Before dawn, the next watch had gone out and the previous returned to report. Quentin and Rory both were standing over John when he woke. He realized then he had fallen asleep in a lawn lounger and secondly thay he was rather damp. "What happened?" he asked and the two young men had to laugh. John brushed matted hair from his forehead and stood up.

      "There's been some gunfire and some form of missiles or explosive devices launched," Rory said, "Bert and Pieter should be around soon. You should get changed." Rory smiled.

      John nearly blushed from embarrassment. His clothing was wet and wrinkled, clinging in places. He smiled and walked toward the trailer, Rory and Quentin following. He found Claudia and Merideth asleep on the lower bed, a curtain presently blocked the upper bunk from view, but Louisa and Alaric would be there. John found his clean clothing in the cabinet. "I'll wash, you can wait if you like, or talk."

      The rain would have filled the resevoir on the roof they had set up and there would be enough for washes and cooking without needing a hookup to a water line. John undressed quickly and stepped behind the curtain. Rory made some comment and John could picture Quentin screwing up his face at that, maybe smacking Rory. Rory and Hansel were both homosexual and, as his first Guardsmen, believed they were familiar enough to tease. Quentin was entirely heterosexual, and more respectful, disapproved of the way the much younger boys joked.

      John washed quickly, using falling water only to lather and then to rinse, so that it was conserved. He wrapped in a towel then and stepped out to get his clothes. He pulled on a gray shirt as Rory and Quentin stood by. Quentin was a more recently sworn guardsmen. John forced himself to remain amused, rather than horrified, by the way young men volunteered for the job, and spoke of their honor earned in protecting the Leader and various Elders.

      "Bert and Pieter were here and left," Rory said, "said they heard a strange noise somewhere outside."

      John only nodded, busied himself with dressing and touches of deoderant, lipbalm, and such. He pulled his boots on before taking up his comb. Pieter was in the door's window and knocking. With gesture John told Rory to open it. Pieter spoke, "There is a...person that says you know...them, Leader. They want to see you."

      Who? John hopped to the damp ground outside still holding his comb and looked about. He looked about until he saw the pale, black-winged figure in odd uniform sitting daintily atop the hood of Alaric's Jeep. Morpheus was there. John smiled at the three-quarter-angel he had met several times before. Morpheus looked up slyly, pushed at a tendril that fell from the crown of purple flowers in his dark blue hair.

      "Morpheus is OK, I do know him," John told the Guardsmen. He strode to the nearby Jeep and grinned. "Why are you here?" he asked, wondered where Morpheus had come by the strange black and khaki uniform that seemed it might be of the Boy Scouts.

      Morpheus made a pout. "I seem to have formed a habit of visiting historical battle sites and cities about to be sacked or destroyed. I didn't start entirely on purpose, it's just I've never stopped."

      John nodded. "I seem to recall you collect bad habits."

      "That's what I claim, does rather cause people to forgive my faults and think me mysterious. You know this will be a rather bloody battle?"

      "I thought...I hoped not."

      Morpheus nodded. "I believe it will be, there is a slight chance it will not be so bad, but I see that possibility becoming faint as I look." When he glanced about the trailer camp his eyes were entirely black, without whites at the edges. John did not know Morpheus well enough to know all his Angelic powers but knew that the eyes going black was one sign of their use. John was familiar with his ability to change his appearance and knew he could make the eyes appear any combination of colors if he willed. Clearly, he was able to look into the future.

      "Do you ever do readings?" John asked.

      Morpheus stopped, his dark eyes falling on John. "Not on purpose. I don't like to know what will happen to people I know."

      "Did you come here for a particular reason? We aren't in danger here are we?"

      "No...the hilltop here hardly ever gets attacked; it looks unlikely.  Really, I thought it would be a good place to watch from. I wait until battles are underway or over before walking about too much."

      "Why do you come to battles, I thought at first it was just to look, but I don't think you do enjoy that part."

      Morpheus shook his head, stroked the petals in his hair absently. "I also collect military uniforms. They usually increase in value as collectors items. Sometimes, when cities are attacked, I'll pick up artworks, they increase greatly in value, if lost for years and then identified later. It's one of my ways of earning money. I also play guitar in various bands throughout history and make occasional investments. Today, there are at least ten different uniforms involved and many ranks. Lots to collect. I'd especially like a VC jacket. I look good in red."

      John nodded. Ten uniforms. That meant the satellite groups were about. And surely bloody. "No messages then?"

      "No one knew I would find you right here, well, no one relevant. But, since the war began, Julien's lets me know that he would appreciate someone letting him know how his sister is."

      "Really?" John asked. He realized he was gesturing with his comb as he spoke, and purposely ran it through his hair to busy his hands. "You mean someone worries about the General being OK?"

      "Probably does sound funny," Morpheus said with head lilting. "They act close anymore, but Julien and his sister are always going to be siblings. He likes to know that she is all right, not too mad or too suffering. It's no danger to me to follow her. She doesn't usually know. Anyway, if you don't mind, I'll stay around a while. Could be a few days, depends on how things begin. Seems the Union wants to surround the El armies and the EL thinks to divide the union north and south and conquer each separately."

      John played the movements in his head. It seemed like a lot of rushing openly at opposing armies and clashing head on. He sighed, put his comb in a pocket of his coat. "Claudia might like to see you," John said, "how have things been in Karachi, or wherever you've traveled?"

      "Karachi, at least the Haven near it, is well. We do see some discrimination suffered by Darkling, hate crimes. Mostly, that is in the city. Most of the populations in the Arab states are homogenous and contained, including Darkling. There is little mixing between the Muslims of Indian decent and Arab decent except in the cities, and there are those Pakistani who are not Muslim. They are all basically good people. And you've seen the land is beautiful. I like it."

      "I only really saw the beach."

      Morpheus nodded. "My friends in the Isles are doing all right, they stay away from the Psychic Dicks and all. Apart from countries actually invaded, the Union nations have a choice in whether they join the war, which has left it mostly to Union government founded and funded armies. America sent a few. I believe Japan is still sending aid in way of supplies and weapons. My friends aren't sure what England or Ireland will do. I think they are waiting to see if closer neighbors are invaded. And my homeland is well as usual."

      "Good to hear. I hope the other countries do stay out of the war. I would not like the Union to lose, but I also would not like there to be continued fighting."

      "Of course. But how have you been really? You've been travelling so much since we heard you left Joy and David. We saw some news. Our standard channels don't cover the war as much, not being directly involved. We do read the Berlin and Paris dailies. Julien says they have good fashion and arts coverage. So, short story, you're the leader of a nomadic tribe?"

      John smiled. The sound of gunfire seemed particularly loud just then. It came from the east John thought. "It just turned out that way. They followed."

      "Most people do. Even I usually do what I am told, if the order seems important enough."

      John gave a tip of the head to that idea. He didn't see Morpheus as much of a follower, but then Morpheus was acquainted with even more impressive beings. "I better go up to the tent camp and see what's going on."

      Morpheus nodded. "Perhaps I'll see you there," he said. There was a sound then, almost like a leaf caught in the spokes of a bicycle wheel. He was gone, nothing remained atop the Jeep. John thought he would not get used to that. He went back to the trailer. Claudia was just waking up, was washing her face at the sink.

      John took his swordbelt, purse, and crown from their shelves and put each on.  "Morpheus is here," he said to Claudia. She stood up, water running off her chin.

      "Here?"

      "I spoke to him. He disappeared. I think he'll show up again."

      "Oh. Anything new?"

      "No.  I'm going up to the summit. We've been hearing gunfire."

      "I'll be up in a while. I have some things to check."

      John left her with a kiss to her moist cheek.

                      †               †               †

      The view from the outcropping on the north face gave a clear view of the valley north and just short of directly east and west as well. The sunlight now made the troop movements clear and, aided by field glasses or the telescope Pieter had brought from his store, they could even make out some individuals or at least their type of uniform and weaponry used.

      Miko was on the watch, though he had been up all night, and John left him to go to the fire. There was a clear circle about it and all the rest of the hill top was covered by tents. Some still slept, but most were up, taking turns at the fire or using various camp stoves and ovens to cook breakfast. John checked the water Miko had set to boil, it needed just a while.

      Austin came across the circle and spoke to John, "would you like to see the ruins?" he asked. He walked ahead when John nodded, to the east and down a shallow slope. From here John could see the ruins they spoke of.

      They were not entirely obvious unless already standing here, younger trees grown up on all sides and the old stone tower itself anchored to the hillside further below. Moving closely after Austin, John saw the tower was roughly square and had somewhat rounded corners. There was a dark space inside it, through a door shaped hole, but Austin pointed to the far side. There a flight of stone stairs ran along the side of the tower. Climbing them, John saw a flat sqare space with small drainage holes in the low walls. On this partial second story, which might have once had a wooden roof from the look of postholes in the stone, there was a raised stone table with some sort of sculpture or remnant of earthen structure on it.

      "You see, it's a replica of the valley here," Austin said.

      "What?" John said as he looked more closely. Made of now hardened clay of some sort was a map in topographical relief clearly showing the hill and river. Several found objects decorated it which gave it the appearance of rubbish pile, but then the rubbish transformed and John saw cities and armies. "This has always been here?"

      "So far as we know. It's said that the tower is nearly a thousand years old, but I don't think anyone's studied it to be sure. But, last night when some of us couldn't sleep, we set up the armies and fixed the cities, they were not original but chipped at and meant to be filled. You can actually add water to it to make the river."

      John gave a nod. He walked to the edge of the low wall and looked out north. The particular tree growth and position of the tower did not actually give a better view than one got sitting atop the outcropping, but it was safer. It did have the advantage of having a better Eastern view, though the view west was only of the camp.

      "It's nice up here."

      "You can use it if you like. The reporters in camp would like to set up a camera here, but that's all."

      "It's a good idea, we can have the lookouts relay messages here, or now it's day, have the crew set up communications in some manner. This way any of us can come and find how it is around us."

      Austin only nodded.

      "What's below?"

      "It's pretty messy. Campers over the years have dumped things in it, trash and such."

      Now John nodded. He was thinking that a restoration project might raise spirits with some of the tribe so worried about the war around them. Another volly of gunshots rang off the rocks. "I think I'll ask for volunteers to restore the tower," John said aloud. He hopped the wall to the middle of the stairs and skipped down.  Miko was at the fire mixing several bowls of oatmeal.

      "Miko, when you're done I have a new lookout spot and a project of sorts if you want it."

      "Restoring the old tower?"

      "Yes," John said slowly.

      "I saw it when we arrived, thought the same thing. I'll help. I wanted to tell you, that with the telescope it appears the Americans are in retreat. They are moving somewhat northwest anyway."

      "Could be they are evading the Russians for the time...we'll see." John took up one of the bowls as Miko held a plastic spoon in offering. John thanked him with a bow. Still eating, he walked to the edge of the fire circle. Vivianne was here tending a line of minor injuries, insect bites, scrapes and splinters.

      "Anything serious?" John asked as she dabbed a cream on the red rash a boy had on his legs.

      Vivianne spoke without looking up, "Poison Oak. I've tied off the area we know it to be in and posted a drawing of the plant with warning near the trails. It isn't serious unless completely untreated and prevented easily by wearing longer clothes and washing one's clothes and hands in detergent immediately after undressing." She looked up then with a wave to the boy in dismissal. "Did you need anything?"

      "I have a message to pass through camp."

      "I can get it going."

      "Anyone who wants to be involved in a restoration project or to assist in tracking the military movements below should meet at the tower ruins today, whenever they are ready."

      Vivianne gave a nod. She rose immediately and found another to pass the story to. As they rose she told another. Soon there were messengers walking all through the camp and some calling aloud.

      John returned to the tower. He took up his own feild glasses and searched the valley below. He could see enough through the trees to know the Russians were travelling vaguely toward them while the DG were moving quickly west, as if toward their flank. The EG who had been with the Darkling Gaurd, were separated and John thought a group at the edge of his vision in the east were the Egyptian soldiers.

      As Miko said, the American's were getting smaller in his view, they were moving farther away. But from here direction was not entirely clear.

      "John!" Claudia called from somewhere and sounded upset. She called his name again before appearing at the top of the steps. "John, you didn't mention what he was wearing!"

      "Who?"

      "Morpheus wearing the uniform of the HJ."

      John shook his head, not having recognized the uniform or the initials.

      "HJ, Hitler Jugend, boy scouts of the Nazis and brother organization to the League of German Girls. Don't you think it entirely offensive, especially now, here? That man only gave Germany a sullied reputation for centuries, not to mention what he led Germans to do to the rest of Europe's people!"

      John put his hand to his head, almost pricked a finger. "All right," he sighed, "It's offensive; I clearly didn't recognize it. I don't really care to study the subject in such depth. Can't you just ask him to change?"

      "I did.  He changed. He says the new uniform is from an entirely American war. I don't...it just disturbed me is all. Today, all the gunfire about, and armies and I find him dressed like that. I didn't like being upset by him, John." And she truly was upset.

      John went to Claudia and taking her hand drew her further onto the roof. He hugged her to him and kissed her face. He stepped back enough to let her leave or stay. "I'm sorry you were hurt and I could not warn you. Will you help me in doing something that does not deal with the war?"

      "Of course." She seemed to be elsewhere, thinking.

      "I'd like to restore this tower. It seems to have had a wooden roof and supports anchored in this wall. And downstairs there is a chamber that I am told has been much abused."

      "I'll ask for volunteers."

      "Already did."

      Claudia nodded. She moved away from him to look over the wall to the north. "Felling just a few trees would give us wood to work with while improving the view. None of the very old ones seem to be in the way. I'll have to check the lower room." When she turned there was a smile.

      The first of the volunteers came up. Miko and Marcus. Miko said that he was ready to help John with the watch or whatever he wanted. Marcus said he had heard about a restoration. "To the tower," Claudia said.

      "There is a different structure on the south side. A sort of wide lookout platform still paved and railed in stone, though it has been somewhat repaired over time from the mortar and size of rocks. But there is a small stone building or shed beside it in some disrepair."

      "I wonder if there are any more?" Claudia asked.

      "Perhaps," Marcus said, "But between the two, as they are positioned you can see in all directions. The Southern platform has a decent view west as well."

      "Someone planned them well," John commented, "Claudia, you take charge of all the restoration. I'll stay and work with those who want to follow or report on the fighting. We can meet for lunch if you like?"

      She nodded. "John has asked for volunteers but you and I should go out and recruit. We will need tools. Some may be found among the various stores of gear. Quentin may even know of something he can make."

      As they walked off to see the ruins John spoke to Miko. He explained they would need a team of runners and of watchers if they were to keep aware of the movements below. And they should, so that they knew if they were in danger or it might be safe to go. Alaric and Merideth should be invited to the tower. And anyone who wished to know of the battle might stop by the tower.

      Miko ran off on these errands and soon the Regensburg reporters with their video and transmitting equipment came to the roof. The spokesperson was the better dressed of the men and spoke with a Berliner accent as far as John could tell, though he worked for the Regensburg news team. He introduced himself as Gerhard. The two others with him seemed quite subordinate. They extended a tall antenna with transmitter atop and cable hanging around along with some recording and close circuit gear for on the spot edits or tests.

      The newscasters didn't bother John, they only went about their business, calling in live reports on the battle and aiming their camera down from the tower. In between, they recorded footage of the camp and of John as he sat on the wall dividing attention between the Russians on the move and the team of Goth immediately below surveying the trees for the best ones to cut.

      Miko took charge of the arranging of the model. Some of the younger boys and girls came up. They sat on the floor crafting tiny armies or towns from found objects. Neuberg was half an opened pine cone decorated with pebbles. Wittled down bits of dead wood dyed red with henna represented divisions of the VC. The Russians were an army of twigs.

      Austin ran up the steps, telescope dangerously near to swinging into the stone wall as he came. He panted. "You should see...DG and Russians."

      John took the scope from him. The camera crew moved quickly to train their cameras. John found the main body of the Russian army, already conflicting with advance troops of the VC. Now the there were DG soldiers attacking their rear from the east. John could make out the battle clearly as the new sounds of gunfire and grenade launches with explosions reached his ears. Everything echoed here, sounded loud and horrible.

      There was smoke rising above the valley now, just becoming really noticable. John could make out the front lines of soldiers falling, imagined the blood. Behind him Miko said, "Greta have you finished painting the DG pebbles?"

      "They're not dry."

      "I need to put them in the battle," Miko said.

      A runner came in from the south. They had sent one of the girls this time. John thought she had come along from the Netherlands. Miko called her Ceci. "Marcus and the Lady sent me to say that the VC and Swiss are fighting."

      John looked away from the battle to the north. Ceci was perhaps fourteen, still small and slender of figure, and having very dark straight hair. She skipped forward to the model Mikolaj worked on. "Here," she said and pointed to the section of the land model bordered by river and southern stretch of highway leading into Augsburg. "Redjacks able to fly rose up and landed immediately southeast of the Swiss as they moved up toward the river. They were already in battle when I left."

      Miko moved some of the twisted bits of foil candy wrapper that represented the Swiss along the model and afterward lifted some of the red wooden markers to their side. "Was that all Ceci?" He asked.

      She shook her head. "The Egyptians surfaced in Schrobenhaussen."

      "I'm making little beatles from wood to mark them," Miko said.

      John turned back to the north view. He needed the west watcher to send a runner. He could still see the Darkling Guard and Russians in combat. He called down to the surveyers, "Anyway to improve the view directly northwest? It seems to be a blind spot."

      "We've been working on that," Quentin called, "We'll be cutting trees soon, you'll want to take shelter, temporarily."

      John nodded so Quentin would see over the wall. "Everyone, we'll have to move just for a while, so they can cut a few trees down and not fear hitting us. How about we take a short break at the campfire?"

      "Miko said we could go swimming!" Greta complained. She seemed not much older than Maureen, had to be the daughter of members of the tribe.

      "Where?" John asked. He sat on the wall, facing them.

      "There's a small stream we found, runs into the river. But about halfway down the hill it goes around harder rock and slows at the bend to form a sort of swimming hole. Ceci found it when she was sent to fetch water for the second trailer camp last night," Miko explained.

      "It does sound fun, Maybe Greta should ask her parents?"

      "Her mother is Anna, she's helping the Lady now," Ceci said in authoritative tone, "Anne said the Lady should have Guardsmen too. She is chief of the Lady's Honor Guard and sent Greta here to help you."

      John looked at the girl. Greta was younger than his sister Alicja was now, maybe four, five at most. She didn't want to follow the war, she only wanted to paint people and play. "All right, I'll go with you to make sure the children are safe."

      "Really, Anna said I can look after her," Ceci said, "she'll give me dinner if I watch her daughter. And surely Elder Mikolaj is responsible?"

      John looked at Ceci, then Mikolaj. They didn't mind being babysitters but they wouldn't stand for being supervised. "Of course, I was just being cautious. You all go have fun and you can come back to help later. Just watch each other and don't be distracted too much."

      "We'll go now," Miko told the group of younger children. "Everyone get a buddy and keep track of that one person. If you need to split up or you can't find them you have to tell Ceci or me right away."

      The children made various replies in agreement and took their time in choosing buddies. Austin asked for the telescope and John allowed him to take it. John left the roof last. He walked around to the side where the ground sloped downward. Quentin and others were there with saws and axes. "It's all clear up there," he told them.

      The young men said they would have the appropriate trees down soon. Quentin said that they would go to another section of woods and fell a few more as needed so as not to thin one area. Later others would come to start the building and cleaning. As soon as John moved away from the tower Rory rushed to his side and fell into step beside him.

                      †               †               †

      Claudia sat on a blanket spread on the ground and sheltered from sun and forming rainclouds by a canvas tarp. Around her, hacking and restoration projects went on. Beside her, Merideth rested on a couple of cushions brought from the trailer, well into the sixth month of her pregnancy. Her crew sat aound them with mobiles and other devices as well as snacks and containers of soda or water. Virtually, they continued their recruiting and promotion but Claudia had her attention focused in reality now.

      Marcus was leading the restoration of the southern ruins and sharing the responsibility in both communicating with the northern restoration team as well as the system of runners that kept all apprised of the battles. The projects had been a good idea, John had done well. It served to boost pride and feelings of accomplishment while distracting many from the noise of war.

      Marcus had gathered a good number of stronger young men and women to work on moving stones and wood and to work with these materials. There were gaps in the wall and platform and the structure alongside was badly damaged. Claudia watched as half-clothed teenaged boys lifted a tree trunk above their heads and manuvered it into the interior of the building. Nimble girls of a like age bent awkwardly atop the old stone walls to manuver the ends of the log precisely into place.

      The half-clothed boys and girls had drawn a small following of others who pretended to help by fetching water or tools while they ogled. Marcus, Patrick, Marek, even Hansel and Robbie were handsome boys, but Cyprian was pretty enough that the younger girls were swooning, even though they knew he had eyes only for Helena. Helena had put her soft dark hair in twin braids and was atop the wall in shorts gathering admirers of her own.

      Even Morpheus had begun being helpful, dazzling even those quite familiar with Darkling with his particular talents and appearance. In his third, perhaps, costume change of the day, he was standing back on his heels in tunica, breastplate, and sandals looking back over time to check the restoration plans against actually history. Morpheus said the original building here as in the north had timbers coated in pitch to support the second floor. Unlike the north structure, this one never seemed to have had a stone floor above but rather a further layer of wood in planks followed by wood railings and supports for a thatched roof. With his help, they had authentic plans for door, rainwater reservoir, and wooden rails meant to tether horses or rest weapons.

      Anna was on watch presently, scanning the areas south as far east and west as possible. She turned every so often to say the VC were running around or flying. John had his antiquated abax, while Claudia and Leonore sat with mobiles plotting the battle on detailed maps. As far as Claudia could tell, the VC were quite obviously baiting the Swiss and Russians both.

      The Swiss were steadily, if slowly, moving for the bridge between cities, thinking to continue the battle into Germany. Erik strolled from the trees. Claudia heard the soft steps and seeing Jayne's face knew who was there. He stepped into view quickly. "I visited with the other watchers," he announced. "The Spanish and Gaul are sweeping southeast they say. They changed the position of the watch north again, trees were being cut. But I did learn that the DG are flanking the Russians."

      "Did they say flanking exactly?" Claudia asked, it was vague. The Russians were in a long formation stretching southwest from their first known position.

      "They said 'as if flanking their rear'" Erik said slowly.  He smiled.

      "Likely trying to spin the line, wheel them about?" Leonore asked.

      Claudia nodded as Leonore keyed in the new information. Erik was calling to Anna, "Any news, Guardmaiden? I was told that Greta has gone swimming and Ceci and Miko are gaurdians to the children."

      Anne turned. "He was worried?"

      "He is sweet," Claudia said as Anna gave a knowing look. They had earlier predicted this response.

      "If you leave again tell them the EG are holding position and that the VC continue to bait the Swiss in hit and run style."

      "Does it look like there are many dead?" Erik asked. "Our Leader seems to want to know how bloody things get. He says he can see them fall when he watches."

      "Well, it isn't pleasant to be on watch," Anna said flatly. "You can tell him that so far these armies are good about carrying dead and wounded away. It doesn't appear bloody unless you really look."

      Erik seemed to tip his head in consideration.

      Anna went back to her watch as Sascha sat up from the blanket. She had been napping before that. Claudia looked around as Sascha did. "Ah, obviously the blue-haired thing...elf."

      "Sensed him?" Claudia asked.

      "Happens sometimes," Sascha said. She was staring at Morpheus and he turned. He smiled, at Sascha Claudia thought, and walked toward them. He crouched down and peered at her, petting the flowers in his hair as he did.

      "Sidhe?" he asked.

      "Very far removed, if so," Sascha replied, "but you must be."

      Morpheus nodded. Claudia thought the interaction between strangers even partly angelic intriguing. "Of the Elves I'm told, though my mother was quite petite. Leanan she was called by the tribe. I'm Morpheus."

      "You really are," Sascha said and blushed, "Of course, I should have guessed, you so match the description. In Karachi most recently, yes?"

      "Yes. I still live there, I'm just visiting for the duration of the battle. Your mortal Leader and Lady are known to me." Morpheus reached and touched the metal of Sascha's frame where it fitted about her fingers. "You've had help at least. DAF?"

      "A relative I've always been told."

      "Sometimes children are told that. It may have been DAF. They do try. But I'm sure you are Sidhe, removed as you say, but the one drop rule applies, born to Sidhe is Sidhe and sired by is Sidhe is Sidhe. Even a 64th counts. I sense it in you, not only a child distantly descended from any Angel but from those who for generations continued to be partly Angel, Faerie that is. The Lady here and Leader have formed a wonderful tribe, but if you ever need more help you ought to call Jean-Daniel."

      "The name sounds familiar," Sascha said.

      "I believe Jean-Daniel is reigning Prince of the Sidhe," Claudia said, "I also met him once.

      Morpheus nodded. "The Union doesn't much speak of him for fear that Humans will mistake him for a worldly monarch attempting to enter politics or seize land. But they recognize he is our Prince, rather like the Union's Haven keepers, but will only assist fellow Sidhe and has no known place of residence."

      "How does anyone find him?"

      "Gossip. Or visiting resorts. He is often in resorts, sunny places near water at least. Islands. There used to be all sorts of summoning spells and the like, but he doesn't respond well to old magics. It's best to use the phone."

      Sascha laughed, began to apologiz.

      "He's always like this," Claudia said, "will talk your ear off and generally be enigmatic and cute. But I don't think there's a bit of evil in him."

      Morpheus grinned at Claudia and she rolled her eyes.

      "And you must be of some legendary status I don't know, because Sascha rarely speaks of being anything other than human."

      Sascha looked around as if suddenly ashamed or fearful. Only their good friends were about, Jayne and Leonore as well as Merideth. "True," Sascha whispered, "It's just I never fully realized I had the ability to sense others and only figured out it must be related to the Sidhe. I do not get the same tingly feeling from any Darkling or halfangel."

      Morpheus nodded. "You are removed, so it isn't likely you would have fantastic supernatural powers, but it does sound like you can sense your own, most of us can do that. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with being plain Human either. All this technical knowledge...beyond me."

      "Oh!" Claudia gasped, recalling a very imortant need, "You must tell me the name of Athen's mother."

      "Why?" Morpheus asked.

      "You do know it?" Claudia pressed.

      "I do, all her names. Which do you want?"

      Claudia frowned. This now seemed typical of Faeries. "What would be her most personal name known to Athen and his father."

      Morpheus smiled at Sascha as he answered, "Nymph."

      "Nymph, that's it? Are you sure?" Claudia asked.

      "You could have asked your father to ask Anne, but she would only have known one of her names. I don't think Shade would tell Anne the others. It's Nymph you want to know, though I don't know if it will entirely get you what you want."

      "Morpheus," Sascha said in whisper, "if you are not busy might I speak to you elsewhere, only to ask you some things that are personal to me...that you would know of." She turned her head, "I mean no offense to you," she said mainly to Claudia.

      "I'm sure we all understand the nature of the situation," Claudia said.

      Sascha looked again to Morpheus. He stood. His wings sprouted through the clothing. "Where would you like to go?"

      "He does teleport as well as travel over time, I think."

      Morpheus grinned in Claudia's direction again. He liked to play at being a prankster. "Shall I choose? I can have you back a second later no matter how long we are away."

      "You choose," Sascha whispered.

      Morpheus took her hand to help her up and then pulled her close against him. They both abrubtly left Claudia's sight as she heard a sound like an old harddrive that was completely lost and continuously trying to spin and search. The sound seemed to fade and then grow loud again. Again there were two figures, one having a pair of dark wings. The sounded faded and Claudia had to take a moment to calculate.

      They had seemed to be gone a second only but Sascha's hair was even longer, it's arrangement of braids different, even the number of earrings and their type. Her clothing was drasticly different, a sand caked cloak and loose dress in blue and gray replaced the urban fashions of the time. She carried a woven bag, stuffed full and a skin filled with water. Sascha looked disoriented.

      Morpheus had worn a beard just then, Claudia thought, but instantly he was as before, only now the costume was exactly the uniform of the Darkling Guard, and them two seconds later it was only the vaguly military styled manner of coat and pants John usually wore.

      "What happened?" Claudia asked.

      Morpheus looked down at her. "Almost forgot about coming back here, but Sascha eventually decided she loved the Goth and really wanted to, so I brought her." He turned his head slowly to look at Sascha, she still seemed dazed. "Temporal shock," he said, "she'll recover shortly. She was gone a very long time. Let her rest. It'll all come back to her."

      "Jayne," Claudia prodded.

      The girl answered in nod and stood. She slowly approached Sascha and took her arm. Sascha asked a question in unrecognizable tounge. "Sascha, it's Jayne, we're on the hill near the Danube in Germany. There is a battle nearby, but we are safe here. Would you like to rest. There is a place here you used to rest in."

      "Ja," Sascha answered, smiled more as she looked at Jayne. "Jayne, Verzeihung." She had regained her German speech.

      "Really, she'll recover completely, she may take a little while to recall some details but it's all in there. Just understand that it's not her fault. For her it has been many years," Morpheus said as Jayne led Sascha away to their trailer.

      "Where were you?"

      "It doesn't matter. If she decides to, Sascha will tell you. But get her back to her computers so that comes back to her completely. She had use of machines during her absence, but they were different. I will say that she's a font of knowledge about Athen now."

      "Thank you," Claudia said and felt more sincere as the words came out her mouth. Morpheus wouldn't say it outright but he was going out of his way to do what Claudia wanted done.

                      †               †               †

      It was just past noon and the tribe was starting to forget the batle around them. Gunfire was mysteriously absent and the VC seemed to have fallen back to a former and more distant position. Lunch was being served to the very last of the tribe, as the rest had eaten, and morning projects were already being continued. There were damp children playing football through the tent city's alleys. John was again on the tower, only now he sat down with Claudia curled under his arm and watched Quentin's volunteers straighten the carved wooden poles in the postholes.

      They lashed temporary braces to each post until they would add the further parts of the roof above. Miko was sitting on the wall between two finished posts looking out at the new view, clearer and wider from the cutting back of trees. Claudia was telling John about Sascha's adventure with Morpheus, that he should understand she's been away from them for years and chose to come back. Morpheus wasn't visible anywhere nearby.

      John knew him only slightly better than Claudia he thought. It seemed like other ancient immortals tended to consider him a child, because the time since his creation could be measured in Earth years or his mother was well known to them. Perhaps, they had also known Morpheus when things were new to him. But, John could not understand that; he knew Morpheus had spoken to him of travelling time and John figured every second Morpheus was elsewhen, particularly when returning to them moments after leaving, he was ageing and learning.

      Morpheus was probably twice as old as anyone knew, and no Human would think of him as a child. It made John think that maybe there were people who thought of him as a child, or Claudia. How could they be children?

      It seemed Miko had been in the midst of asking of or telling about Ceci. Claudia was amused in her replies and then Miko began again telling of the swimming hole. John had not really been listening. Quentin was announcing that the last support was up and they could begin on the next phase. There was a sort of distant shrieking that echoed eeriely off the rock.

      "What is that?" John asked.

      Morpheus just appeared, seemed as if he had stolen John's clothes. And then Miko spoke, "Something's happening!"

      John stood, hardly felt Claudia slip from him. The scream, it was a battlecry. While unwatched the Union troops had formed a wide parabolic formation, a horseshoe forced open. They were now charging forward as a line, American's farthest north, the DG afterward, VC from Neuberg, the EG and finally the VC again at the southern end.

      It was just as they imagined it might be a night before, a corralling motion. The previous skirmishes had only served to draw EL forces from the extreme north and south positions. But perhaps this was what the EL wanted as well. They were responding with a battlecry distorted by distance and number of voices but most likely "Liberte" as they drew into an arrow-like formation north and south of the river with the Russians now the tip of the arrow and aimed to split the Union formation.

      There was a great distance between the two opposing forces but they were closing quickly, running or marching doubletime. Assault vehicles and artillery were interspersed with the soldiers on both sides and now a wave of bombardment began.

      Claudia came to John's side again, wove her fingers into his. "It's all the same in the south, as we expected, it really doesn't matter if we use mobile to mobile now." So Leonore was relaying to her. A few moments later John actually heard Leonore's reproduced voice from immediately below where Claudia held her mobile. She was confirming the symmetrical shapes of the formations.

      "There is a flash of light around the Egyptians, bladed weapons maybe?" Leonore said.

      As the soldiers moved the hill they stood on became an obstacle and they immediately parted formation to run along either side. Looking down, John could clearly make out red uniformed VC screaming and waving shining bladed weapons.

      Any moment they would clash. There was exchange of gunfire across the small space between armies. Now there were laser blasts from several armies, America, Gaul, Russia, Switzerland. Soldiers of some lines fell back slightly to entrench themselves or man artillery. The DG and VC sent light assault vehicles forward: armored, hover capable, and well armed. Russian tanks and Spanish calvary rushed into the fray.

      As they watched bodies began to pile up. John didn't want to look through glasses or scope, he might see too much detail. The camera crew were filming the battle, seemed to have gone live moments ago and so much of Germany might already be seeing the battle. In moments, phone calls would confirm arrangements and the broadcast would be carried further, to the world.

      Being there had to be worse. There was a smell now, a sickly smokey scent as the air turned grey. Streaks of red and yellow from various missiles crossed the dark clouds. Claudia's hand clenched as the sounds of dying horses and men echoed off the rock of the hill.

      "The Swiss and VC are just killing each other," Lenore's voice said very quietly, "they have...some kind of grenade that sends the Vampyres into fits and the Swiss rush into cut them."

      "Sugar," Claudia told her, "Pepe used them first in Paris. A mist of sugar will cover them and enter their bloodstream, throw a Vampyre completely off balance as their body tries to compensate for the chemical imbalance. Vampires keep their human shape when they are turned, but their biochemistry alters almost completelyy. They are actually quite susceptible to attacks that effect blood chemistry; at least they will be temporarily effective." Claudia's voice was cold, as if reading a book and John turned long enough to see her eyes were trained only on the battle. She squeezed his hand again.

      The few VC they could see were tearing through the Russians with seeming ease. With compact machine guns and custom bladed weapons fixed to their left forearm they only had to pull the trigger, punch then withdraw with their left, and bodies fell to pieces. The lasers did better damage than the bullets to the VC, but blaster wound's clean slices through the body often self cauterized, Vampyre flesh healed around both effects of the wound if given time.

      "Pepe!" Leonore called.

      "No," Claudia said

      "PU coming up from the river in near perfect camo!"

      Only moments, then John saw them, not large in number but apparently meant to be elite. They went right up the slope from the river toward the DG, who were already picking apart the Spanish Calvary, as the Spanish lines behind opened fire on them. The Americas and Gaul seemed to be engaged in a dance. Small groups of soldiers moved from one sheltered piece of terrain to another and dug in to fire at each other.

      "Swiss are pursuing the VC and Egyptians over the Bridge, I'm coming over there," Leonore said.

      Minutes, and the EG were carving a path through the Russians with all their expert evasive moves and use of bladed weapons. The remainder of the southern division of VC fell in with those out of Neuberg as the Swiss held the bridge.

      Bodies continued to fall. Machine guns, timed laser blasters, grenades of various strengths, flame throwers, hover tanks, blades, fists, missiles, gas canisters, all made to kill.

      And then the rain came. The already saturated ground turned to mud and puddles, tanks churned up cold dirty water, wounded drown in puddles inches deeps and visibility for everyone was diminished.

      Quentin and Austin worked with others to fix a tarp to the supports already in place, they could be sheltered. All along the edge of the hill the Goth had some form of shelter and watched through the rain as the battle continued. "Cover all the reservoirs!" John called, "the rain's tainted with all the smoke in the air!"

      Below, the soldiers fought on in cool rain and mud, falling over bodies to make the next attack. Weapons malfuntions caused by the dampness were common now. Neither side looked to be winning. All had piles of bodies about them. Gaul and the Americans had moved further south and now there were not so many separate armies as large groups of soldiers either for Union or EL. VC were killing the Russians, as the Swiss killed the VC, and the DG killed the Swiss, to be attacked by the Spanish, who were being massacred by a smaller number of EG, who had drawn the attention of Gaul, who were under assault by missile and grenade from the Americans. Meanwhile, the PU, or a barely noticed squad of SCB or Klan, would pop up someplace and throw the struggle out of balance, but their numbers were soon taken care of.

      As one of the terrorists squads tossed homemade incendiary devices at the Union field hospital, which set it aflame, a group dressed in indistinguishable gray gathered in the west. The remaining Union forces regrouped as best they could, dead and wounded guarded from attack but not tended. The EL soldiers gathered around their last working tanks and pressed toward the opposing Union troops.

      John couldn't look at the struggle between reduced armies. The valley was carpeted in death, blood and machine oil mixed with chemicals from malfunctioning or discarded weapons and washed down into the river, and the figures in gray began to move. "Rowan," Morpheus said. John had almost forgotten he was there.  John watched with the others of the tribe about him as the gray-cloaked figures walked among the dead and wounded. They hammered wooden stakes into the chests of all soldiers. The sounds below mixed with the last struggle of battle further west, but it was clear the bodies were not always dead when the Rowan began their treatments.

      "Horrible," Claudia said.

      Vivianne rushed up onto the tower, her hair somewhat wet and looking generally frantic. "Elzbieta, she went down the road!"

      "What?" John asked.

      "Elzbieta said she was going down there!" Vivianne pointed to the carpet of dead bodies. "We tried to stop her, but most everyone was looking at the battle. She ran off, took some of the medical kits and she has a knife."

      "It's for her own protection," John said automatically, "she wouldn't kill anyone on purpose, not Elzbieta."

      "We can do good there, before it was dangerous, but who is prepared to deal with us now, especially if we offer any help?" Claudia said.

      She was right, John feared she was right.  "Only the Elders. Only Karina, Vivianne and the Elders, Guardsmen and Maidens, everyone else must stay here!"

      "Vivianne, find Karina gather any medical supplies you can," Claudia said, "Miko, gather any fresh water you can find. If the barrels are even suspect take it from the stream, the volume and fast motion of the water will diffuse contaminants better than anything we have right now." Miko and Vivianne both left quickly. Claudia adjusted her crown in her hair and drew up her hood. "We can take the horses, they've had plenty of rest."

      "I'll start down now," John said, "If I can catch up with Elzbieta maybe I can convince her to stay with us." He gave Claudia's hand a squeeze then dropped it and ran down the steps.