This is insanity. He is a Soldier of the Goddess Damsa Dana. His place is on the battlefield with his men, fighting to protect the coasts and prairies of Brightwater from Breag Nemhain's Red Moon Warriors, not begging for aid from the Guardians of the Goddess Ciuin Rose or seeking the one called Grandmother for the sake of some ancient weapon. The Guardians have long refused to join their battle. Will continue to do so. That much is obvious from the failure of any of Lord Strongbow's previous messengers to return. And the old woman is a myth. No human, Witch or otherwise, could live for as many centuries as is claimed for this hag. Lt. Brandel Journeyson swore under his breath, his muscles and joints protesting the constant climb and descent through the heavily forested wilds of these accursed foothills, headed for the ice and snow of an early winter in the mountains of Knife Point. Bad enough that he is duty bound to obey Strongbow's command to leave his beloved lowlands to accomplish the impossible. Worse, Red Moon Warriors have crossed from Brightwater into Knife Point in pursuit of him, placing in grave danger the lives of the woman and the two young girls who claim to be his only hope of reaching Knife Point Keep and the lord of these lands.