Working out the Details July 16 (3 Apr 2003) Alice, Tom and Agatha pursue Mr. Cortlynn....

The bell on Foxworthy's door jangles as it is pushed open by Alice, hurrying after Mr. Cortlynn. It barely has a chance to quiet before pealing anew, announcing the departure of Thomas, Agatha, and Simon, following in the wake of the little girl's flouncing skirts.

Though Alice went in pursuit of Mr. Cortlynn almost immediately after he left the sweet shop, the man's long legs give him ground-eating strides. By the time she was out the door, and had pivoted anxiously to determine his direction, he was already a third of the way to Carroll St. She runs headlong after him, crying out, "Mr. Cortlynn! Mr. Cortlynn! Please!"

At first, he doesn't seem to hear her, but then, two-thirds of the way up the block, he comes to a halt, standing on the sidewalk. He doesn't turn around, but as Alice closes to within a few yards of him, he pinches the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. "Will this be cajoling, promises, insults, or threats?" he asks, wearily. "Could we stick to just one for the duration of a conversation? This going back and forth is making me dizzy."

"Oh," huff-puffs out the blonde girl as she catches her breath, "not at all. I mean not like that. Not ... huff ... Don't mind Tommy, he's ... puff ... very argue-y. He thinks everyone counts on him ... so ... he doesn't give up ... and, and, oh ... " The girl takes a deep breath before just blurting the rest out, "He means well but he forgets himself sometimes because he's afraid of letting people down and can you please not go away Mr. Cortlynn because we need you and if you come I'll show you something that belong to John Harcourt. Whew!" She plops herself down on the nearest curb and places a hand to her chest. "Please."

Mr. Cortlynn turns around. His handsome features look tired, and he has one hand against his forehead, pushing his hair back. "I don't know what you want from me. What any of you do. I don't know where Mr. Winthrope wants to take me, or why, and I'm afraid after all of that, I simply don't want to find out. If there's something you need to show me, or need me to do, you can do it here, Alice. In this world. I'm not leaving it."

"Ohhh, not even if I promised to show you a really neat travel book that belonged to John Harcourt? You know you're more difficult than a dragon. When I talked to a dragon he just wanted Jruuh to leave him alone. Grown ups are very complicated," says the little girl. "I always thought when something was in trouble people would want to fix it. But then they argue, and there are politics -- which requires a lot or arguing -- and "issues", which I think are like quests, and other things when it all looks very simple to me. I don't understand. Tommy says we have to be serious, because when you have a problem you have to be serious about it. I don't know why. Maybe it's a rule. I don't know why you don't want to help us and you Mr. Cortlynn. Isn't not being the bad guy being the good guy?"

Simon throws Thomas a look as they press through the door. "What did you do?"

Thomas follows, expression grim and intense. "I think I struck a nerve. He won't cross over so we can challenge the cursed Lord Eoin and re-write the rule. If he doesn't, I don't think we can save Lord Eoin, or anyone else," he replies grimly.

Simon turns his head quizzically to Thomas as he trails behind. "Why does he have to cross over, again? I missed that part."

The small blond figure of Alice is a little more than half-way to Carroll St, sitting down on the curb of Dickenson as Mr. Cortlynn's navy-suited figure turns to regard her, one hand pushing his short brown hair back. He wears a tired look.

"Because we have to challenge Lord Eoin, one of the original authors, that's why," Thomas replies, moving quickly after Alice. "He's not Lord Eoin here."

After excusing herself from the Winters' booth, Agatha rushes to catch up with Thomas and Simon outside the shop. "What happened?" she asks nervously.

"He won't cross over, that's what," Thomas says.

As the others approach, they can hear the grown man speaking. "Ah, are we back to me being the good guy, is it? Five minutes ago I was to travel to this place so I could be the villain. I do think you and your friends need to get your story straight," Mr. Cortlynn says to Alice, not unkindly. "I really don't think you have the least idea what you are trying to do." He takes a step backwards. "You don't know why you want me to go, or what I'm supposed to do when I get there. Doesn't that worry you?"

"I think I missed some of your conversation in the shop," Agatha says to Tom. "I was busy asking Max about getting Ariel fixed. What did you say to make Mr. Cortlynn leave so abruptly like that?"

"I missed that too," Simon says with a wry look. "Alice wanted to tell me that she'd decided I wasn't a bad guy after all. Not that I don't appreciate it."

Thomas gives Agatha an extremely irritated glare. "I attempted to convince him to cross over. First nicely, then a last ditch effort to taunt him over. Neither worked. And oh by the way, it's not like a world is in danger or anything. No need to try to focus on the task at hand, eh?" he snaps.

Reflexively, Agatha glares back, and wonders how hard it might be to fix a bit-and-bridle onto Thomas. "And then what, hmm?" she asks. "What is it we do with him once we get there?"

"Well, you see, the Rules say that Lord Eoin wrote the Rules. See, Lord Eoin, not you Mr. Cortlynn, and not Mr. Harcourt either. But I can see very well that you and Lord Eoin are the same somehow. And only you can play him, because, well, maybe you, um, well Simon thinks Lord Eoin doesn't want to be the bad guy either but the Rules make him so. So you're together, the same," the little girl waves her hands in a vague gesture of togetherness. "Just like Tommy is Lord Explorer Thomas, and I am Princess Angel. We are who we are, because we are."

"I swear none of you even have a concept of urgency. Just let me charge ahead and you'll eventually get there after you let me trip whatever lies ahead," Thomas continues, exasperated. "What we do is challenge him for the removal of some of the rules. The book states we have to challenge one of the authors As it Lord Eoin.. He is not Lord Eoin here."

Mr. Cortlynn sighs. "All right. Let us start by assuming that I am, or can play at being, this Lord Eoin. Why do I need to go somewhere else to do this? Do you stop being Alice Westfield when you're there? Are you no longerPrincess Angel while you're here?"

Kuon, watching the proceedings with obvious caution, paces alongside Thomas and Agatha and Simon, keeping a sharp eye on Alice and Mr. Cortlynn. His tail lashes back and forth.

"But the Rules weren't written in Mirari," Agatha points out. "They were written here in Ainigton. Why can't they be fixed here, Thomas?"

Thomas throws up his hands and sighs. "Because, we need Lord Eoin. The only place such a person still exists is Mirari. The original from this world is dead."

"According to Alice though, Mr. Cortlynn is Lord Eoin," Agatha counters. "Right here, right now. We have him."

The princess peers curiously at Mr. Cortlynn for a moment before answering. "That's very curious," she admits. "And maybe rather true to be sure. Sieges and gateways do not keep us form Mirari. Mirari is here when we want it, I think that's because the spirit of Mirari is here and there, and in us and even you Mr. Cortlynn. So you just may be right. Here will do."

Thomas just waves his hand. "Fine, do whatever. I'm tired of being point. You're it, Agatha, have a blast," Thomas says, giving up.

Simon glances back and forth between Thomas and Agatha, looking uncertain. "Look, if he's really Mr. Cortlynn, we probably should be treating him like a grown-up," he points out. "And if he's the Destroyer in disguise, well, I don't know about you but I'd be careful."

"Oh, and maybe you would like to know I've played Lady Angelique too -- that was Anastasia's part," adds the girl. She smiles at the thought. "I could be your sister if you didn't want to play alone."

"There's no reason we can't try to alter the Rules here first," Agatha says, in her best reasonable-babysitter tone. "If it doesn't work, we can try in Mirari. Would that be okay with you, Thomas?"

Mr. Cortlynn's lips curve into a small smile as he looks at Alice. "If here will do, then: what do we do here?" The little smile changes to a grin. "I wouldn't mind having a sister."

"Do whatever. I would just appreciate the occasional backup, you know? We don't exactly have all the time in the world. We have to do something. Idle chitchatand distractions are costing life," Thomas replies curtly.

Alice pushes herself up and brushes off her dress. "Okay," she says cheerily. "I'll play Lady Angelique. But the story is at the part where Lord Eoin is attacking the Palace of All Seasons. So I guess maybe me, who's also Princess Angel, told Lady Angelique, who's also my ancestor, that it really would be rather good if she were t come back because her brother needed her. Have to keep the story straight, or else it gets messy." She offers Mr. Cortlynn her hand. "Oh, and we have to pretend of course! Only it's not really pretend. You know." She smiles wider.

Agatha is close enough to see Alice and Mr. Cortlynn smiling, so she smiles herself and says to them, "Hello there! I apologize for anything Thomas here did to upset you, Mr. Cortlynn."

With a touch of gallantry, Mr. Cortlynn takes Alice's hand. "Well ... perhaps we shall see how your friends feel about this." He glances to Agatha at her words. "Hello again, Miss Cunningham. No need to apologize; you are not responsible for your friend's actions."

"You've got that right!" Agatha blurts out, then looks embarrassed about it.

Alice gives her approaching friends a wave with her free hand. "Hi! You know what? Grownups walk really fast, and we think we know what to do," she tells them.

Kuon sits down next to Alice, giving her a friendly lick upside the cheek. The look in his eyes as he does so conveys clearly, Are you all right? as his tail continues to agitatedly flick back and forth.

"That's good to hear, Alice," the older girl says, sounding relieved. "Mind if I go fetch the horses?"

The adult looks in good humor again, holding Alice's hand gently in his own larger one. "All right."

After a fit of giggles from the slurp Alice reaches down andrubs Kuon's head vigorously to show she's okay. "Oh sure," she then tells Agatha, "I don't mind if everyone else doesn't. Do you think we can play over at Mr. Harcourt's house? It might be good if we had something that kind-of-sort-of looked like the Palace."

"I guess that's okay," Agatha says, then starts back towards Foxworthy's. "Better there than on the street!" she calls back.

"If the location is suitable, might as well use it," Thomas replies with a shrug.

As Agatha reaches Foxworthy's, the front door swings open, and out hobbles Maximillan, followed by Sabrina - who had been holding the door, and who is now holding a pack. "Agatha!" she calls out, waving her free hand. "Your friends forgot something!" Maximillan, meanwhile, awkwardly clutches a small bundle of cloth holding the remains of Ariel.

Simon looks a bit uneasy at the sudden change in mood. "I think I missed something again," he says. "What are we doing now?"

Mr. Cortlynn glances, briefly, at Tom, then looks to the girls again. "Perhaps," he suggests, his voice soft but serious and carrying, "we should decide what we are playing at, first."

"Oh!" Agatha says as she comes to a stop. "That bag? Thanks Sabrina! I'll bring it back to them," she adds, smiling and holding her hand out for the pack. "We're heading over to the Manor right now, and I need to pick up the horses. They're out behind the building right now."

"Hey Tommy do you want to play Lord Bram?" Alice asks. "Because it might be good that way. I said I'd play Lady Angelique, and maybe myself as Princess Angel too. And you could be Lord Thomas too if you want to. But oh, I forget myself -- rushing all ahead! Mr. Cortlynn was saying that he didn't want to go to Mirari, and he reminded me of the time we played before we used Sieges. I thought we could play like that again. Mirari isn't so very far away really when you're pretending. And that way we could play other parts too."

Thomas nods. "It's probably worth a shot. I've been many of the places Bram supposedly had been, anyway," he says.

Sabrina grins. "Oh, really? The manor? Do you think maybe we could come along and see?" She hands the pack over, its contents shifting inside as she does so.

Simon looks wary. "So we're going to play Lady Angelique and Lord Bram and... Lord Eoin? And do what?"

Maximillan looks a bit uncomfortable. "Horses," he mutters, barely audible, as he looks down at the cloth-wrapped bundle.

Cortlynn's eyes flick to Tom again, then he nods to Simon. "Indeed. If it's all the same to you, I, for one, don't want to play the parts where I'm killing pegasi or noble knights."

"And the legends did say Lady Angelique and Lord Bram vanished. So maybe they can return too! That way Mr. Cortlynn can meet them. They're Lord Eoin's brother and sister, and it would be good if they forgave each other." The girl gives the two new arrivals a friendly wave as well before she turns to answer Simon. "Well, wouldn't it be neat if we pretended up the Challenge and Lady Angelique and Lord Bram could be there to save their brother, because they really do care and came back to help him?"

Slinging the pack over her shoulder, Agatha thinks about Maximillan's reaction to horses. "I suppose. It wouldn't hurt to have Pelles of Caer Bannuac for this. It's a bit of a walk though, unless you're willing to try riding? These horses are... special. They can talk, and would never let anyone have an accident."

Sabrina sucks in her breath, as if something has suddenly occurred to her, and she looks worriedly back at Maximillan.

"I'm not exactly sure how these challenges are supposed to work," Mr. Cortlynn says, coming to a halt beside Agatha and the other children, "but I didn't get the impression that was quite it.

"According to the first Rule, if we want to modify those that exist, we have to challenge the validity of the rules and the like and the authors of them should they refute a change or whatnot," Thomas replies and runs a hand through his hair.

"If the challenge is won, we can change it. If the challenge is lost, the loser owes a boon to the other," he then adds.

Maximillan says, "Special horses. I wouldn't mind seeing them, but I think I should get a car ride over if it's that far." He still looks at the bundle.

Overhearing that last statement of Thomas', Agatha turns towards him and asks, "What about for adding new Rules to the end? A fifty-third Rule?"

The younger boy visibly thinks Alice's proposal through, then eyes her. "Do I have to play the Jester for this, or can I be a knight or magician or something?"

Bringing two fingers up to her mouth, Agatha lets out a loud horse-whistle. After all, she didn't actually tie Ahearn and Destre's bridles to the post behind Foxworthy's.

"I say you can be whatever you want, Simon," Mr. Cortlynn states, with surprising firmness.

"If we want to add, a similar rule applies. If the winner is the one who wishes to add, it gets added. If the other wins, then the rule is not made, and a boon is owed to the other," Thomas replies with a shrug. "We'll probably have to get Max to be the arbiter of the situation and present the challenges to us."

"It doesn't say the Challenge has to be hurtful. It does say there are three parts to the Challenge and that someone, um ... neutral has to pick them. Challenges of Mind, Body, and Spirit," explains Alice. Again she turns to Simon to answer him, saying, "I think you can play the part you want to. So maybe you should think hard who you want to be so you know when we arrive."

A moment after she whistles, two horses -- a dusty white gelding and a black stallion -- come trotting up from the back of Foxworthy's, ears pricked.

Simon nods thoughtfully. "But... Who or what would you like me to be, if you had a choice?" He gives Thomas and Agatha looks inviting them to suggest a choice as well.

"Choose the knight, Simon," Agatha suggests, remembering Rebecca's prophecy of two warriors standing besides Lord Mel for the challenge.

Maximillan looks up, startled. "Oh. I thought ... I thought when you said 'behind the building,' you meant ... well ... not here." He pales at the sight of the two large creatures.

"Well, since apparently I don't class as any sort of warrior, according to Agatha, you could go that route. But, I agree with Mr. Cortlynn, you should pick. You are your own person and should choose your destiny," Thomas replies to Simon.

Mr. Cortlynn smiles at Tom's remark. He watches Sabrina and Max for a moment, contemplatively.

Distracted by the arrival of the horses, Agatha automatically checks their bridles and tack with one hand while patting her pockets for sugar... before remembering she doesn't have any pockets on these clothes. Switching to horse-speak, she whispers, "These two are Maximillan and his sister Sabrina, but they're also Pelles and Bragwaine. The boy is frightened of horses though, so if you can say anything to calm him down, feel free."

Sabrina giggles. "I think Simon makes a splendid knight. I mean, he even found the Holy Grail! Oh! And hello there!" She waves to Alice and Mr. Cortlynn.

"Well," says Alice, considering, "I remember you when you played a knight. And you were very brave and dashing. And I liked that very much!"

At Agatha's approach, the horses turn to watch her, then nod. A moment later, they each bow, low and formally, to the young boy and his sister.

Simon grins suddenly. "All right then. Boy, this will be a real switch, but I guess I'll pick the knight. After all, fair's fair, and if a knight could pretend to be me, I bet I can pretend to be the knight, right? Thanks, miss..." He gives Sabrina a look of curiosity.

"Hello!" responds Alice cheerily. Then she blinks and leans forward a little to peer at Sabrina before whispering to Thomas, "Is that Miss Meow?"

Thomas huffs a laugh and nods.

Agatha introduces the pair of equines to the Winters. "This big black fellow is Destre, and this unassuming guy is Ahearn. If you stare at him really closely, you might get a surprise," she says, winking at Max and Sabrina.

Maximillan frowns soberly. "I have a bad history with horses, but ... I can handle it, thank you." He gives Simon a belated, odd look, then says, "Winters. I'm Maximillan Winters, and this is my sister, Sabrina. Our parents are visiting for the summer. We're staying with John and Lauren Winters - our uncle and aunt."

Do they like surprises? Ahearn asks Agatha, in horse speech. After the incident with Mrs. Smith, I'm feeling a bit wary.

Sabrina bows to the horses. "Pleased to meet you!"

"They're relatively safe as horses go, if a bit pushy," Thomas comments.

"Oh! Well, great to meet you, Max," Simon says, shaking hands. "So you two are coming along? Boy, this should get interesting."

Maximillan blinks some more. "Is this part of the play-acting, or something? You're acting as if we've never met before."

"Wow!" exclaims Alice at Thomas's reply. She smiles wider, peering at Sabrina with a new found awe. Then she leans over to whisper to Mr. Cortlynn. "That's Miss Meow andSorcerer Pelles. Pelles? I forget. I think Sabrina was familiar too. I always wanted to meet her after Tommy talked about them both."

"I'm not even sure how to tell them that this Simon isn't the one who went on their Quest," Agatha tells Ahearn. "I don't think Sabrina would have any trouble with seeing the real you."

Clockwork ticks behind Simon's eyes. "Yeah, don't mind me," he whispers into Max's ear. "I'm pretending that I was kidnapped by the Destroyer and I only just got back when Tom found me. It's all good."

Ahearn nods to Agatha, then says to Sabrina, And I you, Sabrina Winters. He adds another bow, not as low.

"Sabrina's a bit overly familiar, if you ask me," Thomas comments dryly. "We could continue this discussion on the way, you know. People are going to start staring at this odd group if we stay here too long."

Sabrina laughs loudly. "Wow! Did you see that?"

"Yeah, if we've got everything and everyone," Agatha agrees, and looks to Alice next. "You have Lord Mel with you, right?"

The little girl pulls her favorite stuffed animal out of her purse to show Agatha by way of an answer. "Yep!" she adds unnecessarily before she hugs him to her chest with her free hand.

"And we've got the book of Rules?" Agatha asks next, looking to Thomas. "Oh, and you left this in the booth," she adds, holding out the pack."

Thomas takes the pack. "Yes, we have it," he replies.

Simon yipes quietly, "I forgot that?" and then pantomimes wiping sweat from his forehead.

Leaning down, Agatha whispers to Maximillan, "If you want, you can ride on Destre with me. His saddle's big enough, but you'd have to sit in front of me. Ahearn has a lot of... stuff on his back right now." Like my sword and armor all wrapped in a bundle, she thinks.

Maximillan just nods absently, still looking a bit pale as he looks up at the horse and musters his courage. "Whatever you say," he says, quietly.

Harcourt Manor
This grand old Victorian house off of Webber Way used to be the favorite "haunted house" of the children, but a few months ago an older gentleman moved in, Richard, who has begun to renovate the place, to their disappointment. Two gables look out from the roof of the two story manor, and vines crawl up the walls, from which plaster has fallen in places to expose brickwork. One end of the house rises to an eight-windowed cupola, though one of the windows was broken and has been covered with a wide plank of plywood.

Along the way back to the manor, the group discusses the Rules, and roles. As they walk around to the back, Mr. Cortlynn is saying, "Seems to me if we're going to do a Challenge, you need to decide what Rule you're changing first. Or should I pick a Rule to change and Challenge you on it?"

"Or perhaps, we should add one, such as making the Warlock some sort of weird evil curse, which we could then remove from Lord Eoin and free him, and you, from having to be the villain," Thomas suggests on the way. "Then, we could undo the rule about the Years End warlock never being defeated and replace it with defeating him utterly. Just thoughts."

"Thomas, you pointed out before that there are 52 Rules and 52 Years of Mirari," Agatha says. "Do you think the number of Rules limits how long Mirari can last?"

"If Lord Eoin no longer feels he must be mean, then he shouldn't want to defend any Rules that are bad any more," says little Alice. "Also I think we should chose to accept the Challenge together. Since there are three parts three of us could Challenge. Or all of us together could do them each, maybe."

Simon says to Alice, "So, you're going to be Lady Angelique, and Thomas is going to be Lord Bram... But why exactly did you two come back? Seems to me, just now, if they were coming back for anything, it'd be to smack around monsters and undeads and save all Mirari from the Destroyer."

"No, I don't think so," Thomas replies. "It's just interesting to note that. There's no rule saying the number of rules corresponds to the number of years."

The greyhound trots along, keeping a close ear on the proceedings.

"I vote for changing number 32, about the monarch passing into Historie after his Year of rule," Agatha puts in. "They should be able to retire or return to their Houses."

Thomas says, "We can handle that rule after we stop the immediate problem, Agatha. Lets try to end the battle and save lives first. I'd like to see Lord Eoin free, if that is what he wishes. I just fear he may be rule bound to challenge us anyway, even if he doesn't want to."

Maximillan looks puzzled, shifting in the saddle uncomfortably. "Well, if you are Angelique, Bram and Eoin, from the book, and you have no objection to any rules changes, then I don't suppose there's really any challenge, now is there? Just write a rule, hold a vote, and that's that. It sounds surprisingly dull to me, really."

"Good point, Maximillan," John Cortlynn remarks, sounding good-humored. "Not much of a game. Clearly, I shall have to block any changes."

"Except when one of the people who can change the rules may be currently bound by them to fight it. Though, the rules never directly state Lord Eoin had to be the Years End Warlock," Thomas says, again. "I think we may need to do some clarification first."

"Well, the key Rule to the conflict seems to be the last one then, about the Year's End never being defeated and eventually triumphing. Maybe we can change it to, 'The Year's End shall always return, until at last he is defeated by Lord Eoin.' Think that would solve things?" Agatha asks.

"Yes," Thomas says, "I think that sounds good to me."

Alice tilts her head at Simon's comment. She purses her lips before answering. "Lady Angelique and Lord Bram are the sister and brother of Lord Eoin. The founders of House April, House October, and House January. It was that Lord Eoin used to love his brother and sister very much, but they fell in to fighting over the crown. In Ainigton this was the same time they fought over who would rule Mirari. I believe they would return not only to help Mirari but to help their brother because they feel sad over what has become of him." To Maximillan Alice continues, "Rule 26 also says that the Destroyer will seek the crown until he has it and by that destroy Mirari. If Lord Eoin has become the Destroyer he would be caught in that Rule."

"A Rule to reconcile him with the others could be added then," Agatha suggests. "Maybe involving the resurrection of Ariel?"

"Or heck, let him be crowned King after he defeats the Destroyer!" the redhead adds.

Simon points out, "We could always get rid of all the Rules... Start over from scratch, and write new, fairer rules. Rules that don't say that anyone has to be something, that everyone can pick what they want to be."

"I think we need to separate Lord Eoin from the Destroyer first. Second, remove the rules saying the Destroyer can't be defeated and all that, Third, maybe a new rule stating an age of peace and prosperity will begin when the three find peace and forgiveness with each other,," Thomas says.

"That might undo the past though, Simon," Agatha warns, and with a glance at Tom adds, "And we've already had enough of that, I think."

John Cortlynn walks around on the lawn behind the manor, breathing in the warm air. He turns to face the kids and stretches out in the grass, watching them discuss their plans.

The younger boy purses his lips thoughtfully at Thomas's suggestions. "Can we do all that in one challenge?"

Maximillan says in a low whisper to Agatha, "I think my father might actually enjoy all this, if he were here, and find all sorts of loopholes, to the point of driving us all to tears. He's a lawyer, you see." After a pause, he adds, "And, oh, by the way, can I please get some help down from this horse now?"

"Well, saying that Eoin is the one who finally defeats the Destroyer should take care of the separation bit and never being defeated bit," Agatha says.

"Might I recommend you try to get everything you want in one Challenge?" Mr. Cortlynn says. A little smile is playing on his lips again. "You may not want to have to go through it again, if you don't get it right the first time."

Agatha smacks herself on the forehead, and helps Maximillan down from Destre.

"I don't think a Rule should be needed for forgiveness," says Alice. "It should not be forced, it should come from the heart. We must be very careful not to add or remove Rules that could change Mirari. As I see things Rule 26 and Rule 52 are very dangerous. Rule 26 causes the Destroyer to want the crown, and Rule 52 means he can't be defeated till he gets it. If Rule 26 was gone, then Triumph could mean anything. Triumph could mean his freedom. At last he triumphs over having to be bad."

"Possibly, if we word what we want to do right. Such as change the last rule, such that ... 'If Lord Eoin isfreed from the Destroyers grasp, united with his family, Then can the Destroyer be utterly and forever defeated and a new age of prosperity begin'," Thomas says.

"I'm not sure we can change Rule 26 without altering history though," Agatha notes after Max is on the ground again.

Agatha says, "The 52nd Rule is the only one that hasn't come into effect yet, so it seems the safest to change, at least to me."

Maximillan leans on his walking stick, and nods to Agatha. "Much obliged."

"I think we have to add a new rule, stating some reason a change will overcome Mirari now, that negates an earlier rule. That avoids destroying the past," Thomas says.

Maximillan finally nods to Alice. "What you said earlier - now, that, I think my father would approve of. It says that he triumphs - but over what? It's open to interpretation. Of course, that can be good or bad, depending upon who is doing the interpreting."

Sabrina sits on the grass, plucking dandelions. "Meow," she says.

Simon points out, "Rule 5."

"And has anyone found any proof that Mr. Cortlynn is really from this world and not the other?" Thomas whispers. "I'm getting a bad vibe."

Alice gives Maximillan a little nod back. "Rule 26 says tha-" she suddenly giggles when Sabrina meows causing her to apparently lose her train of thought.

"The one that's been pasted over?" Agatha asks Simon.

Mr. Cortlynn grins at Sabrina. "Hey, do I get a familiar as Lord Eoin? Someone to plot evil with, or whatever it is I end up doing, if I'm not evil."

"Yeah, rule five was changed once. We still have to be careful though, or we could simply write out people," Thomas points out.

Sabrina says, "I'm already spoken for. I'm Bragwaine, familiar to Sorcerer Pelles. Meow!"

Simon nods. "I'm saying we should do what's right, what's good, not just what's convenient."

"Rats," Cortlynn says, amiably. He lays back in the grass again, gazing up at the sky.

Agatha rereads that particular Rule about familiars, and then says, "Well, since you were sorta taken to be the Destroyer's familiar, Simon, that makes you a Hare."

"He can't be a hare!" Sabrina protests. "He's Sir Lefallon!"

The younger boy blinks. "Uh..."

"Anyway, Simon, who are we to dictate what's right and good for Mirari?" Agatha points out. "A Rule to let them challenge Rules might be better. But the more Rules there are, the more complicated it all gets."

Once Alice manages to contain her giggles, and regain her line of thought, she continues where she left off telling Maximillan, "The Rule says," she pauses as she seems to try and remember the exact wording, "-it says: Lord Melchizedek, Protector of Mirari, shall lead all people in defending the crown from the bad and powerful warlock of the Year's End, who so doesn't like Mirari that he shall seek the crown, even knowing that if he gained it, all Mirari would be destroyed. Destroyed with a capitol D, which must be worse than regular destroyed."

"If it makes things simpler, we could write me as one who becomes the villain then you all beat and kill me," Thomas points out with a shrug. "If it helps end this and save lives, it's worth it."

"I don't think that would work," Simon says seriously. "I just couldn't see it."

Alice reaches over and gives Thomas a little push. "Oh phoo, don't be silly. We don't need to lose anyone else. We want to save people and that means you too," she tells him.

Ahearn snorts. I suggest that as long as you're changing the Rules, you may as well change them so that no one needs to get killed.

Maximillan sits down on the grass beside Sabrina, setting his cane across his lap, then says, "Well, I suppose if we could fix up this doll right here, we have a pegasus that could be someone's familiar."

"Say, I'm the evil one that broke her, aren't I? Maybe I've got her as my evil zombie-minion already," Mr. Cortlynn muses, gazing at the clouds above. "I mean, there's no saying evil minions have to look right, is there?"

"They usually don't. I've seen the wraiths up close and personal," Thomas comments.

Simon brrs at the thought. "Okay, let's get this straight and pick one rule, and say what we want to change it to, okay?"

Sabrina shudders at this, too. "Well, how about a ghost? That's a lot less ... gross."

"Sorry. Just trying to get into this whole evil thing," Mr. Cortlynn says.

"Well, evil doesn't have to be gross, that's all," Sabrina says, shrugging.

"Hey, could we perhaps change the last rule to be: 'The Destroyer shall always return until defeated utterly, where he will become free to choose his own path.'" Thomas suggests. "It would then let Lord Eoin do what he wanted and be good, if we wished to."

"Oh," adds Alice in Maximillan's direction, "what I mean is that Rule 26 says the Warlock "so doesn't like Mirari" and will try to get the crown even if it destroys Mirari. It's in the Rules. So whoever is the Year's End ... " she blinks several times at all this talk of what to do with Arial and seems to try very hard to keep her train of thought this time, " ... has to be mean and wants to destroy Mirari. And no zombifying Lady Ariel! Please, have some manners for poor Lady Ariel and Lord Mel. She's his wife you know."

Simon points out, "Then we have to defeat him 'utterly', however you do that."

Ahearn says, Rule 26, then. If it doesn't say the Year's End is trying to get the crown, or that it'll destroy Mirari for him to get it, we wouldn't be in this fix.

Maximillan says, "You know, the way Rule 52 is phrased ... 'He shall never be defeated ... until at last he Triumphs,' ... could be read to mean that once he triumphs - at whatever - then at last he may or may not be defeated."

The blonde nods to Ahearn, though the wrinkle-nosed expression on her face at the thought of zombified Ariel continues to remain on her face. "The last Rule just says he Triumphs. It doesn't say over what. Rule 26 says what he's supposed to do."

"True. We should just wipe that rule, maybe. How would that affect history, though?" Thomas asks.

"The Rule doesn't just say that though," explains Alice who continues to blanch. "It also says Lord Mel will lead all good people in the defense against the Warlock."

Agatha lets everything wash over as she listens and thinks. "According to Rule 26, the Year's End can only Triumph by taking the crown and destroying Mirari - by returning it to a sort of unformed chaos, according to Lord Mel's description. So, to change Triumph, we have to change Rule 26. To prevent Triumph, we have to change 52."

"We could strike the part that if he gets the crown, Mirari ends," Thomas says. Parts of rules have been changed before.

"We could just change it a bit," suggests Alice helpfully. "Rules can be changed. The Challenge is the same if a Rule is changed or removed."

"Changing part of the rule is simpler. Though, I'd really like to mod the one about ruling only for a year. They should be allowed to live out their lives," Thomas says.

"Which one Rule can we change or remove to deal with the immediate crisis?" Agatha asks.

Simon mulls this over with a look toward Alice. "You know, I think the Destroyer is kind of the underdog, and I'd like to see the underdog get his day."

"Quickly? To protect Mirari from destruction, Rule 26," Thomas replies.

"So, even if he got the crown, Mirari would endure," Thomas then adds.

Mr. Cortlynn grins at Simon. "Thank you, my good sir. I need all the allies I can get, I'm sure."

"By just getting rid of the 'All Mirari would be Destroyed' part?" Agatha asks Thomas.

"Rule 26? If Lord Eoin isn't being bad he may help us change other Rules. Then we won't need to Challenge after that," answers Alice. Then she peers at Simon. "Just because someone hurt you doesn't mean it's fair or right to hurt them back, or someone else. It makes you just like them."

"We could change it so it says he doesn't hate Mirari, you know," Thomas says.

"One word," Thomas points out.

The younger boy grins, abashed. "Well, it's the Rule at fault," he says. "Maybe Lord Eoin would really have done a good job back then if they'd let him, and they're afraid to find out differently."

Alice frowns at this. "I think the part that should change is that he hates Mirari. Even if Mirari didn't get Destroyed a bad man as king is still a bad man who rules. People would be hurt." She nods to Thomas.

Simon corrects himself, "Were afraid."

Maximillan struggles back to his feet, leaning on his cane. "Agatha, is there a telephone I can use? Maybe I should call my uncle to get a ride. We could drop off ... ah ... 'Ariel' by Kia's Restoration, and I could get a few things for a proper game. I suppose with this 'challenge' business, there'll be a quest or puzzle involved, right?"

"Err," Agatha says, scratching at her cheek. "What difference would it make if he hates Mirari or not, when the outcome would still be the same if got the Crown?" She gets up and gets out the key for the back door to the kitchen. "Sure, follow me, Maximillan."

Just change the whole Rule. Or, since we're worried about changing the past: change it so that it says the Lord Protector thinks the Year's End will destroy Mirari, but he's wrong. Or something to that effect. It's the same challenge whether you change every part of the Rule or just one word, Ahearn observes.

At the mention of calling Alice blinks a few times. "Oh! I need to make a, um, call too. Can I go inside the manor for a little bit Agatha?" asks the blonde.

Sabrina hops up, wiping grass off her jeans, and then skips after Agatha and Maximillan.

"Come on then, Alice," Agatha says.

"And that he was wrong about the Destroyer hating Mirari. Perhaps he was trying to take over, to end the rule that causes Kings to rule only one year," Thomas muses.

"Okay!" And Alice skips along after Agatha too.

"So get rid of 'hate', and change 'Mirari would be destroyed' to 'the cycle of the Year would be broken'," Agatha suggests while she unlocks the door and lets people into the kitchen.

Tom says, "That works," Thomas says. "If we note that the Lord Protector and such were simply wrong about the outcome of him becoming King, then it would allow the past to remain as it is.""

"Irrevocably changed," Simon intones in an ominous voice. "But not destroyed."

"If I've been a villain for 52 years, this must be some misunderstanding. Maybe you'd better just tack something in about me coming to my senses now. If Kings only have to rule for a single Year, I don't see why I should have to be a villain forever. There ought to be a statute of limitations on it," Cortlynn suggests.

Maximillan mutters to Agatha, "Really, I think rules that dictate what to think or feel are going too far. Who wrote this, anyway? That book looks old."

"I still think we should somehow set it up for the Warlock to have been cursed somehow, so once freed, he won't be persecuted for what happened," Tom says.

"The Harcourts wrote it," answers Alice as she steps inside the house and reaches in to her purse again. "John, Bryant, and Anastasia Harcourt. Say, do you think a unicorn would fit in here Maximillan?"

Cortlynn glances across Sabrina to Tom. "You know, Bram, none of this would ever have happened if you and Ana had just been reasonable and let me be King," he says, mildly.

Thomas shrugs. "You know how ladies are. They were dead-set on

Thomas shrugs. "You know how ladies are. They were dead-set on Riordan to be king. I had little choice. And it's not like you approached it calmly, anyway. You always were a bit intense, Eoin," Thomas says.

Sabrina skips back from the back door. "Do you think Agatha would mind if I pet the horses? Do they bite?"

"I doubt they'd mind. Just don't try to ride Ahearn. He's cranky," Thomas says.

"Oh, neither of you would listen to me, even before Riordan came along. I'd've made a better king. At least I wouldn't have walked out on you after a single Year." Cortlynn has his head pillowed against his arms as he lies in the grass.

Simon fetches out a pencil and a piece of scrap paper from the pack. "So, Rule Twenty Six will go like this... The Lord Melchizedek, blah blah blah, defending the crown from the cursed Warlock of the Year's End, fearing that until his curse was lifted, ..." He chews on the tip of the pencil, then glances sideways to where Thomas and Mr. Cortlynn are addressing one another. His voice trails off.

Ahearn snorts. The Lord Explorer confuses his mood with mine. I do not bite, and I do not object to being petted, he tells Sabrina.

Sabrina gives Thomas a funny look, then pats Ahearn's side. "You're a beautiful horse!"

"That's a good start, Sir Lefallon, do go on," Cortlynn says encouragingly.

"Well, if you would have discussed it calmly, maybe we would have realized that. But, that's in the past. We need to fix where were are now, Eoin. I'd like to amend our differences. Will you help us bring stability to our world?" Thomas replies, then glances at Simon. "Quite, I think that works..."

"Oh, wait!" Sabrina says. "Are we supposed to be playing parts now? Meow!"

"And if you hadn't gone off like you did, you wouldn't have been cursed, you know," Thomas says. "We really do want to help you."

Thank you, Ahearn says, nuzzling the top of Sabrina's head. You are even prettier as a human than you are as a cat.

Sabrina squeals and grabs for her hair at the nuzzling. "Don't chew my hair off! I don't want to be bald, silly horse!"

"Well, you know how it is, fifty-odd Years of being cursed, affects the brain. You get used to it, you know? Hard to want to change back." He narrows his eyes, squinting at the clouds.

The younger boy swallows, looking toward Mr. Cortlynn, then Thomas. He continues, writing as he goes, "Fearing that until his curse was lifted, that his rulership of Mirari would destroy it. But... What should I say about his curse? Can we make the Rule cover that too?"

Ahearn obligingly makes chewing, slurping noises over Sabrina's head, without actually touching her hair.

"I don't see why not," Cortlynn says. "Some of those Rules are quite long."

"Doesn't mean you can't change. That's what family is for -- well, that and giving you a hard time. But seriously, will let us help you get free?" Thomas replies to Cortlynn, then turns to Simon. "Certainly could. Say the curse came Lord Eoin's quest to prove his worthiness? He challenged a demon or whatnot that cursed him to be the doom of the world he loved?"

"Ooo," Sabrina says. "Probably working demons into this would be bad. I'm sure Uncle John and Auntie Lauren would not approve at all. They have a hard enough time with Maxie playing at being a sorcerer. He just says he's a 'wise man' around them."

Simon furrows his brows at Thomas's suggestion. "Are we putting that in to make it sound cool or is that supposed to be a clue how to break the curse, or what?"

"That's good. Maybe it gave me my horrible temper, too. While we're at it." Cortlynn considers Sabrina's comment. "Hmm, point to you, miss. Perhaps it should be a dragon or a monster instead."

"Or a bad fairy. Or a genie. Or an evil wizard. Or a gorgon," Sabrina offers.

"Well, we need something that caused the curse. It was a quick thought. If you have a better suggestion, I'm open," Thomas replies with a shrug. "It would make sense if some creature caused it, be it a monster or whatnot."

"A gorgon?" Cortlynn glances at Sabrina, curious.

"Snake haired woman, I think," Thomas comments.

Sabrina nods. "That's what Max says Medusa was. See, that was her name. She wasn't a Medusa. She was a Gorgon."

"She was also cursed, but anyway. Hmm. What could Eoin have been doing at the time? Went out to defend people against something to prove his worthiness? Would that mean then we might need to defeat it now? Hmm," Thomas muses.

"Sounds nasty. What about a sphinx? Then you could break the curse by solving her riddle." Mr. Cortlynn plucks a blade of grass and nibbles on it, thoughtfully.

"Oooo! That's a great idea!" Sabrina says. "Though I'm not very good at riddles. I mean, the really hard ones often have answers that are really dumb, that make you wonder how anyone is supposed to figure them out. But that would be neat if we could come up with a really good one."

"A mental challenge would be safer than a physical one. We get the rule changed, then break the curse once that rule becomes Mirari," Thomas mutters and starts pacing.

"Well, we wouldn't need to come up with the riddle. That'd be the sphinx's job, right?" Cortlynn folds his hands beneath his head again.

"Right. The only thing we need initially do is go through the rule challenge bit. Or really, would we need to challenge? I guess so long at that old rule is in effect, the Warlock has to oppose us. Feh," Thomas says.

"What's a Warlock, anyway?" Sabrina asks.

"A certain type of magic user," Thomas answers. "I've never been quite clear on the distinction between an enchanter, warlock, and wizard."

Simon scribbles some more. "Stricken by the curse of a sphinx, Lord Eoin had become possessed of fiery temper and great wrath..." He lifts his pencil, thinking.

"The warlocks are the deceivers," Cortlynn says. "They do illusions and lies and trick people."

"Who granted him power over much of the evil creatures in the world? That would explain his army," Thomas says to Simon.

"Or do we really need to go that specific?" Thomas asks.

"Oh, like a stage magician, then!" Sabrina says. "And I guess it'd make sense that he'd have an army, if he's a war-lock. Right?"

The younger boy writes this down dutifully. "You tell me, I'm just trying to figure out what we all want the Rule to say," he says.

"I'm afraid if we're too vague, we'll get into a worse situation. But if we go too specific, eh," Thomas grumbles.

Simon chews on the tip of his pencil a while, thinking.

"Well, I think you should do away with any rules that tell people how they ought to feel," Sabrina says. "I mean, I love my big brother, but if there were a rule that said I had to, then I probably would get upset, just because."

"The others should be contributing ideas, too. The reason we want to set this, is to define why the Warlock was bad and give us a way to undo it so he can be free. That way, we don't destroy their history, yet we still fix the problem," Thomas points out.

"You should probably put in something about no one knowing that Eoin was cursed. Explain why no one tried to help him before," Mr. Cortlynn offers helpfully.

"Alice wanted to bring in Lady Angelique and Lord Bram, didn't she?" Simon ponders this. "Should we mention that in here somewhere?" He grins suddenly and teases Thomas, "What do you think, Lord Bram?"

"I think I'll refuse to have antlers, thanks. Hmm," Thomas grumbles. "We could note Lord Bram and Lady Angelique vanished trying to help their brother break free. And the problem with it being completely secret is how do we explain how people knew if he became king, the world would end?"

"Well, how did they know in the first place?" Sabrina asks.

Perhaps that's what Lord Eoin told them would happen. He's under a curse. He needn't behave rationally, Ahearn suggests.

"True," Thomas says.

"It's only now that people discover that it's the curse he's under that would cause it. And freeing him would negate that, and so on, as we've gone through," Thomas suggests.

"It's a pity you can't do this with problems in the real world," Mr. Cortlynn says. "Wouldn't it be nice? 'Rats, I got fired from my job. Well, I'll just go change the Rules so that my employer realizes how valuable I was and hires me back.'"

"I'd prefer it if we couldn't do it to this world too. You can make accidental changes," Thomas replies grimly.

Simon rewrites a bit and offers his wording up to the others. "The Lord Melchizedek, blah blah blah, defending the crown from the cursed Warlock of the Year's End, fearing that should he take up the Crown of Mirari, his fiery temper and great wrath and his army of evil monsters would spell the end of Mirari. Neither he nor the Lord Angelique and the Lady Bram, who were much worried over the disappearance of Lord Eoin, realized that a sphinx's curse had befallen their brother. Until fifty Years had passed, none would know the nature of the curse, until it was revealed to them..." He hesitates, pencil stopping at the last letter, then suggests, "How it might be broken?"

Sabrina looks over Simon's shoulder. "Are you sure there's even room to squeeze all that in there?"

"I suppose by answering the Sphinx's riddle. That would be the most obvious way. Defeat the Sphinx," Thomas says, then adds with a grin, "And hey, Sabrina, haven't you ever edited a paper, just scratched out a spot and said: See bottom of page?"

Simon grins up at Sabrina, "I can write small!" He writes in really tiny letters, "By a wise cat," teasing her.

Sabrina giggles. "Yes, well, it's just that this is such a nice book, and I wouldn't want it to look sloppy. I mean, you're actually going to write in this? It looks like this book belongs in a museum or something."

"We ought to paste a new page over the old Rule. To keep it neat," Cortlynn says.

Sabrina nods. "Or sew it into the binding."

"Either works for me. We should get a nice pen to write it in with, too," Thomas says.

Simon frowns. "I don't know... I don't think we get to write in it until we pass the challenge, anyway."

Agatha emerges from the house, followed closely by the familiar tall, black-haired figure of the lady sorceress. Alice and Max emerge last. Nymuae hisses in a breath at the sight of Mr. Cortlynn.

"Oh great, the wicked witch is here," Thomas mutters under his breath.

Holding up her hands in a 'whoa' gesture, Agatha says, "Nobody attacking anyone else! That includes you too, Thomas."

The younger boy looks up, surprised. "Alice made a phonecall to Mirari?" he says, incredulous. "Next there'll be flights from the City to Mirari, twice a day!"

Sabrina looks up. "Oh! Hi there!" She waves to the newcomer. "Are you here to play, too?"

"Who said I was going to attack anyone?" Thomas asks.

Alice hurries forward to take Nymuae's hand at her reaction. "Mr. Cortlynn, that is Mr. John Cortlynn, is a nicer man than many give him credit for. Please come sit with me. I'll tell you what has happened." She gives the sorceress's hand a little tug.

Mr. Cortlynn stands, brushing grass from his suit. "Good afternoon, m'lady. You must be my ally? Bram hates me, too," he adds, confidentially.

Nymuae ignores Thomas in favor of studying Mr. Cortlynn. "Bram?" she says, skeptically.

"Just in case you were thinking about it, Thomas," Agatha replies, and turns her attention back to Nymuae and Cortlynn.

Simon whispers to Sabrina, "Maybe we'd better take cover, the fireworks are about to start flying."

"We're pretending. I believe I'm a good guy pretending to be a villain pretending to be a good guy. Or maybe that's the other way around. I've not quite got the hang of it yet." Mr. Cortlynn offers Nymuae his hand. She looks at it.

Sabrina whispers back, "Boy, they really pick on Tommy, don't they?"

"He sort of seems to attract it, but he's a good guy," Simon assures Sabrina. "He saved me from getting picked on by a bully, the first day I met him."

"We're trying to save a great many people. And we think we have a re-formed rule that may work for what we need. Or, at least the start. Simon, would you read the notes you've taken?" Thomas asks.

Sabrina nods, still whispering asides to Simon. "Really? That's neat. Say, who's the lady who just came? She and Mr. Cortlynn - are they about the same age? They both dress really nice."

The blonde nudges Nymuae encouragingly.

Simon startles at being addressed directly. He whispers hurriedly, "That's Nymuae! Or maybe Rebecca... You'd better call her Nymuae," before standing to recite from the paper.

The sorceress allows Alice to take her left hand. With some reluctance, she offers Mr. Cortlynn her right. Curiously, he bows over it, kissing the air above her knuckles, rather than shaking it. Nymuae watches him as if he were a poisonous snake.

Sabrina whispers to herself, "Poor Mr. Cortlynn. I don't think she likes him."

"Nym, could you come here a second when you get free? I have a question," Thomas says.

As if the effort of peacemaking washed away the girl's own woes the blonde girl seems to cheer up a bit when Lady Nymuae allows Mr. Cortlynn to take her hand. "I know the glamour looks really weird," the little girl stands on her tip-toes to whisper, "but you kind of get used to it. If you'll let me explain I'll tell you why I think Mr.Cortlynn and Lord Eoin are the same, and what we've been trying to do."

Simon reads in a voice that starts tremulously but grows stronger, "The Lord Melchizedek, Protector of Mirari, shall lead all Good Folk in defending the crown from the cursed Warlock of the Year's End, fearing that should he take up the Crown of Mirari, his fiery temper and great wrath and his army of evil monsters would spell the end of Mirari. Neither he nor the Lord Angelique and the Lady Bram, who were much worried over the disappearance of Lord Eoin, realized that a sphinx's curse had befallen their brother. Until fifty Years had passed, none would know the nature of the curse, until it was revealed to them how it might be broken by a wise cat..."

He glances aside to Sabrina, then to Maximillan. "And her master, a kindly wizard. For on the day that the Sphinx's riddle was answered, the curse would be broken, and the Warlock would be cursed no more." Simon keeps his intent look until the last word fades away from audibility, and then looks nervous again. "I just made the last part up myself, but it sounds good, doesn't it?"

Agatha nudges Simon, and whispers, "I think you got the Lord and Lady mixed up there."

Sabrina beams.

Tom just rubs his temples.

Simon blushes, then takes his pencil and starts fixing that up.

Maximillan mutters, "Now that would have been an interesting rules change."

"Bravo." Mr. Cortlynn applauds. "Pity I can't allow that to happen."

"So, if we win the challenge to change it to that," Agatha begins, "then Mr. Cortlynn would have to answer the riddle to break the curse, right?"

Tom says, "Or we have to answer it to free him. One or the other. We're setting a reason for everything that keeps history consistent."

Alice gives Simon a funny look for his mistake. "I'm not playing Lord Angelique! And my mother would so ground me for breaking our House founder," she exclaims.

Agatha turns to Ahearn, and asks him, "You've got the most horse-sense, does it sound good to you?"

Nymuae pats Alice's shoulder, slipping from beside the little girl and Mr. Cortlynn, so that she can move to Tom's side. "You have a question of me, Lord Explorer?"

Simon aughs! "It was an honest mistake!" he tells Alice. "I'll fix it!"

Ahearn considers Agatha's question seriously. After a few minutes, he nods. It's well done. I might ask for more certainty that the sphinx's riddle will be solved, but perhaps that would be too much to demand.

"Just that is there any way for you to tell if he's human,or a fey crossed over? I'm just curious if he's from this world or not. And if not, then if his crossover somehow unbound him. It's an odd curiosity, is all," Thomas whispers. "I can't stand not being certain about things."

Nymuae shakes her head. "I cannot tell at a glance. With an Optikon, yes, but I do not have mine about me. There are tests I could try -- but they would take time," she answers, quietly.

Just then, the crackle and pop of gravel can be heard under the tires of a station wagon that pulls into the drive, and two honks. "That'll be my Aunt Lauren," Maximillan says. "I'll just swing by the house ... and I think I have some ideas for some 'challenges' brewing. I just need to get a few things." He hobbles off, clutching a small cloth-wrapped bundle in one hand, and leaning on his cane with the other; Sabrina skips after him.

"Yeah, there has to be some element of choice," Agatha agrees with the stallion. "Now that Nym's here, you can probably drop your glamour too, once the car leaves."

With Nymuae gone to answer a question Alice looks around until she spots Kuon. Then she walks over to him and kneels down in the grass to give him a sudden hug. With an arm wrapped around the dog she then turns to wave good bye for now to Sabrina and Maximillan.

"Anyway, I don't think he's a danger here. But he had a rather strong reaction to the suggestion of crossing back over. I was just curious if somehow coming here freed him somehow and that's why he doesn't want to go back," Thomas whispers in reply. "In any event, I think we have a solution to the situation. We think we can remove the Destroyer threat, and save someone in the process. We should probably focus on that, than a test that would take some time."

The sorceress nods. "I do not trust him. But it does not look as though we will need to."

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.