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Hadyn held the nougat close to his face and examined it. “Uh, you were lucky?”
What had I gotten myself into?
“Look, miss, I’m ravenous. The missus will have a fine stew. And we can have you toasty in twenty minutes flat. We have a short walk once we reach the canopy.”
“Short walk to where? Are we going to walk through the treetops?” I’m dreaming. This is a delirium.
“You don’t trust people easily.”
“Should I?”
“No, you shouldn’t. Very smart.”
I rested my hands on my hips. “Then what do you propose I do?”
“Trust me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Are you afraid of heights?”
I laughed, thinking of Kelyn. “I’m not afraid of heights.”
“All right, then. Let’s go.” He lifted a latch and opened a door on the basket.
I tucked into the small space and sat with my knees to my chest to conserve heat. After Hadyn secured us, he reached toward the trunk and used a mallet to strike a small bell, which was attached to a wire running up the tree. Within a few seconds, the chains started creaking. As the basket lifted off the ground, we swayed.
Hadyn steadied himself. “The ride will be over before you know it. A fine night for a jaunt, eh? A fine night indeed.”
He took out a pipe and lit it, relaxing as we ascended to… I couldn’t guess.
SEVENTY
I was welcomed into the world of little people. A strange place to find myself in. Hadyn escorted me along planked bridges connecting decks that were constructed around the trees’ tops. Humble dwellings hugged each tree trunk, making a community of hundreds. A few torches marked the bridges, and while most houses were dark, we finally came to one whose windows were lit.
“Come in, come in,” Hadyn said.
I ducked under a five-foot-tall doorway and entered a delightfully cozy living space. A cheery fire brightened the room, fending off the cold that had crept in when we’d opened the door.
A little lady with a mop of curly brown hair was cooking stew over the fireplace. The smell filled me from head to toe. I’d taken for granted how the light sustained a body. I must have been hungry for two days or more since I wasn’t sure how long I’d run through the forest.
“Look at her! You found her!” the lady exclaimed.
“This here’s my wife, Emlyn,” Hadyn replied.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said.
Emlyn took my hands. “Oh, you’re frigid! Sit here and warm yourself.” She settled me into an armchair in front of the fire and dished out steaming stew.
I ate with much thanks while listening to the little people whisper together.
“Found ten trees away from the lift, poor girl,” Hadyn said. “All frightened and chilled to the bone.”
“Poor dear. We’ll keep her safe,” Emlyn said.
“I can’t believe those tegyd were right, looney lot.”
“I’m not staying long.” I bit into a piece of potato, chewed, and swallowed. “I should keep moving. I don’t want to be any trouble.”
