Two of three moons cast light over the hillside, a tall northern beach chaparral, grasses and low bushes, a few oaks. An ancient road cut crisply through the scrub, though worn with time and weather, it was as straight and well tended stone as ever.

A Goliath of a horse trotted easily over that road, some six foot at the withers, muscular and heavy, a destrier of giant proportions. Gray as fog with a white blaze, socks, mane and tail, the animal's eyes glowed faintly amber and violet. A bridle and chest harness worn and little else but an elegantly patterned blanket.

His rider was, at first glance, a lovely and dainty maiden out for an amble with her guardian beast, perhaps seeking happy forest creatures to sing to. At second glance, it was clear this was a woman of indeterminate years with eyes of bright silver holding a well earned grace. A gown of moonlight pearl enhanced her tan skin, hair of rich black flowed down her back in a thick river. A jeweled necklace clasped her throat, depicting fire and water bird encircled. A sword suspended from her left hip, managing to somehow look like a fine accessory rather than the well worn tool of war that it was.

"I dasn't care that Lord Kirin t'were cute. He be rude to the waiters. Tis not a good man," Halcyon remarked, faintly annoyed. Her horse rumbled humor.

"I didn't say marry him. I said he was good looking and seemed interested in you."

"Pah. They all be interested in me. I am nay going to go shag the lot of them for that," she retorted, tart, "Tisn't a hot Kingfisher lass they be seeing, anyhow, they be seein' a woman with claim to the Emperor's throne. I could be a three legged beast and they still would be writin' poems to me beauty."

"If you were a three legged beast, you would be male," Stupid purred, his deep bassy thrum amused. Halcyon smacked the brute's thick neck.

"And that would nay stop any of them."

"Then stop going to the damn balls or whatever they are, you knucklehead," Stupid scoffed, and could a horse roll its eyes, he certainly would have. Halcyon smacked the animal's neck a few more times, light blows that could have knocked most people from their feet, that Stupid scarce noticed.

"Be tellin' me Mum that!" Halcyon complained.

Then.

Something happened. The night sounds ceased. Even the steady clop of Stupid's hooves dulled. Stupid halted promptly, his ears dancing an uneasy ballet. Halcyon's brows knit, and she slowly looked around.

"What...?"

"I don't know, I haven't felt anything like that since..." Stupid responded.

Then they were gone. The night noises slowly resumed under the benign moonlight.


"...Since." Halcyon prompted and shifted slightly on the giant's back. She exhaled, cursing long and fluent under her breath.

"...What?" This time, Stupid asked, flat and blank.

"Move ye arse," she replied, and just as the giant stepped aside, he realized they were on a dirt road. A dusty red Honda Civic rolled past them. Stupid exhaled.

"How the hell did we even get here, there was no gate, no magic, not even one of those dimensional hoppers!" he complained.

"I dasn't know. Come along. I am sure if we find Lexius or Pharlen or Scotty, t'will be explained," Halcyon responded, tapping a foot to his shoulder. Grumbling, the giant reversed his course and took up a ponderous trot after the Honda.

"They will explain nothing, they all like to act like they know what's going on when you know bloody well that they've no more idea than you," Stupid scoffed humorously.

"Bah. They can at least send us back home," Halcyon laughed, "I hope I left clothin' in me room at the Red Dragon, or t'will be interestin' indeed quite quickly."


(This is exactly why Hally doesn't like fairies!)