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Josephine led the way through the woods, at times through thick underbrush. She wasn't afraid, but she did hope she wasn't making a mistake. The site she had in mind was of special significance to her people, second only to the site of Galohisdi. It was said that any other than the most holy of their holy men who approached this area of the forest would be found wandering witlessly-if they were found at all.
What would happen to her when she brought this stranger-this Elf-to a holy site, she did not know.
She risked a quick look behind her and accidentally caught his eye. "It's not far from here. But I should warn you, this could be dangerous." Her face felt hot. Why could she still feel the exact pressure and taste of his lips against hers? And even more?why did she so want to repeat the experience?
Wrenching her gaze from his, she faced resolutely forward, pushed aside a branch?and stumbled into the clearing. She had overestimated how far there was to go. She froze and he bumped into her, his hand coming up to her waist as if to balance them, then lingering there. He spoke close to her ear. "Is this the place?"
"This is it." She breathed the words, afraid to speak louder lest the spirits realize how traitorous she was. She stepped slowly forward into the large clear area on top of the hill. Legend had it that this had been the home of giants. The Nunnehi. Beautiful gods of the Cherokee who had both served and guarded the tribe for centuries. They'd disappeared a long time ago, leaving behind these odd hillocks which legend said were the remains of their great houses that looked out over the lake below.
She walked slowly through the tall grass to the first hill, bending to place her palm reverently against it, wondering where the giant Nunnehi had gone and why they had left. I could use your help now.
But it wasn't the giants of Nunnehi they sought. It was the mischievous, sometimes downright wicked, Little People. Josephine had never seen them, never been the victim of their pranks, but she'd heard of those who had. The Little People seldom let themselves be seen, though they were described as tiny warriors with a malicious sense of humor. She would never have thought she'd actually be seeking them out?yet here she was.
Drake had followed her, and he squatted down beside one of the little hills. "This is a sacred site?"
"It is believed a great race of men-giants or gods-lived here. They fought with the Cherokee at many battles, helped us defend our homeland against many threats. But one day they disappeared. No one was left to help us defend ourselves against the threat of the white men when they invaded. And then when the white men forced my people to move west, we stayed behind, hidden in the mountains, to guard places like this and Galohisdi." Josephine fell silent. Her father had been a boy when the Army came to remove the Cherokee from their land, but he had heard the stories of murder and disease and frozen men, women and children, and he had passed them down to her.
"If your people were removed by these 'white men', how is it you no longer hide yourselves?" Drake stood.
"We purchased the land almost twenty years ago. I was just a child, so I don't remember it, and though it is only a small portion of what our tribe once held, it is enough and it includes many of our sacred places. Like this one." Josephine stood, too, but she still had to look up at him. Even standing downhill from her, he was still taller than she by nearly a foot.
Maybe the Nunnehi have returned. Josephine felt a shiver run through her. The Nunnehi were only described as very tall, beautiful and strong-this surely described the man standing next to her. And now he'd caught her looking at him with admiration and a little smile played across his lips. Her breath caught in her throat. Was this what it felt like to have a god look at you with desire? And if I am in the presence of a god, won't I know it?
He slid his hands along her arms, leaving a pleasant goosepimply feeling in their wake. Her heart pounded, and she felt both hot and cold as he stepped closer, his eyes on her lips?but then his gaze shifted to the side and he stopped. Confused, she turned her head to see what he was looking at and froze.
The tiny warrior standing on the laurel branch beside her bowed his head when she turned to him. He stood no more than three inches high, but she could see him clearly. He seemed to shine with some internal light. She admired the nobility of his appearance and features in dumb silence for a full five seconds. Then Drake's hand tightened on her arm and she flinched, realizing what he was saying. This was a show of respect from a mighty race. To her.
How should she address the warrior? He wore his hair in the old way, a single scalp lock with a tiny eagle feather. He must be a chief. There was no way to tell for sure, but she decided to address him with the respect he'd already shown her. "Father, we have come to ask for your help."
When she raised her gaze, her heart seized in her chest, her breath freezing as it passed her lips in a gasp of shock. The tiny warrior dropped to his knees, and as he did, all around her, little lighted beings sprang into view. She turned slowly to take them all in, watching as they followed their chief's lead.
Our spears are yours, Daughter. The words came to her from all around. How will you have us serve you?
Josephine opened her mouth and realized she had no clue. She was no strategist. She only knew she had to find the other invading Elf and send him back through Galohisdi. And lock it. And do something about this other Elf whose presence troubled her in other ways. Her heart still pounded near her throat. She swallowed around it. "There is a stranger in the woods. From another world."
"We know." The warrior's gaze fixed on Drake, who bowed acknowledgment.
"Not him." Josephine spoke quickly. "There is another. Can you?can you find him? Just find him. And let me know where he is."
"Another Elf?" The warrior's words were echoed by a fluttering restlessness from the others.
"Yes." She took a step forward, glad the warrior stood on a laurel branch near her height. "Can you help me?"
The warrior nodded. "Stay here. We will find him and report back to you."
She blinked and he was gone, and she noted that about half of the lights had gone with him. Those that remained fanned out in a loose circle in the woods around her, and then they faded into shadow again. We are here. If you need us.
Josephine sat, her knees too weak to hold her. Drake squatted down in front of her, peering into her eyes. "You didn't know, did you?"
"Know?" She shrugged, confused. "Know what?"
The smile in his eyes traveled slowly to his lips, turning them up. "How worthy you are of their protection."