waste his anger on Lux for betraying him?
6
Throughout the day, as Lily helped her gather things from the forest, Wick had repeatedly said that she should take Lily back to the palace. For as often as she threatened it, though, she never made a move to make good on it. She’d just mumble it under her breath while Lily gathered toadstools, and that would be that.
Lily’s gown had been ruined from falling in the dirt, and Wick let her wear one of her faded dresses. The forest felt only slightly less terrifying in the warm light of the sun as they gathered supplies. Mostly it appeared to be things for Wick’s potions and spells, but a few things were for them to eat. Sometimes, it was hard to tell the difference, and Lily found that a little unnerving.
As soon as the sky started to redden from the setting sun, Wick demanded they go back in doors. Just because she could fight the night creatures didn’t mean she wanted to. Lily could already hear the rumblings of the forest coming alive, but everything felt eerily silent and still as soon as they reached the clearing around Wick’s cottage.
“Nothing bothers you here, does it?” Lily asked as they walked up to the cottage.
Wick carried a basket under her arm, filled with the treasures from their day’s work. Her cloak draped over her shoulders, but she left the hood down today so Lily could see her face.
“Nothing but lost princesses.” Wick looked back over her shoulder, giving Lily a small smile to let her know she was only teasing.
“I’m not a princess,” Lily muttered, but her attention had already wavered from the conversation.
The apple tree Lily noticed outside the cottage last night, the only living tree in the woods, was even more peculiar than she had originally thought. Wick had already opened the door and gone inside the cottage, but Lily paused outside to admire the tree.
The narrow trunk and branches were twisted and wound around, like thread in a rope, and the bark looked almost black. The green leaves were shaped like tear drops and stood out against the barren backdrop of the forest. But most strange were the apples that hung precariously from the branches, all of them a bright shade of violet.
“Are these really apples?” Lily reached up and touched one gingerly, as if she thought the color might rub off and reveal the normal red skin underneath.
“Of sorts, yes.” Wick set the basket down on the dining table and slipped off her cloak. She’d left the door open for Lily to follow. “Come inside and shut the door.”
“Can I eat one?” Lily asked.
“It won’t hurt you, if that’s what you’re asking.” Wick moved about the kitchen, putting everything away. She added things to jars or filled up pouches, making sure everything was in its proper place.
“What kind of apples are these?” Lily plucked one from the tree, then took a bite. It tasted bitter and sweet, like vinegar and honey. She wrinkled her nose and went into the cottage, dutifully closing the door behind her. “They don’t taste very good.”
“They’re not supposed to taste like anything. They’re not really for eating.” She wiped her hands on the front of her smock and watched Lily mull over the fruit. “They’re what keep the charun and trees from bothering my cottage.”
“They’re magic apples?” Lily’s eyes widened when she looked at Wick.
“In a way.” Wick gave a small laugh. “I put a spell on the seeds, and everywhere the roots touch, the creatures will never come around. It’s not a very strong spell, but it’s good enough for what lives in this forest. Anything too powerful wouldn’t have any trouble getting in, but I keep to myself, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Hmmm.” Lily set the apple on the table, not sure what to make of it. It tasted horrible, but it was beautiful and magic, so it seemed like a waste to toss it aside. “Do you need help with anything?”
“No.” Wick touched at her hair, watching the
6
Throughout the day, as Lily helped her gather things from the forest, Wick had repeatedly said that she should take Lily back to the palace. For as often as she threatened it, though, she never made a move to make good on it. She’d just mumble it under her breath while Lily gathered toadstools, and that would be that.
Lily’s gown had been ruined from falling in the dirt, and Wick let her wear one of her faded dresses. The forest felt only slightly less terrifying in the warm light of the sun as they gathered supplies. Mostly it appeared to be things for Wick’s potions and spells, but a few things were for them to eat. Sometimes, it was hard to tell the difference, and Lily found that a little unnerving.
As soon as the sky started to redden from the setting sun, Wick demanded they go back in doors. Just because she could fight the night creatures didn’t mean she wanted to. Lily could already hear the rumblings of the forest coming alive, but everything felt eerily silent and still as soon as they reached the clearing around Wick’s cottage.
“Nothing bothers you here, does it?” Lily asked as they walked up to the cottage.
Wick carried a basket under her arm, filled with the treasures from their day’s work. Her cloak draped over her shoulders, but she left the hood down today so Lily could see her face.
“Nothing but lost princesses.” Wick looked back over her shoulder, giving Lily a small smile to let her know she was only teasing.
“I’m not a princess,” Lily muttered, but her attention had already wavered from the conversation.
The apple tree Lily noticed outside the cottage last night, the only living tree in the woods, was even more peculiar than she had originally thought. Wick had already opened the door and gone inside the cottage, but Lily paused outside to admire the tree.
The narrow trunk and branches were twisted and wound around, like thread in a rope, and the bark looked almost black. The green leaves were shaped like tear drops and stood out against the barren backdrop of the forest. But most strange were the apples that hung precariously from the branches, all of them a bright shade of violet.
“Are these really apples?” Lily reached up and touched one gingerly, as if she thought the color might rub off and reveal the normal red skin underneath.
“Of sorts, yes.” Wick set the basket down on the dining table and slipped off her cloak. She’d left the door open for Lily to follow. “Come inside and shut the door.”
“Can I eat one?” Lily asked.
“It won’t hurt you, if that’s what you’re asking.” Wick moved about the kitchen, putting everything away. She added things to jars or filled up pouches, making sure everything was in its proper place.
“What kind of apples are these?” Lily plucked one from the tree, then took a bite. It tasted bitter and sweet, like vinegar and honey. She wrinkled her nose and went into the cottage, dutifully closing the door behind her. “They don’t taste very good.”
“They’re not supposed to taste like anything. They’re not really for eating.” She wiped her hands on the front of her smock and watched Lily mull over the fruit. “They’re what keep the charun and trees from bothering my cottage.”
“They’re magic apples?” Lily’s eyes widened when she looked at Wick.
“In a way.” Wick gave a small laugh. “I put a spell on the seeds, and everywhere the roots touch, the creatures will never come around. It’s not a very strong spell, but it’s good enough for what lives in this forest. Anything too powerful wouldn’t have any trouble getting in, but I keep to myself, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Hmmm.” Lily set the apple on the table, not sure what to make of it. It tasted horrible, but it was beautiful and magic, so it seemed like a waste to toss it aside. “Do you need help with anything?”
“No.” Wick touched at her hair, watching the
Similar Books
