Albeck lay on the giant rat's back, covered by a blanket against the bitter cold of the Far North. The Ratfolk Elder might not have known he was there...
"Hand over the Betrayer!"
Well, it seemed Albeck had a Tracking Spell on him that they hadn't found.
Annan stopped denying it. "I have something to tell you. Send your followers away first."
"Do you take me for a brainless Demon?" the Ratfolk Elder sneered.
Helpless, Annan changed back into his own form and told the speechless Ratfolk Elder, "I told you to send them away. Now look—you'll have to silence them later."
"Annan Thing... That's impossible!"
"Did you meet me yesterday? What's so impossible about it?"
Annan brought up the Broken Mountains and signaled Aidan and Rus to surround the Ratfolk, leaving none a way out. "You seem to have gotten pretty close to the High Priest lately..."
"I'm Ratfolk! Should I be getting close to Human Things instead of the High Priest?"
Annan had to admit that made sense, so he changed tack. "What are you doing here? Chasing Albeck? Go back. He's under my protection."
The Ratfolk Elder looked conflicted but did not step aside.
Annan raised his voice. "What? You won't?"
"Annan Thing, don't push me. Hand over Albeck, and I'll let you leave!"
"Ratfolk Thing, don't push me either. I don't want us to become enemies." Annan held his ground, curious what Albeck had uncovered over the past few days that made the Ratfolk Elder willing to cross even him.
The Ratfolk Elder gave up trying to persuade him. Its scarlet eyes darted around, apparently weighing the difference in their strength.
Then its heart began to pound. Annan Thing had only a few allies with him. If it moved fast enough... it could capture Albeck and