"The Book of Fairies is not a touchstone after which the fae folk lives, although it should be. It's more of a code of honour. A set of moral laws that all fairies should be guided by, "Thyme's strong voice echoed clearly in the large meeting room at the base of the castle.

Thyme was a demanding teacher. Unlike Rosemary and Parsley, who preferred to teach surrounded by plants, creatures, and sensations of all sorts, Thyme's method of teaching was based on strict rules that his students did not have to deviate from. Any form of distraction was annihilated. That is why he had chosen the large meeting room in which there was only a long stone table with twelve chairs made of the same hard, cold stone. Nothing else.

His loud voice hit the high, bare walls and resonated, reinforcing his words. It was as if he had a chorus of teachers repeating every word that came out of his mouth. Even the flames of the torches that lit up the room trembled at his voice.

Thyme was talking, crossing the length of the room from one end to the other with a big, determined pace. Sitting at the long table, Ragnall, Oona, Ferry, and Matilda were all quietly listening, not daring to move. Even Oona was calm and watched Thyme with wide eyes. She was a little too close to Ferry, and Ferry could smell the fresh scent of wildflowers that always accompanied her. At some distance, to his right, there was Matilda. Ferry watched her out of the corner of his eye from time to time as Thyme turned his back. The girl sat upright and a little tense, looking at Thyme intently. From time to time, she frowned, and Ferry could tell she didn't quite agree with what she was learning. But knowing her there, so close to him and yet far away, made him feel happy and miserable at the same time.

"Because fae people have magical powers," continued Thyme, "the Wise had to find ways to keep their magic under control. These are the rules that guide us to live a just, honorable life, in peace and good understanding between us and all the creatures and beasts around us. Some fairies choose not to follow them," he said, staring into Oona's eyes, and the redhead fairy looked back at him without blinking, with the same intensity. "But in this world, in Akna, the Book of Fairies is sacred. Of course, you can choose not to follow them,  but you have to expect consequences, " he said, looking at each one. "Because sooner or later fate will find a way to punish you. So, without further ado, you should know the five rules of the Book. Raghnall, could you tell everyone, please? " he addressed the young elf, who shuddered at the sound of his own name.

Ragh stood up, straight and proud as if he were at some parade, cleared his throat, then began to recite loud and clear in front of his small but attentive audience.

"Rule number one: a fairy must not hurt another fairy by magical means unless they arein danger of being injured themselves. Rule number two: a fairy must not hide in the shelter of the power of being invisible in order to follow another fairy from the shadows unless it is for the good of many. Rule number three: a fae must not use the magical power upon another fae if they don't have equal powers. Rule number four: don't make a promise unless you keep it or terrible wrath will fall upon you. Rule number five: debts must always be repaid. "

Then Ragnall took a deep breath, proud as a child reciting a poem by heart.

"Thank you, Ragnall," Thyme said. "As you can see, the Book refers to all 300 races of fairies, whatever they may be. Solacers, Amalghams, Dryads, Gnomes, Goblins... Because Akna obeys the laws of the Book of Fairies, all fairies living here, permanently or temporarily, must obey our laws. "

"I don't agree," Ferry heard Matilda's clear voice beside him, and she smiled to himself at the thought that she hadn't changed much since she had come to Akna. She remained the same free and untamed spirit. "I think these rules were made only in favour of fairies. So a fairy can't hurt another fairy by magic, but can they hurt another being? Let's say... a human? "

Thyme frowned. "These rules were created by fairies for fairies. What do humans have to do with all this? "

"Well... they do. Since there have always been humans living in their world, I believe these rules should be adapted to them. They have the same rights as any other person living here. "

Thyem sighed. "Matt, humans have nothing to do with this discussion," he said, but he didn't seem so sure.

"What about humans who turn into fairies?"

Thyme frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, in Tenalach, people who live long enough among fairies to forget their old lives turn into fairies and have to obey the laws of the place. Why doesn't the same thing happen here? "

In the high room, there was now silence. Thyme lowered his eyes and took a long breath, but said nothing.

"I'm afraid the human girl is right," Oona said.

"We're not in Tenalach here, Oona," Thyme said, and Ferry watched as his jaw clenched. "So each of you must obey the laws of Akna, whether you like it or not."

"But how do we obey laws that do not respect us?" Matilda continued, untroubled.

Thyme looked her straight in the eye, but she didn't look away. Instead, she lifted her chin and looked back at him.

"In order to obey the laws of a place, you must first know the place. Get to know its people," he said at last. "To observe them in their daily lives, how they live and how they behave. This place is just a small, small part of what Akna really means. So get ready for a trip, all of you! " he said loudly.

"Where are we going?" Ferry asked.

"I have some work to do in the nearest village. And you will accompany me. There is no better way to get to know people than to spend time with them. Your father, Garrett, he used to do this quite often. He disguised himself and set off, mingling with the crowd. Whether he was staying at an inn, or at the harvest festival, or simply visiting a fair, it was the easiest way to get to know his people and their joys or needs. So I think it would suit you. It would suit you all," he added firmly, looking at each one. "The lesson is over, you can go," he said, then turned and left the room in an instant, leaving only a stream of cold air behind, with a patch corner of his black cloak waving before the heavy oak door closed with a loud thud.

***

On the other side of the portal Thyme had led them to, there was a caravan pulled by a black stallion with a tar-like mane. The coachman, an Amalgham with a large, sour hat beneath which the panther's features could be seen, greeted Thyme with a short gesture and pulled out the thick curtain that covered the entrance to the caravan. Thyme was the first to enter, searching the interior of the caravan in detail. Then, he motioned for the others to enter. The caravan belonged to a woodcarver, so in addition to tools of all kinds, from spoons to buckets, there were other objects intended for more pleasant occupations: wooden toys, pin mills, puppets, cups and balls, all stacked in wooden boxes at the bottom of the caravan. It was hot inside. A few blankets were placed next to the walls, on either side. The caravan smelled of resin and glue.

An entire suite accompanied Ferry. Besides Raghnall, Oona and Matilda, whom he knew would be his companions, all four of his guards were present; they were also joined by Stot, at Lord Stephan's command. After the conversation Ferry had caught between Leomh and Stot, he thought he should be careful around him.

Under the long, thick cloaks that covered them almost completely, Ferry had noticed that most of his companions wore weapons on their belts or in the lining of their boots. Even Matilda had taken the dagger from Sage that Ferry had seen in the interior of the tunic she always wore. As the presence of humans with the fairies was at least suspicious in Akna, Matilda had to disguise herself as an Amalgham young woman. Now, two cat ears made of felt and sewn on a velvet headband that looked exactly like the color of her brown hair crowned her head. Matilda also had to wear a long woolen dress, which upset her terribly, and Ferry heard her mumble and complain all the way to the caravan. Her dress had been caught in bushes several times, so Sage always run to save her which Ferry found particularly annoying. Sage always had to play the role of the savior, even if Matilda wasn't really a damsel in distress.

But all this preparation told Ferry one thing -- that this trip had been planned in the smallest detail long before. And that its purpose was somehow different or at least secondary to Ferry's knowledge of his country and people.

They set off. The caravan was quite crowded. Each had found a place on the thick cloth beds. Ferry had been joined almost immediately by Thyme and Stot, the most experienced warriors in the group. Oona had tried to sneak past him, but Thyme had remained unflinched, so the red-head fairy had no choice but to retreat at the back of the caravan.

On the other side, Matilda sat on the blanket Sage had arranged for her, then hurried to take his place next to her. Parsley and Rosemary, too, sat down, touching each other from time to time as the caravan rumbled. They looked at each other from the corner of their eyes and smiled, without saying anything.

Raghnall was happy to join Oona, and Ferry was now listening to them talk like two children who have so much to say but can't find the words.

"I wish I could take Cub with me," Oona said softly, as she usually did when she really said how she felt. "What is she going to do, the poor thing, without me?" she sighed.

"I'm sure Mother Enid will take the utmost care of her," Ragh tried to reconcile her.

"What if she gets sick? What if she eats poisoned corn Sage has put in the mousetrap? " she continued, more and more agitated.

Ragh smiled and patted her lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Cub looks like a smart fox. The animals know who to turn to when in need. They always make the best choices," he said.

"You think so?" Oona asked.

"I know so," Ragh smiled.

Oona smiled too, and for a moment, a strange gleam, which Ferry had never seen before, appeared in her eyes. Oona wrapped Raghnall in a warm look, and the young elf smiled shyly, not knowing how to behave in front of such proof of affection.

But the gleam in Oona's eyes disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and a proud and defiant look took its place. Her voice became harsh when she asked him, "Tell him, Ragh, what were you doing the other day in the clearing by the swamp?"

For a few moments, Raghnall stood still. He then pulled away from her and looked away. "I was just passing through..."

"Are you passing by every time I swim in the lake? Because every time, I saw you sneaking through the trees or flying over the lake, " she continued without losing sight of him.

"Well, I'm looking for a place to make sure there's no intruder. I have to be vigilant... "

"Vigilant how? Spying on someone? " Oona replied.

Raghnall said nothing more. Oona's voice had covered all the other voices in the caravan. The young elf retreated even further, and remained in a corner of the caravan, by the wooden boxes, like a puppy scolded by his mistress.

Silence fell for a few minutes. All that could be heard was the rumbling of wheels passing over ditches and country roads. The distance from the portal to the next village was rather long, but Thyme had chosen this route so that no one would know where they came from and what their purpose was. And Ferry had learned that they were going to pretend to be wood crafters who had come to sell their wares at the village fair.

Ferry peeked at Matilda, who was sitting on the other side of the caravan. The girl seemed calm, unaffected by the discussions around her. Ferry was especially glad that she didn't seem at all interested in Sage's constant chatter; he was bubbling funny stories of which he laughed by himself. Matilda replied from time to time, and Sage laughed even louder. If he could, Ferry would have slapped him on the back of his head and wiped that grin from his face.

Sometimes, the girl glanced at him and smiled when their eyes met. And Ferry felt a wave of heat taking over him again and felt he could fly to the heights of the sky without even leaving the caravan.

"I would be careful in your place," he heard Stot's harsh voice beside him.

Ferry had thought he was sleeping all this time under his hood.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Because humans only bring trouble," he added without looking at him, still in the shelter of the hood that completely covered his face. "This world is not suited for them. And neither for human lovers, " he said in a tone harsher than a mountain peak consumed by rain and wind.

"Not all people mean trouble," Ferry said confidently.

Stot pulled the hood off his face and stood up, "Well, I don't know any human who has done any good to this place."

"If you could see what wonderful things the human mind can do," Ferry said softly, which made him look unsure of what he was saying.

But Stot shook his head. "Humans are selfish and lazy. They create the wonderful things you talk about just to make their life easier. And they destroy everything around them as they do so. Have you ever wondered why our fairy world, as people call it, doesn't seem to be evolving? Why did we stay in the middle ages of humans? "

Ferry shook his head. He had often wondered why there was no technology in the fairy world. But he thought that maybe magic was enough for their world to work.

"Imagine what our world would look like with cars that would poison our air. With buildings for which the trees must die to make room for them. With factories where fairies work and get sick. With guns to kill us, " he said, looking at Matilda, and Ferry could read the hatred in his voice. "That's why people are not welcome here," he concluded briefly.

"And yet there are humans living in this world," Ferry insisted.

Stot pulled his hood over his face again. "It's because they're too stupid to resist. My advice is to stay away from them. That's if it's not too late, "he said, and turned his back on Ferry, covering himself completely with his cloak.

All the rest of the way, Ferry just wondered why Aknanias (and Solacers in particular) had such a bad opinion of people. All he knew was that Matilda was not at all the way they saw her. She was brave, and smart, and beautiful. And kind under all her tough mask. And Ferry looked at her again. Now Matilda was carving a spike with a knife, and Sage was watching her every move, proof that a fairy can be fascinated by a human just as much as fairies were so attractive to a man.

But it wasn't just Matilda. Ben, May, his mother... And at the memory of her, Ferry felt that ache in his chest again, making it hard to breathe. But then maybe Stot was right. Not all humans were good. And he had met the worst sort, the sort he would walk on corpses to get what he wanted. And that was the most dangerous kind.

For the rest of the journey, Ferry was lost in thought, thinking of all this new world that never ceases to amaze him, whose mysteries deepened as time passed.  

All around him, all his companions were silent, and some of them were dozing, swaying by the slow movements of the caravan. Rosemary rested her head on Parsley's shoulder, and he pressed his cheek to her soft hair. Oona crouched down, her legs clenched to her chest, and Raghnall remained in his corner like a punished puppy. Sage was sleeping next to Matilda with his head resting on his wide arm (and too hairy, in Ferry's opinion). Matilda rested her chin on her knees with her thoughts away. The girl was right in front of him. If he had stretched his leg, Ferry would have touched her boot. But he didn't do it because Matilda hadn't even looked at him as if he hadn't been there.

"I wouldn't mind Stot's words," Ferry heard Thyme's harsh but confident voice beside him. "He has an aversion to people. People are neither bad nor good. Like fairies, for that matter... "

His raven guard seemed to be reading his mind. Ferry thought he had slept all this time. But Thyme was too vigilant to fall asleep. He wouldn't risk leaving him unattended, and Ferry knew that.

A loud jolt announced to all the passengers that they had arrived. All his companions woke up, happy and with a joy of life.

They stopped at an inn on the edge of the village for resting. Thyme had paid a few coins for two rooms.

They had buffalo cheese with fresh bread and honey-sweetened jasmine tea, after which each retreated to a corner of the inn. The walls, built of river stones, were covered with thick woolen rugs to keep the heat of the fire burning in the fireplace.

By the fire, a few dwarfs, silverware merchants, had gathered for stories. Oona took Ferry by the hand and pulled him closer so they could hear better. The dwarves drank ail and raised their large mugs from time to time, splashing around with drops of white foam. Raghnall and Stot followed closely, not losing sight of Ferry. The others stayed at the table where they had dined, watching out for anyone entering the door. While Thyme and Parsley were nowhere to be seen.

Sage had also ordered ail, which he enjoyed in peace. From time to time, he leaned over Matilda who was sitting next to him, and the mere thought of his stinking breath on her face made Ferry sick. But Matilda didn't seem to care. She was talking to Rosemary, who was sitting on her other side. But this time she wasn't looking at him either, so Ferry decided to take Oona's cold, tight hand without resisting. They both sat down in low chairs so that they could better hear the dwarves' stories.

"Once, I made a man follow me through the forest to the door between the worlds," laughed one of them; he was wearing a green tunic and a matching cap with a tassel on the top. "And the poor fool fell into the trap and remained in our world forever."

"The easiest to attract are the berry pickers. You'd say they look like gems for them, I'm telling you. People just can't resist wild fruits, idiots. It is enough to find a few bushes and they forgot all about themselves. It's so easy to take them out of their world, " said the second who wore a brown leather vest and green felt pants. He was darker and rounder than the first.

"You should see their faces when they realize they've gone the wrong way. And that they can't go back, "the first one chuckled.

Ferry didn't find anything funny in their stories. Why was taking them necessary in this world? He thought the fairies of Akna despised people. But he was beginning to understand...

"I was lucky that he was young and strong, suitable for hard work," added the second dwarf. "I got a hundred gold coins for him. You just have to pick the young ones."

"Or children," the other dwarf added. "Children grow up in our world and then serve us. Sometimes the old ones get here by mistake. Damn it! " he snorted, kicking the ground. "But there's a cure for it. Since they can't say what they saw, we can't just send them back... "

 "Rightly so. Or have them— " And the little creature made a gesture with his finger around his neck, bursting out laughing.

Ferry shuddered. He could barely breathe and his whole body was tensed. So that's why young people were kept in the fairy world: to become their slaves. And if any man was unlucky enough to be older, he would either lose his mind or die... Oona caught his reaction and Ferry read the uneasiness in her eyes.

The first dwarf suddenly became serious. "But you know that lately, humans coming from the other side are getting rarer. Sentinels have appeared. Our own people! Saving humans! Imagine! It could be any of us, mark my words, "he said, throwing suspicious looks around. "Even this young Solacer," he added, pointing to Ferry with his short finger and raising his chin as if to sniff him.

Stot and Raghnall approached and the dwarf fell silent.

"Calm down now, Snot," said his dwarf mate, glancing slightly worriedly at the two elves. "I am sure that anyone who dares to save the people who set foot on our land know what punishment awaits them. And the punishments are not easy: either their powers are taken away, they are turned into wood or - "

"- or they get to the you-know-which place..."

"Ooh, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. Think of the cold in that place, "said the dwarf, shuddering.

"Cold is a piece of cake. Think of the creature that rules over those places, " said his friend.

"You are right. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes... "

"That's what they deserve for being human lovers," Snot said, spitting into the fire.

Ferry could no longer hold it together. He got up from his stool, his fists clenched. The chair hit the stone floor and all eyes turned to him.

The two dwarfs were now watching him from their small height.

"What are you doing here, stranger?" Snot asked him.

Now all his friends gathered around him.

Ferry stammered. "I-- I came to the fair. I am a carpenter's apprentice... "

The dwarves looked at him more closely. Oona rushed to slip between them. The red hair fluttering behind her almost covered Ferry.

"Hey, how about a song to cheer us up?" she said loudly, drawing all eyes on her.

And without waiting, she began to sing a cheerful song and topple to its rhythm, right in the middle of the inn. Just in time for Stot and Ragh to get Ferry out of the inn and out of the curious eyes of everyone.

In the colder air, Ferry felt Stot's strong arm tighten and push him rather brutally.

"What do you think you were doing there, Prince Garret?" he gnarled. "Don't you realize that you were endangering yourself and all of us?"

"I'm sorry," Ferry said, "but I couldn't stand to hear them talk like that about those I grew up with."

"When will you understand that humans only bring problems?" Stot said through clenched teeth. Then he let go of his arm and walked away from them.

"Where is he going?" Ferry asked Raghnall.

"Ignore him," the young elf replied. "Stot is rather odd. He always does that when it comes to humans. He doesn't like them. He never liked them and I doubt he ever will. "

***

Rest time passed without further incident. Truth be told, Ferry had barely been able to sleep because of Sage's snoring, who, after a few mugs of beer and a whole fried goose, was sleeping so deeply, not even a  cannon could have wake him up.

When they went down for a meal before going to the fair, the inn was empty. Except for Ferry and his group, all the inn clients had disappeared. Ferry was especially glad he didn't have to run into the spying dwarves he'd been dealing with. And he was glad that Matilda had smiled at him when she saw him. It seemed like a promising day.

The innkeeper, a wild boar-amalgham with a round belly the size of a barrel who spoke with grunts, brought them fresh milk and bread with cream and honey. He then left without stopping from bowing and hurried to discuss something in a whisper with the coachman. 

Suddenly, the double doors of the inn slammed open and Thyme appeared. But he wasn't alone. He was followed by the tallest woman Ferry had ever seen. Her head was covered with a helmet and she wore silver armor over her feathered chest. In the back, the huge white wings, now folded, swept the ground behind. The woman was accompanied by three other equally imposing bird-women.

The innkeeper greeted them all with repeated bows and, without looking up, led them to another room next to the dining room. Ferry caught a glimpse of the bird-woman's piercing gaze scrutinizing him before the doors closed.

"Looks like Thyme is here on business," Oona whispered beside him. Even she seemed impressed by the appearance of the winged women.

"Are you ready?" Stot asked, startling them all. "We have to go."

"Where are we going?" Sage asked, approaching.

"At the fair, of course," Stot replied shortly. "But remember, we have to stay together, and Prince Garrett must always be in the middle. We can visit the whole fair, but at the same time, we must be careful about anything that may seem suspicious. The ways in which the enemy can attack us are many and unexpected. And most of all, you have to listen to me. Until Thyme finishes his... business, I'm responsible. "

But Sage didn't seem to agree, "I can't answer on behalf of everyone, but I think Thyme should have let us know first that we need to listen to you. I, for one, am not going to listen to a Solacer who loves only weapons and salad, " he said without looking intimidated by Stot.

Parsley intervened, "Why doesn't anyone take responsibility for themselves and take care of each other?" As long as we hide and mingle with the crowd, I don't think there's any danger. Besides, any of us, with or without magic, can defend Garrett... "

"Parsley is right," Rosemary said. "Let's have a nice day. I think we all deserve it, after all this time... "

Stot nodded, eventually. "All right. As long as we don't draw attention to ourselves and move away from each other, and speak in Elvian, I guess we can have a quiet day, for a change, " he said with a sigh. "Now let's go! And don't forget: if anyone asks, we are wood carvers who came to the fair. "

They all left the inn as if preparing for the biggest adventure. Oona's slender figure slipped like a whirlwind until she reached Ferry again. She thrust her sharp elbows into his arm, clutching it with both arms, smiling in the corner of her mouth. Stot and Raghnall (who seemed terribly depressed to Ferry) led the way, followed by Sage and Matilda who passed Ferry again as if he didn't exist. Parsley and Rosemary ended the line.

The weather was warm, and the star, though paler, shone over the stone-paved road to the center of the village, where the fair was being held.

The town was not as lively as Ferry had expected, a sign that most of the villagers were already at the fair. Roads paved with river stone meandered through tall, sharp houses that sprang up around every corner. As in Tenalach, the houses embraced the trees, facing the sky, small temples worshipped by their inhabitants.

The air was cool, soaked with the scent of climbing flowers that adorned the walls of houses, made of the same silver stone over which time had woven a thin layer of lichen. A thin mist, finely stinging their faces, was spread over them like a light veil of light. Everywhere, the gentle wind brought the merry chirp of songbirds. And Ferry thought for a moment that he might love this place.

As they were quietly walking, a long scream broke the calm around. In front of a house, two guards of the Palace, together with an older fairy-woman, were trying to make a younger fairy detach herself from a basket of twigs. The young fairy's fingers were clenched on the handle, and her face shone from the streams of tears that flowed from her eyes. Her honey-colored hair was unkempt, and it swept the cobwebs. Her dress was wet and stained, but she didn't care. From the wicker basket could be heard the whine of a child.

"Don't take my baby from me! Please, don't take my baby! " the poor creature was begging.

Ferry and his group stopped on their way.

The old fairy was trying her best to take the basket away from her. "Shailah, you have to let her go. This is how it's done."

"But it's my baby, mine!" cried the poor fairy, begging like a haunted animal. "Don't take her from me, I beg you..."

The old fairy, most likely a nanny from a shelter, made a sign and one of the guards snatched the basket and brutally pushed the young mother to the ground.

The fairy crawled towards them, her hands outstretched. "My baby, my baby," she kept on moaning.

The two guards then saw the group of travelers and glared at them.

"We have to go! Now!" Stot said under his breath. And he hurried to a side alley, followed by everyone else.

But Oona did not move. Her eyes were fixed on the young mother, who was struggling and shouting. When their eyes met, the fairy clasped her hands to her chest. "Help me," she begged Oona in a faint voice.

Stot turned to her. "What do you think you're doing? We have to go!" he said through gritted teeth. And he grabbed her arm, trying to pull her after him. But she did not move as if she were made of stone. She was standing there as if under a spell, her eyes fixed on the poor fairy who was trembling and sobbing.

Ferry felt danger in the air. He left the corner of the house and the shade that protected them. "Oona, we have to go! We are in danger here. "

The two guards exchanged glances and one of them started towards them. Raghnall, who had stayed with the others, made a big leap in flight and he was was near Oona.

"Oona, we have to go," he said softly, stretching out his hand. The red-haired fairy looked up at him  as if she had discovered him for the first time. She gave him her her hand. Together, they left under the searching eyes of the guards and the nanny.

"You're mad? What happened there?" Stot shouted as soon as they were away from danger. "You put Prince Garrett and all of us in danger!"

"They had no right to take her child!" Oona shouted back, not intimidated by his roar. "It was her baby! What idiotic laws are these in which a child is taken away from his mother? "

"It's the laws that make our world work!" Stot said firmly. "And are you coming to question the laws of the ancestors who have worked so well for so long?"

"There are old laws that no longer fit today's times," Oona did not let go, continuing to walk. "They are cruel and do no good to the mother or the child."

"These old and idiotic laws, as you call them, make our fairy world big enough to reach everyone. Look what's happening in the human world. They have taken possession of the land, the water and the air that does not belong to them. They are growing, and growing, and distroing it! "

"People at least have families! Beings to come to when they need help. Or support. "

"Families? Then why do fathers abandon their children? Why do young people abandon their elders? Where is the help or support in that? "

"Not all humans are the same!" cried Oona.

"Oh, really?" Stot shouted back. "Are you a lover of humans now? In fact, I should have known. Human blood is flowing through your veins. It is the human blood that makes you talk like that. "

Matilda, who until then had witnessed the scene, felt the need to intervene, "Not all humans are the same, Stot," she said in a calm but firm voice. "Some families really love each other. And they don't abandon each other... "

Stot looked at her as if looking at a rat. "They don't? What about your mother? "

"My mother did not abandon us," she said, her voice trembling. "She was taken from us..."

"Is that so?" grinned Stot. "Then why didn't she come back? From what I understand, she was the favorite of the great warrior of Tenalach. "

Matilda stopped. "What do you mean by that?"

Sage hurried to her side. "Be careful what you say, elf!" he hissed as he passed Stot by. Then he put his arm around the girl's shoulders. "Let's go, Matt," he said softly. "Don't mind him. We'll get to the fair soon."

But the girl removed his hand and started in front of everyone. The others hurried to follow her.

Parsley had been right: there were so many people gathered at the fair that one could hardly have guessed that they had come from afar. And the farther they went, the louder the agitation, the louder the voices, and the louder the noise.

Soon, they barely made their way through Amalghams, Solacers, Dwarfs, Gnomes, Goblins, Nymphs, and many other fairy breeds that Ferry had not yet learned about. He surrendered to the wave of laughter, squeaks, color, and noise that reigned over the entire fair.

Like most fairy villages, this, too was built in a circle, a sign that fae folk celebrated the stars, their light, and warmth, wherever they were. Here and there, the circle was broken, leaving room for the river to flow, but also for the bridges or footbridges that connected two opposite parts of the village.

The merchants' stalls were placed in smaller circles, then placed in other larger ones forming a colorful maze in the shape of a snail shell. The world around him was so lively and tumultuous, that Ferry felt overwhelmed for a moment.

Everywhere there were stalls full of wonders that only in the world of fairies could be found: fir resin beads, honeycomb pearls, whistles that perfectly mimicked the birds of the air, talismans with mirror stones that showed other worlds, earrings that made you hear even the smallest noise in the distant forests. Then came the stalls of tailors with their clothes that made you smaller or larger, as needed, or that made you look like one with the forest or the earth; silks lighter than air and as clear as it, shoes that made you fly and charged with the light of the star, and shoes that made you run faster. All around, there were baskets full of small, shimmering fruit and nuts of all kinds that were sold in bark glasses. Whole sheaves of healing plants. Candles with the most tempting (and curious) scents: scents of bark, rain, dust, wind, but also scents of longing, memories or tears that were made to order by a dwarf with a braided beard, decorated with small gold jewelry. Then, there were the scents of the most varied dishes: pudding, tarts, custards, patties, wafers, pancakes, marzipan cakes, gingerbread, tarts, cheese pies. Then soups, stews, but also steaks because not all fairies ate greens.

Among the fair-goers, there were street vendors with their carts full of fresh fruits and vegetables, but also snack vendors: honeycombs strung on a string, donuts twisted on a stick, biscuits with all the seeds of the earth, dried fruits and drinks from the most unusual fruits.

And since a fun-free fair could not be, Ferry recognized some of the many games he'd encountered in the human world as well: archery at the target (only the target was enchanted and always moving) or inserting flying rings on a stick.

On the edge, there were the craftsmen's stalls: potters, carpenters, glassmakers, and mirrors, or stone craftsmen. Ferry saw the coachman that had brought them to the village, proudly showing his merchandise to some Solacers.

And he realized that what made the biggest impression on him was the people of those places. The people of Akna. His people. They were cheerful, full of life, confident, colorful, full of hope, hardworking, and devoted. He had seen no sign, not even one, that they were threatened by the forces of the enemy. And then again, where was that dreaded enemy he had been told so much about for so long? Why hadn't he seen any of them? Why didn't he feel their presence? Why didn't anyone seem to be afraid?

But, through the multitude of happy faces and the sea of ​​laughter and shouts, some beings, fewer, it was true, stood out from the rest. They walked with their backs bent and their eyes on the ground. They trembled at a louder voice or a louder laughter. They wore red. They were the humans who lived in the world of fairies. Almost shadows, almost unseen... lost in that landscape that vibrated with life and color.

And yet, all the wonders that stood in their way made Ferry and his friends forget for a while about what had happened in the village. Oona's gaze brightened a little. Ragh bought her a colored pinwheel made of leaves and Oona finally smiled. They both began to wander the less crowded stalls, their shoulders touching from time to time. But that closeness didn't seem to bother any of them.

Parsley and Rosemary were left behind, enchanted by a stall full of healing plants at the edge of the fair. And Ferry now had to follow Matilda and Sage with Stot's gaze on the back of his head. Sage complained that it was hard for him to find something decent to eat. He then raised his nose in the air and began to smell the air around him and a twinkle appeared in his eyes.

"Over here," he said, taking Matilda by the hand and dragging her through the crowd.

Ferry tried not to lose sight of them, with Stot following in his footsteps. Eventually, Sage almost crossed the fair until he came to a small tent where wild boar was being cooked and sold. But the line was long, a sign that many Akna residents occasionally preferred a piece of meat. Several Goblins raised their glasses of wine, side by side with some Leprechauns, praising the richness of the bouquet of aromas.

"It's the best wine I've ever tasted," said one of the goblins.

"Of course it is," said a leprechaun, "it's Dalbeh currant wine. The most fragrant wine you have ever tasted... "

"To the Queen and the King!" said the other dwarf and raised his glass.

"And the Lost Prince!" strengthen the Leprechaun. "May the winds of all four lands bring him back to us!" he said before drinking.

Ferry wanted to hear more from the little men's conversation but was interrupted by Sage's mutters that the boar would probably be eaten when his turn would come.

"All right, I'm done," he heard Stot behind him. "If I hear another word about the wild boar, I'm sick," he muttered.

"Then why don't you go look for some leaves?" Sage snapped at him. "There are enough trees around," he grinned.

"I saw some mirror makers on the way here," Stot said. "I will take a look at their merchandise. Prince Garrett stays in your care, then. "

"Don't worry about him. I'm a good enough fighter for ten like you, " Sage cut him off.

Stot turned his back on them, intending to leave. But in his haste, he ran into a boy who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He had loose, dirty clothes and a red scarf around his neck. He did not appear to be more than fourteen years old. He was carrying a carafe of wine which he  spilled on Stot's shiny white clothes.

"Watch where you're going, worm!" Stot spat the words.

"I'm sorry, Master, I'm sorry," the boy muttered, trying to wipe Stot's clothes with a not-so-clean rag he'd taken from the pocket of his dirty tunic.

"Get out of my sight!" Stot shouted at the boy. "And don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Then, he pushed him out of his way and walked away from them with a big, firm pace.

The boy began to cry, tears streaming down his dirty cheeks. "My master will punish me for wasting his wine," he sobbed.

Matilda stepped closer;  she looked at the boy with eyes that Ferry had never seen before. She leaned over the boy and wiped away his tears. Then she slipped a silver coin into his palm. "Take it," she said quickly. "It's enough to buy a new carafe of wine and keep the rest for you," she said softly.

"Thank you, miss, thank you," the boy whispered through tears. "May all the winds protect your good heart! For you are you the only one who would have endured anybody like me..."

Matilda helped him up, and she even dusted off his clothes. "Don't let anyone treat you like that," she said, and her jaw clenched. "You are not a nobody!"

The boy looked at her curiously, but then quickly walked away for fear that she might change her mind and ask for her money back.

Ferry now realized he was finally alone with Matilda. Of course, there was also Sage. But Sage was too preoccupied with his steak to notice them. When it came to his stomach, Sage was uncontrollable.

The two looked at each other for a second. The girl wanted to leave, but the long dress she was wearing kept her from being as fast as usual. Ferry took advantage of that, and took her hand lightly. He motioned for her to keep quiet, puting his finger to her lips. Matilda frowned at him, then nodded. Sage didn't even noticed as they walked away.

They were both lost in the crowd. Ferry made sure to cover his forehead, and Matilda kept her disguise as an Amalgham-woman. They walked hand in hand without saying a word. They only smiled from time to time, when their eyes met. Ferry felt lighter with each step. And the world around them, all the commotion, and the crowd seemed to be gone.

He stopped a few times in front of stalls with all sorts of curiosities. They were small crystal balls in which you could read your future, made of the sand of time as a plump rosy-cheeked fairy told them.

Matilda looked at Ferry through one of the crystals the size of a chicken egg.

"What does my future look like?" Ferry asked.

Matilda pretended to be focused. "Hmmm, I see a great future. I see you entering a big citadel, surrounded by a bright white light. People applaud. They reach out to you and shout, 'Our Savior!' Oh, wait! I was holding it wrong, "she laughed and pretended to look through the crystal ball again. "I see you on a rocking chair, reading the newspaper. You're fat and you're wearing a robe and slippers, " she chuckled.

Ferry laughed. "Matt," and his voice softened as he spoke her name. "The prophecy is wrong. I could never wear a robe and slippers."

The girl smiled. They looked at each other again without saying anything.

"Are you buying something or not, love birds?" the fairy asked.

Matilda nodded slightly. Ferry took her hand again, and squeezed it lightly; he felt that strange feeling in his stomach again that made him feel like flying, but also that he was about to faint at the same time.

They set out to search the stalls at the edge of the fair. They were farther apart, and the crowds were smaller. They could walk hand in hand without being disturbed. Ferry had to slow down a few times because Matilda kept tripping over her long, gray dress she was wearing.

"This damn dress," she kept complaining. "When you become king, you should make a law that allows women here to wear shorts like home. If the humans accept this, how hard can it be for the great people of Akna?" she muttered.

But their walk was interrupted by applause and cheers from somewhere nearby. They discovered a clearing at the edge of the fair where a group of street performers had improvised a stage. The crowd had gathered in front of the stage. Ferry made his way through the crowd, not letting go of Matilda's hand, until they were close enough to watch the curious performance.

The decoration was made of rags and worn and dull wooden furniture. The room should have been a throne room where a king and queen sat on their thrones. The actors, fairies of all kinds with their faces covered in paint and tangled wigs falling on their shoulders, staged an event that seemed vaguely familiar to him. And even though the acting was bad and the scenery was about to fall apart, Ferry was immediately absorbed by the world on stage.

The King and Queen were bent over a newborn, a wooden doll wrapped in rags. There was tomb-silence all around the stage.

"My son," said the Queen confidently, "you will be the one to rule over this great land."

A guard appeared. "Your Majesty," he said aloud, "the Pan has come to see you."

An actor disguised in a satyr appeared on the stage. The large horns, made of thick branches, adorned his head. He wore a ragged cloak and carried a staff.

The king rose from the throne. "What are you doing here, Pan?" he shouted. "You know you're not welcome."

The Pan walked boldly towards the king. The echo of his staff shattered the heavy silence. None of the spectators dared to breathe.

"I have come to ask your permission to court your daughter, My King," he said, looking into the king's eyes.

"Never!" the King's voice thundered. "You are not worthy of my daughter! You just want her to become your wife to get to this throne, "he gestured with exaggerated movements, pointing to the throne. "You want to become King to rule our great kingdom and give rights to those like you. You should know your place, Pan! "

"Not true!" Pan shouted. "I love your daughter. I would give anything to be mine! "

"Never!" cried the King. "I'mbanishing you from these places! You are forbidden to live among us. If you care about your life, leave and don't come back! "

"You will regret ths!. You will all regret it! " shouted the Pan, leaving the stage in a hurry.

Behind him, the stage got filled with thick smoke, while one of the actors in the back perfectly mimicked the sound of thunder. When the smoke cleared, the King and Queen were both crammed into a corner of the stage. In front of them, with a sword drawn from its scabbard, stood a man disguised as a raven, his face covered with soot. Two large black wings protruded from his cape.

"Traitors!" cried the King, trying to defend the Queen with the baby in her arms, "we have traitors in the Castle!"

Ferry squeezed Matilda's hand. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He  got closer to the stage. He felt Matilda's hand squeezing his own. His fingers were cold as if the whole life had drained from his body.

"Give me your baby, Your Highness," the raven-man said in a calm but determined voice, "and you will not suffer any harm."

"Over my dead body!" the Queen screamed, hugging the baby.

The bird-man took a step towards her, but the King jumped in front of him. The raven-man raised his sword and stubbed the King's hear who fell to the ground. Then he snatched the baby from the Queen's arms and killed her as well.

A few sighs of astonishment from the audience interrupted the silence.

Three more characters appeared on the stage: a fairy with wolf features, one with a face covered with scales, and one with rabbit ears. The rabbit woman carefully placed the baby in a wicker basket.

"And now?" the wolf-man asked. "What are we going to do with the Prince?"

"We shall take him far. Where no one will ever find him. And when he grows up, he will be our weapon. The Spear Carrier, the one who will bring us and those like us on the throne of this country. And the whole country will have to obey us once and for all! " the Crow's voice echoed.

Then all the characters left the eerie scene which was again covered in thick smoke. When the smoke cleared, there was a minstrel on the stage. He began to play the Ballad of the Lost Prince, which Ferry had first heard when he arrived in Akna.

Silence fell all around again. All the spectators stood with their heads bowed, without moving as long as the song last.

https://youtu.be/dULdG1dGPos

When the minstrel finished his song, the audience began to shout and clap. "For the Lost Prince!" they shouted. "May he return to us soon!"

Ferry let go of Matilda's hand. He felt he was lacking air in the middle of that noisy crowd that seemed to be growing bigger and bigger. He barely managed to slip out of the crowd.

"Ferry, wait for me!" he heard Matilda's voice behind him coming from afar. But he kept on moving like in a daze.

He wanted to leave, to run away from that place that had stirred so many memories and made him question everything he had ever known.

In his desperate flight, he collided with someone's strong chest. His black wings were folded, and his eyes, as dark as night, searched for Ferry's gaze.

"Come, Garrett, we have to go," Thyme said in a firm voice. "The show is over."

This was a  crucial chapter and the most difficult to write because of the many clues and revelations that link it to the future chapters of this book and the entire series. I am so eager to know your thoughts and amazing theories ;).

Thank you for being part of this journey! You are my rock. Love lots!