In a Dark Land by Christina Soontornvat

Author:Christina Soontornvat
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2017-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

16

To the Norlorns

The caravan loaded up early the next morning, before the sun came up, before Lufkin was awake, and before they could give themselves a chance to change their minds. Horses hidden beneath their invisible blankets stamped and huffed on the bridge. The older Changelings helped Hale load all the younger ones into the invisible coaches Marian brought with her from the Edgewood.

Olligan kicked at an invisible wagon wheel. “Selden, why do I have to go in this dumb wagon full of babies? I’d rather go with you.”

Selden ruffled Ollie’s curls. “You’ve got to be the lookout for Marian. That’s a really important job. Plus, someone’s got to keep Dree from ruining every bit of fun along the way.”

Dree raised one eyebrow but didn’t return his teasing. She’d been strangely quiet ever since their conversation in the kitchen the day before. But when Izzy asked her about it, she had changed the subject.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Izzy asked Dree once more. “You wouldn’t add any more weight to Tom’s ship.”

“Marian might need a flyer,” said Dree as she handed a very sleepy-looking Yash to Hale through the carriage window. “Besides, Hiron’s a much better choice to go with you. If for some reason you get in trouble in the air, you’ll want a gigantic eagle on your side.”

Izzy nodded, though she would have much rather had Dree along for company than stodgy Hiron.

Dree hugged Izzy tight. “Be really careful. And don’t let Selden talk you into doing anything stupid.”

“I heard that!” called Selden from the back of the caravan.

“I meant for you to,” said Dree. Then she Changed into a butterfly and flitted onto Marian’s shoulder.

Never one for sentimental goodbyes, Marian nodded once, then clucked to the horses, and they were off across the bridge. Anyone watching would have seen an old woman walking alone along the City Road, with a white butterfly fluttering along behind.

• • •

The Muscadine set off, sailing north over the apple orchard as the sun rose. Lug, Selden, Hen, and Izzy rode in the basket with Tom, with Hiron flying ahead. Izzy had been dead set against Hen coming, but her little sister threatened to tie herself to the ship if Izzy tried to leave her behind again. And Tom reasoned that it could help things with the Fen Whelps to show them Peter’s flute as proof of how important their question was. “Anything that persuades them not to chew you up is a good idea if you ask me,” he’d said.

Izzy watched Selden, curled around one of the Muscadine’s invisible cables, the wind riffling through his stoat fur. He leaned far out over the rim of the basket, like a figurehead on a sailing ship.

“You realize if anyone looks up at us, they’re going to see a floating weasel coasting through the air?” she said.

“Stoat,” corrected Selden. “And don’t ruin this for me. It’s as close as I’ll ever come to flying. Besides, I don’t think there are many fairies down there to see me.

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