The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(66)

Naoki had led them in a direct line southwest, no matter what lay in their path. Once they’d had to change course to walk around a wide lake, and for several hours after that fought their way through a forest thick with wild brambles.

They’d long since crossed the Sand Road, and continued on the other side. By Iseult’s estimation, they’d bypassed Garenoch, which was further south. It was only a day’s journey from Garenoch to Greenswallow, which meant Finn was not far off. He could only hope she would find the shroud and flee before Oighear reached her, but he knew it was unlikely. Once Finn found the shroud, she would try to find him, which meant either waiting in Greenswallow, or Garenoch.

In the state he was in now, he would only be able to watch on as Oighear confronted her. He honestly did not know which of them would win the battle, but Oighear had the upper hand. She was cruel and cunning, no stranger to using her powers for harm. Finn would hesitate to cause any damage, just as she had with the assassins.

He stiffened his back, realizing Oighear was watching him from her mount, smiling.

“Don’t worry,” she purred. “Once the Cavari girl is gone, you can follow a real queen.”

Iseult simply stared at her, too tired to exchange insults, for what little good it would do.

“Watch him closely,” she said to one of the Aos Sí. “He’s bound to try something foolish.”

The Aos Sí riding around them nodded. Iseult slumped forward in his saddle once more. Even if he could somehow defeat Oighear, he would then have to deal with ten Aos Sí warriors. Part of him wished they would just kill him now, as there was little hope of saving his soul, or Finn. Yet, he would not ask for death. He’d been on this journey his entire life, and he was about to see it through to the bitter end.



“Are you sure about this?” Kai asked, his heart thundering in anticipation.

Ealasaid nodded, her face grim. “If this will help Finn, we have to do it.”

Anna, Sativola, and Maarav stood nearby, weapons ready.

Kai swallowed the lump in his throat. He’d only meant to tell Anna and Sativola that he was leaving to lead the riders astray. He couldn’t risk Finn coming to Garenoch, unaware of what awaited her. He lifted his hand to the sore spot on his jaw where Anna had punched him for being a fool. She’d used many other choice descriptors, before Maarav and Ealasaid had interrupted. With little explanation, they’d urged Anna, Sativola, and himself to follow them to the edge of town were a group of magic users would be waiting. It had seemed utterly ridiculous at the time, yet here they all were.

Kai shuddered and brought himself back to the present, surrounded by strangers with a horse at his side. Anna and Sativola waited amongst the strangers, weapons gleaming in the early morning sun.

An old woman named Grelka, who he’d learned had orchestrated the early morning congregation, spoke in hushed tones to Ealasaid. Kai watched as Ealasaid frowned, then nodded to some quiet question. Both women turned then their gazes forward.

One by one, more townsfolk showed up to gather around Ealasaid and Grelka. As their presence grew, an odd tingle began to circulate through the air, or perhaps it was just Kai’s imagination. They were all magic users, secretly banding together to protect not only themselves, but their kinsfolk.

“This will work,” Ealasaid muttered, quietly reassuring herself as she moved to Kai’s side, followed by Grelka. Ealasaid repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hands, as if warming up her magic.

A sandy-haired boy Kai had not met stepped out of the crowd, grinning from ear to ear. “I, for one, cannot think of a better way to recruit more members to An Solas. Once others see what we can do, they’ll be flocking toward us in droves.”

Grelka chuckled, then turned her gaze to Ealasaid. “Do not worry. This is the right choice. Everything will be as it’s meant to be.”

Kai frowned at them, not understanding half of what they were talking about.

“Grelka is a seer,” Ealasaid explained.

Kai nodded in acceptance, though he didn’t really see it as much of an explanation. Anna’s visions of immediate danger were one thing, but no one could truly know the future. Still, Grelka thought his task of the utmost importance, and he wasn’t sure why. Upon his arrival to the group, she’d said to him the same thing she’d just said to Ealasaid. “Everything will be as it’s meant to be.”

“It’s time,” Grelka suddenly snapped.

Ealasaid raised her arms skyward, along with the sandy-haired boy, and the other gathered townsfolk. Many more townsfolk lingered near the buildings at the edge of town, awaiting whatever spectacle was about to take place.

Anna met Kai’s gaze and nodded. It was time for him to prepare as well.

He led his horse a few paces away from the group, then slung himself into the saddle. He lifted his free hand to grip the locket still at his throat and turned his gaze outward.

One of the townsfolk had spotted the riders early that morning, waiting. It had proven true that they would not, or could not enter the burgh, so the magic users would bring the fight to them.

As the final magic users raised their arms skyward, pressure began to build, like the eerie calm before the sky opened up to a massive storm. It continued to build for several heartbeats, then Ealasaid shouted, “Go!”

Kai jabbed his heels into his horse, then took of at a gallop. He glanced over his shoulder to see the distant riders launching into motion. The ground exploded all around, dirt flying everywhere. Lightning stabbed at what protruded, followed by waves of fire. Winds blew so powerfully that even from the distance, Kai was nearly swept from his mount.