The snake bared its fangs. Its eyes glowed brighter red, and Wynn thought she could hear the echo of a dark and cruel laugh on the wind.
She ran.
Dashing into the shadows of the branches, she ran as fast as she could without looking back. She stumbled and scrambled over knotted tree roots. Whip-like branches tore at her dress and slapped against her arms.
“Help!” she called again, but the sound barely came out of her throat.
The toe of her shoe caught on something and she fell forward in a heap. Her cheek hit the ground and she felt the blow through her jaw and neck. Slimy leaves clung to her face as she rolled over. She curled her arms in toward her chest.
Backing up against a tree, she tried to push herself up, but slipped on the leaves under her feet.
The snake slithered over the curling tree roots. Its eyes narrowed and it seemed to grin. It rattled the spines along its back again as its long, forked tongue darted out.
“Go away!” Wynn shouted at it. She picked herself up, and grabbed a nearby branch. She swung the branch at the serpent, and it hesitated.
She was all alone. No one could help her now.
A loud squawk filled the clearing and a furious ball of dark feathers charged forward.
It was the real Mildred! At least, she thought it was her. Maybe this was a monster too. Wynn’s heart thudded as the chicken’s white legs slashed out at the serpent. Her comb flushed dark red, and her fiery eyes blazed as her sharp beak pecked at the serpent’s head. Wynn’s hen was fighting to save her.
The serpent hissed and turned to strike Mildred, but Mildred was too quick. She stamped on the beast, tearing at it with sharp claws. Then, with a furious squawk, she pecked it right in the eye.
It let out a terrible hiss of pain. Wynn jumped forward with her stick and bashed the snake hard on the head. She hit it again and again while Mildred clawed and scratched its twisting body.
Slowly the twisting stopped.
“Come, Mildred, quickly!” Wynn shook and ran away as fast as she could. Mildred followed at her heels, clucking and chattering at her the whole way. Wynn didn’t know if the creature was dead. She didn’t want to take a chance.
Out of breath, she stopped at the bank of a dried creek and placed a hand on her chest.
“Mildred?” she asked cautiously. The hen fluffed up the feathers of her chest as if she were deeply offended by Wynn’s tone, then snuggled down on top of Wynn’s bare foot. She let out an exhausted coo, and her eyes drooped.
Wynn knelt down and cautiously clapped a sharp two claps. Mildred repeated the sound with two crisp clucks. Elric taught her that trick.
“It’s you,” Wynn said, and scooped up her hen. She buried her face in Mildred’s feathers as the hen affectionately pecked at the tips of her hair. This was her hen. She knew it. “Mildred, you saved me.”
Awwwwwwk, Mildred cooed. Tut, tut, tut.
Wynn tucked Mildred under her arm, glad to have her safe where she belonged.
“We have to go home.” Wynn looked up. The canopy of dark leaves towered above her so thick, she couldn’t see the sky. She couldn’t see the shield.
Wynn took a hesitant step one way. Paused, then took a step in another. All the trees looked the same. The chilly air settled over her.
“Mildred, go home,” Wynn said as she gently placed Mildred on the ground. Mildred always knew which way to go.
But Mildred just cuddled close to her leg again and didn’t move, glancing warily at the trees.
Wynn scooped her up again and peered into the dark shadows that surrounded them through the thick trees.
They were lost in the Nightfell Wood.
CHAPTER FOURElric
ELRIC RAN AS FAST AS he could across the western fields toward the magic shield, both excited and terrified at the prospect of seeing a real battle. Zephyr flew beside him, stirring a strong breeze at their backs. Elric glanced back at the great tree and gardens. His steps slowed as he had a sudden bad feeling that something was very wrong.
“Why did you stop?” Zephyr floated up ahead.
“This could be dangerous, and I should be looking out for my sister. Master Elk told me to get her to her room right away,” Elric said, turning back toward the garden where he’d left Wynn. Nothing was more important to him than her.
Zephyr swooped in front of him on a strong gust of wind. He deliberately floated a few feet in the air right in front of Elric, blocking his view of the palace. The fairy crossed his arms. “Master Elk told me to get you,” Zephyr said with a serious expression. Zephyr never wore a serious expression. Something was wrong here. Wynn had left the palace to warn him about something—something about letting the Grendel see him. He had a funny feeling in his gut, and he couldn’t ignore it.
“What is really going on?” Elric demanded. “You fly around as a breeze all day and hear everything. Wynn was upset about something. What is it?”
Zephyr rubbed the back of his neck, shifting the raven feathers by his ear. “I overheard Raven Frostrain speaking with Master Elk this morning.”
“And?” Elric’s heart pounded.
“Lord Raven believes that there is a spy within the dome. He said the Grendel knows the queen has taken in another Otherworld child, and he told Master Elk to dangle you out near the shield so the Grendel thinks it is you.” Zephyr looked ashamed. “They won’t actually let you fight. They just want
