True Heart [Paperback]

In the beautiful armor Joseph Lequire has created for Moonsilver, no one can tell he is a unicorn. It's safe for Heart to travel to Bidenfast, where she hopes to find her Gypsy friends. But the streets are jammed with people in town for the crowning of the new Lord Irmaedith, and the young lord himself takes a special interest in the unicorns. Will Heart be able to keep her secret?Chapter One

Heart stood in the stone doorway.

The early chill was sharp.

Her breath made clouds of soft mist.

Kip sat beside her, his furry shoulder warm against her leg.

Heart stared at the yellow-orange glow in the valley below. The river of fire looked even stranger in the dark.

Heart knew that the sun would rise soon.

When it did, she would have to leave.

I wish you could stay, Tibbs said from behind her.

Heart turned.

Tibbs looked tired.

He and Joseph had worked hard to finish Moonsilver's armor quickly.

I don't want to leave, Heart admitted. She felt the silver bracelet tighten on her wrist for an instant.

As always, it startled her.

As always, she wasn't sure what it meant.

But you have to go, Tibbs said.

Heart nodded. The forge felt safe, but it wasn't, not for her -- and not for the unicorns. Too many nobles came here.

Heart bit her lip, wishing she could be sure where the unicornswouldbe safe.

Maybe her family would help one day.

Or maybe she would never find them.

For now, all she could do was find the Gypsies.

She thought about Binney and smiled. It would be so good to know they were all safe, to be back with her friends.

Keep learning to read, keep practicing, Tibbs said softly.

Heart met his eyes. I will.

Tibbs frowned. My master in Derrytown was nervous about teaching me. It's usually just for the nobility, you know.

Heart looked at him. A woman in Yolen's Crossing offered to teach ml#|