Page 6 of The Songbird & the Forest

“It seems you’ve kept me alive, little bird,” Ilex said, their voice like gravel from disuse.

Dahlia let out a relieved laugh at that. “I certainly did my best. I had no idea what type of poison those awful men used, so I had to guess at what herbs would help. I probably didn’t get it totally right, but hey, you’re talking to me right now, so I will take that as a win, I suppose,” she said.

“Here, you need to drink some water, and I made some broth too. I hope you don’t mind, I raided your garden a bit. Oh, and poor Misty thinks she can eat still, so she’s torn up the plants outside quite a bit—I’m so sorry about that,” Dahlia said as she offered Ilex a cup of water.

They drank and savored the feeling of the cool water running down their throat before they spoke again. Dahlia had hurried off to fill a bowl of broth and was now sitting before them again, offering it to them.

Ilex had never been…cared for. Even as a young Dryad, their family had not coddled them, and they had moved away the moment they were old enough to fend for themself.

But this bright little necromancer had stayed with them, was caring for them. For reasons Ilex could not understand.

“Could you try to eat just a few bites at least?” Dahlia asked, holding the small bowl out to them.

Ilex nodded, taking it into their own hands. Dahlia smiled at that and remained seated at the edge of their nest.

“I’ve also, eh, made myself at home. You were asleep for several days. I hope you don’t mind too terribly, but I made myself a spot on what I think is your couch?” Dahlia gestured to one of the mossy lumps Ilex had fashioned into the floor of the cottage when they’d made it. They couldn’t hold back a hoarse chuckle.

“It is where I sit when I’m not sleeping, yes. You would call this a couch?”

“Yes, or a sofa, I suppose,” Dahlia smiled back at them. “It’s very soft.”

Ilex nodded and studied Dahlia’s face openly as she studied theirs. After a long moment, Dahlia seemed to realize that they were both just staring at each other, and shifted her gaze, rising from where she had been sitting. Ilex wasn’t sure why she seemed uncomfortable.

“I’ll, uh… I’ll go check on Misty and make sure she hasn’t gotten into your garden again.”

Ilex hoped she wouldn’t be gone for long.

9

Chapter 9

Dahlia was struggling. She had a lot of feelings that she wasn’t sure what to do with. She had been so incredibly worried about Ilex during the four days they’d slept, and now that they were awake, she found herself looking for excuses to stay a bit longer with them.

She knew they didn’t talk much, but the way they looked at her with such awe and quiet joy made her feel…wanted. Safe.

Everyone else in Dahlia’s life had always told her she talked too much, she was annoying, her personality was unbecoming of a necromancer of the court. Her talent with plants is what had kept her in favor despite her supposed flaws.

She had never really thought they were flaws, though. In her heart, she knew that her bright spirit was something to be proud of—something that made her, her.

Dahlia had always quietly loved herself. It was the people around her that didn’t appreciate what she brought to the world.

Ilex didn’t seem to mind all of the things that other people had disliked about her. In fact, they seemed to enjoy her company. When they weren’t unconscious, of course.

She knew it wasn’t wise, but she wondered what could happen if she stayed a little longer. She was supposed to be representing Daosbor at the celebration in Ichorna—something she never would have missed even a week ago. But now, confronted with the experiences she was having, she found her heart telling her this was where she was supposed to be.

10

Chapter 10

Dahlia, thankfully, did not stay away long. Ilex knew her excuse of checking on Misty was a lie and that she had felt the need to flee for some other reason. They only hoped they had not made her uncomfortable.

While she had been outside, Ilex had risen from their spot in the nest and tidied up a bit. Their leafy mane had grown a bit wild as they had slept, so they put it to rights and set about washing their soup bowl in the basin of water under the small water pump at the corner of the cottage.

Dahlia came back while Ilex had their back turned to the door, so they pivoted to look at her, assess her. She was breathing a bit fast, and her round cheeks were a bright pink. So was the tip of her tiny nose. Ilex thought they had never seen anything so pretty.

“Oh, you’re up!” She exclaimed as she took them in.

“I’m up, thanks to your excellent care,” Ilex said. Her blush deepened.

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