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The month went by all too rapidly for the trio. Reynate did some looking into this Institute that Istvan was to be sent to, but she could only locate a small amount of information.

Istvan put everything he had into the studies he was required to pass, even though Alexander suggested that perhaps if he failed a couple classes he might be re-evaluated and rejected for this "experiment".

The thought that he might just stop learning never sat well with the raven-haired boy. Instead, Istvan spent his time carefully divided between his friends and his work. He avoided his family, with a deep resentment that only a teenager could truly understand.

Alexander grew worried, when Istvan's face ever-more-rarely had a smile on it. He was used to the wry smiles that Istvan gave when he joked about something - and he'd missed seeing it on him for two weeks now. Reynate noticed it too, but didn't bring it up for fear of driving more of a wedge between them than existed.

Apparently Istvan's mother finally cornered her young son and attempted to explain the situation - which made it impossibly worse. When she showed up at the Rheinmann house unannounced and in a panic, Alexander and Rey knew what she was going to say.

"We'll find him," Reynate said, flatly, and brushed past the stout, hoary haired woman. "Whether he wants to be found or not."

It only took a short time for the pair to find him, of course. Deep in the forest, on a gulley edge where two large tree limbs made a natural 'uneven bars', Istvan was standing on one of them peering at the other with a predatory look.

He lept from one to the other, catching the lower branch and vaulting back over it, and spinning to the ground.

"Keep that up and we'll sell you to the circus," Alexander said, and Reynate looked at him in horror. How could he say that after -

"Too late," Istvan said, a grim smile on his face. He looked much older than he ought, with the worry on his forehead and the long creases by his lips in a permanent frown. "They would have to compete for me, and apparently I've been paid for in full already."

Reynate sighed, and clutched her arms across her chest. "Istvan, you must come back. Your mother is frantic."

"My mother sold me to a laboratory." Istvan spat. He spotted the higher branch from below, and lept straight up once, catching the branch and gripping onto it with long, strong fingers. "I could run away to the Mobs, but I don't think they'd appreciate an egg-head like me in their ranks."

"I hear the ninja are hiring," Alex said, trying to lighten everything up. "Istvan, come down here and come home with us."

"She just wants you to be more of what you're capable of being," Rey said. "Now get down here."

From the dappled darkness of the tree branch, Istvan glared down and then finally crouched. He dropped to the ground without a word.

"I wanted to be in that race next week," Istvan said, a hint of a pout to his voice. "You know, they were bringing in Racers and everything. I could have won, there's no one here that can run as fast as I can."

"We know that," Alexander said, rolling his brown eyes. "We've had to chase you enough..."

"Sorry." Istvan said. "I'm sorry."

Rey put her arm over his shoulders, reaching a bit because while she was taller than most girls her age, she was still much shorter than he. "You don't have to apologize to us. Just come back and stay with us for the next few days. I don't want to miss anything."

Istvan didn't budge, however. He glanced at the two siblings and a familiar smile moved over his lips. "I'd rather stay here for a little bit. With you guys. Let them think I ran halfway to the next Territory."

They laughed, and clung to one another. Even though it was a fairly teary-eyed moment, Alexander found it in his impish mind to ask, "does this mean we're gonna have sex?"

*

When the caravan arrived for Istvan, it looked to be one of the richer vehicles ever to come through these parts. Even though Windresh was a large place, it was still surrounded by farming communities that supplied the central town. In turn, the machinists and forges made fine ploughs, carts and the like, and sold lots of items to other trading caravans. Living on the community's edge as the Sangers did, they and their neighbors usually saw everything that came into Windresh, since they often had to use this main road to get there. Every fall, the University would reopen, and dozens of rich kids were brought from their homes and into the town - swelling its population again.

But no one had seen anything like this. The caravan was still pulled by two horses, but they were extremely large, and darkly impressive. The cab was closed, painted in a rich black lacquer. Red and silver trim accents were drawn around edges of the doors and wheels, and the horses' tack had similar color schemes.

It was a most impressive ride. Even Istvan had to admit that he'd like to be seen in this thing. The large driver (who seemed to be matched for looks to the big black horses, though he was bald and didn't have a sharply cut mane on his head) took Istvan's three bags (clothing, books, and 'stuff') and carefully laid them in the back of the cab, and patiently waited for him to get in.

That lasted a while, because Istvan really didn't want to leave. Not even in such a fine cab.

Even Pyotr turned out, and he hadn't even known about this until the week before. Any resentment or jealousy that he had for his younger sibling was long gone, if it had really been there in the first place. "You'll do well and come back a hero, won't you?" The forge assistant said, "and cut your hair, you're going to catch it on things."

"Only if I'm not paying attention to it, and you know that's impossible." Istvan said, cracking a smile. His mother dabbed at tears in her eyes, and father Pavel beamed with pride - laced with paternal worry.

"We'll write, but you have to write first because we don't know where it is you're going," Reynate said, hugging him until he choked.

Alexander came to Istvan's side, and Istvan leaned his forehead on his first love's shoulder for a moment. "I'll see you again," he whispered. Alex nodded, unable to speak.

He got into the black cab and it pulled away quickly, leaving in a burst of stones and dust. Heading west, along the main road. It veered north toward other Territories, that was one clue, and Reynate tucked it away into her mind.

When the cab was no longer in view, and the others who came to bid Istvan farewell had wandered off to their duties, Reynate glanced at Pavel and Inilla, who still stood watching the western horizon. The way that Inilla clung to her husband told Rey something was bothering them both, ever so slightly. She had always been exceptional at reading body language in addition to verbal.

"How much was his presence worth, really?" She asked, and didn't wait around to hear the answer. She only heard sobbing anyway.

*

When the first letter came, Alexander read it through and then passed it lovingly along to his sister. They'd both waited by the communications center of Windresh every day after school, for three weeks.

"He's only just got there?" Rey demanded of the page she read. The parcels in the communications office were usually delivered by Drak or even Fairydrak in the case of personal letters. Bulk came in bags upon the four-winged Draks. This letter had come alone, delivered by a strangely dark fairydrak - the attendant at the Communications post even commented on it. Reynate peered at Istvan's immaculate script, it was a bit muddy at the top where the date and area were meant to be marked, and she couldn't read the post-date on the thick envelope. She couldn't tell if it had been a week, two, or yesterday when it was written. "At least he's okay."

"But can we get a letter back to him?" Alex wondered aloud, grasping at the envelope and looking at it closely. "I can't read this. I don't know where he could be."

"Well we can always look at a map. Where would it take him, if he were three weeks on the road?" Rey said, and they drifted back into the school grounds. The library would be open, it was always open. A map room was tucked away somewhere, and they shortly located it. But their skills at cartography left a little to be desired - that, and the maps were all in different scales.

Eventually they determined that he'd have to have traveled west until the road turned north, that was almost a thousand miles away. The terrain was largely flat and easy going, most of that way. Quick time, in a nice cab like the one he was riding in. They were headed toward the Svaha'ren Territory, the middle of freaking nowhere according to any accounts that Reynate could find.

"No, here," Alexander said, waving his hand at his sister. He was hovering over the maps which had most recently been copied and bought by the library. "Look here. Right on the coast, there is a place marked. Maybe we could ask about what it is. It's a 'university' marking," he pointed out the logo which matched the one where they currently stood. So many miles away...

The next day they did ask, and got a worrysome response from the elder charter at the library.

"That's a newer place, all right. Too new for most traditional scholars like myself to work at and respect themselves."

"What do you mean by that?" Rey asked, sharply. "What are they doing that's so new?"

The older man narrowed his time-worn eyes at the young lady. "I've only heard rumors, and I don't like any of them. And young Istvan was sent there..." He shook his head. "I can't say I like that either."

Worried, that did neither sibling any good.

*

"Losing sleep, Rey?" Alexander asked of his sister, whose room was still lit with a pair of clever battery-operated lights. Istvan had made them for her.

"I notice you're not resting much," Rey quipped, rubbing her eyes. "We've got to just hope that our letters get there."

They sent fifteen letters, each one month apart. The first time, they got one response back. It was a curt, strangely phrased letter that only served to provoke more worry than ever. It seemed like Istvan was far too busy to communicate - either he was enjoying himself immensely or he was being worked to death, and the Rheinmann siblings didn't want to think about either option.

After that one letter, though, no matter how imploring their own were, they got no further response.

And on the fifteenth month, Istvan's parents were found dead in their home - Inilla had been garroted, and her husband had been strangled.

Reynate let the cold grip of fear claw at her heart finally. She could refuse it no longer. When Pyotr got back from work it had been two days already, and he had grim news as well.

"Someone at the factory tried to push me into a smelter, I'd never seen him in the forge before." The older, burlier echo of Istvan watched their faces, "but then, neither had the foreman and he made sure the guy wasn't allowed back in. So someone wants us dead."

"I've a feeling I know who it is," Reynate said, eyes tearing up but her jaw was firm. Her brother stood mutely, staring at the twin graves. "I suggest that we all be more careful about who we allow near us, in the future. You especially, Pyotr."

Though he was five years her senior, he dutifully nodded, as it was good advice.

What was better advice, however, came late in the evening that same day. Pyotr could not bear to stay in the house where he'd grown up, so he went back immediately to the forge dorms in the city. Perhaps that saved his life.

Alexander was in a half-sleep, disturbed by memories and angry dreams, when he felt a presence near him. He froze, and the catch in his breath alerted the killer.

"So, you're awake at last, little boy." The voice said, it was dark and hard, like the knife which had found its way to Alex's throat. "I will give you a moment to reflect upon. Stay clear. Keep to your own path. You can't do anything to help your friend. If you do, I'll be sent for you instead of his brother. Do you understand?"

Afraid to move, especially around the feather-touch of the knife, Alex twitched his head once.

"Good. If your sister feels similarly inclined to keep at it, I shall enjoy killing her."

The motion of the Mob killer exiting his room left Alexander out of breath and sobbing.

*

Things never quite returned to normal for Reynate and Alexander. There was a cold, silent agreement between the two of them that they did not speak of the things that happened that night. Pyotr moved everything out of the Sanger house and into a new place, which he did not mention where it was. Just one day, the Sanger house was empty.

Reynate studied intensely and found that she wanted to become a Peacekeeper. Her ability with words and people lent itself to that goal. And though she was a woman, rare in that field, no one was going to stand in her way. She stood strong and tall, amber-brown eyes glaring harsh from a now-stern face. Three years of study brought her ever closer to her legal position.

Alexander became more introverted than ever - and since the single other boy who tolerated his advances had been sold off he'd not bothered to find another lover since then. Devoted to his work organizing historical documents and attempting to teach, Alex grew farther and farther away from his exuberant, fun loving youth. As a scholar he was expected to take on students and he did his best. In fact he still did better than most others his age, but he was always just slightly distracted. As if there were no meaning to the words he used to love.

Until one day Alexander found a piece of university-related studies. It was labeled "Renaud Institute for Higher Ascention", and detailed a number of procedures that someone was working on. He took the paper and sped to Reynate's office in the legal department of the University.

"This is where he is," Alex panted, having run all the way. Reynate took the paper, ignoring the glares from the other students and the sole instructor.

"This is meant to be a private study time," he started to say, "intrusions are seriously det-"

"Stuff it, old man," Reynate growled, and stood. "Can we get a ride?" She asked of Alex.

"You're asking the wrong person," he said. "But I know of someone who could take us there right now. There's a Drak and Knight in the comm flats."

Reynate wasted no time in grabbing her bags of books, and rushed out of the room, leaving her instructor positive that women just should not be allowed to be there. That fruity brother of hers either.

Outside, it was easy to spot the Drak because of his size, less so to find his rider. The Desert drak's colors and long horns showed he was from Lav'intay - both Rey and Alex knew that much from their studies. Rey spotted the knight.

With her professional strength and ability with people, she approached him and inserted herself into his conversational circle. The Drak turned to look at her, his spiraling horns making a long curve in the air. Alex was stunned by the beauty and grace of the drak, but too curious about the conversation to stand there dumbfounded by him.

"Have you been to this place?" Reynate asked, a professional, demanding edge to her voice. Perhaps a little too desperate as well. The Knight looked the paper over, and narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. Foul place. I'd rather not head there again."

"Our friend is there. We need to know if he's okay." Reynate said, straight and to the point.

"Then he's probably not okay," the Knight said, darkly. "It would take too long to travel on foot for you. Let me ask leave to get another pair of free Draks. They can take you there, and protect you if you need it."

The first glimmer of hope in four long years started to show in Rey's face. Alex was less enthusiastic. "Wish we had some weaponry," he commented, but the Knight and his drak were already communicating with their Armada.

Shortly, a brown Mud drak and his smaller, younger Fire counterpart flew overhead and landed on the communication area's patio. The three Draks barely fit there together, people had to make room for them.

"What, right now?" Alexander said, and his sister gave him a wide-eyed visual nudge. Instead of heading to the drak, he took Rey's book bag, along with his own, and handed them to the Communication post's resident supervisor. "Deliver these to our house, I don't know if we'll be there to pick them up."

That done, Alexander hesitatingly got a lift from the Mud drak, while his sister (predictably) was offered a ride on the Fire. With their resonant voices, the transport draks bellowed, as if warning people below to stay clear.

When they were airborne, Alexander opened his eyes to find that he was already more than a hundred yards into the air. Yet, the ride was surprisingly smooth - the four wings he thought would get in each other's way worked so well that there was practically no jogging or extra motion at all.

"Wow..." he breathed, and looked at his sister who was obviously relishing her ride. She clung on to the brilliant mane of the drak, but looked around her with interest.

The Mud announced, "hold on tightly, and hold your breath. We will Portal now. The coasstline awaitss."

They arrived over the Institute with a pop of their ears, and racing hearts. They just traveled more than two thousand miles in less than a minute.

And instantly they knew they'd arrived to the right place. For below lay a sprawling black cancer of a building. It was one large structure, but spread out over what might have been miles of land. Several tall spires went into the air, while tendrils of smaller passages and covered hallways led down to the rough sea to the west. Though the rest of the landscape was a pale tan and brightly green in places, this area was just plain dark. There was a pall of what looked like smoke - it was smog - over the whole building, and Reynate shuddered.

"How are we ever going to find him in there...?" She asked, but the wind stole her voice.

The Fire drak she rode however, had an answer. "Perhapsss it iss that one down there... Running."

Running?