Chapter 13
In times past, there was a great harmony between the folk. All was abundant, and everything was shared. When the Ancient Wars forced the folk to take sides, harmony became strife, and enmity was brewed like a rich, dark wine, aging into hatred.
—EXCHARIAS, SYLVAN POET
If she was to be up all night, she needed sleep. Thea threw her clothes off and fell into bed, fading into slumber as soon as she was under her covers. The next thing she knew, her door was crashing open.
“Get dressed,” Enora said as she rushed in, grabbing a shirt off the chair and tossing it onto the bed.
Thea rubbed her eyes. By the darkness outside her window, she judged that she’d slept later than she’d intended. “What’s going on?”
Enora’s voice shook with anger. “Skrattis. Near the Grotto. They came out of nowhere. Our pixie scouts say this could be the worst attack yet.”
Thea was on her feet in a second. “Why aren’t the blood trees dealing with them?”
“We’d all like to know,” Enora replied.
Thea grabbed the shirt and put it on. She rushed to her wardrobe for the rest of her clothes.
Cassia appeared in the doorway, her golden wings tucked to her back, her cheeks flushed as if she’d hurried to get ready. “I’ll fly ahead. Scout things out.”
As Thea turned, she glanced at her hearth.
A dark pile of clothing sat there—deep plum with gold stitching.
Tingles of shock went down her spine. She looked away, not wanting to draw her sisters’ attention there.
Another dress must have appeared while she’d slept.
A chill breeze curled through her bedchamber, reminding her that danger was seeking her out in the safest of places.
Scarhamm was the best-warded place in Thirstwood.
She still didn’t know why Damon was targeting her or why he wanted her to wear the dresses and attend his awful dance.
But she couldn’t assume he was acting alone.
What if the Skratti attack was a ruse to get them to leave the fortress unguarded?
“Stay here to guard the walls,” she told Cassia, knowing her younger sister would do what she asked. “If anything… strange approaches, use your ring and blast them with enough light to send them fleeing.”
A tense silence followed.
“You think there’s a threat to Scarhamm?” Enora demanded, stepping closer. “There aren’t enough scuccas left to be a real problem. As for the reports of silver trees, they are just figments of things that have no substance. Do you know something we don’t?”
Thea bit her lip. She wasn’t sure what threats they could be facing, and even thinking about telling Enora about the shadow realm made her throat tighten.
“I don’t like all these unknowns,” she said, frustration coming out as anger.
“I hate the idea of not being with you, but you have a point,” Cassia said, glancing at Enora for agreement. “We’ve underestimated threats before and nearly paid a steep price.”
Enora let out a long breath. “True. You should stay.”
Cassia lifted her hand to show the deceptively plain yellow gemstone. “If I see any scuccas, I’ll use my ring. I’ll head to the watchtower until you return.”
With a final worried look, Cassia swept out. But Enora remained, clearly intent on getting answers.
Thea grabbed her boots and sat on the edge of her bed to put them on, refusing to meet her sister’s eyes. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
“You can’t avoid my questions forever,” Enora muttered before stalking out.
Thea hated when Enora was angry with her, but she had no time to ruminate on it.
She strapped on weapons as fast as she could and rushed downstairs.
In a few minutes, she was heading out the gates along with a large group of Huntsmen.
The night sky was clear, but a north wind stung her cheeks.
The sound of many footsteps blending together was normally a comfort, but tonight, it somehow made her feel more alone.
Her secrets weighed down on her, dragging her toward the roots that she now knew could carry her to places she’d never imagined.
The clash of swords was audible before she saw the Skrattis through the trees. Huntsmen patrols in the area had already engaged with the enemy. The moon wasn’t full, but near enough to illuminate the sparsely forested area. Thea rushed into the clearing along with the others.
A Skratti stepped from behind a tree to greet her with a swing of his cudgel.
She ducked and came at him with her sword.
He turned to take the cut on his bare shoulder.
These particular Azpians seemed to take pride in not wearing armor, their scaly hides protective.
But she cut him deeply enough that blood shot out.
He merely laughed, dipping his head to block her next jab with a tusk.
He managed to push her toward the edge of the clearing.
She saw Enora’s pale head out of the corner of her eye, knowing her sister could hold her own but always feeling more comfortable when they were close. There were so many enemies.
Too many.
Backed against a tree, she dodged and felt the brush of a weapon against her hair. Senses heightened, she worked on avoiding the Skratti’s swipes. Suddenly, he screamed, his arms wheeling as he leaped back. A bird swooped down from above, its beak aimed at the Skratti’s neck. A crow?
More birds swept in, diving at the combatants. Shrieks and startled cries came from all over the clearing. The birds came fast, attacking and retreating.
With her attacker occupied, Thea moved in to deal a killing blow. But an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her toward the trees. She slammed her elbow into whoever had grabbed her, breaking free and spinning to face another enemy.
A familiar pair of dark eyes glared into hers. “Was that necessary?”
Damon!
Recovering from her moment of distraction, she shot a look at the clearing. The Skrattis were retreating, the crows chasing them as they fled. Relief tore through her to see Enora safe and very few injured Huntsmen on the field. She hoped none were dead. They’d been badly outnumbered this time.
But her blood still hummed with the need to fight. “I had that Skratti!” she said bitterly, turning back to Damon.
He stepped closer, his expression darkly skeptical. He looked out of place in a light gray velvet jacket that was clearly meant for the ballroom. Thea was startled to realize he was actually here, not just a spirit haunting her as he had at the Grotto. “He had you cornered.”
“I was waiting for a chance, which I would have found if you hadn’t hauled me away.”
He lifted his chin. “Your absence from the dance necessitated a trip. Imagine my shock watching you nearly bludgeoned by a goblin-made cudgel.” His frown was severe. “Is that really how you want to die?”
His assumption that she couldn’t defend herself was insulting. “What do you care, Shadow Stranger?”
He crossed his arms. “Still avoiding my name. I thought we’d made progress.”
Thea gave him a skeptical look. “Progress toward what?”
“Civility?”
“Politeness is overrated.” She looked up, noticing the shadowy shapes had gone. “Were those your birds?”
“No,” he said, deadpan. “By coincidence, a murder of crows swept in and targeted your enemies at the precise moment you needed help.”
“It must be nice to lie so blithely,” she observed, not hiding her annoyance.
He adjusted his cuffs. “You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, I suppose. Though I don’t trust your motives.”
His eyes cooled. “I thought you wanted answers. One of my father’s trees is near enough that we can travel by root. It won’t take a moment.” He offered his arm, the implication clear. If she wanted any more of his knowledge, she had to accompany him to the dance.
She took a step back. “I can’t leave without telling someone. They’ll worry.”
“What would you tell them?” he asked dryly.
She opened her mouth and closed it. He had a point. She couldn’t exactly tell them the truth. And she couldn’t lie.
He lifted one hand and made a gesture toward the trees. There was a rustling sound, and a root appeared at their feet. How can this stranger command anything in Thirstwood? Only the Sylvan king should be able to do that.
Thea looked over to where Enora’s hair reflected moonlight. Her head was turning side to side, as if she were searching, wondering where Thea had gone, maybe starting to worry.
A flash of light forced Thea to shield her eyes. She blinked to see a portal opening in front of her. Damon stepped toward it, holding out his hand.
“I will answer a question,” he promised. “More than one.”
Thea couldn’t refuse this offer. She needed answers to protect her family and home.
With one last guilty look at Enora, she went.