Aeryn gives Xen's hand a squeeze and whispers.  "It was Hin.  Lord Nolan.  The basta..  He's dead."  Aern gives her lover a peck on the cheek and a quick hug, a brief one in deference to the soldier's sensibilities.  "Let's go find the Commander."<br/><br/>"Commander Chastely, not so much about the hamlets, what we saw of them appear to be in good shape, but we were interrupted.."  Aeryn gives him a concise account of the engagement with the Pixie and a nd her observations concerning the Pixie settlement."  Then she reaches into her carryall and lays a stack of papers n Chastely's desk.  Written in a precise hand, numbered pages, secured in a light folio.  "The details are in my report, but we have another problem."    She hesitates a moment.  "And I do mean 'we' sir.  I've already decided to throw in with you and your command.  But there is something that needs to be attended to."<br/><br/>She stares into space for a moment, organizing her thoughts.  "The pixies kindly consented to assist me in learning more about the red Man.  We formed a scrying circle, everybody assisted as they could.  What we found was disturbing.  In essence, there appears to be a faction you didn't know about.  I sispect none of the other known factions knew about it either.  They are based in a sandy desert region on the other side of the island."  She stops suddenly as a thought strikes her.  "How big is this island anyway, does anybody have any real idea?  I'm wondering if this desert is natural mor magical in nature.  In anycase, the Red Man is a subordiate, a hatchet man, not the source of the threat.   HE may not be a willing servant.   Based on his demonstrated abilities, I find contemplating an entity who could compell him to action against his will rather alarming.  I intend to check this out."