attempts to find them have failed. Even if I knew where to look for them, I could not leave the city for more than a few hours without arousing suspicion. But Linden is outside the Empress’s power-”
“And so you would send her out into the world to hunt for the Children of Rhys on your behalf?” said Valerian incredulously. “A girl of fifteen with nothing but glamour to protect her, and these Blackwing brothers pursuing her all the while?” She rose from her chair. “No. This is madness. There must be another way.”
“There is no refuge for Linden here,” insisted Rob. “With the little magic you have, you cannot hold the Oak against the Blackwings, not even for a moment. You must send Linden away if the rest of your people are to survive-and is it not better to send her out with a purpose than with no direction at all?”
“But if Linden leaves us, the Oak will still be at risk,” objected Valerian. “We need her to sustain the glamour that hides our doors and windows from human eyes-her spells may be weak and unpracticed, but they are all the protection we have.”
“I can help you with that,” said Rob. “I have no skill with illusion, but if you close your shutters I can command this tree to grow a fresh layer of bark across them, until only a slit remains. You will have air and a little light, and no human will guess your Oak is inhabited-at least, not so long as you draw your curtains and guard your lamps carefully after nightfall.”
Linden held her breath, watching Valerian. The new Queen’s head was bowed, her eyes shut. At last she said, “Even the Sight cannot counsel me otherwise. I accept your offer. Linden will go.”
Fearful excitement fluttered through Linden. She had another chance to help the Oakenfolk-and now, it seemed, Rob and his people as well.
“Yet one thing still troubles me,” Valerian went on. “If the Blackwings are so swift, so powerful, and so ruthless-how can Linden and Timothy hope to escape them even for a little while, let alone stay ahead of them long enough to find the Children of Rhys?”
“I know!” said Linden. “We can take the train!” After all, it had worked for her and Timothy before, and even the strongest ravens could only fly so fast or so far…
Valerian looked at Rob.
“It is possible,” said Rob. “My people dislike train stations, for the scent of so many humans together is unpleasant to us, and we have our own methods of journeying from one place to another. Most faeries loyal to the Empress would scorn to travel in such a way-and that pride may prove to be their weakness.”
The Queen sighed. “I can only pray that you are right,” she said. “But so be it. Linden, go quickly now and say your farewells, and pack what you need for the journey. As soon as Timothy and Knife return, you must go.” She took Linden by the shoulders and stooped to kiss her brow, adding softly, “And may the Great Gardener watch over you.”
The sun was high over the rooftops of Oakhaven by the time Timothy and Peri returned. Peri backed the car into the drive, so they could get away quickly if need be, and the two of them sprinted into the house shouting, “Good news!”
Paul wheeled quickly to meet them in the corridor. “It worked? You actually found out about the Children of Rhys on the internet?”
Timothy nodded and held up the pages he’d printed at the library. “I’ve got a legend that tells where the Children are and how to find them. I don’t know how much truth there is to the story, but it’s the best chance we’ve got…” He looked over at Peri, who nodded and said, “Off you go. Hurry.”
“Where’s he going?” asked Paul as Timothy raced up the stairs. He was nearly at the top when he heard Peri reply in a rueful tone, “Well, that would be the bad news.”
Even so, there was one good thing about knowing his life was in danger, thought Timothy as he stuffed some more clothes in his backpack. If nothing else, it had made him very wide awake.
Reluctantly he shoved his guitar a little farther under the bed-he wished he could take it with him, but it would only get in the way. He was heading down the stairs again when a tentative knock sounded at the back of the house. Timothy hurried down the hallway just as Peri unlatched the glass door and Linden burst inside, human- sized and quivering with nervous excitement.
“I’m so sorry I worried you. I know I should have left a note-”
“Never mind that,” said Peri, quickly returning Linden’s embrace. “I’m just glad you’re-” She broke off, frowning. “What’s that bird doing out there?”
“It’s Rob,” said Linden. “He came with me from the Oak, but he can’t come in unless you invite him. Would you?”
“Of course,” said Peri sweetly, but there was a dangerous gleam in her eye. She flung the door open and addressed the robin on the veranda, “Greetings, Rob of London. I am Perianth, also known as Knife, Queen’s Hunter and chief protector of the Oak. I may be human now, but I was born as much a faery as you are, and if you dare to use magic on me without my permission again, I will shoot you.” She stepped back, holding the door wide. “Now that that’s settled, will you come in?”
Timothy had never seen a bird look embarrassed before, let alone contrite, but this one did. He fluttered over the threshold, unfolded himself into six feet of lanky height, and stood meekly by Linden’s side.
“Well?” asked Paul.
Rob looked down at his feet, and all at once Timothy realized that the male faery was younger than he’d thought. It was only Rob’s formal way of speaking, and that ageless look all grown faeries seemed to share, that had fooled him. “Cold iron,” Rob said in a subdued voice. “If you have a piece small enough for Timothy to carry, it will weaken any spells that the Blackwings try to cast over him.”
“Good suggestion,” Paul remarked. “But if it affects faery magic, won’t it weaken Linden too?”
“It will make it hard for her to cast spells on Timothy, yes. And she must take care not to touch the iron herself, or she will not be able to use her magic for some time afterward. But believe me, the benefit of carrying such a talisman will be far greater than any risk.”
“Right,” said Paul, turning to Peri. “There’s a key in the old trunk upstairs that should do the trick.” Then as she started off he added, “And while you’re up there, bring down my suitcase, will you? I need to pack.”
“Suitcase?” exclaimed Timothy. “Where are you going?”
“Good question,” Peri said, turning to face her husband with her hands on her hips. “I thought we agreed that I’m going with them.”
“No doubt they’d be glad if you did,” said Paul. “But the Oakenfolk need you here. Besides, I’m Timothy’s guardian, so if anybody’s going to drive him to the back end of Wales, it ought to be me.”
Linden’s eyes lit with sudden hope. “Wales? You mean you’ve found out where the Children of Rhys are?” But then Rob spoke up:
“Your intentions are noble, human, and I cannot fault your courage. But a single car, once identified, is easily tracked-and as Timothy and your mate can tell you, easily intercepted as well. Also, the Blackwings must take Linden and Timothy alive to earn the Empress’s reward, but they have no such command concerning you. I do not advise it.”
Peri dropped into the chair next to Paul, her face a portrait of frustration. “But someone has to go with you,” she said to Timothy and Linden. “It’s dangerous, and you’re far too young.”
“It’s a good thing no one told you that when you were fifteen and fighting crows twice your size with the blade of my old craft knife,” said Paul. “Somehow I don’t think it would have gone over very well.” But a corner of his mouth turned up as he said it, and he put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek with a tenderness that held no reproach.
Peri relaxed a little. “Yes, but-”
She was interrupted by a frantic pattering at the door. They all looked around to see Thorn crouched on the veranda, hammering on the glass with both fists.
Instantly Peri leaped up and threw the door open. The faery flashed inside, shouting, “Close it! Close it now!”
“What’s going on?” Peri asked as Thorn dropped to the mantelpiece, one hand pressed to her heaving ribs.
“Saw them-from the top of the Oak,” gasped Thorn. “Two of them-too big for crows. Flying in from the northwest.”
Rob went very still, and his eyes became distant, as though he was listening. “She is right,” he said at last.
