Ralph and the Pixie

‘Let us turn, slowly, as though nothing were untoward, and begin riding unhurriedly across-country,’ he said. ‘There is something of the look of those soldiers that I do not trust.’

The moment they turned, however, the soldiers turned as well, and began to approach at a canter.

‘I do not like this!’ the Elf muttered. ‘We are going to have to make a run for it.’

‘I guess it’s a little late for fencing lessons,’ said Ralph, thinking of Nevana’s words.

Malina, from behind the curtain of one the west windows, had watched Rowf go with a nameless dread gripping her heart. She stared in the direction the three travellers had gone long after they were out of sight, hugging herself, stung by the after-image of seeing how close the Elven girl, Nevana, had been standing to Rowf, and how they had looked at each other.

Eventually, Theuli, with unspoken understanding, went to her and said, ‘They will be back by nightfall. Why don’t you come out with the others, instead of staying in here all by yourself? Deborah is beginning to wonder about you.’

Because Nevana is still here, Malina thought to herself, Nevana who is so pretty, who could have any young Elf man she wanted, who wants to take away the only thing in the world that’s worth having, to me.