Well, she was angry too. She wanted to cross her arms, but couldn’t with her hands tied.
“I don’t like this,” she said, holding her wrists up.
The leader looked down on her. “I am Axis, Headmind of the darkling elves. You have trespassed in our wood. We are not a merciless people. But I will have answers.”
“I don’t like you.” She dropped to the floor and crossed her legs beneath her. She was tired of standing. She didn’t like the elves. The fairies were right. They were very mean.
“Wynn!” a familiar voice squealed.
She turned to look over her shoulder. Hob darted between the feet of those standing in front of the door and barreled toward her. She fell to the side as Hob leaped up onto her shoulder. “You are safe! Hob is so pleased, yes.” He threw his thin arms around her neck, and she noticed the bandages tied around his narrow ribs.
“Hob!” She was so happy to see him. “You’re back.” She knew that wasn’t the right thing to say, but it was the first thing that came into her mind, and he didn’t seem to care. She was so, so happy!
He let go of her neck and bounded around her. “I thought the reaper had taken you far away. That Hob would never, ever, ever, ever see you again.”
“You were hurt.” She looked him over. He seemed well. The Headmind crossed his arms and listened to their conversation with cool interest.
“The elvsies found me and healed me. They are good with medicine.” His large eyes blinked at her. “Not so good at magic.”
“I don’t like them.” Wynn crossed her arms.
“And we don’t like being treated with disdain,” the Headmind growled as he hovered over her. “I should toss you in with the pigs.”
Wynn let out a cry of fright. She didn’t want to go in a pen with pigs. A horrible memory came back to her, of cruel laughter and mud in her hair. She started to cry. She couldn’t help it.
“Do not speak to the princess that way,” Hob shouted. His tail lashed the ground like a whip. “She is very kind. I won’t let you hurt her.” He stuck out his bandaged chest.
“Princess?” The light green swirl above the Headmind’s eye rose as he peered down at Hob. “What do you mean by this?”
Hob slapped his long fingers over his mouth.
The Headmind turned to Wynn and peered carefully at her. He knelt down and touched the hem of Wynn’s dress. She scooted back from him. “This is fairy-made,” he said. “But you are not a fairy. You are an Otherworld girl. That can mean only one thing.” Axis rose and looked around the crowd. “It seems the Fairy Queen is stealing human children again.”
“No!” Wynn shouted. “She did not steal. I found the Silver Gate. Now I am a princess!”
Hob jumped forward and slapped his hands over Wynn’s mouth this time. “Shhhh.” He shook his head, and his large ears flopped from side to side. “Elvsies are very nice when they want to be, and they are not accusing you of stealing their fruit, as long as you are not a fairy.”
The elves in the room broke into restless chatter. Hoods leaned together, pressing green-striped faces close in huddled whispers. Several of the elves near the door slipped out into the village. Wynn could hear them shouting. Hands covered mouths, as if they could hide the sound of excited words. It was so noisy that Wynn clapped her hands over her ears.
Headmind Axis threw his hands up. His embroidered sleeves fell down to his elbows like sweeping waves. “Pax!” he shouted at all of them. They took longer to settle this time. Words escaped them in urgent whispers.
“Well, this changes things.” He reached down and untied her wrists, then offered her a hand. She crossed her arms and remained sitting on the floor. He scowled at her, then folded his hands back into his fancy sleeves. “Very well,” he said, turning away from her. “If you are the queen’s new Otherworld pet, you may stay here as my guest.”
He smiled at her, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was a not happy smile but a pretending one. It reminded her of her father, and she didn’t trust her father. “Show her to one of the healing house chambers. Keep the bird to ensure her obedience.” He spared a downward glance at Hob. “Toss that one in the pit until we’re sure he’s not the gob who’s been stealing from our fruit cellar.”
The two elves nearest her lunged for her. She couldn’t escape them because she was sitting. Strong hands gripped Wynn by the shoulders and hauled her to her feet. Wynn shouted and kicked out, hitting one in the shin. He stumbled to the side. Hob bounded through the room as another elf chased after him.
“Run, Hob!” she cried. Hob dashed about, bouncing as quick as lightning. His red fur looked like blurred streaks as he darted through the legs of the confused elves. The elves wrenched her arms back. Wynn stomped on the foot of the one to her right, and he let go enough for her to yank one hand free. She lunged forward and grabbed the net wrapped around Mildred.
She pulled it away from the elf holding it, and it loosened enough for Mildred to push her way out.
Elves scrambled around the hall as the hen darted between their legs and managed to slip out the door.
“Run!” Wynn screamed at both of them, before strong arms wrestled her away from the hall. Mildred was free! She was a clever hen. She’d find a way out of their nasty village. Wynn wanted to follow, but the elves holding her dragged her down a narrow hallway and through a doorway to a courtyard in the back of the throne hall. A pen of snorting boars grunted and squealed as they passed. She couldn’t see Hob or Mildred. She hoped they would escape. Hob
