Bisma turned, gasping. Nori had climbed one of the trees in the square. She loved jumping off the tall trees of the Enchanted Forest and having a branch reach out to catch her.
Dread gripped her heart.
‘Nori, no!’ Bisma screamed, already running.
In horrifying slow motion, she watched as Nori grinned and jumped from her branch. From that height, the fall would kill her.
Bisma pushed her body, running as fast as she could.Please, her very being cried out.Please let me reach her in time.
She did not.
But Xander did.
He ran toward Nori at the same time she did, but he was closer, and as Nori’s body came careening down to the unforgiving ground with alarming speed, he threw himself forward, catching her at the very last second.
Xander broke her fall with his body, holding onto her.
‘Nori!’ Bisma cried, running to reach them.
Though confused as to why the branch had not caught her as it did in the Enchanted Forest, Nori still laughed, amused. Stupid child!
Xander helped Nori to her feet, his copper hair a mess, his immaculate clothes streaked with dirt. With a pained groan, he stood, cracking his neck.
Bisma grabbed Nori from him, shaking her. ‘Why did you do that?’ she cried, hands digging into Nori’s arms. Her heart was beating so hard she worried it might break through her ribs.
Seeing the worry in Bisma’s expression, the amusement vanished from Nori’s face. Her bottom lip trembled. Then she began to cry.
‘Bis—’ Xander began, face alarmed. She ignored him, focusing on her sister. Nori tried to prise herself free from Bisma’s arms, but Bisma only held on tighter to the little girl.
‘We are only safe in the Forest!’ Bisma hissed, shaking Nori again. ‘Do you understand?’
Nori replied by wailing, her face wet with tears. Villagers gathered round to watch, not even bothering to whisper as they made comments. Bisma did not care; she pressed into Nori’s arms.
‘Tell me you understand!’ Bisma yelled.
‘I-I do,’ Nori cried. ‘I do.’
Bisma released Nori, but the terror in her body did not release her. It was a physical thing, gripping her the way ice covered branches in winter.
If Xander hadn’t caught her …
Bisma could picture the girl’s broken body bloodying the earth below. The sight seared into her mind.
She was Nori’s Baji; Nori washerresponsibility. ‘She didn’t mean to,’ Xander said, his voice soft. ‘You need not be so harsh.’
Bisma whirled on him, face wild. Seeing her vicious expression, he pressed his mouth shut. He held his hands up, but the concern in his eyes made her want to claw at him.
His concern was aimed not only at Nori but her too.
She could not bear it a moment longer. Grabbing Nori, Bisma went back to her cart, then back to the Enchanted Forest.
It wasn’t until they were home that she could properly breathe.
4
After the disaster with Nori, Bisma kept away from town for some time.
She sent Luna and Mei to drop off potions and poisons, and Azalea to pick up the things they needed. Nori went with Luna on one of the occasions; the little girl recovered quickly, even if Bisma had not.
