When it came Tasha’s turn to hug her, Prue felt his hand press something into hers. “These are for you,” he said. “Keep them safe until you find the right person to give them to. It isn’t me or Tenerife, and just now I can’t say who it is. But I know they will be safe with you.”

She realized from the size and shape of what she held that he had given her the blue Elfstones. “I can’t take these,” she said. “They belong to the Elves.”

“They do,” the big man agreed. “To all the Elves, in point of fact. But only one can wield them, and it shouldn’t be just anyone. It should be someone who thinks less of himself than of his people. Or her people, perhaps. For now, they should be put away somewhere safe. Phryne gave them to me…there, at the end, when I was carrying her from the pass. She told me to keep them safe. You may be blind, little sister, but you see things much more clearly than most people.”

Prue shook her head. “This just doesn’t feel right. I’m not even an Elf.”

“Ah, but you are. We’ve already established that, haven’t we, Tenerife?”

“Some time back,” his brother replied. “In fact, you yourself told Xac Wen you were an Elf, if I remember right.”

“So keep them safe until the Elves are ready for them again. You’ll know when the time is right.”

Then they were moving away, the brothers and Pan, calling back to them, their voices fading out as they passed through the trees and down the pathways and beyond her hearing.

She felt Aislinne put her arm around her shoulders. “They will be back before you know it,” she whispered. “Safe and sound.”

Prue nodded wordlessly. She knew without question that what Aislinne said was true.

Dedication

FOR BETSY MITCHELL

A good editor, a better friend

Other Books by This Author

BY TERRY BROOKS

SHANNARA
First King of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara

THE HERITAGE OF SHANNARA
The Scions of Shannara
The Druid of Shannara
The Elf Queen of Shannara
The Talismans of Shannara

THE VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA
Ilse Witch
Antrax
Morgawr

HIGH DRUID OF SHANNARA
Jarka Ruus
Tanequil
Straken

GENESIS OF SHANNARA
Armageddon’s Children
The Elves of Cintra
The Gypsy Morph

LEGENDS OF SHANNARA
Bearers of the Black Staff
The Measure of the Magic
The World of Shannara

THE MAGIC KINGDOM OF LANDOVER
Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold!
The Black Unicorn
Wizard at Large
The Tangle Box
Witches’ Brew
A Princess of Landover

THE WORD AND THE VOID
Running with the Demon
A Knight of the Word
Angel Fire East

Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life

ABOUT THE AUTHOR