Teruel slammed open Alcoy's door.   "Are you mad old man?  Sending those two kids out by themselves."

Alcoy arched his eyebrow and looked at Teruel, all six feet of him was breathing heavy from the angry walk he made to the house.

"If theer are issues the council should be told so it can be handled properly!"  Sweat was now dripping from his thick black hair.  Being out of shape was starting to show.

"If the council truly understood what had just happened I wouldn't have to say a word, but as it seems they have not a clue I must take matters into my own hands."  he turned back to the bag he was packing.

"What are you doing?"

Alcoy looked back for a moment and went back to packing.

"where are you going?  You know that your not suppose to leave the city.  As a guardian your are to...."

"You don't have to remind me of my duties!"  Acloy shot back.  "I have been doing them for a long time.  If you feel you must know, I am going to see the Elf King."  Alcoy prepared himself for the scream that was to come.

"The Elf King, are you mad?  The council will not be happy.  They will call you a trader.  Why the elves?"  Teruel paced, now hand flying around.

"I am aware of how the council feels about the elves, and I also understand what effects one effects all.  We will need their help in the coming days, and I only hope they are willing to give it."

"You are making no sence."

"You have not stopped in a long time to meditate or to really look at what is going on around you."  He continued to pack not looking at him.

"A straight answer would be nice."

Alcoy turned from packing his bag.  "The seeing waters no longer speak, my magic is not strong enough.  An old magic is back and has quieted them.  An old magic that we can not defend agianst alone."

"Elche?  no it's not possible.  He is trapped in a magic void.  He's not even human anymore, he is just there in sprit form.  That is if he even alive."  He looked into Alcoy's eyes now. If you believe this you need to produce proof.  Proof that I can take to the Council and get them to act."

"Here read my journal.  I believe he is trapping spirits and using them to do his will.  Cadiz is the one who first saw this.  He said that Elche was just waiting for the right time, The time that the races felt they were safe, that he was no longer.  Now there is only one guardian to guard the magic that holds him, the magic that keeps him from finding the crystals that hold his power.  If he finds all six and puts them together he will be restored and his magic back.  He won't make the same mistakes he made last time."

"I know the history Alcoy."

"Then take the journal, read it. Work with the council and get ready."

"Wait till the council gives their ok to leave.  It will make things easier.  If you leave now they will get bogged down with that and not listen to me."

"You need to work it out.  We don't have time to wait.  I must leave now and pray that I am already not to late.  I hope the elves have not forgotten the past, that they will help."  Alcoy picked up his bag and headed out the door.  He took one last look back at Teruel and turned and left.

Teruel knew what that look was, a lot was rideing on him.  He had to get the council to act fast.  He started for the door and remembered Beja.  He knew he would not be home when he got there.  "Good luck my son." he said aloud and left.

                                            *     *     *     *     *     *

"Beja what is it that this sword will do against black magic?"  Couruna asked as she held in looking at both sides, back and forth."

They had up the trail for several hours and Beja had been very quite.  She knew he was worried about what his father would say to him upon their return.

"I'm not sure, but when it is needed I am sure it will work.  Alcoy would not have given it to you otherwise."

"I know, I just can't wait to see what it does."

"You do realize that if we need it that means we are in trouble."

"Hmmm, didn't look at it that way."

Beja smiled, she never does. ran through his mind.

"What's going on up here?" she broke his thought.  There was a wagon and horse with no drive.  They walked up to it looked around and saw nothing.  Couruna lifted up the cover of the wagon. "It's a poacher.  Look at all these furs.  This is wrong."  She was now getting very upset.

"Let's go we should keep a low profile.  We don't want to get involved."

"Beja these woods are safe lands for these animals.  This man is a criminal."

There was a noise in the woods.

"He is coming.  Let's get out of here before he sees us.  He won't think to much of us knowing what he is doing."  He urged her.

She just stood looking at the wagon.  "Hey you kids!" They heard in the distance and then they heard running.

She jerked away from Beja and pulled out the sword.

"What are you doing?"  Beja protested.

"Get away from there!" A shout came from the woods.

"Help me!" she yelled.  She cut the horse loose and smacked it with her sword and it ran off into the woods.  "Push!" She started pushing the wagon.  Beja sighed and helped.  It went down the hill toward a rocky outcropping.

"My horse, my wagon!"  The yell was very close now.

"Ok, you happy, let's go!" Beja yelled.

They both turned and ran up the path.  The man was no on the path looking at them, the direction his horse went and in the direction of a loud crash.  "I will fin the two of you and you will pay for this!" he yelled and turned toward the loud crash.

After thirty minutes of running they stopped.

"Are you happy now." Beja said catching his breath. "We have an angry poacher after us."

"He deserved it." she replied not nearly as winded as he was.

"We have enough problems coming I fear, we didn't need this."

"We will be long gone before he gets to the city."

Beja hung his head and started moving agian.  There is no reasoning with her kept running through his mind.  She caught up to him patted him on the back and smiled and they continued to walk.