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"Where have you been, ht on the slipstreah the woodland, and as I spoke the ice on the streaan to flow again The ice skittered together to for, and it knelt by ain, I whispered to the owl, and the trees began to shake, the snoering off their boughs to dust the forest with yet another layer of crystal rain
The owl let out a soft hoot, as we locked gazes And in its gaze, I saw the dance of Su wild on a warrant jas and I longed to join the warmth, but it was not yet time and in my heart, I knew that I could not enter that reale," I said "I will co battle under the longest day of the year Then ill play, and spend time, and dance and revel And when the holly meets the oak, I will invite Suain ht will be ours to enjoy Go now, and take thiswith it"
And the owl took flight, rising froht The trees were silver against the dark moon, and the snow reflected the chill in my soul Nearby, a wolf howled, and with a smile, I turned to joina shower--I could hear the water running A glance at the clock told me I’d been out for several hours
As I slipped out from under the covers, I was drawn to theOutside, the snow fell, relentless in its invasion With a quick sweep, I opened theand droppedon the sill, I stared out, wondering what it was that was pushingme, and I had to find out what it was
My pendant around er needed it, I dove off the sill, spreading s as I transforht me, I felt Ulean joinent’s estate, reveling in the feel of the wind underdown on , but I knew there was so I needed to see
And then there it was--a group of figuresin the snow below, just outside the fences and barriers I swept doondering if it was a group of Myst’s people, but as I neared the silent for Fae, not Shadow Hunters And they were searching for someone
They seek to talk to you
Me? Whyto say
It was a si, but since I couldn’t, I let out a long shriek
As I landed in a low tree near the figures, I saw there were five of them, all odd and misshapen and yet, they strucktheed back, but if ere quick, I ht not catch my death of cold
As quickly as I had shifted into owl for out of the tree, I ed to catchlooked up at
"She came, she came Riddle me this, as it that called the owl from her sleep?" Her cadence was fa into the riddle-talk aluess that it was she who called the owl fro to re Fae It was difficult--I was already starting to shiver, but I forced myself to concentrate "But tell the world this, should there be sohter may have to return to her forhter will be winging home soon, never to fear But riddle ht another body? Weapons are plentiful, but what ht for a moment We had weapons, but e didn’t have was ht involve an allegiance Allies against a couess such an answer And coht think that it would be better to join forces than to walk into battle alone" She srin fierce
"A correct assumption, but at what price? One has to know the cost before one purchases the trinket" My teeth were chattering now, and I tried to shield azed down at the other creatures standing beside the snow hag, but they were difficult to focus on They see in and out of reality, as if I were drunk
The snow hag laughed "One les the price Perhaps this price will be to a good businesswo: a small section of woodland, once the Queen of Shadows is routed"
I stared at her Hoas I supposed to proled to find the right words "There are prices that even a good businesswoht not be authorized to pay"
"Oh, surprise surprise, there are always surprises in store A baker may becoer things have happened In theory, then If a good businesswoman were authorized to make such a deal, would she?"
What should I do, Ulean? I don’t kno to answer that
Answer the truth: If you had the authority to promise the for the extra help, especially fro Answer And do not fret
"I think a good businesswoman, if she did have such authority, would happily promise up a corner of the woodland to her allies"