She was filled with a strange agitation. She warranted more consideration and observance until he was done with Leshil. So much complication arose from humans. The world was polluted with their chaos and frailty.

Most Aged Father was so weary he did not hear Frethfare's footfalls until she entered his private chamber in the great oak's heart-root. She bowed. As always, he was pleased by her presence.

Until she rose up with dark concern plain on her face.

"There is trouble with the humans," she said, settling upon one teal-dyed cushion of sheot'a cloth. "I do not believe Sgailsheilleache has firm control over them."

Her criticism of a fellow anmaglahk was disturbing. Most Aged Father valued all the Anmaglahk, but he took greater pride in a few, such as Freth-fare. Sgailsheilleache was another, with his fierce devotion to his people and his strict sense of justice. Most Aged Father had known from the first time he set eyes on Sgailsheillache that the boy was Anmaglahk. Barely thirteen years old,he was only two moons past his name taking when he submitted himself for acceptance to the caste. He showed no fear at the prospect of training.

Taking Frethfare as Covarleasa had been a choice of careful consideration, and Most Aged Father valued her counsel. But he still expected good reason for her words against Sgailsheilleache.

"One of the humans with Leshil-the small one-has gone missing," she said. "The majay-hi in their company has vanished as well. The human is believed to have gone into the forest, or so En’nish reported. Sgailsheilleache has gathered a hunting party to go after her, but he took Leshil and the pale woman with him. I have sent En’nish with two others to join them."

Most Aged Father could not speak. He tried to sit up and failed, and the effort cost him.

"How long?" he demanded.

"Sometime after nightfall.I am not certain."

He was too tired for this foolishness. Of all his children, Sgailsheilleache and Frethfare had done this.One unable to control the humans and the other compounding this new complication. En’nish, who grieved the loss of her future mate, was the last who should be given any purpose involving Leshil.

Most Aged Father had been concerned when Sgailsheilleache chose Urhkarasiferin to help escort Leshil. En’nish was under the elder anmaglahk's tutelage, and by caste law, the student always accompanied the teacher. Now that Urhkarasiferin had dismissed her, En’nish was best kept far from Leshil-until Most Aged Father was done with him.

"Father?" asked Frethfare. He had been silent too long.

"Do not speak," Most Aged Father admonished her. "The humans are devious beyond understanding. Give me a moment to seek anomalies in the thread of life."

He had so little strength left, but it was unavoidable. He closed his eyes, worming his awareness through the forest's roots in the earth and into brush and tree and flower wherever he passed.

Nothing came to him at first, and then he felt the majay-hi. A pack loped at a fast pace behind one of the Listeners, the great silver deer, sentinels of the forest. Outrage rose in Most Aged Father.

The little human woman rode upon the deer's back.

The pack traveled purposefully, on a steady course as they wove through the forest. He followed them, slipping ahead to tree or bush whenever they outdistanced the present place of his awareness. The line they ran began to seed him with fear.

How could they know of such a destination?

Among the pack was the one majay-hi who had entered his home with Leshil.

Most Aged Father's eyes snapped open, and he tried to sit up.

"North," he cried out. "Catch Sgailsheilleache and his charges at all costs. You will turn them back!Now!"

Frethfare spun up to her feet, startled by his tone.

Clan elders had been arriving for several days. Talk and rumor suggested they questioned his wisdom in allowing humans into the land for the first time. He could not let word of this wayward human's actions reach them as well.

And he could not allow any to reach the place they were headed.

"Go!" he cried out, his voice scratching the air. "None of them must reach Cuirin'nen'a's glade."

Sgaile burned with shame as he led the others through the trees. The fault was his alone.

He would never blame another serving under him-not even the naпve and immature Osha. It had beenhis own choice to assign the young elf as watchguard.

Osha had come later to service than most Anmaglahk, and in the following five years, the young man had failed to attract the tutelage of a teacher among their caste. He remained a novice of only basic skills. Still, Osha wished to be of service, and Sgaile empathized with a desire that would not yield to any obstacle.

He had left Osha to watch over Leshil's quarters, and that decision resulted in the worst night of his life. En’nish had been sent by Frethfare before Sgaile could resolve the crisis-which meant Most Aged Father knew everything.

It took no great feat of intelligence to guess how word had reached Most Aged Father. En’nish must have been watching and waiting for an opportunity.

Sgaile grew sick to his stomach as they broke into a clearing where a large boulder protruded from a hillside. Halfway beyond the boulder's ledge top, Urhkarasiferin crouched upon the slope of thinly leafed elms.

"A pack was here," Brot'an'duive said, and Sgaile followed his gaze to the soft ground covered in paw prints. "And someone with small, human feet."

"Wynn?" Leshil asked.

Magiere stepped beyond Sgaile, pacing the ground with deep breaths.

"No blood," she said.

Sgaile was relieved, and then suspicious. Perhaps Chap had kept Wynn safe. But how, in the dark, had Magiere known no blood was spilled here? Leshil also watched her with wary concern. En’nish hung back by the tree with her companions.

"Come," Sgaile said, and headed upslope. As he approached Urhkarasiferin, the elder anmaglahk pointed through the elms to the northeast.

"At least seven… maybe eight majay-hi," he said."Along with the woman… all making speed."

"And following a clhuassas" Brot'an'duive added.

"What is that?" Magiere asked.

"One of the large silver-gray deer you have seen," Sgaile answered, and said no more. Theless humans knew of such things, the better.

Leesil knelt down by the split hoof prints, larger than any deer-sign in human lands.

Sgaile rarely saw even subtle distress in Urhkarasiferin's passive expression. But the man tightened his lips with a slight scowl and breathed sharply out through his nose.

"North by northeast," he said.

Brot'an'duive already stared off through the trees along the path the pack had taken.

"What's out there," Leshil asked, "and why would Chap or Wynn try to follow them?"

"They are not following," Brot'an'duive corrected. "They are traveling with the pack… being taken… to Cuirin'nen'a."

Such a blunt statement stunned Sgaile. But if Leshil came with them, he needed to know the truth of the situation. It was only right and fair to prepare him, as the shock could cause discord later.

Leshil rose quickly from the deer tracks, his eyes on the path ahead. He took off down the trail.

"No," Brot'an'duive shouted, grabbing for Leshil.

Magiere slapped Brot'an's hand aside with a menacing glare and followed in Leshil's footsteps.

Sgaile was at a loss. He could not allow anyone near Cuirin'nen'a, though he understood why Brot'an'duive had told Leshil where the pack headed.

He hoped they could catch the human woman before she and Chap reached Cuirin'nen'a.

It would be hard to turn Leshil aside, and harder still if he were in reach of his mother.

At least Brot'an'duive was with them-and that was some comfort. Sgaile would need his wisdom and calm counsel.