Free Sweet Inspiration by Penny Watson Page B

scrabble with an elf, for goodness sake. By the way, I really like Markus. He's a very nice elf."
    "Yes, he is. He is as loyal as they come. Did he tell you what happened yesterday?"
    Lucy nodded. "Joe McCracken hit me with his truck.
    Markus said I would have died if you hadn't brought me here to be healed." Her brow furrowed in worry. "He also told me you broke some really important rules and that now you're going to be in big trouble with the council. What is that 82
    Sweet Inspiration
    by Penny Watson
    exactly? And why do you call the rest of the world the Sudenwelt? And..."
    Nicholas laughed and pulled Lucy down onto the sofa, lifting her easily onto his lap. "I guess Markus didn't explain everything. The Elfin Council of Seven governs Glasdorf. They are seven crusty old elves, including Hector, the healer who saved your life."
    "How did he save my life? Markus said I was dying."
    "Hector is our master healer; he uses a combination of modern medicine, herbal folk remedies, and magic. I watched with my own two eyes when he saved you, but I can't explain how he did it. A lot of things in Glasdorf are altered by the elf's magic. They control the weather inside the castle; it's cold, but not 40 degrees below Fahrenheit like the rest of the polar cap. And the sleigh that we use to travel around the Sudenwelt is controlled by elf magic, too. It's sort of like flying in an airplane, but once it's airborne, it's invisible to all Sudlanders."
    "Why do you call this place Glasdorf, instead of the North Pole?" Lucy stroked Nicholas' beard and rested her head on his shoulder. He welcomed the distraction.
    "Glasdorf is 'village of glass'; from the atmosphere, the ice castle looks like glass, hence the name. The elves' magic keeps it invisible to anyone but the inhabitants of our village.
    The Sudenwelt literally means 'the southern world' in German. And Sudlanders, or Suddies as we sometimes call them, are 'southerners.'"
    "I remember the ice castle, Nicholas. When you brought me here. I think I was fading in and out of consciousness at 83
    Sweet Inspiration
    by Penny Watson
    the time, but I remember this incredible castle. It was so beautiful." Lucy looked at Nicholas with tears in her eyes. "I thought I was dreaming, that I was dying. That I would never see you again."
    Nicholas hugged Lucy tightly against him. "Forgive me?"
    "Yes, I forgive you. How can I ever thank you for saving my life? I can't believe what you've done for me." Lucy stroked Nicholas' face. "I hope you trust me enough to tell me the truth from now on."
    "There's nothing left to hide. I knowingly disobeyed several crucial laws of Glasdorf yesterday. You were going to die, and I simply could not allow that to happen. The council will call a special meeting called the Tag der Rache, and I'll be asked to defend myself."
    "I want to go with you. And talk to the council. What's going to happen when you meet with them?"
    Nicholas shook his head. "I don't know. I guess it's possible I'll be expelled from Glasdorf..."
    "What! They wouldn't do that! You'd be separated from your family, Nicholas. I won't let them. I'll talk to them..."
    Nicholas cupped Lucy's cheeks in his giant hands. "Don't worry, sweet. Whatever happens, I'll be okay. I can make it in the Sudenwelt as a chef, right? Nothing is as important as your well-being, Lucy. That means everything to me."
    Lucy buried her face in Nicholas' chest.
    Damn. I don't want her to feel guilty. I don't have any regrets for what I've done. "How about a tour of Glasdorf?
    There's so much I want to show you. And I can't wait for you 84
    Sweet Inspiration
    by Penny Watson
    to meet my family. We might run into my brothers around town and I'll introduce you."
    Lucy turned her face up to Nicholas. "I saw the photo in your bedroom. You and your brothers are all giants. The elves must think you guys are Paul Bunyan, or something."
    Nick laughed. "Not all the elves are like Markus and Hector. Some of them are rather...how should I