Annilen got to her feet. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, you better not. I will likely be in some trouble when I return to the village.”
Understanding dawned on her small features as she recalled their earlier conversation. “Good luck, Snow.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it.”
Annilen fluttered off into the forest. Snow got to her feet, brushing away the dirt from her seat. She started to take a step, when Faradill’s voice floated through her mind.
You know who is using the dark wizard’s magic. Don’t you?
She paused there, her heart ramming hard in her chest as she turned back to the tree. She pressed her palm against the roughened bark and closed her eyes, connecting with the ancient oak.
“I do,” she whispered.
And this person is dangerous.
“Yes,” she replied. “And I have to protect you, all of you, from her.”
There was a long pause. Finally, he said,Who are you really, Snow?
Her eyes popped open. She craned her neck to look up at the leaves overhead and the branches swaying slightly in the breeze.
“I am no one,” she said at last. “I release you.”
She removed her hand from the tree and hurried through the forest.
It was dusk when she returned to the village, exhausted from the trek. Her feet ached from the constant walking. As she arrived, the village Elders were preparing for that night’s festival. Yirrie and Elator placed small loaves of bread from the day’s baking on each of the tables. Snow hoped to skitter around them unnoticed, but it was not to be.
Yirrie spotted her right away. Her face was pinched in fury as she glared at her from across the way. She halted what she was doing, handing Elator the loaf of bread she held, and then marched toward Snow with a purpose that told Snow she was about to be in terrible trouble.
“There you are! Just where have you been all day?”
Yirrie took a step back to look Snow up and down. Her face contorted into one of distaste as she realized Snow wore pants and a tunic instead of her normal gown attire. She noticed, too, the flask and the small bag she’d taken with the bread and apples.
“You’ve been hiking through the forest, haven’t you?”
“I—”
“And don’t lie to me, Snow.”
Her mouth had gone dry. She swallowed hard, trying to come up with some viable excuse. The truth was, she had none, and she knew she would face Yirrie’s wrath for leaving the safety of the village.
“Yes,” she said at last, defeated.
Furious, Yirrie took her by the elbow and dragged her away from the others. She dropped her voice to a roughened whisper. “How can you expect the Elders to protect you if you refuse to stay within the borders of the village? If they find out—”
“They won’t,” Snow said.
“How do you know?” Yirrie snapped. “Did anyone see you leave?”
“No one saw me leave this morning. It was early before anyone was about,” Snow said.
She wanted to tell her about the dark wizard, the cabin, Seraphina, and the missing mirrors. But Yirrie would not understand. There was only one person in the entire village who would and she doubted Yirrie would let her out of her sight to visit Master Harwin.
Yirrie continued to drag her through the village to their house. “You are going home, Snow. You’re going to stay put in your room even if I have to tie you down to keep you there.”
“I’m sorry, Yirrie—”
