“They do not know any better.”
He looked from her to me. “They never do.”
***
“That was a frosty welcome,” I grumbled once we left Star back at the tables. “I thought you said elves see the beauty in all magic and people.” I couldn’t help but complain. Panic was gripping me more and more. I needed Morgana’s herbs to calm me. I was worried one of them would give away who I was. Birch was kind to me, but Star didn’t seem to share her sentiments.
“He is upset.” Her voice grew tense. “Our land is sacred to us.” She sat on the grass and crossed her legs. “All creatures that live on it too, but some have chosen to drive them out.”
“Who out?” I questioned and sat across from her.
She sighed. “The forest nymphs.”
“But they’re impossible to find,” I said, remembering my family’s failed attempts to catch even one. “They can’t be run out of the forest. I saw one before I met you. It ran off as soon as I woke up.”
She cast her eyes downward. “They are, indeed, rare.” She reached out her hand on the grass. As she did, a forest nymph jumped down out from the underbrush nearby and hurried to her. Its eyes were huge green orbs filled with wisdom and knowledge. “These ones we saved from the loggers. They live in the trees. We make homes for them using bark and leaves.” She pointed up at a small house nestled between two branches. “They know not to go near sorcerers who have long abused the nymph’s powers.” Her tone was laced with distaste. “Solises have been cutting into our forest. They start at the edges, but they get deeper every day, and the nymphs are being driven deeper south. They usually inhabit the north of the forest. I have been searching for them every day, those who have been run out of their homes and have ventured down here, to bring them here. We protect them.”
“You think they’re doing that to drive out the nymphs?”
“I cannot think of another reason.” Birch twisted her hair into rows along her scalp as she pondered thoughts I could not invade. “Anyway.” She looked up at the dark sky filled with stars, like silver pinpricks on a black canvass. “It is time for us to rest.”
I worried my fingers and inhaled deeply when we entered her house. A windchime hung outside, a bow was in its prideful place on the main wall, and the rug was weaved with beautiful reds and browns.
“You’re anxious,” she said after a drawn-out silence.
“You can tell.” I laughed and noticed my chest was red. “I’ve had trouble keeping my nerves under control. Not surprising really.” I hiccupped. “I am in enemy territory.”
“You are among friends here. Take some peace in that.” She knotted her hand with mine. “Breathe deeply, and don’t let your thoughts consume you. I feel them. They are like poison arrows to your heart. You can be in control, but it takes time. Don’t fear them, Winter. Instead, notice them as nothing more than as an observer. Then decide if you should act upon them or not. Intuition is different. It will guide you. Don’t mistake it for fear. Trust in your gut and forget the rest.”
I pressed my lips together, then pulled them back between my teeth. She led me to the bedroom and pointed at the small bed pushed against the back wall.
“I will sleep on the rug.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t put much regard into her only having one room. It made sense. I wouldn’t imagine she would get a lot of visitors out here.
“No, please. Let me sleep on the rug.”
“You are my guest.” Her eyes twinkled under the faint candlelight. “Besides, you need a good night of sleep more than I.”
I didn’t know if it was her kind words, the fluffiness of the pillows and covers, exhaustion, or all of them combined, but I calmed quickly as I settled between blankets that smelled like lavender.
ELEVEN
Blackness of the night had protected me against the probing stares from the elves, but the daylight laid nakedness to my true being. Everyone knew I was a luna. They sensed my magic all over me. It would only take one of them to report me, and that would be it. Birch was amazing, but could I believe they were all like her?
They sat on tables, talking among themselves. Supposedly, they were a peaceful people, but they made enough weapons to fund a small battle. I assumed for protection. I eyed the swords, which glinted from the light of the sun. The craftmanship was beautiful, the designs eye-catching and practical. The handles had been made in such a way that they were easy to grip.
Birch had left after we ate, in search of the nymph I had told her I saw close to where we were. Under Star’s orders, whom I presumed she had filled in that morning while I slept, she’d been told to bring the nymph back to the tribe. After, she would be allowed to take me to Woodbarrow.
I offered to leave alone, without her company, but she advised me not to go. The forest had many animals that were dangerous and some venomous. Without my magic or direction from a map, I would probably die.
Star had turned his nose up when an old woman, with long pointed ears and brown eyes, offered me an assortment of berries and fruit for breakfast before I’d left on my walk.
I took off my boots and walked through the meadow, enjoying the feel of the soil under my aching feet. I had slept well, despite my vulnerability within the elf village. Whether it was the sun on my skin or the smell of rain and leaves in the air, I felt happier than usual. I found myself thinking about my journey here. I hadn’t spent much time away from the heavy bustles of court and prying eyes of the public who wanted to look at the princess. It was peaceful, albeit more dangerous than home. The reading from Morgana lingered too. The first card. A crow: a journey or mission. She had presumed it was spiritual, but how literal destiny had been. I would heed the cards’ warning more carefully next time.
If there would be a next time.
I ambled aimlessly until I reached a girl, no older than myself. She looked me in the eyes. She radiated sunshine, reminding me of Cedric. Her smile was contagious too. Her curly black hair was untamed and ended at her ears. She wore a long dress made from white cotton, which frayed at her bare feet.
“Hi.”
“Hello.”
“I’m Daisy.” She smiled widely, and her pearly white teeth caught the sun. “I haven’t met a sorcerer before. Do you do magic? You’re very pretty, are you married? Can I show you around?” Each question raced to the next.
I opened my mouth to reject her offer, but before I could, she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the trees. “Here are morefawn buds.” Elves were picking hanging buds, then placing them into baskets weaved from large leaves and strips of bamboo. The spicy, herbal smell hit the back of my throat. It was overpowering.
“Do you eat them?” I asked, scrunching up my nose.
She shook her head. A smile played on her lips. “No. We turn them into a liquid.”
“Oh.” I looked at the baskets filled with the green, pine-shaped flowers with short petals. “They don’t look that good.”
“The drink from the buds, we call it Golden Brew. I’ve been told it dulls your senses but makes you happy. My mother won’t let me have any until I’m older.”
“Ah, so it’s liquor,” I replied. “Adults drink it often.”
Her eyes widened. “They do?”
“Not the same as yours.” I looked over at the baskets. “It’s made from different ingredients, but it does the same thing to your body. Some people like to be numbed.”
She nodded in innocent understanding. “Would you like some?”
I bit my bottom lip. “I’m good. Thanks.”
She rolled her shoulders back. “If you won’t drink, then maybe you’d enjoy shooting?”
Her eyes looked bigger as the sun reached its highest point in the sky. She waited, excitement lacing her features.
“I guess.” I had never used a bow and arrow before. Archery was for hunters, not princesses, but I had nothing else to do. “What do you use for target practice?”
She giggled. “We don’t. We hunt the ra
bbits within the trees.”
“Oh.” I don’t know why, but I had presumed they wouldn’t hurt animals, considering the way Birch acted with nature. “I don’t get it,” I said, feeling cynical. “You won’t hurt a leaf, but you’ll kill a rabbit? Contradictory, don’t you think?”
She sighed heavily. “We only kill what we must to survive.”
“You cannot survive on the vegetation or plants?”
Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. “Oh… um… I don’t know.”
“I’m teasing,” I said quickly, feeling bad. “I’m sure you have your reasons.”
“Do you often tease others?” She glanced at me, waiting for a reaction. I was careful not to give one.
“No,” I lied. “Let’s do some archery.”
Her eyes sparkled. “This way.” She waved her hand, gesturing for me to follow her. The bees buzzed in and out of pink and purple bells and landed on the soft petals, pulling them down to the grass.
The grasses were taller the farther we ventured from the clay houses. Children ran, playing in the meadow that stretched out into the narrow trees. They giggled as girls made daisy chains, and the boys pretend-fought using make-believe swords of twigs.
“It’s up here,” Daisy said.
I followed her past the children. I stared up at the tops of trees. We were close to the entrance back into the forest, which surrounded the meadow on all four sides.
There was a shallow ditch ahead, and next to it were bows that hung from a low branch of a tree shadowing over us. Daisy grabbed a few arrows, then handed them to me.
She spoke as she shot the arrow, which went straight and true through the air, and hit her target with ease. My bow was made from flexible bamboo. Symbols had been carved into Daisy’s bow. Mine was plain.
“What do they mean?” I asked.
She ran her finger along the grooves in the wood. She landed on one. “This one is three stars. It marks my first hunt. I was seven,” she explained proudly. She then dragged her finger down to a bear. “This one represents my father. He died when I was young. He was protective, like a bear, so I had him engraved in so I could carry his strength with me on each hunt.” Her eyes glossed over. “Then this one,” she said, finally landing on a beautiful lily, “is the flower of my ancestors. I carry their spirit with me, taking guidance from their infinite wisdom. All of these make me a better hunter.”
The part about her ancestral roots struck a chord with me. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling closer to home than I had felt since arriving here.
“Can I have a symbol on mine?”
“Of course! Once you complete your first hunt, which I know you will do so well,” she said with praise.
My jaw dropped a little. “Oh, I didn’t expect to keep it.”
She shrugged lightheartedly. “Why not? You may need it. You have a long journey ahead of you.” Her eyes focused on the trees to the east. “Where are you heading anyway?”
“Inferis. It’s a small island.”
“Is your family there?”
I didn’t want to get into the confusion that was my family. “My mother is. So, are you going to teach me how to hunt before I need to leave, or are we going to wait for the sun to set?” I asked, noticing the orange glow had dipped below the trees.
She cracked a smile. “Absolutely. Try having a go. Aim at the tree trunk there.” She pointed at one not too far away.
I breathed slowly. The string was tight and the arrow pliant. I pulled back but started too strong. My arrow flew past my target and disappeared into the undergrowth.
“Here.” Daisy took my bow to show me how to do it, but a voice sounded behind us.
“Having fun?”
It was Birch. Finally, we could leave for Woodbarrow, although a small part of me relished the idea of staying another day. Still, my kingdom needed me, and I needed it. I felt shaky at the thought of the journey ahead.
“Calm,” Birch said and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her presence soothed me into my previous state. She must have sensed my worry. It was always running through me; I felt as if I was on edge constantly and I was used to it. Sometimes it was really bad, other times my anxiety felt set to medium.
“I will teach you to manage your anxious thoughts and worries.”
“I don’t think we have much time.”
She arched an eyebrow. “There is always time for healing.”
I turned my head and smiled at Daisy, who looked disappointed.
“Another time?” I asked, knowing there wouldn’t be one.
“Sure.” She looked up at the darkening sky. “Be careful. The black-spotted lizards are out at this time.”
Birch handed me a pair of brown pants and a loose-fitted white top, both made from cotton. “Muse made them for you. She is an excellent seamstress. She makes clothes for all of us here.” She looked down at my tattered dress. “Wear them tomorrow. I’ll get us swords for the morning.”
“We’re not leaving now?”
“We stand a better chance when we can see what’s around us. I want you to relax this evening. To not be so focused on what is next and to be present in the moment with us.”
“Okay.” I said, unsure on how to relax. It wasn’t something I did much.
Daisy sighed, drawing our attention to her. “Will you at least come to the campfire with us? We tell fun stories.”
A smile curled my lips upward. “Fine. Just for an hour.”
After we got back from the campfire, the smoke from it lingering on my dress and in my lungs, Birch and I found a patch of grass under the light of a flickering lit torch. She had brought some tea made from herbs with her and placed mine on the ground. She drank hers, the glanced at me. “Drink.”
I nodded, then brought the clay cup to my lips. A herbal, aromatic smell filled my nostrils. It tasted strong, with a mix of floral and spicy.
She crossed her legs, closed her eyes, then breathed in deeply. “I want you to do the same as me.” She said slowly. “Close your eyes, and breathe in slowly, but deeply. Then, hold your breath for only a couple of seconds, and exhale.”
I tried, but as I breathed deeper, I felt more panicked than before. I held my breath but felt a lump in my throat.
“It’s normal to feel more anxious at first. Keep doing it.”
After a minute of breathing deeply, I felt lightheaded, as if I’d taken one of Morgana’s capsules. Birch taught me different techniques that night, on focusing on the present and noticing the feel of the grass and the smells in the air. To not try to escape my thoughts, but instead simply notice them, then decide not to react to them.
I wasn’t healed, but I was definitely closer than I had been before entering the forest and meeting the elves.
TWELVE
It was a long trek through the forest to Woodbarrow, but if I could find a ship and crew, I could make it across the sea and to Inferis. I wasn’t sure how I was going to pull it off, but my faith kept me going.
The journey had exhausted my energy, and I was glad for the good night’s sleep before we left in the early hours of the morning.
“Are there many sailors?”
“Not too many. Mainly, there are small boats, and crossing the waters in one would be too dangerous.”
“The mercreatures.” I sighed. “They will drag me into their depths if I’m on anything not sturdier than a ship.”
“You could look to find a pirate.” She cut our way through the suffocating undergrowth, making a path through the dense trees. “We do not usually mingle with pirates, or any sorcerer for that matter, but you could find one there. It is close to water, after all.”
I narrowed my gaze. “Of course pirates are sorcerers. I don’t know why I had thought they wouldn’t be. I guess I always put them in a class of their own, like fae or elves.”
Her smile fell into a frown. “Pirates pillage and let their greed and gluttony keep them upon the seas instead of settling onto land.” Her nose scrunched up. “Be careful
when making a deal with them. They can become violent if an agreement is not kept. We hear all sorts of stories from when Star comes back from venturing to town for supplies.”
“Perhaps, but they helped me. Saved me,” I replied, defending them. “They may drink and gamble, but everyone needs a vice.” I was surprised at the words coming out of my mouth. I didn’t recognize them as my own, but they were reasonable. I guessed I held more gratitude in my heart for my saviors than I had anticipated.
She raised her finger but lowered her hand quickly. Acceptance swept her features. “I suppose you have a point.” She looked ahead as the forest thinned. Ancient trees bled into narrower, shorter ones. The overgrowth grew closer to the ground, making way for a cleaner path. We stepped over uneven roots that sprouted up through the mossy mattress. “We are close.”
Slices of light shone through branches. Bugs scampered away as we stepped out onto a dirt road that weaved down through fields to civilization. A sign reading “Forest of Tranquillium” rotted against a large trunk. A flock of birds took off nearby, forcing my attention upward and making leaves dance down to the sun-bleached ground.
I wiped beads of sweat from my forehead. “It’s hot.”
She didn’t seem bothered by the heat or humidity. “Star said we must follow this path down and then turn to the right and walk until we see houses.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I’m surprised he offered to help at all.”
“He’s a good man.” Her tone was clipped. I decided to relax on any more topics that could cause offence. It had been a long day for us both.
“So… is there a Mr. Birch?”
She scratched at her arm with her long fingernails, where a bug bite had surfaced, then blew out a long exhale. “No. I have devoted myself to my tribe.”
“Don’t you want to be loved?” I questioned.
“I am by my people. Star also devotes his life to us, swearing a vow of chastity so we don’t put the need of the one person we love before the need of everyone else.”
The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset Page 9