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then threw on her cloak. She’d rest for a little while and aim to catch up on her sleep since night time was no longer for sleeping, a thought that made her blush. Closing her eyes, she drifted into slumber. At this moment, she and Eldrich were one.
    Ruffling leaves startled her. Opening her eyes, she jumped to her feet, ready to yell for help.
    “Who’s there,” she asked.
    “No one you know,” a man said, coming from behind a tree.
    “I’ll scream,” she said, scanning the bank for a stick, a rock, anything with which she could defend herself.
    “Have I threatened you?” he asked, advancing to her.
    “You’re not wearing any clothes,” she said, bending down to pick up a stick.
    Grinning he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. My goodness why would I want to do such a thing? Besides even if I did, I’m afraid that scrawny stick wouldn’t be much of a protector. I’m sorry if I’m too blunt.”
    She glanced at the stick and was instantly embarrassed. And not just because of its size but because it reminded her of the night Eldrich had teased her with a stick, threatening to push it into her while on the roof of his house.
    “You’re not correct about my attire,” he looked down at himself, “I’m sure I’m wearing trousers. Do you not see them?” he asked, with a wicked laugh.
    Lela gave his trousers a glance, noticing the thickness between his legs. Flushing, she cleared her throat and centered her eyes on his bare chest. He had a cross necklace around his neck. Crosses were not permitted in the Kingdom of Barmoth. Her father despised the God of the Cross. The night her mother vanished, he had prayed to the God of the Cross and begged him for her safe return. His prayer went unanswered and days later he put forth a law prohibiting crosses. A death sentence awaited anyone caught with one. And here was this man displaying a cross without regard.
    “Who are you?” she asked, her stare on the cross.
    “Does this offend you?” he asked, pointing to his necklace.
    Swallowing, she said, “Crosses are forbidden.”
    Taking it off, he asked, “By whom?”
    “You can’t be serious,” she said with a slight chuckle.
    Letting it dangle from his hand he said, “I’m entirely serious. Now tell me, why do you believe them to be forbidden?”
    She seemed destined to continue meeting strange men in the forest.
    “Quit your ignorance. Why are you stalking me?”
    “My, you’re a vain woman.”
    “Then why are you out here?” she asked, frowning.
    “Forgive me, I didn’t know the forest belonged to you,” he said with a smirk. Picking up a stone and tossing it into the river, he then said, “I’ve learned two things today. One, crosses are forbidden and two, you’re the owner of the forest.”
    Blushing she said, “I should be on my way.” This strange man was not from Barmoth. But why was he here? Lela knew of other kingdoms but they were far, far away. And besides, no one dared enter Barmoth without first sending a letter requesting permission. And she could not imagine her father granting this man consent to come into Barmoth.
    “I’m sorry I frightened you,” he said.
    “No need to apologize,” she said.
    “You’re not afraid, then?”
    “I’m not.” She was lying.
    “I’m glad. Very well, until we meet again,” he said and started to walk away.
    “And why should we meet again?” she asked.
    He did not answer.
    “Wait,” she said. “Who are you?”
    Stopping, he turned to face her and said, “I’m one of the fallen, and your laws do not apply to me.” Then two sprawling, white wings appeared on his back and he took flight.
    “For goodness sake!” Lela exhaled.
    In all her years of roaming the forest, she had never witnessed a single extraordinary event and in the last few weeks she had encountered a golden ball, a frog who then became a vampire, and now she had just seen a man calling himself one of the fallen, whatever bloody hell that meant, spread wings and fly,