26
THE WINGED STRANGER met them outside and seemed to glide over the ground as he walked. Jak and Ebere had trouble keeping up with him. When they came to the edge of the woods, he slowed down. There the winged man stopped in a small clearing. He turned to Jak and Ebere.
“I think we can help each other,” the winged man said.
“You’re from the far reaches of the Wilds. I don’t think I’ve seen your kind for over a decade.” Jak said, looking him over, resisting the urge to tug at his feathered wings.
“Yes, well, we made ourselves scarce on this side of the Wilds as more of your kind started coming. Are your eyes broken? You’re staring at me, green man.”
Ebere had been staring. In fact, so hard and so close he had to step back. “I apologize. I’ve never seen anything like you in all ten kin
