CHAPTER THREE
Wynn
WYNN PULLED ALL THE PETALS off a flower. They floated in the air for a moment, before settling in her lap and on her bare foot. The sunlight caught the edges of the petals and made them glow with an iridescent light. She liked watching them twirl and sparkle as they fell into the sand. When they hit the ground, a faint ring of glittering light spread out through the sand, like a ripple in a pool. She pushed the sand with her toe to watch the light spread across the path in front of her. The sunlight felt pleasantly warm on her shoulders. The soft breeze pushed her hair away from her cheek. The sound of chimes surrounded her, filling the garden with music.
It was all very pretty, and it was very nice to be outside. But this was as lonely as sitting in her room all day, and she was worried about her brother. Still, she promised Elric she’d wait for him.
“You just have to wait,” she mumbled to herself, repeating a phrase her mother had repeated to her over and over when she was younger.
She hated waiting.
But she made a promise, and Elric would be back soon.
Wynn swiped her hand over the gritty sand of the path and made a pattern watching the glitter in the sand swirl and loop as it spread outward. The trails of light faded, and she reached out to make another one. Just then, she heard a hissing sound behind her, and turned to look over her shoulder. Thick rosebushes created a blanket of flowers that draped to the ground and hid the shadows beneath them.
Squinting, Wynn pushed herself up and stepped closer to the bush as she brushed her dirty hands off on her snowy white skirts. Something rustled. She reached down to the edge of the bush and grasped a low tangle of the rose branches. One of the thorns pierced her thumb, and she drew her hand back. More carefully this time, she reached out and lifted the untamed roses.
A fat black hen rushed out, flapping her brown-streaked feathers.
“Mildred!” Wynn’s heart leaped. She had missed her hen so much. Mildred was her best friend. Wynn trotted over to catch up to the hen, but Mildred hopped just out of reach toward the edge of the garden.
Now Wynn felt very happy. Mildred could stay with her and play until Elric came back. Mildred was good at keeping her company, and pecking bugs, and eating, but also keeping her company. Wynn bent down. “Mildred, come here.”
The bird stumbled, letting one wing flop listlessly on the ground. She wasn’t making her usual clucking noises. Something was very wrong with her. Mildred liked to talk.
“What’s wrong?” Wynn hurried closer to the hen, but Mildred ran away, her wing dragging in the sand of the garden path. “You are hurt?”
A sick feeling rose in Wynn’s tummy. Mildred was a good chicken. She had to help her. “Mildred, come here!” Wynn demanded, her voice cracking as she chased after her hen. Mildred darted away into fields of tall grasses beyond the edges of the garden. Wynn tried to trill “Mill-ee-ee-ee” the way Elric did so Mildred would come, but she couldn’t make the sounds right.
Wynn paused at the edge of the garden. She looked behind her. Elric would be angry that she didn’t wait, but he’d understand that she had to help Mildred. He loved the hen too. When she caught Mildred, she would bring her along to go to find him. Elric would know what to do to help her.
With one shoe and one bare foot, Wynn crossed through the tall stone towers and sprinted into the fields that surrounded the palace. She ran as fast as she could, but no matter what she did, Mildred raced ahead of her.
“Come back!” Wynn screamed. Mildred was fleeing as if she were very scared. Her head flopped to the side, and her wing looked broken.
Wynn’s chest burned. She was tired, but she wouldn’t stop running. She had to catch Mildred. She had to help her. She didn’t want Mildred to look the way her mother had when she found her after the storm and Wynn knew she was gone forever.
Mildred was the only thing she had from home.
Wynn grabbed her silky skirts. The material slipped in her fingers as she lifted the skirts away from her feet. Every sharp little stone and scratchy blade of grass cut into the underside of her bare foot, but that didn’t matter. She had to reach her Mildred.
Just ahead, the swirling colors of the queen’s magic shield rose up. It stood over her like a great wall. Beyond the twisting light of the shield, she could see the heavy branches of the edge of the Nightfell Wood.
Scary things lived in there. Scary things that would eat Mildred.
“Mildred, stop!” Wynn screamed. “No running!”
The hen looked back at her. She fell to her side and wriggled in the dirt. Wynn was almost caught up to her.
But then Mildred popped up and darted through the shield into the shadows on the other side.
“No!” Wynn shouted. Tears streaked down her face. They felt hot on her cheeks as she panted for breath. She wanted her hen back. It was dangerous out in the Nightfell Wood. Bad things lived there. She couldn’t cross through the shield to follow her.
The queen had told her to never come here. She needed help.
Wynn turned around, looking frantically for anyone who could help her. She was completely alone. No one could save Mildred but her.
She swiped the back of her hand under her nose. Mildred had saved her once. Wynn could not leave her.
Wynn hesitantly reached out to touch the shield, but felt nothing. Her hand passed right through it as the swirling colors spilled over her palm like flowing water. She took another step closer. The light and color slid up her outstretched arm, but she still couldn’t feel it. Going through would be easy.
Wynn took a deep breath and held it, shutting her eyes tight as she marched forward. She counted eight steps, then opened her eyes and took a deep breath. The shield stood behind her, but instead of being filled with beautiful colors, it looked like a storm-gray sky filled with dark clouds. Wynn couldn’t see the colors of the fairy realm on the other side of the smoky shield anymore. Everything in the fairy realm looked gray. The air felt cooler here in the shadows of the dark trees. Wynn shivered.
The branches above her reached close to the shield like skeleton fingers. Leaves rustled in the wind. Sounds seemed sharper and hushed at the same time. Wynn didn’t want to go any deeper into the woods.
Just ahead in a small clearing, Mildred lay still on her side. Her head flopped in the dirt and her bright red comb reminded Wynn of a pool of blood.
“Mildred!” She ran to the hen. For the first time Mildred didn’t run away.
She looked dead.
Wynn fell to her knees and scooped up the hen. “You are safe, you are safe,” she murmured. She couldn’t concentrate enough to find different words, so she repeated the same ones over and over. “You are safe.”
The urge to cry choked her. “We need to go home now, Mildred.”
Wynn carried the hen very carefully in her arms and turned toward the shield. She had to take Mildred and find Elric. He would know how to help. She hoped it wasn’t too late.
A strange hissing sound came from Mildred’s chest, and she opened her eyes. They flashed bright red and her head stretched forward, her fat body seeming to melt and pull into a long, thin line.
Wynn screamed as Mildred’s soft feathers disappeared and scales appeared in their place. Wynn’s body froze up and she couldn’t move. Mildred’s head curved around and formed into a serpent with spines running down its twisted back. The serpent clutched a dark feather in its horrible mouth. It snapped, trying to bite her. The light gleamed on sharp fangs as the feather fluttered to the ground.
Wynn forced her body to move, and threw the snake as hard as she could at the trees and ran toward the shield. It slithered after her through the grass with a sound like the rattling of bones. Wynn glanced over her shoulder. The snake was gaining on her. Suddenly she crashed into something, hard.
She tumbled to the ground, then picked herself up, thinking she had run into a tree. No. The only thing in front of her was the shield. She reached her hand out the way she did before, but
instead of passing through the smoky gray shield, her fingers and knuckles crumpled against a hard force, shooting pain up her arm. The stormy clouds felt like they were made of stone.
The rattle and hiss grew louder.
Wynn jumped to her feet and picked up a rock and threw it at the snake. She missed, but the snake had to dodge.
“Help!” she screamed, pounding on the shield with her palm.
The snake lunged again and Wynn had to spring away. It hit the shield where she was standing, then slid toward her along the edge. Wynn backed away from the shield. The serpent slithered in front of her with the shield behind it. She had only one way she could go, toward the dark trees. The heavy leaves of the branches loomed over her head like thunderclouds.
The snake bared its fangs. Its eyes glowed brighter red, and Wynn thought she could hear the echo of a dark and cruel laugh on the wind.
She ran.
Dashing into the shadows of the branches, she ran as fast as she could without looking back. She stumbled and scrambled over knotted tree roots. Whip-like branches tore at her dress and slapped against her arms.
“Help!” she called again, but the sound barely came out of her throat.
The toe of her shoe caught on something and she fell forward in a heap. Her cheek hit the ground and she felt the blow through her jaw and neck. Slimy leaves clung to her face as she rolled over. She curled her arms in toward her chest.
Backing up against a tree, she tried to push herself up, but slipped on the leaves under her feet.
The snake slithered over the curling tree roots. Its eyes narrowed and it seemed to grin. It rattled the spines along its back again as its long, forked tongue darted out.
“Go away!” Wynn shouted at it. She picked herself up, and grabbed a nearby branch. She swung the branch at the serpent, and it hesitated.
She was all alone. No one could help her now.
A loud squawk filled the clearing and a furious ball of dark feathers charged forward.
It was the real Mildred! At least, she thought it was her. Maybe this was a monster too. Wynn’s heart thudded as the chicken’s white legs slashed out at the serpent. Her comb flushed dark red, and her fiery eyes blazed as her sharp beak pecked at the serpent’s head. Wynn’s hen was fighting to save her.
The serpent hissed and turned to strike Mildred, but Mildred was too quick. She stamped on the beast, tearing at it with sharp claws. Then, with a furious squawk, she pecked it right in the eye.
It let out a terrible hiss of pain. Wynn jumped forward with her stick and bashed the snake hard on the head. She hit it again and again while Mildred clawed and scratched its twisting body.
Slowly the twisting stopped.
“Come, Mildred, quickly!” Wynn shook and ran away as fast as she could. Mildred followed at her heels, clucking and chattering at her the whole way. Wynn didn’t know if the creature was dead. She didn’t want to take a chance.
Out of breath, she stopped at the bank of a dried creek and placed a hand on her chest.
“Mildred?” she asked cautiously. The hen fluffed up the feathers of her chest as if she were deeply offended by Wynn’s tone, then snuggled down on top of Wynn’s bare foot. She let out an exhausted coo, and her eyes drooped.
Wynn knelt down and cautiously clapped a sharp two claps. Mildred repeated the sound with two crisp clucks. Elric taught her that trick.
“It’s you,” Wynn said, and scooped up her hen. She buried her face in Mildred’s feathers as the hen affectionately pecked at the tips of her hair. This was her hen. She knew it. “Mildred, you saved me.”
Awwwwwwk, Mildred cooed. Tut, tut, tut.
Wynn tucked Mildred under her arm, glad to have her safe where she belonged.
“We have to go home.” Wynn looked up. The canopy of dark leaves towered above her so thick, she couldn’t see the sky. She couldn’t see the shield.
Wynn took a hesitant step one way. Paused, then took a step in another. All the trees looked the same. The chilly air settled over her.
“Mildred, go home,” Wynn said as she gently placed Mildred on the ground. Mildred always knew which way to go.
But Mildred just cuddled close to her leg again and didn’t move, glancing warily at the trees.
Wynn scooped her up again and peered into the dark shadows that surrounded them through the thick trees.
They were lost in the Nightfell Wood.
CHAPTER FOUR
Elric
ELRIC RAN AS FAST AS he could across the western fields toward the magic shield, both excited and terrified at the prospect of seeing a real battle. Zephyr flew beside him, stirring a strong breeze at their backs. Elric glanced back at the great tree and gardens. His steps slowed as he had a sudden bad feeling that something was very wrong.
“Why did you stop?” Zephyr floated up ahead.
“This could be dangerous, and I should be looking out for my sister. Master Elk told me to get her to her room right away,” Elric said, turning back toward the garden where he’d left Wynn. Nothing was more important to him than her.
Zephyr swooped in front of him on a strong gust of wind. He deliberately floated a few feet in the air right in front of Elric, blocking his view of the palace. The fairy crossed his arms. “Master Elk told me to get you,” Zephyr said with a serious expression. Zephyr never wore a serious expression. Something was wrong here. Wynn had left the palace to warn him about something—something about letting the Grendel see him. He had a funny feeling in his gut, and he couldn’t ignore it.
“What is really going on?” Elric demanded. “You fly around as a breeze all day and hear everything. Wynn was upset about something. What is it?”
Zephyr rubbed the back of his neck, shifting the raven feathers by his ear. “I overheard Raven Frostrain speaking with Master Elk this morning.”
“And?” Elric’s heart pounded.
“Lord Raven believes that there is a spy within the dome. He said the Grendel knows the queen has taken in another Otherworld child, and he told Master Elk to dangle you out near the shield so the Grendel thinks it is you.” Zephyr looked ashamed. “They won’t actually let you fight. They just want the Grendel to believe you are the queen’s new child.”
“And not Wynn,” Elric said. The twisted feeling in his stomach hardened and turned into a rock in his middle. He turned back toward the shield.
“You aren’t really in danger,” Zephyr said. “The fighting lessons aren’t serious. The queen wouldn’t let you come to harm.”
“Death is not a game.” Elric had come too close to it before.
Zephyr tucked his head in a shamed bow. “Look, I like you, Prince Elric. I’m just doing what I was told.”
“And allowing me to be a sacrifice,” he said.
Zephyr didn’t have an answer.
Elric felt as if his heart had slowed to a cold and heavy thrum he could feel in his face and shaking hands. It made sense. As terrible as it was to find out he was a sacrificial lamb, it made sense. His thoughts drifted back to a warm night long ago in the Otherworld when he had been tending his sheep.
He knew a wolf was close. He could feel the beast stalking his flock, and when he saw movement in the woods, he went toward it with his sling in hand. He knew the wolf could attack him at any time, but he had a weapon then, and he knew a wild creature would be scared of him.
Now he had nothing. He had no power in this world, no magic, a mortal life, and enemies who would not be afraid of him. Elric let out a slow breath, pushing the air from his lungs until the lack of it hurt.
By filling this role, he could hide his sister and protect her. No wonder Master Elk had hurried to make sure she was out of sight as quickly as possible. And now was his chance to fool the Grendel and his minions. He could keep her safe. He lifted his chest, drawing in a fortifying breath. “Take me to Master Elk.”
Shouts arose from the far side of the hill. Elric froze. A blood-chilling howl echoed in the distance. Zephyr’s expression darkened as he r
ose a few feet in the air. Elric stepped forward, ready for the role he had to play.
There was a rustling in front of them. The dark ears of a red fox peeked over the rippling grasses. She reached a patch of low clover, then collapsed, falling to her side as if she had been struck with a club. Glimmering silver mist streamed from her shoulder.
“Fox?” Zephyr looked as stricken as he watched the other fairy collapse in the clover.
“Hurry!” Elric yelled to Zephyr as he rushed forward. “Fox, are you all right?” He knelt beside the wounded fox lying in a heap of red fur in the clover. His hands shook as he reached toward her.
In a flash, the fox transformed into a young fairy warrior. Silver light bled from the gash in her shoulder.
“It’s not safe for the prince. Don’t come closer. Go back!” she shouted, holding her bleeding arm.
“You’re wounded.” Elric couldn’t hide the disbelief in his voice. Fox Snowsong was one of the elite guard. Her shoulder had been torn open. Elric looked for something to tie off the wound. He knew how to stop blood. But he didn’t know how to heal a fairy. Magic flowed through their veins instead of blood.
“Zephyr, get over here!” Elric shouted at his friend. “She’s hurt. You have to use your magic to heal her.”
Zephyr still looked stunned. “But I am not good at healing. Even with Master Elk’s lessons, I’m hopeless.”
“There is no other choice, so do it!” Elric shouted. He reached up and pulled Zephyr down next to him. “You were working on it right before I left the arena.”
Fox’s long red braid swung behind her as she cried out and fell back down into the clover. Zephyr came to her side, he stared at his hands, slowly they began to glow. Sweat beaded on the fairy’s brow as he reached through the air. He caught the silvery light pouring from her shoulder, and pushed it back toward the wound.
“Good work. Keep trying.” Elric moved back to give him room.
Fox hissed in a breath, but did not struggle as Zephyr attempted to heal her. “There’s a reaper trying to break through the shield,” she said. Fox swiped a hand over her brow, pushing aside her fringe of bangs. Silver light glittered along her brow as well. “It’s throwing itself against the shield over and over. I’ve never seen one so aggressive. It won’t stop fighting. It’s already formed a crack, and it may break through. Elk and I went through the shield to try to fend it off. It was too strong. Elk is still fighting it.”
Into the Nightfell Wood Page 3