It had only been a month since Elric arrived in this realm. In that time he had made no friends. Most of the magic folk either treated him with deference or kept their distance. The morning had started off well, and he thought perhaps Zephyr was different from the others. Zeph was friendlier than most, and didn’t seem to mind the fact that Elric was a human boy from the Otherworld. But it was late, and Zephyr’s carefree attitude and pranks were wearing thin on Elric’s patience.
It seemed Elric wasn’t the only one who was annoyed. Master Elk crossed his arms and glared at them both. “I’m glad to see this is all fun and games to you boys. Zephyr, I thought I told you to remain solid.”
“Yes, Master Windlight.” Zeph shook the sand out of his hair. The raven feathers tied near his ear fluttered with the motion. “But if Elric is to learn how to defend himself in this realm, shouldn’t he anticipate fairy magic?”
Elk’s thin braids slid over his shoulders as he leaned forward and brought his sun-browned face within an inch of the younger fairy’s. One of Elk’s dark eyebrows rose. There was something in the captain’s expression that made the hair on the back of Elric’s neck stand up. “It’s not fairy magic we are preparing him for.”
Elk placed his hands behind his back. His long white robes swished around his legs as he strode in front of them. “That shield . . .” he said, pointing to the shimmering colors of the dome of light that protected the kingdom. “It’s fragile. And it is under constant attack from both the Grendel and his cursed reapers, and the elves. If the queen suffers another heartbreak, it could shatter. If it does, the darkling creatures of the Nightfell Wood will invade this land.” Elk began to pace, his feet lifting a small cloud of glittering dust with each step.
“The Grendel has corrupted all of the wood. He has fed for centuries on the souls of the creatures that live there. Now they are all like him. The elves are treacherous and cunning. They are betrayers and thieves. They will stop at nothing to break the shield, and allow the monsters of the wood to invade.”
The sunlight glimmered on the silver thorn branches that crowned Elk’s head. The captain stared down his broad nose as if his words were the law.
Elric looked over at the shield and the woods beyond. He didn’t know enough about this world to judge what was good and what was dangerous. As he watched the shadows, dread stole through his blood.
Elk moved in front of him, each step falling with careful and quiet grace. The man’s enormous shadow fell over Elric, bringing with it a slight chill. “Remember this, my prince—the Grendel seeks to break the heart of the queen, and her power with it. He will stop at nothing to find a weakness. He will send the foulest minions of his army to find you. The worst of them all, are the reapers.”
Elric felt a heavy weight press down on him, and he leaned on his staff. He and Wynn almost died trying to find the Silver Gate, thinking they would be safe once they found it. Now they were in as much danger as they ever were.
Zephyr, who had been hovering nearby, sank back to the ground and cast an anxious glance at the distant shield. “Is it true the reapers have been attacking the shield?”
Master Elk turned to look at the shield. It seemed no more substantial than a bubble of air beneath water. “Yes. The fractures in the shield have been repaired. The Grendel knows there is only one way for that to happen. He knows the queen has taken in a new child. His spies are everywhere. The reapers are here, and they are hunting for the new changeling.”
He moved closer to Elric and loomed over him. “They will catch you and drag you back to the Grendel so he can leech away your spirit. You will become nothing but an empty shell, trapped for all eternity in the torment of the Dark One’s evil shadow. You must learn to protect yourself, Prince Elric. That is what I’m preparing you for.” His expression softened. “I made a mistake the last time. I thought I could protect the last changeling prince myself by watching over him personally. I didn’t warn him. He didn’t know the danger.” Master Elk looked away. “I won’t make the same mistake with you.”
Elric remained silent as his teacher strode away from him. The sunlight returned and warmed Elric’s shoulders, but not his heart. From the moment he had found himself in the Between, he wasn’t sure how he should fit into this place. The queen had made him a prince, but in reality, he was still just a shepherd boy. He knew nothing about wars, or fighting, or being a leader.
Master Elk circled around to Zephyr. “You need to learn discipline if you ever wish to grow up. You haven’t even earned your second name yet after, what? Four hundred years? So I expect to see more effort out of you and less rule-breaking.”
Elric stood straighter. “Captain, sir?”
Elk turned his attention toward Elric, who suddenly felt nervous under the scrutiny of the fairy. “How can we possibly fight the Grendel? He is a shadow.” Elric remembered the troubles they had encountered on their journey to the Silver Gate, the howling winds, the disease, and death that seemed to follow them. He didn’t think the Grendel was real at the time, but Wynn believed the Grendel had somehow followed them, and she had been right about the Silver Gate.
