Stripe tail, looked down at his paws and smiled. The magic defenses he had built up over the ages were starting to melt the cuffs on his paws, though very slowly. As long as the guards kept pushing him and the others forward , they wouldn't notice, he thought. He looked at his wrist again." Time remaining 2 days 11 hours 58 minutes 58 seconds 57 seconds 56 seconds..." They had reached the island in about an hour, just as Grant was pushed onto the island, the tide began to wash over the land bridge. " We only just made it, because you fools wouldn't pick up the pace!' a soldier yelled at them. "We Had hoped to question you, but that will have to wait until tommorow. For now, we'll just take you to the holding cells. If You pick up the pace,' The soldier yelled,"We should reach them by nightfall. Alright magic demon, move it. What's the matter, can't move without your stick?' he jeered. " I am old, soldier. the 'stick' helps keep me from falling and injuring myself. Besides , I am cuffed, so I can't reach it even if I wanted to." Stripetail replied. The soldier looked him over. " I hear you're an immensely powerful wizard, a Level 1 in fact. But that can't be right, a Level 1 wouldn't be constrained by our cuffs. Seeing as you're cuffed, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you your stick back. I'll put it in the crosshairs on your back, but be warned, I'll put two guards on you, who will watch your every move. Make even the slightest move towards it, and we'll take it away again. Understood?' Stripetail nodded. The soldier made a gesture , and two other guards came up carrying the staff. "Put it on his back, but keep a constant eye on him. If he gets free, I'll have High Commander Bilo to answer to, and I don't want that.' The guards slid Stripetail's staff into the crosshairs on his back. " There's your prop demon. Now move, we don't have time to waste.! Get going!" Stripetail got moving again as best he could with his paws cuffed together. The Two guards followed him at a very close pace. " Well, at least I have my staff back." Stripetail thought.
_
Oh no, island been cut off again.' Petrie lamented. " Now we have to wait to Great Circle sink before we can cross again." He turned morosely towards Eva. " Now what we do?"
Nick