Tree Singer by Jacci Turner

Author:Jacci Turner [Turner, Jacci]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children's fiction
Publisher: Lucky Bat Books
Published: 2021-02-14T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Mayten scrambled from the tree and hurried back to the others, Anatolian at her heels.

Cather straightened, putting one hand on the rock, and stared at her, cheeks red. “Did you learn anything?”

Tray jumped to his feet and helped Cather stand as they both looked expectantly at her.

“Listen,” Mayten said. “I don’t really understand what I saw. There is something terrible happening to the trees. I can’t make any sense out of it yet, but we need to get going right now.”

“Okay, then.” Tray pulled on his pack, then helped Cather with hers. Mayten swung her pack from the ground and slid it on, shrugging her shoulders to settle the load as they headed down the trail.

Cather slowed her steps until Mayten caught up. They walked in silence for a few moments, thoughts tumbling about Mayten’s mind like a feather caught in river rapids.

“Did it work?” Cather finally asked. “What did you hear?”

For the first time in days, Mayten was ready to talk. She kept her eyes on the trail. “It was more like a series of pictures in my mind. Something is taking the trees’ life or energy or . . . I don’t know how to say it exactly. And there’s this man, but he lived two hundred years ago, so I can’t think out how he figures into this, but I could feel great resentment from the trees toward him. I need more information.”

She glanced at Cather . . . who was—of course—watching Tray.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” she asked Cather.

Her friend smiled and shrugged. “I am. I’m sorry, I know this is important, I just . . .”

“I’m happy for you.” Mayten squeezed Cather’s arm. “What’s happening to you is important too.”

Cather blushed. “It is, isn’t it? I was afraid it would never happen. I’m so glad you understand. I feel like I’ve been ignoring you and you’ve been so down.”

“I know you’ve wanted Tray’s attention forever. What do you think changed? Why now?”

“I’m not sure. We have two years until we can declare ourselves at the gathering, but it seems like he’s—”

A shout from Tray caught their attention. “Come quick! You’ve got to see this!”

They raced up the trail, Anatolian in the lead. Legs burning, Mayten stopped on Tray’s right while Cather moved to his left. The last part of the trail had been steep enough she was soon gasping for breath and could hear Cather doing the same.

“Have you ever seen anything like it?” Tray asked, his voice filled with awe.

The trees ended abruptly, opening on a vista so bright Mayten’s eyes hurt. Below them a lush green valley bordered an impossibly blue sea. She blinked and squinted, letting her eyes adjust to the brilliance so different from the dark forest. Anatolian yipped like a puppy, tail wagging so hard his entire body shook.

“Look!” Cather pointed at a wooded area partway through the valley. “There’s the castle.”

Three stone-gray turrets jutted high above the oak trees. Flags flying the king’s lion crest waved as if in welcome.

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