**We must give him all the help we can,** Forential thought.

**We must.**

**We must.**

**Lycan,** the Elder thought. **Can you cut the power of your charges?**

**An extended period might have a bad psychological effect....**

**They won't realize the implication—that they're not Lyrians, that we control them—until too late.**

**If we could give Walt twelve hours,** Forential thought. **... we've got to give him every chance!**

**When do you think he'll be close to her?** the Elder asked.

Forential consulted his maps. He calculated rapidly.

**If he travels fast—if he has luck—by another five hours.**