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“What aren’t you telling us?” I interjected, suspiciously.
“Patience. He’s getting to the point,” Tuck reassured us, then turned to glance at Little John. “You could get to the point a little faster, though.” He grinned.
Nodding, Little John took a deep breath. “The witch created a potion that turns men into beasts.”
“Into beasts?” Will and I repeated in unison.
Exasperation escaped Tuck as he rubbed his face again. “Smoothly said,” he mocked, receiving a pointed glare.
Little John’s hand reached for my ale, and he downed it.
“The witch’s potion is so strong, that once a man is turned into a beast, his blood can turn others too,” Tuck took over the explanation, while Little John grabbed Will’s drink and began drinking it. “The change is often so traumatic, the man loses his mind and turns feral, attacking without recognizing friend from foe.”
His words swirled in my mind as I watched him call for another round. For most of it, Little John seemed collected, but then he’d get that look in his eye like he’d seen something he couldn’t unsee or make sense of, and he’d drown himself in a tankard. It sent a chill down my spine, like nothing else did during our conversation.
“So that’s why Bruralians are often said to ‘fight like beasts,’ because they actually are?” I asked.
“Partially. Some claim there is a cure that allows the man to overcome the beast and retain his mind, changing forms at will. If it is indeed possible, it’s kept a closely guarded secret.”
I suppressed a shiver at Tuck’s words. I’d seen what a predator could do, but a beast with the reasoning mind of a man was a concept of which I couldn’t make sense.
“What does this have to do with the Greenwood?” Will asked.
It was Tuck’s turn to sigh. “Greenwood is haven to both Thimmarians and Bruralians, and most of the men have… come in contact with the witch’s potion.”
“What?” Will asked while I curled my fingers into fists. What had we walked into?
“Do you expect me to leave my cousin there?!” I directed my outrage to Little John, who held up his hands in an attempt to deter my anger. It didn’t work.
“No!” He threw a glare at Tuck. “The men at Greenwood aren’t mindless beasts. They serve under Einri, who leads them and enables them to keep their minds. I’m not entirely certain how he does it, but I assure you, it’s safe.”
“He is an alpha, and his mind is stronger than the potion. He is able to stabilize the minds of others, allowing them to retain their sanity,” Tuck added, unhelpfully.
The man threw the word ‘alpha’ around like it could make everything make sense. Nothing about any of this was good, and I’d unknowingly brought my cousin here. He would undoubtedly be hunted, and this safe place spoke of witchcraft and impossibilities. A man could not become a beast. It was unheard of. I knew the woods, knew the cycle of plants, animals, and humans. What they were suggesting went against nature. It was impossible and I couldn’t leave Will there. We had to get out of here.
“Ithink I’ve made a mistake,” I announced, shaking my head when Will tried to speak. “I wanted to take Will to a place that would be safe for him, but this isn’t it.”
“Arrow,” Little John interjected then burped.
“No.” My hand lifted, stopping him. “This isn’t what you promised. Do you expect me to leave my cousin here, after everything that’s happened? With people just like the ones that did this to him?”
“Let me assure you…” Tuck began.
“Don’t bother.” I cut him off too. “I don’t trust anything that comes out of your mouth.” I stood, shrugging my bow and quiver over my shoulder, and motioning for Will to do the same.
“Arrow,” Little John called again, but I couldn’t even look at him.
“My father would be disappointed,” I spat at him, satisfied when he sat back, eyes wide with shock. “Don’t follow us.”
The look I shot Will as I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of his seat warned him not to question me. I was so mad that I was tempted to draw my bow and shoot the bastard that led us there.
Not slowing my gait, I signaled for the barmaid to bring another round, hoping to distract them with drink, but I doubted it would work for long. I needed to come up with a way out of this quickly. Tuck had made a huge reveal tonight, and while I thought it was brilliant, it was also dangerous to know. I obviously wouldn’t tell anyone, but he might need more reassurances. Soon, I’d have to figure out something, but right now, we needed to get as far as we could from this place.
We left the inn, and after a moment, I spotted the stable around the side of the building.
“What are you planning, Row?” Will wondered while I took him toward the small structure smelling of hay and manure.
“Getting us some horses so we can get out of here,” I replied, pulling the door open and looking around us.
