Well, that completely suited Giselle, who contentedly dug into the sausage and kraut and spicy mustard to her heart’s content.

“I am liking this food and drink,” Fox said to her quietly in Pawnee. “This beer seems stronger. Should I be wary of the drink?”

“Somewhat,” Giselle cautioned, remembering from Karl May books that Indians had problems with alcohol. Evidently that part was true. “It is not as strong as . . .” She searched for the word. “. . . the water that tastes bitter and burns. But enough will act upon a man like loco weed upon a horse.”

“I shall take care, then.” He nodded, and had more sausage. “But this is most excellent, as are the sour strings. They are like the white man’s pickles. Very good.”

“Sauerkraut,” she said, and turned her attention to Rosamund.

The Hunt Master did not betray anything as she listened to the others give their stories and summarize their abilities. Well . . . all but Fox, who went last.

The Indian sighed with content, and put down his knife and fork before taking up the narrative. “I am a Medicine Chief. I believe that is the same as your Elemental Master. However, my spirit creatures are not the same as yours. Mine are nahurac of the Air, but they are Spirit Animals like unto the natural ones.” He paused a moment. “I have had power of all of the nahurac, but the ones that speak most to me, and grant me the greatest power, are those of the Air, the birds and the insects.”

“Huh,” Rosamund said, surprised. “I don’t believe I have ever seen that. Well, go on.”

“Some I can still summon in this land of yours. Some I cannot. Some I have not tried. Otherwise, I seem to be able to control the forces of the Air itself, as if I was at home.” He shrugged. “And that is all I can say.”

“It’s enough, thank you, Leading Fox.” Rosamund took time for a drink of her beer. “Well, you all understand that you are entering an area that is under the protection of the Brotherhood of the Foresters. What you do not understand, I suspect, is why it is under our protection.”

“Well, ’cause you’re the sheriff,” Cody said, as if that was obvious. “You’re the law in these parts.”