> The world went black for Falcon. Never before had she traveled by > another > means. She stumbled briefly, catching herself; a dagger dropped from > inside > her shirt. Falcon reached for it, but the Enforcer got to it first.

> "What’s > this?" she asked looking at the strange blade with an even stranger > hilt. A > wolf’s head with red eyes? Falcon held out her hand and waited for > the blade > to be returned to her.

> "Hurry up you two what’s taking so long?" Eri’s annoyed voice rang > through > the portal forcing the Enforcer and Falcon along. Olympia handed > Falcon her > blade and walked towards the light of the portal. Falcon slipped her > weapon > back into its hiding place and exited the portal closely behind the > Enforcer. This trip would be interesting she mused to herself, but > she was > also sure the Queen had more in mind than maybe either she or the > Enforcer > could guess.

> "We’ll divide into two smaller groups here; our original ones. My > group will > find us reasonable horses to travel on; while the Enforcer and Falc > should > scout out some rooms we can use for a few nights. They should be low > key and > as out of sight as possible. No matter what we must accomplish > during the > day I want these rooms to remain our meeting place when the sun > sets. Vorpax > has told me that the Shadow Priests travel mostly at night, and it > is then > that I want us to stay together."

> The five warriors rose and began making their ways towards different > entrances of the village. Falcon walked on ahead while Matt and Eri > descended a steep slope to make route to the village from an > opposite > direction. Cyan took Olympia by the arm as the Enforcer began to follow > Falcon towards town.

"You may not trust her Olympia; but I know you > trust > me. She is one of us; no matter her past." Cyan descended the slope > quickly > catching up with her niece and Matt.

The Enforcer picked up her own > pace in > pursuit of her new warrior companion. She thought of the blade she’d > seen > inside the portal, "I hope you’re right Cyan. For this one will > either be > very valuable, or very dangerous." She stopped for a moment and > glanced over > to her best friend the Queen and then resumed her step. "At least > for we > mortals that is."

> The Enforcer quickened her pace and walked beside Falcon.

> "OK now we have to find rooms for all of us; hopefully next to each > other." > the Enforcer said.

> Falcon only nodded.

> "She is way to quiet." The Enforcer mused.

> As they reached the edge of the village, Falcon stopped. "They have a > tavern > and it has rooms. Tell the keeper you want private rooms in the > back. If he > argues give him this." Falcon hands the Enforcer a small pouch of > coins. > As she turned the Enforcer grabbed the healer's arm. "I want an > explanation."

> ‘We have a job to do Enforcer; I intend to see that it’s done. Now > we can > either work together or part; the choice is yours."

> Falcon strode off in the direction of the village. "I will do what > ever must > be done, I only hope you see that my friend." Falcon thinks to > herself. "I hope you see."

"That’s outrageous! You must be crazy!" Matt yelled.

Eri nudged Mad > Matt in > the arm and mumbled under her breath. "That’s the way to keep a low > profile > Matt. Good going. We’re suppose to be simple villagers remember? > What are > you gonna do next, run him through with your low profile sword?"

> Matt turned his head slowly and growled at Eri in such a deep voice > he was > barely audible to any but her. "No, but I might just run you through > if you > don’t shut up."

> "That’s my last offer stranger. Horses are not easy to come by, especially > ones as fine as these two."

Matt and Eri glanced over at the two > horses that > the stablehand was referring too. Neither one of them looked like > they would > make it through a lay-away plan; let alone a week’s worth or riding. > The > villager was right though, there didn’t seem to be many available > horses, > and if Cyan didn’t find ones slightly better off than these walking > dead, > they would most likely have to come back.

> Eri shook the man’s hand gently. "Thank you for your time kind sir, > but I’m

> afraid we can not due right by the price you are asking." Before > Matt could > speak Eri had whirled him away and down the streets of the village.

> "Come > on" she said quietly, "Let’s find the Que... ah, Cyan, and see if > she’s had > better luck. If not, we’ll come back later and make a deal."

"For those two nags?" Matt cried in astonishment. "What are we going > to do > take turns carrying them?"

Eri didn’t acknowledge Matt with an > answer, but > she certainly agreed with him. She quietly prayed to the gods that > her aunt > had been able to do better than they had.

===============================

The Enforcer and Falcon entered the town and located the only tavern. Falcon went to check the stables behind the inn, to prepare for any horses that might be found. The Enforce went inside. The Inn was dark and quiet it was well past noon so any people there were just interested in a meal.

She caught the eye of the keeper and inquired about the rooms requested. after a bit of haggling and the pouch of coins from Falcon she got two rooms with a connecting door. Taking her bag and things, she followed the young boy to the rooms.

"The evening meal will be ready in a few hours, if you like I can get you something…." The Enforcer smiled and placed her hand on the boy's shoulder in a friendly gesture. The boy winced but said nothing. The Enforcer frowned and looked again. The boy was thin and pale. She crouched down and looked into his big brown eyes. "What is you name lad?" "Nicholas." was the shy reply. The Enforcer started to brush the shirt collar aside; the boy pulled back but not before the Enforcer saw the bruising on his skin.

"Fall off a horse son?" she asked softly.

"Yes, ma'am." The boy looked down refusing to meet the Enforcers eyes. She stood and removed a coin from her belt; lifting the small face to look at hers. "If you need help you just call. My name is Olympia."

The boy took the coin and with a mumbled thank you ran from the room. "Low profile. Hmmmm… I wonder if beating on the one who has been hitting that boy counts as low profile?" The Enforcer checked the room and went down to await the arrival of the Queen and her party.

Falcon entered the stables. Looking around she located the stable boy and instructed him to find the blacksmith; giving him a coin for his troubles. She went up into the loft and as far into the back as possible. Under a mound of hay she removed a leather bag. Pulling garments of black cloth and leather she dressed in the clothing of what she was; a killer.

The Enforcer tried to sit patiently and wait for the rest of the party and Falcon. "Where in Hades is she?" The Enforcer muttered. Armed men began to filter in, the Enforcer knew that soon the drinking would have many of them acting careless. " Good I need a good work out."

A dark cloaked figure entered and sat in the far corner, The cloak’s hood hid the face, but something about the figure seemed familiar. But what was it?

Quickly the tavern filled with farmers, townsmen, and more than a few mercenaries. The Enforcer looked up from her cup and saw a very tired looking Queen and her parties enter. She hurried to meet her.

"Is Falcon with you?" she asked.

Suddenly there was a crash and an angry shout; the sound of flesh hitting flesh and the cry of a boy. Turning, the Enforcer saw the boy Nicolas on the floor; beneath the table of the dark figure. A very large and very drunk fighter staggered over and reached for the whimpering child. Cyan restrained the Enforcer; watching to see just what would happen. She had already decided that if the boy was struck again, low profile or not, the man would die.

"Leave the boy alone." The cloaked figure growled.

The drunken man leaned both hands on the dark figures table. "And what are you gonna do if I don’t?"

In a flash a wolf’s head dagger plunged through the man's left hand pinning it to the table. A sword at his throat; the man crumpled to the floor, still unable to move his hand. The dark hood had fallen back and a pair of blue eyes blazed cold ice . "You always were stupid, and I told you one day I’d kill you."

"Wolf." the man whimpered. I didn’t know it was you."

"I think we just found our missing Falcon." Cyan said softly. The Queen singled, and Matt and Eri stood where they were. The Enforcer however was a different story, and it was she Cyan had to hold her. "That traitorous..."

"No Olympia, I don’t think so. Just wait." The last was more of a command than a statement and the Enforcer stood firm.

Without looking away from the whimpering man, Falcon spoke softly to the boy who had crawled behind her, and was balled up into the corner.

"You alright boy?"

"Yes ma'am."

"My room ready?"

"Yes ma'am."

Pulling the dagger from the man's hand, Falcon kicked him to the floor. She pointed to a set of leather saddle bags. "Get the bags and lead the way."

Looking at the tavern owner, Falcon rose as she spoke. "I will have my meal in my room; the boy will bring it. Oh, and get rid of that." she pointed in contempt at the man on the floor cradling his near useless hand.

"Yes Wolf" was the reply.

The boy began to lead Falcon towards the stairs. She stopped for a moment and met the Queen's eyes. An almost imperceptible nod of the head towards the stairs was answered in kind by Cyan.

Falcon's face showed no emotion and she looked as if there were no recognition of Cyan and her party. She turned and mounted the steps to the rooms above.

"Why that..." The Enforcer began.

Cyan held up her hand for silence, and all were quiet. "Olympia we have rooms?"

The Enforcer nodded.

"Good take us to them."

Once in the rooms, they opened the connecting door and all assembled in the larger of the two. Cyan sat in a chair by the fire and listened while her Amazons argued and complained about the apparent betrayal of Falcon.

After a while the Queen heard the sound she had been waiting for. "Everyone be quiet." she said. "Olympia sit down, and don't any of you move."

Confused, they all obeyed. "No one, for the next few minutes is to move. And for any wondering, that is a royal command."

Matt, Eri, and the Enforcer sat and waited.

"Are you still my Amazon?" Cyan seemed to speak to the air.

A dark form moved from the shadows and knelt before the Queen; presenting the hilt of a Wolf’s head dagger with red eyes.

Pulling the hood back, sad blue eyes looked into the Queen's.

"If you doubt me my Queen, then let me now die by your hand."

The others, especially the Enforcer, were amazed they had not even heard Falcon enter the room. Each of them sat quietly, waiting to hear the Queen's words; which they were sure would end their earlier dispute instantly.

"I seem to have several warriors that struggle with the understanding of what the words 'low profile' actually mean."

Cyan glanced at Matt and Eri; subtly letting them know that she had heard about the earlier incident. Then her eyes met Olympia's; who only looked downwards, acknowledging her sudden outburst in the tavern which might have been avoided. Finally the Queen looked at Falcon, who only continued to stare down at the floor with eyes void of emotion; at least at first glance.

"I do not doubt you Falcon, but I am reminded that you may still doubt yourself. I will ask you again. Are you still my Amazon?"

The silence was deafening as each of the warriors awaited Falcon's response; including herself.

"It seems I am still many things my Queen, but yes, I am your Amazon before all else."

The Queen shook her head slowly from side to side and rose from her chair. "I guess I have brought a more volatile group of spies with me than I had originally thought."

Cyan turned, and much to the surprise of all in the room, she was smiling broadly. "I think I should not have it any other way."

The warriors began to smile in turn, even Falcon who had not felt a smile come to her face in far too long.

"We have much to talk about, so let's get it all out on the table right now. Falcon, you have a past that is very secretive, even to you. My only request is that as it is revealed to you, you in turn share it with me. I do not disagree with what you did to protect that boy in the tavern, but I do object to your secrecy. If you would have us to trust you, than I must ask you to trust us in return."

"Yes my Queen."

"And please, get up off the floor and have a seat with the others. Between your kneeling and Saran's riddles, I feel I have cornered the market on headaches."

Falcon took a seat next to the others, glancing only for an instant at the Enforcer's face. It seemed to Falcon that the Queen's words had done what she believed Cyan had intended them to do. Each of the warriors were focused on their own actions and not that of the other. For this, the healer was extremely grateful.

"I need to go again into the village tomorrow and look for horses. As I'm sure you have heard; Eri, Matt and I were not as successful in finding the horses as we had hoped. Olympia, you and Falcon will mingle in the village tomorrow looking for signs that Kahn's men or the Shadow Priests have been here."

"And how exactly are we to blend in Cyan, if 'Wolf' here has already blown her cover?"

"A very good question Olympia." Cyan smiled with great pleasure, "One that I am sure you and Falcon will be able to work out if you put your minds together to find a solution."

The Enforcer rolled her eyes and slumped way down in her seat; while Falcon turned her attention back towards the floor. Cyan shot a quick and decisive look at her niece and Matt to ensure no laughter would come from either one of them.

"We also seem to have bigger things to look into as well." Cyan continued, "Perhaps our difficulty in finding horses is a means to slow us down for yet another part of our destiny to take shape."

Each of the warriors looked at Cyan with a bit of confusion; all except the Enforcer, who slowly began to smile. The Queen had sensed it as well.

"I'm not sure what form of birth control this village may be using, but I have done the math over the last hours and something does not add up here. I have seen at least two or three hundred villagers, but yet only a handful of children; who in turn seem more like kept slaves or servants than children of passion. Kahn is my first concern, but I cannot overlook the fact that we are also suppose to be the protectors of those who cannot protect themselves."

The Amazons all nodded as they thought back over the last hours and their wanderings through the village.

"Let's all get some sleep, and start first thing in the morning. Falcon, perhaps you would like first watch?" The Queen nodded towards the healer knowingly. Falcon was not yet ready to turn in for the night, but her keeping watch would ensure the Queen that she was not off wandering about.

"Of course my Queen." Falcon answered with genuine thanks, but a bit of surprise that the Queen was able to sense as much as she did. She had watched the Queen since first coming to the Island, and suspected that Cyan had far more powers than she was letting on.

All of the warriors, including the Queen retired to their respective rooms. Falcon settled into a chair by a small window in the Queen's room and alternated her watch between the sleeping Queen and her niece, and that of the darkened streets of the village. There was still an unsettled restlessness within her, but as she glanced at the Queen it seemed to subside a bit. Perhaps one day she really would feel completely at peace with her Amazon identity, reconciling her past with that of her future. Falcon mused looking out across the village. What was it that the Queen had said that night when she had met her would be assassin? Falcon smiled; she remembered now.

"Our destinies belong to no one but ourselves Falcon, and at any time we have the ability to change them. We cannot undo the past, but we can always change our future. That choice; is only up to you."

Falcon looked at the Queen and Eri once again. Part of her felt nothing; while another felt that burning desire to believe all that the Queen had told her. Whatever her past, she wanted her future to be with the Island.

The moon passed from behind the clouds and the village was bathed in silver light; making all appear in shades of gray. Drunkin' laughter came from downstairs, but Falcon seemed not to hear it. Her attention was drawn to the movements of dark figures heading for a building that was only supposed to house stores of grain. Keeping in the shadows of the window, Falcon was torn, between her desire to investigate, and her duty to see to the safety of her Tribe. "Tribe " the word invoked warm feelings. Like those she felt long ago holding her child; laughing with her sister, or living in the village before it was destroyed.

The figures seemed to move like dark water, flowing over rocks, like ............. shadows.

"Shadow Priests." Cyan's voice came in a whisper next to Falcon. She had heard Falcon's breathing catch and watched as she moved silently through the darkness in the room. "Well my Queen, you wanted to know of their movements. What say your bodyguard and I investigate? I would rather go alone, but...."

Cyan smiled mischievously, "What say just you and I go investigate Falcon, and leave the safety of the others with Olympia."

Much to Falcon's surprise, the Queen had already sheathed her sword and had jumped through the window of their room and dropped onto the darkened streets below. Cyan looked up at the window, and Falcon's somewhat stunned face.

"Well, are you coming or not?"

Falcon flipped effortlessly through the window and landed silently alongside the Queen.

Cyan smiled and touched the healer's shoulder, "About time assassin, I thought you were going to keep me waiting all night." The Queen motioned for Falcon to move in the direction Kahn's priests had gone. The two warriors slipped out of sight leaving the other sleeping Amazons to their dreams.

Like death, the two warriors slid through the shadows till they came near the building that the Shadow Priests had entered. Falcon gestured that Cyan and she need to go up. Cyan looked puzzled for a moment till Falcon pulled a small hook and narrow rope from somewhere on her person. With a flick of the wrist the hook and line flew into the air. A sound like an owl landing on a mouse was heard and the hook held.

"Like tree climbing." Falcon said. Then with a half smile and a bow, up the narrow line she went, hand over hand. Cyan held the rope till it slacked; indicating Falcon had arrived at the top and was off of the line. Cyan followed Falcon up the line. As she neared the top she saw an open storage door and the sound of a grunt followed by a soft thump. Swinging into the loft the Queen saw a body laying in the hay.

"He is still alive My Queen." Falcon's voice came out of the darkness. "Where are you?" Cyan asked.

"At your back, and at your service my Queen."

Cyan spun around to look, but the loft was dark. A moment later the darkness began to take shape and Falcon moved to a trap door in the floor. She gestured the Queen closer and as she lifted the door they could hear voices below; angry voices.

Eri's eyes slowly blinked open and began to adjust to the darkness of the room around her. She couldn't remember why she had roused from her sleep; just that something felt wrong.

"Cyan?" She whispered. No answer. She rolled on to her side and saw that Cyan's side of the bed was empty. The last of the fires embers were burning out. Where had her aunt gone? Perhaps she had tried to contact the Island to see what was happening with the clones? They had not heard from Larc in quite a while, and Cyan had been clear about wanting to be kept informed.

No, Eri thought. Her aunt would have left someone watching over Eri if she had planned to leave. One thing Eri could always count on, was her aunt's over-protectiveness. Speaking of which, where was the healer?

"Falcon?" Eri called. Again; no response.

Eri climbed out of bed and threw on heavier clothes; strapping her sheath and weapons to her body. She made her way to the adjoining door and saw the other two warriors soundly asleep by the fire. Turning she noticed the before unopened window.

"Now how did that get opened?" Eri walked towards the window and peered into the night. Off in the distance she could see two figures on the roof of another building near the end of town. Down below in the streets of the village she could see numerous shapes making their way towards that same place.

"Shadow Priests." She whispered. Eri glanced at the empty bed, and then to the other room. "Low profile" she muttered. "Remember, a low profile."

Eri flipped out the window and into the night.

Why had the Queen not reported to the Island Larc wondered? Larc continued to pace back and forth across the floor of the java hut. Ashana once again tried to get her friend to take a seat.

"Relax Larc. The clones are safe, just as the Queen requested. There's nothing to be concerned about."

"I would feel much better if at least the Queen or Saran would let us know where they are. The Princess's are breathing down my neck, and I have round the clock guards on Marissa. The poor child is getting a bit nervous with all the additional attention."

Larc finally took a seat at the table where Ashana had patiently waited for her friend to join her. "I know, I know" Larc said, putting up her hand to let Ashana know she did not have to repeat herself again. "Relax, they're fine."

The two warriors stared out into the night, watching the shadows the moonlight cast from the trees.