Free The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel Page A

try to make the next year of classes as interesting for you as I can,” he said. His eyes dodged away, and he added, “Once we start again, of course.”
    It wasn’t until after Storian had departed that Ariel decided he might deserve just a teaspoon of blame—not for giving her away to the Finders, but for letting Scarl release Madeleine’s birds. If he’d stayed in the square, she might be Ariel Healtouch now.
    That wistful notion made Ariel’s third apologetic visitor doubly surprising. She and her mother had just eaten lunch when a tap came at the door. By then, as much as she hurt, Ariel was starting to imagine that life could go on. She might even comb the tide pools that afternoon.
    â€œWhy don’t you answer that, love?” Luna didn’t add that it was probably another well-wisher anyway.
    But when Ariel opened the door, Elbert stood on the threshold. A cluster of pink heartthrob flowers trembled in his fist.
    â€œSupposed to help a broken heart,” he said, extending themtoward her. “Although a Healtouch probably knows better than I do.”
    If Ariel’s teeth hadn’t been well attached, they would have dropped from her mouth. He grinned at her expression. It was the first honest smile she’d seen on his face.
    â€œThese are for you,” he said. “But I also would speak with your mother, if I may.”
    Ariel stumbled backward. Luna came to the door. After a blink of surprise, she swept her hand back.
    â€œWould you like to come in?”
    Elbert rested his bouquet on the table. “I don’t blame you for being suspicious of these,” he told Ariel. “I know we have frightened you, being strangers and all. Too intense in our interest, perhaps. We were only excited by the end of our quest, and surprised where it led us.”
    Feeling defenseless after yesterday’s havoc, Ariel tucked herself behind her mother’s left hip.
    â€œNo harm done,” Luna said. “What can I do for you, Elbert?”
    He clasped his hands over his belly. “We’re preparing to leave, Scarl and I.”
    Trumpets rejoiced in an unbroken corner of Ariel’s heart.
    â€œI wonder,” he continued, “if you’ve thought of that reward we discussed.”
    Luna smiled down at her folded hands. “If you could turn back the days, I’m sure Ariel would choose that. Since I doubt even you can find a way to do that, then no. There’s really no need.”
    He chuckled and scratched at his whiskers. “I’ve hunted for ‘do overs’ myself more than once. I haven’t found any. Yet. Butsince you haven’t thought of a suitable reward, I’m happy to say that I have. If you’ll hear me.”
    â€œGo on,” Luna said doubtfully.
    He reached one hand into a pocket. When his chunky fingers emerged, the telling dart rested between them. Ariel edged out a bit from her mother.
    â€œWe’re going to Libros to take this back to the man that I told you about.” His eyes flicked between Luna and Ariel. “We have a few more to find, but our orders are to return with each singly. We’ll be back for another, not far from here, soon. That being the case …” He pressed his lips together, choosing words. He focused on Luna, but the hand holding the dart drifted toward Ariel. “Ariel could deliver this dart herself.”
    Ariel wasn’t certain her ears had worked right. Elbert hurried to explain before he heard “no.”
    â€œIt would be worth a great deal for him to meet her personally, be able to talk to her, get some idea, perhaps, why the dart came to her. That’s nothing I’m skilled at, as you could probably tell. We have the horse; she could ride. And we’d deliver her back here in a fortnight and a half. Or certainly not more than a month.”
    He had to stop for a breath, and then, before anyone else spoke, he added the clincher.