Utter silence as the others stared at him.  "In, oh, thirty or forty years," the elf added.  Sighs of relief were heard as Halcyon hid an amused smile.  Elves were all skilled swordsmen and Irad was among the best.  The big elf sighed.  "The scout has got to have elven blood in him for him to be that good in his first fight.  I wasn't toying with him, Tris."  The Catsken lashed her tail before Shifting to her human form.  "I realized that, Irad.  It's a pity his sword broke.  He seemed rather honorable . . . for a human, that is."

This was true.  The boy's honor in not striking down a fallen opponent had saved his own life, and he didn't even know it.

Aodhán looked at the fifth and final member of their group.  "You're awfully quiet tonight.  What's on your mind?"  The Wolfkind came to attention with a start, and the Selkie laughed.  "Welcome to reality, Meic," he teased.  "What had your mind all tied up?"

"Their mage."

Irad's attention was caught.  "What about him?"  The Shifter with the bicoloured stare shrugged.  "He makes me nervous.  I mean . . . look at how easily he blasted you away from that scout.  That was raw magic, or I'm one of the Chwaerch."

Halcyon nodded.  "He's right."

The small group exchanged glances.  The use of raw magic meant an adept, which was a bad sign.

At the sound of pounding hooves, each tensed and reached for their preferred weapon.  Then the source cantered into view, and they relaxed.  "Evening, Astara," Irad said, rising and bowing to the midnight blue centaurette.  Her mane, tail, socks, and the cloth covering her breasts were white; her eyes a pale grey.

"On the prowl again, Iradælic?"

Aodhán grinned.  "You know us: Always out for fun."  Astara flicked her tail at him.  "Use caution, Iradælic.  Hunter's sister resides at that school and rides out daily.  Use invisibility within a half-day's gallop; there is no predicting when or how far she'll go out."

Irad bowed again, and a black-fletched arrow lodged into the ground at his feet.  There was a message tied around the shaft. Irad calmly undid it and read it aloud.  "'Touch Danika Hunter and die.'  Signed with a badly drawn arrow.  You timed that, didn't you, blondie?"  A tenor laugh resounded around them all.  "Maybe.  Not as if I'd tell you.  Still haven't forgiven me for killing Hunter, have you?"

"I'll see you hanged yet."

"I'd not put money on that, elf. You would join the Chwaerch first.  Have we a deal?"

"No touch Hunter's sister, understood."

"Your word, elf."

"My word as a loyal warrior of Princess Rhiannon."

"That'll do.  Happy hunting!"

"Bastard," Irad muttered once he was sure the other was gone.  Astara laughed.  "I take it you don't like him."

"Was it that obvious?"

Aodhán grinned.  "They've never gotten along."  Irad leveled a death glare at him, and the Selkie shut up.

~~~***~~~***~~~

As Adar Sekt recuperated, he spent his time with Danika Hunter and Ari Idwal, who seemed to him to be the only intelligent females on the premises.  Ari's interest in politics and Danika's fascination with non-humans were unusual for teenage girls, but they led to many an interesting discussion between the three.  Ari also had a great many questions for Adar about the Chwaerch.  He was open with her as far as his opinions on things were.  The girl seemed to mentally catalogue everything he said and store it away for future use.

Danika was not tall.  Compared to Adar, neither was Ari, and her uniform dress was longer than poor Dani was tall!  He, Adar, was of a height with your average elf, and built along the same lines.  Elves were tall, and rather broad-shouldered, contrary to the typical stereotype of short and slender.  Only his red hair, non-pointed ears and round pupils proved his humanity.  Adar knew it was largely by virtue of his size that he had been directed to this particular Chwaerch group.

He got along well with the twins Doyle and Cassidy O'Brennan.  Of course, the twins were a year his junior, but as good as an elf when it came to moving silently.  Both had swift, ready minds and were deadly with knives – though Doyle preferred to throw them and Cassidy liked to fight with his blades.

Adar had seen Cassidy part a man from his sword armed with only a dagger.  In fact, it had been their captain the boy had defeated.  Adar frowned.  Their captain, a by-the-books man who could tolerate neither Shifters nor elves, and wasn't tolerating Nathaniel Starflare all that well either.

The tall redhead shook himself out of his reverie and looked down at Danika.  "Where's Ari?" he asked her.  Danika shrugged as she knelt to pick up her cat.  "She said something about herbs.  Madoc isn't feeling well."  Adar couldn't see what she meant.  As usual, the tom was glaring at him.  "I'll take him to her," he found himself offering.  He wasn't sure why . . . maybe it was that too-human glare . . . . .

Danika passed him the feline, who hissed and swiped at Adar.  "Madoc, behave," the girl ordered.  "Adar is a friend."  The expression on the tom's face showed that he clearly disagreed.  It was the expression that tipped him off.  He walked away from Danika, but not to Ari. 

Once he was alone, he held the feline up so that they were at eye level.  "Okay, cat, I don't know what your problem with me is, but you'd better own up."  Madoc hissed again.  "I will trigger the change, Catsken." 

*Fine.  Put me down.*

Adar did so, and a man approximately Starflare's age grew from the cat's body.  His eyes were yellow, his hair varied streaks of grey.  He was six hands shorter than Adar, and much more slender.  He also looked ill.  "All right.  I'm a Shifter.  Happy now?"  Adar sighed.  "I have a question for you . . . . Madoc, right?"

"Yes.  Go ahead."

"Why don't you like me?"

The yellow-eyed man stared at him.  "You threatened to blow my cover to ask me that?"  "Just answer me," Adar said.  Those yellow eyes glared.  "You're a Shifter-hunter," Madoc growled at last.  Adar blinked, uncomprehending.