Tamara nodded. "Please." She stared at that gap in the tree. The cries of the babies drew her, but if there was room for the infants in there, she wondered what else might be lurking.

Bodicea reached the tree and her beautifully sculpted, gossamer form began to slide through the bark as though it were made of water. She had barely begun to pass through it when she was forcibly shunted out. The barbarian queen grunted in pain and anger and surprise, and the cloud of ectoplasm that assayed her bodily form seemed to dissipate a moment.

Tamara called her name, worried at what might have become of her, but almost before the word was out of her mouth she saw Bodicea taking form and shape once more. Her solidity was gone and now she seemed only the vaguest presence, head and shoulders. A ghost of a ghost.

"What the hell was that?" William hissed.