Beginning VI-3
"Do not be ridiculous, foolish soul", he replied with some force - but he had a twinkle in his eye, and I felt simultaneously chastised, and reassured.
He rose from his bench, slowly, for his injury obviously smarted. Coming over to me he said,
"You would never have found that ford yonder, nor the old stones up on the hill, nor be talking to me now, if the fae folk have no being."
He was taller than I had expected. He came closer, and seemed to loom over me.
He leaned in and asked pointedly, "Where did you go to school?", and as he did so, he poked me on the shoulder.