Chapter One Princess Loreena: The Dragons and The Fairy

 

Three Days Later

            Princess Loreena straightened her back, doing her best to appear strong and confident. The Dragons could easily sniff out fear. It was why she'd had Keeva and Garson stay ten feet behind her, hidden amongst the foliage.

            Princess Loreena walked to the entrance of the Dragon's Lair where the Wise Old One lived. She was greeted by two large dragon guards. One was bright red with black spots and deep purple translucent wings. Three matching horns protruded from his head. He had tiny yellow eyes with slits for pupils. Faint pink scars ravaged his body, and there was a long tear in his left wing. The other one mirrored the first one in appearance, only he was a dark midnight blue color with ivory horns and deep olive green wings.

            “You're a human.” The red one said in Dragonese. “What are you, a human, doing here at the Dragon's Lair? It is off-limits to your kind. The only human welcome here is Vincent Varclave, and you are not him.”

            “No, I am not.” Princess Loreena replied in Dragonese. “My name is Loreena Noor.”

            “You speak Dragonese?” The blue dragon hissed. The dragons looked at each other briefly then back at Princess Loreena.

            “I am fluent many languages.” Princess Loreena told them. “I am here to speak with the Wise Old One.”

            “Why do you wish to speak with the Wise Old One?” The red dragon asked, his nostrils flaring. “What could a human such as yourself possibly want with our leader?”

            “The unicorns that once lived in this forest have disappeared.” Princess Loreena said. “I know where they have gone. They have been captured by a Corosonian trader. With the help of the dragons, I can return them.”

            The dragons both snorted.     

            “We care nothing for the unicorns.” The red one said. “Why should we?”

            “Wait.” The blue one said. The red one glared at him.

            “What?” The red one demanded of the blue.

            “Perhaps we should allow this human child to speak with the Wise Old One.” The blue one said.

            “Why?” The red one asked.

            “Because there might be something she can offer us.” The blue one said mysteriously. “Let the Wise Old One decide. If he decides she's useless, then he can have her for dinner.”

            The dragons laughed cruelly. It was a dry, choking chortle.

            “I'll take you to see the Wise Old One.” The red one offered. He swung around and headed back into the Lair. Princess Loreena followed him, aware of the blue dragon's beady eyes following her.

            The dragon led her deep into the Lair, eventually coming to a vast and cavernous room where the Wise Old One sat upon an ornate rug surrounded by piles of treasures that he must have collected over several centuries. Gazing up at the ceiling, she saw that it was made up of sparkling diamond-like rock fragments that reflected a beautiful, iridescent rainbow on the ground.

            Princess Loreena stopped a few feet in front of the Wise Old One.

            The dragon who had brought here there bowed. “This human girl wishes to speak with you about the recent disappearances of the unicorns.” He said.

            The Wise Old One was an enormous, fat black dragon with sharp teeth that hung over his lips. His brown horns were curled wickedly. His gray wings were folded across his back. He had glowing green eyes.

            “Thank you, Armon.” The Wise Old One grunted to the red dragon. “You are dismissed.”

            Armon bowed once more and turned away, tail swishing behind him as he left. He smirked at Princess Loreena has he passed.

            The Wise Old One locked eyes with Princess Loreena. He looked hungry.

            “You may approach.” He growled to the Princess.

            Princess Loreena slowly walked forward. She was careful to keep her face expressionless.

            “What is your name?” He asked her.

            “My name is Loreena Noor, Wise Old One.” The Princess replied tonelessly.

            “Loreena Noor...You would not perhaps be related to Queen Bellamine Noor of Alcwyn, would you?” He asked her.

            “Yes, I am her granddaughter.” Princess Loreena acknowledged. “But such knowledge is inconsequential. I am not defined by who my grandmother is. I am my own person.”

            “I will decide what information is important and what is not.” The Wise Old One rumbled. He swung his long, snakelike neck so that his face was looming only a foot away from hers. She took a deep breath. The Wise Old One's hot, sour breath caressed her face. He blinked at her.

            “Why did you come here?” He asked her.

            “I came here to request your help.” Princess Loreena said. “The unicorns have been captured by  a Corosonian trader who is selling them for a profit. I've come up with a plan. I will negotiate with the head trader and offer him the keys to the Kingdom of Alcwyn in return for all twenty five of the unicorns. I will lead the traders to a point in the forest where your family, the dragons, will ambush them. I know that I can lure them out here, that part won't be difficult. I can't save the unicorns alone, but I can with your help.”

            “What are the unicorns to me?” The Old Wise One challenged her. He jerked his head back and began to lick between his claws with his long, bumpy purple tongue. “Why should I care what becomes of them?”

            “They are the last of their kind.” Princess Loreena said. “They are sentient beings like you. Vincent Varclave dedicated his life to saving and protecting you and the other magical creatures. What if it was you or a member of your family who had been captured? Wouldn't you do all you could to rescue them?”

            “But it is not.” The Wise Old One pointed out. “I have to look out for myself and my family. Our lives will continue on as they are, with or without the unicorns.” The Wise Old One stopped licking his dry skin. He swung his neck back towards Princess Loreena.

            “Unless,” He said. “You are willing to do something for me in return?”

            “What do you want?” Princess Loreena asked.

            “The Cursed Book from the Lost Cave.” The Wise Old One said.

            “The what from the where?”

            “The Cursed Book from the Lost Cave. There is a cave in this forest. In the heart of the cave lies the Cursed Book. If you find the Book, retrieve it, and bring it back to me, then I will help you rescue the unicorns.”

            “What does the Cursed Book look like? What does it do?” Princess Loreena asked curiously.

            “You will know it when you see it.” The Wise Old One replied vaguely. “And I will not tell you what it does. That is none of your concern. You will not be using it, you will be finding it, taking it, and presenting it to me. If you do this, then I will do anything you ask of me. Do we have an agreement?”

            Princess Loreena stared at the Wise Old One. She wasn't sure she liked what she was hearing. A cursed book and a lost cave...

            “Do we have a deal?” The Wise Old One repeated impatiently.

            “We do." Princess Loreena agreed.

            “You must return with the Book in two weeks time.” The Wise Old One said. “Or else the deal is off.”

            “Fine.” Princess Loreena said stiffly. She knew better than to argue with a dragon.

            “Armon will escort you out.” The Wise Old One said lazily.

            Seconds later the big red Dragon that was Armon reappeared. “Come.” Was all he said.

            Princess Loreena followed him out.

            “I have to say, I'm disappointed that he did not make a meal out of you.”

            Princess Loreena said nothing. Armon spun his head around to look at her while he continued walking.

            “Aren't you going to answer me?” He demanded in an angry hiss. He narrowed his eyes.

            “You didn't ask me a question.” Princess Loreena said calmly.

            They exited the Lair then. Princess Loreena turned to look at Armon.

            “Thank you.” She said to him, and she headed back to where Keeva and Garson were hiding. They swarmed at her, demanding to know how it had gone.

            “They've agreed to help us.” Princess Loreena said. Keeva and Garson began to rejoice.

            “On one condition.” Princess Loreena added. Keeva and Garson were instantly wary.

            “We have to go into the Lost Cave and find and retrieve the Bewitched Book. Before you ask, I don't know where the Lost Cave is or where the book lies within it, nor do I know what the book is for.”

            “So we have to venture inside some cave and collect a cursed book?” Keeva cried. “That sounds like a lot of work. Why can't the dragons just help us? Why do we have to do something for them first?”

            “Because that's the way of the dragons; they won't do anything unless they receive something in return. They're essentially selfish creatures.” Princess Loreena told Keeva in a disgruntled tone. She wasn't any happier about it than Keeva was.

            “How are we going to find this book?” Garson asked.

            “First we're going to find Vincent Varclave's cabin.” Princess Loreena said. “He lived there up until his death. He may have something that can tell us where the book is. It's worth a try.” She glanced between Keeva and Garson. “What do you think?” She asked them.

            “We might as well.” Keeva said a bit reluctantly.

            “What have we to lose?” Garson said.

            “Do you know where his cabin is?” Keeva asked.

            “No, we're going to have to look for it.” Princess Loreena admitted. Keeva and Garson both groaned.

            “No one said this was going to be easy.” Princess Loreena said sharply. “You both agreed to come.”

            “And now we're regretting it.” Garson grumbled. Princess Loreena walked ahead of her friends. They'd only been walking for thirty minutes when Princess Loreena spotted something through the thick vegetation. She pushed through the leaves and branches.

            “I've found it!” She called back to her friends. Keeva and Garson came running towards her. Princess Loreena pointed to the rotting, moss coated cabin that looked as though it would collapse with even the slightest gust of wind.

            “I can’t believe it’s still standing.” Keeva murmured.

            Princess Loreena approached. She stood on her tiptoes and gazed through the open window. Inside the cabin there was a wooden table, a single chair, and a bed of straw covered with a patchy quilt. In the corner there was a rusted shovel. On the table sat an empty lantern and an open book.

            “What do you see?” Keeva asked quietly from behind.

            Princess Loreena shrugged. “There’s not much in there.” She whispered back. She reached for the door which had a hole instead of a doorknob and yanked it open. The door nearly fell from the hinges.

            Princess Loreena stepped inside the cabin, followed by Keeva and Garson. The three of them looked around. Princess Loreena picked up the book sitting on the table. She flipped through it, scanning the passages.

            “What is it?” Garson asked.

            “It’s a book on how to cook and prepare different kinds of meat.” Princess Loreena replied. She was disappointed. She’d been hoping it might be something useful.

            Keeva wondered over to the bed.

            “Ouch!” She cried. She grabbed her foot and hopped up and down. “I stepped on something.”

            Princess Loreena and Garson went over to investigate.

            “A trap door.” Princess Loreena murmured. She bent down and opened the latch. Gazing down into the darkness she couldn’t make out anything.

            “What do you think is down there?” Garson wondered nervously.

            “There’s only one way to find out.” Princess Loreena said. She jumped down through the hole an landed on her bottom with an “Oof!”

            She moved aside and looked up at the anxious faces of her two friends. “Are you coming or not?” She demanded.

            “I…I think I like it better up here.” Garson stammered.

            “Too bad.” Keeva muttered. She pushed him down and he landed on his face. He sat up and dusted himself off, coughing.

            “What was that for?” Garson demanded angrily and Keeva plopped down beside him, the only one of them to land gracefully on her feet.

            Keeva ignored Garson’s questioned. She began to feel her way around the room. Princess Loreena did the same.

            “I think I’ve got something here.” Keeva said. Princess Loreena and Garson followed the sound of her voice.

            “It feels like a wooden chest.” Keeva told them. She attempted to pry it open to no avail. “It’s locked.” She told them. “Do you think Varclave left the key somewhere around here?”  

            “No key can open that chest.” A gruff voice replied. The three of them nearly leaped out of their skins. Keeva shrieked.

            “Oh quiet down, would you?” The gruff voice commanded. There was a blinding flash, and the dark room was illuminated with torches lining the walls. The three friends were staring at a short, oddly pale man with tufts of white hair, piercing blue eyes, and pointed ears.

            “That chest is bound by magic.” The man informed Keeva, who had scurried over to Princess Loreena and Garson and was cowering behind them.

            “Only I can open it.”

            “Who are you?” Princess Loreena asked the man.

            “Why, I’m Vincent Varclave.” The man answered. “The better questions are who are you three and what are you doing snooping around my cabin?”

            “But…You can’t be Vincent Varclave. He died centuries ago.” Princess Loreena said.

            “I did.” The man acknowledged with a nod. “I’m the spirit of Vincent Varclave.”

            “What, did you get booted out of heaven or something?” Garson snickered.

            Vincent glared menacingly at Garson. “No, I did not get booted out of heaven, as you say.” He replied harshly. “I simply never went in the first place. I’ve remained here, guarding this forest;  protecting it from people like you.”

            “Please, sir, we’re not here to hurt the creatures that call this forest home. On the contrary, we’re trying to save the unicorns from the Corosonian trader who has captured them.”Princess Loreena explained quickly. “We’ve requested help from the other creatures here. The dragons have agreed to help us, but only if we retrieve for them the Bewitched Book from the Lost Cave. We were hoping that we could find something in your cabin that would lead us to the Book.”

            “I am the one who placed the Bewitched in the Lost Cave.” Vincent told her. “Do you know why? That book is immensely powerful, and in the wrong hands it could destroy the world. I’ve put every curse and hex imaginable on the cave so that no one can take the book. Why do you think they call it the Lost Cave? No one who enters ever comes out alive.”

            “We don’t want the book for ourselves.” Garson said. “Loreena just told you, we have to get it for the dragons so they will help us rescue the unicorns. You’re sworn to protect all the creatures that live in this forest, and you can help us save the unicorns by telling us how to get the book.”

            “I will do no such thing!” Vincent cried. “How do I know that I can trust you? How do I know that you do not wish to use the Book for your own selfish desires?”

            “We don’t even know what the Book does!” Garson snapped. “The dragons wouldn’t tell us.”

            “And neither will I.” Vincent told him. “You three should not have come here. You should turn around now and go back to wherever you came from.”

            “We’re not going back home.” Princess Loreena said, standing her ground. “I know you care about these creatures. You dedicated your life and afterlife to them. I know how you feel, Varclave. I feel the same way. From the time I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated by the beasts of the Varclave forest. They are beautiful and majestic and intelligent. They should not be captured and sold or killed. They are sentient beings like we are. All I want is to return the unicorns to their proper home. You can trust me, Varclave. If you don’t, then the unicorns will become extinct.”

            “She’s right.” Keeva put in. “There are only twenty five unicorns left in the world. Landron Oscowel has no qualms about what happens to them; he doesn't see them as being like us, as being sentient. All he sees is how many coins he can sell each one for. We have nothing to gain by doing this. We are risking our own lives for theirs.”

            “I cannot help you.” Vincent said firmly. “I cannot tell you how to get through the Lost Cave. I designed it centuries ago, and a spirit’s memory is not that good. I never created a map because then someone like you three could have found it and used it. You’re going to have to find your own way. I wish you luck. As I said before, no one comes out alive.”

            “That’s reassuring.” Garson muttered sarcastically under his breath.

            “There must be something you can do for us.” Princess Loreena begged.

            Vincent sighed. He pointed his index finger at the lock on the wooden chest. He muttered some strange words under his breath that even Princess Loreena didn’t recognize, and the lock popped open.

            “Reach inside.” Vincent commanded Princess Loreena. She did.

            Out of the chest flew a very strange looking creature. Princess Loreena stood up to examine it. It fluttered around her head.

            The thing was a long black, shiny lizard with a dragon's wings. It sneezed and smoke rose from its nostrils. It coughed and breathed fire. Princess Loreena held out her hand, and the creature landed in it. He gazed up at her with bright yellow eyes that had black slits for pupils.

            “What is that?” Keeva asked in disgust.

            “That is Gideon.” Vincent told them. “He’s a pigmy dragon; the last of his kind.”
            “You keep a miniature dragon in a chest beneath your cabin?” Keeva cried. “Why? Why would you want to keep that gross, slimy thing around?”

            “That gross slimy thing has been my most loyal companion for three lifetimes and an afterlife.” Vincent Varclave sneered at Keeva. He looked about as disgusted with her as she was with Gideon.

            “Gideon is your best chance of making it through the Lost Cave.” He told Princess Loreena. “He’s got a good sense of direction. He'll lead you through the Cave.” 

            “That’s your big help?” Keeva groaned. Gideon hissed at her.         

            “He knows when someone doesn’t like him; he can sense it.” Vincent informed Keeva. “You’ll want to be kinder to him.”

            “Or what? He can’t do anything to me.” Keeva said confidently.

            Gideon flew out of Princess Loreena’s hand and landed on the tip of Keeva’s nose, which he bit. Keeva cried out in pain. She grabbed Gideon and threw him across the room. He caught himself before he hit the wall and landed on Princess Loreena’s shoulder, from where he glared at Keeva.

            “He’s not venomous, is he?” Keeva asked Vincent Varclave anxiously.

            Vincent smirked at her as her nose turned red and began to swell to four times its original size, drooping over her mouth.

            Keeva let out a strangled cry. Vincent chortled, obviously enjoying Keeva’s distress.

            “Fix her!” Garson demanded angrily.

            “We’d very much appreciate it if you did.” Princess Loreena added politely.

Still laughing, Vincent pointed at Keeva’s engorged nose and muttered a few more strange words. Keeva’s nose gradually returned to its natural size and state. She sighed with relief.

            “Pigmy dragon venom is quite poisonous.” Vincent said, still smirking. “If I hadn’t been here, your nose would have continued to swell until it exploded.”

            Keeva gasped.

            “Pigmy dragons only bite when they sense an unfriendly presence in their mist.” He added. “So you’ll all want to be kind to Gideon. If you apologize, girl, he will forgive you. But you must make it sincere.”

            “I apologize, Gideon.” Keeva said. In response, Gideon hissed.

            “He’s forgiven you.” Vincent Varclave said.

            “Does he speak Dragonese?” Princess Loreena asked Vincent Varclave. He nodded.

            Princess Loreena turned to look at Gideon.

            “My name is Loreena.” She addressed Gideon. “The girl you bit is my friend, Keeva. The boy is our friend Garson. Your Master has said that you will lead us through the Lost Cave. We’d much appreciate the help, and ask that you not bite any of us again.”

            Gideon looked from the Princess to Vincent.

            “The girl tells me you have assigned me to help her and her friends through the Lost Cave.” He hissed at Vincent in Dragonese. “Is this your command, Master?”

            “It is.” Vincent replied in Dragonese.

            Gideon turned back to Princess Loreena. “I am now your humble servant.” He hissed at her. “Your word is my command.”

            “I think you will find that pigmy dragons are much more loyal than full-sized dragons.” Vincent Varclave said. “He will make a fine companion for you on your journey.”

            “Thank you.” Princess Loreena said. Keeva and Garson were staring at her, Vincent, and Gideon, wearing very confused expressions.

            “Would anyone mind explaining to us what just transpired?” Garson said.

            “Gideon has agreed to help us.” Princess Loreena told him.

            “Wonderful.” Keeva said. There was only a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “He doesn’t speak the human tongue by any chance, does he?”

            “The dragons view themselves are being superior to humans.” Vincent told her. “They are quite impressed by those few humans who can speak theirs.” He beamed at Princess Loreena.

            “Do you remember all those times you told me that knowing all of the magical languages would never be useful?” Princess Loreena said to Garson and Keeva. “I suppose you were wrong.”

            Her friends both grimaced at her.            

            “Would you two mind giving Vincent and I a moment of privacy?” Princess Loreena requested. They frowned, hating to be excluded, but climbed up the rope ladder that led to the main cabin. Princess Loreena asked the same thing of Gideon in Dragonese, and he flew up out the hole in the floor-ceiling.

            The Princess turned to Vincent. “If I save the unicorns,” She said to him. “Will you agree to move onto the afterlife? You’ve lingered here on Earth for far too long. I understand why; you feel as though the only way you can protect the forest is for you to remain here. But if you agree to give this land to my family, to my grandmother, Queen Bellamine of Alcwyn, then she will ensure that it is protected, along with every being that lives within it.”

            “I’m not sure.” Vincent said hesitantly. “I never wanted this land to be owned by a human. It belongs to the creatures.”

            “My grandmother will not disturb the land.” Princess Loreena swore. “She will not set foot in it. However, if she legally owns it then she can better protect it. You can’t stay here forever, Varclave. You should have moved on long ago. You deserve to rest. Please. I will personally ensure that this place remains both safe and untouched.”

            “These creatures are my family.” Vincent said softly.

            “And as long as my family reigns no one shall harm them.” Princess Loreena promised him.

            Vincent hesitated. “If you return the Unicorns to me, then I will consider moving on to the afterlife.” He said.

            Just then, Garson's screams of agony ripped through the air. There was a distinct smell of something smoldering. Princess Loreena and Vincent Varclave hurried up the ladder. Sitting in the middle of the room, his clothes and face covered in black ash, was a stunned looking Garson.  Hovering a foot away was Gideon.

            Garson reached up and wiped his eyes. Princess Loreena, Keeva, and Vincent burst into fits of laughter. Gideon had burned off Garson's eyebrows.

            “What?” Garson cried. “What is it?”

            Still snickering, Vincent pointed his index finger at Garson's forehead and muttered a few words. Garson's eyebrows sprouted back up instantly.

            “What did you say to him?” Princess Loreena asked curiously.

            “I was trying to speak to him in Dragonese.” Garson admitted sheepishly. “I know a few words.” He repeated to Princess Loreena what he'd said to Gideon. Again, the others burst out laughing.

            “What?” Garson demanded again.

            “You called him an overweight flying rat.” Princess Loreena explained. She turned to Gideon.

            “My friend did not mean to insult you.” She told him. “He doesn't know much Dragonese.”

            “He's not very bright, is he?” Gideon hissed.

            “No, he is not.” Princess Loreena replied. She, Vincent, and Keeva all snickered.

            “What are you laughing at?” Garson demanded of Keeva. “You don't speak Dragonese any more than I do.”

            “Actually, I've been teaching her.” Princess Loreena told Garson.

            “Why would you want to learn Dragonese?” Garson asked Keeva. “I thought you didn't even like the dragons.”

            “I'm more interested in the griffins.” Keeva confessed. Gideon hissed at this. “But Dragonese is the most interesting and eloquent of all the magical languages.”

            “Why didn't you ever teach me?” Garson asked Princess Loreena. He looked hurt and offended. The three friends shared everything, but they had excluded him on this.

            “You have the attention span of a fly, Garson.” Princess Loreena said. “It takes concentration and dedication to master another language, especially one as complex as Dragonese.”

            Gideon fluttered over to land on the Princess's shoulder. “We should get moving." He encouraged.

            Vincent Varclave reached over and stroked Gideon's scales.

            “Take good care of him.” He whispered to the Princess.

            “I will.” She promised.

            Gideon hissed his farewell to his Master, and they left the cabin. Gideon flew off of the Princess's shoulder and buzzed ahead of them, pausing every few feet to glance behind him and ensure that they were still following.

...

            They'd been slogging through the thick vegetation for nearly an hour when Gideon zoomed into a clearing and let out a loud screech.

            Princess Loreena, Keeva, and Garson ran stumbling to catch up.

            In the clearing, Gideon was wrestling in the air with a small woman who about his size. The woman was wearing a short, billowy grass green dress, and had long blonde hair. She was surrounded by an iridescent yellow glow.                          

            “A fairy.” Princess Loreena murmured, staring at the tiny yet beautiful creature.

            “Excuse me.” Princess Loreena said in Fairish. The fairy released Gideon and swooped down to hover a few inches away from the Princess's face.

            “Hello.” The fairy greeted her. “My name is Windtree. Does the pigmy dragon belong to you?”

            “Yes, he does.” Princess Loreena replied. She looked up at Gideon and called to him. He landed on her shoulder, where he glared menacingly at Windtree.

            “He seems to think I'm food.” Windtree said nervously. “I don't speak Dragonese. Perhaps you could politely ask him to leave me be?”

            Princess Loreena smiled. “I will ask my friend not to eat you.” She told the fairy. “If you do something for me in return.” She had learned from her conversation with the dragons. She was going to negotiate with the fairy.

            “We are headed into the Lost Caves to find the book.” Princess Loreena informed  Windtree.  “We need to retrieve it so that the dragons will help us rescue the unicorns from the Corosonians. The Cave is very dark...But you could light the way for us.”

            “No one goes inside the Cave.” Windtree said. She had one eye on Princess Loreena and the other on Gideon. “No one that goes in ever comes out.”

            “I've been told that Gideon knows his way through the Cave.” Princess Loreena said. “But his fire won't be enough to show us where he's going. If you agree to come with us, Windtree, then I will tell Gideon not to eat you. Otherwise, you might become a nice meal for him.”

            “Fine, I will come.” Windtree agreed. “Now call off that beast!” Gideon was now hissing furiously at her.

            Princess Loreena twisted her neck to look at Gideon, switching over from Fairish to Dragonese with ease.

            “Windtree has agreed to light our way through the Cave.” She told Gideon. “So you are not allowed to eat her, alright?”

            Gideon nodded, albeit a bit grudgingly.

            “Good.” Princess Loreena smiled at him. At the same time an inset flew by. Gideon stuck out his tongue, which was a few feet long, and caught the insect, which he brought back into his mouth and chomped on briefly before swallowing.

            Princess Loreena looked back at Windtree. “He won't hurt you.” She promised her.

            “Would someone like to inform us as to what's going on?” Garson piped up. He and Keeva had been standing off to the side, both looking very confused and frustrated.

            “This fairy's name is Windtree.” Princess Loreena told them. “She's going to light our way through the Cave.” Princess Loreena turned back to the fairy.

            “Windtree, these are my friends.” Princess Loreena nodded to Keeva and Garson. “They are traveling with us.”

            “Do they speak Fairish?” Windtree's gaze lingered, strangely, on Keeva. A small, almost inconspicuous smile spread across her face.

            “No, if you need to speak with either of them I will serve as the translator.”

            Windtree nodded.

             The five of them resumed their journey.