The man (?) is full of surprises. It took much meditation after the study with the cave dweller. She promised that if all his heart and soul were focused-along with the concoction she gave him to drink-that maybe by the time he reached the northern parts these new abilities would start to manifest.

But now the work would be ever more intense. Night time was the only time for privacy. He needed to go one step beyond meditating and commune with the astral plane and higher beings, because he had no experience with controlling the appearance he would assume or the length of time he could maintain it.

Within the cover of his one man tent he hesitated. Saying a prayer to the bearer of all things good in the world, he began to quiet his mind. For what seemed liked an eternity he focused on feeling as light as a feather. And his body lifted off the ground. Keeping his eyes closed he began to chant a low tune and allowed the vision of an owl to enter his mind. He became that owl in spirit, or so he hoped.

As he slowly opened his eyes he saw no body lying on the floor of the tent. And, indeed, he saw himself an owl. One second later he hit the floor with a painful thud. This was no joke. He would need time away from his men to perfect this ability. Half measures would succeed only in making him look like a fool or worse yet, getting himself killed.

In the morning he would turn the calvary and foot soldiers over to his trusted lieutenant to continue on to the North lake, with the excuse of riding the bit of distance to the nearest town for extra medical supplies and much needed information, usually easy to get by having a brew at the local pub.

Then a shelter in the woods to master this new ability. It seemed like a plan to him. But then there were always variables that could cause the kind of excitement Jordane didn't need.