In Elkir’s arms sat a strange instrument of dark, reddish wood and resembling a harp connected to a sounding box. On the instrument’s face, silver hummingbirds lowered their heads to a field of aster flow-ers, flowers that also twisted up the ribs to bloom near the crossbar. A strong, tenor voice rang out from the sounding box. “Thank you for grabbing me from the river. Dreadful things, rivers. Never tell you where you are going and jostle you about as if you should just run along with them. Most dreadful, disagreeable things! In any case, thank you for your help.”

Elkir beamed. “Wow! An enchanted kithara. Such amazing fortune. You’re very welcome, Kithara.”

“It talks,” gaped Eibhlin. “The instrument talks.”

“Oh, there is a human with you,” said the instrument Elkir had called a kithara. “Inexperienced with enchanted tools, Miss? No surprise, really. You speak with the accent of eastern Enbár, and that place is more exposed to Fae magic. Fairies are not usually fond of tools, too much iron involved, if you get my meaning. No, your shock is natural.”

Shira, having returned to the group, said, “I, too, am surprised. Why should an enchanted instrument be floating down a river?”

“Great King of the Planets! How could I forget?” cried the kithara. “Miss Elf, is your settlement nearby? I must speak with a person of authority. It’s urgent!”

Shira frowned. “Why do you need someone in authority?”

“Dark elves.”

Instantly, Shira’s face blanched. “We must return. Now!”

Elkir stared at his sister as she grabbed his and Eibhlin’s wrists and began pulling them away. As she saw the fear build in the boy’s eyes, Eibhlin asked, “What’s wrong? What are dark elves?”

Shira shook her head, and her hands trembled. “Not here. We must tell Father. Come. Quickly!”

They dashed back through the wild magic, back to civilization. Upon reaching the settlement, Shira ran to the messenger tower and hurried up the ladders. At the landing, she grabbed the kithara from her brother and ran up some stairs onto the top floor.

Seeing her, one of the messengers came over and began speaking to her. Shira glanced at those around her and then whispered something to him. The elf looked confused, but he went over to a desk and pulled out a small roll of parchment. He asked Shira a question, and her response caused him to drop his pen. She quickly motioned for him to keep quiet, however, and after a tense, whispered exchange, she held up the kithara. Clearly disturbed, the messenger nodded, jotted down the message, copied it several times, and ran off to the bird keep.

Shira returned to Eibhlin and Elkir, saying, “Come with me. We need to wait for the elders at the Hall.”

The next hour of waiting passed in near unbearable silence, for none of the group could gather the strength to speak against the air weighted with fear and uncertainty. Finally, Chensil entered the Hall with a few other elves.

“Elshiran, your message held ill news. Are you certain?” he asked.

“Yes, Father,” she said. “This kithara spoke of dark elves, and it spoke no lies, though I know nothing more than my message contained.”

To Eibhlin, it sounded as if the instrument bowed with its voice as it said, “Allow me, the witness, to speak further, Lord Elf. As you can see, I am but an instrument, one of little use without a minstrel. My minstrel and I were traveling this way with a small merchant train when a band of dark elves ambushed us. I trust I need not detail the horrors that followed. Amidst the chaos, I fell into the river, which soon bore me away. I did not see the battle’s end, but I doubt victory lay with us, for those were no mere bandits but a fully armed unit. The Lord of Heavenly Powers bless my poor master. I would mourn him now if not for the current urgency. After the attack, I drifted down the river for two more moons before my rescue. That is all.”

Chensil’s countenance darkened. He spoke firm words to Shira in elvish before turning to the elders. Eibhlin felt the tension in the air and shivered. After the elders left, Shira said, “Father told us to return and inform Mother. They’re going to ready the guard.”

Once more joining hands, they all left the Hall in silence.