It was like a light had clicked on in Lacey’s mind. She knew what had happened to Jinxy.

  ‘Come on, you have to tell me,’ Peter urged.

  She shook her head, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  ‘Oh no, you don’t get off that easy. There’s still time, maybe you can figure it out yourself.’

  He glared at her. ‘I liked you better half-frozen and spilling secrets.’

  ‘You’ll get used to this.’ She grinned. ‘Now that I know I’m not imagining your feelings, you’re gonna have a hard time getting rid of me.’

  With an exaggerated sigh, he cast his eyes up to the sky. ‘How you thought you were imagining it is beyond me. I spent every moment I could with you. I chatted with you, teased you. Hinted unceasingly. What else does a man have to do to get the message through?’

  Now, she did laugh. ‘I guess love is not for the faint-hearted.’ The moment ended before she realised what had slipped out. Peter also stilled, no doubt catching it no matter how casually it was said.

  A faint panic swelled in her, but he only drew her closer to his side. ‘Let’s keep going,’ he said. ‘We’re getting close.’

  ??

  As it turned out, they didn’t have to complete the whole journey themselves. A flurry of elves had spread themselves out along the edges of the Wasteland, anxiously watching for Peter’s return. As soon as the two of them were spotted, the closest groups rushed out to fetch them. They loaded Lacey and the two backpacks onto a sked, a low, flexible rescue sled that easily slid over the snow.

  She had never been more grateful to lie down in her life. Finally able to rest, she watched the landscape slide by, Peter walking by her side, as they pulled her home.

  Not realising that she had dozed off, she woke with a start at the sound of Mathilda’s voice.

  ‘Peter! Lacey!’ Mathilda screamed, rushing over to them, the Healing Hall rising in the background.

  ‘I’ve been so worried! Lacey, where did you go?’

  Not waiting for an answer, she switched to yelling immediately at the next elf.

  ‘Get her into the Hall, first room.’

  Next she seized Peter with both arms and squeezed him tight.

  ‘How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not allowed to make me worry so!’

  And then she sent him off to the kitchen to eat, only to call him back again once Lacey was snug and warm, and Mathilda realised that Lacey’s boot was swollen on.

  Peter cut the boot open, carefully manipulating it to slide it off Lacey’s swollen foot. And then he got sent back to the kitchen.

  Mathilda repeated all of Peter’s questions, while she gently palpitated Lacey’s foot, pressing around the ankle.

  ‘All things considered, not too bad,’ she said. ‘It looks like a bad sprain, and you’ve been walking on it with cold and numb feet. It needs to rest.’

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  She reached under the bed rolling out a large, bed-sized chest on castors. Opening it, she rummaged around.

  ‘Ah, here it is.’

  Lacey’s eyes widened as she pulled out a regular earth moon boot. It being the village however, it had been painted in a candycane-striped pattern, and had a green felt strip of golden tinkling bells attached to the top.

  ‘You have a moon boot?’ she asked, surprised.

  ‘Oh yes. I saw it once when I was dropping by Earth. Very useful, I’ll tell you.’

  ‘Okay,’ Lacey said. She felt like she was becoming numb to surprises.

  Mathilda enclosed it over her foot and tightened the straps. ‘There you go, this’ll keep your foot stable for a day or two. No serious walking, and you must elevate it whenever you can. And for now, you’ll rest. And then you will explain to me what you were thinking.’

  Her voice brooked no argument, and yet there was a tenderness in her touch as she pulled the blankets over Lacey.

  ‘I’ll be here if you need me,’ she said, and pulled the door shut behind her, leaving the room slightly darkened with the curtains drawn.

  Lacey gratefully closed her eyes and nodded off.

  ??

  She woke up much later to the sound of a gaggle of voices outside her door.

  ‘Hush,’ Bethy’s voice said. ‘We mustn’t wake her.’

  ‘I know,’ Cynthie said a bit indignant. ‘But why’s she sleeping so long.’

  ‘She was out in the Wasteland for two days,’ Danji argued. ‘You’d be tired too.’

  There was a long-suffering sigh.

  Lacey shook her head, smiling. It felt good to have friends to worry about her. Not that she planned to make it a habit.

  ‘I’m awake,’ she gently called through the closed door. The handle turned, and Bethy peered around it.

  ‘Lacey,’ she breathed in relief, seeing her sitting up. ‘Can we come in?’

  All three spilled through the door at Lacey’s nod.

  ‘I was so scared,’ Danji said. ‘When Mathilda told us you headed out into the Wasteland, we didn’t know what to do!’

  ‘Peter came after you,’ Cynthie said. ‘He’s really brave, isn’t he?’

  ‘Yes, he is,’ Lacey said. ‘He’s the only reason I survived.’

  The three elves gasped simultaneously.

  ‘What happened?’ Bethy asked, sitting down on the bed.

  And she told them the whole story, holding back a few key parts, of course.

  ‘You slept two nights in Peter’s arms,’ Danji breathed. ‘That’s so romantic!’

  ‘Romantic?’ Cynthie scoffed from where she was studying Lacey’s moon boot at the bottom of the bed. ‘Of course that’s what they did. Don’t you remember our primary lessons?’

  ‘I know, I know,’ Danji defended herself. ‘But it’s still romantic.’

  ‘Sound structure,’ Cynthie concluded, not bothering to answer Danji’s last statement. She gave the moon boot a quick rap with her knuckles. ‘I approve.’

  Bethy choked back a laugh. ‘I’m sure the Earth crafters will be glad to hear it. What was it you said to master crafter Frostwright again?’

  ‘I just told the stupid man that the crystal lens he showed me was misaligned. And then he turned it into a thing.’ She huffed in exasperation. ‘You’d think a master crafter would have more sense. I tell you, when I become a master toymaker, I won’t be like that.’

  Danji and Bethy gave each other a look that said she certainly would.

  Shaking her head sadly, Danji said, ‘But now Glacien won’t make you a lens for the magical skylight you want to craft. What are you going to do?’

  ‘What can I do?’ Cynthie said. ‘If he won’t make it, he won’t make it. I’ll think of something even better for another masterwork project.’

  That seemed to settle the issue.

  ‘Who is this Glacien?’ Lacey asked. ‘I don’t think I’ve met him.’

  ‘No, you wouldn’t have,’ Bethy said. ‘He lives over in Icehaven, so we don’t see him very often.’

  The conversation drifted on.

  ‘I’ve started a Christmas commitment,’ Danji said. ‘No more glühwein for today.’

  ‘Uh… ,’ Lacey said. She kinda thought Danji should aim for something a little more permanent.

  Bethy and Cynthie burst out laughing at the look on her face.

  ‘And I’ll recommit every day,’ Danji said with a grin.

  ‘Oh good, you had me there for a moment,’ Lacey said, laughing along.

  The door opened again and Mathilda entered. ‘All right you bunch,’ she said. ‘It’s time to leave now. Lacey still needs to rest.’

  ‘Okay,’ they agreed, hopping up and filing out one by one.

  ‘Bye, Lacey,’ they called.

  ‘Danji,’ Lacey said just as she was about to disappear out the door. ‘Could you and I have a quick chat, please?’

  Looking at Mathilda, she added, ‘It won’t take long, I promise. Can you please give us a moment?’

  Mathilda nodded, and stepped out, pulling the door closed behind her.

  Danji shifted to the chair closest to Lacey. ‘What is it, Lacey?’ she asked, a worried frown on her face.

  ??????