Chapter One
The company halted at the stone gateway aways outside the village. The four men wore long, grey cloaks and rode tall white horses. Elendra saw them from the bed at the west end of her room. From the bed at the northeast corner of the room came a small girl’s voice: “Lennie, come back to bed. My feet are ever so cold. I need my warmer.” Elendra returned to the bed and climbed in beside a pale girl with long golden braids and light, sparkling green eyes. “Snuggle up then, right up next to me, and I’ll tell you about the night faeries.” The younger girl complied, and Elendra was about to start on her tale when a fierce pounding came from below. Elendra sat straight up and strained to hear what was happening. “Lennie! Who is that? Are the bandits back?” “Hush, Alana. I’m trying to listen.” Then, seeing her sister’s frightened face: “It’s not any bandits. These people have horses. Ever heard of bandits with mounts?” Alana shook her head and lied back down, but she still looked frightened. Elendra couldn’t hear anything besides murmurs, so she crept to the hall by the stairs where she met her twin brothers Jadewell and James. James scooted over to give his favorite sister room, but not a word was spoken by any of the eavesdroppers. They were too intent on listening. “It’s been ten years, John, son of Faeries. Give us what we claim.” The voice was rough as if the speaker had swallowed some gravel. Elendra’s father spoke. “But the price was not stated. I do not know what you come for.” Elendra looked at James in surprise; her father sounded afraid and unsure of himself. James shrugged, and they turned back to the conversation taking place below. The gravelly voice had started to say something threatening, but a soothing, deep voice broke in: “Enough, Ranger. Friend John, when you came to my Master ten years ago, he named the fairest thing in your possession as the price. The price remains the same, as does the fairest thing you own. We have come for the girl.”
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