“And that’s why they wanted you,” Finn commented.
Anna swallowed audibly, then nodded. “Yes, more specifically because of my ancestors’ associations with divination. It was said they could see into the gray.”
Finn nodded, remembering her conversation with the Travelers, what seemed like months ago. “They called you the Gray Lady.”
Anna met Finn’s eyes for a brief moment, then looked down at her hands resting in her lap. “I’m not entirely sure what they did to me once we reached their camp,” she explained. “I was in some sort of trance, lost in a gray place of never-ending mazes. Most of the time I was in stone corridors that all looked the same.”
Anna went silent. Finn sensed that now was not the time for her to speak, so instead she waited patiently.
Eventually Anna looked up again. “I’ve been going to that place in my dreams ever since. Sometimes I’m in the stone corridors, or sometimes in a misty forest. It’s gotten to the point where I’m having difficulty distinguishing what I see in front of me from what I see behind my eyelids.”
“Why would they put you there?” Kai interrupted, sounding almost angry. “What was the point?”
Anna glared at him. “They wanted to find the Archtree, to see if it even still stood. It was much faster for me to look for it than it would have been to physically scour the land.”
Finn held her breath at the mention of the Archtree. If the Travelers wanted to find it, perhaps it wasn’t just a regular tree, as Kai had suggested. Maybe her answers were nearer than she thought.
“Did you find it?” she asked, unable to contain herself.
Anna gave her a calculating look, then answered. “Yes, and you found me before the Travelers could scour all of my thoughts. Traveling through the gray place is different than traveling in the real world. The directions don’t match up. As far as I know, the Travelers still have no idea where the Archtree is.”
Finn’s heart began to beat more quickly. “So it’s real? You found it, and it’s the tree of legend, the one that can answer all of our questions?”
Anna narrowed her eyes at Finn. “Is the shroud of the Faie Queen real?”
Finn felt slightly deflated, she really didn’t want to give Anna any unnecessary information, but it seemed they were all in this together now. “I’m not sure. Iseult believes that it is. His people came in . . . contact with it near the end of the Faie war. Still, we are unsure of what it does.”
Anna sighed, as if resigning herself to the unwanted partnership with Finn. “There’s one more thing,” she added hesitantly.
Finn nodded for her to go on, glad to have the subject off the shroud. She wasn’t about to let Anna steal it when Iseult wanted it so badly, temporary partnership or no.
“Right before I woke with you hovering over me,” Anna began, making it clear that she hadn’t appreciated Finn’s presence in that moment, “I saw a woman. I’ve seen her before too, and she seems to recognize me. She’s always in a forest with many cloaked figures. They seem to almost float above the earth, else their gait is unnaturally fluid. The trees and brambles appear to move with them, never snagging at the fabric of their cloaks.”
Finn’s heart was beating quickly again. The words my little sparrow repeated in her brain. Where had she heard them before?
“Finn,” Anna began again, “I think I saw your mother.”
Still in his chair, Kai turned his upper body to Finn, his jaw slightly agape as if he knew the impact such information might have on her.
He was the only one. In that moment, Finn had no idea how she was supposed to feel. It made sense for her to have a mother, though since no one seemed to know where the Dair came from, she wouldn’t have been surprised if she didn’t.
“I’m sure you’re mistaken,” she replied calmly, doubting what Anna had actually seen.
Anna shook her head. “She looks so much like you, it’s eerie.”
“Perhaps it’s her sister,” Kai chimed in, but Anna shook her head again.
“You don’t understand,” she snapped, frustrated. “This woman has been in my head.” Her eyes met Finn’s. “I’ve felt what she feels for you. And-” she cut herself off.
Finn inhaled sharply as she realized she’d stopped breathing. Naoki jumped at the sound, then settled back into Finn’s lap contentedly. “And?” Finn pressed, feeling like she wanted to run out of the room and end the conversation right there.
Anna’s eyes gazed past her as if seeing something in the distance, though there was only wood planking behind her. “I-” she began, then cut herself off again. She took a deep breath, then bravely stated. “I think she’s dangerous. She’s looking for you, and letting nothing get in her path.”
Kai leaned forward in his chair, gazing at Anna. “What does she intend?”
Anna shook her head. “I don’t know. We . . . connected in the gray place, though really only our eyes met, but I feel like in that moment, she saw everything in my head. She wants to find Finn, but is hiding things from those who are with her. That’s all I can tell.”
Finn gathered Naoki in her arms and stood abruptly. “It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly, feeling panicked, yet determined. “Our plan remains the same. We will find the Archtree, and have all of the answers we need.” She turned to Kai. “Are we near?”
He nodded as he eyed her cautiously, as if waiting for her to burst into tears. “Judging by what I copied from Iseult’s map, we should reach the island within a day.”
Finn nodded, then turned her attention to Anna. “I do not know specifically what the Traveler’s did to you, but they spoke to me previously of the old blood returning to the land. I think these visions would have begun to accost you regardless of their interference.”
Anna’s face fell. “But how do I make it stop?”
Finn almost felt her face slipping into compassionate lines, then forced herself to harden. Anna did not deserve her compassion, even after the information she’d shared. “You don’t. It is a part of you. Just as I cannot stop myself from melting the skin from men’s bones, or from stirring up the earth to swallow creatures whole. These things are a part of who we are, and only we can deal with them. There is no help, save that which we give ourselves.”
Kai and Anna both seemed slightly stunned by Finn’s assertive display. Good. Turning from them, she confidently strode to the door, bracing Naoki against her with one arm as she opened it. The rain still drizzled outside, but rays of sunlight broke through the dense clouds in places, making the moisture glisten on the wood of the rough deck like broken glass.
She stepped outside, feeling strong, yet also like she might fold in on herself any moment. She closed the door behind her. Naoki chirped happily, wriggling out of Finn’s arms to perch on her shoulders.
Sativola and one of the other men were on deck checking over the damage caused by the storm. It seemed minimal, though Finn knew little about ships. The fact that they were still floating was enough for her.
She walked across the deck, then walked a little faster as she heard Anna’s cabin door open and shut behind her. She doubted it was Anna chasing after her, and she wasn’t ready to face any questions about her mother. She had no recollection of her mother. To Finn, she was just another person that left her as a tree for one hundred years.
Kai caught up to her shoulder a moment later, just as she’d reached the trap door that would lead down to her cabin. Deciding that she’d rather not continue their discussion in an enclosed space that would leave her nowhere else to run to, she veered from her path toward the railing that bordered the deck.
Kai followed and stood beside her as the rain drizzled on them both.
She gazed out at the now calm ocean, amazed at how quickly things had settled after such a violent storm. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said before he could say anything.
“I wasn’t going to ask,” he replied.
She turned her head, and raised an eyebrow at him. “Liar.”
/> He winked at her, then pointed out at the sky. “Take a look.”
She looked to where he pointed, and saw a weak little rainbow had formed on the distant horizon. Her eyes lingered on the faint arch, marveling at the soft hues.
She turned her head back to Kai with a look of bemusement. “I’ve never thought of you as a man that would appreciate rainbows.”
He smiled softly. “You speak as if you’ve known me for years.”
She laughed. “I’ve known you almost my entire life, at least, what I can remember of it.”
Still smiling, he turned his eyes back to the rainbow as the ship gently rocked. “I suppose that’s true.”
They both gazed off in silence for a long while. Finn had thought that she didn’t want to talk, but there was a question burning in the back of her mind. If they were going to be reaching the island tomorrow, she needed to know something, though she wasn’t sure why she needed to know it.
“What will you do after we find the tree?” she asked. “Will you still try to find the shroud?”
Finn wouldn’t let Kai or Anna take the shroud from Iseult, and she really didn’t like the idea of competing for it.
He shrugged. “I imagine I’ll return to Migris, or perhaps Port Ainfean. I’m sure I’ll find something to pass the time.”
“But Anna-” Finn began.
“Wants answers from the tree far more than she wants any shroud,” he finished for her.
Finn was at a loss for words. Finally she asked, “So once we find the Archtree, and Àed and Iseult, you’ll simply leave?”
He shrugged. “I said Anna wants the tree more than she wants the shroud. I would not be surprised if she still tries for the latter.”
“And what will you do when she tries?” Finn asked suspiciously.
Kai sighed and turned to Finn with a look of frustration.
Naoki chittered her beak at him, not liking that look aimed at her new mother.
Finn came to a sudden realization. “You haven’t thought any of this through, have you?”
Kai seemed to deflate. “Isn’t that quite obvious?”
Finn shrugged, jostling Naoki. “You always seem to have a plan.”
Kai laughed. “Well then you’re not very observant. I’ve been grasping at straws from a haystack ever since I met you.”
Finn smiled, glad she wasn’t the only one that had no idea what she was doing. “And which straw are you grasping at now?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her. “If I told you, you’d slap me.”
Finn shoved his shoulder playfully.
“About your mother-” Kai began, but Finn cut him off with a sharp look.
Unperturbed, Kai continued, “I was just going to say, don’t waste your question for the Archtree on her. If she left you as a tree for all those years, she doesn’t deserve it.”
Finn couldn’t restrain her smile. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
It was the truth. She didn’t want to find her people or her mother until she understood her true purpose. She wasn’t about to take the word of the Ceàrdaman on the subject, nor anyone else for that matter. Her gifts might point in the direction of her being merely a weapon, but the tree could tell her for sure.
Naoki began to snore on her shoulders as she and Kai continued to gaze out at the distant horizon. Despite the circumstances, Finn thought she rather liked being out at sea.
Bedelia lay in her bed, feeling about ready to die. Her illness had gotten worse since she and Óengus had set sail, along with a small crew of men. The bite on her leg was tender to the touch, and appeared infected. Her body was plagued with alternating bouts of shivering, and feeling like she’d been placed in a furnace.
She rolled the little glass vial across her palm, observing its dark contents in the lamplight. It had obviously been left for her in her room back at Maarav’s inn, but by whom? Maarav, Finn, and Óengus were the only ones that knew she was there, unless someone had seen her without her knowing. It was all just too suspicious since Maarav and Finn had disappeared at the same time. Perhaps someone had kidnapped the pair, or perhaps Maarav had run away with Finn. They didn’t seem an ideal match, but who knew?
Another wave of nausea wracked her entire body, not helped along by the sway of the ship. She clenched her fist around the little vial to keep from dropping it.
“You should probably drink that,” a voice said from across the room.
With only the dim light of the lamp, the corners of Bedelia’s cabin were left entirely in shadow. Even so, she had searched the room thoroughly upon entering, and had locked the door behind her.
“Keiren?” she questioned, recognizing her mistress’ voice, but not understanding how she came to be on the ship.
Keiren stepped into view until the lamp illuminated her soft features and long, fiery red hair. Her bright blue eyes sparkled by the light of the flame, full of secrets.
“What-” Bedelia began, but Keiren cut her off with the raise of her hand.
She stepped forward to sit on the bed beside Bedelia, smoothing her ornate, black dress and matching cloak beneath her. “I see you have failed in your task,” Kieren commented lightly.
Bedelia cringed. “I apologize. I did all that I could.”
Keiren smiled. “Yes, you did,” she replied, speaking like one would to a cherished pet, or perhaps a child. “You gained her trust, a trust that will likely prove useful in the future.”
“We’ll find her still,” Bedelia assured, attempting to sit up, then falling back to the bed as another wave of nausea and pain hit her. “Óengus will know how to track her,” she added through gritted teeth.
“Yes, you will find her, but only to observe. You are no longer going after the girl,” Keiren explained nonchalantly as she glanced around the room.
“But why-” Bedelia began, but was cut off once more.
“Your new task is to find my father before she does. There are too many forces at work, either hiding the girl from my sight, or stealing her away to point her in entirely new directions. My father knows this girl, as do many others. They are helping her. We must take away her support, making you her only option.”
Bedelia stared up at Keiren wide-eyed, unsure of what to say.
“I know you care for her,” Keiren stated bluntly. “She must be quite the enchantress to have swayed a heart like yours.”
Bedelia shook her head against her pillow as much as she was able. “I only seek to please you, my lady.”
Keiren shot Bedelia such a venomous look that she thought she might die on the spot, if she wasn’t dying already. “Lies do not become you,” she replied coolly, “and it matters not, as long as you remain loyal to me in the end.”
“You have my word,” Bedelia assured, feeling on the brink of tears, “as you have always.”
Keiren stood abruptly. “Good.” She walked toward the door. “The girl is on her way to a special island. You are in luck, as her ship has been delayed by storms and other nuisances. You should reach the island shortly before her, but you are to remain unseen, do you understand?”
Before Bedelia could reply, Keiren continued, “You are to wait there to intercept my father. He must not reach her . . . ” she trailed off, as if deep in thought. “And listen to Óengus,” she added suddenly. “He knows much more about the ways of subtle schemes than you, while you are the superior soldier.”
Bedelia nodded, not feeling like the superior anything.
Keiren put her hand on the door, then looked back over her shoulder. “Oh, and drink that tincture you’ve been fondling all evening. You’ve contracted a disease from that nasty bite on your leg. It may be too late to save you, but the liquid in the vial may at least prolong your life.”
With that, Keiren silently let herself out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Would she speak with Óengus next? Tell him what a failure Bedelia was?
Bedelia uncorked the vial still in her hand and stared down at the liquid before taking a swig. It didn�
�t really matter what Keiren told Óengus. He already knew every weakness Bedelia had to offer.
She lowered her head back to her pillow as the liquid seared a bitter line down her throat. She felt no immediate effects, and wondered if Keiren had lied to her, though why would she? Bedelia was on the verge of death either way.
As she waited to feel better, she thought about her new orders. Finn had spoken highly of her friends, and seemed to have unyielding faith in them. Now Bedelia was supposed to take them away, starting with Keiren’s father. She’d only heard her speak of him once or twice previously, and it was always with apathy in her tone. Keiren’s father had tried to limit his daughter’s powers, and that was something Keiren simply could not accept. She was destined for greatness, and no one, not even her own father, would stop her.
Bedelia rolled onto her side, knowing she should try to rest, but doubting it would happen. Was Keiren still on the ship? Maybe she could convince her of a different course of action.
Bedelia stood abruptly, then closed her eyes as she was overcome by dizziness. Her leg screamed at her, but she forced herself forward. She was vaguely aware of the fact that she smelled like an unmucked stable, but didn’t want to waste time scrubbing herself with the lidded basin of fresh water that sat near her bed.
She stumbled toward her door and groped in the dim lighting for the handle, then realized she wore only her underpinnings. Groaning in frustration, she left the door to struggle into some tan breeches and a loose, white cotton tunic, taking care as she slid the fabric over the dressing on her wound. With a sigh, she stumbled toward the door again and let herself out.
The journey to the deck above seemed to take ages. Her movements were sluggish, hinting that she really shouldn’t be moving at all, but she really wanted to speak with Keiren again before she left. There had to be something she could say. Surely she’d think of a brilliant monologue by the time she reached Óengus’ cabin.
She ascended the stairs to the deck, lifting an arm to shield her eyes from the sting of the sun. The cool, sea breeze made her already sweaty face feel sticky as it toyed with the unwashed clumps of her shoulder-length hair.
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