f course not dresses, stupid," Kat said haughtily. "Did you, or did you not want a new robe? I had *thought* that sooth-sayers generally did *not* show their faces in public, as not to detract from the visions. My maid you may be, but also sooth-sayer, which does, I will admit, give you more freedom of speech than I would generally allow. However, if you do not *wish* to be properly attired for your craft, I can see to it that you find your calling elsewhere in the city, or else become attired for your *other* position within my staff."
Jade suddenly realised that she would have to try harder to stay in character, and swallowed her objections.
"I apologise, my lady, I forgot myself. It has been the strain of the journey, I fear."
Kat inclined her head, graciously.
"Indeed, there has been great strain for us recently, and you did not rest as I did this morning. You will stand there and be measured, then you may retire to your pallet to rest whilst I discuss clothing with our seamstresses."
Jade gritted her teeth, but bowed acquittance to Kat, saying, "I thank you, my lady."
Kat waved a hand, and the sisters quickly set about measuring Jade, then all three turned to Kat.
"You are dismissed," Kat said to Jade, who quickly left the sitting room, returning to the bed chamber.
Kat then gestured to the seamstresses to seat themselves, and leaned forward to discuss what garments she wished constructed.

Later that afternoon, as evening was nearing, Jade heard the seamstresses gather their belongings to leave, and re-entered the room. Kat heard her enter, and glanced at her.
"Oh, good, you're awake. I hunger. Send to the kitchens for some bread, cheese, and wine before dinner. Ask my brother to attend me also. And see that my knight protector escorts the Mistresses Smyth safely to their shop, via the cloth merchant. I would not wish for them to be accosted with the funds I just bestowed upon them for the fabric."
"Yes, my lady," said Jade, opening the door for the two seamstresses, and passing on Kat's message to Marc.
Jade tapped on David's door, and asked him if he would attend his sister at his earliest convenience? He assured her that he would, and Jade whispered that Marc was taking the seamstresses back to the shop, and she had to go to the kitchen.
David nodded, and Marc and Jade escorted the sisters downstairs. Jade caught the attention of a serving boy and ordered bread, cheese, and wine for four in her lady's room, and returned to Kat once he'd promised to deliver it right away.
Kat was sitting slumped in a chair by the fire.
"Gods, that is even more exhausting than riding all day," Kat remarked as Jade entered the room.
"You should be more careful. I could have been a maid. Or an assassin."
"I knew it was you, Jade, I know your step, the way you test the door before opening it, the way you breathe, and the feel of your aura approaching me. There wasn't a scrap of doubt in my mind."
Jade laughed, and sunk into the chair by the fire. A tap on the door sent her instantly to her feet again, but it was revealed to be the kitchen boy, and David. Jade accepted the tray, and held the door open for David. Once the door was closed, he took the tray from her and carried it to the fire. The three took seats and wine, and Kat nibbled on some bread and cheese while they waited for Marc to return.

"How do you like being a Lord, David?" asked Kat, tiredly.
"It's not so bad. We don't have to do anything, so it's fairly easy."
"Easier than being a maid, I bet," said Jade with a smile.
"You would be worse as a lady," Kat laughed. "And you're doing OK as a maid, you just keep forgetting that you're could get away with more as a sooth sayer. Perhaps having the proper garments will remind you."
The door opened, and Marc entered the room. He turned, and latched the door behind him, before joining them by the fire and taking the remaining glass of wine.
"How did it go?" Kat asked.
"Fine. They're good girls, they selected the fabrics quickly, haggled meanly, and set to work as soon as they got home."
"Dedicated," commented David. "How goes other things?"
Jade shrugged. "We have the clothing organised. Marc's been busy having to stand at Kat's door, so I'll look into carriages tomorrow. Should be ready to leave within the week."
"I have arranged to have funds sent to me here," Kat said, "so we can stay for a while. I'd like to have a couple of "society" outings in the dresses those girls make me, and tell everyone how good they are. Should increase their prospects a little."
Jade smiled. She had known it. The four discussed plans a little longer, then Kat decided she'd have dinner in her room. The boys decided to go down to the tavern, and after Kat's dinner arrived, Jade went with to join them, after making Kat promise to ward the room.

In the tavern, there was little gossip, save that of the local folk, and of the mysterious nobles suddenly descended upon them - however that gossip was muted due to the presence of David. Satisfied that all was well for the moment, the three returned to their rooms and fell into an exhausted sleep.

As the days passed, the clothing was made and Jade arranged for chests and a carriage. True to her word, Kat accepted invitations for her and her brother to attend dinners at the houses of various upper-class citizens of the town, and extolled the virtues of the Smyth sisters. Kat knew they would soon be getting more business than they could cope with, and would be able to pick and choose customers, and the money would improve their prospects for marriage. Jade arranged for a carriage, and most of the clothing was packed into brand new trunks to be sent to Camelot, where it would then be sent on to Avalon. The clothing was sent, and supplies purchased, and the four let it be known that they were preparing to leave in the morning. Then they retired to Kat's room, and prepared for their night mission.

"I have discovered that there is a farmer who has horses in a pasture just outside of town," said Marc softly. We can easily borrow them and be back by sunrise - if there are no unforeseen difficulties."
"I have the box," said David.
"I have spelled the cloaks the Smyth sisters made for us to persuade people to overlook us," added Kat. "We will leave just after sunset."

Darkness fell, and the four left the town by a slightly less than reputable establishment which happened to back up against the wall. Jade ran ahead and herded the horses towards the road, where they were happy to be comforted by the presence of humans, as opposed to the wolf they had scented behind them. Jade and David opted to run, and Kat and Marc slipped make-shift bridles onto their horses, and the four were shortly on their way to the monastery.

The moon was just beginning to peek through the trees when Kat and Marc slipped from their horses and tied them securely off the path. The four lifted their hoods over their hair and slipped silently through the trees towards the stone walls. Jade signaled that she would climb the wall first, and look around for trouble. Two steps, a leap and a boost up from the boys joined hands allowed Jade's fingertips to reach the top of the wall, and she wasted little time in scrabbling up the rest of the way. Marc lifted Kat by her waist, and Jade grasped her wrists, allowing Kat to walk up the side of the wall. Then Marc gave David a boost and Kat and Jade helped him up the wall, followed by Jade and David leaning down and Marc leaping up. They grabbed his wrists, and he had shortly joined them on the top of the wall.
"I don't see any guards," whispered Jade, "and I can't smell any dogs around. I think they're locked up."
"I think the grail is to the east," whispered Kat. "That building in the grove of trees perhaps."
"We haven't been spotted yet," whispered Marc, "but we should move quickly. We're a good target up on this wall."
The four slipped to the ground and moved quickly to the trees. As they approached the building, a soft golden light seemed to emerge from Kat's sleeves. Jade pointed to them silently, and Kat nodded.
"The grail is close," she whispered. "We must move quickly. Already the moon makes her path across the sky."
"Still no guards," whispered Marc. "And no ill-intent towards Kat."
"Keep your hoods up," Kat whispered. "There's sure to be guards within the temple. Marc and Jade, you'll have to silence any monks who try to cause trouble."
They nodded in silence, and slipped towards the door.

The old wooden door opened slowly, and a shadow seemed to block out the light for a moment. The light flickered, and was blocked again, before shining through the partially open door again. The two guards at the end of the hall glanced at each other, but kept their posts. Suddenly, a whisper reached their ears, and one of the guards shivered. There were spirits about tonight. A sudden gust of wind blew open the door fully, and swept down the hall, extinguishing candles and torches. The guards trembled, and one of them cried out as a black figure entered the hall, framed by moonlight. A strange golden light was emerging from the sleeves of the gown, and from the face of the hood. The light grew stronger as the apparition moved down the hall towards the paralyzed guards. When it was half way down the hall, one of the managed a strangled moan of fear.
"Fetch the abbot!" he hissed to the other.
The spell broken for the moment, the second guard moved. An instant later, both guards were unconscious on the floor. Jade and Marc pushed back their hoods, and Kat hurried the last few metres to them. A quick incantation at the door caused the engraving to glow blue, then gold, and the doors swung open.
"Get David," Kat whispered to Jade. He's in the shadows outside the door."
Jade hurried down the hall, and Kat entered the room. The grail stood upon an altar, and Kat paused to look for enchantments in the room. Finding none, she cautiously moved forward.

"Who seeks the grail?" whispered a voice from the dark.
"I seek the grail," replied Kat.
"Who is I?"
"I am Cáitlín, Priestess of Avalon."
"Who wills this quest?"
"The Goddess, the Lady, the Mother of all."
"Proceed."
Kat cautiously moved forward, and looked at the grail.
"This is not the grail I seek."
A soft, dry chuckle was heard from the darkness again.
"To touch the false grail means death," it whispered. "Search, Cáitlín, Priestess of Avalon. The grail you seek is close."
Kat paused.
"Who are you?"
"I am the guardian of the grail."
"Ah..." Kat thought.
"Will you give me the grail?"
"Will you allow yourself to be tested?"
"I will."
"Then come to me."
Kat moved into the darkness.

Jade and Marc stood at the door, keeping an eye on the unconscious guards. David stood at the other end of the hall, watching for movement outside. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, Kat emerged from the room, carrying the grail. She glowed with a golden light. "Come," she said softly, and the three moved quickly down the hall.
David waited with an open box, and Kat gently placed the grail within it.
"As soon as David closes that box, we have to run," said Kat. "Back to the horses, and back to town as quickly as we can."
The others nodded to show they understood, and David closed the box. Instantly, the glow around Kat died, and she lifted her hood. David slipped the box into his bag, and the four ran towards the wall. From within the keep, a shout was heard, and they ran faster. Jade reached the wall first, and leaped for the top, scrambling up, closely followed by David. Jade gave a hand to Kat and David to Marc, and the two scrambled up onto the wall as Jade and David dropped below. Another shout sounded, and Marc grabbed Kat around the waist and pulled her over the wall moments before an arrow flew through the air.
"We've been spotted. Run."
Kat and Marc ran towards their horses, following the path Jade and David had taken. They untied their horses, and mounted swiftly. They wasted no time in heading for the road. Once on the road, Kat whispered an incantation again, and suddenly, the sound of twenty horses galloping hard down the South-West road was heard, accompanied by hoof-prints and a cloud of dust. Kat and Marc turned down the North-East road, and galloped back towards town. They caught up with Jade and David after about a mile, and slowed to keep pace with them. The trot would still devour the distance, without tiring the horses too much. By the time they reached the farmer's pasture, the horses were cool enough to be let go, and the four headed quickly back to town.

They climbed a convenient tree to help them over a wall, and walked the rooftops back to the inn. The sun was starting to rise as they reached Kat's bedroom, and slipped in through the open window. Marc started a fire to warm the room, and the others dropped belongings on the table, and each moved to sit in a chair by the fire.
"Do you think we'll have trouble tomorrow?" asked Jade eventually.
"I don't know," Kat replied. "The false trail I cast will peter out on rocky ground, but we left a trail too, and there's nothing I could do about that. I guess we won't know until we try and leave."
"The knights won't waste any time following the trails," commented David. We'll be lucky to get out of town without being accosted."
"We'll see," yawned Kat. "I, for one, am exhausted. I need food, and sleep. I cast a lot of magic tonight."
"What happened in the room?" asked Jade.
"Later," Kat waved a hand. "I was tested, I passed. If you want more detail, ask me again once I've slept."
"You should sleep in the carriage," suggested Marc. "It's sunrise now, the gates will be opening soon."
"How about breakfast then," Kat suggested. "But not until we've bathed. We all look like we've been running around the country side all night."
The boys concurred, and slipped back into their room, and Jade and Marc respectively rang down to the kitchen for hot water for baths for their Lord and Lady, followed closely by breakfast.

Nine o'clock saw them bathed, fed, and dressed, waiting for the groom to bring their horses and carriage to the front of the inn. Kat had paid the bill, including a generous tip to the innkeeper, and the previous night's clothing had been burned in the fireplace. The grail was safely stowed under David's seat, and the driver they had hired to drive their carriage was smartly dressed. Kat was in one of her dresses, David in his Lordly clothing. Jade was dressed as a sooth-sayer, and Marc was in chain-mail, looking every part the protector he was supposed to be. The four entered their carriage, and David commanded the driver to take them along the South-East road, towards the Long Woods. Jade hoped there wasn't any trouble at the gates. Once they were through the gates, they could sleep. Jade crossed her fingers, and peered out the window at the houses.

David had already rested his head apon Jade's shoulders and soon was snoozing softly. Kat had settled down and closed her eyes but she didn't make any noise so no-one could tell if she was asleep. When they were stopped at the gate Jade looked helplessly at Marc and so it was him that got up and exited the carriage to speack to the guard.

"Good sir, I apologise for the inconvience"
"No problem" Marc replied politely
"There was a theft last night"
"Oh?" Marc watched the mans face carefully but it never changed much to Marc's disgust.
"Have you heard anything about it?"
"No"
"Ah then luck to you sir, we are glad then to hear you have naught. Can I take it you had nothing stolen?"
"It seems that we have indeed been lucky because we didn't hear a thing"
"Well may I suggest you stay away from roads along the south-west. Seems that is the way the theifs took their flight. Best keep yourselves safe though I have no doubt a knight like you couldn't hold them off, just better safe then sorry"
"Thank you kindly for the warning"

Marc got back into the carriage it soon they were on their way again. After a mile or so Marc finally let the breath he had been holding out. Kat opened her eyes, smiled at him and patted his leg before closely her eyes again. He smiled back at her and Jade couldn't help notice that he seemed exhausted. Infact when she looked about Kat's face and David's face and they took shared the same exhaustion. Jade wondered if her face shared the same exhaustion.

Their journey seemed long and taxing to Jade. She felt caged up fairly quickly and wanted to get out. As she went to get out the carraige the first time Kat opened her eyes and shook her head so Jade didn't move. Her mood turned sour though and even David couldn't make her feel better. Kat relented enough to allow Jade to sit with the driver. Jade had sat with the driver for awhile but it didn't seem to take her long to release her presence was upsetting the horses and so reluctenly went back inside the carriage. It was another day before they reached the long woods. They still had a little way to go into the woods til they would met up with the Canmhaol however after much pestering Kat allowed for a stop and Jade bolted into the forest. Kat sat looking grim. David went to go after Jade but Kat rested a hand on his arm and stopped him.

"Have you got the box?"
"It's in the carraige safe"
"Grab it"
"But Kat I..."
"Grab it!"

Marc walked up to Kat and sat beside her

"What's troubling you?"
"Nothing"
"Caitín a stór, you can not lie to me, your heart tells me there is something wrong"
"Jade will not be returning home with us"
"How do you know?"
"Listen"

In the distance a single howl echoed through the woods. David came running back to where Kat and Marc were sitting

"Canagán no!"

David collapsed onto his knees his head lowered; he knew what the howl meant. He turned his head towards Kat, tears falling freely

"You knew" He accused "Why didn't you tell me? How could you not tell me?"
"I didn't know for sure"
"You still should have told me" David said back weakly

Marc didn't understand until he looked at Kat and then he could see. Jade was a pure Canmhoal, she could change into a Wolf. Many with this gift did not mate and only time would tell if she would still take David to be her mate.