I know you have a plan. And when you make up your mind, no one can change it. You’re the most stubborn person I know. If you succeed in becoming a dreki, I will help you. If you change your mind, I’ll support you in that way too. No one has gotten out of becoming a dreki without punishment though. But no one is as clever as you are.
If you have any doubt about the trade, please look into it. I have heard how Berine can be used against us…”
“Your rest is uneasy.”
I startled, jumping to my feet, an ice dagger materializing within a blink. The note fluttered to the ground, momentarily forgotten. I wildly searched for the source of the voice, but no person appeared. My eyes narrowed, combing through early morning shadows of ancient trees.
The trunk of a tree shimmered, then moved toward me. I stilled as I took in the sight. A woman with skin like flaking bark slowly glided toward me. Her hair swayed in a wild tangle of silky leaves and supple branches. Her amused eyes gleamed a rich golden brown.
“My name is Bex. I watched over you last night when you emerged in distress.” She eyed me thoughtfully as my surprise turned to outright curiosity.
“I’m Rue. I… thank you. I hope I didn’t wake you.” I winced. Do trees sleep? Was I in her living room?
She chuckled, her trunk shifting into a curvaceous female form.
“You’re a forest nymph aren’t you? Were you the one who helped me yesterday with the hamadryad?”
She nodded. “I did. And yes, I am a dryad. My sisters and I guard this grove.” Her leaves rustled with a casual gesture to our surroundings. Her mesmerizing gaze, rich like damp soil, landed back on me. “What haunts you, Rue?”
I shifted on my feet. Her question and direct eye contact peeled back my layers like her shaves of bark. I studied her. She had gone out of her way to protect me, and nothing about her screamed “threat” at the moment. I chose to answer herquestion, if for no other reason than to stay in her good graces. Maybe she would help get me out of the forest. A soft chuckle escaped me, brushing off her concern. “Things best forgotten.”
“Hmm.” Bex glided around me. “And where are you headed?”
“Lyrae. I got turned around after an earthquake. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Bex smiled. “I can help you through these woods. They are not all filled with kind nymphs. You would do well to remember that. Let me know when you are ready to depart.” I picked up Delah’s note and started forward. Bex moved along the forest floor with unnatural grace. I assumed a tree would possess jerkier movements. Dryads were full of surprises.
I had no idea how large this forest was, and would have found myself continually turned around since the forest’s canopy blotted out the overhead sky. We traveled in a comfortable silence. Flowers as wide and deep as soup pots swayed on their top-heavy stalks. The smell of jasmine and honeysuckle mingled with decaying leaves. Vines outstretched before my eyes, grabbing on to tree limbs as though sentient, following us. Perhaps they were.
Bex hummed a tune that attracted small birds with jewel-toned feathers. Their iridescent chests soared through the air like shooting stars made of delicate rainbows. Throughout our journey, Bex would lean over and pick some berries or mushrooms, adding them to a hole in her trunk.
After several hours, we stopped to eat. Bex unveiled her collection of foodie treasures. I gaped at the spread.
Bex laughed, causing her leaves to flutter. “Of course I have no need for food, these are all for you. I hardly ever see females in this part of the forest. It’s always heavy-footed men with rank smells.” I hid my smirk behind my hand, imagining theBerine suppliers from the Rivellan Wood and how they fit her description.
Grateful for the fleshy mushrooms and juicy berries, I ate them alongside a small bit of cheese. I lay back, reaching into my pocket for a hard candy out of habit.
“Bex, what do you know about the earthquakes?”
“They are new to us, as they likely are to you. I do know that the cause of them is in response to the veil…” She trailed off, offering nothing more.
I puzzled at that. The darkness of Maripol hadn’t seemed to have reached Yarit, but it made sense that the veil would be heavier here if the rebels staked their claim in this land. I finished my candy, standing.
“You’ll make it to Lyrae by late afternoon. It isn’t far off.” Bex gestured to the east.
I packed up my things and mounted my horse. Excitement bubbled within me. “Lead the way.”
We trotted on through the green-tinged light of the forest. Wildflowers increased in number the closer we got to the forest’s edge. Bright-blue cornflowers and yellow goldenrods carpeted the wood. Bees and butterflies danced among them.
I pulled out the note from Delah, now crumpled. I carefully smoothed it out, and picked up where I had left off:
I have heard about how Berine can be used against us. It’s well known that we need it to bind to the magic in our bodies, preventing us from losing our affinities, but it can also be used in the draining of magic. At this point, I am not convinced anyone should be ingesting Berine.
From my experiments with Glint, I firmly believe Glint is a form of refined Berine. It is used purposely to drain magic, which eventually kills the person. I’ve been studying raw Berine and refined Glint to find an antidote for it. Be careful Rue. Keep investigating. The king may not be the person we’ve believed him to be. You’re all the family I have.
Delah
I stared at the page. Berine kept Halumans strong. Berine saved our people. I reread the letter again. And again. Delah should know what she was talking about. But she was also young, and enough people sharing the same rumors could sway her. I refused to believe her concerns. I couldn’t. It was treason. I fisted the note, shoving it back into my pocket. She almost sounded like the damn rebel general.
