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Leyenda looked as if she wanted to follow them, but Kelirahc held her back as the two girls headed off. He was worried too - his best friend was one of the people missing - but he knew that there was nothing he could do about it, and that they were probably the only two left who could.

Roydon was indeed in his quarters, and Arwen was with him. They both looked up when Rhea let herself into the room.

"Roydon," Rhea said firmly, stepping to one side to let Lin in as well. "Let us go to the island and see what's happened to them. Both Lin and I can fly on our own, we can remain hidden."

Roydon didn't seem very surprised by Rhea's request. "I had thought of it," he admitted, "and ... as much as I don't want you to go, either of you ... I also know that I have no other choice."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Go. Wait for the full cover of darkness. Stay close to the water until you're at the island, and then keep as hidden as you can. Don't hesitate to use any magic you deem necessary to stay safe, Rhea. I know you've more magic than anyone."

"No, Senka," Rhea said firmly. "Stay. Your kind has never been seen in this world before, save for our family, and the last thing we need is them caging you to try to figure out what you are."

Arwen stepped forward and held her hands out to Senka. "Stay with me and we'll have some fish," she smiled, trying to keep things light.

Rhea looked at Lin. "I need to get some things from our room," she said firmly. "I'll be right back - unless you want to get something as well."

She needed her weapons, at the very least.

"And we should have something to eat, at least something small, so that we don't have to worry about it so much while we're there," she added.

Rhea nodded. "We should hurry, it will be dark soon."

And sure enough, by the time they had what they wanted, and had gotten something to eat, it was pitch black outside. There was no moon tonight, which was a blessing, and the stars provided just enough light for them to see silhouettes of objects.

Rhea had hidden her weapons magically: melding them into parts of her body so that they would be readily available, but be of no extra weight or take up her hands. She dressed herself in dark clothes, tying back her hair so that it would not be in the way, and when she was ready, she stood on the deck, waiting for Lin.

Rhea nodded. "While we are there, there may be times when we cannot talk," she murmured. "I can communicate to you with thought transference ... I don't know if it will work if you touch me, but ... it may. At the very least, we can try it. It works with elves, even if they haven't the gift ... but you also are a being of magic, you may also have the ability."

Suddenly, wings sprung from her back, dark this time, like the night in which they would be flying.

"Let's go."

And with a small hop, she was up in the air. She dove towards the water and straightened out just short of it, almost skimming along the surface of the water towards the island.

It was about a ten minute flight to the island, and as they drew near, Rhea realized just how tall the cliff was. At least half a mile straight up, she reasoned. She wondered how it was on the other side, if it was a sheer drop to the rest of the island or if it would be a gradual slope.

Flying up was easier than flying forward, and it didn't take long before she and Lin were at the top of the cliff. There, the castle lay, large and majestic. The white stones reflected the light of the stars, and made it very easy to see where the people were.

The castle was surrounded by soldiers. They were all fully armed and wearing what appeared to be heavy armour, though Rhea knew that it wouldn't actually weigh very much. But the sight of the soldiers worried her: it meant that they would have to be very careful; it seemed that the soldiers were on the alert for some reason.

Rhea looked around, searching for a way into the castle without being seen. The higher towers were dark, and she glanced at Lin and pointed up at them.

Follow me, she thought to Lin; and, keeping to the shadows, she spread her wings and flew upwards once more.

The tower was incredibly high, probably three or four times the height of even the tallest of the towers of the Southland palace. It was quite dark at the top - but one thing that surprised Rhea was that there didn't seem to be a door in the doorway that led inside: it was just ... open.

"Here," she murmured softly, landing silently on the walkway that surrounded the tower. Her wings vanished, shrinking her silhouette. She looked to make sure Lin was with her. "It might be best to hide your wings," she suggested in a murmur, "at least for now."