CHAPTER ONE

Even though it was only late afternoon, the winter sun had disappeared behind the North Cascades in Washington State. Two blonde women skated on the frozen lake and smiled as the foreshore suddenly lit up and a gigantic fir tree burst into Christmas lights. To a stranger Cindy Meikin and Sylvia Von Hilderthorn looked so similar they could be twins, which was indeed what they were. The two sisters, though, had been brought up separately and had only met three years earlier as teenagers. Their deep emerald eyes hinted that these young women were somehow different from normal humans. Now, however, they were normal sophomores studying at a local college. Their other world experiences were only spoken of in family meetings and, for two years now, the pair had led the life as ordinary students.
It was the start of the Christmas vacation and they joined a party of thirty fellow students visiting a mountain lodge for a vacation of skiing and skating. The snowfall from earlier in the day covered the forest and a district smell of wood smoke clung to the lakeshore, white in frozen beauty.
Cindy was quite an expert on her skates but Sylvia appeared more nervous.
"Wait for me," she shouted as her sister did a twirl on the ice and bent forward with her arms swinging wide. Cindy accelerated forward towards a bend in the foreshore and was momentarily out of sight.
"Show off," Sylvia called out and followed, not as graciously but still with a rising confidence she demonstrated in any new endeavor.
She reached the bend and could see only the natural twilight as no lights reached this far. Ahead in the silver ice, Cindy glided off shore turned and began to return. Her skates hummed on the surface and flung up minute particles of ice as she circled in and halted.
"You're doing well," she said. Condensation puffed from her mouth in a tiny cloud.
"Sure," Sylvia retorted. "I'm like an old lady of ninety while you make everything seem so easy. How do you manage?"
Cindy chuckled. "Just experience I guess. Anyhow, shall we head back? I reckon it's dropped twenty degrees since the sun went behind the mountain."
Sylvia, though, wasn't listening but instead stared up the lake. "That's strange," she whispered.
"What?" Cindy replied and swung around.
"That mist."
Where Cindy had been skating mere seconds before, a sheet of white mist had descended. The view of ice and firs silhouetted on the lake's far shore was now a blanket of shimmering white. Even as they watched there was movement from one corner and a small object flew out. It was a bird but one quite unlike any Cindy or Sylvia had seen before. Its wings beat frantically but the bird's forward momentum seemed restricted as if it was fighting a current but there was no wind. Everything was so calm even the firs remained motionless under their blanket of snow.
Suddenly, two things happened simultaneously; the sheet of mist disappeared with a faint sucking sound and the bird was propelled forward. It rocketed into the air above the pair, found its wings and flew back, straight towards them.
Before Cindy had a chance to react, the new arrival landed on her shoulder and gave her a tiny peck on her frozen cheek.
"It's tame," Sylvia said. "Poor little thing looks frozen. It looks like a colorful sparrow, not a native."
"You're right," replied Cindy. "There's more. Look!"
She reached up and the bird hopped across to her extended gloved finger. Two black eyes looked at her. A brown beak opened the bird chirped and held up one leg. Attached to it was a naming tag.
Sylvia reached across. "There's a clip," she said. "Can you hold him a moment?"
"Sure."
The bird didn't object when Cindy reached out and tucked her fingers around the yellow, orange and gray feathers. She turned the bird slightly to give Sylvia access.
Her thick gloves were a hindrance but Sylvia managed to move a clip back so the tag expanded and slid over the bird's claws. "There's something inside," she said.
With Cindy peering over her shoulder and the bird's head cocked sideways as if it, too, knew what was happening. She pulled out a long strip of tissue paper.
"Oh my God," Cindy whispered.
There were words written on the paper. They were crudely written in capitals as if the author was unfamiliar with the English alphabet. It could, though, be understood.
"We need your help. If you are real, please come. Muftin will guide you."
"Who's Muftin?" Sylvia asked. Immediately the bird flew across to her shoulder and gave her covered ear a distinct peck. Even though the woolen earmuffs she felt the nip. "So you are?" she said.
The bird hopped onto her finger and peered at her. Sylvia's face drained of color. "Muftin, here, can't communicate because magic doesn't work on Earth. Isn't that right, Muftin?"
The bird fluffed its feathers and whistled three shrill notes.
"Of course," Cindy replied. "Like with us, his magic doesn't work on Earth. She turned to the bird. "You can talk back in your home world, can't you, Muftin?"
The bird almost jumped up and down on Sylvia's finger and whistled again.
"Okay," Cindy said. "One whistle for no and two for yes. Can you understand me?"
"Whit! Whit!"
Cindy glanced wide-eyed at her sister. "You are in danger?"
The bird cocked his head. "Whit!"
"Someone else?"
"Whit! Whit!"
The girls were oblivious to the encroaching darkness as they both questioned Muftin. Through trial and error they found that he came from a world unknown to them. None of their friends from Sylvia's original home was involved. Muftin, though, knew of them and needed their help.
Finally, the frustrated bird leaped back across to Cindy, ran down her right arm and pecked at her wrist where her jacket and gloves met.
"Oh hell," Cindy whispered. She pulled her sleeve up to expose a golden bracelet, a very special item of jewelry that both the twins wore. For the first time in two years the bracelet glowed and felt warm.
Sylvia gasped and felt her right wrist with her own left hand. "Mine's hot, too," she said.
"So what do we do?" Cindy asked.
The bird flew up onto her head and gave an almost angry craw.
"It's important?" Sylvia asked.
"Whit! Whit!"
"But we have no supplies or anything to help."
"I think it is urgent," Cindy said. "If we don't do something quickly we may never be able to help Muftin."
"Whit! Whit!"
"Oh my God!" Sylvia gasped and squeezed Cindy's arm.
The sheet of white mist had returned and was hovering across the center of the lake. Muftin squawked in alarm for the solid sheet was dropping water like condensation off a heated window! Sylvia screamed and began a frantic skate straight towards it.
"Wait!" Cindy yelled but already Sylvia was half way across the ice with Muftin flying above her head. "Well, here goes," she muttered and followed.
With her superior skating skills, she caught up and grabbed Sylvia's arm just as they reached the mist. Muftin landed on her head and the lake disappeared. There was a sensation of clammy dampness, swirling clouds and a high-pitched buzz that grew in intensity. Cindy wasn't skating any more but felt as if she was floating, perhaps swimming in a thick substance like treacle.
But she could breathe. Sylvia's hand found hers; the bracelet shone red and almost burned her skin. Muftin's claws dug through her woolen Balaclava as if he was gripping with all the strength his tiny body could manage. It must be important that they all remain in physical contact with each other. With her one free hand, she reached up and gently held the bird in her glove.
The buzz became a high-pitched scream that hurt her ears and white light appeared ahead. No, it was sunlight. She saw the sun high in a pale blue sky. Wherever they were it was midday and not the evening. Oh my God, they were hundreds of feet in the air above a valley of firs. Below was a snow-covered valley while a distance mountain chain towered into the air, steep craggy mountains unlike any she'd seen before.
They were falling.
"It's okay," Sylvia called. "We're slowing down. It's as if we have a parachute."
"You're right, Sylvia," replied a high-pitched voice.
Cindy jolted in fright at the voice until she realized it came from immediately above her ear. It was Muftin speaking. "Are we in your world, Muftin?" she said.
"That's true," the bird replied, "but almost missed the white mist. Lucky Sylvia had the sense to follow me. I can't say I liked your place. You guys couldn't understand a world I said. Why do you want to live in a blank world?"
"Blank world?"
"One with no magic, Mistress Cindy. How could you survive there?"
"Just Cindy will do," she replied and, in spite of their current situation, had to laugh. She had had the same problem with Sylvia when they'd first met. Her twin had come to Earth though a void and it wasn't until much later that they learned they were sisters. Now, it appeared they had traveled through another void into an entirely different place.
"Watch it!" warned Sylvia.
The snowy countryside rushed towards them. With a jarring crunch, they landed in a snow bank and the screaming stopped. The bracelet on Cindy's arm turned back to gold and cooled down. The weather was even colder than the frozen lake they'd left and it was snowing.
"Wait," Muftin cried as he flapped into the air. "I'll check to see if they're still here."

***

Cindy and Sylvia scrambled up, brushed snow off their clothes and glanced at each other.
"We've never been here before," Sylvia said
Cindy nodded at her sister. "There's something else, too. Look at your skates, Sylvia."
Sylvia did and gasped. Their footwear looked no different, ankle high boots above thick socks. What was different was the underside. There were no skates there, only a deep treaded soles and heels that would be perfect for walking.
"Oh hell," she said. "There is a reason for us being here, isn't there?"
Cindy nodded. "Come on. Muftin's getting impatient."
The bird had already returned. He landed on Cindy's shoulder and spoke in her ear.
"They're just around the corner. Tulco is in pain but is no worse than when I left." He cocked his head before adding, "No better either, I'm afraid."
When they almost reached their objective, Cindy just had to smile when someone new appeared. Glaring at them with annoyed eyes and thrusting beard was a dwarf. His leathery skin and old-fashioned clothes reminded Cindy of another world.
"And who are you two?" he snorted. "You don't look like goddesses to me."
"That's because we aren't," Cindy replied.
"Well, Muftin brought someone, I guess," The dwarf sniffed. "Two human girls aren't going to be much use though. Probably, just tell your kin where we are."
"So I see even dwarfs on this world never learned about manners," Sylvia retorted.
The trail ahead narrowed to become just a path between firs. Muftin flew into the air, ignored the dwarf and disappeared.
Cindy heard faint sobbing. She rushed forward around the corner and gasped. A girl of about twelve was sitting in the middle of the track with frightened eyes peering out from a frozen face. She wore a blue woolen sweater and an old fashioned cream dress that reached to her ankles.
One ankle caught Cindy's attention. It was purple, misshapen and caught in a gigantic steel trap. Died blood had soaked into the dress hemline and covered a fur sock. The steel trap joined a chain that was padlocked around a tree trunk.
"This is my friend, Tulco Uvujin," Muftin squawked and flew onto the girl's shoulder. "Tulco, we found not one but two of your kind. Two wonderful wizards who can help."
The girl stared at the visitors and attempted to sit up by using her arms and free leg. "It can't be," she whispered and sat up. "It's all a deception."
Cindy frowned. Tulco's eyes, though, puffed and blood shot were emerald in color and identical to her own.
"Muftin found us," Sylvia said. "So we'll see if we can get you out of the trap, shall we?" She squatted down and gently raised Tulco's dress to examine the wound.
"It's a bear trap," the girl whimpered. "There's no way of unclamping it without a key. Her pale lips trembled. "They'll be here soon. I told Gikre and Muftin to leave. They'll be killed for helping me."
"They'll come up the valley behind," the dwarf said. "I'll go back and keep an eye out." He nodded. "There's not a lot of time, fair ladies."
Cindy was already examining the chain and steel teeth. They were embedded so deep in the girl's ankle the skin was pierced.
"It's no good," Tulco whispered. "Gikre tried everything. If his strength couldn't help you can't."
Cindy glanced at Sylvia who had taken the girl's hand in hers. "You're better than me," she whispered. "How about a demonstration?"

***

Sylvia gulped. She knew what her twin was thinking but could she perform? After all, it was years since she'd decided to live on Earth and leave her magic behind. This place wasn't even her own world so would her powers return?
"We'll stop the pain first!" she said and squeezed Tulco's hand. Her warm fingers seem to throb and their heat moved from her finger tips onto into the frozen hand she held." A line of red sunburn traveled up Tulco's fingers and disappeared under the girl's sleeve. Seconds later it ran up Tulco's cheek. Thin blue lips became flush with red and curled up in a smile.
"My leg's stopped hurting but feels like pins and needles."
"Good," Sylvia replied. Hold Cindy's hand and I'll see what I can do about removing this clamp."
"There's no time," Gikre interrupted. "They're coming."

***

"I'll look," Muftin cackled and flew back around the corner. He returned almost immediately in a highly agitated state. "Three horse soldiers are coming up the valley. They'll be here within ten minutes," he gasped.
"If we can lift Tulco back off the track," Gikre said but his eyes appeared pessimistic.
"Sylvia!" Cindy asked again. Though, magically the more powerful than her sister, she didn't have the skill or knowledge to draw on this power. It was as if the magic came and controlled her rather than vice versa. Sylvia, though, had spent years in her own world studying magic and could use it with ease.
Sylvia turned to the dwarf.
"We will have to use another spell."
Gikre shrugged. "I don't know, Sylvia. Your off world magic may be different. It might be dangerous."
"Try," Tulco cut in. "The first one worked. Look!"
Though still embedded in the ugly steel teeth, the youngster's ankle was its original size and the skin appeared a healthy tan. Even the congealed blood had mysteriously disappeared.
"True," the dwarf replied and glanced up at Sylvia. "Do what you can, Lass," he said. "If they arrive none of us will survive the afternoon. The enemy are ruthless killers."
"Go on," Cindy said. "I'll help if I can."

***

Sylvia smiled as her confidence returned. It was something that flowed in her veins, a feeling long forgotten back on Earth.
"The horses," she said. "Are they capable of speech like Muftin?"
"No," Muftin replied. "There are only a few creatures like myself who can communicate with humans and wizards. Why do you ask?"
"I don't want to be unkind but it is the magic here that makes you capable of speech. Remember what happened on Earth."
"So?' the bird replied.
"A talking animal could use magic to block my spell..."
"Hurry," interrupted Gikre. "We haven't time for this talk. Do what you can, girl. We have nothing to lose."
Sylvia glanced at the dwarf's apprehension and walked back down the trail. At the corner she could see the valley and mountains behind. In the distance, three dots grew larger. The horses were being run at a gallop so, with luck, the spell that rushed into her mind could help.
She began to sing, a high-pitched melody that rose in pitch until everything went silent. She was still singing but the sound was now beyond human hearing range. Gikre arrived and stood beside her, the top of his head barely reached her waist.
"Just the noise won't stop them, Sylvia," he said.
She grimaced but didn't stop her lilt. The horses would be within earshot soon. The next minute was crucial.

***

"There she is," screamed a horseman. "The dwarf, too,"
The three were dressed like nineteenth century military cavalry with riding breeches, swords and fur caps. They were standing in the stirrups and flogged their mounts without mercy. Snow pitched into the air with every footfall as the beasts galloped forward. Sweat glistened on their black flanks and froth formed around mouths.
The second horseman raised an ancient pistol, aimed at the waiting woman but frowned. "Captain," he called. "It's not the witch child. This is someone different."
"Still a witch! I can see her blonde hair from here. Fire while you have the chance."
But it was already too late.
The horses neighed and stopped dead. One horseman kept going and ended up on the snow. The leader could only curse as his horse rose on its back legs, stepped back two steps and collapsed, literally, onto the ground. Only the man with the pistol remained in his saddle but his horse was in full retreat.
"Whoa!" the man screamed. His voice turned to a screech when his pistol moved.
The barrel became a slimy head with darting eyes and forked tongue. A small snake with green skin and yellow dots curled around the man's hand. The man's eyes stared in terror. This was a ploku, a deadly snow snake. One bite and one's life expectancy was reduced to mere minutes.
This soldier was normally as brave and disciplined as the rest of the cavalry but his only thought was to get away. He leapt off the horse, whipped his arm out and had the satisfaction of seeing the snake fly through the air. But it wasn't a snake but his pistol he had thrown away.
Before he even had time to curse himself for by being fooled by a simple disillusionment spell, something else happened. His world went white.
"No," he screamed in utter terror. "We're your friends..."

***

Sylvia stopped singing and watched as the horses reacted. Her high-pitched song would bring excruciating pain to their ears. What was unexpected, though, was what followed.
A sheet of mist, just like the one on the lake back home, descended on the valley. It shimmered before vanishing into nothingness. When it lifted, everything had vanished. The snow was like a virgin blanket. It was as if the soldiers had never been there.
"I'm glad this vapin is on our side," Gikre snorted.
"What's a vapin?"
"The fog," the dwarf replied, "It helped, you know."
Sylvia stared at the empty valley but her relief from a moment before turned to apprehension as the dwarf's words filtered though her mind.
"You talk as if it's alive, Gikre," she said.
"Oh it is," Gikre replied. " A vapin is as alive as you or me. That's our problem."
"But how is it a problem?"
"I'm not sure," Gikre replied. "It is pure energy, I guess, only visible as that wall of mist you saw. Most vapin make an orange or red cloud. They're not to be trusted. Only the white one is our friend."
"I see," said Sylvia. "So it helped Muftin find Cindy and me?"
"And brought you back."
"So why are we needed? That creature or whatever it is seems to be capable of destroying anything in its path."
"True," said the dwarf. "I said the white ones was our friend but it is not strictly correct. It has its own priorities and only helps if it wishes. Lately, it has helped us. I don't know why."
"How do they communicate?"
"Pronouncements in the head. Never questions, just orders. They told me they would take Muftin to find you, not vice versa." The dwarf stroked his beard and glanced up at Sylvia "There may be more than one but I still don't trust them. They only help us because it suits their needs."
"And what are these needs?"
"I have no idea," Gikre said. "I only know about the humans. They want all dwarfs and wizards dead. They're ruthless and thoroughly nasty species, if ever there was one. Pity you had to look like them."