Page 151 of A Touch of Poison
In the afternoon, we passed a cosy-looking inn nestled against the mountainside. Hunting parties sometimes came up this way, Bastian told me, though they were banned from hunting the mammoths, and many stayed at the Fallen Star Inn.
As we rode higher and the sun set, the cold bit deeper into my face and hands, despite the warmth enchantments Ariadne had sewn into my coat.
“So, this Lady of the Lake.” I dipped my chin into my upturned collar and frowned over at Bastian. “Ari mentioned she’s met one, but is it really worth all this?”
He chuckled, canines bright in the moonlight. “Well, your King Arthur certainly thought so.”
I gasped, even though the air felt like it was made of tiny needles. “You mean… this isthatLady of the Lake? The one who gave him his sword?”
“The very same. She’s the eldest of the sisters and the most powerful. If anyone can tell us about the Circle of Ash, it’s her.” His brow tightened. “At least I hope so.”
“You’re… not sure?”
“There’s a reason I didn’t do this straight away.” His mouth twisted. “If you go at the right time, give a satisfactory offering, and declare your ‘truest desire,’ a Lady of the Lake must answer your question.”
I canted my head. “That sounds like a good thing.”
“It would be, but they are known for… cryptic answers. I can’t blame them—otherwise they’d be constantly harassed. But it does mean we’re only bothering with this because…” His eyebrows pushed together as he pursed his lips.
“Because we’re out of options.”
“Exactly.”
We rode on for another hour before we reached a rocky crest and below us stretched a large, round lake of milky turquoise water with three small islands at its centre. A faint waft of steam rose from the lake’s surface, surrounding it with mist.
“Warm water?” I shot him a questioning look. “Like the hot spring baths at the palace?”
“It used to be a volcano, once upon a time. The water is acidic and sometimes there’s a plume of gas coming from the north edge—it’s not safe to go close then. I suppose technically it stillisa volcano.”
“An acid lake. Poisonous gasses. You bring me to all the best holiday destinations.”
He smirked. “I know, I spoil you.”
We rode down a rocky path to the lake’s edge. I caught the faint, eggy scent of sulphur as we dismounted.
Bastian placed his offering—something small I didn’t catch sight of—in a fine mesh bag and used that to dangle it in the water.
“The moon is high, and this is my offering. Lady of the Lake, I call to you.” He said it three times, frowning at the water.
Just as I thought nothing was going to happen, ripples radiated across the lake’s glassy surface. Within seconds they’d formed a bow wave like the front of an invisible ship coming towards us.
My heart thrummed against my ribs, matched by the magic vibrating harder and harder against my skin.
At last, a dark, slick head of hair broke the surface, followed by a face as pale as freshly fallen snow. Eyes of ice, unblinking, watched us as the woman’s naked body emerged. No water dripped from her, but rather seemed to drip from the lakeupto her clawed fingertips and sheeted up to her midnight hair, breaking every law of gravity.
The back of my neck prickled and the magic around me suddenly felt beyond powerful, like I could take her strength and make it my own. I trembled at the idea.
She stood on the lake’s surface and lifted her chin, taking us both in. Her skin was unmarked by the lake’s acid, though Bastian’s mesh bag was already fraying. “You summoned me, Serpent and…” She canted her head at me and raised her thin eyebrows. “Interesting.”
She probably didn’t see many—if any humans. Maybe none since King Arthur. I bowed my head.
“I have an offering, Lady.” Bastian raised the bag a little, and she snatched it up just as the threads left in the lake dissolved.
Long fingers uncurling, she peered at what he’d brought for her. With a surprisingly gentle smile, she exhaled what might’ve been the cousin of a laugh. “Treasure.”
Before her hand closed, I caught a glimpse of three small objects—the dice from the box hidden in the stables. A meaningful offering.
Her smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. Not just sharp canines as Bastian and most fae had—every tooth was sharp and jagged “And do you have a truest desire?”
