Page 53 of The Cursed Crown

"Want to help out?"

She felt nothing, no movement, no response.

"Want to piss off those who live in the forest?" Now there was a tinge, the slightest of flicker. "I bet they cut down plenty of trees for heat. I bet you've seen friends knocked down. I bet you'reangry."

Oh yes, it was.

"They want to catch us. If you helped get us across, they won't be able to. And in return, I could bring an acorn to the other side. How about that?" The technique had worked once, but this specific tree didn't care for its acorns. It was deliberating, unsure she was worth the bother.

"What do you want, then?" Rissa couldn't quite believe she was wasting her time negotiating with a tree.

If it was able to communicate, it didn't bother.

Theycouldn't remain here indefinitely. "I could make you taller. Taller than your friends here. Stronger, too."

The branches fluttered with unconcealed excitement. She got it.

The ground under their feet shook. Khal adopted a fighting stance, legs spread apart, hand on the hilt of his sword, facing the forest. Even Rissa half expected to see an army of enemies rush out, but what came out of the shadows of the woods were rows after rows of ground-creeping plants, slithering like snakes, or lashing out. She stumbled backward, keeping out of their way.

The ivy crawled to the rift, twisting, curving, and extending until it knotted itself in the shape of a bridge, just large enough for one person to come through at the time.

"How are you doing any of that?"

A fair question that didn't truly have an answer. "I'm not. The forest is."

Never one to go back on a bargain, she released some of her energy through the young oak tree, letting its roots dig deeper and its trunk extend higher. Then she dashed out to the newly formed bridge.

Khal tested the strength of the hedera, dubious as ever. "I'll go first. If it breaks, we'll never survive the fall."

"I'm lighter," Rissa pointed out.

Both men growled low in their throat.

"You'renottrying an unstable knot of branches flying over a thousand-mile drop." Teoran huffed. "Besides, I could be lighter than you.I'llgo."

She didn't like the thought—this was her idea, she ought to be the one experimenting. Not to mention, if she fell, there was a chance the ivy might try to do something about it. Teoran was already gone, his assured footfalls light and swift over the evergreen twists.

Once he reached the other side, he held one hand up, screaming, "It's stable enough!"

Khal gestured Rissa forward.

It hadn't escaped her that she was always in the middle. Khal either took the front or rear, ensuring she was guarded on both sides. Part of her protested against the ever-vigilant attention, but she was growing used to it. The man was so used to living in his cousin's shadow, he probably didn't know how to put himself first.

Her first step was far from what she would have qualified as stable; the ivy had tried its best, but the surface was still uneven. Beyond the tips of her leather boots, she could spot the depth of plunge. Swallowing a thick ball down, she lifted her gaze to Teoran, and walked slowly and carefully. She couldn't resist another look down.

Her stomach dropped to her feet.

"Come on!" Teoran waved from the other side. "Don't think about it. You'll make it."

She nodded. Right. If he'd managed with ease, there was no reason why she couldn't make it to the other side. She was already halfway.

Another step, then a third.

A racket called her attention back to the forest, moments before an arrow flew right past her, landing on the ivy.

She swore out loud, ducking to avoid it.

"Run!" Khal screamed, pulling his sword.

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