Barb Hendee - Rebel Fay

Leesil didn't care to answer. He didn't want Brot'an's pretended help. He didn't want the tall elf anywhere in sight- especially not trailing after them through Crijheaiche as they hurried in search of Wynn.

"We don't know," Magiere finally answered. "Not long… we hope."

Leesil could tell she was still spiteful that their weapons hadn't been returned.

Urhkar was already out in the forest, trying to find any trail left by the sage. Sgaile said majay-hi packs preferred to range the forest's depths in their leisure, so he was leading their search inland, away from the river. They all were in agreement that Wynn was likely far beyond the settlement's bounds. A human spotted wandering the community would have caused a disturbance.

They rounded a wide oak with a gnarled trunk, and Sgaile pulled up short. He held up his hand for everyone to stop.

A female elf, tall and impossibly thin, stood on the oak's far side before its curtained doorway. By what little light spilled out around the curtain, Leesil saw her filmy eyes as she raised one thin brow in calm puzzlement. She was elderly, dressed in a long maroon robe beneath a matching cloak. Pure white hair hung around her sunken cheeks as she leaned heavily upon a staff of rippled wood.

The old woman squinted at Leesil, studying him with silent interest.

Sgaile gave her a bow and turned away to move on.

"Who was that?" Leesil asked.

"Tosan'leag of the Avan'nыnsheach… theAshRiver clan, known for their scholarly pursuits.They make fine paper and ink, such as my grandfather gave your companion." Sgaile hesitated, and then added, "Clan elders have been arriving for days. Word of your presence has spread. Humans have never been given passage in our land before. We must find your companion before they hear she is missing."

"And before En’nish does," Magiere said under her breath.

Or before Wynn stumbled alone into a pack of majay-hi.Leesil only hoped Chap and the sage ran into each other first.

As they walked, Leesil saw more wide-bellied and gnarled oaks than in the few other parts of the settlement he'd seen. At night it wasn't easy to get a good look at Crijheaiche, but they'd been walking for a while and still hadn't reached its inland end. They passed many of the tree homes, but none of the canvas or otherwise handmade structures.

After a while, the domiciles thinned, and the forest ahead thickened beyond a clearing. When they stepped into the break in the trees, Leesil stood on the edge of a wide and shallow depression covered in low-trimmed grass.

The surrounding oaks weren't homes, as they had no openings, though their trunks were large enough for such. Their lowest branches were half the diameter of the trunks. They reached out level to either side and appeared grown together, forming living bridges from one tree to the next and encircling the depression. Leesil couldn't guess the purpose of this place, and Sgaile pushed on around the encompassing oaks.

A shadow moved upon one bridge-branch nearest the open forest. Sgaile slowed, and Leesil moved up beside him.

Sgaile stood in silence and watched the silhouette with narrowed eyes. The shadow dropped to the ground as two more stepped out into view. The trio approached.

All three were dressed as Anmaglahk, but the one leading was shorter and slighter than the others.

Brot'an spoke in clear Belaskian. "Return to quarters. We have no need of your assistance."

"With respect, Greimasg'ah," the lead figure answered. "I join this pursuit at the request of the Covarleasa."

Her voice was thick with anElvish accent.

Brot'an exhaled harshly, and Sgaile's shoulders sagged just a bit.

The trio came closer, and Leesil clearly made out the sharp features of En’nish within her cowl. Her eyes remained on him as well.

Magiere inched forward. "What is she doing here?"

"No one can deny her," Sgaile admonished, with barely suppressed frustration in his voice.

"She acts on behalf of the Covarleasa," Brot'an added. "The 'selected and trusted adviser' of Most Aged Father… Frethfare."

"And you're going to let her come with us?" Magiere demanded.

Leesil didn't understand the bizarre command structure these Anmaglahk followed, but he was sick of it. Were they expected to hand over the search for Wynn to this vengeance-driven woman?

Brot'an's passive gaze remained on En’nish. "She will not interfere in a task not given to her."

En’nish looked up at Brot'an in hesitation. In spite of his calm tone, his words sounded like a pointed reminder of her place.

"Yes, these visitors are most certainly Sgailsheilleache's responsibility," En’nish answered.

She nodded to Brot'an with respect. Her two companions did likewise.Whatever their twisted rules, Brot'an appeared to hold sway over all present.

"Get rid of her," Magiere demanded.

"Remember your place… human," Brot'an replied quietly, the last word selected with care but spoken with no malice. "You are a guest here by exception. If not for your companion's imprudence, we would all be at peace this night."

"Let it go," Leesil whispered to Magiere."For now."

Privately, he wondered at how Freth, and likely Most Aged Father, had learned so quickly of Wynn's disappearance, and why En’nish was the one sent to intercept their search.

Brot'an stepped past Leesil and out ahead. En’nish and her companions moved from his path. Sgaile followed more slowly, ushering Leesil and Magiere forward, keeping himself between them and En’nish. They caught up to Brot'an, and Leesil looked over his shoulder as En’nish and her followers fell in behind Osha. The young elf breathed a bit too deeply for so little exertion, and his eyes wandered nervously.

Leesil heard a chirping whistle.

They reached the far side of the tree-ringed depression, and Brot'an stood before the forest proper with his hands cupped around his mouth. He let out a birdlike series of chirps, waited a moment, and then issued another shrill call.

A longer whistling chirp answered him from the forest.

"Urhkarasiferin has found a trail," Sgaile said, as Brot'an took off at a run into the trees. "Stay close, and do not wander."

Most Aged Father lingered in that place between consciousness and slumber. He had listened to Leshil and his companions in their quarters, but the effort wore him down. He withdrew his awareness as their conversation waned and Leshil went off to bathe. But he had learned things about each-their personalities, their fumbling grasps at plans, and their nature for deception. Magiere disturbed him in particular.

She was filled with a strange agitation. She warranted more consideration and observance until he was done with Leshil. So much complication arose from humans. The world was polluted with their chaos and frailty.

Most Aged Father was so weary he did not hear Frethfare's footfalls until she entered his private chamber in the great oak's heart-root. She bowed. As always, he was pleased by her presence.

Until she rose up with dark concern plain on her face.

"There is trouble with the humans," she said, settling upon one teal-dyed cushion of sheot'a cloth. "I do not believe Sgailsheilleache has firm control over them."

Her criticism of a fellow anmaglahk was disturbing. Most Aged Father valued all the Anmaglahk, but he took greater pride in a few, such as Freth-fare. Sgailsheilleache was another, with his fierce devotion to his people and his strict sense of justice. Most Aged Father had known from the first time he set eyes on Sgailsheillache that the boy was Anmaglahk. Barely thirteen years old,he was only two moons past his name taking when he submitted himself for acceptance to the caste. He showed no fear at the prospect of training.

Taking Frethfare as Covarleasa had been a choice of careful consideration, and Most Aged Father valued her counsel. But he still expected good reason for her words against Sgailsheilleache.