"Wolf the kids are gone; all of them." The pale faced man burst into the main room of the Tavern.

"Gone?" Tei Chen rose from his seat. "The girl as well??"

"All of them." came the reply.

"And the guards??" Falcon growled.

"All dead Wolf; all of them." The man trembled, fear of the Dark Wolf’s reaction in his eyes.

Falcon began to pace the room in agitation.

"You were to surrender the girl to us Wolf and now you have failed" Tei Chen spoke with a sneer.

Falcon stopped, stood still and turned slowly to face the rash Young Priest.

"Priest, need I remind you that I was hired to take the girl? That I did. It was the fools you hired to guard the children that failed. I took one girl; the very one you searched for by taking many children. So, it seems that it was your foolishness which lost them all; not I."

Tei Chen trembled with rage; he needed the Wolf. He had received communications that at all costs the girl must be taken; or even better, the Amazon Queen herself.

Falcon turned her cold blue eyes on the messenger. The man's face had turned white.

"Who took the children?" Falcon asked in a voice as cold as her eyes.

"I did." A voiced called into the room. A lone hooded figure stood in the doorway of the Inn.

Larc and Ashana were sitting on the picnic table watching the Uber-Corde and Uber-Saran pick up pinecones and then drop them on the ground.

"What do you think they’re doing?" Larc asked.

"I’m not sure. Maybe Uber-Corde received some sort of brain injury when she died for those few minutes." Ashana answered.

Just then a shimmering appeared between them and the Ubers. Eventually the shimmering went away and in its place were Corde, Tinka, Rae, Loa and Saran. With a jump of joy both Ashana and Larc ran over to them while yelling.

"Your back!"

Soon the two Amazons were hugging the four girls, however Saran kept watching the Ubers.

"Where did you get the kilts?" Larc asked.

"Scotland" the four girls said simultaneously.

Saran then interrupted. "Corde, get your bagpipe ready."

"Saran, you know what to do?"

"Yes, Rae and Loa will play the harmonious background, Tinka will play the counter melody while we play melody. As we get closer to our clones, we’ll have to aim the horns right at them. Ok?" Corde nodded her head. "One more thing Corde. When they dissolve and become a part of us again, we’ll have their memories, so be prepared."

Rae and Loa started with the harmonious background, then Tinka started in with the counter melody as Corde and Saran played melody. As the two came closer to the ubers, the ubers became frozen. As soon as the horns of the bagpipes touched the uber Corde and Saran, they dissolved and flew into the bodies of the real Corde and Saran.

Corde let out a cry. "I tried to kill Marissa!" Saran quickly dropped the bagpipe and hugged Corde.

"Hey Little Lamb, it’s ok. You didn’t do anything to her, she knows it, I’m sure." Saran then released Corde to Tinka, patting Tinks on the shoulder. "Thanks for joining us Tinks." Tinka smiled and continued to comfort Corde.

Walking over to the wonder twins. "Rae. Loa. I’m not sure what to say to you, but thanks. Thanks for coming to save me, and thanks for the trip through memory lane. Oh, and also, thanks for making it possible for me to wear a kilt again. I forgot how bloody cold they can be, especially since you always go commando while wearing them!" Rae and Loa burst into giggles as Saran gave them both a big hug.

Saran then turned her attention to Ashana and Larc. "Hey Ashana, got any popsicles for us?" Ashana nodded her head and gave Saran a hug.

"You ok?" Ashana asked.

"Yeah." Saran replied, then she went over to her twin Larc. Picking up Larc and twirling her around. "Hey Larc, been a little worried haven’t you?" Larc couldn’t hold back the tears as she laughed.

"Saran. You’ve worried us all! First the addiction; then being taken. I didn’t know what was happening." Larc then looked at Ashana. "Should we tell her?"

"Tell me what!" Saran’s mood flipped back to being surly. Looking at the two women standing before her she asked. "What is going on here?"

"The Queen has gone off with Eri, Matt, Olympia and Falcon. They were after something. . . Saran. Where are you going?" Larc yelled after her.

"I’ve got something to do!" Saran called back then stormed off towards the palace and to face Cyan.

Cyan lowered the hood of her cloak and stood smiling at the Dark Wolf and her new friends.

"Impossible!" the man yelled. "I saw her killed myself."

"I can assure you stupid one, that I am no ghost; but I am thoroughly pissed off!" The Queen smiled at the Wolf and disappeared back out the door.

"Go get her you idiots!" Falcon shoved one of the men in the direction of the door and then turned her attention towards Tei Chen. "I suggest you and your men give them a hand, or we may both be looking for new means of employment." Tei Chen raged, but disappeared out the door.

Falcon patiently waited for Cyan to return. Soon the Queen flipped down from above and stood in the doorway of the Inn once again. "Stables." she said, and disappeared out of sight. The Dark Wolf threw a few coins in the direction of the looking barkeep, and soon his eyes returned to the counter. Falcon disappeared out the door.

"We need to get things finished here Falcon." The Queen began. "The Island has sent word and the rest of our warriors have finally returned. Nautica is bringing the children even as we speak, so let's get out of here."

Falcon held the Queen by her arm, "I have an idea my Queen."

Cyan smiled. "You seem to have a lot of those Falcon; don't you?" Falcon smiled back and started to explain.

"If the children are returned and the Priests learn that the girl has disappeared they will begin their search again; but elsewhere. If we can make them think that you have gone off to another village, and we convince them that your value is far greater than that of the girl, they will have to tell the other Priests."

The Queen began to smile, as Falcon's plan became clearer. "And you, angered by your loss of a sale, would certainly need to go with them, now wouldn't you healer?"

"Once I have found where all the other Priests are located, I am positive we will find the other missing children. I'm sure by now that you have learned that they have not just been taking them from this village; there are others." Cyan nodded.

"Once you have found them Falcon, your job stops there; do you understand me? You are to return to the Island at once, and then I will send my warriors."

Falcon nodded her agreement, and smiled at the Queen. "I assume you have sent the boy back to the Island as well?"

"Yes healer, I have. It seems one simple boy has gained much control over two of my most serious warriors." The Queen smiled and signaled for Falcon to leave and gather the men in their places. Wolf walked towards the stable door and glanced back just once to see the Queen disappearing out the back.

"You have only five sunrises Falcon before I will come for you myself; not a moment longer." The words echoed as the stabled returned to its peace.

"There she is Wolf!" screamed one of the men from the street. The villages' attention was quickly drawn to the approaching figure of a cloaked woman. Before anything further could be said, the sound of children running and yelling could be heard off in the distance. Tei Chen looked around anxiously, but soon the faces of the local villagers answered all his questions.

"You!" he screamed at the cloaked women. "You brought all the children back here!?"

Cyan laughed. "Well gee; it is there home; isn't it." Tei Chen trembled with growing rage as Falcon walked up alongside the Priest.

"And, is the girl with them?" she asked the women in a flat and unnerving tone.

"Oh no, sorry about that. I had other plans for her." She thought a moment. "And for you." Cyan smiled.

Falcon growled to the Priest. "Your fools have lost me my fee Priest! You owe me."

The Priest stared at the Wolf in detest. "Your lost fee is the least of your problems killer. The girl had more value than your mind could even begin to comprehend. If we do not get her back, we won't live long enough to regret it, I assure you!" The priest yelled to his men, "Get the woman and find out where she has taken the girl!"

Wolf's men and the Priests began to make their way towards the woman. Cyan had already drawn her sword and begun to advance as well. She watched as Falcon continued to talk with the head priest, hopefully forging their natural alliance. Nautica had returned the children safely to their homes and stood off to one side watching the impending battle with a mixture of emotions.

The first man attacked and Cyan's attention was quickly refocused on the rest of the plan. She flipped forward over his head and thrust her sword backwards dropping the man in seconds. She drew the sword out roughly and swung it around sideways taking the spray of another man's blood across her face. Two more men sank to their knees as they did their best to contain the blood, which was freely flowing from the gashes in their necks.

The Shadow Priests circled, demanding the girl be returned. "Is she really worth giving your life for?" they sneered.

"Apparently so; although I don't seem to be the one laying in my own blood now; do I?" Cyan continued to taunt the priest with an ever increasing smile. Flipping backwards she again landed and sliced through another of Wolf's men. She gazed over at Tei Chen wickedly as she slowly drew the length of her sword back out from the lifeless man.

Tei Chen flew into a rage and ran at the woman. Raising his sword he drew Cyan into a one on one stance. "You will lose your life you stupid women! That girl was of great value to us, and she cannot be replaced. If you will not give her up to us, I will kill you!"

"Why not take her in the girl's place?" Wolf asked of the Priest.

The Shadow Priest sneered and threw his head back in a mock laugh. "Did you not hear me Killer? There is no amount of village women or warriors that can replace the value of the girl, save one; the Queen!"

Suddenly a shimmering appeared before the priest. "SHE IS THE QUEEN; YOU WORTHLESS IDIOT!!"

"Ares." the priest said as he bowed. "How could I know?"

"LIKE THIS!" Ares took a small dagger and hurtled it at Cyan; it sliced through her forearm and stuck into her arm. The Queen smiled politely as she bit back on her words. She yanked the dagger back through her arm and tossed it on the ground at the feet of the war god.

"I think a simple verbal explanation might have done the trick Ares." Before Ares could reply, Cyan had disappeared from sight.

Ares began to clap slowly; mockingly. "Well played you fools! I'm sure Kahn will be thrilled to know that both his daughter and her niece are still roaming the realms untouched!" Ares disappeared and left Wolf and the Priest in silence.

"We need to get her back Wolf, or we'll both be dead." Falcon stayed silent for a moment, letting the situation build. She watched the curious girl who had brought the children back laugh quietly and then disappear out of sight.

"I am sure she is going off to other villages in search of the remaining children. If we work together, we should be able to go to each of the other locations and warn your men. If they are ready for her, the chance of her capture, as well as the girl's will only increase."

The Shadow Priest nodded slowly, knowing he had no other choice but to take the Killer's offer. "It seems we will not be rid of each other as soon as we had hoped assassin."

 Cyan stood in her palace. It felt good to be back on the Island again. She had only been here for a few minutes. Ares had been quite a surprise there at the end, but for once his presence had actually helped them. Cyan laughed. He would not be happy when he learned that Falcon was leading Kahn's priests right to the truth. The Queen stopped for a moment and thought of the killer. "Be safe." She said to know one in particular.

Part 10