The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(65)

Kai tossed and turned in his bed at the inn. Anna seemed to be sleeping soundly in the bed beside his, divided by a narrow table. He expected Sativola to come crashing in at any moment, though he seemed intent on drinking his worries away.

Kai couldn’t say he blamed him, and once would have been matching the man drink for drink. Not now. Finn had given up a portion of her power to save him. What type of man would he be if he didn’t risk his life to save her?

His body erupted in goosebumps as he thought back to the cloaked riders. He hadn’t needed to see their faces to know there was something . . . off about them. Just like Moírne had said, they seemed almost like ghosts. Ghosts that could easily kill him.

He sat up, ignoring the cold sweat dripping down his back. He knew well enough where Finn would be heading if she happened to decide it unwise to enter Garenoch, or if the lurking riders blocked her way. He could go there, but would he simply be leading the riders right to her?

He stroked his fingers over the locket still dangling around his neck. Would the riders still sense it if he took it off and left it in the burgh with Anna so he could find Finn? Or, should he leave the burgh and ride far away from where Finn was heading, to once again lead them away?

He shook his head, truly wishing he could speak with Móirne again, but perhaps she could not enter the burgh, just like her kin.

Unable to quiet his mind, he silently crept out of bed and exited the room. He could still hear a measure of commotion below from the inn’s patrons. Perhaps he could persuade Sativola to buy him a drink. Or two.

Or three.





Chapter Fifteen





Finn crept back into the forest, away from the main road. She had almost reached Garenoch when she noticed the riders. Clouds obscured the moon, leaving her with little light to see by, but they were clearly watching Garenoch. The six figures, mounted on calm horses, stood side by side, observing the small burgh. For what, she did not know, but just seeing the riders filled her with overwhelming dread.

Loinnir stepped lightly behind her, following her into the cover of the trees. Once the riders were well out of sight, she climbed onto the unicorn’s back, entwined her fingers with its mane, and took off at a gallop. She wanted as much distance between herself and the ominous riders as possible, and if she could not reach Garenoch, she would simply go to Greenswallow first. Perhaps she’d find àed there, and if not, she’d retrieve the shroud then seek her friends.

Once she felt a safe distance had been gained, she asked Loinnir to slow. It wouldn’t do to ride away from one danger, only to unwittingly ride into another. Her nervous breath fogged the air as they slowed. All was still.

They continued on throughout the night. Eventually the moon was replaced by the sun, and her surroundings began to feel familiar. She was close to her meadow.

“This was my home for a very long time,” she explained to Loinnir, though she was still unsure if the unicorn actually understood her words, or somehow just sensed her desires. “I hope we can find the correct spot,” she continued. “It might be a bit difficult to distinguish now that no tree stands there. We might be digging for quite a while.”

Loinnir flicked her mane, but did not otherwise reply. Her ivory horn was still hidden by magic, so she just appeared a rather fine white horse. Neither of them should draw any extra attention as they passed the small farms leading to her previous home.

She was pleased to see the first stream of chimney smoke as they neared. These people, at least, were yet to be chased off by the Faie or An Fiach. A few moments later, an elderly farmer came into view, tending his crops, though the cold had withered them seemingly beyond repair.

The sight plucked at her heart. So many had been affected by the recent chaos, not just her. She’d venture to say they were affected even more, not less. She had never known a life of true peace, barring when she was a tree, and so, she had no true peace to lose.

She began to search her meadow as they neared, attempting to pinpoint the exact place she’d stood as a tree. Eventually her eyes found àed’s small stone hut. No smoke rose from its chimney, and the entrance was overgrown with vines. She tried not to cry. He might not be where she’d hoped, but she would find him. She had to.

Turning her gaze away from the hut, she thought back to her first walk there, just after she’d turned back into her current form. àed had found her in the middle of the field, and had helped her hobble to his hut as she slowly learned how to use her legs.

Loinnir walked along unbidden, ambling serenely across the meadow. Finn observed each tree she passed, hoping for something familiar, then it hit her. As if sensing her revelation, Loinnir suddenly halted.

“This is it,” Finn gasped. She turned her gaze to the distant mountains, then to a large boulder several paces away. Loinnir’s hooves had landed on the exact soil where Finn had once taken root. She felt it with every nerve ending in her body.

She dismounted, then fell to her knees as Loinnir moved out of the way. Though rain and wind had mostly repacked the soil, it was still a little more loose in this area, with less yellow grass threatening to take hold.

Her entire body trembled with excitement as she began to dig.



Iseult slumped in the saddle, defeated. Bedelia had been the first to fall, dropping to her knees, unable to move any further. He went not long after. Now, they were both too exhausted to put up any fight. Though their chains remained, they were finally allowed to ride.