Silence and Stone by Kathleen Duey

arrows and spears and they harried the dragons in their cliffs so they couldn’t hatch eggs and raise their young. But the faeries made a promise.”
    Alida stared at Molly, already knowing what she was going to say.
    â€œThey gave up a faerie princess, to be kept safe in Dunraven’s castle. But she would only be safe ifthe faeries went away, and never spoke to another human being.”
    Ruth was nodding. “No human has had a friend among the magic folk since then.”
    â€œExcept my grandson,” Molly whispered.
    Alida glanced at Gavin. “Will you come with me to find my family?” she asked him.
    He glanced at his grandmother. She nodded. “Yes, Princess Alida,” he said.
    Alida made a face at him—and they all laughed.
    As they cleaned up the kitchen, Gavin asked Ruth to return the white mare to John. She promised she would. And then there was nothing more to say.
    Alida lay awake a long time before she slept.
    Even so, she woke at dawn, scared and excited.
    Everyone cried a little, hugging, saying good-bye. Then they just looked at one another without speaking for a moment.
    Alida faced Gavin. “Are you ready?”
    He nodded.
    She pulled the feather-light shawl over her wings.
    Then they started off, walking side by side away from Ash Grove—toward the wild lands.

    Â 
    The sun was rising.
    It would be a warm, fine day.
    Alida turned back to wave good-bye to Ruth Oakes and Gavin’s grandmother.
    They smiled at her, but Alida could tell they were worried. She was a little scared. She didn’t want to leave Ruth’s wonderful house near the town of Ash Grove. But she had no choice.
    She glanced at Gavin.
    He looked a little nervous too.
    Alida was so grateful that he was coming with her.
    They stopped at the edge of the woods and both waved one last time.
    Then they walked into the trees.
    The grayish light of dawn was even dimmer beneath the old oaks. The trees smelled like home to Alida. That made her so happy—and so sad—that she stopped and closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
    When she opened them, Gavin was looking at her. “Do you know which way we should go?”
    Alida shook her head. Gavin had thought Ruth might know where the faeries had gone when old Lord Dunraven made his law, but she didn’t. No one did.
    â€œWe have to find the meadow I remember,” Alida said. “I’m hoping my mother left something there for me.”
    Gavin lifted his eyebrows, but he didn’t ask questions, and she was glad. She wasn’t at all sure they would find anything in the meadow, and she had no idea what she would do if they didn’t.
    â€œWill you recognize the right place?” Gavin asked.
    â€œYes,” Alida said. She was sure of that, even though she hadn’t seen it in a long, long time. She remembered her family’s home very clearly.
    There was a noisy stream that ran across one end of the meadow.
    At the other end there was a huge egg-shaped rock.
    And there were many old oak trees, perfect for faerie nests. Everyone had slept in the treetops. She and her older sister had snuggled together if the night was chilly. Terra had been patient with her, holding her hand when there was no moon and she was afraid of the dark. Terra was the eldest, so when their mother got old, she would become queen. Alida knew she would be kind and fair, like their mother.
    Alida sighed. She missed her family so much. “I hope it isn’t too far from Ash Grove,” she said, and turned to look at Gavin.
    He nodded. “We’ll just keep looking until we find it.”
    Alida smiled at him.
    They had both brought rolled-up blankets to keep them warm at night.
    Alida’s was magical—her mother had woven it before she was born.
    Gavin’s was warm and soft, a gift from his grandmother. And he had a flint and striker in his pocket in case they needed to make a fire.
    He was carrying a cloth sack full of bread