and bread and ate what they had without much interest, A new moon and a spectacular display of stars filled the sky. Bidding each other good–night, they rolled themselves into their traveling cloaks and closed their eyes.
Wil was still wondering how they were going to get through the mountains when sleep came to him.
When he awoke, a boy was sitting there, looking at him. It was dawn, and the sun was rising out of the distant forestland in a hazy, golden burst of light that scattered night in fleeting bits of gray. On the broad, open slopes of the mountain which rose above them, the wildflowers were just opening and the dew glistened damply on the grass.
Wil blinked in surprise. At first he thought that his eyes were playing tricks on him, and he waited expectantly for the boy to disappear back into his imagination. But the boy remained where he was, seated on the grass, legs crossed before him, silently contemplating Wil. This was no illusion, the Valeman decided and pushed himself up on one elbow.
«Good morning;” he said.
«Good morning,” the boy replied solemnly.
Wil brushed the sleep from his eyes and took a moment to study the boy. He was an Elf, rather small, his tousled, sand–colored hair falling down about a rather ordinary face that displayed a light sprinkling of freckles. Leather pants and tunic fitted close on his small frame, and a number of assorted pouches and bags hung about his neck and from his waist. He was very young, certainly much younger than either Wil or Amberle.
«I didn’t want to wake you,” the boy announced.
Wil nodded. «You were very quiet.»
«I know. I can walk through a stretch of dry pine without making a single sound.»
«You can?»
«Yes. And I can hunt to a fox lair without starting him. I did that once.»
«That’s very good.»
The boy looked at him curiously. «What are you doing out here?»
Wil grinned in spite of himself. «I was just wondering the same thing about you. Do you live here?»
The boy shook his head. «No. I live to the south, below the Irrybis. In the Wing Hove.»
Wil did not have the faintest idea what a Wing Hove might be. Behind him, he heard Amberle stir awake.
«She is very pretty,” the boy ventured quietly. «Are you married?»
«Uh, no — just traveling together,” the Valeman managed, a bit taken back. «How did you get here?»
«I flew,” the boy, answered. «I’m a Wing Rider.»
Wil stared at him speechlessly. The boy glanced past him to Amberle, who was just sitting up, still wrapped in her cloak.
«Good morning, lady,” he greeted.
«Good morning,” Amberle replied. Amusement mixed with puzzlement in her green eyes. «What is your name?»
«Perk.»
«My name is Amberle.» The Elven girl smiled. «This is Wil.»
The boy got to his feet and came over to grip Wil’s hand in greeting. The Valeman was surprised to find the youngster’s palm heavily calloused. The boy seemed conscious of the fact and drew his hand back quickly. He did not offer it to Amberle, but simply nodded.
«Would you like some breakfast?» he asked.
Wil shrugged. «What do you have in mind, Perk?»
«Milk, nuts, cheese, and bread. That is all I have with me.»
«That will do nicely.» The Valeman grinned, glancing back quickly at Amberle. He had no idea what Perk was doing here, but the food sounded delicious. «We would be very happy to share breakfast with you:”
They seated themselves in a circle. From one of the pouches he carried, the young Elf produced the promised nuts, cheese, and bread together with three small cups. The cups he filled with milk he carried in a second pouch. Valeman and Elven girl consumed the small meal ravenously.
«Where did you get the milk?» Amberle asked after a moment.
«Goats,” the boy mumbled, his mouth full. «A goatherd keeps a small flock in a meadow several miles north. I milked one earlier this morning.»
Amberle glanced questioningly at Wil, who shrugged.
«He tells me that he is a Wing Rider. He flies.»
«I’m not really a Wing Rider — not yet,” the boy interrupted. «I’m too young. But one day I will be.»
There was an awkward moment of silence as the three stared wordlessly at one another.
«You didn’t say what you were doing out here,” Perk said finally. «Are you running away from something?»
«Why do you ask that, Perk?» Amberle wanted to know immediately.
«Because you look like you are running away from something. Your clothes are torn and dirty. You carry no weapons and no food and no blankets. You build no fire. And you look like something has frightened you.»
«Perk, you are a bright boy,” Wil responded quickly, deciding at once how he was going to handle this. «Will you promise to keep it secret if I tell you something?»
The boy nodded, anticipation showing in his fare. «I promise.»
«Good.» Wil leaned forward confidentially. «This lady — Amberle — is very special. She is a Princess, a granddaughter of Eventine Elessedil, the King of the Elves.»
«King of the Land Elves,” Perk corrected. When Wil hesitated, confused by the distinction, the boy edged forward anxiously. «Do you go in quest of treasure? Or is the lady enchanted? Is she bewitched?»
«Yes. No.» The Valeman stopped. What had he gotten himself into? «We go in search of a… a talisman, Perk. Only the lady can wield it. There is a very great evil that threatens the Elven people. Only the talisman can protect against that evil, and we must find it quickly Would you be willing to help us?»
Perks eyes were wide with excitement. «An adventure? A real adventure?»
«Wil, I don’t know about this…» Amberle interrupted, frowning.
«Trust me, please.» Wil held up his hands placatingly. He turned back to Perk. «This is a very dangerous business, Perk. The things that hunt us have already killed a number of Elves. This will not be a game. You must do exactly as I ask, and when I tell you that it is finished, you must leave us at once. Agreed?»
The boy nodded quickly. «What do you want me to do?»
The Valeman pointed toward the Rock Spur. «I want you to show me a way through those mountains. Do you know one?»
«Of course.» Perk sounded very indignant. «Where is it that you are going?»
Wil hesitated. He was not certain that he wanted the boy to have that information.
«Does that matter?» he asked finally.
«Certainly it matters,” Perk replied at once. «How can I show you how to get to where you want to go if I don’t know where it is that you are going?‘
«That sounds very sensible,” Amberle offered, giving Wil a knowing glance that suggested that he should have foreseen all this. «I think you had better tell him, Wil.»
The Valeman nodded. «All right. We are going into the Wilderun —”
«The Wilderun?» Perk shook his head solemnly, some of the enthusiasm fading from his eyes. «The Wilderun is forbidden to me. It is very dangerous.»
«We know,” Amberle agreed. «But we have no choice. We have to go there. Can you help us?»
«I can help you,” the boy declared firmly. «But you cannot go through the mountains. That would take days.»
«Well, if we don’t go through the mountains, then how do we get there?» Wil demanded. «Is there another way?»
Perk grinned. «Sure. We can fly.»
Wil looked over at Amberle for help.
«Perk, we cannot… really fly,” she said gently.
«We can fly,” he insisted. «I told you, I’m a Wing Rider — almost a Wing Rider, anyway.»
Some imagination, thought Wil. «Look, Perk, you have to have wings to fly and we don’t have wings.»
