Chapter 11

The air was warm, and Walnut was just settling down to his favorite dew drink, when he heard a very familiar noise. It was the pounding hoof beats of a horse. It was probably Rahel, the unicorn, returning from her drinking pool. He took a deep drink from his dew, then spit it all out in a burst and began coughing as the horse and rider entered into his view.

"Anaella!" he choked out the word in shock and amazement.

"Hello, Walnut," replied Anaella calmly, as she swung off her mount.

"You're back! Say, ho, Rose, look, it's Anaella! She's back!"

"Walnut," said Anaella sternly, "I'm not staying for very long. I need to ask you some questions."

"Anaella!" cried Rose as she entered. She flew to her and began chatting away, along with Walnut. They had not seen the girl in six months, and all that had happened began to pour out. A few more fairy friends gathered around and began chattering. Anaella was annoyed; she had forgotten how talkative and scatterbrained her fairy guardians could be, though she herself felt a little giddy, remembering her playful life in the beautiful meadow.

"Wait!" she cried. "I need to talk to only Walnut for a minute."

"Anaella!" cried one more new voice.

She turned, surprised that she recognized the voice. A young human sized fairy strode into the meadow. He was tall, and his blonde hair shone brightly in the sun.

"Ryah?" she whispered. He grinned boyishly and scooped her up into a hug, sending a ripple of giggles through the other fairies. Ryah had been Anaella's playmate since birth. He had left this part of the meadow when she was twelve. She hadn't seen him since.

"What are you doing here?" she cried, her eyes sparkling in pleasure.

"I just thought I'd stop by my old home and see you before going to my duties. You certainly have grown beautiful, Anaella."

"What duties?" she asked, ignoring the statement.

Ryah stood a little straighter as he announced, "I serve King Felipe as an advisor."

Anaella's mouth dropped open. She quickly closed it and smiled innocently.

"This war between King Felipe and the rebels has grown, and even we fairies are part of it. I have just returned from one of his armies in the south to tell them Dasian's camp is probably slaughtered."

"Captain Dasian, son of Riley, is your enemy?" asked Walnut. He sent Anaella a sharp and worried look. His memory was sharp and, had remembered Dasian when he first came. Anaella shrugged and bit her lip, hoping Walnut wouldn't give her secret away.

"Yes. I've never seen him, but I've heard so many stories about him I can almost see the old man."

"Old man?" Anaella asked, trying hard not to chuckle.

Ryah shrugged. "I don't know how old he is. None of the men I heard the stories from, know either. He is very mysterious and sly. Would you like me to show some of the things I received from Felipe?"

"No, thank-you," said Anaella; she was in a hurry to get the answers and leave. "I need to talk to Walnut for a bit, so if you'll excuse me." She and Walnut escaped from the fairies and found a quiet place to converse.

"Anaella, I don't like this. You and Ryah are supposed to be good friends, but your masters are sworn enemies."

"Ryah doesn't know that. Besides, he and I may never see each other again. But to the point, tell me the story of my birth in detail, please, and about my parents."

Walnut raised an eyebrow, and then he sighed and consented. "Your mother was a beautiful, simple, peasant girl. While she was in the woods picking berries, your father came and took her away to live with the fairies. She later came to love the fairy world, and she and your father were married. Knowing her human family was worrying about her, she left, promising to return in eight months. She was pregnant with you at the time. Before the eight months were up, she gave birth to you at her father's hut in a small village. As soon as she was strong enough to travel, she came into forest. The dragon was waiting for her. Why, we don't know. Luckily you were spared. Rose and I found you and brought you up as our own. That is all that happened."

"Did either my father or my mother interact with the witches at all?"

"No."

Anaella sighed, thinking hard. "What happened to my father?"

"I don't know. But your uncle is still here and would be more than glad to help you."

"Can I talk to him now?"

Walnut hesitated. "Usually when a child half-fairy half-human is born, it does not have any magic powers. But you were an exception because your father had powerful blood running through him. His brother, your uncle is the Great Agotaras."

Again Anaella's nearly jaw dropped. Everyone in the fairy realm knew the great Agotaras. Only the fairy king himself was greater than he, and Agotaras was quickly rising in favor and power. Now to think that she was related to him was unbelievable. "I still wish to see him."

The fairy hesitated worriedly then nodded and motioned for Anaella to follow him. He led her deep into the beautiful forest, to a huge waterfall that she had never seen before. He motioned her to go behind the waterfall to where a large cave was. She stepped behind the spray of the water and looked about the cave. It was lighted with glowing candles, held by little fairy boys. They looked at her in awe, but did not say anything as she walked slowly down the tunnel.

She entered a large room where a tall man stood in front of a simple chair decorated only with candles. He was dressed in a long red robe, which fell around him in a majestic manner. When his hard green eyes lighted on her, recognition registered on his face, but did not seem surprised.

"Sir," Anaella started hesitantly, not sure whether to call him uncle or Great Agotaras.

"Anaella," he murmured his voice deep and full of authority, like Dasian's. "What do you want from me?"

"Is there anything from our world I could give the witches in return for some answers?" she suddenly burst out. He slowly sat down, not taking his eyes off his niece. It was a difficult question. There were many things the fairies could give to the witches that were very valuable. The problem was, what would the fairies be willing to hand over to them?

"I have something the witches might accept," he said slowly. "Who will you send to deliver it?"

"I'm going myself."

Agotaras raised an eyebrow in uncertainty yet there was a glint of admiration in the deep swirls, "Is that so? You are willing to risk your life to dangers you have never experienced?" He smiled unexpectedly and added, "Of course that is what you've been doing since you've left the realm. Risking your life many times in things you have never done before."

"I am not afraid," she said, wondering from what magic source he had learned of her doings in the world of men.

"Good," he said his stern face returning. "You shouldn't ever be afraid," he said firmly as he handed her a bag full of magic powder he had gleaned from thin air. "Good luck."

She thanked him and quickly left the cave. It seemed strange that she should leave so quickly after meeting her uncle for the first time, but she had duties to perform and she could not be delayed, and he had not seemed to mind it at all, almost as if he expected her to flit in and out before him.

The darkness was thick and full of noises. Sometimes Anaella saw glowing eyes staring at her, or a shrill cackle of laughter would send shivers up her spine. Because she was in the witch's lair, she had to be on her guard every moment. Leading her horse was a ragged little girl, who seemed too sweet to be in this part of the dark forest. She was leading her to one of the most powerful witches, whose name was Gahela. Every now and then the little girl would look up at Anaella in wonder with large brown eyes. Anaella smiled encouragingly at her, but she did not smile back. She had not said a word during the whole ride to Gahela's cave. At the entrance of the cave Anaella slowly swung off, as the little girl patiently held the reins.

Dark blue and purple sparks bounced off the cavern's walls as Anaella entered cautiously. Gahela sat in the center of the room, a huge caldron in front of her. She threw in some blue and purple powder, causing the sparks to fly again as she muttered some spells under her breath. She stopped when she saw Anaella and quickly waved her hand over the caldron and two bags of colorful powder. They both disappeared and Gahela faced Anaella in rage.

"How dare you intrude on my magic spells, fairy!"

"I've come to ask you some questions."

"Questions must have a price," the witch spat.

Anaella handed her the bag her uncle had given her. Gahela took it and examined it carefully. When she was satisfied, she waved her hand again, and a crystal ball appeared on a crude table. It was dark purple and glowing leisurely, like the lights at the wizard's city.

"Ask me what you will."

"Show me your conversation with Felipe eighteen years ago," said Anaella hesitantly.

The witch visibly started. She glowered fiercely for a moment then placed her gnarled hand on the ball. The light swirled and disappeared, leaving a picture of Felipe standing in front of the witch. She watched and listened to the whole conversation. But one part stuck out:

Gahela had finished her sentence, "There will be only one equal threat than he."

"Who is that?" asked Felipe, his eyes hard and full of spite.

"A fairy. A fairy who can not cry."

Felipe's eyes widened and he took a step back. "A fairy! Where does he live?"

"The fairy was born two days ago near the fairy's realm. I can easily send one of our dragons and dispose of the creature."

"That was it," growled Gahela, looking at Anaella's now confident face. The vision in the ball vanished and only the swirling light remained.

"Can you please show me what Felipe is doing right now?"

"More questions, more pay," grinned the witch, stretching out her hand.

"I have nothing else to give, and I'm sure what I gave was good enough," Anaella retorted.

Gahela shook her head. "A good price for another vision would be your long hair."

Anaella stared at the witch in amazement. "You want my hair?"

"Fairy hair is magical. It will be very useful. That will be a fair exchange. Becalm your troubled face, fairy. It will grow back again in a short time. It always does."

Gahela could have been lying, but Anaella was determined, and allowed her to cut off her long golden hair, right below the ear. Gahela cackled with delight and placed her hand on the ball again. Felipe again appeared, seated on a throne in Gespian's castle.

"Captain Dasian will come to us," he said to someone Anaella couldn't see. "You need not worry. When he comes, we shall capture him and this time he won't get away."

"How do you know?" it was a woman's voice, and her face suddenly glistened in the ball. She was an older woman with the same features as Jengo, high cheek bones and thin eyes. Probably his mother, Anaella thought.

"Magic," grinned Felipe. "He will be driven here. No one can stop him. Trust me, dear, he will."

The image disappeared and Anaella was ready leave. But the witch stopped her with mocking eyes, and a horrible laugh.

"If you tell Captain Dasian of this vision, Anaella, Fairy who can not cry, it will only mean death to you both."

"What do you mean," she asked. Her eyes were full of fear and confusion.

"Magic has a strong hold on him and will soon control him. If you tell him what you have seen tonight, both you and he will be killed, instantly." Her shrill laugh resounded off the cold hard walls, and Anaella hurried out the entry, wondering what to do.