Page 45 of Queen of the Night
“What areyou?” I ask, ignoring her comment about my lucent.
“A nymph, of course. Can’t you tell by the beauty of my tree? My name is Endri.” She eyes us closely, and I get the idea we may offend her if we don’t tread carefully. I look to Ikar, at a loss for how to respond to this odd creature.
He steps in. “Can you take us to Odella?”
She tilts her head and thinks for a moment. “And what shall you do for me?”
Ikar and I glance at each other.He’sthe king here. I’m sure he’ll find a way out of this.
“Restore lucent.” He’s never sounded more confident.
The flying lady laughs so hard it nearly sounds like high-pitched squeaking.
Ikar remains expressionless.
“Impossible. But you can give me the woman. I need lucent.”
I’m sitting so close to him that I feel his muscles tense, but you’d never be able to tell from the easy smile that turns his lips.
“The woman is more trouble than she’s worth.”
I’d balk at that, but if it keeps me from becoming a nymph’s plaything, I’ll go with it. The branches around us shift and wind a little tighter, and I find my hand wrapped around Ikar’s upper arm. Rupi appears unperturbed as she watches from outside our prison, eyeing the nymph with curiosity. Either that means Endri’s not dangerous, or something is terribly wrong with my bird who’s usually very protective—given that she loves the king I’m currently clutching, it could most definitely be thelatter.
“I must speak with Odella,” Ikar reminds her, and the little being frowns at his tone.
“It’s been a very long time since Odella allowed anyone entrance. I think you’ll likely be killed,” Endri says. “EvenIhave not been able to gain entrance since she locked her doors.”
“Odella won’t kill me.” Ikar has never sounded more sure. “She’ll want lucent restored as much as I do.”
She tilts her head thoughtfully and stares at him for a moment. “You truly believe you can restore lucent?”
Ikar nods, confidence unwavering. If not for the creases at the corners of his eyes that I’ve come to realize belie his worry, I’d believe him too.
She comes closer, her interest piqued. “I’ll show you to the entrance and Odella can decide… on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You must take me with you. When Odella closed off the passage, I waited too long. I didn’t realize that the forest would die so quickly… If you’re so sure you won’t be killed, I’d like to return with you.”
Ikar agrees with a nod. “If Odella allows it.”
Immediately the tree twists and turns until we’re standing on the forest floor once again, and the limbs that surrounded us silently draw back. It’s then I notice that I still hold tightly to Ikar, and it pleases my magic, so I grudgingly pull my hand away and hold to my pack straps instead. They don’t offer the same effect as gripping his bicep, but they’ll have to do, I suppose.
The fluttering woman takes off ahead. Ikar and I look at each other, then follow after her. But before we get much farther, she spins around quickly.
“I forgot to mention… my tree caught two others. Do you know them?”
Chapter 29
Ikar
We follow Endri quietly, taking in our surroundings. To go from dead, gloamy forest to this—a forest where the branches and trees are twisty, but look healthy, and where there are only small bits of gloam in the shadows—is almost shocking. There are bright flowers and long, dewy blades of grass, and bushes heavy with dark berries that Rupi stops to peck at, staining her white feathers purple as she hops within the bushes. I’ve known that nymphs are connected to nature by their type, but I didn’t realize the extent.
I frown, confused. “Are we already within the land of the nymphs?”
Endri laughs and looks over her shoulder with a grin. “Oh no. Wait until you see what’s within. I’m sure they’ve fared better than I.”
“How have you survived this long?” I ask.
