Alexis felt like a weight had left her during the night. What it was or had been she wasn’t sure. She only knew it was gone, and she was better for it. Cadmus circled the site of the fire, growling.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you? So am I.”
A rock shifted. Alexis gasped and watched as a bush sprouted, budded, blossomed and bore raspberries. Beside it, a tree grew and bore plums. Wryly grinning, Alexis reached out and picked the fruit. She ate while Cadmus picked his own with his flexible, forked tongue. A spring broke through the rocks to provide fresh water.
“Have you had your fill, Princess?”
“Yes, Artac,” Alexis answered as the sprite appeared. “I trust Dale made it back to the castle.”
“The island is not cruel.”
“Where is my next lesson?”
“In a place where I cannot follow.”
“Wha
