...greeable turn in her life, she had wanted a short visit again to the town. But only a short night visit. She did not trust this strange magic of the boy’s. Ever careful she should be.

Suddenly, where forest touched the town, a whimpering among the trees turned her. He lay in moonlight, doglike, though she knew he was a thing not unlike her. She saw the arrow. The length of it quivered with his breathing.

"Man do this."

He looked at her, his green eyes wide – “Please, take me to the mages."