“Promise me, Aphen,” he said. His aging face was troubled. “Promise me that you will not betray the Elves. That you will do your best to protect our interests as well those of the Druid order. Can you do that? Can you make me that promise?”

She nodded, her eyes locked on his. “I promise. The best I can do, I will do.”

He lowered the bag gently into her open palm. “Then take the Elfstones and make use of them. You have until sunset to do so. Then you must return them.”

He released his grip on the drawstrings and leaned back, waiting for her response. Her fingers closed about the bag, gripping it tightly. She leaned forward and kissed him on his cheek once more. “I love you, Grandfather.”

Then she rose and went out the garden door with Ellich following close behind.

They walked together for a short distance, neither of them speaking, lost in their separate thoughts, and then she turned to him. “I need to do this alone, Ellich. I’m sorry.”

He smiled, nodded. “Don’t be. I expected as much. But be careful, Aphen. You have been attacked twice already. Oh, don’t look so surprised. Arlingfant told me. You knew she would. She worries for you. As do I. So, please be careful.”

He left her then, turning away for his own home. She was surprised to realize that she had pushed any thoughts of the prior attacks so far back in her consciousness, she had all but forgotten them. It was easy for her to acknowledge her status as an outcast—if not so easy to accept it—but difficult to think of herself as threatened in the city in which she had been born and raised.

She started walking again, mulling over her uncle’s words. Would she be attacked yet a third time? Was that at all likely? Would they dare to come at her in broad daylight, with other Elves all around? If so, would they try to stop her from using the Elfstones? Would they attempt to steal them?

Well, she thought darkly, she was ready if anyone tried.

“Is it your intention to make things easy for any possible attackers by daydreaming?” Cymrian asked her, appearing suddenly at her elbow.

She glowered at him. “Isn’t it your job to keep me safe? Do I need to be worried that the effort required is beyond you?”

“I can protect you. But it would help if you were to offer a modicum of assistance.”

She hated that he had surprised her like this. She hadn’t heard him until he was right on top of her, and that shouldn’t have been possible. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and nodded.

“You’re right. I wasn’t helping. I can’t seem to get used to the idea that here, in my home city, among my own people, I am in danger.”