Ralph and the Pixie

The one who had been near Pran’s shoulder came very near to Ralph, and he could see clearly now that it was indeed a tiny woman. She was, perhaps, as tall as one’s hand, and her wings . . . he was disturbed by how closely they resembled the gauzy dress Malina wore when he first met her. The dress she had discarded. A sudden disconcerting thought crossed his mind. Could that be how she lost her power? Had she given it up voluntarily? For him?

The tiny woman before him spoke.

‘I am Éha, sister to Malina. Are you one of her Human companions from another world?’

Ralph looked to Pran who watched with some humour. ‘Pixies can be very protective of each other,’ he said with a smile. ‘Have a care how you answer, or she may prove no end of mischief.’

Ralph shrugged. ‘Malina is my . . . friend. And yes, we met in my world.’

Éha seemed to hesitate. Then, in the blink of an eye, she transformed before his eyes into a small woman sitting cross-legged before him on the horse’s withers. As she stared at him intently, Ralph thought her very young; there was something childlike and naïve about her. Ralph couldn’t help but smile.