When Pan had operated on Watch, he had not only removed the arrow but covered the wound with a large green leaf coated with soothing herbs. Pan said the herbs would not only help with the pain, but would also keep infections from forming. The leaf was tied to Watch’s leg with a strip torn from Cindy’s shirt sleeve. Cindy had offered them her shirt while Pan was working on Watch. It disturbed her to look at it now, stained with her friend’s blood. Watch noted her concern and patted her on the arm.
“Don’t worry,” he said, leaning back against a tree. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”
Cindy shook her head. “You’re trying to act brave. I know it must hurt awful.”
“It does hurt,” Watch admitted. “But the herbs Pan put over the cut are working. They have made the torn flesh slightly numb.”
“Pan must know a lot about plants,” Cindy said.
“He’s so ancient—he must know a lot about everything. I’m surprised he was so easily fooled by the wizard.”
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “Gambling brings out the worst in people. It makes them lose all sense. It’s a twisted emotion—the desire to get something for nothing.”
“I won’t invite you to our next card game,” Watch said.
Cindy smiled. “I didn’t mean to sound so serious. Your card games are always fun.” She paused. “But you know what always amazes me. You always win.”
“That’s because I cheat,” he said. “The cards are marked. I marked them.”
Cindy was astounded. “You’re lying, you would never cheat anyone. I know you.”
Watch explained. “I originally marked them because my eyes were so lousy that I couldn’t even see what cards the rest of you discarded. In other words, I did it to make the game even. But since the witch improved my eyesight, I don’t really need the marking to help my game. But I use them out of habit—so I never lose.” He paused. “When we get back to Spooksville I promise I’ll buy a fresh deck of cards.”
Cindy laughed softly. “We don’t play for money, so it’s not really gambling.” She stopped and looked around. “I wonder how the others are getting along.”
“I bet they’re at the castle already.”
“Do you think they’ll defeat the evil wizard?”
Watch shook his head. “Pan is not going to be able to storm into the castle and demand his kingdom back. The wizard will have guards, plenty of elementals that will have gone over to his side.”
Cindy was worried. “Do you think they’ll all be killed?”
“I think they need a good plan. I just hope Adam comes up with one before they come face to face with Klandor.”
A small voice spoke nearby.
“Hello,” it said.
Cindy leapt to her feet. “Who’s there?”
“Who are you?” the voice asked softly.
Cindy and Watch looked all around. “Come out and show yourself,” Cindy ordered.
“No,” the voice said. “You have to tell me who you are first.”
Cindy glanced anxiously at Watch, who simply shrugged. Cindy continued to scan the surrounding foliage, looking for a sign of their visitor.
“I’m Cindy,” she said finally. “This is Watch. Who are you?”
“My name is Sarshi.”
“Where are you?” Cindy asked. “Why can’t we see you?”
“Because I don’t want you to see me.” Sarshi paused. “Are you human beings?”
“Yes,” Cindy said. “What are you?”
“Don’t you know?”
“No,” Cindy said.
“Don’t you want to guess?”
“Why should we guess?” Watch asked.
“Because if you guess right I might show myself to you.”
“You’re an elf,” Cindy said.
“No.”
“You’re a leprechaun,” Watch said.
“No. Guess again.”
“You’re a fairy,” Cindy said.
Sarshi sounded disappointed. “How did you guess?”
“We were running out of names for elementals,” Watch said. “Are you really a fairy?”
“Yes.”
“Oh no,” Cindy moaned. “I don’t know if I can take another spell right now.”
“I won’t cast a spell on you,” Sarshi said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Why are you here?” Cindy asked.
“There is a rumor in the woods that Pan has returned. Another fairy told me that he has come with human kids. When I saw you I thought you might be with Pan.”
“We were with him,” Cindy explained. “But Watch was shot in the leg by an elf, and I stayed behind to guard him. Pan has gone along with our other friends.”
“Be careful,” Watch warned in a quiet voice. “This fairy might be on Klandor’s side.”
“I do not like Klandor,” Sarshi replied. “I never do a thing he says. I am on Pan’s side.”
“But if you follow Pan,” Cindy said, “how come you didn’t follow him into our world? Why are you still here?”
Sarshi was a long time in answering. “Because these are my trees. This is my home. And I knew that one day Pan would return with an army and throw down Klandor.”
Cindy had to smile. “He didn’t bring much of an army I’m afraid. Our other friends are all he’s got with him.” She paused. “I do believe you are a nice fairy, and I hope you can tell we’re nice humans. Would you please show yourself now?”
“OK. But you have to promise not to laugh at me.”
“Why would we laugh?” Cindy asked.
“Because I am a kid fairy,” Sarshi said, and with those words a tiny female figure appeared beside Cindy. She was at most half Cindy’s height. Like the fairy they had met outside the dwarfs’ cave, she wore a long dark coat and had bright green eyes. Only this fairy’s hair was black, curly, and her tiny face was more cute than beautiful. On each of her ten fingers shone a glittering ring, each a different color and design. She stared up at Cindy with a smile so sweet it melted Cindy’s heart. “Hello,” Sarshi said.
Cindy offered her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
Sarshi stared at her hand. “What do you want me to do with your fingers?”
“In our culture,” Cindy explained, “it is customary to shake hands when you meet someone new.”
“You want to shake my hands?” Sarshi asked, puzzled.
“Just one hand would be enough,” Watch said.
“Will you shake it hard?” Sarshi asked. “Will it hurt?”
Cindy dropped her hand. “We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”
But Sarshi sounded disappointed. “Maybe we could shake later.” She glanced at Watch’s injured leg and frowned. “The elves should not have shot at you, especially if you were with Pan. That was naughty of them.”
“Are there elves still around here?” Cindy asked.
“No,” Sarshi said with a twinkle in her eyes. “I led them away from here.”
“How did you do that?” Watch asked.
Sarshi acted indignant. “I may be a small fairy but I am a powerful one.” She spoke in an excited confidential tone. “I confused them with a magical spell. They thought they were chasing a bunch of dwarfs, when they were just chasing little old me.”
“We’re grateful you got them out of here,” Cindy said.
Sarshi nodded to Watch’s leg. “Does it hurt?”
“Only when I breathe,” Watch said.
“Do you want me to heal you?” Sarshi asked.
“What do you mean?” Cindy asked.
Sarshi was confused. “You don’t understand this simple question?”
“We’re surprised at it,” Cindy explained. “Can you really heal such a serious wound?”
Again Sarshi affected a proud air. “You think I’m just a kid.”
“You said you were just a kid,” Watch reminded her.
“Yes, that is true,” Sarshi admitted. “But I am much older than you two. I know from my mother that humans are not kids for long before they turn into something horrible she calls adults.”
Cindy giggled. “They’re not all horrible. How old are you? In human years?”
Sarshi cleared her throat. “I am one hundred and seventy-six of your years.”
“No way,” Watch said.
Sarshi looked suitably crushed. “Well, I am almost twenty of your years old.”
“What does almost mean?” Cindy asked.
Sarshi lowered her head. “I’m ten years old.”
“You’re almost as old as us,” Cindy said. “We can be friends. But as your friends, we don’t want to take advantage of you. But if you can heal Watch’s leg, we would appreciate it. You see we’ve been sitting in this forest for a long time now and we’re getting hungry.”
Sarshi brightened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I know many food-making spells. What would you like to eat first?”
“After you fix my leg,” Watch said, “I’d like a Spam sandwich with sprouts.”
Sarshi frowned. “I don’t know if I know a spell for Spam.”
“A cheese sandwich would do just fine,” Cindy said. She added, “But if you can rustle up a chocolate cake for us, we would be eternally grateful.”
“And a carton of milk,” Watch added. “Can’t eat cake without milk.”
Sarshi nodded at Watch’s wound. “Take off your bandage and let me see what those elves did to you. Pan may be a great king, and an OK doctor, but he is no fairy. I’ll have you fixed up in a few minutes and then we can have a feast.”
“Then can we go after our friends?” Cindy asked.
Sarshi was uncertain. “Klandor is a powerful wizard, stronger than any fairy. If he catches us, he will probably kill us.” Then she added, “But I’ll go with you to the castle. I’m tired of Klandor running things. I’ll help in any way that I can.”