Once she had passed through the south gates, she knew there was no going back, only forward. She hesitated one final time, still debating about taking time to find the boy. After all, when she had followed the dove back to the valley from wherever the King of the Silver River had left her, it had waited on her when she faltered to make certain she could follow it. Wouldn’t it be the same here? But watching as the scarlet dove circled back and then flew on and out of sight, she experienced doubts she could not banish. Finally, she gave up thinking she could do anything else but follow it and ran on.

As she did so, the Elves she passed gave her second looks, apparently noticing her eyes and wondering how a blind girl could run as quickly and unerringly as she did. She slowed, tiring anyway, still not recovered from her journey coming up from Glensk Wood to Aphalion Pass and then back down to Arborlon. She had slept little and eaten less. She was already wondering how far she would get before thirst and hunger knocked her down.

She was still struggling with the guilt she felt for running out on Xac when she passed a boy who was about his age. She gave him a quick glance, then wheeled back and called him over.

“Do you know a boy called Xac Wen?” she asked him.

“Everyone does,” the boy answered, trying hard not to look at her milky eyes. His narrow face and severely downward slanted eyes gave him a feral look. “What’s he done now?”

“Nothing. But he’s sitting at the Belloruusian Arch waiting for me, and I need someone to tell him I’m not coming. Can you do that? Do you know the arch?”

The boy nodded. “I know it. But I’m not going there.”

She glanced over her shoulder, searching for the dove. She saw a flash of scarlet far in the distance, high in the trees. “I’ll give you something if you do.” She rifled through her pockets and produced a small metal bracelet Pan had made for her years ago. It was one of her most treasured possessions. “I’ll give you this,” she said, holding it out.

The boy took it from her, looked it over carefully, and nodded. “Bargain. I’ll tell him what you said. Who are you?”

“My name is Prue. Tell him I think I know where Panterra is, and I have to go there right away. Can you remember to tell him that?”

He nodded, gave her a kind of salute, and dashed off, heading in the general direction of the Ashenell. She had to hope for the best now. She had to pray he would do what he had promised.