Arrow (Knife) Read Free

not catch us unawares.’
    ‘Well, aren’t you two cheerful,’ said Thorn. ‘Nice to know my fellow commanders take such a positive view of our chances. Wither and gall!’ She shoved her chair back from the table and stood, glowering. ‘Even without her magic – even human – Knife is worth ten of you. She’d take on the Empress single-handed if she had to, and not waste a moment complaining about it.’ Then she stomped out.
    ‘It appears,’ said Valerian, ‘that our discussion has come to an end.’ But she did not seem distressed by Thorn’s reaction. Timothy suspected that the Queen also regretted that Peri could not lead the faeries into battle, but they all knew that would never work. The Oakenfolk were still uneasy with the choice Peri had made by becoming human to marry Paul, and few of them would be willing to follow her orders.
    The Queen dismissed the council, and they all headed off to their various duties. But as Rob passed by Linden, he whispered something in her ear that made her blush and smile. And when Timothy glanced at Garan, the blonde faery’s brow was furrowed, as though something troubled him.
    ‘What is it?’ Timothy asked, when the others had gone.
    ‘It may be folly even to say it,’ replied Garan, ‘for it is no business of mine. Yet I cannot help wondering why Rob takes such an interest in Linden. Not that she is unworthy of his notice,’ he added hastily, ‘but they are so different.’
    ‘I asked him that myself, only a couple of days ago. He says that he finds her lack of cynicism refreshing. But if you’re worried about his intentions, I wouldn’t worry too much.’
    ‘Why is that?’ asked Garan.
    ‘Because,’ said Timothy, ‘Linden is Knife’s foster-daughter, and if Rob so much as hurts her feelings, then Knife will skin him and leave him for the crows.’
    Garan’s mouth curled in a reluctant smile, and too late Timothy remembered that the Children of Rhys had a hard time seeing humour in violence. He was about to apologise when Garan said, ‘It is not merely concern for Linden that moves me, I admit. It is that when I look at her and Rob, I am reminded of some things I left behind, when I came here from the Green Isles. Things I did not even realise I would miss, until they were gone.’
    Timothy was about to say I know what you mean , but he swallowed the words. Yes, he missed his home in Uganda, where his parents still lived as missionaries – but at least there was a chance that he could go back there some day. Garan and his fellow exiles didn’t have that option. By helping the Oakenfolk against their Elders’ will, they had cut themselves off from their homeland and people forever.
    It was probably better just to change the subject. ‘That reminds me,’ Timothy said. ‘We’ve all been talking about using the Stone of Naming to free the Empress’s slaves, but your people weren’t exactly happy when they found out you’d taken it. What are we going to do if they decide they want it back?’
    ‘The Children of Rhys will not come after the Stone,’ said Garan. ‘To journey so far onto the mainland would expose them to all the violence and corruption they have pledged themselves to avoid. Besides, my people are sworn to peace, and pursuing the Stone would bring them into conflict with us, if not with the Empress as well. Naturally they grieve the loss of such a precious artefact, but to fight us for it …’ He shook his head.
    Timothy knew he ought to be relieved. But with an evil faery Empress plotting his death and the deaths of all his friends, it was hard to be happy about anything. And if they ever lost the Stone of Naming…well, all of them might as well just give up, because there was no way they could win this war without it.
    ‘I hope you’re right,’ he said.

one
    ‘Rhosmari! Look what we found!’
    Rhosmari daughter of Celyn stood on the front steps of the House of Learning, smiling as the faery children pelted over the grass