Voices, no shouts awoke Ian as he tried to fight the tiredness. He opened his eyes and focused them trying to see that what had awoken him. Slowly the images that before consisted out of a blurry pallet of colors came into focus. In the distance he saw a large brown stallion galloping over the road. As the steed came closer Ian noticed the animal had a white star on his forehead.

“Hey!” A only too familiar voice called out and Ian now clearly saw that the rider was no less then Pixly himself. He looked quite comical and out of proportion on top of such a large stallion but Ian could not complain for before Pixly had halted he had thrown a hand full of seeds towards Ian. Ian smiled as Pixly got of the horse and placed the large sack in front of him while he held the leashes in his hand.

“What do you think of him? I know he isn’t perfect but I got him for a good price.” Pixly said while Ian, who still hadn’t forgotten his last encounter with a horse liked creature, hesitated. He looked at Spirit who gave him an approving look and Ian petted him fateful companion before he came closer to the horse.

“What is his name?” Ian asked as he stroke the nose of the animal.

“I don’t know the man never told me.” Pixly said shrugging his shoulders while he tried to ignore Spirit’s disapproving look. “Here are the seeds you wanted now give me my flute back.” Pixly said nervously but trying to look calm.

Ian who had caught the tension in Pixly’s voice looked with a searching look in his ‘friends’ eyes. “Is something wrong?” He asked and Pixly swallowed but looked calm.

“No it’s just I still have something to do.” He said while Ian placed his hand into the sack to feel if any stones where in there. But nothing then solid golden seeds touched his skin and he closed the sack satisfied and loaded it on the horse.

“The flute.” Pixly implied calm and Ian was just about to give it to him but hesitated, when he noticed the sweat drops that glistered on Pixly’s brow.

“Pixly, how did you acquire all this?” Ian asked now filled with doubt.

“Ah there was this friend of mine who owned me some money.” Pixly said very convinced of his words but Ian wasn’t. He held his gaze on Pixly who had his hands behind his back and looked quite innocently. Out of his pocket Ian retrieved the old wooden flute and handed it towards Pixly who grabbed it eagerly.

“Thank you, and I hope you have a fine journey, if you make it far.” Pixly said walking away. Ian did not here these last words for they were not meant for his ears. But suddenly Pixly froze dead in his tracks as the sound of horse hoofs grew louder. A shout, a scream made Ian turn around and in the distance he saw three man riding in high speed towards them. He had already mounted the horse that now nervously took a step backwards but Ian steadied it.

“Pixly you thief!” The red-bearded man shouted to Pixly who could not move. Pixly just stared as the men came closer then turned around and Ian saw the fear on his face.

“You lying thief!” Ian shouted but he had no intention to give up his horse and seeds either so he started riding away. Pixly ran behind him begging, no pleading for Ian to take him with him. The men came closer and Ian knew that if he would left Pixly in their mercy he might as well thrown him to the wolves.

“Please…please kind Master take me with you…” He whined while he threw himself on the side of the horse but only succeeded in falling on the ground. Ian took one good look at the closely approaching riders and then picked Pixly up and mounted him behind him and they galloped away as fast as the horse’s long feet could carry them. Over hills and green pastured on their way to Shanain.

“I could not leave him their to the men’s mercy. He might be a thief, a cheater, a liar but he was still human. And even though he had deceived me in his lies. And wouldn’t have cared less if my family and me died I still had some place in my heart for him. And now we where on our way home.”

After what seemed hours of riding over hills and through forests they finally came to a halt near a small lake. Ian was enjoyed the change of silence that had drowned all the memories of the noise of Lawrskin. Here Ian felt home but Pixly had another opinion.

Ian was sitting washing his face in the cool water while he let his thoughts wander freely. Spirit was lying in the shade resting with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He had been running all this time behind the stallion that did not yet possess a name and lay grazing happily ahead.

Picking up a self-made spear Ian went knee deep into the water and gazed into the clear surface. He awaited the fish to appear and then at the right time struck cutting through the water until the spear hit it’s target and left nothing behind except a little pool of blood. In this peaceful silence where man and nature lived together Ian always found peace. 

“AAAAAHHH!” Pixly shouted and Ian and Spirit made their way as fast as they could towards Pixly. Ian nearly dislocated his knee as he slipped over the edge of the lake as he tried to get out. As Ian entered the scene with his sword raised high ready for attack. Ready to face whatever had made Pixly utter such a scream of terror, he was never ready for what he saw. There stood Pixly scarcely dressed balancing on one leg on top of a log. Ian could not help but to burst out in laughter.

“It’s not funny the spider was THIS big!” Pixly trying to show how big the spider was but couldn’t, for that would have made him drop his bundle of clothes. “It’s not funny!” Pixly shouted angry but clearly embarrassed.

“Call me when you’re really in need of some physical help.” Ian said and walked away with a smile on his face. Even though he did not like Pixly very much he was glad he had brought him along on the journey. It is always nice to have someone to talk to even if they are treacherous and weird.

“Do you want another fish?” Ian asked Pixly as they sat around the now crackling campfire enjoying their simple meal. Pixly seemed never to have eaten fish for he looked with a disgusted look at it while he picked out all the bones.

“No thank you.” He said while he pushed his second fish away and leant backwards rubbing his flat stomach.

 Ian did the same and looked through the oak leaves to the dark blue sky. The sun had already set and some stars had appeared on the evening sky. Ian looked at Pixly observing the little fellow from head to toe. Pixly who might have shared Ian’s age did not share his height. You could actually say that he was too short for his age and even too narrow. Ian’s gaze rested on Pixly’s long thin legs and then at his very narrow childlike shoulders. Everything about Pixly was childish, his pointy face reminded Ian of a Fearie…a Fearie… Then his gaze fell on the pointy hat Pixly always wore and with a quick movement it had found it’s way in his hand.

“Hey!” Pixly said shocked covering his ears with one hand while he tried to grab his hat with the other. But Ian had already seen what was hidden underneath it. Auburn curls danced on Pixly’s head just as Ian had imagined but what had really made the picture complete were his ears. They were like Pixly himself: marrow and pointy.

“You’re a Fearie aren’t you?” Ian asked with a smile while he watched Pixly try to get the hat out of Ian’s hand but couldn’t.

“Give that back I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said angered making the situation even funnier.

“Oh yeah and what are these?” Ian said standing up. He took hold of one of Pixly’s ears and picked him up by it. Pixly let out shrieks that resembled a pig being slaughtered. Eventually Ian let go and Pixly fell on the ground angry and insulted. He gave Ian a foul look ripped his hat out of his hand and placed it with a jerk back on his head while he returned to his seat.

“Pixly?” Ian said in a implying voice.

“Ok ok I’m a half-breed happy now?” He asked looking like he had just sucked upon a very sour lemon. “I was found in this forest as a baby and then raised by this lonely old woman.”

“What happened to her?” Ian asked sitting down.

“She was murdered by this foul traitor Lord Rowans!” He said spitting the last part out. Ian could not believe his ears as Pixly spoke of the name of his families most hated and feared enemy.

“Lord Rowans the conqueror of the Lowlands?” Ian asked standing up. Pixly made a surprised face and nodded.

“Why do you ask?”

“ Lord Rowan’s is my families most feared enemy. For many cycles now he has tried to make us sign a treaty with him but over and over we have refused. It won’t take long now until he runs out of patience with us.” Ian said sadly. Pixly was glad that he had someone who shared the same interest as him even if it was hatred.

“What is your family name anyway?” He asked realizing that he knew nothing about Ian except that he was noble and dangerous.

“McGilles.” Ian said poking the fire while he lifted his gaze up to the starry sky.

“Carmos McGilles is your father isn’t he?” Pixly asked excited. Ian sighed asking himself how everybody knew something of his father and even his own son didn’t.

“Yes.” He said in a long sigh while he turned his gaze back top Pixly who’s eyes where shining as bright as the stars.

“I am honored to be in your service,” Pixly said making a clumsy little bow.  “Ian McGilles son of the great Carmos McGilles.” Pixly said finishing the sentence. Ian felt somehow ridicules but Pixly’s statement. “Oh and will I meet him when we get there?” Pixly whispered softly.

“Let me be.” Ian said bored lying down near the fire but Pixly surely had other plans then sleep.

“Come on son of a great knight tell me you’re the reason of your quest to Lawrskin?” Pixly said sitting down next to him.

“Pixly I am the son of a farmer who carries the same name as the famous knight. And the reason of my ‘quest’ is that we are poor and need seeds to survive. Now if you don’t mind I would like to sleep a bit.” Ian said closing his eyes. Pixly saw that there was no way of getting more information out of Ian and soon he departed for sleep too.