“I can be a prince too.” Wynn flopped down on the ground. “I don’t want to be the princess.”
Elric tried to pull her up, but it was no use. “Wynn, what is wrong?”
“Stay in my room,” she said as she wiped her nose on the sleeve of her delicate dress. “I don’t like it.”
Elric still wasn’t sure what she was trying to tell him. “It is better here in the Between. We have plenty to eat, and warm, safe places to sleep.” Elric picked up a rock from the path. “Do you remember when we had to sleep on the hard ground in the snow and we were so cold and hungry?”
Wynn looked away.
Elric wasn’t sure what to say. He knew she was bored. He couldn’t help that. He could set her on useless tasks just to keep her occupied, but he had a feeling she would know what he was up to. Wynn had an uncanny ability to see right through him. Besides, what could he possibly ask her to do that wouldn’t get them both in trouble? Clean her room? “Everyone here wants to keep you safe and happy,” he said. “We all love you.”
She looked up at him, but she didn’t say anything.
A sudden gust of wind nearly knocked Elric over. Zephyr appeared in front of him, his eyes burning bright red and yellow. “A darkling creature is attacking the shield to the west of the arena. I think it’s a reaper!”
Elric’s heart leaped in his chest. He jumped up, and Wynn followed.
“Come on, we have to hurry,” Zephyr said as he grabbed Elric’s arm and pulled him down the path. “Master Elk needs you there.”
“Wynn, stay here,” he ordered. He didn’t want her crossing any bridges without help, and the garden was both sheltered and safe.
“No, they want to see you,” she protested. “They want the Grendel to see you.”
He took a step away from her, even as he held his palm out to stop her from following. “You’ll be safe right here in the garden. I’ll be back in just a moment. Promise me you’ll stay here and wait for me. I’ll come for you as soon as I can.”
Zephyr disappeared again. Elric gave his sister a desperate look.
“I promise,” she said. She flopped down in a pile of her silky skirts and crossed her arms. Elric gave her an approving nod and broke into a run. Master Elk had called for him. He glanced back to his sister.
She picked a flower and lazily plucked at the petals. She would stay until he could return for her, and then he would make sure she reached the safety of her room. “I promise I’ll come back for you,” he whispered to himself as he turned and ran.
CHAPTER THREEWynn
WYNN PULLED ALL THE PETALS off a flower. They floated in the air for a moment, before settling in her lap and on her bare foot. The sunlight caught the edges of the petals and made them glow with an iridescent light. She liked watching them twirl and sparkle as they fell into the sand. When they hit the ground, a faint ring of glittering light spread out through the sand, like a ripple in a pool. She pushed the sand with her toe to watch the light spread across the path in front of her. The sunlight felt pleasantly warm on her shoulders. The soft breeze pushed her hair away from her cheek. The sound of chimes surrounded her, filling the garden with music.
It was all very pretty, and it was very nice to be outside. But this was as lonely as sitting in her room all day, and she was worried about her brother. Still, she promised Elric she’d wait for him.
“You just have to wait,” she mumbled to herself, repeating a phrase her mother had repeated to her over and over when she was younger.
She hated waiting.
But she made a promise, and Elric would be back soon.
Wynn swiped her hand over the gritty sand of the path and made a pattern watching the glitter in the sand swirl and loop as it spread outward. The trails of light faded, and she reached out to make another one. Just then, she heard a hissing sound behind her, and turned to look over her shoulder. Thick rosebushes created a blanket of flowers that draped to the ground and hid the shadows beneath them.
Squinting, Wynn pushed herself up and stepped closer to the bush as she brushed her dirty hands off on her snowy white skirts. Something rustled. She reached down to the edge of the bush and grasped a low tangle of the rose branches. One of the thorns pierced her thumb, and she drew her hand back. More carefully this time, she reached out and lifted the untamed roses.
A fat black hen rushed out, flapping her brown-streaked feathers.
“Mildred!” Wynn’s heart leaped. She had missed her hen so much. Mildred was her best friend. Wynn trotted over to catch up to the hen, but Mildred hopped just out of reach toward the edge of the garden.
Now Wynn felt very happy. Mildred could stay with her and play until Elric came back. Mildred was good at keeping her company, and pecking bugs, and eating, but also keeping her company. Wynn bent down. “Mildred, come here.”
The bird stumbled, letting one wing flop listlessly on the ground. She wasn’t making her usual clucking noises. Something was very wrong with her. Mildred liked to talk.
“What’s wrong?” Wynn hurried closer to the hen, but Mildred ran away, her wing dragging in the sand of the garden path. “You are hurt?”
A sick feeling rose in Wynn’s tummy. Mildred was a good chicken. She had to help her. “Mildred, come here!” Wynn demanded, her voice cracking as she chased after her hen. Mildred darted away into fields of
