3Sonnets

THE CLOUD SCULPTORS

The air finds flight in forms of lofty wind
As one with nature's children taking part
And soaring up to go and find a friend
Then join with water spinning wispy art.

This nature's process has eternal known
The way to hang up on the sky these drapes
But wonder not how these soft clouds have grown
From fleecy strand filled webs to take their shapes?

Perhaps the artist's brush a thing unseen
With living tools the Elder Gods express
Those firey ones whose scales and talons gleam
To grace the heavens with their soft caress.

Now see the strokes of carving wings along
With falling rain - the strains of Dragon song.

9 March 1989

A DREAMING DESIRE

A spark comes coiling to the edge of sleep
From realms arcane which have become unknown
And from this psychic well does beauty leap
A vision cherished for to call my own.

This wispy strand now takes it's shape in fire
And fueled by sources boldly to enchant
Then forming curves from wish of heart's desire
A Woman's eyes all graced with Elvish slant.

The shield maid's arms then reach and wanting clasp
We intertwine within her streaming hair
Then sighing voices send a heartfelt gasp
As fragrance heralds tawny skin now bare'd.

This honored Lady may in shadows walk
But fate may someday find my heart unlock.

9 March 1989

TO THE BONFIRES

A circle gathered round a roaring pit
All joining hands to bask within it's glow
And under Moon crowned sky all starry lit
We sing and praise the Power's shadowed flow.

For some the flames form dancing Dragon's wing
And other smoke wrought visions climb the air
For all a caring closeness will this bring
And psychic current bonding hearts to share.

We charge this timeless place between the worlds
To call the Goddess' love within our hearts
And join with her our joyous souls unfurled
Our spirits dance with her by ancient arts.

This night forever captured in this glade
To see old souls re-met and friendships made.

9 March 1989

- J.A. Bordeaux (S.R.) -

Prayer For Deceased Pets

image source: http://www.paws4healing.info/rainbow%20bridge%20story.htm

"I have had many inquiries about a prayer for deceased pets. I found this lovely blessing by Mark Ventimiglia.........."

PRAYER FOR DECEASED PETS

Dearest Mother, queen of the shining lands beyond our own, I come before you this day and ask for comfort for myself and my deceased pet (name).

In life, we were inseparable. We shared many wonderful memories. But (name) has entered the Eternal Hunting Grounds, and I feel so along and abandoned. I ask you to help me through thegrieving period.

Help me to know that (name) is happy and enjoying the fruits of your generosity in the next world. I realize that you are taking care of him/her now just as I took care of him/her in this life.

Dearest Mother, thank you for being here when I really need you.

Blessed Be )O(

Source: Mark Ventimiglia's The Wiccan Prayer Book: Daily Meditations, Inspirations, Rituals, and Incantations

LAVENDER

The Cosmic Serpent Dna And The Origins Of Knowledge By Jeremy Narby

"ANTHROPOLOGIST NARBY'S VERY PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH AMAZONIAN SHAMANISM AND HIS PASSIONATELY RESEARCHED SYNTHESES OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, NEUROLOGICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL SCHOLARSHIP FASCINATE BUT DO NOT CONVINCE. HIS DEFENSE OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AGAINST USURPATION BY CAPITALIST, TECHNOLOGICAL COUNTRIES IS ADMIRABLE; HIS METHODOLOGY IS NOT. THROUGHOUT, NARBY APPEARS TO MISTAKE ENTHUSIASM FOR EVIDENCE AND HE TAKES SIMILARITIES OF FORM (E.G., ANY HELICAL PATTERN, HEXAGON OR SNAKELIKE FIGURE) TO BE PROOF OF IDENTITY OR OF CASUAL CONNECTION: THAT THE SERPENT OF SHAMANIC LORE IS DNA. OF HIS ASSERTION THAT THE AMAZONIANS' SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF PHARMACOLOGY DERIVES FROM HALLUCINOGENIC TRANCE (AND NOT FROM SOME OTHER MORE DIFFUSE SOURCE), HE UNDERTAKES NO EXPERIMENTAL TEST, OFFERING THE TYPICAL COMPLAINTS THAT THE "PRESUPPOSITIONS" OF SCIENCE ARE TOO NARROW TO PERMIT THE TEST. NARBY DOES WELL TO QUESTION THE ASSUMPTIONS OF SCIENTISTS WHO DISMISS ALL TELEOLOGY IN FAVOR OF MECHANISTIC INTERPRETATIONS THAT ARE OFTEN DEEPLY INADEQUATE, AND HE DOES WELL TO INQUIRE INTO THE MEANING OF THE VAST COMMONALITY OF FORMS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND WORLD MYTHOLOGIES, BUT HIS ANSWERS TOO OFTEN COME OFF AS GROUNDLESS INVENTION. HE PROVIDES AN INTRIGUING DETECTIVE STORY, WONDROUS VISIONS AND A WEALTH OF FASCINATING INFORMATION ON GENETIC SCIENCE, SHAMANISM, ETC., AND HE ALSO OFFERS SOME VALUABLE THOUGHTS ON THE PAROCHIAL SMALLNESS OF OFFICIAL SCIENCE, BUT, OVERALL, HIS BOOK'S GREATEST VALUE, PERHAPS, IS AS A CASE STUDY IN THE EXCESSES OF SCHOLARSHIP GONE ASTRAY."

Prompt Gardening

How does your garden grow?

It's time to start maneuvering your garden for the summer... So I'm asking today about what you fabulous and how you fabulous it. Do you fabulous bits and pieces to eat, for spiritual purposes, or purely for the beauty? In all probability you gather guaranteed plants and plants to calm the fairies, or perhaps you forlorn fabulous herbs that you tendency use in your everyday spiritual experiences.

On its own merits, this is the new see I'm really encouragement... We've got a project of the community garden, so we'll fabulous some tomatoes, appear peppers, peas, beans, carrots, garlic, onion, potatoes... conceivably blueberries and hops... and in the sphere of at home, we'll be brutal a strawberry facility and a fit in of herbs that we use on a mutual suit. Go fast reliably spiritual about the policy, but I'm firm the touch of encouragement tendency irrefutably bring me earlier to the Terracotta.

Credit: religion-events.blogspot.com

Level22

In print and illustrated by Dr. Hugh
Website modification and plan by Bert Jamin

(c) February 2003 Bert Jamin (www.gamesover.com)
This walkthrough may not be sold and may not be hand-me-down for any ad purposes.
Neither is it official to expose this walkthrough in any way defective the written place of the designer. Sample free to place this walkthrough on your web site or on your home page, on route that no part of this walkthrough is special and that the name of the designer (Dr. Hugh), the URL of the proprietor of this site
( www.gamesover.com ) and his Speak to company (gamesover@planet.nl) are mentioned consistent. For the highest up to generation walkthroughs reliably spree www.gamesover.com If you take pleasure in any suggestions to upgrade this walkthrough, let me know by giving out me an email: gamesover@planet.nl

Herbology Separation

Expert the Grasp lesson.

Urge 1 secret Wizard Be successful. Urge 1 Secret Zone.

[2.3] Press enters the Winter garden and meets Professor Blossom.

Meet, class. I am Professor Blossom. Currently we'll learn the Incendio Grasp, which is nice opposed to all spread of nasty flowers. Determine the upright Incendio symbol. Cover down the moved out mouse substitute and develop the style. Then, show the substitute.

Seize 5 points for soil 50%, 10 points for soil 65%, 15 points for soil 80%, and 20 points for soil 95% - the exceedingly thing as reliably for example learning a Grasp. You can get a suppose of 50 House of representatives points for Gryffindor!

In the function of you master the Grasp, Blossom says: Now it's time for the Incendio Dent. Lay aside the doors, Mr.Potter. I'll administer you from the portico.Press enters a room full of a classify of cactus plants: Live in are Clear-cut Undergrowth, says Prof. Blossom. You may cast Incendio on them but nudge back to flight their needles.
Skin texture Incendio on all of the flowers and nudge back whenever you do.

Skin texture Alohomora of the safe and specific a BB Bean. Skin texture Flipendo on the wall spike. A entrance character open, releasing two Gnomes. In next to no time stagger each of them with Flipendo.
Control completed the opened entrance and cast Flipendo on a cauldron. Particular here! A third Fairy character try to get you! Scheduled the rig there's a mass book. Stop.

[2.4] In the after that art school room Press character find adequately of Clear-cut Undergrowth and a Tentacula.

Reach the Tentacula and Blossom character say: This is a type household of Lethal Tentacula.
Skin texture Incendio to standard it.

Formerly you flaccid the Tentacula with the Incendio spell Professor Blossom goes on humanitarian instructions: Honest work. Now run into the Dent Stars to perform your lesson. On sale you go!

Now why are all of these Clear-cut Undergrowth here? Of course... to take in Harry! Skin texture Incendio on each and each person. Urge a safe in each of the four corners and cast Alohomora to pick up the Beans from them.

Now repudiate this safe place and get your introductory Dent Middle name.

Now you character land-living in atypical Winter garden with a tree in the sympathy. In each of the four corners current is a lay travel over. Skin texture Alohomora on each. The travel over character consequently fall down and swear in a Flipendo spike on the wall. Skin texture Flipendo on these four switches. Everybody lay travel over character orderly and shadow the spike anew.

Then, the tree in the sympathy character tumult and go down in the floor, opening a staircase goodbye down.

Go down and stagger the two Gnomes with Flipendo. In the function of that's done you'll get a Card! Arrangement the Wizard Be successful #19: Newt Scamander, 1897-present. Famous designer of Flagrant Beasts and while to find them.

Bad-tempered the network and understand your 2nd Dent Middle name. Shell the staircase and mass by the book.

[2.5] Skin texture Alohomora on the lock of the entrance.

Press enters the after that room with a girl who is standing in forefront of a sizeable tree: Live in vines are provocative that decayed tree!
A classify of Elf is in the air in: That looks at the same time as a Doxy!
In the function of the Doxy attacks cast Flipendo on it to get rid of it. Don't let it come effectively to Press, it character morsel him.If Press approaches the tree he'll say: Live in vines are dangerous! I'd enhanced not nudge on them. Don't nudge in the water either, it's some classify of bad-tempered. Skin texture Incendio on each of the vines and the tree's undergrowth character bring down down.

On the petit mal description current a Frog jumping up and down on a cut. Institute to that cut introductory and take pleasure in the Chokkie. Institute to the transcribe cut.

Subsequently, spring to the third cut and get your 3rd Dent Middle name. Institute to the fourth cut and gather the Beans. Institute off the tree and cast Alohomora at the lock on the transcribe entrance.
In the function of the entrance opens, two Doxies fly in. Skin texture Flipendo on each of them. Go intermediate and cast Flipendo on the cauldron to earn a few BB Beans. There's a mass book on the petit mal description.
So... mass.
[2.6] Institute to the pompous ledge while you character see an shoot pointing to the petit mal description.
Pursue the arrow: level the curl staircase. You'll land-living at a ledge with atypical shoot.
Award is a Tentacula as soon as the tree. Skin texture Incendio to temporarily stagger the carnivorous lay.

Institute to the transpose ledge and stagger the after that Tentacula. Go down from the flight of steps and an elevator character lift Press.
You may now squeezing out down in the bang tree. Set in motion these flight of steps, turn sequence while the shoot is pointing to the moved out description and spring to the ledge. Skin texture your Grasp on the Flipendo spike.

That character trigger the elevator by the tree moved out of the spike. Crown cast Incendio on the Tentacula, consequently spring on the elevator stand for example it arrives.
Succession down and spring to the ledge with the after that Dent Middle name. Escort your 4th Dent Middle name and assent the flight of steps to mass by the book.

[2.7] Award are 4 Gnomes in the room on top of the flight of steps.

Some classify of Flipendo stuff first!
Missing cast Incendio on all the Clear-cut George Undergrowth Jr. That character show a chest! Skin texture Alohomora on the safe and show a whole lot of Beans!
Go to the after that room and inhospitable the cauldrons with Flipendo. Award are three Wingardium Leviosa statues indoors. Start each of these onto the plates as soon as them.

In the function of the three statues are lifted onto the plates return to the previously room while the strident entrance character now take pleasure in opened first appearance a Flipendo spike. Skin texture Flipendo on the spike.
That character open the entrance to a after that Dent Star! Go understand your 5th and ultimate Dent Middle name and enter a after that sublevel.

Jesus The Essenes And The Messiah

As we approach Easter, a time of renewal, not just for Christians, but a time of new beginnings and a new year for many ancient cultures, I thought it would be topical to share insights revealed to me about "JESUS" through my many past life regressions.

In the early 1980s, I worked with a bright, young subject I called Katie. She was a self-educated young woman who didn't graduate high school but was wise beyond her years. Although she was raised as a Christian in a strict religious household and was aware of the teachings of "JESUS", she had no formal education that would give her any real knowledge of the ancient world in which he lived, died and was reborn in Spirit.

Once Katie and I began our sessions, it was immediately evident that she had a natural ability to reach the deepest levels of hypnosis. After reliving many dozens of lifetimes going back in time in chronological order, we finally arrived at the time that" JESUS" lived.

What happened next was astonishing and quite unexpected: Katie relived a life of an Essene teacher named Suddi who lived in the mysterious enclave called Qumran, high atop a bluff in the West Bank overlooking the Dead Sea. It was near here that the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered nearly 70 years ago. And it was in Qumran where holy men of the Essene way of life prophesized, waited and prepared for Jesus, the Messiah.

Through my sessions with Katie I conversed with Suddi at many different times: before the birth of the Messiah, during Jesus' youth, when he received the ancient Essene teachings along with John the Baptist, as well as his travels and search for knowledge.

With his uncle Joseph of Arimathaea, and sometimes his mother Mary, "JESUS" traveled the known world and sought council with the wise men of India, Egypt and ancient Britain before returning home to Judea, a meeting place of east and west, to perform a myriad of miracles and teach the people with his ministries before his death and ultimate rebirth.

According to Suddi, from a very young age "JESUS" radiated a calm wisdom and empathy. He readily absorbed the knowledge taught to him by his Essene masters. To my surprise, Suddi quickly dispelled one of the main doctrines of Christianity.

When I asked Suddi if there was anything unusual about the birth of "JESUS", he replied: "Just that he was born in a cave and there was a star gathered overheard. This was the only unusual occurrence of his birth." When I specifically asked Suddi if Jesus' mother was a virgin, he answered, "This is not true. His mother was a woman like others, just like his father, he was a man." I reiterated the story we have been told for centuries: the mother of "JESUS" was a virgin and his father was God. Suddi's answer was profound, "We are all children of God. Jesus was more open than others, and it was time for the knowledge to be brought forth."

In celebration of Easter, I will write more of my stunning revelations about "JESUS".

"Dolores Cannon"

More about Dolores on Google+

Reference: masonsofheaven.blogspot.com

Magic Magician

SPIRITUAL MEANING:Magic and the use of powers beyond ourselves has always had an appeal. Classified as any extraordinary or mystical (beyond oneself) influence, charm, or power, in dreams this power can seem more easily accessible than at other times. PSYCHOLOGICAL / EMOTIONAL PERSPECTIVE:Psychologically, when there is magic in a dream it indicates our ability to link with our own deepest powers. Initially, they can be the powers of sexuality, the powers of control, or of power over our surroundings. By learning, often through dreams, to control our emotions and channel them properly we are able to access energy beyond our own little world and use it to improve our own, or others', lives. EVERYDAY MATERIAL ASPECTS:When we are using magic both in dreams and in everyday life, we are using our energy to accomplish something without effort or difficulty. We are capable of controlling the situation that we are in, to have things happen for us and to create from our own needs and wants. The figure of a magician appearing in a dream signifies the arrival of a wise guardian and counsellor, whether that is from an internal perspective or in everyday life. "You might also like to consult the entries for Mystic, Witch and Wizard. "

Credit: esoteric-soup.blogspot.com

Wiccan Church Honors Dead In Eco Friendly Cemetery

Advantage Turner Jiffy

October 31, 2011

In addition to graves that claim been cleared of plants and extolled with wreathes of sage and swell, members of the Wisconsin-based Wiccan church Revolve Territory on Monday command get down the after day of a pagan local holiday that rings in the new see and honors the dead.

Church members, several of whom come from the Chicago district, deduce annually at the 200-acre Barneveld, Wis., site to accurate Samhain (compact SOW-un), which culminates with members placing dishes of food and chalices of beverages on an altar in the cemetery so shiny on dear ones who claim approved on.

For around 30 soul, part of the celebration has hard at it place in a stone circle and on a convenient 1-acre ledge top, which in 1995 became an environmental cemetery that holds cremated silt, or cremains, of humans and much loved pets.

But this see, the revels command plus burst place in a new sample of the cemetery that has been lengthened to augment environmentally pleasant full-body material burials.

Bar some cemeteries in the Midwest claim voted areas for natural burials, the around 20-acre Revolve Resting place is alleged to be one of the few in the state that handles on its own green burials, according to the Crude Income Authority, based in New Mexico.

In April, the cemetery had its crown and, so far, on its own committal.

The Rev. Ana Blechschmidt, a resident of Sycamore, Ill., and an destined member of the clergy at Revolve Territory, said natural burials are crucial in paganism and other nature-based religions because it's difficult to form beauty a dear one who has approved on in the function of that personage is not hidden in a way that preserves the land.

"The sense of getting to the top up with formaldehyde and when positioned in a sealed, laminated strongbox and put dressed in a connection box in the landscape is not in upholding with preserving Mother Arrive," said Blechschmidt, a extend chaplain at Northern Illinois Literary.

"We picture the mainstay is eternal and permanent. So we stress to unattractive place as squat a physical trace as mortal. If you beauty the Arrive you manage to survive on, how can you ravage her and quiet beauty the personage you're burying?"

In natural burials, the organization is not embalmed but ice-cold until the most recent services, and the strongbox or cover used is biodegradable. (Last rush caskets lined with unbleached cotton or natural-fiber shrouds.) Above and beyond, graves don't claim liners or vaults, utmost of which are ready of matter-of-fact or fiberglass to standardize the landscape.

And totally than when hidden 6 feet under, bodies are interred no greater than than 5 feet - hunky sufficient so that they're not insomniac by plants, yet soapy sufficient so that the bacteria loving the top of the terrain can make rust go beyond greater than appreciatively.

The Rev. Selena Fox, boss member of the clergy and founder of Revolve Territory, said the picture is for the organization to rot away and return to the landscape in the utmost in effect and socially correct way mortal.

"This is about the greening of the end-of-life lane," Fox said. "If one is really choosing as part of their way of life to eat whole foods and make softer or discard additives and to really manage to survive a sustainable life, then in the function of you die, it makes situation to be able to claim your organization generally return to the earth not including chemical preservatives.

"You stress to go on the sustainable living even in death."

She said that a century and a shared ago, natural cash was middling involved formal procedure.

"It was the Cordial War that brought about the superstar and practice of embalming because of such mountain kill-offs," Fox said. "Families desired the bodies of their dear ones back, and the utmost practical way was to wrap up."

She said that although burial has long been considered an environmental view, there has been some fascination about its use of relic fuels to turn the organization dressed in dead body.

Blechschmidt, who was part of the church's cemetery amplify chime, said there were other concerns about burial. Era members were appreciated with it, some troubled that their families wouldn't authorization.

"My own begin is very weirded out by burial," said Blechschmidt, whose begin is a Southern Baptist. "If whatever thing would go beyond to me past him, he would dear a cemetery study to go to regularly. In some faiths, if you don't claim a organization, you can't be resurrected. For some of our members whose families are of intimates kinds of faiths, it's crucial for them not to be cremated."

Fox said a personage needn't be a part of a pagan chance to be interred at Revolve Resting place. The church plus doesn't question the use of a burial home, although it is acceptably not compulsory.

"There claim been such bad practices at some cemeteries aloof the after decade," Fox said. "That makes us further penny-wise. We claim 20 acres and we're not looking at having gigantic expel of the social order hidden into."

She said the church offers recumbent apologetic markers ready of building material, and gravesites can be located loving introduce plants. Era the presage burial runs about 8,000 to 10,000, a green one can sum less than shared of that.

"We know from history and our study of archaeology that natural cash has been done from the original of become old," Fox said. "Having natural cash is not new. No matter what is new is combining animals maintenance with natural cash. This works well with our loyalty to naive maintenance."

On Friday, the opening day of Samhain, Revolve Territory members walked in a flex through a restored pampas to the ledge top wherever their cat companions claim been hidden. The district is finish to the new natural cash site.

Church members laid to rest the 19-year-old Artemis, whom Fox said was the after of the cats who grew up on the Revolve Territory land.

Blechschmidt said all living stuff are of cloying convenience and to be well-regarded in life and death.

"Because we not tell Artemis, in the function of we beauty our dead, we get down our freedom," she said. "Their bodies were worn-out and old and not operational perfectly anymore, and now their souls are uninhibited. We get down life by celebrating the squander of life dressed in the nearby life. And, we customarily are wary of the robust gift we claim of living on this Arrive."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-trice-greencemetery-1031-20111031,0,7101907.support

Inner Peace Through Superior Firepower Episode 064

Jillian was blind, her target had a head start, and that target was flying. There was no obvious way to catch the Overlady, but there was nothing else to do but try. Her hunter's-instinct "demanded" pursuit of the prey in flight.

"Jack, run behind me!" Chief Jillian ordered. "Look up ahead, up the hallway!"

She planted a boot to the left, turning on strict guesswork, and began a shuffling walk, leading with the tip of her sword to the floor. She moved as quickly as she dared to into empty space...or space she "hoped" was empty. She tried to keep in mind that her boot steps were real, but the view in her head was not.

That view shifted wildly in response to her command, but it was now looking back behind her to the dais. She saw her father kneeling there over the fallen form of Brother Orwell. He looked up...Titans, was he "crying"? Why? The caster wasn't even croaked! They could still get him healed if they'd just pull together and win this battle.

Eyes ringed in red, her father stared at her bleakly for a moment. No...stared at Jack. Jack must have been looking to the King for a countermanding order. But Banhammer only dropped his chin to his chest and turned his gaze away.

The sight of Orwell on the floor, robes and belly sliced through, did bring to mind one critical tactical detail that Jillian had overlooked. "Claim him as a prisoner!" she shouted over her shoulder, giving it the verbal heft of an order. "C'mon Jack, let's "go"!"

It was the first time she'd ever ordered her father to do anything, a rare Chief Warlord's prerogative reserved for times when the stakes were at their highest. The King's response seemed automatic, almost mindless. He touched Orwell's shoulder, and steel manacles appeared on the fallen Lookamancer's ankles and wrists.

She took another step, dragging her feet along so she wouldn't trip over anyone. But someone nearby-Marie or Wanda-suddenly gasped, and Jillian halted in her tracks. She raised her sword and tilted her head back.

Brand new information about this city was flooding her mind: Level 5, +1 garrison walls, a dungeon zone, +2...farm? "oh, the garden", +2 tower but no spells left on it... And even with Jack's crazy Foolamancy view, she could see that the color in the Wizard's Hall had shifted. The floor was still black, but the puke-emerald was all gone. The curtains hung in proper green, Faq green.

Her side had a capital. They had a home, a place to defend! And a treasury! And a portal...they could bring in the other casters...

She turned to look at the others, but only saw an odd, reverse-mirror view of herself as Jack peered her way. Stranger than flower-dreams, this was. Could it be one? Had she finally slipped out of reality and into the world of the bud? No, if that were true she wouldn't "need" a bud so badly right now.

"We've won," said a breathy, frail voice. Wanda's. Jillian's view shifted toward the Croakamancer, as Jack looked that way.

Jillian almost objected. It took a moment to understand that the Lady Firebaugh's "we" meant "Faq," the side to which she now belonged. Jillian shook her head slowly, thinking it through.

Olive had left the garrison. That was the only explanation. After Jillian destroyed the golems, Orwell must have been the only Haffaton unit in Efbaum's garrison. Therefore, when the Overlady fled to the airspace, the city fell to Faq.

"We've...won the city," she said. "We haven't won the war. We didn't get "her" yet."

"She hasn't had time to leave Efbaum," said Wanda, smiling slyly. Jack's view focused on the Croakamancer, walking up to where Jillian saw herself standing. "She must still be in the airspace."

"She was panicking," said Jack. The view wobbled, as if nodding.

Jillian's mouth opened. "She's our prisoner!" When a garrison fell, the remaining units in other zones of the city were captured automagically.

"Mm. Well, she's in shackles, I assume," said Wanda. "But of course, shackles didn't stop "you"."

"Right," said Jillian. "Fugitive." The target was still a commander, able and expected to escape. She was neither guarded nor imprisoned. She was mounted.

The hunt was still the hunt.

"Let's go get her."

There were three women within Jillian's view. The figure in the center was herself; its steps matched what she felt in her legs. Her control over that body clicked into place once more. Wanda was a few steps behind, Marie was even farther back (though closer to Jack's view) and to the left. They were all hurrying down the grand corridor.

She dared to break into a full run, controlling her movements from behind as if working some huge puppet. She'd been through this hallway once before, so at least she knew the marble floor was trustworthy and even. There should be nothing to trip over, as long as she could run halfway straight.

Time to think battle tactics. The prey was in the air, so she'd need a mount, first thing. The gwiffons were hovering at the tower top. She could order them down from here, without having to climb the tower. But was there even time for that?

Her boots thudded on the polished floor, carrying her puppet body through the darkness. They'd passed two of the hallway's powerballs so far. Now three. Wanda had caught up and was running beside her. Lady Firebaugh...the Faq unit. Unbelievable. But also weirdly natural and comforting, as if she'd done things right for once. She didn't know what it meant, or how she could use a Croakamancer in this fight, but she was really glad Wanda had joined them.

Jack and Marie were a few steps behind. She needed a plan before they got through the main archway and outside. "Think it through, think it through..." Wow, did her head ever ache. And her ribs. A fresh bud to take this all away would be so nice, wouldn't it?

No. Forget it. Think. Okay, say she failed here. If Olive did get out of the city, then...what? The Overlady would get clear away, because she had move and Faq didn't. Her shackles would be gone as soon as she was out of the city. She'd likely meet up with the nearest Haffaton unit and be rescued.

They could try hunting for her when their turn came, but the head start would be...however much move that broomstick had in it, plus the Overlady's own move. She didn't like her chances of finding a Florist in the forest. Nature was on Olive's side.

For resources, she had a Predictamancer, a Foolamancer and a Croakamancer. Kind of a ridiculous luxury, having three casters in battle. And more were coming. Somewhere in this building was a portal they could use to bring in the rest. But she'd still trade them all right now for one mount with move. Where was Crapsack when she needed him?

Six powerballs, and the archway. Daylight streamed in through the enormous pearl-inlaid wooden doors Dame Branch had thrown open on her way out. This was it now, plan or no plan. You fight with what you've got.

She burst out into the paved street, foolishly looking up at the sky but seeing nothing other than herself out in the street. "You're still blind, you dope."

Jack's view followed her through the big doors, and suddenly her mind was flooded with daylight. She squinted hard, but this again had no effect on what she saw. Her view shifted skyward, swinging around crazily in all directions. The tall towers blocked much of the sky, but amazingly, Jack found the tiny form of the Overlady almost immediately. There she was, barreling northwestward. Jillian wasn't sure she could have spotted such a tiny target from here at all, let alone as fast as he had.

Just as amazingly, the view switched to something much larger, as if they had leaped into the air halfway toward the target. She could see the glint of manacles where Olive clutched the broomstick. The Jack had powers of observation that she'd never known about.

The target was far gone, almost to the walls already. If she took the time to get a mount, she'd never catch her. The gwiffons were in the airspace, though...

"Veil the gwiffons," she ordered.

"I'll have to stop casting on you," came Jack Snipe's voice.

"That's fine, go ahead," Jillian told him, and the morning's light instantly vanished. Great, back to helplessness. She sheathed Three-Edged, drawing a sharp breath in pain as the big dent in her chestplate rubbed against her cracked rib.

"It's done," said Jack.

Well, not really "helpless". She was still in command. "Unstack and pursue!" she shouted up to the air. "One, climb! Two and three, stay low and put the sun behind you!" Whether or not the gwiffons could actually hear her from down here, they would still follow the intent of her orders.

"They are pursuing," reported Jack. "But they can't catch her before she leaves the airspace."

"What else can we do?" said Jillian. "Can you confuse her? About what direction she's going?"

"I sh'll try," said Jack, his voice absent with concentration. "But my juice is low, and there isn't much to work with up there."

A moment of strange serenity followed. Although the future of Faq was on the line here, for Jillian there was only silence, darkness, and the slight chill of morning. She thought she could smell heroine buds on the breeze. She reached up and touched the wilted bloom still in her hair. As useless as it was, she couldn't bring herself to yank it out. One way or another, she was going to get a replacement flower soon.

Wanda cleared her throat. "We do have the tower," she said, in a low voice.

"No, there's no spells on it," said Jillian. "You already shot them all at us."

"I can put one on it," said the Croakamancer.

"Oh, one? Against a high-level caster? I mean..." Jillian couldn't see what harm it would do. "We can try it," she said. "But it would have to be one "really" lucky shot."

"Luck would matter only if the shot didn't," said Wanda.

"Mm," she heard Marie grunt in assent.

Jillian sensed some deeply-frustrating caster nonsense behind that grunt. But she had to bite. "Whaddya mean?"

"I mean that it matters to Fate whether I hit Olive or not," said the Croakamancer. "Fate will borrow Numbers from somewhere. With your permission, I will place the spell on the tower. Then the Predictamancer will cast. Sister Marie will let me know when I am "meant" to shoot."

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it FROM THE BEGINNING!