They wheeled around, startled, to find Dion standing there holding four mobile telephone boxes. He looked wistfully at the paper that Evander was holding and continued: 

 “I’m afraid he never really appreciated his own skills at drawing and painting. I must admit, though, that I had never even considered that to be a self portrait until now. I had always just thought of it as him imagining himself as an angel. Now, after all these years, I notice that this angel has no halo and it has me wondering. It is almost prophetic in nature. Perhaps Daecon possesses some Soothsaying abilities himself.” 

Evander looked down at the picture again and started to pin it back to the wall. 

“No, my young friend”, Dion said as he placed a hand on Evander’s shoulder, “I think it should be better if you keep that. I will not be returning to this church, and it would be a shame to see that drawing get scrapped along with the rest of them when this building is repurposed.” 

“No, I can’t. I don’t deserve…. Daecon doesn’t really like me, he probably wouldn’t want me to have something like this.” 

Leander and Owen looked at each other and coughed. 

Dion said “Young Evander, what gives you the idea that Daecon does not like you?” 

“I don’t know. It’s just that, well, I was kind of a dick to him when I first met him, and I don’t think he’s forgiven me for that. He acts strangely near me, and sometimes it seems like he’s avoiding even looking at me. And just look at how he shoved me aside just a while ago when he left.” 

Leander was now smirking, while Owen suddenly became preoccupied with the other drawings on the cork board. 

“Well”, Dion said, “I cannot claim to know you very well, but I have known Daecon his entire life. From the moment of his return I have detected a bond between the two of you. It is only simmering right now, but it is growing, even now as you are separated.” 

“No! There is no bond! He doesn’t even like me!” 

“That is not true, son”, Leander said while suppressing a smile. “Do you think that Owen and I were not watching the two of you as you played tag earlier, on the way here? The way you were looking at each other after you caught each other was not the looks of people who dislike each other. I can say with confidence that Daecon was smitten with you from the moment he first laid eyes on you. And, if I’m not mistaken, the feeling was quite mutual.” 

Evander was blushing now as he carefully folded the drawing, his skin almost as dark as his freckles. “But he shoved me away! Just now! As though I was nothing!” 

Owen spoke up now. “You must understand that Daecon had just received a great shock and that he is still trying to control a body that he does not yet understand. When that wing appeared and struck you it was pure instinct – you just happened to be in the way. Besides, you didn’t see the look of shame that he had when he realized what he had done. Believe me, had I thought for a second that he hurt you intentionally I would still be chasing him.” 

“I just don’t believe… I mean, he’s royalty! What could royalty want with somebody like me?” 

“Believe it, young man”, Dion said with a smile. “Daecon may have royal attributes, but he has not fully accepted that yet. He is still grappling with the concept of being a Shapeshifter, much less a Royal class. In his own mind he is still just a regular person. Great things are in store for the two of you, I can feel it. However, once again, we have lost track of our goal. We must get this plan under way. Please, all of you, join me back over here at the front pew.” 

Evander put the folded drawing in his pocket. The four of them returned to the pew and sat down. Dion opened the mobile phones and placed the four of them on the pew, then closed his eyes and started mumbling while moving his hands over the devices. After a short while a faint blue glow formed around them. Finally Dion finished his chant, pulled his hands away, and the phones stopped glowing. 

“Ok”, Dion said as he scooped the devices up. “If I did this correctly, these mobiles should be able to communicate with each other no matter their location or whether or not a cellular signal is available. They will have unlimited battery life as well, but should any of them fall into unfriendly or unfamiliar hands they will revert to being plain, ordinary cellular phones. Also, these two”, he said as he handed a phone each to Evander and Leander, “Should have the coordinates of the locations that you should search programmed into the map software. There will also be tags in that map software that will show the precise location of each of us in case anybody gets into trouble.  Simply tap on the tag with the appropriate name to instantly contact that person, but I must insist that you do so only in the case of extreme emergency or if you locate Daecon.” 

“Right, got it”, Leander said as he looked at the phone. 

“Ok, then, let’s go. But first, I must insist on a few more things. First and foremost, you two, that you do your searches on foot. You can fly until you are near the search areas, but do not fly into them! Darion is well aware of Daecon’s old haunts, and you can rest assured that he will be looking in those locations as well. Remember that he can cloak himself from you, but you cannot cloak yourselves from him. By air you run considerable risk of being seen, but by foot, as long as you stay fairly hidden, you may go undetected. He can see through your cloaking, but even Royalty cannot see through natural cover. Just follow the prompts on the map software, they will get you to the correct locations. Also, be aware that while Daecon does not realize it yet, he is royalty and therefore will be able to cloak himself from you as well. He may do so without even knowing that he’s doing it, so be very vigilant. And finally, if you do come across Darion, do NOT confront him. I cannot stress this enough! I have told you of his cruelty and his opinion of common shifters. He has been living in the wild for over two decades now, away from society, and likely holds some grudges. I cannot imagine that he will have gotten any gentler.” 

“Do you really think that Darion is looking to harm Daecon?”, Owen asked.

“Harm him? No. Daecon has the strength and protections of royal blood and, if our theories prove correct, is even stronger still as a Dunamis. Darion would find it quite difficult to cause him physical harm even if he wanted to. I’m afraid that he has much more sinister plans for Daecon than physically harming him.” 

“What do you mean?” Leander asked.

“I am quite afraid that should Darion locate Daecon before we do that he will try to corrupt Daecon’s mind. Darion has a silver tongue and can be quite charming when he wants to be. Remember, Daecon does not know any of what I have told you in this church. He does not know that his father is a murderer, and if Darion can get to him first and convince him that he is a victim of plotting by the council we will have a very difficult time indeed. I fear that he will try to use Daecon as a means of overthrowing the Council, or at the very least, causing troubles for it. That is why Owen and I must contact the Council quickly; they must be prepared.”

The four men walked out of the church into a bright, sunny day. 

“All right”, Dion said. “Let’s be off then. Your phones will show you to Daecon’s favourite hangouts in the mountains. Owen and I will go to the Council and advise them.” 

Leander and Evander each hugged Owen, then changed into their bird forms and took off. Before long they were out of sight. Owen changed into his golden eagle form and continued to watch them fly away for a few moments, then turned and faced Dion. Dion was still in human form and shaking his head at Owen. 

“You will not need your eagle form for this journey. If we are being watched it would be much easier for us to be seen if we travel by air.” 

He then gestured toward his beloved Wagoneer. “Instead, we shall drive across town and get as close to the colony as possible, then we will fly in the rest of the way.” 

Owen looked at the antique SUV with doubt. “But Evander and Leander just flew away. Wouldn’t anyone watching us have noticed them?” 

“They may have been observed, yes, but anyone we are worried about would not have recognized them and would have paid them no mind, at least until they get closer to Daecon. If that Hecate or Darion are nearby it is only me who they will be interested in.” 

Owen changed back into human form and they walked over to the Wagoneer. It was ancient but it appeared to be in very good condition. Even still, Owen was apprehensive as he opened the passenger door and sat inside. Dion could see the worried look on his face. 

“Have you never ridden in a human vehicle before?” he asked. 

“No, I never have.  Daecon has mentioned his love of human vehicles, but I’ve never seen the appeal of it. Everywhere I’ve ever gone I’ve either flown, walked, or ran.” 

“Well, buckle up”, Dion said as he started the truck and eased out onto the street. “This will be a new experience for you, and perhaps humbling as you experience a slice of life as humans know it.” 

“Buckle up? What do you mean, ‘Buckle up?’” 

“Simple”, Dion said, as he buckled his own seat belt. “You just pull that seat belt out of that pillar and draw it across yourself. Click the buckle of it into the receiver in the seat.” 

Owen did as instructed, and immediately felt panicked. “But now I’m trapped! Why would I want to trap myself in this tin conveyance?” 

“You are not trapped. If you push on that button the seat belt will be released. However, seat belts are required by human law to prevent injuries in an accident.” 

“Accident! What do you mean, ‘accident’? Are you planning to crash?” 

“Of course not. Crashes are rarely planned, that’s why they are called ‘accidents’. That is not my concern, though, as it is highly unlikely that one of us could suffer serious injury in a car crash, especially at the low speeds we will be travelling. My main concern is that I don’t want to attract attention from humans. Seat belt use is mandated by their laws, and not wearing one can result in an unplanned and awkward conversation with a police officer. I have neither the time nor the desire to do so.” 

The vehicle was picking up speed now, and Owen was getting increasingly nervous. He stared out of the windows as the village passed by. People were out driving, walking their dogs, mowing their lawns, and just going about their lives. Aside from the occasional wave, which Dion returned, they went unnoticed. 

They left the village and really gained speed now. Owen felt it was crazy to be driving so recklessly and was gripping his knees so tightly that his knuckles were white. He was sweating and was feeling nauseated. Dion noticed this. 

“What is the matter, my friend? A touch of car sickness?” 

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m not used to travelling so fast this close to the ground. Must you drive so quickly?” 

Dion laughed. “Owen, my dear friend, we are travelling at a mere 80 kilometres per hour, less than half the speed you would be cruising at if you were flying and well within my driving skills and the limits of this road.” 

“Maybe”, Owen said, fighting the urge to vomit, “But when I’m flying I can’t really hit anything. This scenery flying by is just too much for me right now.” 

“I’m afraid that you will have to put up with your discomfort for a short while longer. We are already driving well below the normal speed humans drive on this road, and if we hold traffic up we will attract attention. People will phone us in as suspected drunk drivers. It will only be for a short while, though. Once we reach the city we will be driving much more slowly, and you will probably miss this higher speed.” 

Owen doubted that, but he sat in silence for the next several minutes until the Wagoneer crested a small hill and suddenly the city was before them. The vehicle started to slow down. 

“There we go”, Dion said. “The city. As promised, we will travel more slowly here.” 

It may have been slower, but driving in the city proved to be far more terrifying for Owen than it was on the open road. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, trains – there was no shortage of things to avoid here. And people! Owen had never felt comfortable around crowds of humans, and here there were humans in droves. The sidewalks were packed with them. Every time they stopped at a traffic signal (Dion briefly explained the rules involved here, but Owen did not understand them) a hoard of humans would cross the road in front of them. It appeared to be chaotic, but Owen had to admit that there seemed to be an order to this chaos. All of the movements seemed to be choreographed so that people and machines intermingled almost flawlessly, at the very least they didn’t seem to be running into each other. 

Still, Owen was uncomfortable. “Can’t you cloak this vehicle? I’ve heard that royalty can cloak other people and objects…” 

“I could”, Dion answered, “But it would be a very bad idea. Those humans cannot avoid running into what they cannot see. If I cloaked us it would be mere moments before something or somebody collided with us. No, cloaking is not the answer, but fear not. We are but one vehicle among tens of thousands, and two people among over a million. We can be seen, but we are essentially invisible in this crowd. Nobody has any reason or desire to pay us any attention.” 

Owen looked around and could see that Dion was right. At any given moment they were in the presence of tens, hundreds, even thousands of pairs of eyes, and not one of them was noticing them or their vehicle. He decided to relax and observe the humans in their natural habitat for the rest of the journey through the city. 

That journey lasted about an hour, then the people on the sidewalks started becoming more scarce, the buildings further apart, and there was less traffic. Finally the city was behind them. Dion started picking up speed again, but Owen was getting used to car travel and did not mind so much this time. 

After ten minutes on the open road Dion slowed down and pulled into a small gravel lane. He shut the ignition off and looked at Owen. “We are near enough to the colony now. Since no roads lead directly to it, no human vehicle can access it. We will need to continue our journey by air, and we should be safe in doing so from here.” 

They got out of the Wagoneer. Dion placed his hands on the hood and murmured a few words. The vehicle shimmered for a moment, then disappeared.