This elf is the same height as I am but twice as wide at the shoulder, which makes him look even shorter. Even without the uniform, there's no mistaking he's a soldier.

"Hello, Ms. Stone. I am Matban Tadin," he says with a bow. One of those names is a title and the other is his name, but I don't know which is which. He flashes a brilliant smile. "An honor to make your acquaintance." His words are short and clipped, and the smile does nothing to soften the tough military countenance.

"Yeah, you too." I press my lips together. I wish I would've been told that Albína wasn't picking me up. I'm still reeling from seeing my mother. I'm not good with new people, and this guy looks like a talker.

"I'm your escort." He holds his arm out. I know I'm supposed to grab his elbow, but I don't like all the touching, especially strange men I've just met. He looks at me expectantly, and I grab his elbow because I don't want to make a big deal out of it. "Are you enjoying your stay so far?"

"Yes." I need to add words. "Everyone has been very kind to me."

"How are you and Albína getting on?"

Why does he care? He's making conversation. I need to be nicer. It's just that the uniform and the mannerisms make me feel like I'm in trouble. "She's very nice. I like her."

"Good to hear it. So you're friends with a Knight Crawler? That's exciting. How long have you and Sir Jonah known each other?"

I want the conversation to stop now. I want to think about my mom and process meeting a Wizard. I want to shoot him a snarky glare and tell him there's no time on Ashra, so how should I know, but I'm not that girl. Instead I ask, "Do you want me to tell you in days?"

"Sure." He grins again. "I understand some of Earth's time references."

"How do you know about them? And where'd you learn English?"

The smile disappears. "I only semi-understand your time references, but I've been told they're common in Earth languages. As for your second question, many of the higher-ranking officials speak American."

"Why?"

He chuckles. "That's unfair. I've answered several of your questions, and you haven't answered mine yet."

I stare at him blankly. I can't remember the question.

He raises his eyebrows. "Jonah?"

"Oh right. Jeez, I don't know. Like a month, maybe? Do you know what a month is?"

"Not really," he says with a shrug. "Just making conversation. What about Dathid? The same time?"

I'm surprised that he didn't use Dathid's title. Elves always use titles. "No. I met Jonah first and then Prince Dathid a few days later."

"How'd you like Manahata?"

"It's very pretty and the food is good."

"I guess that's why you're a Knight. I'd be scared to be in the heart of Manahata."

I snort. This guy doesn't look like he's scared of much. "Why?"

He gazes at me with wide eyes, like he's trying to communicate telepathically. It must have worked because I remember their conflict. "Oh. It's not like that." I shake my head for emphasis.

"Really? What's it like?"

Maybe I can help him understand that the faeries are not that bad. He doesn't need to be afraid of them. "Well, it's surrounded by the buildings of Manhattan, but they're like a shadow. King Ohad said I could walk right through them. And I guess I did when we walked to the ocean. It's kind of like a rainbow—they disappear when you get too close to them.

"That sounds fascinating! I'd love to walk through a building. So it was just you and Sir Jonah and Dathid walking all by yourselves?"

"No, we had Lenox."

"Lenox. That's right. I haven't met him yet."

We round the corner leading to my room. I'm glad this conversation will be over soon. "I love him. He's so sweet and cute."

"Well, no wonder you could feel safe in Manahata when you have a friend like Lenox."

I shake my head. I want him to understand that I felt safe the entire time. "I didn't get him until we were about to leave."

He stops and looks at me. "See, you are a Knight. Brave and strong."

"No," I laugh. "It's not like that. They're very nice." Maybe it will help the peace if I tell him what they're really like. "They had a party. It was fun."

His eyebrows knit together. "But what about all those soldiers flying about?"

We start walking again. "I didn't see a lot of soldiers. It was a party."

He gives me a sideways look that lets me know he thinks I'm crazy. "The entire time you were there, you didn't see any soldiers? That can't be. Look how many we have, and Cromsmead is much smaller than Manahata."

I shrug. "It was all pretty overwhelming. I guess I didn't notice."

"You look like them," he says. It almost sounds like an accusation, but he's smiling, so I guess it's a compliment.

I blush. "What! Faeries are gorgeous, and tall, and glamorous. I don't look like them."

"Well, you do. Is that why Dathid decided to join you?

I'm grossed out by the implication that Dathid accompanied us because he was attracted to me. He's way too old, somewhere in his twenties. Yuck! He's good-looking, but eww. He couldn't have implied what I think he did. It's probably a language issue. It has to be.

Matban Tadin hasn't said anything since he asked that weird question. Maybe's he's embarrassed after seeing my reaction.

"I don't know why his dad made him join us," I answer honestly. "Dathid probably wanted to see his wife."

Matban Tadin makes a face. Yeah, that was stupid. Dathid didn't come here to see his wife. But that's a good question; why did he come here?

"Had you ever talked with the faeries before?"

I tune back in to our conversation. "Before what?"

"Before you were in Manahata?" he says with a laugh.

"Before that, I was in Queens." I thought everyone knew that. But maybe I'm not as gossiped about as I feel.

"Are there faeries in Queens?"

It's my turn to furrow my brows. "How could there be faeries in Queens? That's on Earth."

He laughs. "Oh, that's right. I got caught up in our conversation. That was dumb."

I'm happy we're in sight of my door. This elf makes me uncomfortable with his questions. I don't think it's appropriate for him to talk to me about faeries.

"So the first time you ever saw a faerie was in Manahata?"

"Yeah, when I went through the portal." I want to add a snort, but that's rude. How could I have met a faerie before I was on Ashra? I don't think this guy is too bright.

"And you and Jonah were friends on Earth?" His tone is no longer overly friendly and neither is mine.

"We were on Earth together for a day."

He must have read my face because the big grin is back. "Yeah, a day because you've only been friends for a month."

"Right. Well. Bye." I shut my door on him. If I never speak to that guy again it will be too soon.