“My friend says that Niya could give the gift back if she chose. Do you know what she might accept in trade?” I ask.
The simple question is my sole purpose in meeting the sprite today.She will tell me, and I will provide it, whatever it is.
“No trade,” she says simply, “We go.”
She starts pulling me deeper into the forest and I dig my heels into the dirt. The sprite points north, the frustration she feels evident on her face.
“I can’t leave the others,” I explain, “What do you mean no trade?”
“Sa Tha’haynah,” she says, tugging my arm.Take the old blood.
“You can’t take me there now. I’ll meet you there before midday. I’ll try to come alone, but the others may be nearby—”
“Shivaria!” Awri yells.
“I’m coming!” I yell over my shoulder and when I turn back, Tig is gone.
Awri is practically seething when I emerge from the brush and what I have to say to her is nearly stuck in my throat.
“Don’t get too upset,” I begin, “you’ll need a little of that when I tell you where we’re going.”
“We are goingbackto the palace,” Awri says forcefully while Riah picks at the dirt under her nails.
“We are going to see Niya,” I correct.
“There is no veil in Terr in which I will allow you anywhere near that naiad again. Xey may have bargained for your life but a fea can still hold a grudge and youstabbedher, Shivaria.”
“Youstabbedher?!” Riah shouts.
“Thank you for joining the conversation,” I quip. “Yes, Istabbedher, because she was trying todrownme.”
“I’d listen to Awri,” Riah says, eyes wide, “Naiads are nasty business when they’re angry.”
“So am I,” I reply, swinging up into my saddle. “I’m going with or without you, but either way I’m not coming back until she restores the general’s gift.”
We ride in silence, Riah’s hand loose at her side where I imagine she would have normally worn a sword, if I’d given her proper warning as to what the day would entail. Awri won’t meet my eyes, and I don’t blame her. I have abused the trust she placed in me, using it to get what I wanted without including her in the decision. I’m a hisht friend, and the sooner she realizesit the better.
I recognize the old camp where we stopped for lunch the day I ran after the boar. The river is just up ahead, and I need to go alone to be sure of Tig’s help.
“Wait here,” I say. Only to stop my mount five paces into the brush when Awri and Riah follow after me. I open my mouth to protest and Awri cuts me off.
“Sinceyourefuse to have a civil conversation, I won’t bother explaining whyIrefuse to simply let you wander off into Niya’s territory, again.”
I open my mouth to argue with the female when I hear the sprites. It’s not the musical laughter I’m accustomed to, this is a chilling guttural fury, the likes of which I’ve never witnessed from the sisters.
My head whips toward the sound and I click my tongue until my mare is flying through the forest and I’m dodging low hanging branches to stay astride. I jump off my mount before the beast comes to a full stop, prepared to defend the sprites from the naiad, or anything else they’ve come upon.
The sisters don’t break from their aggression when Riah and Awri burst into the clearing behind me. I’m shocked to find Tig straddling a lovely fea with long, billowing sea moss hair. Her green eyes glint like brilliant emeralds in the sunlight breaking through the thick canopy above. Her lip quivers as Eon tugs at her hair, teeth bared in a ferocious snarl.
“Tha’haynah vathai,”Tig says angrily, pointing to me.
The strange fea wails mournfully reaching a hand toward me in pleading.
“Stars,” Awri gasps, “Niya.”
Niya? Certainly not the version I met in the river.
“Meh’a!” the naiad yells, “Meh’a!”
