"Here, come and look at what I found out in the dark." the armed man said laughing while holding a frightened Nikolas by the neck. The boy struggled in vain to get away. Suddenly a small metal object fell from the boy's tunic.

"What’s this?" The man picked up the dagger that the pretty lady had given him. With a cry of rage, loud in one so small, Nikolas hurled himself at the man in an attempt to take back his gift. The man swatted Nikolas aside like an annoying fly; landing the boy in a heap on the floor.

"Care to try that with someone a little bigger?" The Enforcer stepped into the main room; she had seen more than enough. She walked up to the large bully, backhanding him forcefully. The offender flew through the air much like the boy had, and into a wall.

Olympia crouched next to the boy who was clutching the dagger to his chest. "Are you ok?"

The look of panic in his eyes signaled her to action. Dropping to her hands she kicked backwards with both feet, driving her attacker back into a table and over its top.

The enraged bully got up, roaring something about tearing the woman apart. As he charged, the Enforcer stood and did a spin kick to the man's head, once again sending him flying.

One of the Wolf pack walked over to Matt who was calmly observing the whole scene. "Your sister does well for herself."

"My wha......., oh yeah, sister." He smirked just thinking about the reaction he would get from ‘sis’ later on. "She takes after dad."

"Interested in a few extra dinars??" the man asked.

"Who do I have to kill?" Matt grinned as he pulled his dagger and feigned interest in the blade.

A loud roar caught his attention as he watched the bully charge the Enforcer. He didn't have far to go before a fist to his jaw dropped him to the ground, out cold. Matt sauntered over to the Enforcer and slapped her on the shoulder.

"Well done Sis; Dad would be so proud."

Olympia turned and looked at Matt like he had suddenly grown a second head. Before she could reply, a voice carried over the room.

"Boy, where have you been?" Falcon, who was all Wolf, stood in the doorway.

Nikolas ran to stand before the Dark Wolf in apparent terror. "Mistress I just..."

Falcon shoved the boy towards the stairs. "Go to the room, I will deal with you later. "

Nikolas ran up the stairs still clutching his gift.

"Wolf," the Innkeeper called, "I need the boy to be able to work."

Falcon walked to the bar and dropped a gold coin to its surface. The Innkeeper picked it up, examined it, and smiled. "Done." he said as he put the coin into his belt pouch.

"Wait a minute." Olympia said as she moved to the Keeper. "You just can’t sell the kid like some ---- some---- sack of grain."

"It’s done." The keeper turned and walked away.

Falcon turned and saw the bully in a heap on the floor. Turning a questioning look towards one of her pack she waited.

"Um, he smacked the boy. And this one," he pointed towards Olympia, "did him nice and quick."

Falcon looked at the Enforcer then tossed a coin to the floor at her feet. She turned and started to walk away.

"Where are my friends?" Olympia called to the retreating form.

Falcon stopped and turned. "If you have lost your friends, that is your concern."

"I saw them go into the stable, and then later I see you leave. You were the last to see them."

"And I will be the last thing you see if you detain me." Falcon turned and took the stairs to the rooms above.

Matt grabbed the Enforcer's arm to stop her from following. "Don’t do it .... Sis."

"Why in the name of all that is holy….." The Enforcer growled, "do you keep……."

The man who had been standing with Matt interrupted her before she could finish. "You and your brother could come work for Wolf ya know. She could use a good fighter like you."

Falcon hurried to her room. Entering, she saw Nikolas standing in the middle of the floor trembling.

Falcon knelt before the boy and held out her hand. Nikolas placed the small dagger into her palm. Falcon examined it and smiled for a moment.

"Nikolas I have to ask you some questions and you must answer me in all honesty."

Nikolas nodded.

"I serve a Queen, and would gladly give all for her. Can you do the same?"

"The pretty lady?" Nikolas asked, and then nodded.

"Nikolas I want you to do something. I will need you to scream like I’m beating you."

Nikolas paled.

"Look we need to make sure that your absence has an excuse. I will use this to say that you are recovering from the beating and are not to leave the room." Falcon sighed and looked deep into the boy's eyes. "I will have to leave a bruise on your face in case someone sees you."

Nikolas stood up, straight and strong. "Yes Mistress." Nikolas said with only a small tremor in his voice.

Falcon’s hand snapped out and Nikolas fell to the floor, knocking over a chair. A trickle of blood came from his lip. Falcon pulled the boy into her arms. "I’m so sorry son." she crooned, and for a moment it is the healer that cradles the small body. Nikolas is stunned, she called him son, not boy, but son.

Falcon lifted the boy and set him on the sleeping pallet. "You scream like I’m half killing you, and I’m going make it sound like I am."

The terrified scream of a child rang from above, followed by a crash. The Enforcer ran up the stairs, a cry of rage on her lips.

The Queen was not sleeping well. Visions of the chained children had begun to invade her dreams and restful sleep had not come for many hours. Morpheus had never had the power to hold her, but these dreams had held her so deeply that she could actually feel the true depth of her emotions. The Queen continued to drift deeper into the darkness of sleep……

Cyan woke in a sweat, looking in horror at the ground in front of her. It took her another several seconds to realize that Eri was still lying peacefully alongside her, and that it had been nothing more than a dream. The Queen began to control her ragged breathing and moved slowly from the cave's floor so as not to disturb her niece. She walked out the entrance of the cave and watched the sun begin to peek its head over the horizon. The Queen shivered from the morning cold colliding with her sweat, and she wrapped her arms tightly around her. Luckily the visions had faded almost the instant she had woken, but the feelings, the emotions…… Cyan looked back at her niece and breathed a sigh of relief. In time she hoped they would fade as well.

"You had time to get coffee for us?" Eri asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Actually, I cheated a bit. I needed to check in with Larc and Ashana and I asked them to bring some with them to the portal entrance. I figured there would be no point in the both of us being grouchy." Cyan smiled and hugged her niece once again.

Eri rolled her eyes as her body squished together from her aunt's hug. "Yah, well what did they put in it? Princess Eponie sweetener or something?"

"Hey, can't an aunt have a couple of mushy, sentimental moments with the most important person in her life?"

"You?" Eri said with moderate sarcasm as she placed a hand on Cyan's forehead as if checking for a fever.

"Alright, enough." Cyan said, standing up and pulling Eri to her feet. "Pack the stuff. We'll get the children now and should be at the caves by mid-afternoon. Poseidon is expecting you." The Queen slid both her leg daggers back into her boots and handed Eri one of her many swords.

"I had them bring this too." She said with a smile.

"Okay, now I recognize you. All that mush threw me off for a minute. I didn't realize it…….."

"I'm not listening Eri……." The Queen grabbed a torch and headed into the passageway that led to the children. She had placed a finger in both ears and was humming quietly. Eri began to laugh as she slid her sword into its sheath and followed her aunt deeper into the cave.

The Enforcer burst into Falcon’s room. "Keep your hands off the boy!"

Nikolas got between the Enforcer and Falcon. "She did not hurt me."

"She knows that Nikolas." Turning the boy to face her, she began to explain. "You do not have to worry about her, she also serves the Queen." Falcon got on her knees before the boy and put her hands on his shoulders. "Nikolas remember how the pretty lady pretended to be dead?"

"Yes." Came the reply.

"Well, we are going to pretend that I killed my friend here." Falcon began to explain to Nikolas what was going to happen.

Nikolas went to sit on the pallet again, to stay out of the way as Falcon and the Enforcer began to shout and bang furniture around. Hearing feet running towards the room, Falcon quickly gave the Enforcer the same drug that had simulated the Queen's death. Just moments before the drug took affect; Falcon spoke quickly. "If something happens to me, take care of Nikolas as you would your own." Falcon’s eyes were full of her caring for the boy.

"I will." Olympia replied. The two warriors had finally agreed on common bond outside of their Queen; a boy they were each learning to love.

The sound of bodies, and cries of rage, rang from the rooms above the tavern; much to the amusement of the pack.

"Well, it looks like you sister went after the wrong one this time." The pack's laughter followed Matt as he headed up to the room above.

"Matt, get in here quickly; she'll be out for only two hours. I gave her just half the dose I gave the Queen, so once you get her settled in the stables put this powder under her tongue; it will bring her around sooner. I need you to get Nikolas and the saddlebags. Then take the two war horses from the back of the stables, and the three of you go to the Queen. Nikolas can show you the way and the Queen will tell you what to do when you find her."

"GET YOUR SISTER OUT OF HERE FOOL, OR SHARE HER FATE!!!" Falcon’s voice rang out as two of the pack came into the room.

"Dogs, help the fool take the carcass away. Mind you, be careful, she fought well. Put her in the stables till he can arrange to bury her."

The men were quick to obey.

The still form of the Enforcer was placed in the back of the stables on a pile of straw. The men left a grieving Matt with his ‘sister’. When Matt was sure they were gone he put the powder under the Enforcer's tongue. A moment the stimulant began to work, and the "dead warrior" jerked up.

"By the Gods, that was the strangest feeling." She looked at Matt and smile came to her eyes. "Let's get things ready; I’ll go get Nikolas."

In less than a candle mark Matt on one war horse, and Olympia and Nikolas on the other were riding along a hidden trail to meet with the Queen.

Eri and Cyan had reached the caves on the Ocean's edge shortly after the sun had reached its peak. Both Amazons had been amazed at the strength and speed that the children had been willing to walk at, making far better time then they had hoped. Cyan had been concerned that their lack of care while being kept in the caves would slow them down considerably, but instead their renewed sense of impending freedom seemed to have filled each one of them with some hope.

Poseidon and Nautica were waiting by the water's edge when the last of the group arrived. Eri introduced Nautica as a friend and the two set about getting the children settled inside while Cyan walked over to talk with Poseidon. One curious boy stood by the entrance wondering whom the warrior women was talking to, until a laughing Nautica came over to take him away.

"I didn't know Kahn's priest had been busy taking the children of Earth Realm Cyan, we would never have allowed it."

"I'm not blaming you Poseidon. The priests have no interest in taking the children to OutWorld for Kahn; I suspect they are only looking for Eri."

"Eri?" Poseidon said, somewhat surprised; then nodding his head in understanding. "He hopes to flush you out by taking your niece." Cyan nodded.

"I need to go back to the village where these children were taken from. Once I have settled things there, I will send for the children. I want Nautica to bring them, and she should be dressed as a common villager."

"And what about Eri? Do you want me to hide her until Kahn's priests are gone?"

Cyan laughed. "Do you really think I would be able to persuade my niece to stay behind, especially in the care of a god?" Poseidon did not see the humor in the statement, and Cyan quickly dropped it and returned to the plan.

"I will send two of my warriors" Cyan stopped and thought a moment and began to smile, "and I suspect a boy, to come and meet with Eri. They will all be returning to the Island before nightfall. If anyone comes for them saying or doing differently Poseidon, I need you to interfere and take them to the water's depth. Will you do this for me?"

Poseidon sighed, as he stared at his child. "Have I ever denied you a request Cyan, that you continue to ask as if I have no reason to care?"

"The last thing I want to do is get into a debate over my bloodlines water god; and if its what you require, then I will do this on my own. Now, will….."

Poseidon interrupted Cyan before she could finish. "I don't need a battle with you either Cyan, and trust me, I sometimes wonder if that temper of yours is not from Ares himself!" Poseidon rose to his full height and bellowed down at the Queen. "I will do as you asked Cyan, but I warn you; I have given you more than enough freedom to live your life as you please, but I will not stand for your insults any more."

The god prepared to leave, but not before Cyan caught his ear. "Poseidon; you're right, and I'm sorry. You have always done what you could to stay out of my battles and I should not treat you as I do." Cyan smiled as she prepared to walk away. "If I had been given a choice of just one father Poseidon; it would have been you."

Eri and Nautica had been leaving the cave just as her aunt had been turning from Poseidon. The beach was suddenly quiet, and even the water god did not say a word.

"What?!" Cyan exclaimed with some exasperation. "Can't I have a couple of mushy moments without everyone freakin'?!"

Nautica quickly said goodbye to her father and disappeared back inside the cave while he slipped beneath the waters. Cyan told Eri to wait for the others and then return to the Island. She gave Eri instructions for Nautica, and then flipped on to one of the horses the thugs had been hiding. She turned down the beach and left Eri to wait for the others.

"Are you sure this is the right path?" Olympia asked of the boy. He only nodded, and continued to point on ahead.

"They really took these kids way out into the middle of nowhere didn't they? No wonder no one ever noticed anything." Matt said.

Nikolas began to tug on the sleeves of the Enforcer's shirt, but she continued to talk with Matt, ignoring his tugging. "I still can't believe they didn't say anything though. How do parents just let their own children disappear without even saying a word?" Nikolas began to tug harder and harder as Matt replied to the warrior.

"They were probably being threatened E. Simple villagers like that would never stand a chance against those kind of thugs, and especially not Kahn's priests. You'd be crazy to start something without having some kind of warrior training like we do!"

Nikolas pulled Olympia forcefully just as the Queen flipped down onto the back of Matt's horse. She yanked the reigns hard, bringing the war horse to an immediate stop. Cyan flipped onto the ground and stood watching as the Enforcer and Nikolas came to a halt and stared down at her. The Queen shook her head and began to chuckle.

"Trained warriors such as yourself Matt? May the gods protect that village then!" Cyan began to laugh as Matt and the Enforcer looked around uncomfortably. The Queen rested her gaze on Nikolas. "Tell me boy, how did you see me so quickly?"

"The girl you were with warned me that I should watch the air above as well as the ground. I saw you following us through the trees like she had done earlier." Nikolas grinned as the Queen broke into a huge smile.

"You learn very quickly boy, and you have also done a good job at what I asked. Tell me, would you like to come and stay with us?"

"Forever?" the boy asked in amazement.

"If you would like." The Queen said, fully catching the twinkle that had shot across the Enforcer's eyes. "You will be required to serve me well, you know?"

The boy nodded his head, taking the tone in the Queen's voice as a very serious one. Cyan continued to speak as if she and the boy were making the most important of pacts with one another.

"You will have to do as I order, and begin classes at our Academy as soon as we are home. The training to become a warrior is also an important one, and you will not only require teachers, but someone," Cyan stopped and smiled up at her friend, "or some two that will be responsible for giving you direction." Cyan knelt and smiled at the boy. "Do you have any in mind?"

The boy looked up at the Enforcer and then back towards the Queen. "I wish to be with her, and the Wolf." Cyan smiled and stood to her feet. She did not need to ask Olympia if this was okay by her.

"Then, that's how it will be. Now, we need to finish some other business." Cyan smiled and whistled for her horse. She told the Amazons of the children and Eri's whereabouts.

"Once you are ready to leave, tell Nautica to leave for the village first thing in the morning. I will look for her and the children by the sun's peak tomorrow. The rest of you will go back to the Island and wait until I return. Hopefully Saran will be there by then."

Cyan flipped into her mount and turned her horse towards the village. The two warrior parties rode off in their separate directions. One small boy rode quietly, wrapping his arms tightly around the body of another; smiling widely.

The Amazons stared open mouthed at their fellow Amazon who had just appeared before them out of nowhere. "Tinka???" said Saran, clearly confused.

"Tinka!!! Yay!" shouted Corde. She ran and gave Tinka a big hug.

"How did she get here?" asked Loa. "I think…that somehow we picked her up when I transported us from Japan," said Saran.

"So where am I? Where are we?" asked Tinka.

Rae, who had been quiet for the moment jumped up and down with excitement. "We’re in…Scotland!!!! Yes! Now we can get kilts and riverdance…"

"More importantly, we can find the weapon to kill the clones and get back to the Island," said Saran.

"Where do we start?" asked Corde. Loa looked down.

"Guuuuuuuuuys! We’re on a road! Let’s follow the road!" She did a little riverdance. The Amazons agreed, and they all started down the long dusty road…

"I want to walk five hundred miles and I want to walk five hundred more and I want to walk five hundred miles and I want to walk five hundred more!" sang Rae as they walked down the road. The Amazons had been walking for some time now, but they hadn’t seen any sign of people. Loa flapped like a chicken. "I want to bawk five hundred miles and I want to bawk five hundred more…" Corde rolled her eyes. "Come on you both have been singing the same line for almost a half hour now. What ever happened to the rest of the song?"

Rae and Loa looked at each other and Rae smiled sheepishly. "Um…we don’t know the rest of the song?" Corde shook her head. Saran and Tinka laughed. The Amazons had all been managing to keep in good spirits though it seemed as if they were walking forever. Suddenly Tinka stopped and pointed.

"Look! It’s the end of the road!!!" Rae and Loa jumped up and down, then danced in circles. "We’re at the end of the road!" they sang.

"This isn’t good…" said Saran.

"Why?" asked Corde. "I mean we’ve been walking forever and we finally got somewhere!"

"No. Look closely…it’s a dead end…" Rae, Loa, Tinka, and Corde looked more closely. They had reached the end of the road, but the end had lead them to…a huge lake. "Oh nooooooooo," moaned Loa.

"Now what?" asked Tinka.

"I know!!!" said Rae. The Amazons turned, waiting for Rae to tell her idea. "We can build a raft! Out of the logs!"

"Smart…" said Loa "But how are we gonna hold the raft together Einstein?" "Simple…" Rae reached into her boot and pulled out… "Rope. Never leave home without it." Tinka and Corde stared at Rae.

"I’m not even going to question this…" muttered Saran.

"Come on then! Let’s build the raft! Let’s get down to business," said Loa.

"To defeat…the Huns!" finished Rae. "Be a man…" Loa continued.

"All right stop singing and let’s build the raft," said Tinka, and they all set to work…

After hours of strength, smarts, and sweat the raft was finally finished. The Amazons got on and began sailing across the lake. Rae and Loa seemed to be in a musical mood that day since they hadn’t stopped singing since they arrived in Scotland. Loa sang on top of her lungs as they rafted across the lake… "In the navy…you can sail the seven seas in the navy!" Rae started a new song. "Ohhhh what shall we do with a drunken sailor what shall we do with a drunken sailor…" Meanwhile Corde, Tinka, and Saran sat as far away from Rae and Loa as possible. "Do you think we should hit them with something?" suggested Tinka.

"Nah it probably wouldn’t hurt them anyway," said Corde.

They had reached the middle of the lake when suddenly the raft began to shake. "What in the world is going on?" shouted Saran. The Amazons clung to the raft. The shaking was coming from deep below the lake’s surface. Suddenly a small section of the lake, only a few feet away from the Amazons, began to bubble as if…something was alive down there. Then…a snake like thing covered in weeds rose from the water. "Ahhhhhh!" all of the Amazons screamed in unison. They had never seen a creature like this in their lives.

"It’s a snaky!" screamed Loa. The monster began to create waves. The waves tossed the raft violently. "It’s gonna kill us!" screamed Rae.

"We have no choice but to abandon the raft and swim for shore," shouted Saran over all the noise. "Now on the count of three we go. One…two…three!" The Amazons leapt from the raft into the cold water and swam frantically to the shore…

The cold, wet Amazons reached the shore and collapsed on the sand. Corde sat up and looked back at the lake. The monster was gone. Everything was quiet and still. It was as if nothing ever happened. They all stood up slowly. "Where do we go now?" asked Loa.

"It’s going to be night soon," commented Tinka.

"We better find somewhere to go before night…and before that monster thing comes back," said Rae. They all agreed and began walking. They had been walking for only a short time when Saran held up her hand for them to stop.

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

"Hear what?" asked Corde. They all strained to listen. "I hear it," said Rae. "It doesn’t sound that good…" said Loa. The sound got louder. "It might be an army…" said Tinka. "Oh great," said Corde. The Amazons were getting nervous. What was that strange sound that echoed between the mountains? "It’s getting closer…" said Rae. They all looked around cautiously. Then suddenly the sound doubled and they saw…tons of people coming toward them. The Amazons clung to each other, unable to move. The sound stunned them. There were a lot of people…but that sound made it seem like there were twice as many. "Oh gods…now what?" said Corde. Saran thought. "Give them the peace symbol." All five of them stood and clasped their hands over their heads. Rae shut her eyes. This could get ugly. Then the sound stopped. Rae opened her eyes. They were surrounded by people…they must be Scottish people!

"What in the world," began one of them, in a heavy accent.

"What did he say?" asked Loa. "He said ‘What in the world’" Rae said. The people studied the Amazons. Whispers of "Who are they?" and "They’re not from around here" echoed through the army of people. Finally the man who had first spoken spoke again.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Rae stepped forward. "I am Rae. These are my friends: Loa, Saran, Corde, and Tinka. We’re Amazons from an Island. We’re kind of on a quest to find a certain item. We don’t know what it is, but we need it to kill clones." The man spoke to a few of his own men and then faced the Amazons again. "You are not enemies then? We are the Hamilton Clan."

"They have kilts!" screamed Loa. "I want one!" "Yeah me too!" said Rae. "Say…um what’s your name sir?" "My name is Ewan." "Ok. Ewan does your clan have some…kilts to spare?"

"Let me see…" Ewan disappeared into the crowd of people for a few minutes and then returned. "Full clan outfits for all of you!" he announced proudly. He distributed the outfits to the Amazons.

"We should wear them as a sign of respect," whispered Saran. The Amazons agreed then went to find a place to change… They returned in full Scottish garb. "Wow!" said Rae and Loa. "We look sooooooo coooooooool!"

"I feel like an idiot," said Tinka.

"Well just think how those men feel. They have to wear kilts too and these things are like skirts!" said Corde. They laughed. Night was falling and the Amazons were invited to camp with the clan. After a decent dinner (the Amazons didn’t bother to ask what the food really was) they all hung around and just had a good time. They had been talking about the monster that the Amazons had seen when someone started that noise again. Rae snapped her fingers. "Duh I am so stupid. That noise that we were so afraid of was…the bagpipes! And now someone is playing them. This calls for one thing." Rae stood from where she had been sitting and began to dance. "I’m riverdancing!" she shouted. Loa jumped up and began to dance too. Soon everyone was "riverdancing" and laughing at the same time. They danced until they could dance no more…and until the bagpipers could play no more. Then they all sat around various campfires and chatted. "Ewan, can I learn to play the bagpipes?" asked Rae. "Certainly. I will show you." Ewan produced his set of bagpipes. The rest of the Amazon crowded around for the bagpipe lesson. Soon they were all able to play. "That wasn’t too hard," said Loa. "Well it was only the basics," said Ewan. "With practice, I am sure that you will all be able to be fine bagpipe players." "It’s in the bagpipes!" said Saran out of nowhere. "What?" asked Tinka. "The bagpipes will get rid of the clones. They frightened us so they most definitely will scare the clones!" "Yeah!!! We’ll blast them away!" shouted Corde.

"But we need bagpipes," said Saran. "Can you help us Ewan?"

Ewan looked doubtful for a moment. "Well…this seems as if it is of great importance to you. Let me ask around. I might be able to get you some

bagpipes by morning."

"Thank you," said Saran. "Now, Amazons, it’s getting late, and we’re going to have a big day tomorrow so get some sleep." The Amazons nodded and went off to find a place to sleep…

Morning came quickly, and now it was time. Ewan presented each Amazon with a set of bagpipes. "We know that you need these and that you will use them well," he said. The Amazons nodded.

"We should be going…" said Saran.

"Wait," said Ewan. "The clan has decided to make you all part of us. If you are ever in these parts again, then you are more than welcome to stay with us."

"Thank you," said Corde. "Yeah thanks for everything," said Tinka. "Thanks for the kilt!" said Loa. "And for letting me riverdance!" said Rae. "Thank you all for helping us with our mission," finished Saran. "Now we must be going. Our tribe needs us." The Amazons organized their bagpipes and their other set of clothes. They had decided that it would be kind of cool to show up on the Island in kilts. Saran closed her eyes and concentrated. The five Amazons disappeared. They were finally on their way home.

Part 9