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“I might have an idea,” he begins, his voice a purr, “but I doubt you will be fond of it.”
As pleased as I am that the Void Prince has a suggestion, I can’t help my suspicions from growing. When does the demon help anyone except himself? If we find Juron dead in these woods, he’d only laugh.
Still, I can’t deny my curiosity. Though Natharius’s plan will somehow benefit him, it isn’t as if we have any other ideas. Hopefully his suggestion will prove a plausible plan.
I fold my arms across my chest and examine Natharius carefully through narrowed eyes. He looks far too gleeful. “Why don’t you think I will like your idea?”
He smiles. “While I’m confident of its effectiveness, I’m also confident you’ll die.”
twenty-four
Nathariusisright.Idon’t like his plan one bit.
I’m to be wisp bait.
I don’t know how I ended up agreeing to this plan, but I do know I’m already regretting it. If only we had an alternative.
I inhale deeply and continue through the shadowy trees. The others are so far behind I can no longer see or hear them. Cayaassured me she wouldn’t let me out of her sight, so I hope her vision is superior to mine. Taria also promised that at the first sign of danger, she would unleash the Mother’s wrath upon the wisps. And Zephyr also nodded, silently pledging his support.
As for Natharius, he just smirked.
My thoughts are interrupted by a crunch beneath my boots.
I jolt so violently my bones almost spring from my skin. I raise my foot carefully, wincing as I dare to peer at what lies beneath it, fearing I will see bones. Someone’s bones.
Fortunately, I find only twigs under my boots.
I continue through the trees, shoving away the branches which threaten to gouge out my eyes. Despite my efforts, the sharp edges scrape across my cheeks.
Leaves riddle my hair, but I don’t have time to care. I’m too busy scanning the trees, my eyes darting frantically between the shadows in search of blue light. But no matter how many steps I take, the wisps refuse to show themselves.
And I’m certain I’ve already spent an hour strolling through these woods as wisp bait.
I groan. We really can’t afford to waste more time. The sooner I find another wisp and follow it back to its lair, the sooner we can continue on our way to Gerazad. Not that I’m looking forward to another run in with the ghastly creatures. Knowing my luck, I’ll stumble upon something even more dangerous than wisps. Maybe an enormous undead abomination which can swallow me before Taria or the others can save me.
I also try not to think of what Natharius said about dead necromancers. Or about what else could lurk within these woods, monstrosities even he isn’t aware of.
I shake my head. I need to focus on the wisps. Though they too can kill me, at least I know what I’m up against. Their visions are illusions, no matter how real they seem, and I won’t fall for their petty tricks a second time.
At least, I hope I won’t.
I pull the bravest face I can muster as I traipse through the foliage. With every step, I frantically glance in every direction.
Still, there are only trees to be seen.
“Wisps, where are you?” I call into the darkness, hoping my words won’t be lost to the wind. I also pray they don’t come out as shaky as they sound in my head. “Where’ve you gone? Hurry up and show yourselves already.” If I don’t find a wisp soon, I’ll be driven to madness in these ungodly woods.
The wisps don’t answer my call, and they remain in hiding. No blue lights flicker amid the shadows.
My throat rumbles with a growl of impatience.
When I didn’t want to find them, one revealed itself to me. And yet now I’m desperately seeking them, none will appear. Just my luck. While Taria claimed wisps are mindless beings, I’m not so sure about that. Right now, it seems they’re watching me from afar, laughing as I stumble through the darkness.
I look back over my shoulder and mumble a curse to my invisible companions.
If they get me killed from a lack of attentiveness, I’ll come back to haunt them. And the dark magic in these woods will ensure I’m brought back from the dead.
Then again, I can’t blame them. Caya and Taria, at least. It’s my fault for agreeing to this plan. And Natharius’s for suggesting it.
