AS THEY WERE about to leave, a persistent thudding on the front window startled them.
The girls froze. Even Jules held his breath. Could it be Saul back and tapping with his cane? But the rapping sounded more like thudding, differ- ent from the sharp metallic tap tap the end of Saul’s cane made new .
“Shh!” He motioned with his arm toward the closet. Not again!
But Tippy ran to the window and squeaked, “Fiesty! Fiesty’s back!”
When they flung open the shutters, Fiesty flitted about, just as good as
“I hate to say this,” Jules said, and looked at the faces staring at him, “but we can’t take Fiesty along. It’ll be too—obvious.” What if they had to hide in the undergrowth? Fiesty’s presence might give them away.
After much argument, and since he was outnumbered, Jules gave in. Especially after Tst Tst reminded him, “Fiesty’s of the breed found only in the King’s garden centuries ago.” Grandpa had said this.
When everyone was out, Jules turned to face the living room. “Good- bye,” he whispered to the broken things on the floor, but, naturally, no one answered him.
“I wish we didn’t have to leave.” Bitha sighed as she looked back at the house.
“Would you rather wait here for them to come get you?” Jules asked.
Bitha rolled her eyes at him. “I just get the feeling we won’t be back for a while.”
He led them in a single file down the pebbled path with Ralston way in the back holding on to a blue ribbon they had harnessed over Fiesty to make sure he followed them.
Tippy clung to Jules’s cloak and Tst Tst clung to Tippy’s other hand, which still clutched onto her sardius. Jules shot a glance or two up at the branches. It had grown completely pitch dark but he felt comforted by the dragonfly lanterns. No Scorpent could see them with the lanterns’ light but what about their other enemies? Who were they?
YOU ARE READING
Keeper of Reign
Teen FictionBooks written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? F...
