Druid by Kylie Quillinan

Author:Kylie Quillinan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780994331557
Publisher: Kylie Quillinan

25

ARLEN

The light in the fey woods never changed, even though I walked for at least a day. Twice I sat to rest and eat sparingly from Derwa’s provisions. The sack contained a loaf of dark bread, two wedges of hard cheese, a cloth pouch filled with beef jerky and hard biscuits, and several small green apples. I doubted these rations were what the men going to war received. Was the battle over yet? How many had died? I felt both shame and relief at not being there to witness the aftermath.

I tried to stay alert, despite my fatigue. Once or twice I saw another of the tiny humanoid creatures, but they flew past too quickly to be sure they weren't merely bugs. For a while I thought a raven spied on me. He might or might not have been the same one who watched me earlier. He flew from tree to tree just ahead of me, staring as I drew closer, before flying on a little further. But soon enough he flew away with a disparaging caw. I kept my mind and senses open but noticed no other sign of anyone nearby. The pull leading me to Agata never changed. I tried to prepare what I would say to her, but everything sounded trite.

My feet were sore by the time I stumbled on a pretty clearing with a deep pond. A ring of weeping willows gave a feeling of privacy, and the moss creeping across the rocks around the pond looked invitingly soft. The water was still and clear, and too deep to see the bottom. When I sat down, I discovered the moss was as soft as it looked.

I pulled off my boots and rolled up my trousers, then slid my aching feet into the water. It was pleasantly warm with a sweet scent. I was tempted to cup my hands and taste it, but I refrained, wary of the tales that warned not to eat or drink anything of the fey realm.

For a while, I just sat there. Had Agata ever been here? I liked the thought that perhaps this was a place she had visited. I turned when I caught movement at the edge of my view and realised I sat beside a large rock. How had I not seen it earlier? As I stared at the rock, a strange buzzing sounded in my ears. Wondering whether the rock itself was the source of the sound, I pressed my fingers to its surface.

"Well, hello there," said a deep voice that seemed to speak straight into my mind. It spoke slowly with a long pause between each word.

"Hello, rock."

What manner of creature was this? I had never heard of the fey taking such a form.

"There's that word again. Rock. Mortals seem awfully fond of describing me like that."

"I didn't mean to cause offence. Is there another name you would prefer I call you by?"

"Hmm, a name." The rock was silent for a long while. "I seem to remember I was called Orm at some time.

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