Page 216 of The Demon Tide

My Errilor flock.

III’s sense of triumph emanates from behind me, further rooting my affinity power to the ground. The raven lifts his head, bright sunlight glinting off his black beak and gleaming eyes.

Errilith.

His name sounds in my mind as wonder blooms in my breast. “Where did these ravens come from?” I ask.

Tierney’s companion fixes his inky stare on me. “There is a Reckoning at hand,” he says, his voice eerily deep, a dark mist rising throughout the clearing. “So the Errilorhave returned. Their enemy, the Shadow Death, is coming for the natural world. Can you feel it?”

Anxious recognition shivers through my lines. “III showed me a vision of a great Shadow,” I tell him. “It was surrounding the last of the Forest.” I look at Yvan. “Vogel’s built an army in the Spine. Much bigger than the one he hid in the Vo Mountains. And his Shadow power keepsgrowing.” I falter, struggling to describe III’s foresight.

Yvan’s fire catches me in a closer embrace as he takes hold of my hand once more. “What did you see, Elloren?”

“People from every group on Erthia...standing with the Forest. They all had this on their palm.” I open my palm, revealing the imprint of III. “III wants us all to join with the Forest—”

“Only Dryads are Guardians!” Oaklyyn cries out, my gaze sliding from Yvan’s to find her glaring at me. I’m caught up short by the pain shining in her eyes, her voice breaking when it comes. “You’ve cared for the Forest for oneminute,” she grits out, motioning sharply toward the other Dryads. “We’ve cared for it forthousandsof years. And we’ll still care for it well after you’ve all killed each other off and finished trying to destroy us, as well!” Her lips twist into a trembling sneer. “It will be just like all the times before. We’ll be left to nurture the remnants of life you leave behind after yoursenseless destruction.”

“There won’t be any remnants left this time,” Tierney cuts in. “I’ve seen the Shadow Void in the water. I’vefeltit.” She pauses, as if struggling to convey something too hellish for words. “What this Tree told Elloren—it’s true. There’s a bigger fight underneath the obvious one. And we need to join together to face it.Allof us. Allies and enemies alike.”

The outrage in Oaklyyn’s eyes intensifies. “You don’t know what it means to join with our Forest!”

“Thenteachus,” I implore.

“It can’t be taught!” Oaklyyn lashes back.

I take hold of the branch sheathed behind my belt and hold it up, magic flowing through my feet toward it in a low rumble. “I have Black Witch power. And I’m no longer bound byanythingsave the connection I’ve made to the Forest and my horde-bond. Show me how to use my Dryad power so I can fight with you to save Erthia.” I look to them all. “Ineedyou. We need each other.”

I feel Sylvan’s gaze on me and meet his formidable stare. “What do you seek, Black Witch?” he asks.

“To learn the Forest’s spells and how to wield them.” I tighten my grip on the branch as the image of a very different branch bears down on my mind. “And there’s a Wand. A green Wand. III showed it to me in the vision. I used to possess it, and it left me. But... III wants me to find it. I think it’s the Great Wand from all the religious myths.”

Keen interest sparks in his gaze. “What did your Wand look like?”

I describe the Wand and his piercing look intensifies. “Where did you last see it?”

“On a mountaintop balcony overlooking Voloi. When Vogel took hold of my power, it fled and fell. A kestrel caught it and flew away.”

“Even wands know to flee from her,” Oaklyyn snipes witheringly.

Sylvan pays her hostile comment no heed. “What did III show you?”

I describe the III’s vision of branches, leaves, and flowers springing forth from the Wand.

“Could it be the Verdyllion?” Flora asks Sylvan, her lilting voice shot through with astonishment. Surprise ripples through the Dryads’ collective power at her voicing of the Wand’s true name and I draw in a reflexive breath, the word like a balm to my soul.

The Forest’s Heart.

Hazel shoots Oaklyyn a poignant look. “Do you accept hernow, Oaklyyn?”

Oaklyyn’s features twist with vitriol. “Never, Sylvan. I accept hernever.”

Her words cut, but there’s no time to be thrown by her hostility. “What is the Wand, truly?” I press Sylvan, sensing an opening with him.

“That Wand,” he replies, “is a central line accessing all the power of the Forest.”

“Well, it sounds like we need to find that Wand,” Tierney announces, casting everyone a significant look. “And get ready for Vogel’s Shadow.Together.”

“There are a few things Vogel’s power can’t break through,” Yvan says to Sylvan, suddenly confiding in him like they’re longtime compatriots, his steady energy sparking a pained admiration in me. “Smaragdalfar varg runes, Wyvernfire, and your magic can beat back the Shadow,” he says.

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