Chapter Twenty-Six
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"Liam," I said as I came up on the decks. "I am going to gather the stiriae, elves, and faeries. You cannot. You've never even been there before."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Liam said.

"Well, I do," I said. "And I'm the Enchanta, so I'll decide." I looked out at the west. Havane was lurking there, a misty sort of sight covering it. "We're almost there, anyway."

"We'll go together, then," Liam said.

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Fine," I relented.

We arrived at the shore, and Liam tied the boat to a tree. Lucia sniffed and wished us farewell, saying she'd use her Enchantments if anything came near the sailboat.

The troll took off to the west, the merrow to the south, and Liam and I headed north, to the elves.

"Watch out for the wyverns," I told Liam. "One almost killed me last time."

"That reminds me," Liam said. He held out his sword. "If we get into danger, I want you to have this."

I rolled my eyes. "I have no idea how to fight with a sword. It'll do more harm than good. Besides, then you'd die.

"I'm not the Enchanta," he pointed out.

"Just stay next to me, then," I said. "Too bad you aren't the Enchanta, though. You'd be a better one than me."

Liam shook his head. "I am not half as brave as you are."

"Perhaps it is just the Enchanta part of me that makes me that way," I said.

"I don't think so," Liam said. "Lucia said she thinks Enchantments only start to form in people once they are old enough to handle them. And you have always been brave. Remember that one time when I dared to you to climb the apple tree?"

I shook my head.

"I'll tell it to you then," he said. "When I was thirteen, Girec was fourteen, and you were ten, you kept on following around Girec, and Girec was sick of it. I didn't mind you much, but Girec did. So I told you that you could only follow us around if you climbed the tallest apple tree on my father's estate. And you did. You climbed it all the way to the top, and then threw apples at us as we passed underneath."

I grinned. "Thanks for starting my career as a squirrel."

"My pleasure," he said.

"However," I continued, "that wasn't bravery, that was recklessness."

He rolled his eyes. "If you say so, Lady Fendway." Oh, so he was back to calling me by my proper name.

"Why do you insist on doing that, Liam?" I asked.

"What?" he said.

"Call me by my official name. I don't care if you call me 'Evelin,'" I replied.

"Which would you rather? Or would you prefer to be 'Squirrel?'"

Squirrel reminded me too much of Girec. "Not Squirrel. Either Evelin or Evie. No one has called me that in a while," I said, a little bit of homesickness entering my voice. I missed my sisters. They'd called me Evie a lot.

"Very well, Evie," he said softly.

We walked in, I admit, companionable silence.

Until we came upon a pond. I did not remember it from my last visit.

At the edge of the pond, a beautiful horse sipped from the water. It was black all around, like shimmering ebony, with fur that looked newly brushed. I immediately wanted to ride it. I could see myself flying through the wind on its back, my hair blowing around me. I started toward it, then stopped. I noticed a wild look in its eyes, and little pieces of seaweed were caught in its black mane.

Beside me, Liam was walking towards it slowly, a look of desire in his eyes. I titled my head to the side. The horse was surely beautiful, but didn't Liam notice the wrongness I felt? Something seemed fishy, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. As Liam began to mount the horse, it struck me.

"Don't get on that horse, Liam!" I screeched, running toward him. "It's a kelpie!" I saw a look of horror in his eyes, but it was too late. The kelpie dragged him under the water. I desperately looked around for something, someone to help. I tore off my cloak and shoes and dived into the water. My eyes adjusted to the murkiness, and I spotted Liam atop the kelpie. I swam as fast as I could, but I saw his head go limp.

I screamed in my mind. I would not allow another person I loved to die. I swam as fast as I could, drawing out energy I didn't know existed. I managed to grasp Liam's hand, and I kicked as hard as I could, to no avail. The kelpie was too strong. I fumbled with the dagger in my belt and stabbed the kelpie as hard as I could. It let out a mixture of a shriek and a neigh of pain, and pulled Liam to the surface.

I allowed myself to gulp at the air before turning to Liam. He wasn't moving, and I couldn't make out a pulse. I screamed in agony. No, it couldn't be true. Girec had already died! Not another, no. Liam had took Girec's place for me. Like a brother. But it seemed fate wouldn't allow me to have a brother.

I buried my face in my arms and cried. Remembering the evil kelpie, I pulled Liam's body away from the water's edge. I saw the kelpie emerge, now in her human form. She was beautiful, and I hated her. She had shimmering, smooth black hair and wild, dark eyes. Her figure and skin was flawless, perfect to any man. I wanted revenge. I ran after her,     and she turned back into a horse. But I had wounded her, and she couldn't move quickly enough. The kelpie turned back into a human, and looked and me with pleading eyes. I dropped the dagger. I couldn't kill her. I knew I didn't have it in me. It wasn't right. I slapped her across the face and walked away. I knew it didn't know what it had done. It was just a creature.

I dragged Liam along a path in the woods, looking for help. Perhaps the elves were close by. Soon, I came upon a hut. I went inside because it reminded me of huts in Krialle.

Inside, a lady with bright red curls was working at a counter. Herbs hung from the ceiling, and the smell made my eyes water. I expected the woman to be an elf, but when she turned around, I realized she was a human.

"Hello," she said, "I wasn't expecting a human today. Oh, well, place the boy up on the counter." I tried to pull Liam on the counter, but my strength was drained, and he was twice my weight. The lady pulled him up herself and examined him carefully. "Had a run-in with Nera, eh?" she said.

I frowned in confusion.

"Nera is that kelpie," she clarified, without removing her gaze from Liam.

I nodded. "Who are you?"

She walked over to a drawer and pulled out an herb of some kind. "My name is Freda," she said as she worked. "And you're Evelin Fendway, so I've heard. I'm a fan of your work, by the way. I suppose you didn't think there'd be any humans in the Forbidden Lands, huh."

I nodded again.

"I came out here a long time ago. I gathered information about the creatures and took it back to the king. He tried to kill me. Said we were forbidden from going to the lands. I ran away, back to the lands and been here ever since. I learned about the different plants and such in Havane, and now I heal. There are a few other humans, too."

"I didn't know," I said.

"Yes. And I probably know more about this place than you."

"Really?"

She nodded as she looked for some herbs. "Did you know that all of the creatures that aren't races--like the kelpies, banshees, wyverns, and pixies--were created when some demons put evil into different beings?"

"Truly? I said.

She nodded. "Yes." She unbuttoned Liam's shirt and put a poltice on his chest. Then, she pushed on his chest with two hands. A stream of water came out of his mouth. He coughed, and his eyes opened. He sat up.

"Liam!" I exclaimed. I embraced him tightly. Then, I realized his shirt was unbuttoned and I scooted back.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You're sweetheart just saved your life," Freda said, tilting her head toward me.

I coughed uncomfortably. "No, I'm not his sweetheart. Just friend."

Freda raised an eyebrow in unbelief.

Liam's ears turned a little pink. "Thanks, Evelin."

"See," I said. "Wasn't it good that I came?"

Liam smiled. "I suppose."

"So . . . " said Freda. "I'm supposing you are you Enchanta, correct?"

I nodded, surprised.

"Have you found that spell yet?"

I remembered the copy Dianthe had given me. It had washed away in River Velia! I shook my head frantically.

She smiled widely. "Lucky for you, I happen to have a copy of it." She handed a piece of parchment to me. "Like I said, I know more about these lands than anyone."

"Thank you," I said in awe. "Would you like to go back to Krialle with us?"

She shrugged. "I like my life here, but thank you anyway."

"No, thank you," I said.

Liam and I left, and soon found the elves.

"Evelin!" said a familiar voice. It was Jax. I opened up my arms, and he hugged me.

"Jax!" I murmured, ruffling his hair.

Ferrowin came running. "Is it time, Evelin Fendway?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "I need you to gather all the elves and take them to the Western Sea. Find a sailboat. It is ours. We are going to break the Enchantment."

"Can I help, Evelin?" Jax asked.

"Yes, of course. I'm counting on you, Jax," I said. "We'll meet you at the boat."

I introduced them to Liam, who Jax started to admire at once. Ferrowin made sure I had all of the things necessary for breaking the Enchantment.

"You are the Enchanta?" he said. "I had no idea it was a person."

"Well, now you do. You'll have to write a book on it when this is all over."

"You are absolutely right," Ferrowin replied.

"Well, we have to leave right away to the stiria," I said. "Farewell."

Jax gave both me and Liam hugs. "Farewell."

The elves supplied us with warm cloaks and food, and soon, we were off, in the direction of the Stiriae Palace.

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