Rebel Fay

"This isn't what I expected," he whispered.

What had he expected?

"We'll find Nein'a," she whispered back.

"I know. Go to sleep."

Magiere heard his breathing grow steady and deep. Once certain he'd drifted off, she reached over him for her falchion left leaning against the stump. She tucked it under the blanket next to herself with her hand on its hilt.

She lay awake for a long time, not tired enough to sleep, strange as that was. She listened but couldn't hear the elves above the forest's soft sounds.

Magiere finally closed her eyes and tried to drift off…

She suddenly found herself walking the forest in darkness, alone, wondering how she had gotten so far from the camp.

Pieces of the night moved around her between the trees.

Here and there, half-seen shapes shadowed her. Their colorless and glittering eyes watched her, as if waiting for her to do something.

These were not majay-hi. They walked on two legs. And in her belly she felt their hunger. She smelled it, like blood on the damp breeze, and her own hunger rose up in answer.

The forest began to wither around her, until the stench of rot made her choke.

Magiere snapped her eyes open with every muscle ridged from the nightmare. It felt disturbingly familiar, as if she'd seen such a vision before. Lifting her head, she found the fire was now little more than glowing embers.

She didn't sleep for the rest of the night.

Chapter Four

By midmorning, Wy

Fresh food and a night's rest had revived her, and the pain in her shoulder had dwindled to an intermittent twinge, but her improved mood still wavered. This was a desperate search for Leesil's mother, and their guides were now the Anmaglahk. These elven assassins were manifested dark shadows of the Leesil that Wy

Yet, she found them fascinating. Their ways were so different from the elves on her continent. She tried to mentally note everything about them for later records. Once she returned to her guild in Bela, she would write extensive work comparing the two elven cultures of the world as she knew them. And how stark the contrasts were or might yet be, for she had not met any elves here besides Sgaile's caste.

A temperate breeze rustled the foliage, and she pushed Chane's cloak back over her shoulders.

What would he think of this place? His interests lay in distant times back to the Forgotten History, and how societies evolved from unknown begi

Wy

Sgaile led the way with his comrades following behind their guests. The pace was too slow for him, as he often paused after stepping too far ahead, but he made no complaint.

Wy

All four elves left their cowls and face wraps down. There was some significance in this, as secrecy seemed paramount to their ways. Perhaps they simply felt at ease in their homeland.

Leesil and Magiere walked ahead, behind Sgaile, and Chap trotted beside Wy

Of all their escorts, Osha betrayed the most curiosity about the interlopers. He was so tall that when he stepped close, Wy

They passed a large weeping willow with vivid orange fungus growing up its trunk's northern side. The color was so eye-catching that Wy

"Osha, what is this?" she asked in Elvish, and pointed to the shelves of fungus. "The edges look like seashells."

Osha hesitated, looking to Sgaile as if awaiting instructions. He finally joined her.

"It is called woodridge," he answered in Elvish, and he put his hand against the fungus, closed his eyes for an instant, and then broke off a small piece to offer her. "It is safe to eat, though pungent until properly cooked."

His strange conjugations and declinations took time to comprehend. It reminded her of the oldest texts she had been permitted to browse at the elven branch of the guild on her own continent. It made some sense, for these elves had lived in isolation for centuries, while their counterparts of her world interacted with other races more freely.

Wy

"Very good."

The taste thickened suddenly, bitter and pastelike.She swallowed, trying not to grimace, and smiled. Osha nodded in approval with perhaps a little surprise.

"Wy

"Osha said it is safe."

Chap stood stiff and silent, watching the tall young elf, and then cast a glare Wy

She knew that look on his furry face. She did not care for his parental disapproval.

Wy

Since Osha was the most amiable among his group, she continued questioning him in Elvish. His answers were short, but at least he answered-with occasional glances toward Sgaile, as if expecting admonishment. Sgaile remained silent, not once looking back.

Wy

Wy

"As old as the forest perhaps," Osha answered. "The trees are the bones and blood of its body."

At this, Sgaile looked back sternly. Osha fell silent, dropping his eyes as he stepped out ahead of Wy

She was uncertain whether to be disappointed or worried. Clearly Sgaile thought the conversation had gone on long enough. Hopefully she had not gotten Osha into trouble.

Leesilslowed, his irritation far plainer than Sgaile's.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

"How could anything be wrong?" he muttered. "I haven't understood a word all morning."

"Leesil… you brought me because I speak Elvish-and you do not."

He sighed, grudgingly. "I know, I know… but I didn't think it would be like this-not understanding anything that anybody said."

Wy