Free Greendaughter (Book 6) by Anne Logston

common threat,” she said. “I thought it would be the humans of the city. I joined the clans of Inner Heart, Moon Lake, Redoak, and Owl against such a time. It has been difficult, but four clans together are stronger than four clans apart. Do you understand?”
    “I understand that you must send us back to our people,” Chyrie demanded. “They are on the northeast side of the forest and must be warned. Our lands will be among the first attacked.”
    “It would take you many days to return,” Dusk said patiently. “A message sent by magic would reach your people in moments. But I must know where to send it. And not only Wilding, but every clan must be warned. Every hand must hold a sword, every eye watch for intruders, every ear listen for signs.”
    “You propose that Wilding work for the defense of Inner Heart?” Chyrie asked incredulously. “You ask that we spend our lives to save out-kin?”
    “I propose that we form an alliance, many strong against many,” Rowan said firmly. “I propose that Inner Heart and Wilding stand together, back to back, to defend the forest in which we all live. At the very least each clan must be warned; can you not agree with that?”
    Chyrie was silent, but Valann bent over the map.
    “Silvertip is here,” he said, touching the skin. “Lightfoot here, Riverside here”—he glanced at Chyrie, and she gazed back, troubled—“and Wilding here.”
    Dusk silently penned in the symbols at the indicated locations.
    “I can only hope that other clans will help,” Rowan said. “Dusk, warn what clans we can, and we will send messages as others respond. And add to the warning to the Wilding clan the message that Valann and Chyrie are safe and well.”
    “And us?” Chyrie asked. “What are we to do now?”
    “For now, go and enjoy an evening with my people,” Rowan said kindly. “They see your arrival as a sign from the Mother Forest, and I am inclined to believe it is true. I promise you justice for the wrongs done to you, and I promise you safety among my people.”
    “Thank you, Grandmother,” Valann said, dipping his head.
    “Thank you, Grandmother,” Chyrie repeated. She let Val help her up. “And what of the humans?”
    Rowan looked sternly at each of the humans in turn.
    “Very well,” she said at last. “You may also go. Remember that your word is given, and there will be eyes watching you.”
    Sharl rose and bowed again.
    “Thank you—Grandmother.”
    Valann and Chyrie glanced at each other and grimaced, but Rowan let the presumptuous claim of kinship pass.
    “Go, all of you,” she said. “I have much thinking to do.”
    “How WILL YOU send messages more quickly than a beast could carry them?” Valann asked Dusk as they left the hut and walked toward the bustle of elves at the central clearing.
    “There are other Gifted among us,” Dusk said. “We will combine our strength to raise the very forest spirits from the roots of the Mother Forest to bear our words. They travel faster than thought, and sending the messages thus will assure the clans of our sincerity.”
    “We have experimented with mages combining their power, and achieved wonderful results,” Rivkah said, her eyes lighting with interest.
    “You do ample damage alone,” Valann said sourly. “The Mother Forest protect us if more like you should come.”
    Rivkah winced as if struck, and was silent.
    The excited murmur of the busy elves swelled into a confused babble of excited greetings and questions as Valann and Chyrie approached. Edging warily around the humans, the elves pulled Valann and Chyrie here and there, some embracing them, others just wanting to touch these oddly dressed strangers. At least twenty different elves tried to press goblets, pipes, bowls of fruit and nuts, or joints of meat into their hands; as many more draped gifts of bead, bone, or tooth-and-claw necklaces or bright garlands of flowers over their heads. Valann and Chyrie, having never received so energetic a