Ralph and the Pixie

To the left of the cooking area was a gravelled patch. The line where the gravel ended and the grass began was lined with animal shelters, watering troughs, hay, and hitching posts to which the horses were tethered. The wagons remained where they had stopped the night before, on the gravelled area near to the road.

To his surprise, and with some relief, Ralph spotted Malina with three other young women, two of whom had babies and small children. They were seated at the table furthest from the stove, and on the grass near to them the older children played and ran about. Two older women nearby Ralph recognized as Pran’s neighbours, Durus and Mari, and realized that their group had been augmented by others during the night as he slept. A hand on his arm got his attention, and turning, he suddenly found himself looking down into the expectant eyes of Nevana. At once, he felt his heart leap; instinct told him that he could simply take this girl in his arms, and she would be his!

But thoughts of Malina, like a restraining hand on his heart, held him in check.

Nevana, however, had no such reservations. She moved toward him, moved against him in such a way that it seemed he had no choice but to accept her into his embrace.