Heart of the Winterland by Kristen Kooistra

Author:Kristen Kooistra [Kooistra, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Amee led Benoni through the dark branches that overhung the dirt trail. The ride had been long, but it had given her time to think. All was not as it seemed with the new queen. A glamour had one purpose: to hide someone’s true appearance.

Raina may have looked like the pinnacle of perfection, by Trabor standards, but it was all an illusion. Some of her physical traits must have carried over to her daughter, hence the glamour over the princess’s hair.

Creating a glamour was minor magic, but the fact that one existed bothered her. Traborians didn’t posses magic. Amee was the only one who could access the magical currents that flowed through everything. And she had come to the conclusion years ago that she was not a native Traborian. She was too different, from her physical traits to her magical ones.

As she walked, the trees closed behind her, effectively blocking the path from any who might otherwise stumble upon it. Magical traps spread throughout the outer limits of the forest kept most curious souls from disturbing her. The few that made it farther, well . . . she sent them back, their minds gone; a warning to others.

After leaving her adopted parents, Amee had stumbled into the border forest. With no destination in mind, and nothing but a burning desire to hide from the world, she had run until her body could no longer withstand the exhaustion. She had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep. Upon waking, she had found herself in the midst of the same wood which she now walked through.

Amee sighed. She hated when memories took over. At least these were less painful than the ones about Falan and her parents. She surrendered her mind to the press of memories that fought to be brought to life.

When she first entered the forest, she had not realized the effect it would have on her life. At the time it was as good a place as any to hide from the world. And so she stayed. The forest held its own secrets, though, whispering to her of mystery and untapped potential.

Having felt driven from every home she had ever known, Amee was determined not to have the same thing happen here. The secrets of the forest would not push her away. She would confront them and whatever fate they brought.

The whispers called to her, and she heeded them. They led her deeper into the trees, their urgent summons growing louder with each step. When she stepped into a clearing, surrounded by forbidding dark pines, the whispers reached a crescendo. Wind whipped through the evergreens, rustling the needles and carrying the voices on its back. Amee spun in a circle. The trees and the darkness closed in on her. The voices were so loud now, they screamed in her head, driving her to madness.

She covered her ears, dropped to her knees, and screamed. “Stop it! Stop it!” She wanted them, needed them, to stop. In an act born of desperation, Amee threw out her arms, palms up.

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