Page 51 of The Cursed Crown

"How? Have you been here before?" she asked, surprised he hadn't mentioned it until now.

"Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It's just before midday, it's still eastward, and I can feel it, prick." His expression lightened when he glanced at Rissa. "Being sensitive to the change in light is particular to the four seasonal courts. You should be able to feel it too, right?"

Rissa was noncommittal. "Hm."

She never liked to admit that she hadn't taken much power from her father at all. She had her link to the land, and the skillset of a nightmare. She'd learned to harness and control all elements, as most gentry could. But the specific powers of Titus or Mab had always lurked beyond her reach. She had no idea where the sun actually was beyond the cover of branches.

"I say we climb anyway. Not to doubt the princeling," Khal snorted, his tone very much doubting him, "but we might see a better path for the horses."

Teoran gruffly nodded.

Rissa hopped on the trunk, grateful to take a breather from these two. The tree was thick, strong, and so filled with life, it seemed to have a mind of its own. Perching on a low-hanging branch, she removed one of her leather gloves, pressing her palm against its bark. Then she felt it. Its will, its history. As if aware that she was trying, willing, or simply able to communicate with it, the tree drowned her mind under a flow of images. Its history, from acorn to sapling. She saw bare feet walk on the forest ground. Songs sung by the teardrops feeding its life force. And something else. A sense of belonging to this forest, to these lands, to this world. This tree was fae. It was folk. Maybe it had sap and branches rather than blood, but it very much considered itself a wild thing. And it was.

Rissa caressed the branch in a soothing motion. She couldn't tell where the melody that crossed her lips came from, but she hummed it all the same.

"Woah!" She grabbed the branch with both hands, stumbling to stay upright, as the branch extended below her feet, taking her up, higher and higher. When it reached as far as it could go, another branch curved to reach her. She leapt on it, and settled down as it lifted her. Rissa grinned. She’d never minded climbing herself, but this was a lot more fun.

The tree carried her to the very top, above the line of leaves blocking the view. She blinked, the strength of the sunlight blinding her eyes. They'd been used to darkness for the last few hours.

From up there, she could see they were close to the center of the forest, and indeed, they had been marching east.

A solitary mount dominated the horizon, higher than any hills or peaks. Even miles away, she could see the sheer wall of spells shielding it.

The cursed mountain, Krefedor. They were almost there, close enough to reach it by the end of the night if they continued at this pace.

Excitement clogging her chest, she started to climb down, eager to inform her companions of their progress.

She was only halfway to the ground when the previously friendly branch hit her flank hard enough to bruise. Before she could recover, it plastered her on the tree trunk and curved around it twice, capturing her in place.

She opened her mouth to scream. A vine wrapped around her mouth, nose, and eyes, engulfing her in a deadly embrace.

New Friendships

Arising sense of panic sent her heartbeat to a gallop. Rissa forced herself to focus, reluctantly ready to lash out. She hated the thought of harming a tree, but she also had no intention of letting it bury her beneath her trunk.

Suddenly, the vines around her eyes parted, along with some of the branches under her feet, giving her a clear view of the forest.

Teoran and Khal were on their knees, facing the tree trunk, hands above their heads. Five warriors dressed in nothing but low-hanging skirts held them at lancepoint, discussing among themselves and pointing to the tree. They knew she was up there; they were arguing about how to get to her.

Had the tree truly meant to help her? She knew it had a consciousness of sorts, but she wouldn't have expected it to be so reactive, so aware of the world around it.

"You're a good tree, aren't you?" The branches moved ever so slightly, their flutter caressing her skin. It liked the praise. "I'm going to need you to free me." Harming it was out of the question now that she realized it was just trying to keep her safe, but she needed out of there all the same."I have to help my friends."

The branches around her tightened, squeezing her too tight. Dammit.

She let a frustrated breath out.

"Let's talk about this reasonably. As a tree, I'm guessing you have a set of needs." The branches were still, enrapt. She'd been right. Like anything with a soul, the tree was bribable. The question was, what could she promise a damn tree? Rain? Squirrel nests?

Unexpectedly inspired, Rissa grinned."You know, I live rather far from here, and there aren't many trees as strong and tall as you. I could carry your acorns south, sow a few of them in our fields. Your legacy could reach the entire fae kingdom."

Oh, she had its attention now.

"Just help me with my friends."

The tree remained motionless for several moments, before the branches untangled around her torso. "That's it. Good tree. Now, I'll get down there and…"

The tree didn't agree. Branches shot toward the ground, fast as thunder, plunging in the ground right under the kneeling fae's backs, separating them from their captors. The five warriors barely had the time to step back, before they erupted out of the ground, lashing out like whips.

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