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“Why do I sense you tricked him?” I asked, amusement lacing my tone.
“Well, he didn’t know I was a wolf shifter,” Garrick said. “He set off in the direction of the buck, and I shifted—easily outrunning him and finding the deer first. Not even a troll can best a wolf’s hunting instincts. I darted in front of the troll before he could creep up behind the buck and raise his club. Slaying a deer in wolf form is a little messier than I prefer, but...” He shrugged. “When I shifted back into my fae form, the troll was furious, claiming I’d cheated. But I reminded him that I hadn’t specifiedhowwe would track the deer. Precise language matters among the fae.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “What if you hadn’t won? Wolf form or no, there was still chance involved. Wouldn’t you havebeen committed to your word to...let him eat you?” I frowned at the thought.
“Me? Lose?” Garrick scoffed. We both laughed, the sound echoing off the surrounding pines.
A sound greeted us from ahead, like distant humming. I froze, forcing Garrick to a stop to avoid dragging me by the arm. My heart hammered against my ribs, screaming at me to run.
Garrick’s fingers tightened on my arm. “Don’t be afraid. It’s the mountain witch, Shavonne. She’s only trouble if you don’t grant her request when you pass.”
“What sort of request?” I hissed as the hunter calmly led me forward up the incline and around a bend in the trail.
“It’s never too steep a price, or I would have taken us another way. But this is the most direct route.”
Ahead, a rickety wooden bridge spanned a small chasm that dropped into a clear mountain stream. Just at its start, a stooped figure draped in a heavy cloak awaited us, humming and twisting something in her gnarled fingers.
“I thought trolls guarded bridges—that’s what my childhood stories said.”
“The stories mixed it up, then. Trolls prefer caves and hunting. Witches like bargains and trickery like most other fae. They’re generally long-lived hags and other beings who dabble in potion-making as well as our usual elemental magic, but they’re unable to use glamour.”
Garrick led the way confidently, flashing a charming smile as the witch turned her head, revealing the wrinkled face tucked beneath her hood. When she returned his grin, it was all gums, without a single tooth in sight. “Garrick Darkgrove, renowned hunter,” she crooned, setting aside the stone she’d been fumbling with. “I was attempting to see the future, but apparently my gifts don’t lie that way.” She chuckled to herself. “Otherwise, I would have known you were bringing this curiousmortal with you.” Her watery eyes latched onto me, scanning my silver hair and my human ears.
“Yes, it’s not often I have such a lovely traveling companion. But I’m afraid we’re in a hurry, Shavonne. We need to pass.”
“Then you know you must humor an old woman.”
Garrick dipped his head. “Of course. What price must I pay?”
The witch’s toothless grin widened. “Oh, not you this time, my pretty dear. Her.” She pointed her crooked finger toward me. “I make my request of you...?” She paused, clearly awaiting a name.
“Ren,” I supplied, though my voice wavered.
“This will be entertaining.” Shavonne clapped her hands together. “We cannot lie, but you humans can. So grant me this, young Ren: two lies and one truth about yourself.”
“Why would you want lies?”
“So you’re more likely to tell me a deep truth.”
“But how will you know which is the truth?”
She cackled. “Oh, I’ll puzzle it out. That’s the fun.” Shavonne waved her hands at me. “Bare your heart, and you can pass.”
I swallowed. “Very well.” My mind felt hazy as I sifted it for truths and lies that would be personal enough to satisfy this woman. “I hate my brother for betraying me.” In my head, where my anger and hurt churned like a restless storm, I’d been sure this was true, but the words tasted wrong as soon as I spoke them. A lie.
Shavonne nodded along, her watery eyes gleaming. I wondered if she could sense the untruth in my words, or if she was waiting to hear everything.
Hesitating, I tried again. “I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere, not even when my stepfather was still alive and my brother didn’t shun me.” Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked to avoid crying. This was true.
“Very interesting,” Shavonne muttered.
“What do you do with lies and truths?” I asked. “You don’t even know me.”
“And it seems you don’t always even know yourself.” She gave me another toothless smile. “Share something else.”
I frowned. “Are you using magic?”
The witch shrugged. “I think there’s magic in sharing the contents of your heart. But perhaps I help it along, help you see what you’re truly feeling.” She winked.
