‘How little you know me, Father,’ said Clariel. The anger was not rising, but rather ebbing, being replaced by a deep sadness. ‘I have spent many days and nights in the greenwood, since before I was even thirteen. All those times you thought me at Aunt Lemmin’s house, I was where I wanted to be. In the Forest.’

‘What?’ asked Harven. ‘Don’t be ridiculous and don’t try to present your aunt as some ally of your fancies, just because you slipped away from her for an afternoon or two. This is an ill-considered dream, too long prolonged. And we have spoken enough of it. You go to bed. Tomorrow you begin your lessons at the Academy, and I trust that you will soon learn to become a proper young lady who respects her parents as she should!’

‘As I should?’ asked Clariel. ‘Perhaps I have respected you too highly!’

This was too much, even for Harven, who usually shied away from any confrontation. Pushing his chair back violently, he stood up and raised his hand.

‘To bed!’ he shouted.

Clariel gave no ground, and met his gaze, discovering for the first time with some shock that she was now slightly taller than her father, and that neither shout nor raised hand made her quail and want to flee to her room.

‘I will go, Father,’ she said quietly. ‘But I tell you now, one day I will go to the Great Forest, and make my home there, and then …’

Only at this last did her nerve fail her, the sadness welling up so high that tears filled her eyes, and one, never so perfect as the golden teardrop on the desk, splashed upon the floor. She ran out through the door, crying out words she hadn’t used for many years, because they never came true.

‘And then you and Mother will be sorry!’

chapter four

getting ready for school