Page 60 of First Light
“Animals die from all sorts of things.” He frowned. “Fur iswarm. Warmth is important for humans. You can die from cold.”
She had to admit the fur-lined cloak was toasty warm. “Wool is warm too.”
“You’re the niece of the king of Cymru going to formally meet the unicorn chief of the Blessing of Moray; you’re not going to wear spun wool to meet a chief.”
Cadell himself was wearing a leather cloak over his armor. Since he emanated heat, it was more for looks than necessity, and it looked completely badass.
Carys, on the other hand, had her hair braided with ribbons, uncomfortable boots, and a cloak made of little furry creatures she didn’t want to think about.
“I already met them,” she said. “And they seemed pretty casual if you ask me.”
“You met them when they saved your life; now we are going to meet them formally as I am a magical creature returning to their territory, and I am also in their debt because they saved your life.” He held up a basket wrapped in velvet. “We are bringing gifts, and we are wearing nice clothes.”
“Fine.” At least she’d get to see Azar again. The memory of the bright little girl—unicorn—was enough to bring a smile to her face. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.”
The forest was darker than it had been two days before. The shadows were dense, and the light was grey and flat above the trees. Though the birds sang in the canopy and she could hear little creatures hopping in the branches, without a bright child perched on her shoulders, it felt more menacing.
She glanced at the basket. “What gift are we bringing?”
“A collection of herbs from Elanor’s garden, some incense traded from the East, and I added a dragon scale as a personal token of my thanks.”
“Okay, two thoughts. One, a dragon scale?” Carys’s mind raced. “I feel like that has so many magical uses, right? Potions? Spells? Do the unicorns do spells? Their magic seems very elemental, and that seems like it would be connected to fae mythology but?—”
“Fae are not myths.” Cadell looked slightly annoyed. “Two?”
“Two what?” Carys frowned.
“You said you had two thoughts. Save your questions for another time.”
“You pulled off a scale? From where? Did it hurt?” She looked at his backside, then caught Cadell staring at her. “I’m sorry, that might be none of my business.”
The corner of his mouth twitched up. It almost looked like a smile. Almost.
“We shed scales from our tails. And to answer one of your questions, yes. Dragon scales and dragon teeth are useful in healing potions. Yasmin will appreciate it. We do not often give them as gifts.”
They came to a fork in the path, and Carys found herself drawn to the right path. “Is it this way? I think I remember?—”
“No.” Cadell grabbed her arm before she could set foot on the path. “Not that way.”
She looked at him with alarm, then back at the path. “There’s something bad there, right? I felt it the other day.”
“Look.” He nodded toward the dense trees where the path led. “Reallylook.”
She peered into the trees and noticed that the light seemed more muted there. Birdsong stopped and the brush was silent.
Bright red hawthorn berries were her first warning. They peeked through the shadows like the lure that they were. As she kept her eyes trained on the path, the darkness grew, and the trees seemed to swallow any glimmer of illumination. Blue lights flickered in the space between the dark trunks, and the faint sound of childish laughter reached her ears.
“Wisps.” She blinked. “Is this a gate?”
“No, but it is an old fae fort,” Cadell said. “You need to watch where you’re going. The fae will try to draw you in. You’re a curiosity to them now.”
“What if I turn my clothes inside out?”
He frowned. “What would that do?”
“Can I carry bread?”