CHAPTER

Fifty-one

As they soared through the sky, Shailiha clutched Morganna with one hand. Her other hand gripped one of the rough-hewn handles fastened to the inside of the litter. She had never traveled in this fashion before, and was already quite sure she never wished to do so again.

She was terrified that either she would fall out, or the warriors would eventually drop them from sheer exhaustion. Neither, to her complete amazement, had yet happened.

Wigg, Shailiha, and Martha were in one litter. Faegan, the Tome, the Paragon, and Celeste were in another, while Geldon and the gnomes rode in the third. Faegan‘s fliers of the fields flew alongside. Several empty litters were also being carried along.

Faegan, still in his chair on wheels, would occasionally pop his head out, shouting the necessary course corrections to the warriors as they sped along. Wigg, on the other hand, seemed very self-absorbed, his mind lost in wizardly contemplations.

To distract herself from her fear, Shailiha tried to remember what Wigg had told her of their destination, Shadowood, which was inhabited by gnomes and had served as Faegan‘s home since his crippling by the Coven three hundred years ago. It had been created by the Directorate, using the craft, and had been intended as a refuge for those of endowed blood, should the Coven have won the war. Now it was about to serve the same purpose should the hatchlings burst through Tristan‘s lines.

They were exceedingly fortunate to have the Minions and litters, Wigg had said, since the normal trip to Shadowood on foot was very difficult and time-consuming. The secret place was surrounded on all sides by a deep, invisible canyon that only the trained endowed could see. To others all that could be seen was an expansive field of grass lying before a great pine forest, and if they came too close, they would fall into the canyon and perish. If one succeeded in navigating the bridge across the canyon, a deadly forest and deadlier tunnel awaited.

There was only so much to ponder about the place, though, and curiosity finally overcame Shailiha‘s fears. She handed her child to Martha so that she could brave the cold and look outside as their litter soared through the sky.

The experience was both wondrous and terrifying.

The white, snowy ground flashed below them. Although she was already too far away to make out the banks of the Sippora River or the capital city of Tammerland that now lay far behind them, she was just able to distinguish the outskirts of the city of Tanglewood as their litter passed by to the northeast. Soon the southern edge of the great, flat expanses of Farplain would come into view.

Reminded of Farplain, she thought about Tristan, and the battle that he might be fighting this very moment. She felt guilty that she had teased him to get him to ride his hatchling into the sky that first time, since she found herself frightened merely to sit here in her litter, speeding along to the relative safety of Shadowood.

If only Tristan can survive the conflict, she thought to herself. And then, in the distance, she saw it.

Tree Town.

The Minions descended, carrying their precious cargoes with them. They landed carefully and surrounded the litters protectively, dreggans drawn. Some of them remained circling in the sky, keeping a lookout.

Shailiha took Morganna from Martha and stepped out onto the snowy ground, her knees trembling slightly. Martha emerged and helped Wigg out. Shailiha turned to look down the sloping knoll before her, and her eyes came upon one of the most curious sights she had ever seen: hundreds of tree houses, each one seeming more ornate than the last, painted a dazzling array of colors. Some several stories high, they were connected by a series of wooden walkways. Shailiha smiled. It was like something from a dream.

By now Faegan, Celeste, Geldon, and the gnomes traveling with them were all by Shailiha‘s side. The fliers of the fields swooped down, congregating into a riot of color directly over their mistress.

The snow fell softly upon them as they continued to look down at the sleepy village.

Strangely, there was no one to be seen.

―They are without doubt quite frightened,‖ Faegan said wryly. ―They have never seen the Minions before.‖

―Do they know we are here?‖ Shailiha asked, trying to keep the snow off of Morganna.

―Oh, indeed,‖ Faegan answered. He pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. ―Without question the alarm has already gone out.‖

―Faegan, I need to get the baby inside,‖ Shailiha said worriedly.

―Of course,‖ he answered. ―Let‘s go. But let me take the lead, so that they can see me.

Otherwise there might be trouble, and I certainly don‘t want any of them harmed.‖ He looked behind, regarding the rest of the very strange group. A smile came to his face. ―We shall be quite a sight to them, I can assure you.‖

With that, he levitated his chair above the snow-covered ground and started down the knoll.

Martha took Wigg‘s hand. The giant butterflies soared overhead, and the huge number of Minion warriors followed warily behind.

They had only taken a few paces when a crowd of male gnomes came running around the corners of the houses, brandishing knives, axes, and bows. Shailiha recoiled, fearing for Morganna.

But the gnomes ran to Faegan. He landed to embrace them, and then they joyously hoisted him into the air, chair and all, amid great cheering and laughter.

Faegan finally became more serious, and called for Shannon the Small and Michael the Meager.

―Escort Celeste, Martha, the baby Morganna, and your wives to my mansion,‖ he told them.

―Find for Martha anything she might need for the welfare of the child. As for the rest of us, including the Minions, there is much work to do.‖ He then gave the compressed, repaginated Tome to a warrior and told him to go with Shannon and Michael. The Paragon remained hanging around Faegan‘s neck.

―And now,‖ the old wizard said sadly, ―I suggest everyone say their good-byes.‖

Tearfully, Shailiha kissed her baby and handed her to Martha, bidding the kindly matron farewell. Celeste walked to Wigg, holding him close. ―Good-bye, Father,‖ she whispered.

―No matter what happens, I shall never forget you.‖

―I know, my child,‖ Wigg answered, his voice cracking. ―But you must go quickly, for time is now the only remaining ally we possess.‖ For what seemed an eternity, he held his daughter close. Then finally, reluctantly, he let her go.

With that, her splinter of the group walked down the knoll toward the houses of Tree Town.

Faegan turned to Shailiha. ―It is time,‖ he said solemnly.

Shailiha nodded. Closing her eyes, she raised her right arm. Caprice flew down to land upon it.

Go and do as I have ordered you to, Shailiha thought. And may you all return to me safely.

Caprice fluttered up from the princess‘ arm and flew back to join the squadron of twelve fliers especially chosen for this most important of tasks.

And then, Caprice in the lead, they soared away.

Those remaining—human, gnome, Minion, and flier alike—waited there for a moment, watching the butterflies disappear into the sky. Then, at a gesture from Faegan, those who were to be carried reentered their litters, the gnomes clambering into the many extras that had been brought. Snapping open their leathery wings, the Minion bearers gently lifted the litters.

Their numbers darkening the sky, both the warriors and the cargoes they carried disappeared against the horizon.