‘The others thought it best to abandon her to her fate, but I found I couldn’t. For several long days she rode astride my horse, as she has just done. After returning, alone, I made a detour to where Malina lived. Malina took her in, but was not able to care for her for long. Éha would wander off. Fortunately it was Finli who found her on a few occasions, but she was not always so lucky. She received some rough treatment from the Prince’s soldiers until Malina led her away. After that, Malina sent her to live with a few Pixies who lived further east from the Kingdom.’ His thoughtful introspection bore a cast of tired resignation. ‘In some ways, I fear she was lost from the day she was taken as a child.’
‘Maybe there’s something Doc could do for her,’ Ralph said.
‘Perhaps,’ Pran replied, noncommittally.
After journeying about four hours, the Outsiders directing Birin’s way indicated that they were to stop for the night. The lights having departed, it was now very dark in the forest, and many of the refugees were uneasy.
The forest floor was comparatively dry, and deep beds of fern grew in clumps here and there, and around the boles of the trees. Many of the refugees elected to make their beds upon these ferns, arrayed in circles around the tree trunks, some sleeping and others watching in turn, fearing to be taken unawares.