The girl looked back, offering a small smile. She paused, indecision flickering over her face, then ran to Greer, ignoring her grandfather’s protests.
“Food wasn’t the only thing that man traded his coat for,” she began in a whispered rush. “He asked for protection. He said he was in great danger. Grandfather doesn’t know, but I gave him my knife,” she admitted. “My iron knife,” she added meaningfully.
The older man reached them and pulled the girl away without another word.
Greer watched them leave before turning to her own journey. She could feel a small flicker of hope kindle inside her.
No matter what Elowen had done to bewitch him, Ellis knew he was in danger.
But now he had a weapon.
Now he was prepared to fight back.
37
When Greer finallyascended the crest, sweating and winded by her climb, she was surprised to find Noah Finn was not there.
She dropped her pack and peered over the land below with shielded eyes. So high up, she had an excellent view of the valley, but couldn’t see any sign of him. She glanced up the mountain behind her and saw only trees.
It seemed impossible for her to have beaten him.
She cupped her hands and shouted out his name. Her voice ricocheted off rocks and the ruins of Laird, but after the echoes died, the air fell still, her call unanswered.
Greer pulled out her canteen and took several swallows of water, wondering and waiting.
So far into the foothills, the sun felt closer here, but it was a cold, pale light that fell on her. Snow was coming. Greer could feel the storm’s approach with a dull ache in the middle of her bones. It was a big one, and she wouldn’t be surprised if, by morning, they were buried under layers of white.
As Greer took another drink, she studied the way the road snaked back and forth, quickly rising in elevation. Long ago, miners would have used it to haul their equipment and supplies up the mountainbefore returning with heavy carts of harvested ore. Greer didn’t doubt the hike would be exhausting, but one she should be more than capable of doing on her own.
Only…
She swallowed hard.
She had no idea of what to expect when she got to the mine. She’d assumed Finn would be with her, coaching and encouraging, lending a hand if necessary. Greer couldn’t imagine taking on Elowen without him.
Greer rubbed her hands over her arms in a flurry of adrenaline as apprehension and doubt set her skin to gooseflesh.
What was she doing?
What was she thinking?
The strangers had been right. This was a mad endeavor. One that would undoubtedly get her killed.
Greer looked over the valley again, searching for Finn. She paced across the ledge. She could wait, burning up precious hours of daylight, and they could go up together, the way it was supposed to happen. Or—
“Starling,” the voice came down from the mountainside, ringing and resonant.
Greer whipped around, but the only thing moving was a bank of clouds rolling in. The snow was closer than she’d thought.
“What are you waiting for, Starling?” Elowen called out with a surprising lightness. “Come find me. Come find your love.”
Greer’s jaw tensed so hard that her molars ground together. She knew Elowen wanted to bait her into doing something stupid and rash.
“I know you hear me,” Elowen went on. “You hear everything, don’t you, little half-wit? Why don’t you answer?” Her laughter sounded like the trickle of a brook, lilting and musical. “Answer me, Starling. Go on.”
Resolutely, Greer sat atop her pack. She sipped at the canteen again, staring forward as if taking in the view.
“Answer me!” Annoyance rumbled in Elowen’s voice. Its reverberations vibrated through Greer’s body, making her clavicles feel as though they would shake apart.
