“The changings are all tied to her power,” Callista said. “Though she now has full ownership of that power, it still came from outside of her. If Morgassa falls, her horde will be released.” Callista whirled. “Buttons! I leave you in charge until my return. See that Gurble keeps out of trouble. And make sure any bold mist grifters understand that I’ll be back.”
“Are you coming with us?” Honor asked.
“Sometimes the safest action is to take the offensive,” Callista said. “I’ll have a better chance against Morgassa with the rest of you by my side. If you fail to bring her down, there will be no place in Elloweer to hide. For me, leaving Elloweer is impractical. Not only am I committed to its welfare, but without my enchanting to protect me, I would be at the mercy of the High King and his Enforcers.”
“This is more help than I hoped for,” Honor said.
“Not unwelcome, I trust?” Callista checked.
“Beyond welcome,” Honor enthused.
“I can guide you to the Rogue Knight,” Callista said. “Minimus can no longer do so.”
“I feel somewhat adrift,” Minimus admitted.
“I can also guide us to Morgassa,” Callista said. “Our changings should help us press our way through her horde. Morgassa herself will be the biggest challenge. She is a being of tremendous enchanting power. Alone I would be overwhelmed. Perhaps together, we’ll find a way.”
“What about our horses?” Mira asked. “The ones you didn’t change?”
“They’ll follow us out of here,” Callista said. “My figments will help them. The horses will do well. This is fertile country.”
“Should we try on the masks?” Jace asked.
“The time has come,” Callista agreed.
“Don’t you have a mask?” Mira asked.
“Darling,” Callista said. “Don’t forget who made them.”
Callista immediately transformed, expanding into a sleek, black African buffalo nearly the size of an elephant. Her broad horns looked thick enough to pulverize a building.
“Go ahead,” Callista said, her voice unchanged despite her bulky new form. “Put them on.”
Dalton stood beside Cole, mask in hand. Glancing at his friend, Cole asked, “You ready?”
“Are we really doing this?” Dalton murmured.
“Unless you want to stay at the bottom of this lake.”
“Do you think I’ll have an appetite for hay?”
“We’re about to find out.”
Cole pressed the mask to his face.
A storm of sensation assailed him. For an instant, he tipped and spun and grew and shrank.
Cole was on all fours, and it felt completely natural. He was suddenly aware of how useless human arms were for purposes of transportation. Sure, his hands could grasp better than these paws, but he had never felt more stable. Humans teetering around on two legs now seemed a little pathetic.
Taking a couple of steps, Cole felt the new strength in his powerful muscles. He yearned to run and leap, to test his new limits. His senses were quickened. Sounds and smells reached him with greater nuance and meaning.
He was big. No regular mountain lion could match his impressive size. Around him, the other animals were large and powerful as well. Each had a different scent.
“This is wild!” Dalton exclaimed. Except it wasn’t Dalton. It was a mighty bull nearly the size of Callista.
“I could get used to this,” Skye said, now a massive bear. Rearing up on her hind legs, she pawed the air.
“Follow me,” Callista called, charging away from her home and into the mist.
Cole sprang forward, muscles rejoicing as he accelerated to a thrilling speed. Zooming through the mist, low and fast, his smelling and hearing could track Callista with little problem in spite of the darkness. He had to agree with Skye.
He could get used to this.
Chapter 36
KNIGHTS
Their haste leaving Fog Lake made the misty depression seem much smaller than it had on the way in. They never slowed. Cole kept waiting for his muscles to get fatigued, for his lungs to become starved of oxygen, but the exhaustion never hit. After the first hour, he began to trust that he could sprint indefinitely.
They made amazing time. Although they’d came from Edgemont on horseback, their mounts had walked or trotted most of the way. A journey that had consumed a few days went by in a matter of hours. For a time, Blackmont Castle became visible, then it fell away behind them. Above them, in his eagle form, Twitch swooped acrobatically through the sky.
“We’re nearing the Rogue Knight’s camp,” Callista said. “Have you considered whether we want to approach him as animals or in our true forms?”
The question roused Cole. He realized he hadn’t been thinking about much of anything besides the primal exhilaration of running.
“What do you think, Minimus?” Honor called from astride her mount.
“The Rogue Knight prefers straightforward dealings,” Minimus said. “He would respect you for coming in your true shapes. Honor could be the exception. He is very familiar with changings that provide added strength and armor.”
When Callista slowed to a stop, the rest of the party followed her lead. After the long run, Cole found it strange to no longer be in motion.
“We’re almost to him,” Callista said. “If we’re going to shed our changings, now is the time.”
“Minimus gave us good advice,” Honor said. “Remove your masks, but keep them close by, in case the negotiation goes poorly. I’ll keep my mask on.”
“I’ll lead us into camp,” Minimus said. “It will help show you mean no harm.”
Cole realized that although he had transformed into a completely new form, he remained aware of the mask on his face. He looked down at his paws. They didn’t seem capable of grasping the mask.
Should he try? Part of him wanted to leave it on. He would miss the strength and agility. Wouldn’t this powerful form be more intimidating than some kid? Why did they have to come before the Rogue Knight as weaklings?
Cole noticed that Dalton and Jace had removed their masks. Through the eyes of a lion, they looked extremely vulnerable.
The instinct to hunt two of his friends jolted Cole into reaching for the mask. His paw grabbed it and lifted it without difficulty. A rush of sensation overcame him as he rose and swayed, his body shifting dramatically.
An instant later, Cole stood on his feet, the mask in his hand. Had all that really happened? His time as a mountain lion already felt hazy and distant, as if he had wakened from a dream. It had been quite a rush—the ability to run so fast for so long, not to mention the heightened senses. But had Dalton and Jace looked like prey for a minute? That was definitely weird and wrong.