Chapter 2

Nir strolled through the crowd. Soberly, he surveyed the girls and women his magic singled out. Some were pretty as far as humans went. Others were not. But each met his gaze with a blush and a look of wonder. He felt each one sting with disappointment every time he turned away and moved along.

"Are you looking for someone?" A young woman stepped into his path.

Her eyes and hair were black, a sign of aristocracy in Nir's world. That hair hung freely about her shoulders and down her back. She was one of only a few who did. Many other women kept their hair pinned close to their heads. The difference endeared him to the dark haired woman. She also resembled an elf enough to be beautiful, which was also in her favor.

"Am I looking for someone?" Nir repeated. "Yes, I am."

"Maybe I can help," she said. "I work at my family's tavern and inn. I know everybody in these parts. Except you. Is it anyone in-particular you're looking for?"

"I don't know," he admitted, struggling to make sense of some of the words she used. Tavern? "Maybe I'm looking for you."

Surprise lit the young woman's black eyes and she cast a mischievous grin toward a group of three girls who watched them intently.

Nir found out his companions name was Janie Bounce, but he could call her Janie, and she desperately loved to dance. Another mark in her favor. They were soon twirling along with the crowd to Galnar's fiddle. Though the elf lord was unfamiliar with the jumbled and disjointed steps to this human dance, he was able to mimic those around him well enough for his partner. Janie asked him an endless stream of questions about himself, most of which he answered with lies and half truths. He hoped she was being more forthright with him while answering the questions he posed.

Janie said she was 19 years old, unmarried, had never eaten deer, and sang moderately well, though her friends told her she was very good.

They were having a pleasant time when an unattractive frown overtook Janie's face. Nir followed her gaze. Two wooden structures on four wheels pulled by horses came rumbling into the village. Once they stopped, the men sitting on top of the structures climbed down and opened the doors at the sides. From the first one, a man with dark blond hair stepped out and then helped a beautiful older woman with black hair descend from it as well. Two girls who looked like younger versions of her followed. From the second, two young men with orange hair stepped out. One of them assisted a young woman as she climbed down. This girl caught Nir's attention with her glowing ember colored hair. He had never seen anything like it.

"They're the Richardsons," Janie said. "They'll be keeping their horses and carriage in my family's stable. I had better take their cloaks and see if I can get them anything. I'll be back."

Nir watched his partner hurry toward the newcomers, then focused his attention back on the bright haired woman. Her deer-like brown eyes looked about her surroundings unhappily gazing over the crowd. They finally rested curiously on him and Nir surged with a pull toward her that had nothing to do with his magic.


Miranda surveyed the lively festival which was in full swing, her stomach already threatening to relinquish its contents at the prospect of being flirted with by Charlie Hempstead.

As the young woman took in the sights around her, she noticed a number of men and women who stood out from the rest. With their extreme beauty and impossible graze, they seemed inhuman. The rest of the villagers either watched them, entranced, or danced shamelessly to the music they played. Even Miranda, who didn't have a particular passion for dancing, felt the urge to join in.

She continued scanning the crowd until her eyes fell on a dark haired stranger with black eyes. He resembled the other graceful figures, but enhanced. Even in the simple white shirt and black britches that marked him as belonging to a class beneath her's, he possessed a remarkable appearance and aura of authority.

This man was so splendidly beautiful and otherworldly, Miranda couldn't help thinking of her strange, recently deceased sister. Katherine had sworn there were goblins, elves, dwarves, and other supernatural beings in the world. She even claimed to be learning the goblin language. If Miranda was still young enough to believe in Katherine's stories, she would have been convinced this man and the rest of the strangers stepped straight out of those old fairytales.

Miranda studied him for a long moment before realizing he was staring back openly and just as curiously.

Embarrassed, her already rosy complexion deepened with a blush as she looked away. The young woman promised herself she wouldn't look back at him. Miranda concentrated on handing Janie Bounce her cloak, piling it on top of her mother's and sisters'/ Then she determinedly watched a magician working his tricks.

Her resolve didn't last long. Miranda was soon searching the crowd for the man. Just as soon as her eyes turned away from the magician, she saw the mysterious man walking purposefully toward her.

The young woman's breath caught in her throat as he neared, his steps graceful, yet strong.

The anticipation popped like a soap bubble.

Charlie Hempstead, steered by his mother, the ample Mrs. Hempstead, was suddenly before her, blocking the view of the beautiful stranger.

"Hello, Til," Mrs. Hempstead greeted Miranda mother. "My Charlie was just mentioning how he wanted to dance with your daughter. Weren't you, dear?"

The color drained from the awkward boy's face, but he nodded.

"I'm sure Miranda would be honored to," Til replied. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes, I suppose I shall have to be," Miranda replied.

As Charlie reluctantly led her into the crowd of dancers, Miranda searched for the mysterious man, but he was no where to be found.