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The eight creatures, that stood about seven meters from the small company, glowed with obvious magic. They were three meters tall- four men and four women. Each wore ankle-length white cloaks and strapped brown sandals. Their piercing eyes were all fixed on Feverfew.
The youngest of the women, pointed at Feverfew and spoke, before the Lady could ask who they were.
“Who is she?”
The Lady frowned as she looked around the strangers. “She is called, Feverfew and I am the ...”
“We know who you are, Lady,” hissed one of the men, taking a step closer to Feverfew. “We are only interested in... Feverfew.” His piercing eyes studied her for a few seconds.
No one spoke.
Feverfew was beginning to feel embarrassed when the man said, “Yes, she has it.”
The Lady turned to the others. They had all sighed with relief. Then she turned back to the man. “You know we are on a quest.”
“Lady,” said the man, his eyes still fixed on Feverfew. “We know. We are not interested in any quest. We are here because we need the girl’s help.”
Feverfew frowned and glanced at Salter. He raised his eyebrows and shrugged as if to say, we will soon find out what they want.
“We do not have the time to spare,” snapped the Lady, turning. “Palaber, we are going.”
“My baby needs your help,” cried one of the woman suddenly. “She has a magic worm inside her. We can’t drive it out. We do not have powerful enough magic. She has,” the woman exclaimed, pointing at Feverfew.
“I am sorry for your child,” said the Lady, “but as I told you, we do not have time. We must get to the Silver City.”
Feverfew studied the tall, beautiful, sad woman. Tears were running down the woman's face. Feverfew felt sorry for her.
“Palaber,” said the Lady. “We're ready to go...”
“Is your baby far from here?” asked Feverfew.
“We do not have the time,” snapped the Lady. She leaned towards Feverfew and whispered, “Feverfew we need to go... now!”
Feverfew’s eyes were glowing when she looked at the Lady. “Yes, but do you think I could save the woman's baby?”
The Lady sighed. She could see Feverfew wanted to help. “I don’t know. But if anyone can, you can.”
“Then I would like to help. We can’t just go away and leave them. If we can help them, then we should. Don't you?” She studied the tearful woman. “Even if they are evil.”
“It will hold us up,” exclaimed the Lady, but suddenly sighed, “Oh, very well. You’ve made your mind up anyway.” Turning to the woman she snapped, “How did your child get this worm?”
The woman looked at the others. “It was put there by an old witch.” Tears filled her eyes as she added, “She was smiling when she did it.”
“Witch?” The Lady glanced at Feverfew then said, “Describe her.”
When the woman had finished, Feverfew and the Lady knew who it was- Isla.
“Was there a boy with her?” asked the Lady.
“I did not see one. She was alone,” answered the woman.
The Lady turned to Feverfew. “Isla has done this to hold us up. She’s up to something.” Turning back to the woman she asked, “How far is it to your child?”
“A short journey away. It will take us about an hour to...”
“An hour!” shouted the Lady, her eyes wide with anger. “No, it’s too much time!”
“We can use Palaber, Lady,” said Feverfew. “It would be quicker.”
“Lady our village is in that direction,” said one of the men. “I could show you, if the dragon allows me to come aboard.”
“No!” bellowed Palaber. “What do you think I am? I am, Palaber. I have only three passengers. I owe them. I owe you, nothing. You will not get on my back.” Suddenly he opened his mouth. A blast of flame, furnace-hot, belched into the air.
“Oh, Palaber would you just stop doing that,” exclaimed Feverfew, smiling. “Why do you pretend to be angry? You know you will help.”
“I... don’t,” began Palaber, but suddenly he sighed. “Oh, very well. But please hurry,” he snapped, glaring at the man. “And take off those heavy boots. I don’t want boot tracks all over my back.”
The man spoke quickly to the others.
A short time later, Palaber and his four passengers, were flying low over the river in the direction the man, who told them his name was Ignius, had indicated. At the same time below, his seven companions were disappearing.
****
As they flew along the river towards the high trees, the Lady studied Feverfew and Salter. She could see Feverfew was holding onto the small boy’s left hand. The flash of magic between them only happened for a millisecond, but the Lady saw it. Wondering, she looked towards the trees as Palaber dropped lower.
****
With a wild whoop, Palaber landed in the center of the trees. He was still feeling elated his wing was cured.
“It is only a short distance from here,” said Ignius. Immediately, he began to lead the way through the trees.
The Lady turned. “We won’t be long, Palaber.”
“Hmpphh,” snorted the dragon, and began to eat at the leaves on the lowest branches.
Ignius led them to a grove about a hundred meters away. There they saw at least twenty of the tall men and women gathered around a small child, who lay on soft moss in the center of the grove. Ignius quickly explained to the others who Feverfew, Salter and the Lady were. In a moment, Feverfew was bent over, studying the baby. Its face was ashen and it was whining as if in pain. Everyone could see right on the center of its chest a black writhing thing that sometimes burst through the baby's chest, its black magic spitting upwards.
“Stand back,” whispered Feverfew, then stepped closer. As she did, the Lady saw magic flash from Feverfew to Salter again. She looked around. None of the tall people seemed to have seen it.
Bending closer, Feverfew placed the palm of her hand on the baby’s chest. The instant she did, the baby began to tremble.
Suddenly, a black glow covered Feverfew. It was that instant that the Lady knew it was a trap.
With a soft sigh Feverfew fell in a faint to the ground. As she did the baby disappeared. Now, in its place, growing bigger and bigger by the second, was a monster of the most unimaginable appearance- many-toothed, with bulbous eyes and long tendrils of poisonous barbs.
Shocked, the Lady looked around. Now she saw all the evil creatures grinning at her. She turned to the frightened Salter as he clutched at her, his eyes wide with horror. He stared at the monster that now towered over Feverfew.
“Fools!” shrieked Isla’s voice. “I knew I could trap you. The great Batach will be pleased when I dispose of the girl.” The Lady looked around. There was no sign of Isla.
But now the monster glared down at the unconscious girl. As it stretched a long tendril to rip Feverfew apart, the Lady leapt to one side, magic already blasting up into the monster’s gargoyle-like face. With a surprised roar it staggered back. But the Lady could see it was unhurt. Now the other creatures began to bombard the Lady with lightning-like blasts of black magic. Trying hard to reinforce her magical protection, at the same time fight back, the Lady realized, it was no use.
The monster was now moving closer, its blood red eyes only intent on the helpless elf girl. With a cry, when she realized her magic could protect them no longer, the Lady fell back. Dazed and horrified she saw the monster reach for Feverfew again.