CHAPTER SEVEN

Masteress Meenore watched Elodie follow the high brunka into the night. What a slender reed the girl is, IT thought, and such a valiant reed! How easy to cut down a reed.

ITs smoke grayed, and something that might have been a tear filled ITs emerald eye. Never before had an unfathomably brilliant, temperamentally chilly IT so treasured a human girl.

As IT curled ITself for sleep, IT felt virtuous. I am capable of deep feeling, IT thought.

And yet I sent her into danger.

Pride in ITs goodness faded. IT thought, Life is danger, and was asleep.