Page 29 of Burn Bright
Witches were cruel, solitary creatures who roamed dark woods, and lured the unsuspecting to their deaths. The malicious spells they cast ate away at their souls, leaving behind nothinghuman.
Galina didn't flinch. She merely smiled, and held a finger to her lips. "The moment of the choice is not upon us. Therefore, you can't deny me, notyet."
"I will keep saying no for a month, if I have to. No, no,no."
"All I wish is for you to listen to me," she said. "You will have your chance to say no, and you will know when the moment arrives. Come, walk withme."
I stared at her. "Why?"
"Will you not listen to what I have tosay?"
My eyes narrowed. She'd sworn not to harm me. "If I come with you and hear you out, will you return me to my ownworld?"
"Ofcourse."
"By the end of an hour?" Only a fool didn't specify limits when dealing with a creature likethis.
"Within the hour," she said, and set off through the trees, casting me one lastsmile.
No reason to panic, I told myself as I followed her through the trees. My father made a deal for me to meet with her. Nothing more. And she wanted something from me. She wasn't going to hurt me until she had it—or knew I wouldn't give it to her. My bare feet crunched on the soft snow. I could barely feel it. For such an old woman, she moved with the kind of grace I'd never seen before. Despite my skill in the forest, she had to wait for me severaltimes.
"You hunt the firebird," Galina finally said, when the trees began tothin.
Something compelled me to say: "The king wants its heart. He's dying, and he needs it tosurvive."
Her black eyes locked upon me, stark in her gaunt face. Suddenly I was aware of a dangerous presence within her. A predator, its fangs bared. Or a monster, inhumane and lovely. Then it was gone, but I couldn't forget its presence. "Mortal men...." She snorted. "Always seeking to avoid their fate, no matter the cost. His son rides with you. Perhaps I will takehislife as payment for his trespass here, and to send this king amessage."
"No." I lurched forward, hand held out helplessly. "The prince doesn't— He's a better man than his father. I think if he had a choice in the matter then he would not behere."
"And what doyouwant?" she asked. "Would you kill the firebird for yourking?"
The thought troubled me more than it should have. "The king... they say he's a ruthless man and it's not wise to naysay him when he wants something. He'd have myhead."
Or burn mealive.
"I know another word forthat."
So did I.Tyrant. "He burned three villages far to the west of here two years ago. They'd refused to pay their taxes, claiming they had no money to givehim."
"If his men cannot find you, then they cannot harm you," she said. "The forest would welcome you. You have Old Blood flowing through your veins, and you know how to avoid the king'smen."
Ha, nice try. "Become a witch, youmean?"
A smile. I was growing heartily sick ofthem.
"I don't have a choice. I have sisters. A father. They would force my father to guide them into the woods, and he's far too ill. I can't just run and hide and leave my family and friends to myfate."
The trees ended, and then we were standing in a glade, looking down upon the waterfall that had been both savior and peril. Silver light washed over the world, the moon pregnant and heavy in the sky, its reflection splayed upon the black waters of the pool we'd tumbled into. Water tumbled mercilessly over the falls, sending the reflection dancing in constantripples.
"These are my woods," said Galina, turning her weathered face to the sky as if to soak up the light of the moon too. "I would like you to see them as they trulyare."
"Thanks, but I think I took the extended tourtoday."
"You crossed the barrier," she murmured, "but you weren't paying attention. You're in the Heart of Gravenwoldnow."
Night-flowers began to gleam phosphorescent in the darkness, turning their silken faces up toward the sky. My breath caught. Little glittering fireflies danced from flower to flower. It was incredible, and nothing like the darkness of Gravenwold had led me toexpect.
"These woods once stretched across the entire north," she said, continuing past thewaterfall.
