Elrind looked sideways at Adric. The young lad was keeping his seat well on the horse, but looked ill at ease with women. Two of the younger girls from the village were riding a horse even with the boy and had been for the last hour. They attempted several times to draw him into conversation, but he seemed only able to talk about mathematical concepts and his life traveling with the Doctor. But the girls were more interested in his father's land. When he figured that out, he quieted and smiled.

Nyssa had laughed at the look on her friend's face. It was only her laughter, which Elrind equated to a bubbling brook, which made the boy embarrassed. The girl was riding her own mount behind Adric, sidesaddle and proudly. It was Elrind's thought that the girl was of noble birth. Both of his charges were pleasant enough, answering his questions and listening to his orders and dictates. If he only had to deal with their well-being, this trip would not be a problem.

It was people like the young woman who rode along side Nyssa, cantering her horse to remain in step with the girl's, that bothered him. There was a feeling that he could not shake that unsettled the Elder. But the new woman was well-dressed and carried the protective seal of River Fall. He was obliged through blood and bond to honor the seal and accept her into his camp, his home, his village should the need present itself.

And it had.

His thoughts were removed from the girls as a scout from the head of the party rode back to alert him to the upcoming river crossing at Hidedell. He urged his mount forward.

Nyssa watched the Elder ride ahead with an amused look. "He watches me as closely as my own father did."

"A kind man then?" Cassiopeia asked. "I have heard of the Elder of Hill's End…that he is a benevolent sort of man."

Nyssa nodded. "He would have been a leader on my planet as well. It is a kind of trait that we revere in our leaders. And you?" Nyssa settled her hands on the reins and smiled. "You are not from River Fall originally, are you?"

"Why do you ask?" Cassiopeia adjusted her seat as well.

"Your accent is different," Nyssa smiled widely as the woman appeared embarrassed. "Don't worry. I am not from Hill's End either. I know what it is like to be a traveler and have to adjust to new situations and places and accept things as they occur. You are a traveler, aren't you? And you have settled in River Fall."

Cassiopeia nodded. "I am not from this planet, but have been left here by my people…I am as some say…an orphan?"

"As am I, in a way," Nyssa stated, glancing off at the trees for a few steps. Suddenly driven by impulse, she leaned forward and reached across the short distance to touch the other woman's sleeve. "I know how you feel, you poor dear. Do you know of your people?"

Cassiopeia sighed. "Yes…my father was the last member of my family that was alive when we…came here. I have often hoped that he might still be alive."

"There is always hope," Nyssa encouraged her. "Maybe we can help you. When the Doctor gets back to the village, he might be able to help you."

"I hope someone might," Cassiopeia answered, and smiled back at the young Trakenite.

"As the Doctor would say, 'brave heart'," Nyssa added and leaned into her horse. She nodded at Adric. "We should help him, I think. He is not used to interactions of that type." With a wide smile, she urged her mount to catch Adric.

Cassiopeia kept her head down until the girl was ahead of her. Then she raised her face with an evil smile. "I am quite sure that the Doctor can help me," she whispered.

**

Tegan's eyes snapped open and she felt Jessica's hand against her forehead, keeping her down.

"Stay where you are, Tegan…you are not well."

Tegan groaned in her head and mouthed: "Tell me something I DON'T know." She struggled until Jessica allowed her to sit. When she had fallen asleep she had not been wearing the Doctor's frock coat, but as she sat there, she was thankful she had it to draw it about her shoulders. There was a definite chill in the air. And it was night. She opened her mouth, but shook her head in anger as no sound came out.

"Your voice will be gone for another few hours, at least, Tegan, depending on how much of the serum they gave you," Jessica explained. "And your friend, that Time Lord, has gone with Kilred to make sure our pursuers have not backtracked."

Tegan rolled her eyes and pulled on the Doctor's coat. After a few moments, she sat forward unsteadily and searched through the Doctor's pockets. She was still digging through them when the Doctor and Kilred came back into clearing.

"Are you looking for this, Tegan?" the Doctor asked, crouching down by her and holding out the small circuit board.

With a relieved nod, Tegan rested back against a tree trunk. The Doctor smiled and reached to tuck it into the pocket of his coat. "Somehow, through chance, Miss Tegan, you found the very piece I was looking for…the Temporal Stabilizer. Thank you."

Tegan opened her mouth, but no sound came out and she stamped her foot in frustration. The Doctor stopped her small temper tantrum by laying the back of his hand against her forehead. Jessica agreed as he frowned. "She is not well, Doctor."

"Yes…" the Doctor groaned. "Tegan, you have a fever," he accused. He nodded toward the kerchief. "Jessica, did you fill the water container?"

The woman nodded, "And I have already soaked the kerchief."

Kilred groaned. "We should make a start. Is your woman able to walk?"

Tegan shook off Jessica's hand and stood, leaning back into the tree. As she stood, she teetered slightly and then pushed away from the trunk. The Doctor nodded knowingly. "That is Tegan for I am fine, and I am no one's woman. Although I think I can argue the first point, it is no mind. We do need to make a start."

Kilred helped Jessica to her feet and slipped the pack over his shoulders. The Doctor threw a matching pack over his shoulders and nodded in a direction. "North, you said, Kilred, correct? That way is north…" he stated, pointing to the left. With a groan, the warrior turned from escorting his wife.

"Time Lord? You know direction? I have had to lead you…"

"Moss grows on the north part of the trunk in this hemisphere on this planet, Kilred," the Doctor knelt and felt around the trunk for a moment. He rose and dusted his hand off on the pants. "And the moss is on that side of the tree. Besides, the Moonstone River flows North/South and it is but a few hundred yards to our front. If these pirates track as well as you say, and as they boast I might add, then we will need to loose our scent and trail. Walking in and out of the river in the direction afforded to by our left will do quite nicely. Additionally, I remember this forest to our right when we came up the main road to the camp. If we were headed south coming into the camp and the forest was on our right, then we need to head to our left as we are facing the main road…" he grinned widely in the deepening night. "All things considered and all facts supporting one another, I do believe that we need to head….left…"

Kilred closed his mouth and nodded. All that the Doctor said was true. "Then why the problems earlier, Doctor?"

"Sometimes I am indecisive when given free rein as to direction," the Doctor said, candidly.

Tegan rolled her eyes. 'Try indecisive all the time, Doc, and you have it just about right,' she thought. As it seemed that they were all going to talk half the night and her friend was going to give boyscout lessons, she decided to push the issue. With a few testing steps, she began to pick her way toward the river that the Doctor had mentioned. When she reached there, hopefully the lot of them would have followed her.

Kilred grinned as the small onyx-haired beauty pressed past the Time Lord and began to walk through the trees. His wife dropped his hand and reached out to catch the girl's hand. Together, they began to walk through the trees. Kilred's long strides had him in the lead quickly. That left the Doctor standing in the clearing. He tucked his hands in his pockets and sighed. "Yes, well….I suppose that direction is useless without movement." And then he too followed, walking quickly to take up the rear.

**

"The twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth royal regimen of archers, and two battalions of warriors, and horsemen from the ten royal shires…"

The Master leaned forward and glanced out at the camp that stretched forever into the foothills. When his horse balked at the switch in weight, he patted its neck. With a wide smile, he adjusted his woolen cloak about his shoulders. The King's small party had traveled for the night, riding their mounts hard into the night. The morning mist was heavy on the ground, but even that could not mask the sheer numbers of tents. The King adjusted his mount and held his arms wide. "I show you the might of Epsilon 3, Time Lord. This is but the royal army. I have hundreds more to call upon."

"And the pirates?" the Master asked, his voice gritty from the morning air. "They are on your call as well. I have seen your business dealings first hand."

"Some yes, some no. The Nightyearners are the largest and are now against me. But they will not be for long," the King said. "My personal guard will ride to deal with them. They await only your presence to begin their search."

The Master nodded. "I appreciate your attention to detail and I appreciate the guard. Your men should not kill the pirates until we have the direction that my enemy has taken. I need only the direction…I can fetch him out simply beyond that."

"I want only to know the name of the village that gave birth to the bastard that took the piece you seek."

With a chuckle, the Master leaned back in his saddle. "The village was Gallifrey, my dear king. And bastard is a truer name than the one he has given himself. But you draw these number of warriors together now not to chase my nemesis, Lazotan. You have other plans as well. You seek to overturn the lords of the realm."

Before the King could answer, the Master lifted a finger. "I approve, Lazotan…more than you know. And I might be convinced to join your cause."

"But…"

"With me on your side, King, you will not lose. I am your humble servant in that respect…I seek only for the piece to my TARDIS."

"And your daughter?"

"She has traveled to intercept others that seek to harm you." The Master narrowed his eyes. "Epsilon 3 needs solid undisputed rule. Gallifrey knows of this and stands behind me on this point. It is time that you unite your rule."

"Then so be it, Time Lord…a pact…with Gallifrey on my side, there is nothing to fear."

**

The Doctor turned, glancing behind them. To his right and ahead, he heard Jessica and Tegan splashing through the river. It was hard going, knee deep in frigid mountain water, and he could see and feel that Tegan was weakening. The moon was getting ready to set and he had estimated that they had cleared five to six miles. He shook his head and quickened his stride to match Tegan and Jessica. He glanced over Tegan's dark head to the other woman. Jessica returned his glance.

"Whatever it is, you two….out with it."

Jessica smiled. The Doctor allowed the side of his mouth to twitch. Tegan's voice was low, gritty and very dark, but she was talking once more.

Tegan stepped over a fallen sodden log and glanced back at the Doctor. "Out with it, Doc…"

"How do you feel?"

"Achy and sore…those brutes with the cattle prods weren't gentle…and my throat feels like fire…" Tegan grumbled.

The Doctor didn't answer her, but looked back at Jessica. "Is the throat a side-effect of the serum?"

"No…not usually…" Jessica confided.

"Hmmm," the Doctor issued and removed a hand from balancing his pack on his back. Tegan tried to avoid his touch as he pressed his wrist against her brow. He frowned, stopped Tegan and himself and felt about her neck, pressing in on her lymph nodes. "I wonder."

"About? What's the matter, Doc?" Tegan swallowed hard and grumbled as he picked up her wrist and felt her temperature there. "Come on…"

"I truly don't know what is the matter, Tegan," he said, ushering her to continue walking. "It does not appear to be serious…possibly just a common cold. Epsilon 3 is similar in microflora to Earth. Just let me know if your symptoms intensify…chills, aches, pains, headache…the usual gambit."

"Great…travel half way across the universe only to end up with a head cold…" Tegan complained.

The Doctor smiled. "Same effervescent Tegan."

With a frown, she waded to the bank and walked on the mud for a couple of steps. "Where are we going? And what was that thing I stuck in your pocket…that temporal stabilizer?"

"To Hill's End and that temporal stabilizer is why we are here at all, Tegan. I can't leave that lying around where someone else can find it and use it…"

"Playing galactic policeman again, Doc?"

"No…" he pressed a hand against her back to get her moving more quickly. "Epsilon 3 is known as a Gallifreyan junk yard in a manner of speaking. And Time Lords that are unable to return for fixes on their TARDIS and time traveling races will sometimes come here and would sell their own soul for a piece of Gallifreyan technology. A temporal stabilizer is the perfect lure for any and all of them…as is any other part of a TARDIS…"

"Heavens, think they have a Heathrow finder for that crate of yours?"

**

Jandar steadied his horse and allowed it to stamp its feet impatiently. From the edge of the forest, he could see the bridge over the Upper Creek. The main road from the West Country and the Royal Shire crossed the water there. He sighed and rubbed a single gloved finger over his lips. A scout came up arrived, serving only to move his eyes from the bridge for a moment. "Report…"

"The women and the men are still missing, Jandar."

The pirate swore. "And the Time Lord who calls himself the Master? I have his daughter's word that he would join us here…."

"A score of horsemen were sighted moving through the Western forest, sir…"

Their conversation was drowned out as the thunder of horse hooves harkening the arrival of heavily armored cavalry sounded on the timber of the bridge. Jandar lowered his hand to grip at the reins of his horse almost painfully. The scout's mount reared and was hard to quiet. "Hell's hounds…"

Jandar gathered the reins and squeezed his thighs into the flesh of his stallion. As he turned away and spurred his horse to turn to the camp, he hissed: "Close enough, Jilwil…they fly the Royal banner…'tis a trick. Ride to the sentries and have them loop back…attack from the rear. Twenty horsemen, even if they are well armed, are no match for our numbers. Go!" And then the leader disappeared in a swirl of purple cloak and black leather.

**

The Master rode at the fore of the King's guard. He saw the pirate leader leave the swish of the horse's tail and the sound of a large horse going through underbrush. With a smile, he held up his hand to stop the horses. As they slowed and stopped, he called back to them. "I will approach these pirates alone. My heritage as a Lord of Time will keep me safe. I can inquire of the direction and location of the piece I require and then the leader…and his band of rabble…will be all yours to deal with as you see fit."

"He will not talk…" the Captain of the guard stated.

"Oh, but my dear Captain…he will…you forget the powers that I possess…" the Master said, quietly, with some menace.

"Damn sorcerers…" the Captain spit out. "We will do as you say, Time Lord."

The Master nodded with glee and kicked his horse into movement.

**

"Forward!"

Jandar unsheathed his sword and pointed at the entry. Behind him, a rag tag collection of men with swords and axes on foot, horses with unarmored men, horses with armored men, some archers, began to rank and file. As they surged toward the main path out of the camp, the sound of a lone horse and a frantic rider was heard.

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

With a flicked wrist, the leader held up his hand to stop the masses. A single black horse with a man dressed completely in black appeared at the entrance of the camp. Jandar immediately recognized him as the Time Lord he had dealt with for the piece. Out of want to still seal a deal, the pirate allowed the man to approach.

"Time Lord…" he yelled across the distance. "Give one reason why we should let you live?"

"The King has sent those guards to kill you and yours, Jandar," the Master returned. "And I have come to fulfill my daughter's promise. I am here to find the piece I require."

"How do I know you tell the truth?"

The Master's jaw worked for a moment, as if he was savoring a very tasty meal. "I bring you the present of the guards. They wait at the landing of the bridge. They are trapped…and a very easy kill…"

Jandar studied his buyer closely. Then, suddenly, as though he had come to a very tough decision, he waved his hand in the air. "You heard him, men…we have a gift of royal flesh today…kill them!"

As the horses roared past the resting Time Lord, he threw back his head and laughed. He watched as they thundered up the path and into the muted filtered midday light of a deep forest. Jandar reared his horse and remained where he was, staring at his buyer. The Master lifted his chin to address him again as the noise died down a little: "And I bring more news…of the Lords and the King…something that will interest you immensely, I think, Jandar."

The leader nodded. "I am quite sure that it will, Lord Master." And then with a shouted order, Jandar jumped his horse ahead and up the path toward the starting battle.

The Master grinned, rubbing his finger over his lips, as if smoothing his mustache. "This is all too easy…"