Rowena was bored. Bored with people. Bored with stories. Bored with responsibility. She and a boy named Scond, her one and only friend, dreamed of getting away from their lives. They planned to see the world from the cliffside domain of the great Pirate Queen of El Ahbin to the hidden Elven forests of the West. Before they could pack their things and leave, something happened. Scond disappeared, leaving Rowena behind. And when she asked for a reason, the sing-song answer replied: Listen, my children Listen, my loves For they're coming to take you away They know that you're naughty, My dear little ones, And the Snatchers are coming today