Ralph and the Pixie

‘Why did I feel warm when I was in the water with them?’ Deborah said. ‘I didn’t feel cold at all until Pran came to get me. It wasn’t just the Naiadi . . . there was something following us in the forest. I could see them.’ When the Elf-woman made no reply, Deborah moaned, ‘Theuli, what’s happening to me?’

Theuli was saved attempting to answer by the wagon’s sudden halt; a moment later there came a call that they were stopped for the night.

By morning the forest came to an end, and before them opened a land of wide grasslands and meadows. The air was warmer, and only a thin dusting of snow lay on the ground. The forest behind them receded until it resembled a black, impenetrable wall, and far to the north and south rose tall ranges of dark grey-blue mountains. Over the course of the day, however, far in the distance, growing ever closer, was a bank of fog, or low cloud. The way was not difficult, and they made good time, though they viewed the gloomy wall of cloud with trepidation, wondering if it contained some veiled threat.

It was midafternoon of the following day when the line of travellers came to an abrupt halt. Pran and Ralph returned from the front ranks with the children, who had been riding with them, and deposited them in the wagon.