The voice came from far away, but he had a nagging hunch it wouldn't stay that way, so he put his head under his pillow.

The inevitable pounding began on the door. "Soren! You've got to see this!" cried a second voice, female this time. Liam and Rachel.

The door was locked, but the level of excitement boded ill. Resigned, he pulled his head out from under the pillow and threw the covers back. "Hang on," he answered irritably, reaching for his pants.

"Where's your shirt?" demanded Liam as Soren unlocked the door and let them in. "Get dressed man! We've got something to show you." He grinned broadly. "I don't care how sleepy or cranky you want to be - if I didn't drag you out of bed for this, you'd be twice as mad! Now shake a leg!"

Looking at Rachel for confirmation, she smiled and nodded. "Okay," he sighed. "I'm coming." He finished dressing and followed them out the door. "So what's going on?"

"You'll see," said Rachel, cutting off anything helpful that Liam might have supplied. "Better if you see it yourself. You won't believe us."

Finally growing curious, he followed them to the lift, and on toward the bridge. They brought him into one of the smaller council rooms. Ealdred Tovi sat behind the table, waiting. "Sir."

"Soren. Have a seat. We've received a message. I want you to listen. Focus on the positive." He pressed a button to play the recording.

Mystified, he looked at the two screens, the Ealdred on the left, and a venator on the right. The venator said, "We know so little about each other that mistakes are easy, unintended insults and misunderstandings. But I believe I have someone here who can help both of us in that respect. Someone you and I both already trust."

"Who?" asked the Ealdred, unimpressed.

The venat turned its head, looking at someone off screen. A man came into view. His hair was shorn close, like a Lenisat, but he wore the uniform of one of their own fighter pilots, a Cedrychad. "Ealdred," he said, dipping his head in a respectful greeting. "Sirs." "Arion!" Soren gasped, in unison with the Ealdred Tovi in the record. The shock was profound. His old wingmate. His best friend. Only Arion had been dead for over a cycle now. He looked terrible - haggard, pale, and unhappy.

"But how?" asked the Ealdred on the screen.

Arion shook his head, laughing softly, uncomfortable. "Long story." He frowned slightly, hesitating. "This meeting comes as... a shock for me, and I..." His frown deepened and he looked nervously at the venat.

"It's okay, Arion. Say whatever you want. You'll say it all when you get home anyway."

He closed his eyes, the encouragement an obvious lie, then looked up at the Ealdred. But still he hesitated, and at length he dropped his eyes... ashamed? "He's... He's wanted me to.. talk for him, for a long time, but... He kept telling me he wanted to help, but I never believed him..."

A growl came out of Soren, from deep within his chest, and he was choking on helpless anger. This was beyond anything the venats had done before. The stammering was an obvious signal to ignore the message, but the haunted look in Arion's eyes was nothing he had put on.

Then Soren started as the Ealdred laid a hand on his shoulder. "Focus on the positive," he said.

Positive! Not so easily done - not when they still had him.

"You've been with him all this time?" asked Ealdred Tovi in the record.

"No, I... To explain.. is hard. To understand is even harder. They... I don't like Sharsa's ideas, but..." He frowned and fell silent, clearly waiting to be chastised for saying the wrong thing. The venat did nothing, though it undoubtedly would later.

"How much of what he says is true?" asked the Ealdred.

Arion shook his head, smiling slightly, laughing softly. Soren found himself privately agreeing; it was a stupid question that Arion obviously couldn't answer.

"I wouldn't know," Arion said, hedging. "I don't even know what all he's told you. Raach said he has lied to me before, but he wouldn't say what. And Raach..." He laughed again, unhappy. "I've been mistreated here, but not by Sharsa."

"Do you trust him?"

Soren snorted, glancing at Ealdred Tovi and back at the screen again, biting back the indignant retort. How could the Ealdred have asked such an impossible question? All this time he'd been alive, suffering who knew what; subject now to who knew what else if he said the wrong thing? He had already said enough to be in serious trouble.

Arion hesitated, looking back and forth between the Ealdred and the venat, trapped. "No," he said at last, dropping his eyes. "But... He has consistently offered his friendship, with no encouragement from me. I don't want to be bait, but... It shames me to treat him this way."

"Do you have any specific reason to think that you would or would not be bait?"

Arion looked up. "No sir," he said firmly. "To both questions."

"Thank you, Arion. We're all behind you. It would seem," he continued, speaking to the venat, "that you are somewhat unique. A precious opportunity not to be wasted, but one to be dealt with cautiously. What can you tell me of his mistreatment?"

"I'm sure he can tell you more of that than I can," it answered readily, taking the question in stride, "but I do know that it stemmed from the fact that he is a Cedrychad, and not because he's human. It came at the hands of one venator, a Rikshastikan Kirnaach who purchased him. He is very rich, but not as influential as he likes to think.

"I would have liked to have this conversation much sooner," it continued blithely, "but as Arion mentioned, he didn't trust my friendship, and refused my suggestions. As a result, I lost control of what was done with him. He was put up for sale and purchased by the Kirnaach."

"Purchased...” echoed the Ealdred slowly. The Rikshastika were their warriors, and a Kirnaach was one of their highest ranks. “And where is he now? This Kirnaach."

"He's around, but not here with me. I purchased Arion from him. He has no viable claim in the matter anymore.

"He and I have different ideas. Some agree with him, some with me. But most are really somewhere in between, trying to decide. They don't want to die just for something to eat. If I can show them a better way, they will follow me, and Raach and his kind will have no choice but to go along."

He paused hopefully, but the Ealdred remained silent. "I would like at the very least to arrange a means of sending my friend home."

Friend! Soren found himself laughing bitterly at its audacity.

"At what price?" the Ealdred asked stiffly.

The venat sighed with staged dejection. "No price. He likes me and I like him. I just want to let him go home. It wouldn't do him any good to dump him off on Lenis; that's not home and they wouldn't treat him any better now than they did before. I have been trying very hard for a long time to help him. I have complete say in what happens to him now because, well, I own him.

"The first peace is always difficult. I worked hard for the right to talk to him when he first arrived, and I tried to convince him I wanted peace. I tried, and I failed. Now I'm trying again. If I fail now I will still try again. But Arion has been through enough. He deserves to go home."

As if anyone could believe this groveling vampat was sincere! Ealdred Tovi paused, then smiled. "Well, I'm all for bringing him home. What do you suggest?"

The venat smiled, grinning like an idiot at Arion, who forced a weak smile in return. He knew it was a lie. "Well, I am prohibited from inviting you to come here, as I think you can understand. Costly mistakes would be highly possible. So I thought we could arrange a rendezvous on Lenis."

"Our relations with Lenis are delicate at best. If we sent a small ship out to receive you, would that be acceptable?"

"I'm not a pilot, or I would," it hedged. "If I could find a pilot to take him, maybe... But you understand, we are somewhat distrustful ourselves."

He nodded. "What sort of arrangements on Lenis did you have in mind?"

"I rather thought I'd let you do that. You pick the spot, set it up, tell me, and I'll get him there. I already have two pilots that would agree to that."

He looked at Arion. "How does it sound to you? Are you ready to come home? Can you wait a few days more?"

Arion laughed softly, but didn't answer. "...Ealdred?"

"Yes?"

"The people on Lenis," he said slowly, frowning, "they are human sir. I never should have said they weren't."

Soren frowned at this, as did the Ealdred. It seemed to be voluntary information, and he seemed sincere. Apparently the venats had convinced him. The question was, why?

"Anything else?" the Ealdred asked.

He hesitated, clearly wanting to say something more, but the price was forbidding.

"Well then," said the Ealdred, cutting him off. "We have a lot to do. Arion, His Hand is beneath you. Sharsa, we will contact you as soon as possible."

"Good enough!" it answered cheerfully. The screen went blank.

Soren stared at the blank screen, marshalling his anger before turning to face the Ealdred. "Why did you corner him like that?" he asked softly.

"Because the venat wanted my sincere interest. Do you think it would have believed anything less?"

That stopped him. He laughed once and nodded. "I'm no diplomat," he conceded, then sighed heavily. "What do we do now?"

"We play along and pick a spot." He frowned then, looking downward. "You understand, Soren, we're more apt to lose him."

"Yes, sir," he answered gravely, nodding. The situation was a new one, but they had never been able to retrieve anyone before. Either the Gadamista kept people from being taken, or they lost them. "Ealdred, isn't there anything more we can do besides play along? I mean..."

"Yes. Definitely. The chances are very slim, but we'll make use of what we can. We have a little bit of time to figure out what the game is. Whatever they're up to, they're going to try to do something we won't expect.

"First, we listen. I want you and Mark to take turns with Liam and Rachel. Get as close as you can, and listen. If the computer picks up anything relevant, we'll pipe it to you. Our best bet is to already be there if something starts to happen."

"Sir..."

"Yes?"

"Well, I was just thinking. If anything goes wrong, well, I'd really like to have Sparrow along."

The Ealdred sighed deeply, reluctant. "Sparrow can't fly a Starphire, and if you carry him, there wouldn't be room for Arion."

"Yes sir. I understand that. We'd have to use a Valerian."

He shook his head slowly. "That's taking on a great liability."

"Yes sir," Soren agreed. Not only was protecting a Valerian a severe handicap, but, while Sparrow was a supreme medic, he was a mediocre pilot who did most of his flying after an attack. "I'll fly it."

He nodded slowly. "Give me reasons."

"We may need him. I know the Valerian is a liability, but we may need it too. Sir," he continued urgently, trying to override the frown, "you said yourself that we're more apt to lose him. I know that. That's why we need Sparrow. If we get him back at all, he probably won't have a flight suit, and if he's hurt, he'll need a tube. If he's badly hurt, he'll need Sparrow. It won't do anyone any good to get him back if we kill him getting him home."

Ealdred Tovi continued to frown.

"I can do it, Ealdred. You know I can. One pair escort, one Valerian. ...Please, sir. I can get it back out again. I know I can. A starphire isn't enough."

For a long moment he gazed back at him, then finally, slowly, he nodded. "How much sleep have you had?"

"About three hours. I couldn't sleep now if I'd had only ten minutes," he added with a smile, knowing where the question led.

The Ealdred smiled and nodded. "Go find Sparrow. You take the first shift."

For two days, nothing. Surveillance showed that the venators were remaining true to their word, so far. One mother ship maintained position on the far side of the planet, protective but not aggressive. Neither of the two great ships had any desire for a confrontation - not without better odds than one on one. The rest was an invitingly open trap, with Arion as the bait. He'd done his best to warn them. How much had that cost him?

You understand, Soren, we're more apt to lose him.

No one had been able to determine what the trap itself was, and Soren was increasingly anxious to avoid it completely. Settling into his cockpit, this would be his last flight before the scheduled rendezvous, and he couldn't escape the feeling that it would be now or never.

Then it came.

"-vous. I repeat: the truce is a fake. Abort rendezvous."

"Message received." responded the Arlemagen. "What is your situation?"

"I'm on the run. I have a hovercraft, a laser, and myself. That's about it." "Are you in immediate jeopardy?"

"Well, not immediate. But Bootes just unleashed Chara and Asterion. It's just a matter of time."

"A little time is all we need," Soren answered, joining the conversation. "Are they big dogs or little dogs?"

"Just hovercraft like mine, but I'm slightly outnumbered down here, and I don't exactly have anyplace to go."

"If you can just stay ahead of them, you don't need anyplace to go. Can you just stay ahead of them for awhile?"

"Well, probably, but, you can't come down here after me," he said. "It's ridiculous. I appreciate the moral support, but I've had it, I know that. It's okay. At least I'm not bait anymore. But listen - "

"No. You listen," Soren said, cutting him off before he gave away something that might be useful. "You've got a partner in this game now so don't go trying to fold. We're on our way, and not that far to go."

"But Soren, you can't - "

"You've been listening to venats too long buddy," he said, clipping him short again. "Since when do you believe in can't? I'm telling you to hang light and keep moving. Now who are you going to listen to - a bunch of venats or your wingmate?"

There was a pause. "So I'll hang light," he said at last. "But one thing at least you should know. They have a new kind of laser here. Raach called it a brotik. It doesn't kill, just knocks you out with an electric shock. You wake up with a massive headache and a full body ache to match. Not to mention the fact that you can't even remember what happened. And get this - it doesn't do a thing to them. Not a blasted thing."

Soren whistled, impressed. "You keep interesting company. That is something to know, isn't it?"

"Yeah. You don't want to find out the hard way, believe me. And they have the same principle applied to doorways. Not all doorways, and you can't tell by looking. Works off of some kind of electrofield. The doors are worse, but he's going to sell the guns to the Rikshastika."

"Cute."

"And they - "

He broke off and Soren tensed. Then a sharp cry. "Arion!" But he didn't answer. "Arion! Are you all right?"

"Oh sure," came his voice, bitter and unhappy. "I'm having a ball."

"Talk to me partner," Soren said softly.

"Sorry. Reinforcements."

"Are you all right?"

"Grazed my shoulder," he answered, subdued. "Guess I should be glad it wasn't a brotik. You either miss or you don't..."

There was an awful sound then, ominously familiar, and Soren knew Arion's craft had been hit. He was silent this time, as he should have been before, allowing Arion to concentrate...

"They hit the craft," came the welcome voice. "I don't think they got anything important."

"Just keep moving, pal." So close! They couldn't be too late!

"It's no good Soren. I told you all the important stuff. That's all He wanted..."

"Just keep moving I said," Soren ordered, freshly alarmed by Arion's ready resignation. "I'm coming."

"But Soren, how can you? They'll be tracking me, tracking you. You'll be a sitting duck..."

"So that's what's eating you, is it?" he said, relieved again. They had lost Arion on the original scouting mission - he didn't know! "I don't know what they told you, but get this and get it good. You're in the middle of a retreat. High-level money town and some sort of research center, but hardly military. It was the source of our troubles all right, but there's no tracking station, no military base, none of that.

"They have a few fighter ships that run escort for the carriers to Lenis, but they weren't even using full power in their lasers until you and I messed things up. Every so often a bigger ship stops in to deliver supplies. They ride the fighters over by Aditi in exchange for part of the haul, then leave again."

"No base?"

"No."

"But Soren..."

"Trust me buddy."

He laughed nervously. "That's what God keeps telling me, but I don't seem to be very good at it. I guess I - Ah! ...Got her again," he said, almost immediately.

"Are they military or locals?"

"I... I don't know, I... They're locals," he said softly, distressed. "But Raach is military..."

"Quite likely," Soren said lightly, growing concerned yet again. The confident Arion he had known was just plain gone, replaced by a man who repeatedly seemed close to losing it, and they couldn't afford that now. "A lot of their big money is military," he offered. "But I'll bet you he's on leave, or visiting family."

"Tutoring his son. Only he… he lives here."

Then, in Soren's ear through the computer link, Liam hissed, "Change the subject."

"So what do you want first when you get back?" he asked, shifting gears completely.

He laughed slightly. "How about a cup of coffee?"

"Aw, you're too easy."

"I left my mythra behind," Arion said suddenly.

"Your what?"

"My mythra. Like the cithara, only different. Sharsa gave it to me."

"And you're going to worry about that now?"

"Well, no... I just wish I had it, that's all. I left it in the back of his craft. We were going to- ...Aw crud!" he protested, his voice tight.

"Keep ahead of them, Arion. Get your head in the game!"

"Glad to. Glad to hear your voice too. They just got my panel, and I thought I might have lost you too. Can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," he said, relaxing slightly. "Any major damage?"

"I really don't know. I have no panel. But I'm still moving."

"Well at least in a hovercraft you can't crash," said Soren, teasing, easing his own tension, and hopefully some of Arion's.

"Oh, you're a real comfort, you are," said Arion, but Soren could hear the smile in his voice. "I'm going to make a dash for it, Soren. Out in the fields. This peek-a-boo, got-you is going to kill me. Raach's craft is a good one. It's real fast. Maybe I can outrun them long enough."

"Sounds like it's worth a try," he said casually, well pleased. Arion would have had to come out into the fields sooner or later anyway; that he did so by preference was a bonus. "Harder to run into anything in an open field..." he added with a smile.

"Oh quit already!" said Arion, laughing.

"So you've got Raach's craft, huh? How'd you manage that?" he asked, hoping this small victory might bolster his confidence.

"...It was easy..." he answered slowly; too slowly.

"How's your escort?"

"Oh they're behind me all right," he said, coming alive again. "I'm in the fields now, moving fast. Three of them staying with me, but not gaining. And I'm out of range."

"Well just keep it that way buddy and we've got 'em licked."

"About how long do we have to go?"

"Oh, call it the final quarter of a quad-ball game, give or take. Not long."

"Ah," he sighed, "we can go from star to star, and it still takes so long just to come down."

"Well, I could shift to magnethrust if you wanted, but there wouldn't be much left to ride home in. Assuming you had about a year to dig me out once I got there."

"Yeah, yeah. I know." he answered, still depressed. "Soren, there is something else you should know..."

"What's that?"

"Well, it's going to sound really weird, but... You know in the old writings, where it says Satan is locked up?"

"Yeah."

"Well... He's loose."

Soren was silent for several moments. "Can't be," he said gently. "He's gone. Destroyed. That's all over with."

"No. That's… That's what he wants us to think. But he's loose. It says, in the old writings, that he'll be turned loose again. For a little while..."

At a loss, he looked at Sparrow, but he only shook his head and shrugged, equally baffled.

"Soren, it's even possible that… the venators might have souls..." Venators' lies, he realized suddenly. "Listen, we'll sort it all out when you get back, okay?"

"...Okay," he said softly, sighing audibly. "But they're still back there. They know something... What am I missing Soren?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well with you coming, it'd be a lot smarter for them to leave. All they have are hovercrafts. Unless they know something. Something we don't. What if they're laying a trap for you?"

"I don't show anything," he said, denying his own concern. Arion couldn't handle it right now. "Maybe they don't know I'm coming."

"How can they not know?" he demanded irritably. "This isn't exactly a private link. How can they not know?"

"Maybe they aren't listening," he offered.

"They're always listening. Soren, you don't know. It may be civilian, but it's different here. They have all kinds of surprises. So many times. So many times, and it's never any good."

"Hang in there, buddy. You've got friends now. We're coming."

"No. I'm going to get you killed," he said, and inwardly Soren groaned. He was losing him. "Oh Dear God! Don't let me get you caught! Go back, Soren. Please, you've got to go back! They're setting us up. That's what they wanted. He did it on purpose. I'm still the bait..."

In his ear, Rachel said, "I get one lead craft, three following. If there's anyone else, they're invisible. Even big mama isn't showing."

"There's nothing on the scanners, Arion. Just you, them, and the wide open fields."

"No, Soren, you don't understand. He did it on purpose. He warned me. You see? Why would he do that? They're setting us up."

"Who warned you?" he asked, suddenly cold. If this escape was a set-up, Arion just might be right.

"Raach. I mean not really, but he made Sharsa mess it up. So I would know..."

"Well, so he's got a beef against Sharsa," he said, grasping at anything to calm Arion down, wishing he had time to think. "Maybe he's getting even for something."

"Then why don't they turn back?"

"...Maybe they're trying to bluff."

"Bluff?"

"Yeah. You know, like cards?"

"...He never bluffed before," he said slowly.

"Then it's perfect timing."

No answer.

"You still with me, Arion?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay. Just stay with me now, all right? Just a little longer and none of this will matter anymore."

"But what if - "

"No more what ifs. I'm coming, so get used to it," Soren said, looking at Sparrow. He nodded agreement.

From the earpiece came Rachel's voice, "No one's talking."

"There's nothing showing on the scanners. Nothing. They're not even talking to each other. Just cruising. So we'll cruise too. If anything happens, we'll deal with it then. Right?"

"...Right," he answered dubiously.

"So what else do you want when we get back, besides a lousy cup of coffee?"

"Neil's gremlin."

Soren smiled. "Where to?"

"Little island. Remember the one we found...?"

"Sure. But the Delphineus got us there last time. What's Neil's for?"

"His has a cabin. I plan on staying awhile. Want to come?"

"Sure!" Soren chuckled. "Sounds good. But you'll have to help me snooker some time off. I just had leave."

"That's okay. By the time they finish debriefing me, you'll be ready for another one."

"Yeah? Got that much to share with us, huh?"

Arion sighed audibly. "No, not really. They just aren't going to like the answers."

"Don't sweat it. We'll get it sorted out. And then we'll get Neil's gremlin. Or maybe you can get your own. You've certainly earned it."

He laughed softly. "I hadn't thought of that. That's a good idea too... Uh, Soren?" he asked, his voice suddenly tight but level.

"What's up?"

"I'm starting to hear some… odd noises out of this craft. How much quad-ball do we have left?"

"Down to the final count. I'll be losing radio in a minute or two. How bad is it?" "Sounds like something's about to seize up. The whole craft feels like it's straining... I'm slowing down."

"Okay. Now listen to me. My radio's going to black out for a bit while we're coming through. A little longer than usual 'cause all you have is that little broadcast unit. But I'll be there. You hear? Even if they catch up, they can't make it back with you before I get there. Don't fight. You hear me? Don't fight. They've kept you this long, they'll keep you awhile longer. I'm almost on top of you. I'll be there."

Arion laughed softly. "Did you know Raach and Sharsa are brothers?"

Soren cursed silently. "Stay with me, Arion. I'm almost there. Don't fight. Try to keep them talking, but don't fight. They can't make it back now no matter what."

"I'm with you..."

"Tell them I'm coming. Keep them talking as long as you can. They won't hurt you if they know I'm coming."

"You're breaking up Soren. I'll do what I can. Whatever happens, don't let them take me back."

Soren closed his eyes, gritting his teeth... He couldn't lose him again. He wouldn't! "What have we got?"

"They're catching up to him," said Liam, "but they're still the only dogs around."

"Anything weird at all?" Soren pressed, feeling unpleasantly blind within the Valerian. "Arion's right - they should have backed off."

"...Nothing. Maybe you were right too."

He didn't answer, wishing desperately that he could go faster. He was already pushing the limits.

"He's stopped," said Rachel. "They haven't reached him yet, but he isn't moving at all."

"Who has the margin?" he asked tensely.

"They do."

"Well they can't have him," Liam said bitterly.

Soren closed his eyes, grateful. Liam and Rachel had been sent to retrieve Arion when he crashed, but had been recalled by the Ealdred when a communication between the Venators and the Lenisats had made it clear they couldn't get there in time. The venats still had the margin, but this time they didn't have the power. ...He hoped.

"They're with him."

"...Are they taking him?"

"No", said Rachel. "Standing still."

"Call him on the radio," said Liam suddenly. "Let them hear us. Let 'em know we're real."

"Soren to Arion; come in please."

Nothing.

"This is Soren, calling Arion. Come in please."

Nothing. Was he just not answering, or was he still deaf?

"Keep trying," urged Liam.

"Soren to Arion. Come in please. Soren calling Arion. Come in please."

"This is Arion. Please repeat."

Yes! "Arion. I'm here. Do you read?"

"Loud and clear."

"How are you?"

"Surprisingly well, actually."

"Two craft leaving," reported Rachel.

"Who's that leaving?" Soren asked.

"The locals," said Arion. "Looks like Sharsa didn't pay them enough."

Soren laughed, pleased by Arion's vastly improved attitude. "Either that or - "

"We have what you want," interrupted a new, unpleasant voice. "Turn around and leave, or we'll kill him."

"Sharsa..." someone said softly, in the background, not Arion.

"He'd prefer that to my leaving him with you anyway," Soren answered casually, though his stomach had knotted tighter than he'd thought possible.

"We'll kill him," the voice repeated angrily. "Very slowly. Very painfully. Turn around and go."

"Sharsa," repeated the other voice, more firmly.

"I'm not going anywhere," said Soren, his voice taking on an edge. "I'm coming. Leave him alone or you'll regret it."

"Soren," began Arion, but he said nothing more.

"No," said the one that seemed to be Sharsa, "you'll regret it. What is it to you if we live or die? But you care about him. He's our only hope. Turn around and go, or he dies, slowly."

"Your only hope lies in letting him go," Soren informed it firmly, more uncomfortable than ever. A desperate venat was more dangerous than any other.

"Promise then."

"Promises are dangerous," answered Soren tersely, picking them up now on the Valerian's close range scanners. "Especially to a venat. Leave him, now, and I might let you live."

"You'll kill us anyway," it growled, as the Starphires passed over its head, pursuing the fleeing craft. "So maybe we'll kill him anyway."

Privately, to Liam and Rachel, Soren said, "We're in for it now. Show them we mean it."

"Got 'em," agreed Liam. One craft exploded, followed immediately by the second. They banked to return.

Arion cried out, his pain and terror appallingly audible. Soren gritted his teeth, waiting, but nothing offered. "Arion!"

Nothing.

"Arion?!"

"...Soren... Oh God... He's eating me..."

"Okay, buddy. Okay..." He paused, working to swallow both relief and horror. "You may live," he said carefully, teeth closed, hateful. "Don't force me, and I won't kill you. But if you keep hurting him, I promise you will die."

"Agreed," it said.

"Arion. You with me?"

"...Hey," he answered weakly.

Soren accepted the evidence, but said nothing, too angry to speak. Even so, he still had one or two tricks remaining. The two Starphires whistled overhead, passing them again, banking to return. Soren landed, slowing to a stop behind the crippled craft. Sparrow waited in the back as he climbed down cautiously, laser drawn.

Arion stood beside a black venat, pale and bloody. To one side stood a second, brindled venat, its stance tense, its ears turned back. It was the black one, however, that troubled him most. Not only was it far too close to Arion, it was wearing the jacket of a Kirnaach, marking it as highly dangerous. "Stand away from him, vampat," he warned it.

"Soren, no," Arion said softly, placating. "It's okay..."

Soren glanced at him, and smiled slightly. "Hey there. Can't even keep a hovercraft intact in an open field, can you? Why don't you come over here by me?"

He picked up an instrument, which Soren guessed was the mythra he had mentioned before, and came slowly. "It's all right Soren. They were just leaving."

"Leaving?" Soren echoed, laughing softly. Now that he had Arion away from it, his control was complete. "They're coming with us," he said, deeply pleased. If they resisted, he had reason to kill them, something he was more than willing to do. And if they didn't, the Kirnaach was a worthwhile prize for the Fadeys to question.

Arion looked at him, clearly understanding, but for some reason unhappy. "Soren, no. Don't. It isn't..."

"Don't sweat it, buddy. We're the ones in control here now."

"I know, but... Really, it's okay. Leave them be."

"Let them go?" he asked, incredulous, his eyes never leaving them for long.

"Yes."

Soren looked at him again. Arion was miserable, but he couldn't understand why. He whistled, soft and low. "Why? What kind of garbage are they filling you with now?"

Arion closed his eyes. "Please..."

"Okay, pal. It's your ballgame." He was deeply disappointed, but Arion was in no shape to argue, nor could they afford the time. He looked at the brindle Kirnaach, hateful and frustrated. "The man says you're free to go."

The Kirnaach nodded, solemn and formal. "Thank you, Arion."

Arion nodded in return, but remained silent. He watched the venats walk away, still looking lost and miserable. He certainly didn't look victorious.

Soren found himself frustrated. They had won; why did Arion look as though he had lost? Why had he refused to take them captive? But as Arion turned to face him, the distress in his eyes only raised more questions...

"What were you guys doing so close over here anyway?" Arion asked quickly, obviously covering up.

Soren smiled, giving him space. Certainly he had earned it. "Oh we had a sneaking hunch they just might be up to something," he answered, retrieving his satisfaction. "They've never given anyone back before, so when you showed up still alive and none too thrilled about what they told you to say, it just sort of made sense to hang close and listen."

He paused, grinning, but Arion remained silent, subdued. "Come on. We'll patch up that shoulder and get you ready to travel. Let's go." They walked to the ship and Arion climbed up and in. Soren looked back at the retreating hovercraft, shaking his head, then followed Arion in and shut the hatch.