| "Moreau would not allow this," the cat-headed woman said thoughtfully.
"Silver is forbidden." Padre Fin nodded in agreement. "And yet there it
is, Ananka," Carradene replied. Moreau, Fred thought, the Dragon
Lord who ruled this island. Alicia had only mentioned the dragon in passing,
but he could hear the darkness in her voice at speaking its name. Alicia
was still a mystery to him, and this was just one more piece to add to
the puzzle. And she was just one piece of an even greater puzzle.
"When we were attacked," Fred spoke up suddenly, "were we in Forsaken territory or had they come down into ours?" Carradene turned to him, "You were in No Man's Land, the buffer between our two territories." "What was Loam doing there?" Fred eyed Carradene. Alicia looked down at her hurt friend; she hadn't wondered to ask that question. But what had Loam been doing there? "Am I my brother's keeper?" Carradene answered. "Perhaps he was following you two, keeping an eye on you." "And leave his family during the Cycle of the Moon?" Fred asked suspiciously, "isn't that unusual? Maybe there was something more important to him than us that led him to those hills." Carradene looked at Fred and said nothing. "Did you know that we might be attacked by the Forsaken tonight?" Fred asked, the tone of his voice demanding an answer. "I am an old wolf, young friend," Carradene replied. "My senses have become dull with time, and I have never been able to read minds. How could I know of such a thing?" Fred did not know what kind of game Carradene was playing, or what he knew or did not know, but he was sure that he wasn't telling him everything. In fact, he was sure no one had told him everything. "I can feel the moon in my blood, Carradene," Fred finally spoke again. "If you wish to know how the silver came here then ask Loam, I have no idea and right now I do not care." He turned without waiting for their dismissal and nearly ran out toward the open vale. The moon was rising, rising quickly, and he could feel it in his blood. ************************************************************************ Back in the council chamber, Alicia stood before the three elders and wondered. Questions had risen in her mind. What was Loam doing in No Man's Land? Did Carradene know about it? Did he send Loam? Did they know that the Forsaken had somehow gotten their paws on silver? Did they know how? Alicia shook her head; these thoughts bothered her and it was getting harder and harder to think. She knew one thing though, Carradene was a coward and a toothless old man. Something was definitely going on; the sliver studded club was proof enough, but Carradene...no, he was not the answer. He was Leader of the Pack in name only. She turned to Loam, but even in his weakened state he had heard the call of the moon and run out of the chamber just moments before. When dawn came, Alicia thought, she would find Loam and then get some answers. And if that failed, she could always go and find Moreau. Alicia gritted her teeth at the thought and then bounded out of the room and ran out into the night. Go Back
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