A squeal could be heard from within the house, and a Halcyonus fledgling hopped out from behind the curtain, holding a hand-carved puppet tied to the end of a long rod.

“Rovundeerz!” he squeaked, wrapping his arms around Rovender’s lanky leg.

“My little Zoozi.” Rovender patted the fledgling’s head. “How have you been?”

“Good!” Zoozi replied. “We are playings puppets! Wants to play?”

“Of course. Let me introduce my friends first—Oh, look! Here’s Mægden. My, you’re getting tall . . . and more beautiful,” Rovender exclaimed.

The colorful Mægden poked her head out into the entry room. Eva could see that she was a juvenile Halcyonus but older than Zoozi. The young lady smiled at Rovender but said nothing as she studied Eva and Muthr. Behind her, a colorful male, dressed similar to the fishermen the trio had passed, entered the room.

“Fiscian.” Rovender held his palm up in greeting. “How are you, my friend? Are the fish still biting?”

“Rovender Kitts,” the fisherman replied. “There are always smiles in this house when you arrives. Come in!”

“I will, I will,” Rovender said, “but first I must introduce you to my friends.”

“Please do,” Hostia said. She studied Muthr and Eva with brilliant orange eyes. “Who are your concealed companions?” she asked. Though larger, the hostess appeared less colorful than Fiscian and the fishermen that Eva had seen.

“Before I introduce them”—Rovender addressed the family in a hushed voice—“I should tell you, there is a Dorcean hunting after these two.”

“Who is its?” Hostia asked. “Anyones we know?”

“His name is Besteel. He claims he’s working for the queen,” Rovender replied.

“Besteel?” Fiscian repeated. “Somes of the others here have seen a Dorcean glider traveling backs and forth across the lake.”

“It could very well be him,” Rovender said, looking at Eva and Muthr. “I am not sure what he is up to, some sort of game trade, perhaps.”

“A Dorcean huntsman.” Hostia’s scarlet eyelids blinked as she studied Eva. “Why these two?”

“They are unlike any others I have encountered in all my travels,” Rovender said. He looked down at the scar around his ankle. “Which may be why Besteel is after them. That huntsman is a reckless and dangerous spirit. If you would not want us here, we would understand.”

“Well, let us meet them and we shall see.” Hostia gestured for Eva and Muthr to remove their cloaks.

Rovender lowered Eva’s hood first. “This is Eva Nine.”

“Sheesa!” Mægden exclaimed. Her father jabbed her with his bony elbow.

Hostia’s eyes went wide. “I haves never seen any a thing like this!” She helped Eva unwrap her cloak. “Tell me, Eva Nines, where is it that you comes from?”

“Um—,” Eva began.

“Me helps too!” Zoozi said, yanking Muthr’s cloak off. The entire Haveport family gasped.

“And this is Eva’s mother,” Rovender explained.