“Playing it safe?” Tristan barked a laugh. “Is that what I’m doing? Was it ‘safe’ when I followed you into those Gods-be-Damned woods? When I followed you as you ran straight after one of those creatures?”
“Tristan...”
“What do you want, Lis? What more can I do?”
Aloisia shrugged. “I’m not asking you to do more. I’m just asking you not to stop me when I jump.”
“No. I will not lose you to this.”
“And I will not lose Fynn to this!”
“I know.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know. The last thing I want is for him to hang, Lis. But I don’t want you to lose your life in this pursuit either.”
“The dangers I am running towards are very real. I know.” She reached out and took his hand in her own. “I am no fool, Tristan. My calling is running towards danger. I am a huntress. It’s what I do.”
“This is different,” he murmured.
“Only a little. Different prey. That’s all.”
He shook his head. “You’re wrong. Those things are not the prey. You are. That’s what scares me.”
“I’m sorry.” She clutched his fingers, her knuckles whitening. “I can’t stop. I won’t. I must see this through. For Fynn.”
“As you will.” Tristan slipped from her grasp. “Good night.”
Aloisia retreated, releasing the door, and watched him close it on her. She squeezed her eyes shut and rested her head against the wooden door. Had she made things better or worse by coming here? She wasn’t sure. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to step away, to keep going, foot over foot, until she found her way back out of the Temple.
The moon hung high above Littlewatch, its silver glow lighting Temple Green in an ethereal shimmer. Aloisia swiped away the tears which escaped as she strode to the mare and rode back to the guild. Regardless of Tristan’s concerns, she would keep pressing forwards.
For Fynn.
SEVENTEEN
ThetwistedbarebranchesoftheDeadWoodsgroanedinthehowlingwind.Aloisia’sdarkhairwhippedaroundherface,impairinghersight.Asshebrusheditback,shefoundherbraidshadunwound,andherbeadsgone.Onesolitarybeadremained:awoodenbeadwiththeruneteiuponit,hangingattheendofabraidwhichwashiddenbeneaththerestofherlocks.
Inky black shadows stretched out beneath the branches, shifting and gathering. Aloisia reached for her bow, for a dagger, for anything, but found herself unarmed. The shadows continued to swirl and form until a grotesque mockery of the human body stood before her.
“Blood,” it said in a deep, rasping voice.
Aloisia took a step back, panic surging through her.
“Blood is the undoing,” the creature said, lumbering towards her.
She skittered backwards, not daring to take her gaze off it for fear it would meld into the darkness.
“Blood will release him.” The monster tilted its head, as if to consider her. If it had eyes, she was sure it would be staring at her.
“Release who?” she asked. Her words caught in the gale, never reaching it.
“Blood will bind her.” The creature hobbled forth, its elongated arms reaching into the branches above, as if to support it.
“What does that mean?” Once again, the howling gusts blew away her words.
“Stop him,” a child-like voice sounded behind her, barely audible above the storm gathering overhead.
Aloisia turned to see a wisp, a distant smile crackling on its face.
“Save her,” the wisp said.
