Mika's group left the nomad camp on the following morning, laden with enough supplies to see them as far as Exag and then on to Dramidja, if the Great She-Wolf granted them her protection.
Hornsbuck and Lotus Blossom hung from their saddles, bidding farewell to those who had become friends during the short interval of their stay. Lotus Blossom's pouch hung heavily at her belt, and it seemed obvious that her formidable and somewhat devious skill at knucklebones had not diminished.
RedTail was looking plump and well-groomed, having eaten his fill and been brushed till his thick coat gleamed like burnished bronze. Tam had spent the remainder of their time in the camp slumbering contentedly on Starr's hearth. He hadn't declined the tasty treats she had offered him, even though Mika himself sat morosely before the fire, staring at his gauntleted hand.
It was the princess, however, who was the most affected by their stay. No longer did she glower and snarl at wolf and man dike, but appeared content in her wolven form. More than content, she strutted proudly and even swaggered about, her head aloft, blue and green eyes flashing, and her tail arched high above her back. An admiring retinue of male wolves followed her wherever she went, and far from discouraging them, she led them on with coy glances and swaying hips.
Mika alone was despondent, for he had risked the demon's displeasure by stopping at the nomad camp rather than heading straight for Exag as he had been told. He had gambled on learning some bit of information that would help him fight the demon. Instead, he had gained a third demon finger and had learned absolutely nothing that would help him outwit and ultimately defeat the demon.
The princess had remained at Starr's side for the rest of the visit. The two of them had become nearly inseparable, and they constantly gave Mika the same cool look of hidden amusement.
That look had really begun to irk Mika, even piercing his great depression which they appeared not to notice. He wondered what they said to each other when they were alone, or how they even communicated at all. He wondered, but not enough to ask Starr, for he didn't really want to know.
Nor was he as disappointed as he would have been under normal conditions over his inability to get Starr alone, for he was unwilling to put his virility to the test again until he had found the red stone. He was actually relieved when it came time to wave a final farewell and take his leave.
Starr knelt next to Tam and the princess and hugged them each in turn, though she squeezed the princess longer and whispered in her ear.
And there-there it was again! That look! The two of them staring at him as though they were laughing and sharing a secret! Suddenly infuriated, Mika felt the blood rush to his head. He kicked the roan hard, causing it to rear up on its hind legs and leap forward. Hornsbuck, Lotus Blossom, and the wolves were caught by surprise and were forced to race after him or be left behind.
The young boys, always ready for the opportunity to parade about and exhibit their fine horsemanship to the clumps of admiring girls, accompanied them past the edge of the forest and out onto the plains, yipping their budding wolf cries, waving their wolf- bannered lances, and causing their horses to rear dramatically. But even they were left behind, and the village disappeared from sight.
Once out on the plains, Mika felt the exhilaration of a new beginning and a sense of freedom from the clinging obligations that were always part of belonging. He looked over at Hornsbuck and saw the same look of excitement in his friend's eyes. Mika understood even more than before why a man might choose to live his life moving from one adventure to the next without the webs of personal entanglement.
The miles passed swiftly without incident, as did the days, growing colder with each new sunrise as they edged closer to the month of Sunsebb.
The grease bushes, the most common vegetation on the plains, were rimmed with an outline of ice that burned red with the rising sun. Their blankets were stiff and crackly when the companions rose with steaming breath from their bedrolls.
Tam and the princess had seemingly grown closer since leaving the nomad village. Mika was puzzled by this occurrence. He could not help but feel somewhat slighted, since Tam now spent more time in her company than with him, but upon reflection, he decided that he preferred the peace rather than the constant hostilities. If anything, the princess almost ignored him now, having eyes only for Tam.
The two wolves were together constantly, sometimes including RedTail in their forays, but seemingly content with their own company. They even slept together at night, curled into one tight ball, sharing body heat. Mika felt almost lost, sleeping without the weight of Tam at the foot of his cloak, but he told himself that the princess had never lived so roughly before. Tam had obviously taken pity on her and was simply being kind. It didn't mean a thing, Mika told himself. It did occur to him briefly that it was rather odd behavior for Tam, who was not given to kind deeds.
They hunted, they rode, they ate, they slept, and time passed smoothly. Yet Mika was never able to completely forget the curse that hung over his head, and he continued to guard against it, his exaggerated masculine persona now firmly in place. His every waking and sleeping moment was spent thinking about the curse, his hand, and the demon, and wondering what he was going to do about them all.
One night, as they were sitting by a fire built of carefully metered charcoal chunks, Mika was telling some wild story involving himself and three mermaids.
Finally Hornsbuck put down his mug of boaeyod- aie and looked at him. Mika's voice faded anf under the older man's steady gaze.
"Mika, I like a good story as well as the next man," said Hornsbuck, "but you've got to stop. Pretty soon you'll be believing these tales yourself."
"But, but…" sputtered Mika. "It's true! I swear it!"
"Mika!" roared Hornsbuck as Mika continued to protest. "No man, not even you, could do half the things you've told me. You've barely been out of the village on a score of occasions. How could you have bedded all those lasses in that short time?"
"Maybe it's true, Hornsbuck," Lotus Blossom said with a hearty laugh. "I remember you at that age. Seems to me there's not much difference between what the boy here says and you did." She eyed him speculatively and rolled a thick braid between her fingers. "Give him to me for the night, and I'll find out what kind of stuff he's made of."
"Hush, woman," Hornsbuck said with a dismissive gesture, his green eyes never leaving Mika's face. "Leave off your fooling."
But Mika paled, for he had seen the keen look of interest in Lotus Blossom's face, the same look that Tam wore when he was ready to devour a terrified rabbit. He knew that Lotus Blossom was deadly serious. The thought of being bedded by her sobered him more quickly than Hornsbuck's words.
"No more, Mika," Hornsbuck admonished. "Tell me what this be all about, and tell me the truth. And in your own voice, please. I'm tired of listening to you croaking like a bullfrog and watching you act the fool. Tell me what's going on, or I'll give you to Lotus Blossom and let her shake it out of you."
Looking into his bright green eyes, Mika knew without a doubt that he would.
Mika sighed and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his face hidden. He sighed again.
"It's a curse," he said in his normal voice, which sounded small and thin to his ears. "From the gem. It's a female stone, and if a man uses it, he starts to change into a woman a little bit at a time, each and every time he uses it."
"Are you sure?" asked Hornsbuck with a gasp. "That's terrible, lad!"
"Yes, I'm sure," Mika said miserably. "There were just little signs at first, but then… then with Starr, I found that I couldn't… couldn't!" There was an awkward stretch of silence.
"But-but-that's terrible! I'd kill myself if that ever happened to me," rumbled Hornsbuck. "Oh, uh, just a matter of speech, lad. Forget I said that."
"Don't be silly, boy. There's lots of other important things to do with your life!" Lotus Blossom boomed in her normal, hearty manner, but Mika could see the pity in her eyes and knew that her heart was not in her words.
"But there is a way out," muttered Mika. "It seems that there's a red stone, a male gem that will reverse the damage and make me as good as new. In fact, the two stones together are twice as powerful. When I'm done with this demon business, I'm going to get that stone."
"Of course you will," Hornsbuck said loudly, leaning over to pat Mika on the knee, abruptly drawing his hand back. "I'll even go with you, lad. I kno* you'd do the same for me."
"Oh, Hornsbuck, what'll I do if… if…?" Mika said tremulously as he raised his head and looked at Hornsbuck with tormented eyes.
"Don't worry, lad," said Hornsbuck, so overcome by compassion that he actually placed his arm around Mika's shoulders. "I promise to see you through this, er, mess. You can depend on it."
"Oh, thank you, Hornsbuck," cried Mika. So great was his relief at sharing the fearful burden with someone that he leaned his forehead against the older man's shoulder and sobbed; Hornsbuck patted him on the back.
"Hornsbuck! What be you doing? The pair of you be acting like sniveling maids!" shouted Lotus Blossom.
Mika and Hornsbuck leaped apart as though stung by bees. Mika brushed his eyes with the back of his hand and blinked furiously. Hornsbuck jumped to his feet and began stoking the fire, which was perfectly fine as it was.
They busied themselves with a flurry of activities to cover their embarrassment and avoided looking at each other. After a short time they took themselves to opposite ends of the camp. Bidding each other good night in loud, masculine voices, they pulled their cloaks up over their heads.
It seemed to Mika that Hornsbuck and Lotus Blossom were more vocal than usual in their nighdy frolic. Tam and the princess looked at each other through dark, slitted eyes and shared silent laughter. They fitted their long, lean bodies around each other till they were meshed, head to tail, and then they, too, closed their eyes and slept. The camp was quiet, with only one pair of human eyes remaining to stare at the stars in silence.