The PriZin of Zin Read Free Page A

others? Like us?”
    Alistair nodded. “Happens sometimes. When the sun gets angry.”
    “The sun?”
    A crooked little finger extended and pointed at the volcano bottom. “When mother sun becomes angry and shakes, beings from the above-world fall through.”
    “Do they ever find their way back home?” Hunter asked from behind the group.
    Alistair nodded. “Some.”
    Hunter waited for Alastair to continue. The two watched each other in a long, deafening silence, looking each other up and down. “How?” Hunter asked when no answer came.
    Alistair shook his little head and shrugged. “Evil knows. The serpents and shadows go up there often, but cannot ask them. Too dangerous. Should not know ye are here.”
    “Is there any other way?” Morgan pushed.
    “Yup,” the leprechaun answered again.
    Silence again.
    “How?”
    Alistair shrugged. “Need to ask another.”
    “Another? There are others?” Hunter sighed.
    He nodded.
    “Is there any food around?” Aeryn asked.
    Alastair grimaced. “There,” he pointed.
    “What on earth is that?” Aeryn asked. She ran toward the forest.             
    “STOP HER!” the leprechaun screamed. “She must know!”
    Aeryn stopped in her tracks and looked back.
    “Must know what?” Ian was by her side.
    “Danger. Near.” Alistair’s beady little eyes darted around frantically.
    “Where?” Morgan’s eyes followed suit. Alistair’s prickly little finger spun around in a circle, and pointed directly at the four standing in front of him. “What?” Morgan was incensed. “What are you talking about?” The finger came straight at Morgan’s nose.
    “Sometimes the closest danger lives inside.”
    “You’re crazy!”
    “Spirit knows.” Alistair twitched, but kept scanning the grounds.
    “What spirit?”
    “Both. Yours and His.” He lowered his little leprechaun hand.
    “His? Whose? And what does that have to do with us finding food?”
    “Choices. Good choices bring good favor. Bad choice…” Alistair shuddered. “Purple is for Him. Ye must never, ever take it.”
    “Who is him?” Ian asked.
    “Him, not him. The One. But not just one. He is them.”
    “What does that mean?” Ian sighed and looked to Morgan for clarification.
    Morgan shrugged.
    “Ye understand ‘leader’?”
    “You have a leader?” Aeryn asked.
    “Yup,” Alastair said. “The three are the One. They are Them. Ask Him, not him. Only Them.”
    “They?” Morgan asked, confused. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
    “What’s he like?” Hunter pressed. “I mean They?”
    “He is good,” the leprechaun went on. “They will care for ye. Protect ye from the other one.”
    “There’s another one?”
    “Evil.” The leprechaun shook in fear at the mention of his name. “Must never venture into the forbidden forest without a guide. Danger inside might be let out. Choices to make. Will be hard. Understand?”
    The three younger travelers all looked to Morgan. He shrugged and struck out toward the forest after Aeryn.
    “I won’t go in,” he said. “I just want to look, from the edge.”
    “Promise,” the leprechaun demanded. “Bad things will happen if ye do not obey.”
    “I promise,” he said grudgingly. “Only looking. Never purple. Got it.”
    “About the others of our kind,” Ian asked, “you don’t know how they got out of here?”
    “No, mus’ find out. Wait here. I be return.” Without waiting for a reply, the tiny creature turned toward the underbrush and vanished, leaving the four alone again on the shore.
     

     
    “What’s in there, Dad?” Hunter tried to peer over the edge of the forest.
    “It looks like a garden. I see strawberries, and greens. I think there’s celery, lettuce, and watermelons.
    “I’m hungry, Daddy.”
    “I know, sweetie. Just hold on till I make sure it’s safe in there.”
    “We’re going in?” Ian jumped. “Awesome!"
    “But, Dad, Alistair said not to go in.”
    Morgan looked at his daughter. “I know,