saw the woman slip a moment, but then catch her balance. The woman looked at the floor for a wet spot, but didn’t find one. Hibbletree looked puzzled for a moment. “Have we tricked her before?” he asked, peering in the window. Odlimarta stopped her glamour-dance and crinkled her nose. “Before? Before what?” Odlimarta started to dance again. “Who cares about remembering,” she sang, “Or what happens day to day—it’s people care to ‘member—elves just care to play!” She laughed then, tilting her head back and falling over into a shady spot in the grass. “Let the Fey Spirit keep the tally, Hib—we just play the tricks!” She struck a dandelion, and its seeds rose into the wind and floated away. She watched them until they were out of sight. “I’m bored and feeling blue, Hib-whatever shall we do?” “You were playing a trick on the lady, but it didn’t work. She didn’t fall.” “You’re so good at remembering,” she said, springing up from the grass. She put one hand on her hip and wagged her finger, mock-scolding, “But not much good at rhymes. That’s not fun.” She walked over to him. “What do you mean it didn’t work? Get me on your back so I can see,” she said. He got down on all fours, and she jumped up, peering in. “A twinkle of the nose and a knock upon the door,” Odlimarta knocked very quietly on the door, “and the glass she cleans so slip’ry goes a-crashing to the floor!” Hibbletree didn’t hear anything, and then Odlimarta gasped. “The glass slipped, but she caught it!” “Caught it? The Fey Spirit . . .” he whispered reverently. “I think we’re at the wrong place,” Hibbletree said, still on all fours. “Maybe she’s not that proud. Maybe she doesn’t deserve it. Maybe the balance is already in her favor. Let’s go.” “Then why’d the Spirit lead us here?” “The Spirit plays tricks, too, Dilbie,” Hibbletree said. “I know that,” Odlimarta replied, and paused a moment, thinking. “But no. No, No,” she said, dancing on his back. “The fun’s not done.” He could hear the faint scrape of a straw broom across the floor as the woman swept. Odlimarta warmed up for another glamour. “Don’t try another trick,” Hibbletree said.
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