“Are you sure the guards won’t follow us here?”
“Pixie Bush is protected by magical wards. If you don’t know exactly where you are going, you can get lost in the deeper parts of the forest and wander for days without ever finding the village. Those who are not welcome or have not been invited in can never enter.” Kalen grinned. “Keeps Oblek’s guards out, at least.”
As we entered the boundaries of the little village in the forest, I noticed a small wooden sign half covered with foliage and attached to a stick beside the gate. It said: “Pixie Bush, Goldleaf Forest, Illiador.” I smiled to myself. At least I had made it past the fae boundaries.
The rays of the midday sun shone on the forest floor, creating dappled specks of gold that danced about our feet as we walked. I was completely entranced. It was as if I had entered yet another world. This was not the bleak, crowded stone castle of Lord Oblek. This was a fae village, a magical place in the forest.
It looked like a picture out of a storybook. Small specks of sunlight filtered in through the leaves and led the way as we walked through the little streets of the fae village. Tiny wooden cottages with thatched roofs covered in vines and half hidden by foliage nestled at regular intervals in the very heart of the woods, while small, flower-lined paths connected the cottages.
The forest somehow looked larger from the inside than it did from Oblek’s castle. I could barely see the tops of the massive trees; some of them seemed to reach all the way to the clouds.
Kalen seemed right at home.
“Where’s Finn?” I asked.
“He must have gone straight home. Rafe doesn’t trust him with his identity, so he didn’t tell him about the meeting place.”
“But Rafe trusts you?”
Kalen beamed, his smile lighting up his face. “Yes, he does.” He puffed out his chest a little more. “Mother would have been worried after we were captured. It was she who told Rafe where to find us. He is a friend to the fae and is welcome in Pixie Bush whenever he wants. Even though he is a mage, he is a good person, quite unlike Archmage Lucian and the other mages of Nerenor.”
“So who is he really?”
Kalen raised an eyebrow. “Rafe didn’t tell you who he is?”
“No.”
“Then it is really not my place to say, my lady,” he said, quite to my surprise. “You should ask Rafe yourself when you see him.”
“Is Rafe even his real name?” Somehow that seemed important.
Kalen hesitated momentarily. “It is the name he prefers to use, yes.”
I wondered why Kalen was being so mysterious. What secrets did Rafe have to hide?
We walked quickly along the main street of the little forest village. It was a busy day, and all the small paths were bustling. I was relieved and relaxed a little. I felt safe here. Pixie Bush was lovely and bright and full of nice people—well, fae. Most of them looked quite human except for the slightly pointed ears, but others were too different to ignore.
Two small men with long beards and big ears stopped to say hello to Kalen. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help shooting glances at their big, elephant-like ears and huge, hairy feet.
As the little men walked away, I turned to Kalen. “Who were those two?”
Kalen lowered his voice. “Oh, I forgot you don’t know much about our people.”
“I don’t know anything about your people,” I whispered. “Until last night I didn’t even believe that fairies exist.”
Kalen nodded his understanding and proceeded to explain. “The ones we just met are brownies; they are very good housekeepers,” he said, pausing and looking around. “And those two.” He pointed at two tall ladies with green hair and milk-white skin, dressed in rich cobalt cloaks. “They are naiads—the fae of the rivers. They don’t live here. Must be visiting for the market.”
“What market?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” His big, almond-shaped eyes lit up. “Every year, the fae and other magical beings come together in Goldleaf Forest for the annual spring market. Normally, it is held in the daylight, but because of the guards and the new rules that have banned fae gatherings, we are having the market tonight.” Kalen stopped to take a breath. He spoke so fast, like a runaway train. “Would you like to come with me tonight? I mean, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I understand if you are tired after your terrible ordeal.”
I grinned. “I would love to go.” And I meant it.
“Wonderful! First we will go home, and tonight we can go together to the spring market.”
I was intrigued. A midnight market in the heart of the forest! I would get to see all the different magical beings that lived in Avalonia, and I would worry about Morgana tomorrow. Tonight I was safe.
I fiddled with my medallion, which I still wore around my neck, hidden under my clothes. I was famished, and Kalen bought me an apple from a fae vendor’s cart. I hungrily polished it off as I followed Kalen to an ancient oak tree. Beneath it stood the cutest little cottage I had ever seen.
The roof was made of bright green leaves and it blended into the foliage surrounding it perfectly. Vines crept haphazardly up the walls and onto the roof, blooming with tiny white flowers that blossomed in the sunlight. The small, white latticed windows were open, revealing a delicious-looking sponge cake and some freshly baked bread cooling on the windowsill. The smell was heavenly, and my stomach rumbled in response.
Kalen went up to the door and knocked once. “Here we are. This is my mother’s house.”
It opened almost immediately, and a pleasant-looking woman with curly gold ringlets, a round face, and dancing blue eyes hugged Kalen fiercely and ushered us in.
The cottage was quite large from the inside, sparsely
