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shimmering with health. The way she looked at Donal told Tod that she had become even more of a
danger than she had been in the North.
You shall not have him, Tod thought, glaring at the top of her dark head. I shall make you
The girl glanced up with a faint frown, and Tod looked into her eyes. Blue eyes, brilliant as the skies in
Tir-na-Nog.
Tod so forgot himself that he nearly became visible again. He shivered as if with some repulsive human
illness. His heart beat as fast as a bumblebee s wings.
It must be hate, he thought. Hatred such as he had never felt, as alien to him as mortal love. Hatred of this
girl and what she might do to his master. How she might take Donal away& .
& buy many dresses? Donal was saying, his words slowly taking shape in Tod s befuddled mind.
Of course, Ivy said, feigning nonchalance while her gaze eagerly searched Donal s. At least a dozen.
Most must still be made, but we brought two back with us. I will show them to you this evening, if you
like.
I look forward to it, Donal said with a courtly bow.
Ivy beamed. You shall see that I am already becoming a lady.
I ve no doubt of it. Mrs. Hardcastle is clearly an excellent teacher.
Yes. Ivy set Sir Reginald down and linked her arm through Donal s. Of course I should never change
myself at all unless I knew you wanted me to.
Donal paused, gazing down into her eyes. It isn t only what I wish, Ivy. We agreed that this was the best
course for your future.
Ivy sighed and turned her face away. I know, she said. I will make you proud of me, Donal.
Tod did a somersault of frustration. It was clear that Donal still did not know what he faced. This girl had
wiles more potent than that of the average female, and Donal possessed all too few defenses against
females of any sort. Yet to tell him the full truth would surely not aid Tod s cause& not when it was to his
advantage for Ivy to remain with the woman Hardcastle.
Donal cast a suspicious glance in Tod s direction and led Ivy toward the house. You ll make Cordelia
proud as well, he said. I know she greatly enjoys your company.
Ivy kicked at the ground with the toe of her shoe. I don t know if I will ever please her.
Donal stopped. What are you saying, Ivy?
Nothing. It s just& She hunched her shoulders. Cordelia wants to make everything perfect. What if I
can never be good enough?
Nonsense. Donal cupped her chin in his hand. Would you like me to speak to Mrs. Hardcastle? Is
there something you would have me tell her?
No, Donal.
He studied her face a moment longer and then led her to the door. Remember that you may come to me
at any time if something troubles you, he said, just as I m certain you may speak freely to Mrs.
Hardcastle. We He broke off as Ivy whirled about and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her
cheek to his coat. His skin turned red, and he tugged one-handed at the tight cloth around his neck.
Ivy& he began.
She stretched on her toes, kissed his cheek and fled into the house. Sir Reginald slipped in the door at
her heels. Donal stared after her, jerked again at his neckcloth and turned to stride up the hill.
I know you re here, Tod, he said, strain thinning his voice.
Tod made himself visible and hung in the air just out of Donal s reach. The girl, he said, his own voice
unsteady. She gives my lord much trouble.
Donal gave Tod a quizzical glance. What makes you say that, Tod?
She is female.
Donal laughed softly. That she is, and she knows it.
Tod flew alongside his master, gathering his courage. My lord brought the girl here to give her to the
woman Hardcastle.
To make a good home for Ivy at Edgecott, yes.
And has that not been done?
Donal stopped at the crest of the hill and met Tod s gaze. I have had the feeling since Ivy s arrival at
Stenwater that you don t like her, Tod. You usually pay little enough attention to humans or their affairs.
What has she done to earn your disfavor?
Tod squirmed, turning so that Donal could no longer see his eyes. She makes my lord unhappy.
Whatever put such an idea into your head?
My lord finds no pleasure in this place. Let us go home.
Donal raked his hand through his hair. Sometimes I don t understand you, Tod. You ve just arrived, and
my work is far from finished. The animals& He stripped the noose of cloth from around his neck and
balled it in his fist. I can t leave just yet, even if I wished to do so. I have responsibilities.
He continued down the hill, but Tod lagged behind. Donal noticed Tod s absence and stopped. What is
it, my friend? Why Ivy? Why now?
Tod dropped to the earth, his magic no longer strong enough to hold him aloft. She will change my lord,
like the other one did.
Like the other& Comprehension lit Donal s face. Like Mrs. Stainthorpe, you mean? He closed his
eyes. That will never happen again, Tod. You may trust my word.
He strode on ahead. Tod didn t follow. It was almost too late; Donal had fallen under Ivy s spell. If
something were not done very soon, Donal might never leave this place at all.
With an effort Tod lifted himself up again and flew toward the thick patch of woodland that stood in the
center of Edgecott s park. A grandfather oak reigned over the lesser trees; it reminded Tod of the
ancient oak in the forest of Hartsmere, where Donal s father had once held court among the birds and
beasts.
He settled down at the base of the trunk, letting his weariness engulf him. It was not the way of Fane to
worry; he had been too long apart from his own kind. If he slept for a time, surely an answer would come
to him.
He had just begun to doze when a dozen falling leaves fluttered against his face, waking him with a start.
Laughter erupted all around him. He sprang up, spinning about on his toes.
Tod is not deceived, he cried. Show yourselves!
The laughter stopped, and out of the air emerged a winged sprite, hardly bigger than a human s hand.
Five of her sisters materialized in her wake, hovering on gossamer wings.
Tod swallowed his consternation. Until this moment he had never suspected that other Fane, even of the
most humble breed, still lingered in the south, let alone that he would find them here at Edgecott. It
troubled him greatly that he had failed to sense their presence before.
The sprites obviously found his surprise a source of great amusement. Tod! the leader piped. Tod the
hob!
Tod glared at her. That is the name.
The sprites giggled. Tod remembered why he had always preferred to avoid their kind. Such creatures
never appeared unless they wanted something of the one they harried.
Why are you here? he demanded, resisting the urge to swat them across the wood.
The sprites performed a delicate aerial ballet, twining about each other with grace and precision that even
Tod could not help but admire. The leader came to a halt a dozen inches from Tod s face.
You must come, she said. Come to Béfind.
Tod stiffened in astonishment. Béfind?
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