Disclaimer: Fentry and all related characters are mine. All recognizable characters (Gambit, Angel, X-Men, etc...) belong to Marvel comics and are being used without permission or profit.

The Boundary
Part II
by Spade

Oliver glanced up from his papers to see Mary, a young blonde woman, standing under the tent flap. Beyond her shoulder, he could see members of the small, loosely organized rebellion packing to move to yet another base. He motioned for Mary to come all the way inside and she sat down next to the flat boulder he was using as a table. Taking a deep breath, he squashed the butterflies that always occupied his stomach whenever she was around.

"So, how are we doing?"

"Much better than I thought we'd be doing," Oliver smiled, brushing back strawberry blonde hair out of his eyes.

She nodded vaguely and lowered her eyes to the papers spread over the boulder. "What're these?"

He leaned back into the folding chair, his smile sliding off. "That one right there is a list of all the villages and cities in Fentry that Lairtes has destroyed," he said gravely.

Her eyes widened a fraction. It was a long list. "You said we were doing well."

"Better than I thought we would. To be honest, I never thought this rebellion would make it passed planning stages." He sighed heavily and scratched his beard. "There's a disappointingly small number of people who are willing to fight back."

She traced her finger around the edge of the paper intently. "It won't always be that way," she said quietly.

He straightened in his chair. "Is that optimism, Mary? Or do you see something?"

Mary's foresight was usually blurry. It tended to focus on things that weren't important. Things like knowing when someone was about to break a glass a minute before it happened or if someone was about to knock on the door. But every now and then, she would see something bigger.

She had seen Lairtes' attacks. He remembered that very clearly. No one in her home had taken her seriously back then. He hadn't taken her seriously either. She was always so distant with a far off gaze in her brown eyes, like she was paying attention to too many things at once. When she tried to warn people about what was going to happen, nobody listened. The frustration had driven her to tears and everyone thought she was mad.

Then Lairtes hoard dragons showed up; viscous things with bat wings, sharp claws, and short snouts. They were only the size of large dogs, but their hides were thick. There hadn't been anything left of the town and only a few people left alive. After that, Oliver promised himself that he'd never take Mary for granted again.

Mary stared blankly for a moment. "We'll have help."

"Who?" Oliver reminded himself not to get his hopes up too much. It might be nothing useful.

She came back suddenly and seemed to shrink in on herself. "I'm sorry. I don't know who."

"It's alright. I understand," he assured.

"Have you found a new place to set up base yet?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Think so," he answered. "I've sent some scouts to check out that old castle near the Dark Forests. There isn't much left of the inside, I think, but the outside wall should help with defense."

Mary opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it. Oliver didn't follow superstitions so bringing up the Dark Forests reputation wouldn't change his mind. An uncomfortable silence settled. He occupied himself by flipped through the papers again. they had a list of possible allies. He'd sent messengers but mist hadn't returned with an answer yet. Various maps of Fentry had been marked with red ink to show where Lairtes had put up camps. Cities that might be targeted next were marked in blue.

He blinked and pulled the closest map to him. They had yet to figure out the pattern Lairtes was using to know which place to hit next. Staring at the map, his mind started clicking pieces together.

"Who'd you send to scout the ruins?" Mary suddenly asked.

"What?" he asked, distracted. "Oh, Pickering, his grandson, and Oswin."

"Just them?"

"Yes," he glance up, noting the troubled line between her eyebrows. "Would it make you feel better if Lear went with them?"

"I mean... it's not my place to decided but.."

"Well, they've already left, but go get her and tell her to catch up with them," he waved her towards the door.

She was out the tent flap in a flip of brown skirt and blonde hair. The movement held his attention for a moment, then he went back to the map.

*****

The Dark Forests were made up of miles of thick green life. The foliage near the top was so dense that light couldn't penetrate it. While the edge of the forest seemed harmless enough, a glimpse through the timbers of trees that were hundreds of years old revealed only darkness.

Oswin stood by the gate of the ruined castle, gazing at that darkness with wide eyes. "What d'you suppose is in there?"

One of his companions turned and came back. Nicolas leaned over Oswin's shoulder to see what he was staring at. Then he shrugged and went to catch up with the gray-haired man ahead of them. Oswin hurried after him.

"How should I know?" Nic responded. "I've never been in there."

"Ya really think Oliver's gonna have us move this close to the Forests?" The Dark Forests were some of the less explored portions of Fentry. Being such a dark and secluded area it was subject to monster tales and ghost stories.

"If he does, we won't have to worry about Lairtes coming after us," Nic said casually. "I'd bet a bunch of baywolves would come out of there and eat his soldiers before they get to our base." Oswin stopped dead and glared. "Oh. Sorry 'bout that Os."

He understood that baywolves were a touchy subject with Oswin. His entire family had been killed by a pack of them. Usually Nic enjoyed getting a rise out of Oswin but baywolves were something else. He didn't respect a lot of things, but this he was willing to leave alone.

Nic's grandfather, and aging man named Pickering, had stopped and was examining the foundations where the north and east walls joined. He crouched on his knees, prodding them and moving tall grass out of the way to get a better look. Nic couldn't help but wince. Pickering had bad back problems he wouldn't admit to and Nic knew how hard getting back up was going to be.

Oswin took a moment to look at the surroundings. The outside walls and most of the walkway that surrounded it were in good condition. It was the inner portions, the living quarters, the gathering areas, that were crumbling. A few stones were scattered in loose formation, showing where the walls of a once-great palace would have stood. A single tower grew above the rubble, defiant of the forces that had brought its neighboring spires down to the ground. The shingles, triangular roof of that tower still hadn't collapsed and a tiny window looked out over the Dark Forests.

Nic saw the woman coming through the massive gates at the same time Oswin spotted her. She tilted her hear to get a better view of the rusted port culis as she past under it, her waist length black hair waving behind her. A swatch of cloth was draped over one shoulder and fell down to form a skirt, a sword belted at the hip.

"Who's that? Nic asked, not bothering to conceal his interest.

His grandfather looked up, his curiosity quickly replaced with a sour expression. "A snake in the garden," he answered tersely.

"Nice to know you haven't changed, Pickering," the woman called to him.

"What're you doing here, woman?" Pickering hollered back.

"Oliver sent me to baby-sit you," she responded. Pickering bristled but her smile was one of strange affection.

"I don't need no baby-sittin', Lear! Neither do the boys, so you can shove off!" Pickering waved at her impatiently.

Lear brushed her hair over her shoulder and leaned against what might have been a well, showing she had no intention of leaving. She was used to his blustering. She'd grown fond of it, really.

Oswin was staring at the sword clasped at her hip. The handle was a variety of metals and the hand guard was fashioned to look like spread bird wings. The sheath was red leather with a metal cap at the bottom, it's shape suggesting a double edged blade.

He hoped she wasn't going to have to use that thing. the constantly nervous type, Oswin looked back through the gate where he could see the edge of the Dark Forests. A few sparks of light, pin points from this distance, flashed in the darkness and he wondered what was in there watching them.

*****

"Move your elbow!"

"Why don't you move? Besides, your wing is in my face."

"Will you two shut up?"

Three tiny fairies, Mab, Charissa, and Lief, fought for a better view of the strangers milling in the ruins. The first, a slight, angelic faced fairy with long curly hair flew up through the twigs and landed in a space where the leaves weren't so thick.

"What're they doin', Mab?" the boy called up.

"They're just poking around," Mab answered.

"Ya think we oughta go closer?"

"No," Charissa said sharply. The other two turned to look at her. At seven inches, she was unusually tall for a fairy. The height difference made her appear more formidable to other two and she often took charge when decisions were made between them. Pushing jaw length brown hair behind a pointy ear, she raised her chin in s dare for them to contradict her. "There's too much of a risk that they'll see us."

Fairies had a tendency to glow, especially when flying and she didn't think they'd manage to get to close before being seen. In truth, she wanted very much to go closer and spy on the humans, but she could see Mab wringing her hands unconsciously. Lief would be all for it, but the excitement would get to Mab and she'd never stay quiet.

"This could be trouble," Lief said slowly. "Humans don't normally come this close to the Dark Forests anymore."

Charissa nodded. There were only four now but she had the distinct feeling that that would change.

"Come on," she told them. Mab dropped down off her perch. In a flash of colored light, the sped off deep into the Forests.

*****

The light inside Lairtes' conference hall was a warm orange cast by the fire burning in the center of the room. The flames were closed off by a circle of stones that made a pit for the ashes and burning wood. It illuminated the forms of the seven men and woman present. There had been a minor commotion made about Lairtes taking residence inside this castle. It had once been the home of the Kings and Queens that had ruled Fentry But a monarchy hadn't ruled for several generations and the castle had remained empty. The people living near it had seen Lairtes as trying to impose his leadership upon them, though no one did anything but grumble about it.

Lairtes tapped the armrest of his huge oak chair, his dark stare boring into his Commander. The Commander shifted his weight between his feet but looked Lairtes in the eye. Four soldiers stood behind him, heads bowed and gazes fixed to the floor. Another man in a bedraggled cape watched the room's occupants with mock disinterest.

"Allow me to get this straight," Lairtes began. "A small band has formed against me, composed of farmers and townspeople. They're untrained, poorly educated and yet you have been unable to apprehend them or even find where they're base?!"

The Commander cleared his throat. "They know the land better than we do, sir. That gives them a strong advantage."

Lairtes turned to the man in the tattered cape. He was one of the spies he had sent out. Knowing the land and the people was his job more than the Commander's. Lairtes leaned back and spread his hands, inviting him to share what he'd learned. "By all means, enlighten me."

"You're going after land they've lived on their entire lives," the spy said. "They'll fight for it because it's their home. It's a small group but they're determined and smarter, I think, than we've given them credit for."

Leaning his cheek on one hand, Lairtes raised his eyebrows. "You don't where they are either, do you?"

Slightly abashed, the spy shook his head. "They were hiding out in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and then along the Curve River for awhile, but they keep moving."

Lairtes made an exasperated sound and stood. "I don't see what the fuss is about." He walked to the only window in the room and stared out at the blue black sheet of the night sky. "There's so much out there that we don't know about." There was a long stretch of silence before Lairtes turned back to them, eyes flashing. "I rule this land gentlemen. Any act against me is treason."

On that sharp statement, he dismissed them with a wave. The Commander's unease multiplied as he walked down the halls. It had been some time since Lairtes had made the trip to the boundary and in all that time the Commander had yet to learn the reason behind the journey. Lairtes was doing more than taking over Fentry land, he was destroying them. The Commander just couldn't see a connection. It was the most frustrating task he had ever been given in his career as a soldier. And the longer things went on this way, the less sure he was about whether he wanted to accomplish it.

*****

The pale woman stood in her own slice of reality, looking into the spheres that passed. They were small with shiny rainbow colors swirling on their surfaces like soap bubbles. In each, she saw a different scene. The first portrayed a blue-skinned man with angel wings. The second showed a world torn apart piece by piece by a wall of flames that scoured across it. A woman with an irritated scowl on her face brandishing a sword. A golden dragon from a dying race. A redhead with strange eyes speaking with a young dark-haired woman.

She pulled the spheres with the winged man and the red head closer to her, careful not to pop them. She would need the assistance of both these men through the trials Fentry was about to witness. She tilted her head upwards and sent feelers out to the world beyond her. She could sense the fractured magic that was holding the boundary intact. The cracks in its strength were widening. Time was running out.

End Part II

Spade
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