White as Frost by Anthea Sharp

Author:Anthea Sharp [Sharp, Anthea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680131413
Publisher: Fiddlehead Press

Chapter 28

“Hello, Neeve,” I said, trying to sound calm.

“I should have known.” She stalked over to where I knelt. “You do love to follow people where you’re not wanted, don’t you?”

I got to my feet and glared at her, not budging one inch. “And I’m good at it. Besides, Thorne knows I’m here.”

“He does?” Her eyes widened a fraction.

“Yes.” I pulled his cloak around me with a dramatic swirl.

She stared at it, the scowl returning to her face. “That doesn’t mean you’re welcome here. How much did you see?”

“Everything. I know about the Dark Elves, and that the Nightshade Lord is your uncle. And that you’re all here to pick nirwen, because it doesn’t last very long.” I was a little unclear on the last bit, but Neeve didn’t challenge me on the point.

“Then you know too much.” She stared at me a moment more. “If Thorne’s aware you’re here, I don’t suppose I could convince him to take your memories away.”

“I wouldn’t let him,” I said fiercely. Not that I could stop him, if he truly planned to do so. The knowledge made me shiver.

A haughty-faced elven woman walked by, the basket over her arm already half full of bright flowers. She glanced at us and sniffed, clearly implying we were shirking our duties.

“Come.” Neeve grabbed my arm, her fingers hard.

“Where?” Was she planning to haul me in front of her father and the Nightshade Lord? I dug in my heels.

“There’s a glade nearby where the nirwen grows. We can pick, and talk, undisturbed.”

“Very well.” I pulled out of her grasp. The last thing I needed was my stepsister dragging me about like a recalcitrant child.

“Here.” She thrust the basket she was carrying at me. “I’ll fetch another from the camp. Use it to shield your face if anyone you recognize comes close.”

I was relieved that Neeve was willing to conceal my presence; perhaps because Thorne had already accepted me.

Luckily, the camp was deserted. My stepsister snatched a few sacks from a pile, then led me around the spread of tents and into the shelter of the trees.

Somehow, I was not surprised to see Thorne waiting for us there.

Neeve strode up to him, indignant.

“How can you allow Rose’s presence?” she demanded. “Why didn’t you stop her from coming?”

“Peace,” he said, lifting his hands. “I cannot be all places at all times. The fact that Rose was able to follow the tracks through the forest shows she’s meant to be here. And didn’t you tell me you’d seen the nirwen blossom when you scryed in Airgid Tarn—and that Rose saw it, too?”

I threw Neeve a smug look.

“We shouldn’t waste time arguing,” she said, though she was the one who’d started it. “We only have a little time to harvest the blossoms.”

“How much time?” I asked Thorne, as we followed Neeve through the underbrush.

“The blossom fades a few hours after sunset,” he said. “We must gather as many as we can in that time. Nirwen is precious. And, for my kind, its essence provides an invaluable medicine.

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