Page 71 of Whispers of the Elderoak

“Only when I realize it irritates a fae general,” she bit back. Why did she say that? Just like when she snapped at Quinn, her stupid mouth didn’t know when to shut up. Something about being around this group was tearing down her defenses.

“Do you have a death wish?”

She stared at him. “Are you threatening to kill me for asking you questions?”

He shook his head. “I’m just saying your mouth will get you in trouble if you don’t learn when to keep it shut.”

“You know—” she said. “You’re kind of mean.”

“I’m not mean, I’m cautious,” he retorted.

“Whatever.”

“Go to sleep.”

She sighed, wondering if Casimir ever smiled. She didn’t know why she said that. She knew she shouldn’t antagonize the general, but for some reason she couldn’t help it.

Careful Ava. Don’t poke the bear,she thought. Her heart ached as she realized the joke reminded her of Eleanor. When they had gotten stoned and told horrible dad jokes as they searched for the map to the portal. The map that had upended everything and gotten her killed. Stifling the tears, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the tree, trying to think about something else.

26

They walked for two more days and camped out at night, resting and filling their bellies. The gag remained off but Ava didn’t speak much, unsure of what to say and nervous she’d condemn herself in some way or she’d accidentally snap at one of them again.

The starvation, torture and exhaustion had caught up with her and it was almost impossible to filter her words. She just wanted to get to the capital, bathe again and sleep for days. And devour every single piece of food she could find.

She felt safer with this group than with Deidamia’s army but still didn’t trust them and feared her potential execution. Would the supposed kind king actually kill her? The protectiveness Remy had told her about made her nervous as she tried to imagine what the capital would be like.

As they got closer to Mosshaven, the terrain began to change. The trees were larger, older and had patches of lichen on their massive trunks. The leaves were an energetic chartreuse and the shrubs at their base a deep forest green. The ground was soft and mossy interspersed with rocks, blue and purple flowers, emerald ferns and little red cappedmushrooms. They were at the base of the mountains now, peaks towering over them with their snow-capped tips and dense forests.

As they settled in for the third night, Ava mustered up the courage to speak again. They were in a grove of moss-covered trees, the glow of the moon casting shadows along the edges of camp. Smaller trees grew beneath the larger canopy, packed with rose pink blooms that had opened just as the sun set. White moths flocked to the flowers, stopping at each bloom as they drank their fill of nectar.

As they ate their dinner, she saw the four of them were deep in conversation, whispering to each other. Too quiet for her to hear.

Ava cleared her throat, trying to get their attention but they continued their discussion, ignoring her. She tried again and still nothing. With a big sigh, she was about to try a third time when Casimir snapped and looked at her.

“If you have something to say, just say it. We can hear you over there grunting like a fool,” he said.

“I was just going to ask if we were getting close to our destination,” she said.

“We should arrive in Mosshaven the day after tomorrow.” He continued to watch her. “Anything else?”

She shook her head. “No. That’s all.”

That was soon.

She closed her eyes and tried contacting Luna yet again.

Luna?Where are you? Can you even hear me? Luna!

Nothing.

The evening went on without incident and everyone retired besides Jorrar, who took first watch while Ava dozed against the tree under a blanket.

Rustling noises from the trees behind her jarred her awake. Something was coming.

Jorrar leapt to his feet and whistled to his companions. Theother three burst from their tents, armed to the teeth with weapons. Before she realized what was happening, Jorrar cut her restraints and told her to stay low and silent as something emerged from the trees.

It was massive, the size of a large wolf with leathery dark gray skin and hollow black eyes. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it stalked forward on all fours, long claws digging into the ground with each step. Where there should have been a nose, there was a flat spot with two slits and its bat-like ears tilted as it listened to its surroundings. It was not a helwraith, it was something different, something worse; a bloodthirsty beast sent straight from Deidamia’s war camp.

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