Chandra lay in the field and listened to the birds singing with full voices. Their little feathery bodies fluttered above her with graceful movements and Chandra felt as though she could watch them forever. And that was actually very close to the truth. She had been lying there for over three hours and had not moved a muscle. It was a talent of hers and Chandra made good use of it by observing the birds as they went about their business. She would watch their every movement  with keen eyes and some even landed on her for a split second. Although sometimes she could not help but giggle a little at their funny little personalities. Chandra giggled at almost anything anyway so it was no big surprise. The white daisies around her made the air smell better than the morning air and Chandra stared at the blue sky above with sea green eyes trying to find pictures in the clouds. One was shaped like a running horse, its main flying in the wind with light and fluffy wisps of cloud rising from it like smoke. Another was a wine glass the foam rolling down the sides. Then Chandra had to laugh as she saw a dog with a monkey on its back. The monkey's head was a bit distorted but that could only be expected. It was after all just a cloud.

Eventually Chandra stood up and brushed her dark green dress off only to get it dirty again as she rolled in the grass another time. Giggling like a lunatic Chandra stood once more lifting her skirts slightly so that she could run. Her bare feet made soft thudding sounds on weather warn earth as she ran toward the pond and her loose hair gave the impression of a wild prairie girl...Which she was, but like most people she had hidden talents that were actually quite specific. As Chandra came to the pond she quickly knelt down at the very edge of the water ignoring the fact that it would muddy both her knees and the hem of her dress. Those sorts of things did not bother her and she paid them no heed, bending over the muddy water to try and catch a reflection. She managed to see a few fish come to the surface for oxygen but they did not stay so she kept herself occupied with watching the ducks swim about. Simon, one of the familiar ducks she saw often, was of course bullying the others with his superior rank which led to another fit of giggles from Chandra. She loved to watch as animals tried to establish a high ranking position in the local flock...or herd depending. Simon held his shiny head high as he floated around like a king on his thrown followed by several admirers. Technically they were not following him but the pond was so small that it gave that impression and it worked all the better for Simon. He enjoyed the attention and puffed his feathery chest out with as much dignity as he could muster. Chandra did not know why she liked this self centered duck so much but she often liked the most comical characters in groups and that was definitely Simon. Things that made her laugh usually went to the top of Chandra's 'favorite things' list. Her parents lived apart from the other elves for the one reason that they ran a farm that grew food for Salliet and they needed plenty of space for that. So Chandra occupied her days with helping on the farm and watching the wildlife.

"Chandra," a familiar voice called.

Chandra looked up from the pond and smiled at her visitor. It was Adrianna. She was a human who lived on the other end of the prairie by herself.  Adrianna survived by hunting deer and prairie dogs and she often traded the pelts with Chandra's parents for vegetables.

"Yeah?" Chandra answered as Adrianna knelt down beside her on the bank.

"I have more pelts for your parents in my saddlebag. Its last week's pay."

"Alright. Just put them over there on that tree stump and I'll take them back with me," Chandra told her distractedly watching as a deer bounded away into the woods after being scared by Adrianna's horse.

"Those animals get scared so easily," she mumbled to herself.

It was the truth and Chandra often found it annoying. She liked to watch the elegant deer as they grazed but one small movement would send the whole herd running off across the prairie to safety. And it definitely did not help if Chandra needed to hunt them for dinner.

"You can say that again. I almost shot a four pointer yesterday but rabbit had to decide to go running off down the trail and it took the deer with em'," Adrianna answered.

"But if you whistle it usually peeks their curiosity and they might stop to find out what it was. That's usually when I have no other alternatives though. I'm terrible at whistling."

Chandra giggled at that, of course, and Adrianna started laughing because of Chandra's face. Adrianna had a more mellow personality and did not giggle half as much as Chandra but things like crazy expressions usually made her laugh.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" Adrianna asked.

She knew that Chandra was out here a lot but she had never bothered to ask why  before.

"Well I usually just come out here to look at things. Mostly when I'm bored...But we'd better get those pelts to my parents. You'll want to get home before dark," Chandra told her, standing up starting toward the farm at a brisk walk.

Adrianna grabbed the reins of her horse and followed close behind taking steady and deliberate steps. There were so many prairie dog holes in the ground that you had to watch your step otherwise you could break an ankle.

"So I went by your house this morning before I went hunting and I saw a man on a horse standing outside the fence. Who was it?" Adrianna suddenly asked.

Chandra stopped and turned to look at her with a curious expression.

"What man? There was no man."

"Yes there was. He had black hair, looked kind of like tree nymph."

"Well I don't know anything about that," Chandra answered honestly, starting to walk again.

"Maybe he was just taking a break from riding."

"I don't think so," Adrianna told her.

"He looked like he was searching for something...Or someone."

Chandra did not answer and kept walking but the pedals in her brain were working full time. A strange man at the farm? she thought. Who on earth...? However, her questions were soon answered when they walked up to the small house. There was a brown and white paint horse tied to a fence pole and Chandra could hear muttering coming from inside the house.

"That's the same horse," Adrianna told her quietly.

"Well if my dad is talking to him he can't be all that bad. Come on let's bring your pelts in."

Together they took the soft furs out of Adrianna's saddle bags and brought them up to the house, wiping their feet off on the door mat before going inside. Adrianna just took her boots off but Chandra had not bothered to put shoes on in the first place so her feet were caked in dry mud. In the living room talking to Aeneas (Chandra's father) was a tall man with jet black hair. He looked like he had not shaved in a couple of days and his clothes were old and warn. As the girls walked in he immediately shot a pare of dark eyes at them and Chandra nearly let out a squeak barely managing to contain it. However, she did not manage to keep herself from dropping the furs on the ground and she hurriedly bent down and picked them all up, scurrying over to the table and putting them down.

Adrianna just chuckled and made her way to the table as well, laying the pelts out separately so that Aditi (Chandra's mother) could inspect them.

"Chandra this is Cephalus," Aeneas said gesturing toward the man.

Chandra smiled the best she could and nodded politely while Cephalus looked skeptical for some reason.

"Are you sure?" he asked Aeneas.

"Quite."

"But she's shaking all over."

Chandra immediately realized that he was right and suddenly become very self conscious. I probably look like a frightened duck, she thought. And I certainly feel like one.

"Don't worry, once she gets use to you she'll stop shaking," Aeneas laughed. 

Cephalus still looked skeptical and Chandra thought it made him seem even more menacing, which was the last thing she wanted.

Then all of sudden he smiled at her and the menacing air immediately left. Chandra just stood there gaping at the change and Adrianna poked her in the arm.

"You can shut your mouth now," she mumbled.

Aeneas and Cephalus laughed a little and Chandra joined, only in a manner saying, 'I have no idea why we're laughing'.

"Um, dad," Chandra began, walking up to Aeneas still eyeing Cephalus.

"Why is he here?"

"Cephalus why don't you explain," Aeneas suggested.

Chandra was about to protest but quickly closed her mouth when Cephalus started.

"As you probably already know most of the kingdoms are in great danger of being raided by the rogue parties. The kingdom of Dalamon just fell not seven days ago. The heirs have disappeared and the Baron Berglund is now on the throne."

Chandra let out a small gasp at the news. Berglund was known for his atrocious behavior and Chandra could not understand why anyone would want him on the throne.

"Who were the heirs?" she asked quietly.

"That's why they've disappeared. No one knows who they really are. They've been marked on the forearm with a brand and we haven't been able to find them."

"And you want me why?"

Cephalus looked at Chandra with a mischievous expression as if he had a very good plan and continued on in a calm tone.

"The only way to solve this problem without thousands of people dying is to find the Rinopenya stone. You've heard of it?"

"Have I heard of it? Why I-"

"What she means Cephalus is that she'd be more than willing to help you," Aeneas said in a steely voice, shooting Chandra a quick glance.

"Good! I'll be here at sunrise tomorrow morning. Be ready," Cephalus ordered then turned to Adrianna.

"Was there something you wanted?" she asked calmly.

She had found a comfortable position against the wall and Chandra wished she could seem as calm as that.

"I need to talk to you," Cephalus answered walking out the door.

Adrianna smiled and winked at Chandra who standing there confused, then walked out the door after Cephalus.

"What the...?" was all Chandra could say.

"Why is everyone acting so secretive?...And dad, why did you agree to that?"

Aeneas sighed and rubbed his forehead, gesturing for Chandra to come closer.

"Come here. I'll explain it to you."

.................................................................................

"Well you certainly handled that well," Adrianna chuckled.

Cephalus' expression was unchanging and he simply stared at Adrianna with dark eyes. When she got the idea Adrianna covered her laugh up with a very subtle cough and then leaned again the porch railing.

"So what do you want me for?" she asked changing the subject.

"You're coming to."

"Why?"

Adrianna did not like the idea of running off on some wild goose chase while her cabin was left unattended.

"We need as many people as we can get," Cephalus told her his expression still unchanged.

"Well why can't you get someone besides me?"

"Because I know you. I'd rather have that than some dirty rogue...Even if it is a bit risky."

Adrianna faked a hurt look but realized that after what she had done in the past he had good reason not to trust her.

"And what if I refuse?" she challenged.

Cephalus slowly walked over to his horse and grabbed the reins, jumping up into the saddle.

"You won't."

....................................................................................

The next morning...

It was just about sunrise and Cephalus, or one of his cronies, would show up at any minute. Chandra waited around nervously fingering the chain around her neck. The night before Aeneas had given her very clear instructions on what to do if it came to it but Chandra still felt like she would do something wrong. She was well packed and she had changed into a warm dark reddish brown dress with a navy blue surcoat. Over that was a large deep green cloak that would cover everything if she needed to stay camouflage. 

Chandra paced back and forth nearly jumping out of her skin when a knock resounded off the sound oak of the door. Taking a shaky breath Chandra walked over to the door and pulled it open expecting to see some rusty mean looking men. However, she was pleasantly surprised to find Adrianna standing there.

"Goooooooood morning!" she smiled brightly walking into the house.

"Oh...Morning. For a minute I thought you were Cephalus...What are you doing here?"

Adrianna flashed Chandra another smile and sat down on the arm of a chair.

"Cephalus asked me to come along. Thought it would be a good idea," she answered.

Chandra let out another breath and smiled nervously.

"Well that's a relief. I thought I was gonna go alone."

"Oh no. Cephalus has recruited several other people," Adrianna told her cracking a walnut.

"Who?"

For some reason Chandra thought he would do this expedition with his usual illiterate boys who she did not care for in the least. But then when she thought about it the whole thing made more sense. Why else would he have asked her to come in the first place?

"I'm not sure. All I know is this is going to be one fun hike."