“I'm sorry, elder,” said Minx, taking a few steps away from the dragons. “These dragons are friends of mine, trustworthy folk. They've come to help us fight against the Wuffs—to defend Heilo Lake.” She put on a smile, seeking to put the elders at ease.
And it back-fired completely. “Young miss, you have tainted this place by their presence!” shouted another of the elders, jabbing his staff into the ground. “This is an outrage! A breach of the treaty! You will be charged, miss—all of you will be charged!”
Kaleb, stunned at this reception, joined Minx—but before he could offer a word, the elders shut him down.
“Don't say a word, dragon! Your kind isn't welcome in this place! Begone, at once!” The elderly spell-caster looked ready to swing at the whole lot of them as he raged. “You have done the unforgivable! You have brought the outsiders into this precious place!”
There wasn't enough time for reasoned discussion. Minx marched toward the armed elders with a firm bearing and intercepted one of the staves as it came swinging toward her. Pulling it from the ancients' grasp, she tossed it aside. “I am aware of the rules, elder. But there's an army marching on our territories, is there not? Those rules no longer apply. I have no dragon's hide for you, no means to reinforce the warding spell that protects these lands. For this reason, I have brought outside aid. The alternative... is to hand the Lake over to our enemies.” She sighed, eying the elders in turn. “Is that what you would prefer?”
The old Fae, settled in their ways and still coping with their outrage, fell into uncomfortable silence.
“This is Kaleb, a trusted ally. The others are friends of his—dragons who have learned about the threat we face, and who have offered their strength in the hopes of repelling it. I know the customs of our people, the rules we have in place... but I ask you, during these desperate times, to make an exception.”
“There can be no exceptions to—” began one of the elders.
Another interrupted him, however. “This is outrageous... but...” He looked to the water, then to the sky, tracking the movement of the clouds overhead. “There is something afoot, yes. It draws near.” He jabbed a gnarled finger at the dragons loitering on shore. “You have come as defenders, eh? Come to the aid of the Fae?” He snorted dismissively, but did not put up any further resistance. “You would do well to stay put. You, miss, should come with us.”
“Where are we going?” asked Minx, taking a tentative step in their direction.
“To the outpost,” said the elder, still studying the dragons with disgust. “There is one who anticipated your arrival; you have much to discuss with him, Dragon Hunter.” There was something mocking, sarcastic to his tone as he so addressed her.
Minx fell into step behind the pair of elders, reaching out to Mau as she did so. Stay with the dragons, will you? Keep an eye on them and make sure the elders don't get too uppity.
Will do... though I'm still not convinced this was a great idea, replied the Faelyr.
The austere compound used by the elders on the edge of Heilo Lake was a single story and filled out by a succession of small rooms arranged in circular fashion around a large parlor. These small rooms were the private quarters of the individual Fae elders, who lived simple and quiet lives in relative seclusion from the rest of her people. The parlor was used for important meetings, and as Minx entered, she found it was not empty. A handful of other elders awaited her, their expressions ranging between shock and disdain.
But there was another Fae among them, this one a bit younger and clad in a white cloak that stood out from the earthy robes of the elders, whose role she couldn't guess. He wasn't one of the elders, and appeared quite calm as he waited on the other side of the large table at room's center. He smiled at her narrowly, thin face framed in locks of long, black hair.
Minx was led to a seat, and without warning the elders stealthily shuffled out of the building, leaving her alone at the table with the smiling stranger. She watched as the elders exited, taking their places around the exterior of the compound and muttering amongst themselves. “I... I don't believe we've met,” began Minx. “Who are you? And what am I doing here?”
The man settled softly into a seat of his own and crossed his legs, white robes rustling. “Tell me, miss... have you been having any strange dreams recently? Visions, perhaps?”
She leaned forward. “Strange dreams? What is this about?”
He smiled enigmatically. “I think you know what I mean.” He thrust his chin toward the exit door—and, presumably, the Lake.
He knows I've been dreaming about the Lake? He knows that... the Lake has been reaching out to me? Minx hesitated, not sure she could trust the man. “How... how do you know that I—”
“How do I know that Heilo Lake has been visiting you in dreams, relaying an important message?” He gave a playful shrug of his shoulders. “It's simple; the Lake told me as much.”
She startled. “T-The Lake speaks to you, too?”
He nodded. “I am a priest affiliated with the Silence.” Studying her expression very closely, he went on. “You've heard of us, I know, but surely you have many questions... We shall cover those in time. At present, we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
“Hold on,” insisted Minx, “how do you know me? What is the Silence? My father, he mentioned it... and the Lake, too...”
The priest produced a slip of paper from his pocket and slid it across the table toward her. It was a small thing, featuring only the shape of a crescent moon on its face. “The Silence protects, no matter the cost,” he said with a cryptic smile. “We are guardians—and your parents, Minx, are servants of the Silence. As I
