We were all crowded together on a rocky outcropping, at the spot where the forest gave way to the foothills toward the southern edge of the forest. Beneath us stretched a large swath of Rot, choking the trees and the land. Without any cover, the wind was savage, and it quickly whipped my hair into a frenzy. Only when I pulled my cloak tighter and moved into the lee of a large boulder did I finally notice the cave. Its entrance was wide and gaping, but cleverly disguised beneath a jagged promontory over our heads. Devil came to stand beside me and the others joined us, since the wind was so furious we could barely hear one another speak.
“I was on my way to meet with Antenor when he was attacked,” said Simeon. “He had sent word that he had an update on his investigation, and I believe he might have been referring to this cave, which Puck discovered this morning.”
“Devil,” I said automatically, and everyone stared at me.
“My…my apologies,” Simeon muttered, throwing a glance between us. “Some light, if you please…Devil.”
“Do not step inside,” Devil warned as he conjured up two large orbs and sent them bobbing forward. My eyes adjusted quickly, but I could not understand what I was seeing. The inside of the cave appeared to be blanketed in plants with a deep, rich violet color, but it had also been infected by the Rot. I could smell it on the air, but it had mixed with the sweet, sickly scent of the purple flowers. The effect opened up a pit of inexplicable horror in my chest.
“Rot,” said Oberon quietly. “But, how has it not killed the Archer’s Cup?”
“We are not sure,” Simeon answered. “Archer’s Cup is not normally a cave-dwelling species either, so we suspect…that someone has been growing it here.”
I covered my mouth and met Devil’s eyes. “Whoever supplied a human with the Archer’s Cup that infected Helena…”
Simeon nodded. “And now, they’ve been infected.”
“Isn’t that good though? Their supply has been destroyed.”
“Let us not jump to conclusions,” said Oberon. “Look around you. There is no trace of the Rot anywhere near this cave, and it typically does not extend outside the boundaries of the Arden anyway. Someonemadethis happen.”
“It was introduced to the cave intentionally,” said Simeon, his jaw clenching.
An uneasy silence spread between us, and Devil took my hand. If anyone noticed, they did not comment.
“Hippolyta, you will keep a guard here at all times,” Oberon said firmly. “At least four soldiers. We have no idea who might be responsible for this, or what their motive is.”
“Yes, my lord,” said the Commander. “And…Titania?”
“Keep her informed, but do not allow her access to the cave.”
A small burst of anger flared in my chest, but I held my tongue and buried it. I would dig it back out later, when the time was right.
“We can do no more here. Meet us back in the library,” Oberon said, looking between me and Devil. He vanished in a swirl of shadow, and Simeon followed a split-second later, leaving a few feathers drifting on the air. I was about to pull up my own thread of magyk when Hippolyta put a hand on my arm.
“Does he suspect Titania’s involvement?” she hissed.
“If he does, he hasn’t told me of it,” I replied. “But I cannot imagine she would do something like this. What reason could she have for providing Archer’s Cup to anyone in Nottingham?”
“None whatsoever,” Hippolyta snorted. “Please, Marina, if Oberon becomes suspicious, you must take her part. He will listen to you. I swear, she is not at fault for any of it, especially not the attack on Antenor.”
I attempted a soft smile. “I promise, I won’t let her be accused of anything.”
Hippolyta leaned in to kiss me on the forehead. “Thank you, little one.”
I returned to where Devil was standing with his back to the wind, attempting to block it with his wings. He pulled me into the pocket of stillness and held my face in his hands, with no care as to who might be watching.
“You are too trusting, Mayhem.”
“You really think Titania might be involved?”
“There are only a handful of people in the Arden I could say for sure arenotinvolved, and none of them were here with us just now.”
I frowned at him. “You do not even trust Oberon? How can you all be so mistrustful of one another when it is impossible for you to lie?”
“Even when you first arrived here, you understood that the Fair Folk have other ways of being untruthful besides outright lies. All I ask is that you not be so quick to believe what they say. Everyone in this damn forest has secrets.”
I just smirked. “Including you?”
