For a long time, nothing happened. Then in the corner, a shadow detached itself from the wall and resolved itself into the scrawny, tattered little boy. Midnight edged his way closer to Tarkyn, keeping his eye carefully on the mountainfolk. As he came closer, Tarkyn saw that the boy’s hair was a darker shade of brown than the other woodfolk’s and his eyes were a harsh, brilliant green, different from the soft green of the rest of them.
Tarkyn sent him a wave of reassurance and then slowly sank down onto one knee so that he would not tower over the boy as he approached. As the boy drew closer, Tarkyn sent an image of himself and the boy within his shield with a query. Midnight returned a feeling of relief and safety attached to Tarkyn’s image.
“Excuse me,” said Tarkyn quietly to the woodf
