Page 146 of The Knucker King

“Yes, you will see,” she promised. “Take a step forward.”

53

Chapter 53

Avice

The plants indeed bent, just as Avice promised they would.

Trewoofe cut quickly through the woods, and he recounted what had occurred in his Kingdom while he was recovering under her care. He told Avice of how the Tall Ones had run riot and pilfered his nest. Most importantly, he shared what he learnt from the Bucca and the Tall One Queen.

Just as he finished his explanation, he stopped at a secluded riverbed close to Avice’s cottage. After surveying for a while – she guessed his protective instincts were still raging after the fight – he lowered his head so she could dismount.

Her mind whirled at the revelations as she slipped off him. “So, a type of Folk called a Spriggan has been doing this to the babies and to the Pillywiggin Princess?”

Trewoofe rose his head, scanning the bank. “It would seem so.”

Avice plonked her basket down in the soft grass and turned to study the area while her thoughts raced. Trewoofe had chosen a particularly pretty bend to bring her to so she could wash. The river reflected the violet of the twilight sky above, and the picturesque scene was complemented perfectly by the burble of the water as it danced over a small tumble of rocks. The noise blended sweetly with the evening chorus of songbirds and chirping insects.

Despite the beautiful setting – which she was sure Trewoofe had selected deliberately – all she could hear was a pounding question roaring repeatedly in her mind.

Why? She gripped her pendant. Why? Why? Why?

Guilt turned her stomach.

Would this happen to more babies? Why were the Spriggan so intent on changing them? Why did they mark a Faerie youth?

Just today, Avice had intended on leaving Lamorna behind. She had suffered for them, healed them, brought their babies into the world, and offered her agony the night of Equinox before Trewoofe’s intervention. She felt split in two again, between her duty and her heart.

He pressed his snout to the top of her head. “Little witch, did you not wish to bathe?”

She blinked. “Oh, yes. There is no one around, is there?”

“None that I can sense,” he replied.

“Good.”

Avice peeled off her clothing. She rolled her dress and chemise to her hips and shimmied out of them the rest of the way. She did not mind as Trewoofe watched eagerly. It seemed foolish to be shy around him after their intimacy in the cave. She knew he adored her and her body, and she was determined not to feel so reserved around him anymore.

She abandoned her garments at his paws and waded in until the water caressed her ankles. She hissed as the chill shot up her legs and made her skin prickle. Avice’s teeth were chattering by the time the water reached mid-thigh. She grinned as Trewoofe splashed in after her.

“I am also sticky,” he admitted.

She giggled at that and gasped as the river reached her navel. “I suppose the waters have not yet warmed to catch up with the season.”

Trewoofe cut through the river as effortlessly as a fish, his long body and rudder-like tail worked in tandem to propel him forwards. He was halfway between the two grassy banks and let out puff as he saw how far behind Avice was.

“Come out deeper with me,” he beckoned.

She shook her head and offered him a sad smile. “I cannot swim.”

Trewoofe stiffened at that. “My Kingdom is full of water, little witch.”

“I know.” She splashed the cold water up her arms and chest, ridding herself of the worst of the grime. “I will be careful.”

“I will teach you, if you like,” he replied, paddling back over to her.

Avice plucked up her lips, trying to be enthusiastic about his offer. She knew Trewoofe would make a wonderful teacher, and it would be smart to learn how to swim in a place full of rivers and wells. She waded towards him, meeting him halfway, until the water was up to her collar bones.