Mornings light peeked in through the curtains of Eliki's bedroom and fell across the sleeping bodies of the two furs tangled together in the sheets. Russet Vardenai and Eliki the Snowkitten sleeping together in celebration of their eventful and enjoyable night out. The sound of a doorbell chiming throughout the house woke them up. Russet stirred softly and made as if to climb out of bed but Eliki's paws around his chest pulled him back down as he hugged him close nuzzling into his neck fur and licking gently at his neck.

"Let Leana get it Russet, I don't want to have to get up yet." He said with a smile and a gentle purr as he began to groom Russet's neck and shoulder fur.

Chirring softly Russet allowed himself to be groomed feeling the rough tongue of the snowkitten parting and stirring his fur as he snuggled his body closer to the kittens under the covers. "That was wonderful Eliki," Russet said softly.

Eliki was about to respond when the door opened and Leana walked in, wrapped up in a dressing gown. The two males both emitted a high pitched squeak and buried under the covers until only their heads showed.

"Leana!" Eliki shouted blushing bright red under his fur, "What are you doing..."

Leana chuckled and tossed something on the bed covers. "That was Andrina she just stopped by with this before she went down to her stall." She paused her eyes glittering in mirth, "I guessed that if Russet wasn't in his bed he would most likely be in here."

Russet sat up and let the covers slip down to his stomach revealing his black furred chest as he placed a hand on the bracelet and then slipped it back over his left paw. "I must thank her for fixing it for me, that was really kind of her"

Leana smiled and nodded and Eliki took hold of Russet's paw to look at it closer. "Well if we are going to stop by the church Russet it would be best if we all got ready Sunday services should be ending soon."

"Oh of course!" Russet exclaimed and suddenly with a flick of his wrist bundled the covers over Eliki's head and then darted out of the room past a rather shocked Leana. As Leana recovered and headed for the door and Eliki's head popped back out of the top of the covers they heard the bathroom door click shut.

Looking at her twin Leana smiled and ruffled his head fur. "Looks like Russet wins again."

"I guess he does sis," Eliki said making shooing motions with his hands and with a loud laugh Leana left the bedroom allowing her brother to retain the scraps of his dignity.

Half an hour later after they had all washed, dressed and eaten breakfast the three friends set out again from the snowkittens house. Eliki and Russet paw in paw and Russet carrying the bouquet of lilies he had purchased the previous evening with Leana tailing them just a couple of steps behind adjusting her Sunday hat.

After fifteen minutes of walking the three arrived at the gates of the church and passing the main vestibule they saw the squirrel priest saying goodbye to his congregation as the services where just ending for the morning. Trekking up the hill behind the church which contained the vast majority of the grave yard Russet took the lead. He led them up and over the brow of the hill past the orderly graves and monuments and then down the far side. They walked in silence for another few minutes until they where about a quarter of the way back down the hill on the far side.

"Where are we." Leana began but Eliki's hand on her arm silenced her as he pointed. Russet had stopped and was standing before an ancient marble monument. It was ringed with vines and ivy creepers and appeared to have once been a statue standing on some kind of platform and the shards of marble poking through the knee high grass gave silent testimony that at sometime violence had been done to this monument.

Kneeling down before the base of the statue Russet pulled away the vines and moss covering the plaque set into the base of it, as the skunk brushed off the last of the moss the words etched into the stone could clearly be seen.

Solemnly and with tears in his eyes Russet righted a large urn that had fallen over and reverently placed the lilies within it before standing back up and bowing.

"Who was she Russet?" Leana asked softly moving up besides the skunk and kneeling down to place a paw on the epitaph.

"She was the last Vardenai to hold Phoenixbrook, in the days of the old Duchy." Eliki said turning to face Russet awe in his eyes. "I never knew she was buried here? I've always thought that was just a piece of old masonry."

"She died defending the Sharinda from the Shaylanii in the Heart of Phoenixbrook the Phoenix Fold where none but we may stand. Whoever they may be our records do not tell us who either of those where, her last dying wish was to be buried here in the town she loved." Russet said solemnly. "She was buried her with much ceremony. But ten years later during the River Traders Revolts the statue was decapitated and the Vardenai driven out of the town." He paused tears in his eyes. "No Vardenai has been able to visit this grave in over four hundred years."

"I've never understood," Leana said standing up, "Why would the people of Phoenixbrook decapitate the monument of a heroine?"

"It was the Shaylanii Leana, I've always assumed it was some powerful family that has died out, they seized control of the town council after the death of the prominent leader of the Sharinda who I also believe were an ancient family. They rebelled against the Vardenai and invoked the riots and rebellion which destroyed much of the ancient arcana that made the town so special including the bridge of rainbows and drove the Vardenai out." Russet said, he then bowed to the statue once more. "But that is in the past and for as long as I can I will return to this statue each year.

Leana and Eliki looked at each other in surprise and awe neither having heard any of this before and as Eliki turned to speak to Russet he saw him already cresting the top of the hill heading back down towards the church and they hurried after him.

"I never heard of any of that before?" Leana said looking at her brother.

"Neither have I, I can only assume it was all squashed and the records destroyed after the Vardenai family where driven out." Eliki responded as they also crested the hill and saw Russet below them walking towards the vicar who was standing just outside the porch leading into the church peering up at them all and they hurried to catch up.

"This is a surprise indeed, so you are the mysterious Duke of Vardenai the entire town is talking about." The squirrel was saying as the two snowkittens caught up with him. Russet squeaked and blushed furiously.

"Really?" he asked, "People are talking About Us?"

"Indeed they are, your activities since your arrival have intrigued the people, it was the major topic of conversation at this mornings sermons." The squirrel paused and turned to smile at the two felines.

"Leana, Eliki, what a pleasant surprise, We have missed you at our services." He said.

"Father Ubekell, Well we have been busy at work and well, uhm, I, we." Eliki said embarrassed.

Father Ubekell laughed and shook his head his large bushy tail swinging put behind him, "No worries, I know that you may no longer wish to accompany us during our sojourns after god but I do have a suggestion you may find amenable your Grace." He said turning back to face Russet.

"Oh?" Russet said, "What is that then father?"

"I was thinking that you might like to speak at this evenings sermon, I am sure there will be a large turnout as soon as word get around that you will be speaking." Ubekell said smiling, "I get a full church and you get a chance to speak to the people and put to rest some of the more wild rumours floating around town."

Russet dithered hopping from paw to paw in indecision and looked over at Eliki and Leana. "It sounds like a good idea Russet," Eliki said moving up and placing his paw on his arm. "you can reassure them all and we will be there to back you up, Right Leana?"

Leana nodded and smiled, "Yes, yes we will be there."

Russet looked around wildly unhappy with the direction this was moving in when Father Ubekell came to his rescue. "Do not make a decision yet your grace, think about it today and if you decide you do wish to talk to the people then be at the church by six o'clock this evening. All you need say is that you're here for a visit and that is all."

Russet nodded and smiled, "Thank you Father, yes I will think on it, have a pleasant day." He bowed slightly to the priest and then the three left the church grounds and made their way back into town.

"So what shall we do today then?" Russet asked his two friends putting aside at least for now the question of whether or not he would speak at the church that evening.

"Well I thought we could go north into the countryside today, take a walk up and over past the monoliths maybe?" Leana suggested with a twinkle in her eyes. "I want to see what our grand and mysterious skunk makes of them."

"That is an excellent idea Leana, you'll like it Russet there is so much to explore outside of town." Eliki responded with a bright smile.

Laughing Russet hugged Eliki, "Ok then, lead on."

Laughing and talking together the three friends made their way north across the Bridge and through the town square, they caught a bus from outside the train station and travelled on it outside of town along the northern road until they reached a small village called "Listore" about four miles north of Phoenixbrook. The four friends disembarked from the bus and after buying some food and drink from the village shop set off along a small winding public foot path across a field of wheat and towards a small copse of trees.

Dust stirred lazily around them settling upon their fur in a soft golden layer shimmering in the late morning sunlight. They reached the far side of the field and paused just outside of the tree line and turning back Russet looked down across the fields back towards the spires and wall of Phoneixbrook.

"It's beautiful isn't it," Russet breathed softly leaning back against a tree trunk and placing his knapsack on the ground.

"Wait until you see the top of Monolith Hill," Eliki said tugging Russet back up and dragging him after Leana into the woods. Passing along leaf and loam pathways the trio walked under the spreading bows of oak, ash and elder with one or two pine trees as well. Ducking under a low hanging bow Russet found himself standing in a wide clearing on all sides ash and beech and in the centre a tall rowan tree whose canopy gave the glade an eerie green lighting effect. The grass was at waist height and there where toadstools and wild flowers in abundance around the base of the tree and dotted around the glade where the sunlight fell through gaps in the canopy.

With a squeal of delight Russet hurried out into the glade and placed his hand upon the Rowan looking up at it. "Magnificent a wood queen, I never thought to see one of these outside of the wood of wraiths." He said smiling.

"A wood queen?" Leana asked puzzled, "What on earth is one of them?"

"A Matriarch of the woods, the soul of the glades, if she was to be removed this woodland would soon retreat and fade she is the life, the pulse the brain of the woods." Russet said in answer. "There is a grand one in the woods of wraiths in Vardenai a tall Rowan tree as well I have a hand mirror made from a broken branch."

"Amazing!" Eliki exclaimed walking forwards and bowing slightly towards the tree politely. "Is a pleasure to meet you," he said softly and both Leana and Eliki started in surprise as they heard a light whisper flitter through their minds thanking them.

As the trio left the glade Leana looked back over her shoulder in amazement. "A thousand times we have walked past that tree and never before.." She trailed off.

"She would only respond if called to in the right way," Russet said smiling as they made there way through the woods following a twisting path along past a series of pine trees and then they came out of the trees and paused to look out over a field of blooming poppies.

"Oh I didn't know Inclene had poppies in this year?" Leana said running forwards and picking a poppy.

"Wonderful," Eliki said smiling and moving after Leana with Russet by his side. The trio made their way across the field and waded across a small shallow stream running along the boundary, as they climbed atop the small bank on the far side Russet paused and turned to face a dilapidated farmhouse and barn sitting alone in an over grown yard about quarter of a mile away. "What is that over there?" He said pointing at it.

Eliki glanced over at it a visibly shivered, "Nothing really," He said turning away and looking out over the field of wheat spread out before them.

Russet paused looking over at the two felines, he noted that Leana did not even glance at it ignoring it as if it was anathema. "Ok sure, so were are we going then?" he asked softly.

"Up there," Leana said pointing up towards the top of a large hill where four tall monoliths could be seen glinting in late morning sun light. "Oh my." Russet said softly looking up at them, "What are they?"

"No one knows Russet," Eliki said pausing behind the skunk and hugging him gently. "Maybe you will work out what they are."

Russet chuckled and leaned back against the kitten, "Maybe Eliki, maybe." He said softly.

The trio set off again across the field of wheat there path took them over the field and past the edge of the over grown yard surrounding the farmhouse. The three walked past it the two snowkittens ignoring it but Russet kept finding his eyes drawn back to the crumbling ruin.

They reached the bottom of the hill containing the monoliths and Leana turned to speak to Russet and froze gripping her brothers arm.

"Where is he?" she hissed staring around wildly.

"What!" Eliki exclaimed turning around and staring in shock, "He was right behind me as we passed the farmhouse." he trailed off and turned to stare at his sister, "He wouldn't have?" would he?"

Leana was shaking and staring at the farmhouse, she shook herself and took a deep breath, "Stay here Eliki, I will go and see, do not come after me."

"Leana, no you can't." Eliki said gripping her arm and pulling her back and staring into her eyes. He sagged when he saw the determination in her eyes before saying, "Then I'm coming with you!"

"No stay here Eliki, leave this to me you would be of no help in there my dear." She said softly placing a paw on his cheek and smiling at him, "I'll bring your skunk back intact don't worry."

Eliki nodded still looking worried and sat down on the grass in the sun and watched his sister walk towards the abandoned farmhouse.

Russet pushed carefully at the door before him and it creaked open loudly and he slipped inside the abandoned farm house, he found himself standing in what must have been the scullery or pantry. Russet moved slowly and cautiously through the next doorway and into the kitchen his senses alert as his ears swivelled this way and that as he absorbed the forbidding, sinister atmosphere that permeated throughout this building.

The skunk slowly made his way around the rotting wooden table in the centre of the room and slipped around the partially opened door into the front hall of the house. He could not see much in the gloom, but chinks of light falling through cracks in the boards that blocked the front of the house gave enough light for him to see the stairs leading up and two doors leading into further rooms here on the ground floor.

The skunk made his way over to the door leading into a large room that might have been a sitting room of some kind but suddenly he spun around and looked up at the stairs as a presence, malevolent and ominous made its self known to him. Reaching out with his mind Russet probed at the presence and gathered his will in preparation to strike against it.

"Are all Vardenai's such fools Russet ti Nostor, thou would'st do well to be cautious" a sibilant hissing voice called out to him from the top of the stairs where he could just make out a shadowy figure above him.

"Who art though and how doth thee know who I am?" Russet responded his voice strong and unafraid his power wrapping around him in preparation to defend himself.

"Didst though thinkest that one such as you could enter Phoenixbrook and not be noticed, we knew that you where here from the moment you set foot upon the street" The strange voice said and the shadow at the top of the stairs shifted and moved forwards slightly towards the top of the stairs. "And now you hath handed yourself over into our powers, and thou are't ours."

Russet drew himself up to his full height and spread his paws on either side ready to attack when he felt a familiar presence next to him and turning to look he saw Leana, paws outstretched in readiness standing next to him.

"You should not have come into here Russet, we warned you." She said softly.

"This is an evil that should have been dispelled long ago, hatred, death, unforgivable pain," Russet said solemnly, "A power that cannot threaten the light of Vardenai." As he said this he stepped forwards and flicked her hand and a small silver dart hurtled up the stairs to crash into the shadowy figure which let loose a piercing scream.

Suddenly the door back into the kitchen slammed and a multitude of figures appeared at the top of the stairs still wreathed in shadow even as some of them began to move slowly and a cautiously down the stairs.

"A snowkitten and the Duke of Vardenai, a prize indeed, you shalt not leave this house again thy essence is ours." Another voice declared raspy and horse.

Leana pushed her paw forwards and one of the figures flipped back up the stairs and crashed into the others, "Russet I cannot break the seal on the door." She said desperately looking at the skunk.

Russet chuckled and spun suddenly so he was side onto the stairs and with one paw pointing up the stairs at the figures he fired a stream of silver at them knocking them back as with his other a glowing ball fired forth and smashed into the front door. "They are fools indeed if they think they have the power to hold back Vardenai." He exclaimed softly.

The door and the boards nailed over it suddenly burst outwards and sunlight flooded into the hall illuminating the two figures in the hall. With a scream of rage the shadowy figures fled and silence fell upon the sunlit entrance hall.

"Come Leana let us leave this place of misery," Russet said and the two hurried down the steps. Russet paused after they got outside and with a flick of his wrist the shattered timbers over the front door replaced themselves boarding it up again. The two walked back in silence towards the place where Eliki was standing and when they got close enough he threw himself into Russet's arms holding him close.

"You fool Russet, I could feel it from here, why did you go in there?" he asked tears shining in his eyes, "I was so scared you might be hurt."

Russet hugged Eliki back and looked gravely at Leana, "I am sorry Eliki I never wanted to worry either of you but I had to investigate that house, there is a power hidden within there that should not have been allowed to take root." He said softly.

"Can you dispel it?" Leana asked picking up her knapsack from where she had left it.

"Not alone," Russet said gravely turning back to look at the house, "Maybe with the Coronet but I do not know, it is a deep evil hidden within." Russet turned back and put his arm through Eliki's and tugged him after him towards the hill where the four black monoliths could be seen looming up. "Come let us put this behind us for now I want to see these Monoliths."

The three set off again up the hill and after awhile the incident back at the farmhouse was put aside and forgotten at least for now. Twenty minutes later the three furs crested the top of the hill and found themselves standing in the centre of four ebony black monoliths reaching up into the sky above them. Russet moved forwards his eyes flicking from one to the other taking in the red discs set into the centre of them all pointing back in the direction of Phoenixbrook.

"Intriguing!" Russet said softly placing his paw on one of the stones and turning back to face Eliki and Leana, "Very interesting indeed, but where is the fifth and sixth?" he asked.

Eliki and Leana blinked in surprise and looked at each other puzzled. "Fifth one?" Eliki asked sounding puzzled, "There have only ever been four of them Russet since anyone can remember."

"Really?" he said in some surprise, "But if I remember correctly these are the Stones of the Wind, according to one of my books they are supposed to stand on either side of the river with two more suspended between them above the waters and between them they deflected air and light to create the Bridge of Rainbows." The skunk said turning to look up at them, "They must have been moved up here sometime after the Vardenai where removed from power though I cannot understand why that would be, Unless.." He trailed off and turned back to face them and smiled sadly, "It is a puzzle." He said softly and would not say no more on what he thought about them.

Leana was staring at the skunk in awe, "I think I want to read those books of yours Russet," She said softly moving forwards to place a paw a stone and smile at him, "You have revealed more about out town in two days then anyone has done in centuries." She said softly.

Eliki had sat down his back against a monolith and his pack before him as he rummaged through it, "As interesting as the mysteries of our town are Leana I for one am starving this is the perfect place to have lunch." He said as he pulled out a small square of cloth and began to unfold it and spread it out as a picnic blanket before them.

Leana and Eliki agreed and soon they had a veritable spread of food and drink set out before them and they set too it hungrily as the midday sun shone down upon them. The three talked and joked and discussed the revelations made by Russet about Phoenixbrook in the two days that he had been there. The discussion moved onto the mysterious malevolent power residing in the farmhouse and what they should do about it. Russet suggested that they should attempt to cast some kind of containing spell over the farmhouse but Eliki pointed out that they had no way to be sure if it spread out under the ground so they had no way to make sure they had really contained it. Leana agreed and they decided the best course of action was to leave it be for now and issue a warning when they got back into town.

The trio spent another hour sitting in the sun watching the clouds sail past them above their heads but finally they stood and began to pack away their belongings. Russet announced that it was time to return to the town if they wanted to be at the church by six that evening.

"So you are going to speak then?" Leana asked smiling softly.

Russet nodded nervously and his paws trembled a bit, "How do you think they will take it?" he asked softly.

"It will be fine Russet," Eliki said placing a paw on the skunks shoulder before he embraced him, "We will be there."

Russet smiled and hugged Eliki back and then Leana and then the three set off back down hill towards the distant blur on the horizon that was Phoenixbrook.

The three made their way down the hill towards the road that wound south around the base of the hill back towards the town. It took them a good half an hour to reach the bottom of the hill. Once they had reached it they walked along the grassy verge the dust of the road and plains shifting through their fur and giving them all a slight golden tint to their fur.

Fifteen minutes later they stopped a small bus stop and clambered aboard the bus that rolled up to them several minutes later, they paid the fare and settled back near the rear of the bus to watch the golden sun drenched country side roll past them, and then as they trundled across the cobble stoned streets of Phoenixbrook Russet admired the architecture and furs lining the streets on either side. They clambered off of the bus outside the Train station and made their way back across the bridge and up the street to the Snowkittens home on Apple Avenue.

"So when are we due at the church?" Eliki asked as they made their way into the Living room.

"Six," Russet said as he began to walk up the stairs, "But I want a shower and a change of clothes, I feel all dusty after today," he finished and was halfway up the stairs before Eliki suddenly bounded after him.

"Oh no, you don't!" he shouted and took the stairs three at a time after the escaping skunk. Russet laughed and ran up the stairs and into the bathroom and locked it in the face of the snowkitten who set about banging on it. "No fair, you let me use it Russet, it's my bathroom, you always get there first!"

The door suddenly pulled open and Eliki tumbled into the bathroom and he heard the door click shut behind him. Turning he suddenly found the skunks black furry arms around his waist and the skunk soft muzzle nuzzling against his fur.

"Ok hon we'll share it ok?" he said softly as he lifted his muzzle and kissed the feline and then led him by the paw towards the shower cubicle.

At half past five that evening Russet, Leana and Eliki left the house and made their way across town once again towards the church whose steeple towered above the surrounding buildings but what dominated the sky line the most was the tall imposing hill of the graveyard.

The three walked through the arched cast iron gates and into the church yard, the clock above the porch read six twenty and the sound of singing drifted out of the building on the evening air. Russet paused outside and looked up at the church worry flittering across his face. Eliki placed his paw on the skunks arm and smiled at him and with a wan smile Russet drew himself up to his full height and took hold of the door handle and pushed. The oak door swung open soundlessly and the three walked inside to be enveloped in harmonious swirling hymn being sung by the congregation. Flanked on either side by the snowkittens Russet turned and walked out into the aisle and began to walk slowly towards the glowing altar.

Father Ubekell was standing on the dais before the altar his Sunday vestments draped over his shoulder and his eyes widen in surprise as he caught sight of the three walking towards him and then his muzzle split into a wide smile. As they passed the furs standing in the pews singing faltered and stared at the three walking past. They immediately recognised the two snowkittens and that meant that the skunk in front of them could only be one person. Whispers and exclamations flittered around the church and by the time the three came to a halt in front of the smiling priest the church had fallen silent, even the organist had seen them and stopped playing, Russet inclined his head politely to the priest and the squirrel lifted his face to look out over his church before he spoke.

"My children," he began, "I have her before us the focus of all your wildest discussion and gossip mongering of the past two days, His Grace the Grand Duke of Vardenai." This statement confirming their suspicions set the nave afire again with whispering but under Father Ubekell's stern look they fell silent again. "I have invited him here to speak to you and put these wild rumours of his upcoming conquest and secret pacts with the snowkittens to rest." He paused and glanced around the church once more before bowing to Russet and stepping aside gesturing him towards the pulpit. "I give you his Grace Duke Russet ti Nostor ei Vardenai, Lord of the Lights, Guardians of the Mists, Grand Duke of Vardenai." And silence fell upon the church as Russet walked up the stairs and placed his paws on the lectern before him and looking out over the packed Church he drew a deep breath before he spoke loudly and firmly.

"People of Phoenixbrook," he began, "I have heard of the rumours and speculations flying through the town for these last two days and I must admit that my actions could be seen in a certain light to be sounding out the town but I swear upon the lights of Arnor that I have no intention of reclaiming Phoenixbrook in the name of Vardenai, those days are past the old duchy shall not be reformed." He looked across the halls letting his gaze linger on each furs eyes staring directly into them and then as they shuffled on their seat he would move his gaze on to the next. "I am here for nothing more then a friendly visit with my dear friends Eliki and Leana at their request. I admit that in the last two days I have made some rather unusual and startling discoveries or acted in an unusually imperious manner the tunnel, the restaurant by the river front but I assure you these acts are nothing more then what I would do at my own home if I was presented with a mystery and your town is filled with them. If I can and you will permit me I will keep my eyes peeled for such lost mysteries hidden these long years in the dusty realms of history and maybe I can show you just what your town is capable of such as with this church!" As he said this last word he flung his arm up pointing his paw at the swirled cloud motif painted on the roof above them. All throughout the church people flinched as if expected a blow but when none came they raised their eyes to the ceiling and stared in awe as the clouds began to ripple and stir as if in a breeze and then they swirled apart revealing a hilltop bather in a ray of sunlight and standing on the top of this hill was a group of furs of all shapes and sizes, species and families, holding paws in a circle while above them birds flew and a rainbow arched. The entire mural seemed to glow with its own inner light casting it down upon the upturned faces of the furs below in the church.

Slowly one by one they lowered the faces to look at the skunk still standing in the pulpit and then the slow steady sound of Father Ubekell clapping his paws together in appreciation began to fill the silence and it was soon followed by a tumultuous roar of approval as the church erupted into applause. Standing tall upon the pulpit bathed in the light shining down from the ceiling above Russet smiled softly and bowed once before clambering back down where he was promptly surrounded by a horde of townsfolk all wishing to shake his hand and welcome him.

Slightly overcome and embarrassed by all of this attention being paid to him Russet blushed furiously and his fur tinged red but he was happy, he had dispelled the fears that lingered around his family name and it would not be long before the story of what had happened here would be spread through out the town.

"You Grace," Father Ubekell said solemnly standing and bowing as the wave of welcome ebbed towards an end, he straightened and smiled at the skunk. "I think I speak for us all when I say welcome to our town and that we are most honoured that you wished to spend our holiday here especially after our initial reaction to the name of Vardenai."

Smiling Russet bowed to the squirrel again, "Thank you, thank you all, I am flattered that you are willing to welcome me into your town just as the two snowkittens Leana and Eliki."

"Your more then welcome your Grace," An elderly grey furred mouse cried out from near the front of the crowd of townspeople, "Its been a long time since I saw something as beautiful as that," she finished pointing at the ceiling, "And if you can restore more of our lost history to us then you are welcome any time you want."

"Thank you Madame," Russet said bowing slowly and taking her paw and kissing it, "Thank you very much."

The mouse blushed and giggled but before she could say more Leana spoke up. "People," she began and earned herself silence, "We welcomed Russet to the town as our friend and myself and my brother are flattered that you have also seen past the misconceptions built over centuries of misinterpretation and that Russet can help us to re-discover out home in a way not done for centuries," She turned and smiled at Russet and winked and he smiled broadly as he sensed an inkling of what she was going to give him. "Is there anything Lord Russet that we could offer you or lend our aid to as a gesture of good will?"

Russet smiled and bowed his head to her, "There is one thing, in the graveyard my ancient kinswoman Eleanor ti Careldar ei Vardenai lies at rest beneath the shattered remains of her monument, I would request that I may arrange for her remains to be transferred to the ancient burial ground of the Vardenai."

Father Ubekell looked around at his congregation and not seeing any sign of opposition from them turned back to the skunk and smiled, "We would be glad to arrange for this to be made so your grace but for now you art on holiday and we have kept and inconvenienced you enough so with our blessings I call this sermon to an end." And with that statement the furs began to file out of the church talking amongst themselves excitedly and looking back at the skunk and the two snowkittens still standing next to the squirrel. After ten minutes the church was empty except for those three and then taking their leave from the priest the three young friends left the church and began to walk back towards the house.

The three were walking along laughing together and Russet had his paw clasped happily in Eliki's as they made their way along the twisting cobble stoned streets and alleyways of Phoenixbrook back towards the house and even the massing storm clouds could not dampen their mood. Maybe it was because of their jubilant mood that they were not paying attention as closely to their surroundings as they should have been but it came as quite a surprise when the blast of energy hit them from behind and sent them sprawling in a heap to the ground. They were back on their feet instantly Leana and Russet standing protectively in front of Eliki sparks crackling off of their fur from the mounting static in the air or the sudden charging of their power it would be hard to say.

A dark shadowy figure was walking towards them chuckling softly and a with a negligent wave of a paw it sent a crackling orb of blue energy towards them which Leana knocked aside.

"Jarret!" she hissed spreading her paws in preparation to strike back, "How dare you." she began but he cut her off as he stepped into the light under a flickering street lamp as up and down the street they flickered on as the sky darkened as the clouds blotted the setting sun.

"No how dare you," he hissed, "letting that skunk charm his way into the townspeople's good books, letting him have his way, disturbing the natural order of our town, upsetting the ancient laws of our town about the arcana." He finished and shot his paws out in front of him and Leana caught off her guard was tossed back into Eliki and crashed to the floor dazed as the first drops of rain began to fall.

"Leana," Eliki cried cradling his sisters head in his lap and staring up scared at the black furred snowkitten bearing down on the skunk.

"You and me Vardenai, right here, I'll teach you why the Vardenai are not welcome in my town." He hissed and launched a flaring whip of darkness at the skunk. Russet raised his arm and the whip of darkness coiled around it making the skunk wince but he tugged on it pulling Jarret in close to him so their bodies where crushed together and he could stare right into the eyes of the snowkitten.

Eliki sat staring in shock the rain pelting down harder now blurring his vision and making it seem as if the two ebony black furs blended into one as they came into contact with each other. Russet smiled softly as he held the black snowkitten to him and leaned forwards until his nose touched his.

"You know nothing Jarret, the Vardenai have been welcomed back unanimously by the town," he whispered so only he could hear, "I will show the people what you do not want them to see for fear that you would loose the attention of them well I will show you what I will reveal to them Jarret and this storm will aid me in doing so." Suddenly the first flash of lightening lit the sky and Eliki screamed as it seemed to strike Russet's partially upraised arm and as the Thunder clap deafened him the skunk and Jarret vanished in a swirl of rain and a flash of light and the towers above the southern gate flashed into life as lightening danced between their multicoloured peaks.

Jarret screamed as he felt himself sink into the skunk who was holding him captive as they travelled along the lightening into the sky and then flashed across the town towards the towers by the south gate. He could see all this, hear Eliki's scream as they were swept up and away but also he could see into the mind of the skunk. He screamed in terror as he felt the essence that was him sink deeper into the skunk he saw the moon riding tall above him, five jewels glowing with power sitting atop a silver circlet and calling to him, he saw mist rolling across a slow moving river and a bell tolling softly as it called the hour. Then with a flash of light and a terrible wrenching sensation Jarret felt himself pulled out of the skunk as they flowed apart and landed on the cobblestones facing the closed and sealed southern gates. Though in the moment after they parted Jarret felt something deep inside him slithering and sinking into himself sealing him in some unknown way to the skunk standing beside him.

Russet released Jarret and he stumbled sideways for a couple of steps before falling to the ground in a puddle as the rain pelted them from above and the lightening played its way between the tall towers above the gates before him.

"Watch Jarret!" Russet shouted as the snowkitten raised his head and stared in shock and horror at the skunk as he raised his arms above his head, "This is something I learnt from my grandmother." He began to chant in a deep sonorous voice and a silvery glow began to form between his paws and two streamers of lightening began to flow down from the towers towards his paws and wrap around them before feeding into the glowing orb between his paws. "In Storm and Rain, with enemies subdued and mysteries revealed the map shall awake!" Russet cried and Jarret suddenly surged to his feet screaming "NO!" at the top of his voice as he heard the skunk say the ancient formulae to open the chamber above the gate. He leapt for the skunk arms outstretched only to be bowled over backwards into the puddle again as the orb shot upwards and sunk into the wall of the room between the two towers and with a soft chime barley heard over the crash of the storm a doorway began to shape itself and then a ramp flowed from the doorway off to one side to the street below the left tower.

"Thus have I opened it," Russet said softly and turned to face the snowkitten, "And your secret is open to the world now, or did you think I would not know that you had frequently opened this chamber for your own use, it is written all over you." He finished glaring down at the snowkitten who was backing away from the skunk panic stricken.

"Russet!" Leana's voice called to him and he glanced across the square at Leana and Eliki running towards him through the sheeting rain, "Are you alright?" She demanded as Eliki hurled himself at the skunk and wrapped his arms around him crying softly in fear. "We were so worried," Leana said as she watched Russet stroking Eliki's ears gently and then tilt his face up to him and kiss him softly on the muzzle, reassuringly.

"I am fine, I was just showing Jarret something," Russet said as his eyes watched Jarret's form reach an alleyway and disappear up it as he fled, "He will not bother us again tonight."

Leana meanwhile was staring up at the doorway into the tower building above the gate and the glowing pearly ramp leading up to it. "You opened it!" she said softly "What is in there?" she turned to look at the skunk who holding Eliki's paw just gestured her to follow and led them both up the ramp and through the door closing it behind them with a soft thump leaving them in darkness with only the sound of their breathing to disturb it for even the sound of the storm had been blocked out."

There was a soft hiss and several small glass globes set in the walls began to glow and filled the large square room they were standing in with a soft, warm and comforting light. Leana and Eliki stood by the door staring around the room in awe at the site that met there eyes. To the right was a tall black obelisk leaning against the wall to the left was a low padded bench running the length of the wall but it was the circular table in the centre of the room that caught their eye and the small rectangular stone covered in symbols and writing attached to it.

"Where are we?" Eliki asked letting go of Russet's paw and walking over to the obelisk to lay his paw on it.

"This is the map room I believe," Russet said softly moving forwards to place his paw on the small stone and with a soft hum several of the symbols began to glow and the table top shimmered suddenly and buildings and walls and streets all began to form on it until the entire table was covered by a perfect replica of the town of Phoenixbrook.

"My gods!" Leana said leaning down to look at it, "Look you can see people walking in the streets and everything."

Russet hit a symbol and the viewpoint moved closer to the street and people jumped into view in perfect clarity as if seen from an upstairs window.

"This is amazing Russet," Eliki breathed, "How did you find it?"

"When I grabbed Jarret is saw into his mind he was worried that fighting us may take too long and he wouldn't be able to get here before the storm broke and get in here. He knew all about this place, how to access it and how to use the table, I stole that information from him as I transported us both here across the town. He has known about it for years." Russet said softly, "I thought we should take it away from him and show it to the towns people it is part of all your heritage.

"That swine!" Leana growled softly banging her paw on the table and then he jumped back startled as it passed straight through a building as if it was not there.

"Its only a holographic project Leana" Russet explained, "Well its more involved then that but that's the easiest way to describe it, and don't worry about Jarret he's lost his little secret head quarters now."

"Show us how to use it Russet," Eliki said softly, "We can show it to the town afterwards."

Russet spent the next hour showing the two snowkittens how to adjust the map table to show different views and images of Phoenixbrook, he explained how it could see inside public buildings like the town hall or train station and church but not private residences or shops and that it used to be used to co-ordinate the defence of the town in ancient times when the town may have been besieged.

After he had explained it to them Leana went outside to make a phone call and within twenty minutes the mayor several reporters from the local papers and other notable townsfolk had arrived and where being shown the map and how it worked. The reporters we're styling it as Lord Russet's first discovery and he was interviewed and had photo's taken with the mayor. Russet did omit any mention of Jarret however and changed the story to say that he had read about it in one of his many books on the town in his library back at Fair View House.

When the three were finally able to escape the press and officials they left the tower room in the care of the local police and quickly made there way through the crowd that had gathered despite the fact that it was still raining even though the storm had past eastwards and returned to the snowkittens home.

"Well that was certainly an eventful day Russet," Leana said as she collapsed in a chair in the living room. "But it was certainly worth it, lets order a take away I'm too tired to cook." She finished and picked up the phone to make the call to the local pizza parlour.

Once the food arrived they ate it quite happily talking about the days events and the discoveries they had made, the farmhouse, the obelisks, the church and finally the southern tower.

"I still don't get it Russet," Eliki said finally as they finished their meal, "Why is there no entrance to the towers from that room?"

"There is, it is just hidden and I thought it best to keep it that way as the machinery which powers the map is in those towers." Russet replied as he wiped his paws on a napkin.

Leana yawned and nodded, "Sensible idea, now if you'll excuse me I have to be up for work in the morning so good night you two," and with that she was gone up the stairs.

Russet and Eliki sat cuddled up together on the sofa listening to some quiet music and the patter of the rain outside for a good hour afterwards just glad after the long adventurous day to be alone together and to be able to talk, finally Eliki stirred and sat up turning to wrap his legs around his skunks waist and pull him in close to kiss him gently on the nose before speaking.

"I think we should go out into the country again tomorrow, give the excitement time to die down, I want to take you to my special place." He said softly as he stroked the skunks soft black chest fur.

"I'd like that honey," Russet said softly into Eliki's ear as he leant forwards and kissed them both softly running his paws though the snowkittens white back fur, "I'd like that a lot."

Eliki chuckled and stood up pulling Russet up as well and taking hold of his tail hugging it close to himself before tugging the skunk towards the stairs. "Lets go up to bed Russet," He said with a small shy smile at the skunk. Russet nodded and bent to pick up their discarded T-shirts but Eliki tugged on his tail and pulled him in close hugging him from behind and nibbling at his neck fur. "Leave that dear, we won't be needing them will we?" he said coyly and then holding each other close the two furs made their way up to bed."