She was standing close beside me, and at her smiling words raised one of her glorious red wings and spread it behind me as though for protection. Then, becoming serious once more, she answered my question.
"We are fortunate, Alan. It is the Valley of the Sun, in the Light Country. I know it well. We are very close to the Great City."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll leave it all to you, little wife. Shall we start at once?"
Her hand pressed mine.
"I shall lead you now," she said. "But afterward—you it will be who leads me—who leads us all."
She crossed to the door fastenings. As she loosed them I remember I heard a slight hissing sound. Before I could reach her she slid back the door. A great wave of air rushed in upon us, sweeping us back against the wall. I clutched at something for support, but the sweep of wind stopped almost at once.
I had stumbled to my knees. "Miela!" I cried in terror.
She was beside me in an instant, wide‑eyed with fear, which even then I could see was fear only for me.
I struggled to my feet. My head was roaring. All the blood in my body seemed rushing to my face.