“Well, when you put it like that,” Cypher said with a slight smile as he gave her a small bow and then stepped back to his original place.

Peri crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked out at the males daring any of them to say something stupid so she could tear into them.

“As you’ve heard we have a very limited window to figure out where this so called hunt will be and get there. I’m asking for each of us here to look into your respective race’s history. The tiniest detail could be the break we need,” Vasile said. He turned then and caught Alston’s eyes. “I would ask something of you.”

“We are at your service.”

“Could you please transport those who need to travel so that we aren’t wasting time moving from place to place?”

Alston nodded. “You didn’t have to ask, that was a given.”

Vasile gave the fae a look that told him just how much that meant to him.

“Okay, enough with all the 'we’re united; hear us roar' crap. We’ve got stuff to do. History boy, you’re with me,” she pointed to the right of Wadim, “you too dimple boy,” she told Costin.

The room began to fill with the noises of feet shuffling, murmurs, and then the door opening and closing as people made their way out, until all that was left were the wolves and Cypher.

“Do you have a plan?” Decebel asked Peri.

“Not really, but I figure if I act like I do, then one will suddenly appear.”

“Well what’s the not really part?” Fane asked.

“I’m going to find the pixie king. Perhaps he can remember something from our long past that I’ve missed. I have a feeling that wherever this place is, it is very old. I suggest you go back and find the troll king as well and share the riddle with Thead. He can be trusted and he will want Reyaz destroyed just as much as we do.” She pointed at Adam as she continued to speak in her brisk manner.

“Skender, Fane, Sorin, you three will go to the troll king,” Vasile interrupted, pointing to each of them and receiving nods in return.

“Adam can find the entrance to their land for you,” Peri told them.

“The rest can come with me,” Cypher spoke up, “we have extensive archives and some very long memories.”

Adam motioned to Cypher, “I can take them first and then we will go to the trolls.”

“We will meet back here in twelve hours to find out what progress has been made,” Vasile told them.

“Can I ask why you chose us?” Costin asked as he regained his bearings from being flashed.

Peri rolled her eyes. “Don’t get all giddy wolf. I chose you two because I tolerate you better than the others. In other words, I’m least likely to make a rug out of you.”

“Comforting,” Wadim said dryly.

“All right, less chit chat and more walking.” Peri took off in a run.

Costin watched after her. “She calls that walking?”

Wadim chuckled. “She calls us walking handbags.”

“They don’t make handbags out of wolf pelts,” Costin pointed out.

“Yeah, I said the same thing. She said there’s a first time for everything.”

They both shrugged and then followed after the fae, putting on as much speed as they could. After half an hour they finally stopped. Wadim and Costin both were slightly winded which was evidence of just how fast they had been running, since wolves rarely got winded.

“Can I just ask why you aren’t doing your flashy thing?” Wadim asked.

“Good grief, were you too just let out of the puppy pen yesterday?” Peri huffed, “Magic, we aren’t the only ones with it. The pixie king is powerful and he doesn’t want fae flashing willy nilly around his land.”

“Okay, wait,” Costin held up his hand, “this is the same pixie that turned us over to Desdemona and put us in the In-Between? Why exactly are we seeking out his help instead of having him as an appetizer to the rabbit I’m going to catch for dinner?”

“Ainsel made a poor decision, but he made it out of a need to protect his people. That doesn’t make it right, but it doesn’t make him evil either. Vasile chose to spare him, and by doing so, gained a powerful ally. You have to realize that there will always be war, and it is a wise leader who picks his battles, and if he can, his enemy as well.”

Costin looked at her thoughtfully and though he understood what she was saying, it did not endear him to the pixie.

“Ainsel, we need to speak with you. Please do not waste my time; I am in no mood to play your games,” Peri yelled out into the forest.

Slowly one by one pixies began to emerge from the surrounding trees and foliage. Costin couldn’t help the way his muscles tensed when he saw the king. He watched silently as Peri knelt down in front of the small being.

“Dark times have fallen over us again, and we need your help,” she told them in a voice that Costin had rarely heard her use.

Ainsel glanced from Wadim to Costin and then back to Peri. “This request comes from Vasile?”

Peri nodded. “His females, as well as the Warlock King’s mate, have been captured by Reyaz.”

Ainsel’s eyes widened. He knew all about Cypher’s brother and had heard the whispers of the evil that had begun to gather around the mountain he had called home for so long.

“What could we possibly do against one such as him? We may have magic, but we would be no match for him.”