Skye had never felt so angry at her sister before. Not only had she introduced herself to a random stranger, but she was also bringing him to lunch with their father, which meant Skye couldn't say anything intelligent for the next hour or so.

Hotly Skye marched in front of Jane and Jeffery, the street musician that was causing Skye's misfortune, who were locked in a heated conversation about Jane's books.

"And then in the forest this morning, a scene came to me as well! It was a good start though I think it needs some work." Jane beamed at Jeffery, Skye couldn't understand how someone could be survive listening to Jane talk about her books, let alone show any interest. But thinking about Jane's books just made her writhe in anger. And soon she was marching down the streets, stomping her feet ungracefully underneath her dress, attempting to drown out the noise of Jane by thinking about her new water system.

"The problem is that the suction isn't strong enough when you add so many pumps." Thought Skye to herself. "Maybe if I tried with just one extra pump. I'd have to get a special pipe from the tinsmith too..." and as she thought about these things she realized she was rather hungry, and with great joy saw Rosalind waiting for them with their father.

She bounded towards the small group at full speed, followed merrily by Jane who was dragging a slightly bewildered Jeffery behind her.

"Daddy!" Cried Jane happily as she flung herself into his arms.

"Jane! Skye!" He hugged them both, grinning like a mad man. Then he seemed to notice the stranger among them. "And whose this?" He asked, giving a small nod towards Jeffery.

"My name's Jeffery sir. I met Jane moments ago and she invited me for lunch. I did not mean to interrupt."

"It's wonderful to meet you Jeffery, and you are very welcome to come join us."

"Thank you." said Jeffery politely.

Rosalind stepped forward to give her introductions, "Hello, my name is Rosalind, this is Skye, Jane who you've already met. And finally this is... Batty where are you?"

Rosalind felt a little tug at her skirt, she looked down to find the youngest Penderwick cowering behind her. Rosalind laughed, "and this is Batty."

Batty offered a weak smile. Jeffery offered his warm one in return and Batty didn't feel so nervous anymore. And as Batty quickly asked Jeffery to come sit with her, Rosalind sent Skye the, "you were the OAP, you were supposed to be responsible" look. To witch Skye replied with the classic "It was Jane's fault" to witch Jane just pouted pathetically.

Rosalind sighed. At least Jane had remembered to say Peterson, or they'd be in big trouble. She followed along behind Batty and Jeffery, and soon Skye and Jane were behind her, bickering away like two squirrels over a peanut.

"It's my peanut!"

"No it's mine! I found it!"

"You stole it!"

"no I found it curiously close to your tree!"

"MINE!"

"MINE!"

After a short walk the group found themselves in a small meadow. They were surrounded by big sweeping willow trees, who's branches reached out then fell pathetically to the ground. They were quite breathe taking despite there odd branches, and it had always been Jane's favourite spot to sit and have a picnic. Besides the lovely sight of the meadow, with it's bright flowers, and sweeping willows, the smell was beyond compare. It smelt like it looked. The colours mixed together as if they gave of a fragrance of their own. Jane breathed deeply, inhaling the fresh smell of the grass and enjoying the sound of rushing water from a gurgling creek not to far away. This was perfect. But according to Skye sniffing the flowers and spinning around in fields is NOT a good way to spend your afternoon, and all too soon Jane was being dragged by her sister and forced to sit down so they could all eat.

"This is such a beautiful place!" Said Jeffery awing the sights of the meadow.

"We come here every week when we visit Daddy." Said Jane smiling at Jeffery pleasantly.

"So Jeffery what brings you into town?" Mr. Penderwick reached for a sandwich, smiling at Jeffery Kindly.

"I've been travelling around a lot, stopping in the towns to make some money here and there."

"What brings you so far from the kingdom?" Asked Rosalind.

"I wanted to go somewhere far away from my town. I'm actually not a citizen from around here, I'm two kingdoms over, from a small town named Bostellain."

"Welcome to Gardam!" Skye said with an eye roll. Rosalind sent her a be-polite-or-else look. Skye gulped a little and avoided eye contact.

"If I can be honest with you. I did not leave my home by choice." Jeffery looked at the ground sadly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Batty softly, holding on to Jeffery's arm tightly.

"Something evil has been waiting in the shadows for a while now. It's started to make it's move. I left my home town to escape this evil. The queen has started her attacks. My village was one of the first."

Everyone knew what that meant. No one was safe anymore. The queen had started to make her move.

Skye clenched her fists, one day she would kill the queen: nothing would be left of her.

"Where have they reached?" Asked Rosalind, suddenly serious all of the sweetness drawn from her face.

"Just out to the west."

"We'll have a while yet before she reaches us," Explained Mr. P. "I suggest we all calm down. He haven't done anything to provoke the queen,"

The girls tensed remembering they had company. He turned to Jeffery "but if it is true that you have run away. It is not safe for you on the streets. You'd have better come with us."

...

"I can't believe your agreeing with him!" Skye yelled at Rosalind.

"Skye! We can't let someone else be thrown at the mercy of the queen!"

They had called a moops, when they had gotten home from the town. Skye was not pleased.

"We can't let some random boy come and live with us!"

"we can't let him die!"

"What if he's a spy Rosie? What if he is the death of us?"

"Daddy trusts him Skye! Daddy knows the consequences as much as we do!"

"DADDY CAN BE WRONG!"

The group was silent for a moment.

"He can make mistakes Rosie. We all know that."

"He wouldn't put our lives in danger Skye!" Interrupted Jane. " I agree with him. Not only will we be able to protect Jeffery this was, but he may be able to give us information about the Queen's plot. If it weren't for him we wouldn't know about it at all."

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TWO!"

Skye stormed away from the tree where they had decided to hold the Moops.

From out of their small house came Jeffery walking towards the girls with a smile on his pleasant face. Skye had never felt so angered by a simple smile.

"Someone looks a little frustrated." He said with a little laugh. She starred him down, looking him right in the eye. Shivers went up his spine as he met her gaze and he couldn't stop the feeling of dread that was rising deep within him.

"I know you think you've fooled everyone, but you haven't fooled me. I don't care how much you try to 'prove yourself'. You're still a stranger, you're a threat to my family. And I won't let you hurt them."

Jeffery stopped walking looking towards the ground. He was slouched over sadly, a sad and almost blank stare at the ground. He watched her feet moving as if in slow motion, sharply stepping past him. Her words stabbing him, cutting him.

"You will never be one of us: I will never trust you."