Elias paused at the top of the trailhead and stared down at the shrinking town below him. Dark rainclouds formed on the horizon and distant thunder rolled. Master Seth and Gloria continued on, but Elias strained his eyes and spied the stone temple sitting by ?lskare Delar—the river’s waters grew choppy in the increasing wind and the seagulls fled towards the banks to find shelter.

  A sharp ache pierced his heart, and the faces of his brothers flashed through Elias’s mind before settling on Father Verdas’s. He looked at his wrapped arm. I knew Father Verdas would be angry… but expelled? I never thought… He bit back angry tears and clenched his wrapped fist tight. They turned their backs on me… All of them.

  Pained, confused thoughts swirled in his mind. He’d fought so hard not to go back, but now that he couldn’t…

  Now I have nothing, he thought. Even Master Seth is trying to dump me somewhere.

  He knew that Master Seth and Gloria’s argument was about him. How could it not be? What else was there to argue about? Elias grimaced as a strong gust of wind carried the strong scent of rain. At least Gloria seems to understand.

  A soft chuckle grew in his mind. ‘So tell me young novice,’ an echo of The Lady whispered in his ears. ‘Is there still a reason for your suffering? Or does your god revel in tormenting children?’ Sharp thunder punctuated her echoing laugh.

  Elias shook as a few fat drops of rain fell on his head. He glared up at the darkening sky. “Well?” he muttered under his breath. “Do you?”

  A few more drops of rain plipped onto the rocky ground.

  He shook furiously. “Is she right? Am I just a toy to you? How much are you going to strip away from me until you’re satisfied?”

  Elias waited for a moment, staring up at the clouds. “Say something—anything!”

  Another rumble of thunder rolled, and the rain began to pick up.

  Elias gritted his teeth. “Fine!” he snapped, turning his back on the fjord. “Don’t answer me, then. See if I care!”

  He pushed a dampening lock of hair out of his face and stormed after Master Seth and Gloria. He took only a few steps before he stopped and slowly looked over his shoulder to take one last look at Westfjord.

  There was an ache in his chest and his shoulders sagged—a strange feeling told him that this would be the last time he ever saw her. He swallowed and tried to commit the sight to memory, but his vision slowly blurred by growing tears.

  Then a soft tendril of wind gently brushed past his cheek like a soft caress and the grass rustled like a tender whisper. Elias stiffened at the touch and anger bristled in his chest.

  Bright lightning flashed and sharp thunder cracked after it.

  “Elias!”

  Elias jumped and spun back. Master Seth and Gloria waited ahead and were pulling on their coats to keep dry. Master Seth flipped up his collar and waved Elias towards them. “Come on!” Then he turned and followed after Gloria who marched forward through the rain.

  Elias bowed his sopping head and adjusted his bag. A farm… he thought stepping through the churning mud. I suppose it’s not the worst place to go…

  He raised his chin, pausing for a moment, debating whether or not to look back once more. He frowned and shook his head, then he squared his shoulders and turned his back on Westfjord before marching off into the stormy plains.

  Everyone was completely soaked by the time the sun began to set. Seth shivered in his dripping coat and looked around him. It was going to be miserable to sleep tonight—rain was falling in heavy sheets and lightning streaked across the sky. At least twice it had struck the ground nearby.

  There was a splash and Seth heard Elias’s chattering teeth behind him. The young man had pulled out his cloak and drew it close around him. “Are we stopping soon, sir? I can’t feel my toes.”

  Seth shuddered and looked ahead at Gloria who was a few paces ahead of him. Her curls were now sopping tendrils pasted to her neck and shoulders, and he could faintly see her breath in the cold rain.

  She’d kept a strong pace for most of the day and could hardly look at him. Whenever she did happen to look over her shoulder, her eyes would shift between fear and comfort, then she’d anxiously turn away.

  But now she stopped and looked over her shoulder at them—her face pale from the cold. “If you want to stop, we can stop.”

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  Before Seth could answer there was a bright flash and thunder boomed overhead. All three of them jumped and snapped their heads up at the sky.

  Seth’s heart pounded in his chest, and he nodded. “We’re stopping. I don’t feel comfortable moving forward.” He looked over his shoulder. Hopefully this storm slowed down whoever was in Westfjord.

  Elias shivered. “I’m glad, though I’m not looking forward to sleeping in the mud.”

  Seth eyed the grass. “Maybe we can bend some stalks?”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Gloria said. She slogged through the mud towards the grass, then reached out her hand.

  Seth straightened. How could he have forgotten? Winter is gone—she can use her plant magic again!

  Gloria took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her face twitched in focus, then the grass rustled and began to shift. Seth smiled and watched the tall blades of grass part until a clear path lead into a clearing.

  Beside him, Elias gasped. Seth glanced back at Elias, whose eyes bugged out and his mouth dropped open. The young man looked up at Seth, amazement all over his face. He stammered and pointed to the grass.

  A surge of pride went through Seth, and he nodded. “Yes, Gloria’s moving the grass.”

  Gloria’s brows were knit together in concentration. Her hands shook and Seth could barely hear her muttering over the heavy rain.

  The grass stalks twisted around each other into thick strands, then began weaving themselves into a green tapestry, until a small green dome began to form, barely peeking over the top of the remaining grass.

  Seth grimaced a little. That seems a bit conspicuous.

  Then, as if she’d read his mind, Gloria exhaled and shifted her footing, continuing to mutter. Now it was Seth’s turn to be amazed—the grass rustled and stretched upwards, growing just tall enough to hide the small grassy hill.

  Seth looked back at Gloria, his own mouth gaping. You’re incredible.

  Gloria sighed and her shoulders began to relax. She dropped her hands and straightened. “There,” she said pushing wet curls from her face. “Now we’ll be at least a little dry.” Then she slowly trudged into the clearing and crawled into the woven shelter.

  Elias looked from Seth to the grass, dumbstruck. “Did— did you see that, Master? The grass… it— it moved.” He rubbed his eyes. “It did move, right? I’m not crazy, am I?”

  Seth blinked back his own amazement then smiled at Elias. “You’re not crazy. She moved the grass.”

  Elias glanced at him. “That’s one of her fairy powers, isn’t it?”

  Seth’s smile faded and he nodded gravely. “Don’t say anything. I don’t want to scare her any more than I already have.”

  Elias looked back at the grassy structure and slowly nodded. “Yes sir.”

  Seth shivered and slogged forward. “Good, now come on, let’s get out of the rain. Gloria’s waiting to close the grass.” Elias stood staring for another moment, before Seth splashed back and tugged him along. “Come on.”

  As they entered the clearing, the grass closed behind them, crowding around each flooded footprint trying to hide it. At the entrance, Seth stepped aside and let Elias crawl in while he took one last look around, trying to peer through the increasing darkness and heavy rain.

  Lightning flashed and, for a fraction of a second, there was a dot on the horizon. Seth’s heart skipped a beat, and he gripped his coat tight—someone was out there.

  Oh Crim, he thought. Hopefully all this rain will hide us. Then he ducked into the shelter.

  A little ball of light beside Elias lit up the space. It was small, but big enough for the three of them to sit up and crawl around in. There were no windows except for the opening, and the floor was a weaved mat of soft wet grass. Rain pounded on the roof like water on canvas, but no more than a drop or two wriggled its way through the tight weaves.

  Elias tossed his soaking cloak into the corner next to Gloria’s coat and unrolled his bedroll on the right side of the shelter, while Gloria wrung out her hair on the left.

  Seth dropped his bag by the door and collapsed to the floor with a sigh. He rolled onto his back then glanced at Gloria as she dug around in her bag. She shivered and Seth couldn’t help but notice her soaking dress clinging to her frame. His heart quickened as his eyes began to linger on her.

  She pulled out a dress from her bag and looked back at him and Elias. As soon as their eyes met, heat rose to Seth’s face, and he looked away ashamed. “I’m going to get dressed,” she announced. “No one look.”

  Seth cleared his throat and nodded. “I should too.” He turned away and saw Elias pull on his spare shirt before curling into his bedroll. Then he peeled off his soaking coat and shirt before pulling on a damp shirt.

  He turned to toss his coat with the rest when he noticed Elias’s light reaching outside of the woven hut. Seth grimaced and tossed his coat into the corner before pulling out his bedroll. “Elias, once Gloria’s dressed, dismiss your light. I don’t want anyone to get any hints of our whereabouts.”

  Elias’s muffled voice spoke up, “Yes, sir.”

  There was a wet slap as Gloria’s wet dress joined the pile of soggy clothes, then she sighed and shuddered. “I’m ready,” she said. Then Elias’s light winked out and the trio was left in the dark.

  There was some shuffling, then the grass hut went quiet.

  Seth tousled his wet hair and exhaled softly. He peeked out the opening again and was barely able to peer out into the dark. Lightning arched from cloud to cloud, briefly illuminating the grass. He glanced back and caught a glimpse of Gloria and Elias huddled in their bedrolls.

  Looks like I’m taking the first watch tonight, he thought. Seth crossed his arms and watched drops of water drip from the top of the opening. What a day…

  The image of the figure on the horizon came to Seth’s mind and he shuddered. He rubbed his arms, and wished he had something a little warmer to wrap around himself. Hopefully, whatever I saw was just my imagination, he thought. But a nagging feeling told him it wasn’t—someone was out there.

  He grimaced, then pulled out his dagger and laid it across his knee. He hoped that the rain would wash out their footsteps or the lightning would halt their pursuer. But if not, Seth thought and folded his hands, intensely watching the billowing grass outside of the hut. I need to be ready to strike first.

  Which would you prefer?