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She didn’t understand why I’d taken her and what our connection was, but she was beginning to see I wasn’t her enemy. I could never be.
As if she read my thoughts, she asked hesitantly, “Why did you take me from my home? How do you know who I am?”
I gave her a stiff nod then stood and whistled up to the boughs above us. “First, you need food.”
Gwendazelle zipped down and settled on the leather strap of my satchel, blinking wide eyes at Murgha.
“It’s you!” exclaimed Murgha, jumping to her feet.
Gwenda hid shyly behind a leafy twig, peaking her head out to watch Murgha.
“She’s been watching me for months,” said Murgha, her smile suddenly faltering. “She’s your wood sprite? You sent her?”
“I don’t own her.” When I held out my palm, Gwenda instantly flew to me and curled her talons lightly around the edge of my hand. “She’s my friend. And yes, I sent her to watch out for you. That’s how I knew you were in trouble this afternoon.”
Murgha blinked in surprise, not knowing what to say.
“Gwendazelle, this is Murgha.” Gwenda opened a wing in greeting but Murgha simply stared in shock. “She will keep you company while I’m gone. I won’t be long.”
Gwenda flew off my palm and landed on a branch closer to Murgha. Knowing she couldn’t run away from the top of this tree and that Gwenda would find and warn me if danger approached,I buckled my belt back on, sword at my hip, then flew up through the opening, the stars just beginning to shine.
Chapter
Six
MURGHA
Isat back down cross-legged, tucking my skirt over my knees, and then stared at the wood sprite. I finally knew why she’d been following me for so many months. Well, sort of knew.
“Hi.” I waved.
She lifted her wing again.
“Can you speak?” I asked.
“I speak,” she said in a high-pitched voice.
I smiled. “You’re very pretty.”
She made a chirping trill sound, flew down to the wooden plank right in front of me, and said excitedly, “You’re very pretty, too. And kind. I like you very much.”
I laughed. “How do you know I’m kind?”
“You speak to the trees and flowers. They listen,” she told me with deep sincerity in her round, black eyes. “I see you bring meals to the old fae lady who lives alone by the willow tree. I see you bring berries and nuts to the lame male who loves them but cannot walk far and find them himself.”
I hadn’t realized she’d watched me that much. I’d only seen her on occasion, mostly when I went into the woods.
My thoughts turned back to the shadow fae. “Why has he been making you follow me?” I pointed to the opening in the branches above us.
She shook her head. “He will tell you.”
“What’s his name?”
“Vallon.”
His name soaked into my skin, and some tremble of awareness awoke inside me at hearing his name. A prickle of magick hummed quietly, as if waiting.
Waiting for what?
