Whispering Wildwood by Emma Sterner-Radley

Author:Emma Sterner-Radley [Sterner-Radley, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heartsome Publishing
Published: 2020-08-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Thistlenir

The sound of paper being torn came from two log-sized beings flying down from a tree.

The thistlenir didn’t make Korinne think of humanoids or animals at first; they moved too quick and unnaturally. Only when they hovered at eye level did Korinne see that they did have faces, with features that looked more like they belonged on a cat. They fluttered on gossamer wings and were a green-white hue, like seafoam.

One of them, the biggest one, flew up to Vicktoria and put its tiny, long-fingered hand on her nose, pushing it until she laughed. The thistlenir made a noise much like a cat’s purr. The purr morphed back into the sound of paper being ripped. When it spoke, even its voice sounded a bit like paper tearing, making it hard to make out words. Not as bad as the cursed whispering trees, but not far off.

“Godmother,” it said. “Well met.”

“Well met, dearest honeycakes,” Vicktoria said back. “Ahnaqh,” she pointed to the stunned Woodsorrow siblings behind her, “this is Korinne and Matt.”

“Friends of yours?” Ahnaqh asked.

Vicktoria squirmed. “Yes. They were patrons that I was guiding through the wildwood to retrieve something, but I’d be bold enough to call them friends now.”

“Not bold, only accurate,” Matt said cheerfully.

Ahnaqh held out its—no, Vicktoria had said “him” before—Ahnaqh held out his hand towards the creature next to him. “This is my companion, Merrow.”

The smaller creature, about the size of Korinne’s forearm, bowed its head.

“It is a feat that you have made it this deep into the wildwood,” Merrow said. “Humans do not survive this long here. Why hasn’t something eaten you? Or stepped on you?”

Vicktoria held out her arms and said, “Why, a combination of luck and my brilliant expertise, of course!”

Korinne cleared her throat, making Vicktoria sigh and add, “Fine, it probably helped that we had the king of the seaborne with us for a lot of it.”

The two thistlenir nodded. They didn’t strike Korinne as the talkative kind. In fact, they seemed as prickly as their exterior. Protruding filaments covered their skin, giving them a look of, well, thistles, she supposed.

Vicktoria put her hands in her pockets. “You know what, it also helped that we didn’t meet a single magical beast. Where are all the sword-tailed poisoners and the leaf giants? And why are the only calaris birds I’ve seen the small ones? Where are the massive birds of prey?”

“We do not know. Or care,” Ahnaqh said.

“Right,” Vicktoria said, in the tones of someone who had expected that reply. “Anyway, Riverrall implied you might grant us sanctuary so we could come in and rest, away from the more bloodthirsty creatures of the wildwood.”

Merrow nodded. “They dare not venture in here. And yes, for what you once gifted Ahnaqh, you are invited.”

With that, the two of them flitted in between the white-leafed trees.

The humans followed and, when they were inside the glade, Korinne gaped at what she saw.

It was still early evening, as it had been outside this clearing, but the canopy

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