Ariel Slick writes original fiction including short stories, novels, and memoirs to spread the joy of imagination and creativity. She also helps clients achieve their fiction writing goals with her ghostwriting skills on Upwork.com and Guru.com. Although she has  worked as a freelancer for three years, she has been dedicated to the craft all her life. Her fiction focuses on themes of love, justice, and magic, and her most popular works include romance and fantasy romance. 

What would make a girl, terrified of everything, go into the woods? Knights chasing after her, for starters. All Elaine wants is to stay in her small village forever, baking bread with her family. All that changes when she discovers that she is one of seven girls with the gift of magic. Elaine must leave behind her family and flee into the deep, dark woods where anything and everything can happen. Only guided by a talking fox, who may not be who he says on the surface, Elaine battles thieves, murderous plants, and magical creatures of all sorts. She will discover her powers and why they matter: to dethrone the evil king.  Will she be brave enough to embrace her powers?

Valient

Elaine wanted to be gone as soon as possible. Her parents nodded their assent and gave her their blessing. Although it pained them to send her off just a few months after her arrival, they knew she had to leave. When she explained Margaret's mission to them, they told her that they were proud of her and loved her deeply. Her mother clutched her fiercely, and her father gave her the strongest hug that he ever had. 


Daniel said, "Does this mean that you will not be here to make me fly around the forest?"


Elaine ruffled his hair. "No, Daniel," she said. "I have to go away, on a very long journey. I am not sure when I will be back, but I promise, as soon as I return, I will take you on another flight through the forest."


"Yippee!" cried Daniel and jumped up and gave Elaine a kiss. 


Chapter 26