Chapter 3

Chapter Three IN WHICH Jared Finds Out Things He Doesn't Want to Know The grove was the same as he remembered it—treerimmed with mushrooms in the center—but this time when Jared stepped into the middle, nothing happened. No branches laced together to trap him, no roots wound around his ankles, and no elves appeared to scold him. "Hello!" Jared yelled. He waited a moment, but the only reply was the distant calling of birds.

Frustrated, Jared paced back and forth. "Is anyone here? I'm kind of in a hurry!" Still nothing. Minutes passed. Looking at the ring of mushrooms, he had an overwhelming urge to strike out at the elves. If only they hadn't taken Arthur. He'd just lifted his foot to kick one when he heard a soft voice from the tree line. "Reckless child, what are you doing in this place?" It was the green-eyed female elf, her hair tinged with more reds and browns than it had been before. And her gown was now deep amber and gold, like summer giving way to fall. Her voice sounded more sad than angry. "Please," Jared said. "Mulgarath has my mother. I have to save her. You have to let me talk to Arthur." "What should I care for one mortal?" She turned toward the trees. "Do you know how many of my own people have been lost? How many dwarves—old as the stones beneath our feet—are no more?"

"I saw it," Jared said. "We were there. Please—I'll give you anything. I'll stay here if you want." She shook her head. "The only thing you had that was of value to us is lost." Jared felt relief and terror at the same time. He needed to see Arthur, but he had nothing else to offer. "We didn't have the Guide," he said. "We couldn't have given it to you then, but maybe we can get it back now." The green-eyed elf turned back with a scowl. "I

have no further interest in your tales." "I... I can prove it." Jared reached back into his hood, pulled out Thimbletack, and set him down in the grass. "I told you our house brownie had the book. This is Thimbletack." The little brownie took off his hat and made a low bow, trembling slightly. "Great Lady, I know how this must look, but it is true I took the book." "Your manners become you." She glanced at them both and then was silent for a moment.

Jared shifted impatiently as Thimbletack climbed up Jared's leg and slid back into his hiding place. The green-eyed elf's silence unnerved Jared, but he forced himself to stay quiet. This might be their last chance to convince her. Finally she continued. "Our time to punish and to command is past. The moment we feared is upon us. Mulgarath has gathered a great army and is using the Guide to make it even more fearsome." Jared nodded, although he was puzzled. He couldn't think of anything Mulgarath could do with the Guide that would make an army more dangerous. It was just a book. "Promise me this, mortal child," the green-eyed elf said. "If Arthur's field guide comes again into your possession while you look for your mother, you will give it to us so that it can be destroyed."

Jared nodded, giddily agreeing to anything that meant he would be able to see Arthur. "I will. I'll bring it—"