The voice is high-pitched, almost musical, and it startles me awake. I blink, momentarily disoriented, as I push myself up on my elbows. The sun has shifted lower, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink.
Standing a few feet away is a young girl, her wide eyes staring at me with horror. She has dark curls that tumble wildly around her face; her dress a patchwork of mismatched fabrics, and her hands rest on her hips.
Panic seizes me, and I hastily sit up, preparing for the worst as I glance beneath me. “There’s nothing here!” I exclaim, half in relief, half in reprimand for her accusation.
The girl scowls, crouching down and scooping up two handfuls of air. “We are quite offended!” she exclaims. “Be glad you have not injured my sparrow!”
It takes a moment to understand—she’s pretending. I realize she must know many sparrowed fae and wants a familiar of her own. Deciding to humor her, I bend down to her level, smiling.
“My sincere apologies to you and your sparrow. I beg your forgiveness.”
The girl beams, pleased, and extends her hand towards me. I take it and shake it solemnly. “We accept your apologies, sir. I am Valentina, and this is my sparrow, Friend.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” I reply, keeping my tone serious. “My name is Dominic. Would you like to meet my sparrow?”
Her eyes widen, and she nods eagerly. “Oh, yes!”
Nix? I project, even as I let out a sharp whistle. Her eyes widen as she hears the flapping of wings, and as Nix lands in front of her, she gasps, clasping her hands to her face.
“How wonderful!” she exclaims, extending her hand toward him.
Be friendly, I warn, as my sparrow is not known for enjoying the company of others. But, to my surprise, he allows her to pet him, even nuzzling against her palm.
She giggles, her face lighting up. “What’s his name?”
“Fredrick,” I reply, giving a false name.
Valentina frowns, shaking her head. “That’s not his name.”
“Oh?” I ask, taken aback. “What makes you say that?”
She motions towards Nix, as if the bird himself is explanation enough. “It just isn’t.”
“What would you guess his name to be?” I ask, leaning back against the grass. She takes her time before responding, examining him for a few moments, petting his feathers, and even bending her head to whisper to him. When she turns to look at me, a determined glint in her eyes, I smile expectantly, preparing myself for an amusing response. “Well?”
“I would name him Nix.”
It’s as if this tiny child reached into my chest and pulled my heart right out. I gasp for air, staring at her in a mix of horror and fascination. How could she possibly know his name? Out of every name in all of the eight realms? How?!
“Oh, why...” I clear my throat, endeavoring to appear unfazed. “Why did you choose Nix?”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “Because that’s his name.” The matter is settled for her just as quickly as it started. She places Nix gently beside her invisible sparrow and, with great seriousness, makes introductions between them. Once satisfied that they’ve become friends, she leaps up, darting to the lake and returning moments later with her small arms full of sticks and stones. She tosses them onto the grass before plopping down beside them, completely unfazed by the dirt now clinging to her gown.
“Valentina, how old are you?”
“I’ll be seven next month,” she says, focused on her task.
“Does your mother know you’re out here alone?”
She looks up at me, frowning. “I’m not alone. You’re here.” I laugh at her innocence, and she smiles, turning her attention back to the sticks she is arranging. “Do you want to play my game?”
I lean forward, intrigued. “What is the game called?”
“It’s called ‘Stones and Sticks,’” she announces proudly, as if it were a grand title. “The rules are simple. We take turns hitting the stones with a stick. Try to make the stones land in the circle I made with these smaller twigs. Each stone that lands inside gives you a point. First one to ten points wins! But, if you knock a stone out of the playing area, you lose a point!” she instructs eagerly.
I nod with a solemn expression, trying to match her earnestness. “Understood. It sounds like an excellent game. Let us play.”
She lights up with a smile, setting her stick down as a starting point. With a flick of her wrist, her stone skims perfectly into the circle. “One point for me!” she exclaims, her laughter bubbling up as she claps her hands together. I lean forward to take my turn, aiming carefully, but my stone skitters off in the wrong direction, rolling far past the circle. She covers her mouth, her eyes twinkling with delight. “No points for you, Sir Dominic!” she giggles, her laughter contagious.