The Whispering Trees by J. A. White

Author:J. A. White
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

BOOK THREE

THE SPIDER BENEATH THE EARTH

“Magic is a plague. It must be contained, or the entire World will perish.”

—The Path

Leaf 205, Vein 99

The Forest Demon led them past Imogen’s now-empty pits to the orchard of lost things. Branchwolves nipped and clawed at one another in a violent display that might have been their version of playing. Kara did not try to reach out to them, nor any of the other animals she felt lingering nearby. She knew it was useless.

Near the remnants of their campfire lay Mary’s sack.

“What did you do to her?” Taff asked. “What did you do to Mary?”

“I’m here, my child,” said a soft voice.

Mary stepped out from the shadows of a tree. Though she was no older than forty today, the skin beneath her eyes sagged from lack of sleep. Heedless of the snapping branchwolves between them, Taff ran into her arms.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We brought you into this. It’s all our fault.”

The old witch hugged him tight and buried her face in his hair for just a moment.

Then shoved him away.

“You really are a foolish little boy, aren’t you?” she asked. Taff winced as though slapped, tears already forming in his eyes. “Don’t you get it? Your path through the Thickety was charted out a long, long time ago.” She turned to Kara. “Every single footprint you’ve made is because he wanted you to make it. With my assistance, of course.”

“We trusted you,” Taff said, and Kara winced at the pain in his voice.

“You were meant to! That’s why Sordyr, in his infinite wisdom, allowed you to escape onto the bridge—so I could ‘save’ you from the branchwolves. After that it was all too easy. I pretended to guide you, but my true role was training your sister to be a wexari. The Forest Demon needs her to be strong if she’s going to fulfill her purpose.”

Watcher was right. . . .

“From the very beginning, it was all a test,” Kara muttered. “The grettin. Crossing the Draye’varg. The darkeaters. Imogen.”

“At last,” said Mary, “you’re beginning to understand.”

“But why would you help Sordyr in the first place?” Taff asked.

“Have you forgotten? I am Mary Kettle. I’m evil.”

“Not anymore. You feel bad about the things you’ve done. You want to be good.”

Mary grabbed Taff by the chin and tilted his head to the side. She brought her lips to his ear, close enough to bite.

“Heed me and heed me well, child. I will never be good.”

“Her grimoire,” said Kara. “That’s why she helped him. It’s the only thing she’s ever cared about in her long, sad life. Sordyr promised to return your grimoire to you, didn’t he?”

“Even better,” said Mary Kettle. “The Forest Demon is going to grant me a new grimoire. Think of all those blank pages waiting to be filled. I’m going to be a proper witch again. You understand, boy? You were nothing but a means to an end. I was never your friend!”

Mary picked up her sack and carried it toward a waiting horse with black flowers in its eyes.

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