re-making."

"We can call this new nation we are creating by the same name, but it will never again be what it was. Am I to go down in history as the one who destroyed Rikifur?"

"Perhaps, but if you do, you will also be remembered for what you brought forth in its place. If the history of the Makers is a reliable guide, then what we are starting will be the beginning of a social order that will evolve and grow beyond our lifetimes into something much greater."

Airy agreed that the path forward was the correct one. She actively anticipated each of the changes, but she also dreaded the conflict and upheaval that would accompany every incremental adjustment. Worst of all was the irony that these radical ideas would gain power and authority from the assumption that Airy had a legitimate claim to rule Rikifur founded on a tradition of divine right. It was a hypocritical beginning to a process designed to result in a world where very little of the old order was destined to survive.

Jak shared Airy's hypocrisy induced shame. He knew that Olivia was not a god, yet he accepted the power given to him based on the belief that she was. Could efforts begun based on a deliberately deceptive premise, but infused with an honorable goal, end well? Jak was uncertain. Doubts plagued all of his thoughts. Despite his lofty titles and previously unimaginable authority that accompanied them, Jak felt less competent to rule than his first days as chief of Blackrock Pack. Then, things had been simple compared to the task that lay before him now: resolving a civil war, turning ancient, bitter enemies into friends and allies, and finally, constructing a new social and political order out of the resulting chaos. It didn't end there, though; the threat of Storfay awaited him and Airy even if they were successful at uniting and bringing peace to the West.

Jak sighed at the complexity of it all. He was grateful Olivia had restored his youth and vigor. He would need all his strength and energy to survive the many years of toil ahead. He was also grateful for the approach of a scout, who gave him the excuse he needed to lay aside his doubts and dread.

"White Paw, Chief of all Chiefs," said the slender, pale gray furred female as she bent to her knees.

"Rise and report, Swift Hawk," replied Jak with calm authority that belied his previous gloomy musings.

"We encountered a bunny..."

The scout's mint green eyes glanced nervously between Jak and Airy before correcting herself.

"...a Rabbit patrol...and sought parley with them as you ordered. They are the Rabbits you seek. We delivered your message that you are our new chief and wish to speak under a banner of truce with their leader. They agreed to meet here, and are awaiting us in the woods on the other side of the clearing."

"Did you tell them that I bring them a gift of tremendous importance to their cause?"

"Yes, White Paw. They were skeptical but also curious."

"Did they agree to my terms for this meeting?"

"Yes. No weapons beyond the tree line. Only one leader from each side accompanied by two guards may enter the clearing. You may also bring your gift. Raising of a white flag will be the signal to begin."

"There is no point in waiting any longer, then."

Gesturing to a short warrior with shaggy, brown fur dyed with animal fetish tattoos, Jak summoned him to his side.

"Make a flag, Bright Moon, and wave it where they can see. Archer and Long Tooth shall accompany me and my gift."

A white flag was hastily fabricated from some of the cold weather clothing that Olivia had provided. Once it was fluttering from the end of a long pole visible across the knoll, Jak strode forth with his guards. They carried no weapons as agreed, not even knives, but Jak had seen these two practicing their fighting skills and knew that they needed nothing besides their paws to be lethal.

Airy walked behind the three Wolves, her features hidden within the folds of an all-weather cloak borrowed from Esseff. With the hood pulled far over her forehead and her ears tucked down behind her head, it was impossible to tell that she was a Rabbit. Underneath, she wore her tattered, travel stained surcoat and rusting armor.

They were halfway to the center of the clearing, when three Rabbits on horses emerged from the forest on the west side. A little late, Jak wished he had insisted they enter the clearing on their own hindpaws instead of horses. The riders wore traditional Rikifurian armor much like Airy's, but their scabbards were empty and it appeared they carried no other weapons on themselves or their mounts. Flanked by his guards, the leader rode slightly in front.

Both parties reached the center simultaneously. The Rabbit leader dismounted while his guards stayed in their saddles eyeing the Wolves with unconcealed disgust and suspicion.

Tall for a Rabbit, the leader stood an inch above Jak. His fur was a lustrous, chocolate brown. Highly polished armor reflected the sun where it peeked from beneath his white surcoat, which bore the same royal coat of arms as Airy's. Wary and care worn black eyes set into a handsome face scanned Jak first, Archer and Long Tooth, and finally the mysterious cloaked figure before returning once more to Long Tooth and her naked breasts. His nose wrinkled with mild repugnance, and he quickly looked away embarrassed.

Though he was young, only a few years older than Airy, he spoke with a steady voice that was devoid of fear and accustomed to command.

"I am Vaunortheses, the leader of the Queen's army in exile. I speak for the Queen Airiphryone in her absence awaiting the day of her return."

The statement was delivered with conviction but bore traces of the taint of long repetition and all the subsequent derision he had endured from his own kind.

"I am told that you are the king of all Wolves or some ridiculous claim. I assume the other two are your bodyguards. Who is this in the cloak? We agreed only three on each side."

Airy remained unrecognized, but she knew this buck well. He had been one of her more promising suitors, seemingly in another life, before her world changed forever. He came from a noble family that had a long history of stalwart support for the royal line. Unlike most of those who sought her paw in marriage, he had seemed genuinely interested in Airy as a lover and mate, instead of as Princess Airiphryone and the crown that came with her paw. To see one, any, of her own kind again was a thrill, but this reunion in particular instilled in her an almost uncontainable joy.

All of her self-restraint was required to remain cloaked as previously agreed until Jak had a chance to explain himself and prepare the Rabbits to understand the nature of the Wolves' gift. There was no telling how they might react once they realized that she was a Rabbit, let alone their Princess, now Queen. It was imperative that they first understand that she was not a hostage and had not suffered any mistreatment. Thus, Airy endured in silence.

"This is the gift that we promised," said Jak.

Vaunortheses' brow furrowed in confusion.

"I don't understand. Is this some primitive Wolf offering? Is this a slave or one of your females?"

He glanced at Long Tooth again. Unlike Rabbit does, the Wolf bitch was nearly as tall as him.

"A young female perhaps? What makes you think we want such gifts? What we want is to be left alone until we can return to our own lands. Our army has no quarrel with you, Wolf King, if that is who you are really."

Vaun studied Jak closely, and his suspicion increased.

"I have met often enough with the chiefs of this region to listen to their whining about our occupation of their land. I have never seen you before. Though, Maker knows, you all look alike to me. This is a waste of my time. Be off imposter king. We have no business together."

Archer and Long tooth both tensed, reacting to the insulting tone in Vaunortheses' voice. A subtle conciliatory gesture from Jak held them in check. The belligerent Rabbit, unaware of the danger, turned to remount his horse reaching for his saddle with one paw and the reigns with the other. Jak's voice made him pause halfway through the action.

"Hold! Am I not to be allowed a chance to speak? Do not be so impatient or a fool, please. There has been a great change among the Wolves of the Pack Lands...among my people. As impossible as it seems, a king or rather a chief of all chiefs has been chosen. All of the Wolves of the West are united under his rule, and I am he. I am White Paw."

Vaunortheses paused. The ramifications of Jak' statement were not lost on him, but the idea was so strange and improbable, that he could not fathom it. One paw remained on the pommel of his saddle, but his booted hindpaws remained on the ground.

"Is this some kind of trick, Wolf? A jest perhaps? There is no such thing as a Wolf king, or chief of all chiefs, if you prefer. The concept is beyond your kind. If you are planning some treachery, be warned that I have many mounted soldiers with steel weapons in the woods behind me who will rush to my defense."

Returning Vaun's threats by alluding to his own hidden warriors was the path to escalating violence. To avoid that, Jak suppressed his anger and kept his manner conciliatory, though he could not resist a subtle gibe at Airy's disrespectful compatriot.

"I agree that the notion of a Wolf king is wild fantasy to you. One might even say it would require a miracle from the Maker, but is not your cause also built on a similarly fanciful notion?"

Vaunortheses cringed. The Wolf's point was well made. Endless ridicule had been his for preaching that the Princess was alive and would return. If it wasn't for the dreams that wracked his sleep every night promising that it would be so, he would have given up his crusade months ago. Often, he wished to sleep in peace so he could abandon this mad belief and move on with his life. He was not alone in losing faith. More of his troops deserted with each week that passed without any sign that Airiphryone was still alive. Loyalty to him kept his remaining followers from leaving, but how much longer would that hold his company together if even he was on the verge of giving up hope? His cause was collapsing around him, and the bitterness of his failure made him sensitive to Jak's implication that he was a mad zealot.

"You mock me, Wolf. Well, have your fun. Perhaps I am a fool. Too much time has passed to believe that the princess is alive if I am honest with myself. Only a miracle could bring her back now."

Sensing the Rabbit's turmoil, Jak realized he had opened a painful wound. There was no reason to antagonize him further, so Jak offered him a salve to ease the sting.

"What if I were to give you your miracle? Would you believe me a king? Would you believe in peace?"

Instead of being pacified, Vaunortheses' patience expired. He put one booted hindpaw into a stirrup, and didn't bother to pretend politeness.

"Miracle? Peace? You make no sense Wolf. Get to the point or leave me in peace. I have no time for games."

"Nor do any of us. Therefore, I present my offering from the Wolf people of the West to you. You are the Rabbit we consider to be the legitimate representative of Rikifur. I have traveled thousands of miles through great peril to bring this gift to you, and I eagerly await your gratitude and the prospect of mutual cooperation between our people that this offer of Wolf friendship shall bring."

That was Airy's signal. She stepped forward so that she stood between the opposing parties. Jak and his warriors retreated several steps making it clear that she was not a hostage or a prisoner. Vaunortheses eyed the hooded form quizzically but without alarm. Her short stature gave him reason to assume she was a Wolf or Fox pup and thus more of a curiosity to him than any potential threat. The truth was so far from his thoughts that when Airy cast aside the cloak, he could only gape in dumbfounded astonishment at the face he knew so well.

"Greetings and well met, Vaun. It's me, Airy."

The Rabbit leader's shock was profound. A stunned silence ensued as he tried to process the wholly unexpected vision before him. Like a man without water, in the desert for days suddenly coming upon an oasis, he rubbed his eyes to banish what he believed to be a mirage.

"I...I...I can't believe it. Are you an illusion or a ghost?"

Airy rolled up her sleeves revealing the faint and unique tiger stripes on her pelt. She then drew forth the hilt and broken blade of her royal sword and held it out to the disbelieving buck. She spoke softly and soothingly to her old friend and suitor.

"No mirage. No ghost. No phantasm of any kind. I am alive and returned to you as ordained by the Maker. He sent this gentle Wolf to save me and deliver me home as a sign that it is time to heal the long rift between our kinds. Rabbits and Wolves are no longer to be enemies. That is the peace of which White Paw speaks."

Though the evidence of her unusual fur patterning and the unmistakable design of her sword were enough to convince any Rabbit that knew her, it was the memory of her voice and bearing that revived his dying belief. Tears poured forth from his eyes at this greatest of all blessings that confirmed that his long vigil had not been in vain. There was hope again for their people in a time when all hope was presumed lost.

Suddenly remembering his place, he dropped to one knee. His guards, equally shocked, hurriedly dismounted and copied him.

"Princess...I mean Queen Airiphryone, I am your humble servant overjoyed by the miracle of your return. Please forgive my weakness and my doubts."

"There is nothing to forgive, Vaun. You of all my subjects are most deserving of my gratitude and praise. I am aware of your exploits and your determination to wait for me. You resisted the power of the Priests and the self-serving Anti-Royalists. I grant you my thanks for those noble deeds. Speaking of thankfulness, there is someone here who deserves your gratitude."

Vaunortheses looked up into her eyes and followed them as they led to Jak. Rising at the touch of Airy's paw on his shoulder and a coincident nod, Vaun stood hesitatingly in front of Jak.

"I was rude to you, White Paw, and apologize for that. Since this is proven to be a day for miracles, I find it easier to believe in things that I once thought were impossible. If you say you are the King of all Wolves, then I believe you, sir."

Vaun knelt before Jak as he would any sovereign. Unsure whether they were still kneeling for Airy, Jak or both, Vaun's guards stayed down mimicking their leader. To the Wolves, observing a Rabbit giving obeisance to one of their own was an extraordinary sight, but what happened next was beyond all of their experience.

Overcome by joyful emotion, Vaun rose abruptly, embracing Jak in a hug of thankfulness. Archer and Long Tooth stiffened in response then relaxed realizing this was not an attack but a display of affection.

"There is no greater gift on this earth than what you have given to me today, White Paw. I am forever in your debt. With my queen's approval, I am prepared to follow any order and complete any task you deem appropriate to repay you for this boon."

As surprised as his bodyguards, Jak resisted flinching away from the unexpected contact. Instead, he considered the numerous pairs of eyes on both sides of the clearing that were watching this exchange. This was an opportunity to set an example for both Wolves and Rabbits to follow. An inconsequential yet sincere gesture like this, if nurtured, could begin the transformation of long entrenched attitudes.

"It is enough for me that you accept me as your ally and pledge to bring forth peace between Wolves and Rabbits."

Jak returned the hug.

"A Maker living among us, an empire of Horses, a Wolf king, the return of Queen Airiphryone; not since ancient times have so many wonders been present in our world. The Maker blesses us once again!"

Vaunortheses rose out of his chair, raising his goblet of wine high in the air.

"We have the momentum to sweep over our enemies, unstoppable like the tide. All hail Queen Airiphryone!"

In Vaunortheses' mind, he was already riding that imaginary surge to the shore of the promised land with the light of the Maker leading the way. He was not the only one confident of victory. In the two weeks since the Queen's miraculous return, dozens of deserters had already rejoined his small army. An equal number of new recruits from the AR and from among those Rabbits who had remained neutral thus far had also arrived at the Queen's court in exile. Those that came as skeptics, remained as true believers.

The other Rabbit leaders seated around the table were equally caught up in their general's enthusiasm and rose joining his toast. Unused to strong drink, and enjoying the festival like atmosphere, the Wolf warriors present, which included the recent arrival of Bear, howled their approval and emptied their goblets. Airy and Jak let their people express their unfettered enthusiasm. It built morale and strengthened the new and tenuous bonds between the long estranged races, but Esseff insisted on curbing their optimism.

"A fine analogy, General," said the Fox as he rose from his chair to attracting the gathering's attention.

"Let me expand upon it. Not only does the tide roll in carrying flotsam and jetsam, but it also recedes twice a day taking debris with it. Right now, that back and forth surge is happening across the border. Each rising tide brings us help, but it also sucks information back out when it ebbs. You are happy no doubt that the word of the Queen's return is causing your army to grow, but how long before word reaches the leaders of the Anti-Royalist forces? How long before they come to understand the potential threat at their back and come to squash it? Celebrations can wait until Airy rules in the Capitol. Time is our enemy. We must act quickly to grow our army, acquire a more secure base and develop the means to manufacture or acquire our own weapons and supplies. Further, we must develop an organization for acquiring information about our enemies and controlling what they learn about us."

Airy cleared her throat to stifle a response for Vaunortheses and addressed the entire assembly.

"Esseff is correct. Beginning today, we shall conclude the celebrations and get down to the business of bringing an end to this civil war."

The General, the other Rabbits, and the Wolves who had stood to make their toast sat back down, their high spirits only mildly dampened.

"Esseff, each of your concerns will be addressed, but there is a more important matter to conclude first. Sit down now, and wait your turn."

Chastised, Esseff obeyed Airy's command by re-taking his chair far from where the Queen sat at the head of a long table, which nearly filled the largest room of the lone stone building within the rebel's camp. Vaunortheses' base was a crude collection of tents and cabins surrounded by wooden palisades and earthen bulwarks. For nearly a year, it had been a quiet and efficient place, but Airy's arrival had turned it into a kicked open anthill. The resulting euphoria, hysteria and confusion was exacerbated by the intrusion of Jak and his Wolf warriors.

A bizarre mixture of celebration and feuding ensued. Strong drink that was normally forbidden became readily available from covert stashes. Its consumption was not discouraged by their leaders, so both Rabbits and Wolves drank excessively. As often as the two species drank toasts to their newly found friendship, they remembered their old hatreds and fought with each other.

Discipline and punishment could only do so much to stop the violence, so it became Tigan's job to begin changing attitudes and molding the troop's perceptions of the new order. Stories that simultaneously entertained while emphasizing the themes that they hoped would give both sides common cause to work together were the most effective. In them, she preached the divine mandate behind Airy and Jak's authority and the menace that Storfay posed to both peoples. The mystical effects that she was able to conjure with her ring lent an aura of power and truth to her words.

Cat also helped diffuse the rancor between the races, though that was not her intent. Whenever a fight broke out, she waded into the middle of it and beat the combatants senseless to stop the violence. Her ability to thrash several opponents at once without ever losing a fight earned her respect among both Rabbit soldiers and Wolf warriors. A contest soon arose to determine if anyone could best the Cat. Spontaneous fights that began as grievance matches evolved into organized bouts for the right to challenge the as yet undefeated feline. Being neither a Wolf nor a Rabbit, she gave the normally divided races a common foe to rally against.

Neither Cat nor Tigan could quell all brawls, but there were far fewer each day. Jak and Airy were pleased with the small steps their armies were making to become a cohesive fighting force. Since no one had yet been killed, Jak and Airy decided to leave well enough alone and began planning their campaign. Thus, while the raucous celebration continued to rage outside, they convened a special council meeting wherein Vaunortheses and Esseff had argued over the benefits and pitfalls of tides.

It was a war council unlike any seen before on this world. Every race except for Bear and Deer were represented. Included were Airy's traveling companions from the East, Esseff the Fox, leaders from among the Rabbits and Wolves, and the feral wolves that Isven had gifted to Jak.

Being a monarch of equal stature to the Rabbit Queen, Jak sat at the head of the table with Airy on his left and Ebusika at his right. The large, white wolf sat on her haunches, alert and listening as if understanding all that was said. Her largest pup, Thayir, lay on the floor beside Airy, seemingly asleep with his eyes closed and his shaggy gray chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. Pretending to sleep was a pretense. His white tipped ears turned to catch and track all of the sounds within the room as his tail swept across the floor rhythmically.

The rest of Ebusika's brood had been assigned as protectors to the other core members of Airy's inner circle: Skadei, the reddish brown female and youngest of the pups, to Tigan; Diaat, an all gray male, to Camorra; and Vetskap, a salt and pepper colored and spirited wolf female to Jorveth. The concept came from Esseff born from his concern that Airy and her closest companions were vulnerable to assassins and traitors. Each one of them possessed a unique skill, talent, or authority that was vital to the success of their cause, making them indispensible. Having a guardian that accompanied them everywhere helped Esseff sleep at night. The ferals took their duties seriously, never leaving their ward's side. All who approached their charges were inspected by a sensitive nose on a snout equipped with fangs and powerful jaws. No one escaped their scrutiny, not even the other important allies who had earned a place at Airy's table.

Camorra sat to Airy's immediate left with Jorveth next to her. Vaunortheses and his commanders were seated in order of rank down table from the Horse; Bear and four of his finest warriors sat opposite on Jak's right. Esseff and Tigan occupied the far end of the table, while Cat leaned against a wall refusing to sit. Her contemptuous gaze alternated between the meeting attendees and her assigned protector wolf, Bandrosett. The gray female with black tips on her ears and tail was the most cantankerous of the six ferals, growling at everyone who came near. That included Cat, who was certain that Esseff had saddled her with the beast out of spite for her continued rejection of his apologies and attentions. It proved to be an effective revenge, since Cat had been unable to outrun or lose the unwanted and bad-tempered creature.

"Before we discuss matters of security and strategy," continued Airy, "we must officially document and accept the terms under which Rabbits and Wolves will cooperate. A charter entailing the rules under which we shall all be legally and morally bound has been drafted for that purpose and approved by all of the parties present at this table."

Airy nodded to Camorra, who was waiting patiently in her chair beside the Queen. The importance of her task had earned her that seat. Camorra unfurled a large sheet of parchment paper covered in elegant script with two spaces at the bottom for the signatures of the two leaders.

Camorra had labored long and diligently on the wording of this agreement. It was to be the first of what she hoped would be many historic documents that would reshape their world. Olivia's book had provided her the background and guidance to craft the wording so that it would not only lay out the mechanics of an agreement, but also inspire those who would be bound by it to live up to its high ideals. After clearing her throat, she began to read.

"We, the children of the Makers, having been created in diverse and unique forms that have long divided us, do hereby recognize the gifts of our creation as a bounty that we all share. Among those gifts are our hearts, our minds, our families, and our common desire for peace, prosperity, freedom and equality. It is, therefore, with self-determination and deliberate action that we declare Rabbit and Wolf to be one people united in common purpose and cause. Together we are dedicated to forging an alliance wherein we pledge our lives, our honor and our industry to bringing forth from the current chaos of civil war and racial strife a common system of governance that holds at its core the unifying theme that all people regardless of kind are to be treated with equality, fairness and compassion under laws derived from their own minds and conscience.

"Until that harmonious time when the hostilities that divide Rikifur are ended and Queen Airiphryone rules as the recognized sovereign of that nation, this document shall serve as a mutually binding agreement of alliance between all Wolves of the West whom recognize White Paw as their Maker's chosen chief of all chiefs and all Rabbits who recognize Airiphryone as the true and rightful ruler of Rikifur as ordained and blessed by their Maker."

Camorra read the rest of the document. Details of command, sharing of resources, relations with other nations such as Feneval, and other sundry details were also enumerated in the text, but the true heart of the document had already been delivered. The foundation for a new order had been laid. The challenge before them was to create a stable peace to give a safe home and fertile ground in which the high ideals they had established could take root. The last sentence was their unifying promise to make it so.

"I, Queen Airiphryone, and I, Chief White Paw, do hereby commit ourselves and our peoples to this common endeavor."

A respectful silence followed as Camorra placed the document in front of Airy, who signed her name with flowing ease. Wolves did not have writing, but Camorra had patiently worked with Jak over the last two days to teach him to write his warrior name. He grasped the pen awkwardly in his paw. The resulting letters were spidery and uneven, but the name White Paw was clearly legible next to Airiphryone for all to see when Camorra held it high above her head.

A cheer erupted around the table. Vaunortheses nodded to a soldier standing guard at the door, who spoke briefly to someone on the other side. There was a short pause before a much louder cheer began outside magnifying exponentially as word of what had been done spread throughout the entire camp. Everyone in the room rose when Airy and Jak stood to go forth among their people.

As one, Rabbits and Wolves screamed and howled with renewed enthusiasm as their respective chief and queen were paraded among them in chairs on a litter. Camorra read the opening paragraphs of the charter repeatedly as they made their way through the throngs until the ears of everyone including the lowliest servants had heard it. The majority of those ears were tall, long, and belonged to Rabbits. Nearly a thousand had been present in the camp before the triumphant return of their princess now openly declared as queen. Wolves numbered slightly less, but more arrived every day. By the end of the week, they would likely outnumber their allies five to one.

The celebrations redoubled in intensity after the leaders returned to their council chambers. An expectation of further miracles gave them reason to rejoice. Soldiers and warriors knew that their leaders were meeting to devise a strategy to lead them to victory.

Strict secrecy was needed, so the number of participants in the crude stone structure that served as their headquarters was further reduced to include only Airy, Jak, Esseff, Bear, General Vaunortheses and his two next most senior officers, Rhynnayth and Theophthus.

Cat and Tigan were invited to stay, but they excused themselves to help maintain order outside. Jorveth left with Camorra to finalize preparations for an upcoming demonstration he was planning that would be critical to taking their first battle prize. Mislei was waiting for them at the Horse's makeshift shop to ensure that his work was kept just as secret as the meeting he was forgoing.

"Great fortune has brought White Paw and I here together as allies," began Airy. "We have the beginnings of an army, we have the only legitimate right to rule, and our numbers grow daily. We have much for which to be thankful, but we are vulnerable. Though we will likely number several thousand by the end of the week, the Anti-Royalists have tens of thousands of troops, even a fraction of which could easily overwhelm this makeshift camp where supplies are low, steel weapons are scarce, and the bulk of our burgeoning army is mostly untrained in the arts of war.

"Certainly, Wolves and Rabbits have never before fought on the same side in battle. We need to hammer both sides into a cohesive fighting corps before we can hope to challenge an enemy with seasoned troops. This base is not strong enough to repel the army that will soon challenge us, and we have no means to resupply our weapons and armor. We must correct these deficiencies quickly if we hope to survive."

Her words were dark and spoken grimly. Everyone understood their predicament, but no solution had yet been proffered. Rhynnayth gave voice to the concern that they all experienced.

"What hope do we have, my Queen? Even with the secret of steel and a growing army, we cannot manufacture weapons nor build a solid defense fast enough to do us any good. The AR have a massive and well-equipped army, a small fraction of which they can deploy here in under two weeks to crush us. We have only lasted this long because up until your return, we were not perceived as a threat to them. As the Fox has correctly stated, they will learn of your existence eventually no matter how hard we try to contain the spread of the news."

The young, but competent, golden furred major understood what the raucous crowd outside did not. Their lack of readiness was a serious deficiency. As a symbol of her authority but also of their supply problems, Airy still wore her old armor. It had been carefully polished and repaired as best as could be done with the tools they had, but no spare parts were available or could be made without a forge. Though Jorveth understood how to make steel from the knowledge in his book and from Esseff's successful espionage, practical weapons and armor production was at best months away.

Quick action was needed to secure a safer base for themselves and a supply of weapons. It was time for Airy to reveal the plan of battle that she, Jak, and Vaun had devised.

"All that you have said is true, but do not despair. The answer to our dilemma lies just across the river in Choesphan Castle."

Astonished, Theophthus coughed in disbelief. Having drawn Airy's attention to himself, Vaunortheses' cousin's ears twitched in embarrassment.

"I am sorry, your Majesty, but are you suggesting we attack River Keep?"

"I am."

Murmurs of shock raced around the table including Bear and his warriors who had never dared to assault to impregnable stone border fortress of the Rabbits.

"But, my Queen," pressed Theophthus. "The castle's walls are forty feet high and thirty feet thick. We have no siege engines for such an effort, and even if we constructed some, it would take time to wear down their defenses and force entry. On top of that, we would need many more trained troops and weapons that we lack. Taking the castle before the AR can send reinforcements is impossible."

Airy was deeply satisfied that Vaunortheses had surrounded himself with competent officers who were not afraid to voice their opinions. Those strengths would see them to victory if they could be married with the ability to adapt to new ideas and methods for waging war. Just how adaptable was her new army? It was time to see.

"Not impossible, Captain. Not anymore. I know this castle well, having spent time there when I was training to be a soldier and an officer. Due to its location near the border, its armory and storehouse have always been kept well stocked, though the garrison is small. Based on inside information, we know this is still true. If we can get inside with just a few hundred troops, we can overwhelm them. Once the keep is ours, we can move our army inside, arm them with the weapons therein, and then meet the AR as equals when they are forced to heal this breach at their back. Secrecy regarding my return will then be pointless. In fact, we will use my presence as a tool to encourage defections from our enemies and provoke a response from them. As more and more Wolf warriors join us and Rabbits defect to our cause, we will no longer require a defensive base. That is the moment when we will take the war to our enemies."

Still lacking the knowledge to imagine a means to get past the walls, Theophthus was compelled to press the issue.

"But the walls, your Highness. How?"

"The Horse, Jorveth, had developed a substance in Storfay that with some improvements will allow us to breach the wall quickly."

"What is this miracle substance?"

Airy grinned like a satisfied cat with a mouse in her claws knowing that despite her army's significant weaknesses, she had one certain advantage that she could exploit to turn her motley military into a force to be feared.

"The answer to that is ready to be revealed. Jorveth has a little demonstration ready for us right now. Prepare yourselves for yet another miracle."

As everyone rose to attend the demonstration, Vaunortheses put his paw on his cousin's shoulder to let him know he wasn't the only one who was ignorant of what Airy had planned.

"I hesitate to become too used to relying on miracles, but Maker knows we need as many as we can get."

The group of leaders gathered near the edge of camp, where a roughly mortared wall of stone had recently been constructed to mimic the dimensions of a portion of the wall that surrounded River Keep. Two Wolves stopped them from approaching any closer asserting that the site was very dangerous. Jorveth was thirty yards away, near the wall, and calmly giving orders to two groups of Wolves. One was finishing the structure by placing un-mortared stone on top to make it taller, and the other was hauling barrels to place in a low, arched tunnel that ran under the wall. It was not until everything was positioned exactly as Jorveth required that the Horse gave instructions to all but one of the dozen Wolves to move away from the wall and create a perimeter to keep the growing crowd of onlookers from coming too near.

Despite the secrecy, word had swept through the camp that something unusual was going to happen. Jorveth's Wolf helpers moved to take position in a large semi-circle beyond where the dignitaries stood. Cat patrolled the arc they formed with their bodies making sure that no one thought it would be fun to dash between the guards. Bandrosett dutifully trailed behind the feline growling at everyone to enforce further the sanctity of the boundary.

The Wolf who remained with Jorveth walked with a limp in her left leg and had a prominent white mark covering half of her face in stark contrast to the dark gray fur over the rest of her body. Jorveth and she conferred for several minutes before Patch, as the Wolf female was named, gave Jorveth the end of a long, coiled cord to hold while she unwound the rest as she walked towards the wall. She attached her end of the line to a bundle of similar cords that connected to the barrels under the stone edifice. When she was done, Patch returned, and she and Jorveth talked for a few moments longer before Jorveth noticed Airy and the others. He shouted for the two Wolf guards to escort the leaders behind a berm of earth that had been piled up about fifty yards from the wall.

Vaunortheses became irate that a Horse and some Wolves would dare tell him where he could and could not go in his own camp. He expressed his complaint to Airy.

"Who is this Horse and these Wolves to order a Queen around?"

Airy understood what was going to happen, sharing the secret with Jak and Jorveth.

"Be patient Vaun. They're following my orders. Jorveth has my authority to ask for whatever he needs for his work. When we enter his realm, he is sovereign and makes the rules. After you see the miracle, you will understand why."

"My apologies, my Queen. It is just that..."

"Just what, Vaun?"

Hesitating, Vaunortheses tried to think how to put his feelings into words.

"It's difficult, that's all. Difficult to be working so closely with Wolves, a Horse, a Cow, a Skunk, that perfidious Fox, and a Cat. To accept them as equals and part of our army, especially the Cat and Wolves, that goes against everything I was taught, everything I ever believed in besides you. To change so quickly is...well, it's hard. I can't help but wonder why you let these Wolves work with the Horse and learn his secrets but not Rabbits. How is that cooperation? Don't you trust your own people?"

Thinking back upon her own journey towards acceptance of the other races, Airy felt sympathy for the General's internal ordeal.

"I understand, Vaun, but I need you of all my subjects to be strong and radiate tolerance to the others. You're a respected leader. You kept the torch of hope alive when everyone else let it burn out. Now that you've been proven right, they worship you as much as they do me. They will follow your example. Many miracles have been produced and more are to come. We can use the novelty to bring about change. Tolerance is nearly as important to me as is ending this war. Besides, we can't win without it. You're smart enough to understand that even with miracles, we will be hard pressed to stop Storfay without the Wolves on our side."

"You are right, of course, but it will be difficult to overcome our differences. Consider the effect of Wolf females fighting in our army. Their habit of running about half-naked is damned distracting for my bucks."

Realizing that he was complaining again and not offering solutions, Vaun apologized.

"I am sorry again. I'll find a way to overcome that. I thank you for your confidence in me, my Queen, and please forgive my weakness."

"Tsh. There is nothing to forgive nor is there anything weak about you. I could not have asked the Maker to put a better Rabbit at my side during this crisis."

Airy took one of the tall Rabbit's paws in hers and looked up into his golden eyes.

"I stopped believing in destiny for a while. Then, when I saw my first Rabbit in two years and recognized it was you riding up to meet with White Paw on the hillock over the river, I was so grateful to the Maker for choosing you that I nearly ran into your arms."

Vaunortheses gazed back into Airy's eyes searching for any further meaning behind her words. Did she truly harbor affection for him beyond what any benevolent monarch would have for one her subjects? He was too uncertain and too afraid to probe further. Airy mistook his silence as further need of reassurance.

"You are too hard on yourself, Vaun. Consider this. I had over a year and ample help learning to accept the other races as equals. You are being forced to make that same journey much faster. I know you'll get there as long as you don't stop trying. Trust me, Vaun, but whatever you do, don't stop questioning my decisions. I need you to keep me honest. It's fair to wonder why we are using only Wolves as helpers for Jorveth, it was Esseff's suggestion, and it's a good one. Our enemies must not learn the secret of this substance's manufacture. This is more important than steel. We know we can't keep it secret forever, but Wolves are not welcome in Rikifur and won't mingle casually with our Rabbit enemies. That makes them far less likely to accidentally, or intentionally, divulge any of this to the wrong ears. Don't think that there are no traitors among us. Word of what we see here today will get to our enemies. This secret can't be kept quiet forever, but there is no point in giving the Priests or the AR any more information than that we have a weapon that they don't."

As Jorveth approached, Jak joined Airy and Vaun behind the berm of earth to watch the demonstration, and Vaunortheses was left with his unvoiced personal questions. The Horse gave Airy a quick salute in the Storfayan style. Perhaps he thought he was back working for the Juht again, maybe old habits died hard for him, or most likely, he just didn't know any better. It didn't matter to Airy. The inventor could act as strangely as he wanted as long as he produced results.

"All is ready, Airy...Princess...uhm...I mean my Queen."

During their travels together, Jorveth had always called Airy and Jak by their familiar names. It was confusing for him to understand everyone's sudden trivial obsession with titles now. However, Camorra told him it was important, so for her, he did his best to comply.

"This will be an enlightening experiment. The powder that I am using is a refinement of the formula I developed in Storfay. That mix flashed and made pretty colors and smoke, but it did not burn rapidly enough to create the gas pressures we need to move rock and break mortar. Because you demanded that we perform this test today, I did not have enough time to produce the amount of powder that I calculate we need to break the real wall. That is why the demonstration wall is smaller. The results of this test will allow me to scale up the quantity we need for the task. Because of the time constraints, I have not performed any advance tests to be certain what will happen today. Since you requested a dramatic show, I have erred on the side of too much rather than too little. Therefore, we must be safe and stay behind this berm of earth and keep the rest of the spectators beyond one hundred yards as indicated by the placement of my assistants."

This was the most that Vaunortheses, his subordinates and most of the rest of group had ever heard Joveth say, and it was with difficulty that they attempted to follow his words and his meaning. Thus, the general's attention wandered to the growing group of spectators standing just beyond the imaginary boundary defined by the grimly silent Wolves, the prowling Cat, and her angry wolf escort.

"This isn't going to be much of a secret with all of these people watching," observed Vaun.

Genuinely amused, Airy laughed aloud.

"There is no way to keep what is about to happen a secret, Vaun. You'll understand why in a moment."

Airy nodded to Jorveth, who in turn gestured to Patch, who lit a torch and set it against the end of the cord. Having been warned in advance by Jorveth, the Wolf dropped her torch once the fuse ignited and sprinted as best she could with her lame leg to the safety of the berm. Sparks and smoke snaked towards the wall.

"Everybody down, now, and you might want to cover your ears," commanded Airy.

Peepholes supported by wood timbers had been bored through the tall earth embankment. Everyone found their own viewport to peer through as the curiously flaming snake slithered towards the wall until it disappeared underneath. Less than a second later, a report louder than any thunder heard on earth roared from beneath the wall, which flung itself apart with ferocious violence. Broken rock was tossed everywhere. Several large pieces impacted against the berm, but none landed beyond the line of Wolves, who now had no need to hold back the onlookers. Jorveth's assistants barely flinched at the noise, but the Rabbits and Wolves they were blocking jumped back in alarm.

Absolute silence reigned as people and animals alike recovered during the aftermath of the blast. A cloud of yellow and gray smoke drifted slowly towards the earthen berm and the apprehensive gathering of spectators behind the shelter. The smell that accompanied it brought back unpleasant memories of the volcano to Airy and caused many in the audience to suspect the powers of the underworld had been unleashed.

A huge breach in the wall was revealed as the smoke dissipated. The implications of this weapon became instantly obvious, and what began as a tentative cheer soon erupted into a deafening roar of approval that rivaled the sound of the explosion. Even knowing in theory what to expect, the reality was so stunning that Airy found herself shouting along with the throng and sharing hugs of triumph in turn with Jak and Vaun.

[End of Chapter]