Page 26 of Lady Knight and the Thief
The edge of the forest was like a wall of shrubbery and tree trunks, but they slipped between and into the dark like phantoms. The horses easily followed a game trail until Torren slowed his mount, Seren matching the pace easily.
Torren led them into yet another natural ring of trees, ringed with small red and blue-capped mushrooms.
“Torren. Are we camping in a fuckingFaerie ring?”
He laughed. Actuallylaughed.
“Took ye long enough, Lass. We’ve been camping in them since the first night.”
“Forgive me for not assuming you’d lead me into a trap each night,” Cypress snarked, taking stock of where she truly stood for the first time.
“It’s only a trap if you are lured inside. I didn’tlureyou, Lass.”
“I’m going to strangle you.”
“Oh, don’t be violent with me, Lass.”
“I haven’t evenbegunbeing violent,thief,”Cypress muttered.
Again, he laughed at her but didn’t comment again.
Gritting her teeth, Cypress began to unsaddle her horse while Torren walked in a circle, whispering nonsense to himself.
She tried to ignore it, but eventually, Cypress couldn’t stand it and snapped, “Whatare you doing?”
“With how close we are to the Wylds now, it is unwise to visit a Faerie ring and not give your thanks. The Dryaads are always listening.”
“Do you realize how crazy that sounds?”
“Don’t tell me you’re completely uneducated on the traditions of the Fair Folk?”
“You mean superstitions?”
Torren shook his head. “You are in for a rude awakening when we arrive at the Wylds proper, Lass.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cypress demanded while running a brush down her mare’s back.
“Were you never told the legends? The stories of the time before the First Kings?”
“They’re stories, fables used to keep naughty children in line.”
Torren shook his head. “You believe me when I say I am who I am, right?’
Reluctantly, Cypress nodded.
“Then believe me when I tell you the stories, the legends are all true. And you’re on your way to confirm that the Old Ones are awakening. You'd best start believing those superstitions, Lass. They may very well save yer life.”
“What did you tell Cade that made him scared?” Cypress demanded, stashing her tools back away in the saddlebags now lying against one of the tree trunks.
“The truth.”
“Whichis?” Cypress was rapidly losing her patience.
“The Wylds have begun whispering. Giants have awoken, the Old ones with them. When they all wake, the Wyld Hunt will resume, and no one in the human lands will be safe.”
The stories of the Wyld Hunt were just that. Stories. Legends and folklore from a time before history was written down.
“That’s just a story,” Cypress insisted, shaking her head.
