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people.”
    He had to laugh. “She’s the Oracle. She
foretells the future. Of course she knows we’re coming.”
    Dee fell silent as they headed towards the
path. Once there, he released her hand and indicated she should
precede him.
    They began to climb. Cenrick couldn’t help
but admire her shape as she continued on ahead of him.
    When they reached the top, she turned to face
him, her chest heaving with exertion. Again, he found himself
enjoying the view.
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    “I’m good. A bit out of breath, but fine.
You, you’re not even winded.” She pointed her finger accusingly.
“But then,” her gaze traveled over him, “you work out a lot, don’t
you?”
    If by work out, she meant exercise, he
supposed he did.
    “Yes.” He managed to answer, surprised that a
simple look from her made heat crawl over his skin.
    The cool breeze ruffled her short hair. He
turned away, staring blindly at the sand-colored cliff walls.
    “The Oracle lives there.” He pointed up sheer
rock. “See those steps?”
    “In a cave?” She sounded shocked.
    He glanced at her, nodding.
    Above them, a hawk screeched. Dee jumped.
    “That is Tinth.” Cenrick smiled, feeling
slightly relieved. “The Mage’s pet hawk.”
    Hearing her name, the huge bird landed on a
boulder in front of them. Her bright eyes looked curious as she
cocked her head and watched them approach.
    When they were within five paces of the hawk,
she spread her massive wings and took off, screeching as she flew
ahead of them, spiraling up, finally disappearing inside the
cave.
    “She leads the way. Come on.”
    Silently, they climbed the steps. Once they
reached the third plateau and could go no higher, they began the
descent into the largest of the caves. The air was cold, and the
familiar scent of heavy incense drifted up the passages. Torches
flickered, placed at strategic intervals along the rock walls.
    Below, the tinkling of bells could be head, a
magical breeze swirling through the caverns below and stirring the
hundreds of crystal wind chimes and shell ornaments hanging from
rock ceilings and walls. For centuries the Oracle had used them for
decoration, as had those who had preceded her.
    Little had changed in the Oracle’s adobe
since Cenrick’s last visit, even though twenty human years had gone
by.
    Finally, they came to the great cave deep
within the mountain.
    They stepped into the cool darkness and a
soft shimmer of light proclaimed the Oracle’s presence.
    “Welcome.” Clothed in her customary white
robe, made of a material so rich the touch of it felt sinful, she
kept her hood up, her face in shadow. Even Cenrick, Crown Prince of
the Fae, had never seen her features. `Twas said the sight of it
drove even learned Fae mad.
    “Greetings, Oracle. I have brought Dee Bishop
with me, from the human world.”
    “You have come to see the soulless ones.”
    “Yes.”
    “It is fitting.” The brilliant scarlet of her
glowing gaze lingered on Dee. “You found her,” she said
cryptically. “One who lives to protect others.”
    Dee started. “Yes, that’s true. How did you
know?”
    “I have seen you.” She glanced at Cenrick.
“And you. Only the two of you, working as one, can halt this great
evil.”
    A prophecy? Cenrick looked at the small human
woman. The Oracle was never wrong.
    Dee crossed her arms, considering. “Working
together, huh? Has he told you I work better alone?”
    “Not this time.” Gossamer robes shifted in
their own breeze. “One alone will surely die.”
    “A prophecy?”
    The red of the Oracle’s eyes became brighter,
flaring from red to plum. “I speak but truth,” she said finally,
turning away. “But I cannot speak prophecy, not with humans. Their
machines make seeing within their world difficult.” She seemed to
grow, looming over them like some towering flame, but he blinked
and she seemed normal- sized again. Perhaps the visual deception
was the result of the shadows cast by the