SnowexitedHarwin’s.Ardanleaned against the desk in the center of the room, his ankles crossed, staring at the ceiling. He came to an abrupt upright position when he saw her. Snow marched toward the door without giving him a wayward glance. He followed, right on her heels as she exited the building.
The evening breeze rolled over her. She paused a moment, closed her eyes, and inhaled the scent of the night air. It was redolent with the earthy, woodsy aroma of the surrounding forest. She sensed Ardan’s presence next to her as he shifted nervously.
“You can go home now.” She cracked an eye and looked at him.
“I don’t think I should.” His hand rested on the dagger hilt, as though he were prepared to pull it at any moment.
“I think you should.”
Without waiting for a reply, she started off through the village heading to the edge where it met the forest.
“Where are you going? What did you talk to Master Harwin about? Why did I have to leave?” He was out of breath as he fired off his questions, trying to keep up with her accelerated pace.
“Where I’m going you can’t come,” she said. “My conversation with Master Harwin was confidential and that’s why you had to leave.” She never broke stride as she spoke. The closer she got to the edge of the forest, the stronger, more energetic she felt.
“But, Snow—”
“Listen, Ardan.” She halted, turning to him and putting a hand on his chest. “I know you mean well and you’re trying to do what Yirrie wanted you to do but there’s something I have to do. Alone. You can’t come with me.”
Question flickered through his eyes. “Why not?”
She huffed, frustrated, and dropped her hand. “You won’t understand.”
“I might.” There was a twinge of hurt in his voice. “If you’ll give me a chance.”
And suddenly guilt swept through her. She understood what he was trying to do, truly, but she didn’t want him with her when she stepped foot in the forest to recharge. It was something she did alone. Only Annilen and the other forest creatures understood.
He reached for her hand, grasping it in his. “I like you, Snow.”
Oh, dear. That wasn’t good.
“I didn’t choose anyone at festival,” he added.
And that was even worse.
“Ardan—”
“Allow me to escort you.”
She blew out a heated breath. The last thing she wanted was for Ardan to have feelings for her. The fact he chose no one at festival was a terrible sign he was more interested in her than she was of him.
What harm could it do to have him with her in the forest? She reasoned if anything else happened, if there was another Shadow, then he would be there to help her. Finally, she relented and nodded.
“All right. I need your word you will tell no one.”
He squeezed her hand. “You have my word.”
She released him and continued on, aware of the many promises the elves made to her. Harwin keeping who she truly was to himself. Now Ardan will see her elemental magic at work. Even though Yirrie and Elator knew of it, they didn’t understand how connected she was to the world around her.
When she stepped out of the protective circle of the village and into the forest, she halted and closed her eyes to attune to the world around her. Ardan’s shuffling feet alerted her to his presence next to her. He didn’t possess the stealth she did and it annoyed her.
“Be still,” she snapped.
He stiffened but no longer moved. “What are you doing?”
“Shhh.”
With her eyes still closed, she sensed Faradill deep in the forest standing as a sentry among the other oaks keeping watch over the domain. The leaves rustled in the breeze. Annilen and her fellow sprites were preparing to sleep as they buzzed around their small homes, some of them within the trunks of trees. That is, if the trees allowed it. Crickets chirped. An owl hooted. Rustling underbrush indicated a nocturnal animal foraging for a late-night snack. The sound of the stream rushing over rocks inhabited by water sprites. The bray of a unicorn.
