Tiber felt like she was going to pass out. Cove watched her antics, smirking. "I can always send you back if you aren't brave enough."

'"It's not funny, Cove. I almost killed her the last time. I planned on spending the rest of my life avoiding Windmasters altogether. I don't want her to see me and kill me!"

"Calm down. You don't even look the same, remember? It will be okay. Don't forget that I'm here and friends with Kavi. Everything will be okay."

A loud squawk was heard in a secluded spot in the jungle, where the river's pace was rapid. Tiber took several deep breaths as she was a winged creature causing a massive shadow in the clear skies. The flaps were inaudible, but nonetheless, it was drawing closer. Tiber couldn't see a rider. She gently patted Mika's sleek, black head. She was as antsy as her master.

As the owl landed, Cove went to greet the riders. "Aqila, thank you for honoring my request."

Tiber's heart dropped at the raspy-sounding voice, "Of course, Cove. I wouldn't neglect my duty. My long-time friend accompanied me. Meet Boaz. Bo, this is Cove.

A Landkeeper suddenly dismounted the owl, "Nice to meet you." He extended a hand to Cove, and the pair shook hands.

"You're a strong man, Boaz."

"Thank you, likewise."

Aqila approached Tiber, who wanted to faint. Their eyes met. Aqila's eyes looked like liquid silver as they bore through Tiber's navy orbs. "You must have had a serious ordeal. I'm Aqila the Seer. What's your name?"

"Talia, my name is Talia."

"Well, Talia, why don't you tell me what happened?" Aqila sat with her legs folded, her hands gently resting on her knees.

"Go ahead," Cove urged Tiber.

She looked to Cove, who was smiling at her, then to Boaz, leaning on Aqila's owl. Tiber took a deep breath, "My tribe thinks I murdered my father. I got in trouble with one of my tribe brothers, and we had to account. The tribe brother lied, pinning the guilt on me. I was preparing for punishment when I sought out my father to tell him the truth. When I got to his tent, he had a stab wound. He said a few words to me before he died. The tribe brother who lied on me saw me at my father's side and accused me of murder. The tribe rallied at the call and chased me. I fled for my life and Mika's. One of my tribe sisters believed me, and she's been trying to prove my innocence. But, now there's been another murder, this time of an elder. The brother who lied is now taking over my tribe."

Aqila immediately stood to her feet and slowly walked toward Tiber. "I'm sorry for what you are suffering. However, when you inflict pain on others, it is bound to return upon you."

Tiber's breath hitched as Aqila came closer, towering over her. "Aqila, please."

"Hoping you would never see me again, Tiber?"

Cove immediately flung a water whip in Aqila's direction. She smirked and deoxygenated the water whip, "Aqila, stop. We need help!"

"Cove, relax," Aqila stepped away from Tiber. "I knew something was suspicious when you asked for my audience. I knew she was Tiber when I put my eyes on her. Knowing you lied and she nearly killed me, I could have killed both of you without even touching down to land. That is if I had wanted to. Were you expecting Kavi, Cove? You know he would have been furious that you lied to me. One of the reasons I'm glad he was too busy to make the trip. We wouldn't want to sever alliances, would we?"

"How did you know it was me?"

"You've gone through the changing, but a person's ear keeps its same unique shape. It just grows in size as a person matures. You also slipped up, referring to the cat as Mika. You were also insanely vague in describing your troubling experience."

"Aqila, I'm sorry for deceiving you, but we need help. A Chief has been murdered, and Neptune could be involved," Cove explained.

"Neptune? I'm interested in finding the strings that lead to him. Tiber, I need you to answer a few direct questions from me," Aqila returned to her previous sitting posture.

"Alright," Tiber nodded in agreement.

"Is Nahal involved in this situation?"

"Yes, he tried to pin the problem on me."

"What problem?"

"After our battle, several of our men were injured and unconscious, and a few died from their wounds. We had been out for weeks. My father wanted us to tell the tribe what happened, me and Nahal, that is."

"Who is your father?"

"My father was Chief Dalit."

"Did Nahal see you as you went to talk to your father, or did you only see him after your father was murdered?"

"After he was murdered, while I was holding him in my hands, crying for him to come back was when Nahal came."

"I thought the Waterbearer tribes made a decree for the tribe, something likened to a will. Did your father have one?"

"He did, but it is missing. The tribe is in the thirty-one-day period to elect a new chief."

"How much time is left?"

"Fifteen days."

"Who is the tribe sister who believed in you, and do you still have communication with her?"

"She's our tribe medic, Sita. She and her friend Chelan are in communication with us."

"Last question. Are you and Nahal still supporting Neptune?"

"Nahal is, however I am not. I have used the changing as a fresh start, and I believe in the Universe," Tiber replied confidently.

"Aqila, he's back," Boaz warned.

"As I thought. Talon attack!" The Great Gray Owl immediately flew into the air. "Start heading back to your tribe. Someone's been tailing me."

"Tiber go back, alert Kano. Tell him to meet me. Have Rilian usher the women and children back home," Cove ordered. Tiber hurried away, riding Mika. "I can help you out here. It is the least I can do," he called to Aqila.

Boaz, Cove, and Aqila looked up to see Talon ferociously attack another winged creature. Its rider expertly dove into the clearing. It was a man, his back was turned towards them. His long braid gently bounced in the wind, "You should let me escape if you know what's good for you."

"You're trespassing in my territory," Cove used the river to aim a water whip attack at the intruder. However, he did several backflips and twists, avoiding every attack. Cove continued to attack, and Boaz aimed a rock fury at the opponent. It was futile.

Aqila stood in shock at the realization that this man was a Windmaster. When he turned to face them, he shot a mighty blast of wind at Boaz and Cove. The blast hurled them back into two separate tree trunks, a force so robust that it rendered them both unconscious. "It's just you and me. Let me off. We don't need to fight. I mean, you're a Seer and a Legend. You'd wipe the floor with me."

Aqila was angry, "You've been tailing me for nearly a month! Explain yourself, or I will attack!"

"If I could, I would, but I've been enlisted in a dangerous mission that requires great secrecy. I need you to let me off now."

Aqila honed her wind blade and whirled a mighty wind swipe at her opponent. The violent gusty battle ensued. This man was obviously a Storm, but his martial arts proficiency was incredible. He edged Aqila into a whizzing hand-to-hand combative fight. Aqila was fast and evasive, but he had a sheer strength behind his attacks that she could not match. Her only edge was to try and outmaneuver him. She was outmatched in fighting technical ability, but she was leaner and quicker. Aqila knew she could probably use an advanced technique on him, but that was not the Windmaster way.

"Enough," the man blasted her backward. "I have to report back. My name is Haneul. He hurried to his dasher, a red-tailed hawk. "I took an oath, Aqila. I'm on your side," he whispered before flying off. Talon began to follow suit.

"Talon land," the owl obeyed his rider. Aqila hurried to Cove and Boaz. She heard rustling in the jungle, and Tiber had returned with a muscular Jungle tribesman. "Let's get them back to the tribe," she told Tiber.

Tiber looked concerned and spoke to Kano, "It's okay. Aqila is a friend of the tribe. We came to help a little too late."

Kano laid Cove on Mika's back and placed Boaz on Talon. As they entered the tribe hub, everyone's eyes were on Aqila. She was taller than almost everyone in the tribe. Her gray hair and silver eyes are an anomaly among the Waterbearers. "Aqila, let's go. Kano will get us when they wake up," Tiber called her as she climbed into the tree tent. Aqila observed her path and launched herself to the top. Tiber led her to her shared tent with Rilian.

"Thank you."

"It's me who should be thanking you," Tiber replied.

"You live with someone?"

"Yeah, a vanguard, her name is Rilian. Everyone has been really kind to me since I've been here." Tiber looked at Aqila, who was ducked at every turn. The tent was not made for such tall people.

"I'm sorry about your father, Tiber. I can account on your behalf, but it will not work if Nahal takes control of the tribe. He will negate any progress you make. We don't have a lot of time. This is what we need to do. We need to get Neptune to expose Nahal's location to pit Neptune against Nahal. We also need to find your father's decree so the tribe can name the new Chief. I can explain what happened with a new Chief, which will set you free. Tell me about this other murder."

"An elder Moonsayer was murdered. Chelan said that Sita told him that it was not a natural death. She's the medic, so she would know. She got hair and skin samples and a piece of her tongue because it was blue," Tiber curled her lip close to her nose, remembering what Chelan told her.

"Are you sure he said blue?"

"Positively."

"It was the same stuff you used on me. It was used on the Golden Eyed Legend as well."

"What? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he's okay now, Tiber. Where did you get yours from?"

"Well, Nahal said he got it from the Beach tribe. But I had to go to Theyra to get my dose, and I think Nahal does, too. Everyone in my tribe has to get their vial from Theyra," Tiber replied.

"Theyra, is that so? Things are really getting interesting," Aqila murmured. What business does Neptune have in Theyra? Also, who in Theyra would have ties to Neptune? The Landkeepers are in a civil war. Who has time for Neptune? Unless, of course, Neptune is aiding one side over the other. At this rate, all nations will be involved with this Agnes Neptune debacle.