Mid way up a tall tree, shrouded by my cradle's leaves, I wake to the sound of quiet footsteps. I am not far from my old friend Ares' estate, but he doesn't know it. I ready the small dagger at my hip; I assume it is not a friend that approaches.

I slow my breathing, prepare to let the dagger fly.

"Romeo, you damn fool. It's me."

"Camius, I almost killed you." My voice is sober. I have not been well. " How'd you find me?"

"I was trained by the best. And I made his training my profession."

"Aye, you are the best at what you do, eh boy? Master supplanted by the pupil every time." I sheath my dagger; I can tell by his gait that he is not here for death.

"What service may I offer you, Camius? It is not every day I see your face."

"Nay, Romeo, you misjudge me. It is I that offer you a service. Some silly little boy brought a note to my house seeking you. Said he'd already been to where you were supposed to be - wherever that is - and was seeking you, and as you could not be sought, wondered as to where he might continue his search."

"Always one with words. Get on with it. What did the note say?"

"Read it for yourself. It's rather short. And you'd think the messenger never had his pocket picked before."

I hang from the bough and dangle my arm down to him. He steps on a knot in the tree and hands it up, afterward slumping down to the ground, back against the tree, to await the continuation of our conversation.

I read the note:

"Romeo - we are seeking Corwin. You're the best tracker there is. Find him. If you can. Julian"

Most of the note is barely legible, written without care, yet appeared earnest. The final three words are clear, perhaps written as an afterthought, or more politely than the others.

"So are you going to come down from that damnedable tree and get to it?"

"Get to what?"

"Get to finding this Corwin."

"Find him? They need only look to the cemetary, last I remember."

"Guess not. If it was that easy they wouldn't need the second best tracker there is on the job, eh?"

I whistle as I hop down: a shrill, memorable note. Dragon comes to the sound as she always does. I leap to her back in an easy motion.

"So you're going to find this Corwin then?" Camius is excited about the prospect of a hunt.

"No." His arms go limp, losing their energy.

"Then where are you going?"

"To Phaistos," I say, choking on the words.. "to figure out what the hell is going on"