The ride was longer than Evalon had thought possible. She had known that Mydalr was far from Gisla, but she didn't realized exactly how far until her old home had disappeared from sight and nothing but the rolling hills and dirt road lay ahead.

They had left early in the morning, just after the sun had started to rise in the east, and the sun was now high in the sky, at its apex.

"How much further?" Evalon asked, hoping the question wouldn't annoy her uncle at the front of the cart, holding the reins.

"It will be well past nightfall by the time we get there," he told her. He turned to smile at her sitting in the back of the cart with the trunks and chests. "Bored?"

Evalon sighed and nodded. She leaned her head against a large chest by her side. "Very."

"Why don't you read the book you brought, dear?" Aunt Mylane suggested.

"I finished it half an hour ago," she said, glancing up at the sun to make sure her timing was correct.

"Why don't we play a game?" Hyron suggested as he reached down to rub his old wound on his leg. The bumpiness of the road must be jostling it quite a bit, Evalon thought.

"That's a good idea. What game did you have in mind?"

"What about I'm Going On A Journey?" he suggested.

"I think that's a great idea," Mylane said. "Why don't you start, Evalon?"

"Alright," she agreed. "I'm going on a journey and I'm going to bring an aes sidhe."

Uncle Hyron raised an eyebrow at her choice, but continued the game. "I'm going on a journey and I'm going to bring an aes sidhe and a bucket."

It was Aunt Mylane's turn. "I'm going on a journey and I'm going to bring an aes sidhe, a bucket, and a creamy custard."

It was Evalon's turn again. "I'm going on a journey and I'm going to bring an aes sidhe, a bucket, a creamy custard, and a dragon." Out of the corner of her eye she saw her aunt stiffen at the name. Had she always done that? Or was it now that they were going to a place filled to the brim with the creatures that she was nervous?

"I'm going on a journey and I'm going to bring an aes sidhe, a bucket, a creamy custard, a dragon, and an enchanted forest," Uncle Hyron said quickly.

Aunt Mylane followed his lead and quickly listed off all the previous things on their growing list. She added "a fringallow" to the bunch.

The spirit of the game was increasingly tense as each time the dragon was mentioned. Evalon very quickly started to regret bringing it up. But, she reminded herself, we're going to Mydalr. There's no way we won't hear about dragons. Mylane'll just have to get used to it.

After their game ended, Evalon again grew bored. The game had only taken an hour, and the sun was finally starting it's descent in the sky, though it was still far from the horizon. She sighed and began to look for ways to entertain herself. She tried identifying all the different trees they passed, but there were only two kinds: faemoss and cabinet dooryard poplar. She tried making shapes out of the clouds, but it was a bright, sunny, and cloudless day.

Sighing, she shifted her position in the cart. She'd been sitting for hours, and her bottom was starting to feel sore. Her stomach growled loudly and she clamped her arm around her middle to silence it. But Mylane had heard the unearthly yowl from Evalon's tummy, and she turned to smile at her. "Hungry?" she asked, her eyes laughing.

"A bit," Evalon admitted, turning a bright red. She bit her bottom lip.

"Why don't we stop for lunch?" Mylane suggested. "We can have a picnic. My legs need a stretch, anyhow."

There was another large growl, but this time it came from Uncle Hyron's stomach. He smiled brightly. "I think the beast in my belly agrees."

Evalon laughed. She gratefully stood when the cart stop, almost toppling over because her legs were so wobbly. She almost fell out, but was able to steady herself just in time.

"Careful," Hyron told her.

"Thanks for the early warning," she mumbled.

They had simple sandwiches for lunch that Aunt Mylane had packed, and Evalon inhaled hers like a starving direwolf.

She ate her lunch much faster than Hyron and Mylane, so while they were finishing she took it upon herself to find entertainment. She wandered among the trees that were steadily becoming more frequent as the landscape gradually changed from meadowland to forest. She wondered what Mydalr was like. Would there be lots of meadows with rolling green hills, like Gisla? Or would there be tall mountains covered with trees? She envisioned all her favorite parts of every biome and landscape brought together in one perfect place-- Mydalr. She imagined trees taller than mountains and brooks softly rushing to who knows where. There would be plenty of snow in the winter, perfect for making snowmen and building snow forts. And there would be plenty of wildflowers in the spring of the most vibrant colors and hues.

"Evalon," Mylane's voice cut through her daydreaming. "It's time to get back on the road."

Evalon sighed. She was loath to get back in the cart, but at the thought of Mydalr she willingly made her way to the awaiting cart.

They had only been on the road for an hour when the pounding of hooves on the dirt road came bounding toward them. Evalon poked her head up curiously at the sound of the approaching rider. The horseman crested the hill ahead, spotted their cart, and spurred his horse toward them.

"Are you Hyron Rolla?" the rider asked as he reined in his horse to match their cart's pace.

"Yes, I am," her uncle replied, eyeing the man suspiciously.

The rider smiled and held out a hand to Hyron. "My name is Elduin Dorkalyn. I've been sent from Mydalr to ensure your safe passage. The roads ahead can be quite treacherous if you don't know exactly where you are going."

Uncle Hyron shook the rider's hand and smiled, his suspicion gone. "We'll be glad of your assistance. This is my wife, Mylane, and my niece, Evalon," he said, pointing to both of them respectively as he said their names.

Elduin bowed his head respectfully. "Pleased to meet you," he said to Mylane. When he turned to Evalon he smiled a white, toothy smile. "And pleased to meet you, too, young lady."

Feeling like her tongue had been glued to the roof of her mouth, Evalon shyly nodded in greeting.

Mistaking her shyness for fear, Elduin smiled reassuringly and said, "No need to worry, gel. I know the way to Mydalr from here better than the back of my hand."

"How far is it?" she asked eagerly, the spell that had kept her tongue stiff broken.

"About three hours on horseback," the rider answered. "With the weight of your cart, I'd estimate about three and a half."

"The we'd best be on our way, shouldn't we?" Hyron said. "Don't want to be caught on the trail overnight."

Elduin's smile disappeared. "No, we don't. If you'll just follow me."

Elduin took the lead and fell into a steady pace. Hyron gripped the reins in his hands and followed.

"Evalon, wake up," Mylane said, gently shaking her shoulder.

Evalon wearily sat up, rubbing her eyes. Had she fallen asleep? She let out a huge yawn that was too big to cover with her hand. Yes, she had definitely fallen asleep. Last she remembered the sun had been just barely kissing the horizon. Now the sun was gone, the last rays of its light shining through the trees that surrounded them.

"We're almost there," Aunt Mylane told her. She tried to sound cheerful, but Evalon could still hear the stiffness in her voice.

Evalon smiled widely. She was almost there! She was almost to Mydalr! Not even her aunt's reservation towards that fact could quell her growing elation.

Elduin, still leading them on the dirt road, turned in his saddle to smile brightly at Hyron, Mylane, and Evalon. "Mr. and Mrs. Rolla-- and Miss Rolla, of course," he added, giving Evalon a cheery wink that made her face turn pink, making her grateful for the darkness, "--welcome to Mydalr."