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  Jehani could see how tired Maeve was, but it was also evident that the young female was doing her best to keep up. He resolved that he would not shame her or lessen her effort by commenting on it.

  It took them several tries to get Miko situated securely on Jehani’s back. Initially, the kitten had not understood that she had to dig her claws in to hold on, and kept sliding off. When they finally got her secured, Jehani regained his feet and moved carefully over to where the other two kittens were collapsed in a soundly sleeping pile.

  Careful not to dislodge the once again sleeping Miko, Jehani carefully lowered himself onto his belly and waited for Maeve to move another kitten onto him. This proved to be very difficult since Maeve’s strength was almost gone, and the kittens were so exhausted that they could not get the idea of how to hold on.

  Despairing, Jehani was trying to come up with a solution when a huge body suddenly was standing next to him. Instantly, Jehani spun around, fur rising to stand straight out from his body, and claws extended ready to fight. His abrupt turn flung Miko off to collide with Maeve, sending both of the kittens to the ground.

  For an instant, Jehani only recognized the giant form of the hound standing next to him as a monster. When the big animal did nothing aggressive, the Persian’s mind kicked in, and he realized that the hound with drooping ears and sad face had a rapidly wagging tail and was almost shouting greetings into the adolescent cat's mind.

  << More kitties! Yay! Have you come to play with Boney? >>

  << No. We are just trying to get to a place to sleep tonight. >>

  The big hound changed from enthusiastic playmate to a suddenly serious, and concerned Elder. << Little kitties are too tired. You cannot carry them. Boney is big and can take. Put them on my back, and we can go to Food Man. He will know what to do! >>

  Unable to think of anything else to say to the dog, Jehani turned to Maeve and asked, << I cannot think of anything better to do. I cannot carry all three, and you look like you ought to be also helped! >>

  Maeve almost sobbed, << I know, and I am so sorry. Everything is just too hard right now, and I cannot do much more. The kittens and I are all starving. They are also getting frightened and miss their mothers. >>

  When Jehani signaled his agreement, the big hound plopped his body down, and Jehani carefully placed all three of the kittens on Boney’s broad back. Once the three were set, the adolescent cat insisted that Maeve climb up and also ride.

  Telling her that he needed her to secure the kittens and watch them as the big dog moved was the only thing that the adolescent Persian could think of to respect her desire and determination. When she wordlessly stumbled her way up onto Boney’s back, Jehani was conscious of a flash of relief. To his chagrin, he recognized that it was only partially because she would have an easier time. The rest of his easement was the realization that he would not have to carry anything but his own aching, trembling body.

  Once everyone was loaded, Boney rose to his feet quickly and started down the road. Jehani was suspicious that the dog could have gone much faster without him, but he appreciated the consideration and did his best to keep up with the reduced speed of the big hound.

  Their small party moved more quickly than Jehani and Maeve had been able to manage with kittens. To the adolescent cat, it seemed like just a few moments, and they were turning off the main road and traveling down a wide, well-traveled path. Coming over a small rise, Jehani could hear the sounds of a small river and a confusing tapestry of noises that combined the conversation of humans and horses and oxen browsing.

  Content to let Boney lead the way, Jehani stuck close to the big dog's side, partially concealed from view by the more massive animal. Circling to the left, the dog skirted the campsite until he came up to a group of three wagons that were arranged in a small arc. Several drivers were clustered around a cheerful-looking fire, talking to a bigger man and a middle-aged woman who stared blindly into the flames.

  Hearing but not understanding the words the big man was saying to the other two, Jehani simply took in what his senses were feeding him. “… The whole countryside is in turmoil. It is all awful for business, but with the regular loop that I make through the villages and on to Paris and back, I am hoping to stay clear of whatever bizarreness is going down.”

  One of the men answered him, saying, “Hugh, I know you are very calm about this, and we really appreciate you hiring us to drive the other two wagons, but this is probably going to be our last trip. Neither of us is comfortable leaving our families for too long. In fact, if there was anyone else to drive the wagons, we would leave now.”

  The big man responded, “Well, Helene could drive one of them. She and I were raised in the same village, and I know for sure that she is good with a team. If we can find another driver, I would be happy to release you to go back to your families. I would keep no one away from those they love.” For a moment, his face was shadowed with the memory of past pain before his expression cleared, and he was back to the genial smiling man that he presented most the time.

  The woman beside the fire turned her head toward the men and spoke for the first time, saying, “I am fine with driving. It is the least I can do for your rescue, Hugh.”

  The two men’s attention sharpened, and curiosity burned in their eyes, but they did not question her after a sideways glance at Hugh. Before the conversation would go any further, Helene said in a markedly different tone, “Hugh, that big hound of yours that is always bringing back stray animals to adopt has found more of them. Instead of an injured rabbit or bedraggled cat, he has now got a whole group of little ones!”

  Following her gaze, Hugh broke into a big smile at the sight of Boney and his burden. Immediately moving toward his companion, Hugh knelt on the ground, reaching his hands out and called to the big hound, “Good boy! Bring me the poor little ones that you have found and let us see what we can do for them.”

  As Boney, Jehani glued to his side, moved toward his Master, Helene looked at the two drivers and jerked her head to the side, toward the friendly group that was clustered around the central fire, drinking and singing songs. Nodding their thanks, the two men made a quick escape.

  After that, the speed in which things moved seemed to the exhausted Jehani to be a whirlwind of actions. Almost before he knew it, all four of the kittens were collected in Helene’s skirted lap and being gently urged to lap up a hearty broth and eat carefully chopped up pieces of cooked meat.

  Watching long enough to make sure that his charges were being gently handled, Jehani almost wept in relief when he saw that Helene had a moistened cloth and was rhythmically wiping each of the kittens' faces and bodies, mimicking the licking motion of their missing mothers.

  When a bowl of the same thick soup was placed under his own face, Jehani forced himself to eat. As the nourishing broth made its way through his exhausted body, the adolescent cat's control began to shatter. Trembling, he looked up at Boney and pleaded, << I do not know what to do. Could you please tell me what I am supposed to do? >>

  For once not joking or acting like an untutored and illiterate creature, the older animal said soothingly, << You have done very well, young one. Let the rest of us take care of you for a while. Your charges will be safe with Soft Hands Lady. Food Man and I will take care of you. Rest, and everything else will wait for the morning. >>

  Chapter 23 – Morning Surprise

  On the French Road, Earth

  << Where am I? >> Jehani woke and almost screamed, flailing around in an unfamiliar space and hurting horribly. Almost immediately, warm, soft hands were stroking him, and a comforting female voice said soothingly, “Shush little one. You are safe right now, but you were hurt badly and worked yourself into exhaustion.”

  With her words, the earthshaking events of the previous day all crashed back into Jehani’s memory, and he curled into a tighter ball, straining the wounds on his side. Poignantly, he yowled in pain and fear.

  Immediately, there was a big warm body next to him, and the familiar sound of the big hound’s mental voice said, << You and the little ones are safe. They have been up for over an hour, eating and playing. Food Man and the other two that drive the wagons are still sitting by the fire, and have waited until you woke up. >>

  Confused, Jehani asked, << Why would they wait on me? I am just a cat. >>

  << Food Man was worried about you and the kittens. He was talking about something called shock and told the other two that being lazy for the morning was a small price to pay. They laughed at him and said it was a nice vacation. Because there was more time today, Soft Hands Lady made lots of food, and I got to eat the leftovers! >>

  Jehani shook with shivers, aches springing along his nerves and agony throbbing in the wounds on his side. Trying to keep his focus, the adolescent cat blinked to clear his eyes, looking around. Unable to tell if there was a lingering fog, or if his vision was going, the young Persian asked the big hound, << Is it misty, or is there more wrong with me than I think? >>

  Boney answered thoughtfully, << The clouds came up close to the ground about an hour ago. It does not smell like the usual for this area, and I have been listening, but something is muffling everything. The heavy air makes it hard for me to scent anything too far away, and without a breeze, the mist is not breaking up. >>

  << Boney, I think it is something Magical. I can see funny little glints of gold color in the fog, and the only other thing that I have ever seen look like this was someone who was trying to hide their aura. >>

  << You can see the soul shadows? The colors of someone’s inner being? >> asked the big hound, excitedly.

  A new voice intruded on their conversation, somehow carrying an accent of a different land, laden with the feeling of shifting sand and dry, scorching air. The speaker said, << That is very interesting. You must be those that I have been directed to join. >>

  The mist on one side of the camp boiled away in a rapid splash of air. Out of the surrounding trees and brush emerged a man mounted on a tall, magnificent horse. Dressed in elaborate robes with twisted fabric wound into a hat around his head, he was not like anything Jehani had ever heard about before.

  Even before the fog was totally lifted, Boney was baying a warning to the others in their party. Experienced travelers, all three of the men and the woman took up weapons and defensive stances. Quickly, Maeve herded the kittens under a thick bush and draped her body over them.

  Moving his horse into the campsite clearing, the man extended his open hands in a sign of friendly intent, saying, “Greetings, strangers. I am Adil Burhan, accompanied by my body servant Zain. I seek a group heading toward Paris.”

  Lowering his weapon, Hugh stepped forward and answered the man courteously, “Merry met, Master Burhan. We are a small party heading toward Paris. I am Wagon Master Hugh Mosca. Perhaps together, the two of us can work something out.”

  The man slipped from the back of his horse and moved closer to the fire. Behind him, his mount followed without any sign or instruction that Jehani could see. It was a wonder, but nothing like those that emerged from the forest behind the stranger.

  Separated by nearly twenty feet, two columns of horses slid through the forest as if they were ghosts. The travelers could see that there were two different breeds, both with tall, powerful, and fast-looking bodies, topped with small heads and pricked ears. While one group was comprised of animals of different colors, the second was very similar in coat. These animals almost glowed with a golden light, their coats shining and somehow metallic in reflection.

  Hugh and the two drivers exclaimed in pleasure and appreciation, but when the next emergence happened, only Hugh continued to smile. The other two men backed up, making signs against the evil eye as three carts rolled from the forest between the two columns of horses. Although laden with piled goods, it was the sight of the conveyances moving without any apparent form of locomotion or driver that frightened the two burly men and drained their faces of color.

  Hugh watched calmly as the three large carts rolled to a stop just inside the edge of the campsite. He did not even twitch when a swirl of tall, lanky hounds darted through the legs of the horses and took up protective positions around the motionless carts.

  For a moment, everything was quiet. Jehani’s eyes were locked on the figure of the strange man. Blinking his eyes as quickly as he could, the adolescent cat tried to focus on the aura of the man, but the image of the man’s soul flickered on and off to his vision.

  From the corner of his eye, Jehani noticed that Helene was staring fixedly at the man also. The woman had not put her weapon down. In fact, she had moved it to a ready position. The tenseness that her body telegraphed and the determined look on her face warned the Persian that there was something that he was missing.

  So absorbed was he by his observance of the strange man that Jehani almost missed the fact that Boney had left his side. The absence of the big animal’s warmth caused shivers to run through his pain-wracked body, and he glanced around wildly to see where the big hound had gone. The adolescent Persian was astonished to see that the hound had moved over to touch noses with what appeared to be the leader of two different types of the lanky dogs sitting guard around the carts.

  Wagging his tail, Boney then approached each of the carts in turn and reared up to touch noses with the animals that popped out from between the packs like gophers peeking out of holes. Different types of small dogs, some strange creatures that Jehani thought were Hidden Folk, and even two types of cats formally greeted the big animal.

  Only after he had thoroughly inspected each of the three carts did Boney approach the second man who was standing motionless next to the third cart. This man was shorter and frailer in form than the man who identified himself as Adil. Dressed in a tunic and trousers stuffed into sand-colored boots, this man stood in a posture of waiting acceptance, his eyes focused on the other man.

  Pulling his attention back to Hugh and Adil, Jehani saw the two men shaking hands and a small bag pass from the stranger to the Wagon Master. Immediately leading Adil over to Helene, Hugh said, “Helene, I would like to make Adil Burhan known to you. He is a traveler from the South that wishes to go to Paris. He apparently is to meet with another group at Jeremiah’s, which is my ultimate destination in Paris.”

  Turning to Adil, the big man continued the introduction, saying, “Adil Burhan, I would like to make Helene Abramovich known to you. She is an old friend who wishes to travel to Paris for reasons of her own.”

  Adil offered Helene a short bow saying in a conciliatory tone, “Peace, sister. I am not the Mages that you fear. My Magic is far different, for I am a Wizard.”

  Jehani could see Helene’s rigid posture soften, and a fragile smile appeared on her face. She nodded her head graciously and greeted the man, “Welcome, Wizard Burhan. I hope that you have been briefed on the dangers of the area. We live and travel in perilous times.”

  Smiling wryly, the Wizard answered her, saying, “I have. But the Call that I have accepted is urgent and time-sensitive. I know I will be joining others, but all of us must be there at the right time. Just like I was supposed to be here at this time to meet up with you.”

  There was the sound of rapidly moving horse hooves, and Helene looked up to see their two other drivers making a fast retreat on their horses. The men were traveling quickly back the direction they had come, and she looked inquiringly at Hugh, asking, “What happened?”

  The big man moved back to join the woman and the Wizard, saying, “They fear for their families and are frightened of the Wizard. I already said if I had other drivers that I would release them. So I paid their full wages for the trip and sent them home on our two weakest horses. It is better this way, I think.”

  Helene demurred, “I can drive one of the wagons, but who will drive the other? It makes no sense to have a Wizard drive one.”

  Adil laughed, surprising them with the sound of his joyful amusement. Wiping his eyes, he said, “Zain will drive the other. He is very accomplished that way, and by spreading some of the goods that are piled up in the carts into the mostly empty wagons, we will lower the strain on my Magic and also give my crowded passengers more room to spread out.”

  Curiously, Helene asked, “Passengers? I saw briefly that you have cats and little dogs in your carts. Is that what you mean?”

  Smiling, Adil instantly responded, saying, “I have a clowder of Savannah and Angora cats, as well as several breeds of smaller dogs. All of them are from Familiar lines and are attempting to join the same party for which I am headed. It seemed reasonable for me to offer them a ride.”

  Helene sighed with relief, and when the Wizard looked concerned, she explained, “Boney, the big hound, rescued five young Persians in distress yesterday. Although four of them are kittens and seem to be bouncing back, the eldest cat was badly injured. He also worked himself to exhaustion, getting the kittens to us and is not healing well. Perhaps your passengers can help me with him.”

  Immediately, the Wizard said, “Let me take a look at the injured one. I have some skill with healing, and we can get not only the cats but some of my other passengers involved as necessary.”

  This time it was Hugh who asked, “Passengers? Who else is riding in your carts?”

  With a big smile, the Wizard said, “My entire journey up until now, I have been acquiring Hidden Folk that are attempting to flee also. So we have plenty of small help for whatever we choose to do.”

  Even more of the tension in Helene’s body dissipated, and she stood up, gesturing to the Wizard to follow her, saying pleasantly, “Our injured cat is over here.”

  As they started to move, Hugh said, “We can stay here for another day. There should not be anyone else that is coming for a long while, and I think it would be good to give everyone a rest and time to get acquainted. I can tend the horses while you deal with the injured and overstressed animals if you tell me what needs to be done for them.”