《East of the Sun》 Chapter One I was not the prettiest of my sisters. I hadn¡¯t Jana¡¯s fair hair or Elowyn¡¯s raindrop eyes, nor Gella¡¯s graceful figure or Rendra¡¯s sunshine smile. I had a clump of cherry-dark hair, plain slate-gray eyes, and sallow cheeks that never ceased to bloom red. I didn¡¯t enjoy Liddie¡¯s vibrant silken gowns, either, as I always ruined them in a traipse to the woods; clad in mens¡¯ clothing became a permanent state for me, more practical but not flattering in the least. I hadn¡¯t even Calya¡¯s delicate voice; mine was deeper and more resonate, hers more lilted and pleasant. So when the Stag came, it was not me he would have chosen. We had been, the seven of us, settled around a vibrant fire, courtesy of Gella, comfortably full and exchanging the day¡¯s gossip. Jessamine from the village was now engaged to some duke and would soon be moving to Overthrow, beyond the Sun Trail. Bartram had raised the prices on venison, on account of a whole herd of deer moving south suddenly. Father was due home any minute; surely enough, Liddie had just begun to tell us of Harun from the village offering her a rose, when Father burst through the thick oaken door, harried. ¡°It has happened! Lady Fortune grants us peace at last!¡± Exchanged glances darted about the room, as us seven sisters waited to discover which of us was apparently courting the king. Nothing else could save our poor family- summer had graced us with happy memories, but we didn¡¯t forget how impoverished we had been last winter, when Father¡¯s hunting no longer provided for the household. Father was a grizzled man, one known to keep his composure during the death of his wife, during times of seven simultaneous tantrums, and during the darkest storms. Tonight, however, his eyes, gray like mine, were brightened to shale color by excitement, and his coarse walnut hair stuck out in every direction as if whipped by a northern wind. ¡°What has happened, Father?¡± Jana, the eldest of us, asked, her brown eyes bright and mirthful. ¡°A most curious incident,¡± he said, collapsing upon his armchair. ¡°Of course, I, now having to recount the tale, can scarcely believe it myself!¡± Rendra seized his arm. ¡°Oh, do tell us, Father!¡± ¡°It happened so quickly, but I¡¯m sure it was real- so dream-like was it that my memory is foggy¡­ He must have been one of your mother¡¯s folk¡­¡± At this, all of us released a collective gasp, and Jana, Liddie, and Gella raised their voices in loud demands for explanation. I watched the scene unfold with baited breath, anticipation pricking the hairs along my arms. What could have passed? ¡°Settle, and I shall tell you,¡± Father finally said. He glanced at Jana, the eldest and fairest of us all, and added, ¡°It shall most likely concern you more than your sisters.¡± Jana gasped and Liddie released a squeal of delight. Rendra demanded, ¡°What is it, Father? Could it apply to any of us?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, to any of you! But most likely, to the prettiest. Of course, you are all equal in my eyes, but Jana has wrought the most suitors.¡± I wondered further now at what incident had happened; my own detachment from the situation allowed for heightened curiosity and less nervousness. I saw Calya, not plain by any means but closest to me in scale of appearance, had lost some interest. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°As I rode home this eve,¡± Father finally began, ¡°I saw something silver flicker between the trees. Of course, I stopped, as any curious adventurer would. Out from the trees stepped a huge, shining White Stag- I could tell he was no ordinary deer, and I daren¡¯t raise my bow at him. Before I could gasp or utter a prayer, he asked me, ¡®Are you the father of the seven sisters living west of this way?¡¯ I, of course, said yes.¡± ¡°What did he want, Father?¡± Elowyn demanded, being second-prettiest and thus second most likely affected by this tale. ¡°He wants a companion,¡± Father said, still sounding awestruck. ¡°When I told him I was indeed your father, he replied, ¡®Good. I have a deal to make with you. Over the course of the next year, wealth enough to live comfortably and support six daughters will be provided to you. Your family will forget altogether the pains of starvation and illness, and be free of work. In exchange for this happiness, I ask that by this time on Saturn¡¯s Day, you bring me the daughter most fit to be my companion.¡¯¡± Jana gasped. ¡°Not me, for sure! He¡¯ll ask my hand in marriage without a doubt, and I can¡¯t marry a deer! It¡¯s abominable! Atrocious! Oh, how twisted!¡± Her cheeks flamed scarlet and her eyes were bright with dramatis, and Father raised a hand. ¡°Now, now, my dear, please calm yourself. I will never force you.¡± He looked among them. ¡°However, I will be departing for Hanswatch to the east tomorrow at dawn, and will return the morning of Saturn¡¯s Day. It will be between the seven of you to decide whom shall go.¡± He rose from his chair and stretched. ¡°As for me, it was a long day hunting, and I shall rest. You may discuss the matter amongst yourselves; but by the morning of Saturn¡¯s Day, it must be decided.¡± And so, for the next four days, a house of seven girls clustered and caterwauled with high debate and heavy uncertainty. Jana wavered between being too beautiful to ever marry a deer, and too responsible to let the dismal fate befall her younger sisters. Gella saw it as an adventure, but worried she may not be allowed to return and tell the tale. Elowyn, beautiful and sweet, did not fault the Stag for what he was, but she cowered at the idea of leaving Father¡¯s side. Liddie, ever exuberant, spoke in hushed tones to whoever would listen about which sister she thought should go, and each day her opinion on this changed- never thinking that she herself might be the best suit. Rendra refused to speak on the matter, and when asked haughtily replied she thought the whole ordeal was ghastly and primeval. It was no longer the age of dowries and betrothals, and she was offended Father would even consider such a proposal. Calya, with distraught blue eyes, wouldn¡¯t speak on it at all. But on Frigga¡¯s Day at sunset, a mere twelve hours before Father¡¯s return, a cloaked messenger appeared at the door and bestowed Rendra with a closed basket. Rendra turned to ask the man what was in it, but when she looked up, he had gone. Her sisters gathered around her in a dither, and within the basket saw innumerable gold coins. Gasps filled the room, astonishment permeating the expressions of each of us. It was then I remembered something our mother had told me long ago, when I was but a sproutling and she still maintained a healthy flush in her cheeks. Mother, being of the faye race, had been granted the ability to bestow ¡°gifts¡± upon the young. And so, when each of her daughters were born, they were given a specific gift. Jana had received Beauty, Elowyn was given Compassion, Gella lived a life dictated by Grace. Rendra had Reason, Liddie the gift of Laughter, and Calya was granted Music. When I had come along, screaming and displeased with the world, my mother had hesitated. She had known I would be her last child, and had no desire to rush deciding a gift. When I fell ill my first night into the world, and no faye magic could save me, she had wept and whispered, Have courage, dear child- for it is all that may save you now. Have courage, she had told me then, and had repeated as I grew. Thus the words rang through me then; as my sisters began to ramble excitedly among each other, I saw the situation before me. I was the least likely of us to call a suitor, being the youngest and plainest- we were none of us ugly, having faye blood, but I was made plain by comparison to Jana¡¯s beauty. I was adventurous to the point of being troublesome. And I, more than any of my sisters, had courage. ¡°Have courage,¡± I whispered to myself, hearing my mother¡¯s voice in my head. I stepped forward and faced my sisters, and decided my fate: ¡°I will go.¡± Chapter Two All six looked up at me in shock. ¡°What?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Aster, darling, you mustn¡¯t!¡± ¡°None of you want to,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ve decided. My mind is made up. You all have a better chance at making your own life than I do. You draw suitors, you wear pretty dresses, you sing beautiful songs. I¡¯ve always been on the outside, and I¡¯ve been starting to wonder if I should ever find true happiness, or at least purpose. Perhaps this will give me, at least, the latter. I shall go.¡± I turned to the staircase and walked quickly up, vanishing to the room I shared with Liddie and Calya. I crawled into our large bed and laid down with my back to the door; none of my sisters followed me up, but I heard their despairing whispers from downstairs. I had spent much of my life complacent, living in their shadow. If I knew anything for certain, it was that living with the Stag I would be free of that. But I loved my sisters, and I wept for many hours at the thought of leaving them the next eve. I had been certain it would not fall to me to depart with the Stag, and I had not cherished my home the way one does when they know they may never see it again. I had laughed at my silly sisters for their obsessive gossiping and debating, and been sad to think one of them would henceforth vanish- but I had not imagined I would lose all of them. Our quiet forest cottage, wooden boards supported by stone pillars, with an always blooming grave in the back, had been home for as long as I could remember. I had accompanied Father when possible to the nearby towns of Baynesferth and Wentworthy, but it was not the same as the journey I would now undertake. It was many long hours before I fell asleep, and still as I did, my sisters jabbered below, their relief palpable and their grief acknowledged. Come Saturn¡¯s Day morning, I fell into an apathetic spell, offering no joy or laughter to my sisters, who attempted to cheer me up and reassure me. There was no happiness to be found in any fiber of my being. I wandered my lifelong home, touching the soft pink and green wallpaper, the dark stone of the fireplace, the smooth wooden furniture, with almost the same grieving love I¡¯d felt when caressing my mother¡¯s cheek at her deathbed. By the time Father came home, Calya and Elowyn were fretting over me and trying to force me to drink tea. He looked at me with grave eyes and a deep sigh. His gravelly voice offered one word, thick with resignation: ¡°You?¡± I nodded. A protective glimmer lit the back of his eyes. ¡°Did Jana bully you into agreeing to this? I can speak with her; there¡¯s still time-¡± ¡°She volunteered, Father,¡± Elowyn said somberly. ¡°She said she would be the best candidate to go,¡± Calya added with no more enthusiasm than Elowyn contained. ¡°I am,¡± I said, looking between all three. Father sighed. ¡°Come with me, then. I would like to speak with you, one last conversation before you depart. Calya, Elowyn- round up your sisters and begin a great feast; we shall see your sister off properly.¡± I followed Father thereafter into the sunny summer morning that buzzed in our little back garden, where Gella¡¯s strawberries bloomed scarlet and green. Father planted his hands upon his hips and looked out at the trees. ¡°The Stag lives in a wintry realm far to the north; there is a chance you shall never return.¡± He studied me, gray eyes so like mine, and then continued. ¡°I understand your mother blessed you with courage- but take heart, she did not intend your courage to lead you to an unknown fate. I understand you believe your sisters all to be more beautiful than you, but you are the one who looks most like your mother. Jana and Elowyn take after their faye grandmother, Gella and Calya after my sister. But you, dear Aster, take after your mother and I. Everly wanted only the best for her seven daughters- for each of you. And any of you would make a suitable companion for the Stag.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really believe that,¡± I said, and laid a hand upon Father¡¯s arm. ¡°You know they would not do well with the Stag. Jana would be malcontent, and Elowyn would fall into a melancholy spirit. Gella would lose her smile and Rendra would grow old and bitter. Calya would forget how to sing, and Liddie how to laugh. I am the only one who learned well how to be brave, and to make the best of unfavorable circumstances.¡± I gestured to my own patchwork pants and grass-stained tunic. ¡°I have never allowed myself to become uncomfortable, but I have never been truly at ease in this village; I am the only one of us who volunteered for this. It is best that I go, Father- my sisters, bless them, were so relieved they were free of the burden. And now you will all have wealth and happiness, comfort and health. It is the best use I could put my life to, the best fate I could wish for. And I¡¯m sure any being who can provide such promises will live in a fanciful estate- even if he is a Stag. Probably some cursed prince, poor fellow.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. My father saw the resilience in my face and finally submitted. He gave me a long hug, and then led me back inside. As the sun traversed the sky, we dined and laughed and made merry. We exchanged stories, mostly about our mother, and let mirth fill the house on my last day. I left my apathy in the morning fog; its cloak would not help me, and parting would be easier if my sisters believed I moved to a happier future. I wished I could believe it, too. As all good things, the merriment came to an end. As the sun sailed to embrace the horizon, the songs and stories were separated by tense, awkward silences, in which all ears pricked just slightly toward the door, awaiting a knock. A progressive gloominess encroached the shadowy corners of the living room, and the smiles became subtly less heartfelt as sunset turned to dusk. It seemed nearly a relief when the knock finally came, though my heart pounded and I feared briefly that I could not breathe. All my sisters turned to me, searching my expression; what they hoped to find there I couldn¡¯t guess, but their mingling disappointment assured me I hadn¡¯t presented as bright a face as I¡¯d hoped. Finally, Father rose and went to the door- it was the cloaked messenger, again. ¡°Hullo,¡± Father greeted him gruffly. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re here for the girl?¡± The cloaked messenger stepped off the doorstep and held up an arm robed in swathy, draping fabric, gesturing toward the darkened wood. Father glanced between the messenger and the forest, and then nodded. ¡°Very well. Aster, come with me.¡± He lifted the torch from its perch next to the door, shifting the balance of light on their front step, and I came to stand outside with him. A warm breeze fluttered between jade leaves around our cottage, and as I stared at it the surreal moment came that I realized this would be the last time. It felt dream-like; as Father turned the key in the lock, I pressed my palm to the doorframe, my brow creasing with inexpressable emotion. Where would I go from here? To depart from this step, this cottage- what came next? Father laid his hand softly on my slender forearm. ¡°Let us be on our way, my dear.¡± I turned to look at his face and saw, lit anew by the torch, the lines of age etched there by raising seven daughters. The weariness creasing shadows beneath his eyes. The streaks of gray in his brows, silver sheen to his thick matted hair, peppered patches of stubble. I decided then I would have courage throughout this venture- it was time for my father to rest, and this would be the best I could do for him and for my sisters. I removed my palm from the doorframe and turned my back on the life I had known. ¡°Okay- let¡¯s go.¡± The moon had breached the treetops when the silver silhouette came into sight through the trees. His antlers rose in great sweeps to the stars, and he was twice the size of any normal deer. He appeared ethereal and ghostly, nearly translucent, and even his eyes lacked pigmentation beyond the silver of the rest of him. It was like seeing a ghost rather than a stag. A jump of fear bolted in my ribs, and I forced a deep breath in the dark forest. Father¡¯s hand on my back tensed. ¡°Are you sure about this, Aster?¡± The Stag approached in a few deliberate steps, coming to stand before me. ¡°Why does she wear short hair and mens¡¯ clothing?¡± His voice was lighter than I had expected, sounding more like a young man than an ancient magical being. ¡°She may not prefer fine gowns or delicate braids like my other daughters,¡± Father said, ¡°But you will find she has twice their spirit. She is adventurous, bright, and, most importantly, brave. My other daughters faced this decision with fear; she volunteered. Don¡¯t let her preference of dress deceive you into doubting her virtues.¡± The Stag snorted, the sound seeming to hold contempt, and then said, ¡°Very well.¡± He stuck out one leg and lowered his head, a gesture that might have been a bow. ¡°I am Cervis, the Stag of the Palewood.¡± I tucked one leg behind the other and half-bowed, half-curtsied. ¡°I am Aster Fallowfall.¡± ¡°That is all I need know,¡± he said, and rose from his bow. ¡°Bid your farewells, and climb aboard my back when you are ready. We leave immediately for my realm.¡± I turned to Father. ¡°I will miss you, and my sisters. Tell them so. Tell them that I love them greatly, and want only for their happiness.¡± He laid a hand on my cheek, my mother¡¯s bone structure there, and then pulled me into a tight, warm hug. Pressed against his chest, smelling the spruce and honey scents of the forest, I tucked the moment away into my heart, to call upon in lonely moments. I withdrew from the hug and met his eyes one last time. ¡°I shall never forget you- any of you. Goodbye, Father.¡± ¡°Goodbye, my darling Aster.¡± I turned to the Stag. ¡°Very well- let us go, if we¡¯re going.¡± I approached his side as he faced north. The cloaked messenger hoisted me onto the Stag, and Cervis turned his head slightly toward me. ¡°Hold my antlers and you will not fall off. Do not be afraid.¡± I gazed upon the path ahead, and stilled my quickened heart. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Chapter Three Sharp, cold wind flew against my cheeks and I eventually had to squeeze my eyes shut and press my face into the Stag¡¯s neck. My hair whipped and tangled behind me and my thighs ached from the endless rumbling motion of the Stag¡¯s rhythmic strides. We had left my home forest far behind and ventured forth to the distant ¡°Palewood¡± Cervis had mentioned; I had no idea such a place even existed, prior to tonight. It seemed after a while that Cervis¡¯s hooves only skimmed the ground, rather than actually touching it. Now and then, as we crossed alien landscapes I had never seen the likes of, I began to feel an inkling of fear about what fate would befall me- but Cervis had said not to be afraid. I refused to give in to my doubts about the unknown. Think of it as an adventure, I reminded myself, time and time again. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine I was out riding Father¡¯s horse in the forest on hidden trails, but the vision wouldn¡¯t hold, disturbed by the antlers. ¡°It is not far now,¡± Cervis said as the night sky lightened in misty predawn. I opened my eyes, ducked low against the wind, and looked around. We had entered some kind of desert- wide, flat land surrounded us on all sides, with silver sand shining in the light of a falling moon. Ponds of shining lavender water interrupted the level landscape in uneven intervals, and as I watched, a shining ethereal figure leapt out of one and flipped in the air before vanishing once more beneath the surface. I gasped. ¡°Cervis, where are we?¡± ¡°The Desert of Dreams,¡± he answered. ¡°It is far beyond the Land of Free Men- that is the name we give to your realm- and it is the final barrier between your land and ours.¡± ¡°Who lives in your land, Cervis?¡± ¡°Monsters,¡± he answered, his tone grim. ¡°Beings of Magic and mischief. For as long as you live with me, you must never venture beyond the walls of my estate. Anything you desire, I can provide; but if you leave the walls, I cannot guarantee your safety. The creatures there will offer no mercy- you will be in grave danger, Aster. Do you understand me?¡± I swallowed heavily. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you afraid?¡± I closed my eyes against the shimmering desert and steeled my nerves. ¡°No.¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The sun rose peony and gold in the clear sky, sharp against the desert and painting the sands gold, before we reached Cervis¡¯s land. I couldn¡¯t help but look around as we entered the towering forest- trees triple the height of any I¡¯d seen crowned against the distant sky, their trunks shades of ivory and ash, their leaves any color from pale blue to dark sapphire and indigo. I had never seen such a forest. ¡°Is there any place like this in your estate?¡± I asked, desperate to know if I would get a chance to explore and study this world. ¡°Quiet- we mustn¡¯t be heard.¡± I silenced, remembering Cervis¡¯s warnings about the monsters that dwelled in these lands. So this was the Palewood, then- the name fit, and it seemed the kind of world in which Cervis would live. I had spent part of our trip wondering about the creature I would now live with; he seemed to hold a youth I didn¡¯t expect. I had met faye before, on rare occasions, and each seemed ancient and full of wisdom and mysticism. I knew that was part of the glamour charms they employed, but I had suspected there must be some truth to the illusion of age they carried. Cervis held no such enchantments. His nature remained a mystery, but his voice, the more I heard of it, had a tonal quality akin to a young man. We had slowed to a walk, and I sat up, looking around the great forest. Ahead, between the arching branches of the towering trees, a wall of silver stone rose to half the height of the trees. There was no gate in sight, but Cervis walked steadily toward the wall as if an opening existed. I savored my time to look around the Palewood, knowing it would soon come to an end, and tried not to think too much about the walls and what they meant. This might well be my last time outside of them. Ever. We were a horse-length away from the wall when Cervis instructed quietly, ¡°Close your eyes and hold your breath.¡± I did as he said and felt him begin moving again. I forced myself not to breathe or even squint until he grew still again and said, ¡°Alright- open.¡± I took a deep breath and then opened my eyes, and gasped. Before me stood a grand, floating palace, with curving walkways of golden marble and lavender stone accents connecting drifting buildings composed of arcs and spires. A weaving, braided pattern connected all the many rooms and walkways, so that from overhead I imagined it might look like a river delta. On the ground beneath the floating palace, which had a grand staircase connecting to the ground in front of a vast fountain, there were many stone-lined streams and fountains, and a vast garden of cool-hued flowers. ¡°Watch out for the korrigans in the garden,¡± Cervis warned. ¡°Never follow them if they attempt to lead you.¡± I dismounted from his back and stood next to the Stag, gaping about at the mystical estate in which I would now live. ¡°Is this really where I will live?¡± Cervis regarded me with an appraising eye. ¡°Welcome to your new home, Aster Fallowfall.¡± Chapter Four ¡°First things first- we need to get you into proper garments. Follow me.¡± The Stag started up the walkway and I followed him in stumbling steps, staring around all the while at my miraculous surroundings. What are korrigans? I wondered. How does the palace float? Is it all part of the Stag¡¯s magic? What is there to do here? Cervis led me across dizzying bridges and rooms that seemed to hover and glow golden starlight. Little golden flickers, at first I thought they were lightning-bugs, drifted around us, lighting the rooms; it took seeing over a dozen of them to realize they were tiny stars. Cervis didn¡¯t react at all to these things- not to the room with floating books swirling around, not to the table on which food appeared as we entered the room, not to the hovering orbs of light spinning around us- and it made me wonder what all he had seen that these things were commonplace. I had never known much of my mother¡¯s faye heritage, and now wished I had studied it more. ¡°This will be your suite.¡± We had reached the easternmost tower. The floor and walls in this room were the same lavender marble that composed the rest of the palace, and the furnishings were all a snowy white wood, with blankets of violet silk and indigo velvet. More floating books existed here, and the hovering lights drifted lazily up and down a staircase that spiraled around the walls of the tower, to a hidden top floor. ¡°You will find there is no bed,¡± Cervis continued. ¡°I am sorry for that. When this place was made, it was intentionally crafted so that only one bed may exist. The idea was that I would always be alone. Before I ventured out to seek a companion, I tried to remedy this, but to no avail. When you have need of anything, ring the bell on that table and one of the Lights will lead you to it. Be cautious in your exploring. A wardrobe is upstairs; please make use of it and get those rags out of here.¡± There was something pleasantly rusty about his voice the more I heard it, but his disdain for my choice in clothing had me a bit miffed. Cervis turned and strode out of the archway leading into the tower, and as he vanished from sight I collapsed onto a chaise of cornflower blue silk. A long sigh whisked out of me. It could be much worse- we could be living in a den in the forest- but the idea of living in a world full of danger and adventure, with no power to explore it, was already maddening. However, I would have to save my complaints for later. I had plenty to do before letting myself sulk. Though as I traipsed up the staircase, I remembered I would be here for the rest of my life- and no one had said I had to be pleasing and amiable. I was essentially a prisoner, and it would do no true harm to take a few days to roil in apathy. That¡¯s what trapped maidens do, right? They sit in their finely gilded cages and complain that gold is not enough without the world to supplement it. I had thought the damsels in those stories unappreciative, for they had thrice as much in one drawer as I¡¯d had in my whole life- but now, it seemed, I understood them. What good was gold without freedom? My mood darkened further when I reached the top floor. A spinning wheel sat next to a stool and a basket of fabrics, thread, and so on. Besides that, all that existed in the room was a wardrobe. One of the Lights came to hover next to me, emitting a faint song, as I approached the ashen wardrobe. Inside, to my dismay, there were only fine dresses. The gowns were immaculate, to be sure- a golden silk piece embroidered with patterns of stars and leaves, a silver stretch of flowery lace, a pale rosy pink dress detailed with light blue snowflakes painted across its skirt. But I had stopped wearing dresses years ago, and had never looked back. Cervis would have to deal with my patchy rags a bit longer. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I trotted downstairs, the Light struggling to keep up behind me, and took the bell he pointed out from a small end table and rang it. Its shrill, trembling music filled the tower and a cluster of Lights fluttered in front of me. ¡°I need mens¡¯ clothing,¡± I said. ¡°Those frilly gowns will do me no good.¡± The Lights all swarmed around each other, babbling in faint high notes, as if uncertain what to do next. The one that had followed me upstairs now hovered lightly around my shoulder, seeming to avoid the horde ahead. I waited, arms crossed, for the Lights to point me to my new clothing, and they suddenly all darted to the staircases and moved in a wave pattern upward. I followed them back upstairs, and as I reached the top floor again they had all gathered around the spinning wheel and the basket. I groaned; tailoring had never been a talent of mine. Liddie was an expert, but I was hardly an amateur. I turned to the Lights again. ¡°There are countless books here- surely one of them talks about sewing?¡± The Lights babbled as they had done downstairs and shot for the staircase once more. I turned to the one still hiding behind my shoulder. ¡°Do you have a name or anything?¡± It went completely silent. ¡°I¡¯m going to accept that as a ¡®no,¡¯¡± I said. ¡°Shall I name you?¡± It bobbed up and down as if nodding. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll have to think of a proper name for you. Till then, continue on with me. You may have that shoulder, if you¡¯d like.¡± It flashed brighter and then followed me downstairs as the other Lights led me to the book I needed. I grabbed the bell before following them, and then we journeyed across more bridges, curving staircases, drifting walkways, and mystical rooms. There would be plenty here to keep me distracted from my loneliness, for a long time, anyway. The Lights led me to the room of floating books again and they swarmed around a particular tower, all bobbing up and down and chirping excitedly. I walked over to them and scanned the book titles, and then grinned. ¡°Aha! Here we are.¡± I withdrew a particular book from the middle of the stack, and the top half floated off in one direction. ¡°The Tailoring Guide for the Helpless. Precisely me!¡± I walked off to find my own way back to my tower, and ended up circling the palace and coming to stand on a balcony at the north end. I pursed my lips, looking out at the sky. ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t right.¡± The Light that stayed by my shoulder chirped, and I smiled over at it. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to try again! To the east- but I thought I was going east.¡± I started off once more, now skirting the outside edges, and came to a large room with an oval-shaped bed in the middle. It was piled high with blankets and pillows, and a shimmering silver canopy hung over it. Paintings lined the walls of this room, depicting pastel landscapes that moved- rippling lakes and whispering reeds, billowing clouds coursing past the heads of mountains, waves kissing the shore of a black-sand beach, and so on. More books floated around the walls, but these all had strange symbols and runes painted across their covers. A few were laid open on a desk, and the language seemed to swim before my eyes, making no sense at all. Paintings on the page displayed ghastly scenes- the dissection of a frog, a potion that erupted into flames when spilled, and worse. Then I noticed a leatherbound journal, sinew wound tightly around it, sitting next to the books and candles and odd reagents on the desk. I reached for the journal and untied the sinew; it fell willingly onto the desk. But who had written it? Stags cannot write. Before I could open it, however, a voice startled me into dropping it: ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that, if I were you.¡± Chapter Five I turned around in shock. What I had thought was a statue of a black fox now stared at me with blinking silver eyes. He hopped nimbly off the pedestal where he¡¯d been sitting and padded toward me as I stood with my back to the desk. ¡°Cervis is quite protective of his innermost thoughts,¡± the fox said. ¡°How would you like him poking around in your private journals?¡± ¡°I suppose I wouldn¡¯t like that,¡± I said, clutching my book in my hand and wondering how it would do as a weapon. Was this creature a korrigan? ¡°Who are you? What are you?¡± A heckling laugh barked out of the fox. ¡°Why, I¡¯m a fox! What did you think I am?¡± He laughed again. ¡°Not every creature of the Palewood is as magical as you might want them to be. I understand your petty human brain fears anything unknown, but surely you recognize a fox.¡± I stared at him. Sure enough, he had the spindly legs, slender body, and pluming, white-tipped tail. But he didn¡¯t have the color or behavior of any fox I had known. ¡°All the foxes I¡¯ve met were orange- and none of them spoke.¡± ¡°Perhaps not to you.¡± He sat down at the end of the bed. ¡°If you must know, I am Nyx, a night-fox. Cervis keeps me around because I saved him from being devoured by the Palewalkers his first night in the Wood.¡± ¡°By the what?¡± Nyx snorted. ¡°You truly don¡¯t know anything, do you? What¡¯s that book you¡¯ve got? Tailoring? My, my- and she can¡¯t even sew. I¡¯d recommend you check out a few more books than that before you go wandering off on your own. And I can assure you the library¡¯s books will do you better than sniffing through Cervis¡¯s private journals.¡± He padded off again, contempt fluffing his fur, and I felt a flare of irritation in my chest. What a snooty animal! Absolutely horrid personality. Why did Cervis keep him around? A lifetime with that snob- surely there are better ways to repay a favor? I turned to the Light that had hidden behind my back during the encounter. ¡°Lead me to my tower, please. I¡¯d like to get a move-on in settling in.¡± By noon, I had a simple set of tunic, pants, and boots, fashioned from the ostentatious fabrics in the basket. My selections included an indigo velvet, and cinder-hued wool. I attempted to weave an embroidery pattern the book recommended to add flare to the simple design; it wasn¡¯t quite symmetrical or as flowery as that depicted in the book, but the picture was moving, and that made it very hard to replicate. Once dressed in my new finery, I returned downstairs to peek in the mirror there. It fit quite well- the sleeves and pants were just a smidge too short, but that was barely noticeable. It wasn¡¯t flattering, but nothing I had worn in years was intended to be so. By my instruction, the Lights led me to a room containing a large bath and a vanity table, as well as a cupboard full of soaps. When I asked it to, the stone basin in the room¡¯s center filled with hot water, and I inserted several of the flowery soaps from the cupboard before stripping of my clothing and sinking in. It was leagues better than bathing in the cold river by our cottage. After the bath, my stomach reminded me it had been hours since the feast back home, and I dressed once more and asked the Lights to lead me to the room with the table. As I entered it, I saw Cervis coming in the other side. He observed my outfit with notable disdain. ¡°Why do you wear that rather than the fine dresses I stored in the wardrobe? And where did you get that?¡± ¡°I made it on my own,¡± I said. ¡°I have never liked dresses, and I refuse to start now.¡± Cervis let out another contemptuous snort, as he had in the woods. ¡°I understand your father sent you for your spirit rather than looks, but I had thought surely you must take some pride in your beauty.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I took a seat at the table, trying to ignore his words. ¡°Well, perhaps you should ask for a refund, then. I¡¯m what you¡¯ve got and I¡¯ll not change.¡± He shook his antlered head and turned to the other end of the table, where a plate of leafy green mash awaited him. On my end of the table, there appeared a bowl of mutton stew, a golden roll of buttered bread, and a goblet of cider. I glanced from my meal to Cervis¡¯s, and felt an unexpected stab of pity. ¡°Is that all you get to eat?¡± He looked up in surprise. ¡°Deer can only eat plants.¡± He said no more, turning back to his plate, and I didn¡¯t press. But my mind began to turn with thoughts on how awful it must be to only eat a pile of leaves, every single day. To only have a snobbish fox and a bunch of hovering Lights for companions. To live in a beautiful world and have no one to share it with. No wonder he had gone looking for a companion. I continued to eat, and as Cervis finished his meal, he looked up and spotted the Light hovering around my shoulder. ¡°I see you¡¯ve met Sol.¡± The Light drifted into view at its name, and I cocked an eyebrow at it. ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t have a name.¡± Cervis chuckled lightly. ¡°Most of them have names. This one arrived here nameless and afraid last Midwinter, and I named him with his permission. Perhaps he is now refusing the name I gave him, in hopes you¡¯ll concoct a better one.¡± The Light shrank slightly, as if afraid at these implications, and I chuckled softly. ¡°No- I think ¡®Sol¡¯ will do fine as a name.¡± I stood from the table, having finished eating. ¡°Farewell, then, Cervis. I¡¯ll likely be in the library. Sol, are you coming with?¡± The Light bobbed excitedly and circled me once, coming to hover beside my face. Cervis nodded. ¡°I have one more rule for you, before you go.¡± I turned to Cervis. ¡°Don¡¯t go outside the walls or I¡¯ll die, don¡¯t follow the korrigans or I¡¯ll die, ring the bell if I need anything. What else could there be?¡± Cervis was unamused by my deadpanned recounting of his rules. ¡°You must be in bed by sunset. At dusk, the Lights will all disappear, and you will be lost in the palace. Make sure this doesn¡¯t happen.¡± I stared at the Stag, and then nodded. ¡°Very well. May I go, then?¡± ¡°Farewell. Enjoy your studies. Oh- if you see a black fox, tell him I need to see him.¡± I nodded, feeling no call to mention I had already met Nyx. I couldn¡¯t help but feel some curiosity for why Cervis needed him, though. ¡°Will do.¡± I left the dining room, allowing Sol to lead the way to the library; several other Lights we passed joined in alongside him, swarming to be part of the adventure. I spotted movement in the gardens below, but I was too high up to discern what it was- something tiny was flying around the carnations. I would have to investigate that later, but for now I supposed it wise to actually take Nyx¡¯ advise and learn more about my new world. I spent the rest of my first day hoveled in the room of floating books, listening to strange birdsong from beyond the walls and skimming through countless books. Titles like Runes & Sigils: The Acolyte¡¯s Companion and Beetles, Birdflies, & Other Insects jumped out at me, and I would flip through these before being distracted by a wandering volume about creatures of the Palewood or small-folk folklore. In this manner, I discovered what korrigans were- small creatures that appeared almost human-like, but had owl wings rather than arms and sharp beady eyes. They were excellent to keep pests out of gardens, but they were also inclined to mischief. They answered to an Owl Queen somewhere in the forest, but before I could learn more about them my stomach rumbled to remind me it was dinner-time, as the sun was nearly setting outside. Cervis¡¯s rule rang in my ears. I ate dinner alone, with no sign of Cervis anywhere around the palace or grounds, and then returned to my suite. A silken night-gown of shimmery, opalescent fabric hung among the splendorous dresses, and I took down the night-gown. The one time I would trade my pants for a dress was to sleep, though I was accustomed to a frayed, hand-me-down linen robe, not a finely-woven silk gown with lace embroidery. It would have to do, I decided, and headed for the bedroom. I wondered briefly where Cervis slept. Exhausted from the long journey and longer day, I fell asleep with ease, and slept dreamlessly for long hours. But it was as the bed shifted next to me close to midnight that I woke once more. By the dim moonlight outside- the Lights had all left the room- I could see the silhouette of a man lying next to me. For a while, I lay paralyzed with fear, but he didn¡¯t move or speak. He began to snore mere minutes after laying down, and I stayed statuesque until I was sure he was asleep, and then convinced myself it must be a dream. I woke in the morning alone. Chapter Six ¡°Cervis- like the constellation!¡± The Stag looked up from his breakfast plate of leaves. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Were you named after it, or was it named after you?¡± A flicker of amusement entered Cervis¡¯s crystalline eyes. ¡°I was named after it. I am not, in fact, older than the stars.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sound that old,¡± I said, poking a sausage with my fork. ¡°But my mother always told me magic grows more powerful with age- and you live in a floating palace, and have cloaked minions that turn to smoke.¡± Cervis chuckled. ¡°I thought for sure you would have realized the messenger was Nyx?¡± My cheeks flushed at the realization. ¡°Oh. Well, I suppose, yes, that should have been obvious. But really, this is all quite new to me, so you must give me some time to get adjusted before expecting me to riddle out such puzzles.¡± ¡°Continue your reading, and you¡¯ll start to understand these things better,¡± he said. I chewed the piece of sausage and swallowed, realizing something in the brief pause of conversation. ¡°But you still haven¡¯t told me- are you young, or are you old?¡± ¡°Relative terms,¡± he said. ¡°To a mountain, I am infantile. To an infant, I am ancient. The measuring of my time in existence will tell you very little about me.¡± I didn¡¯t much like the way he wove words as if his intention was to maintain a cryptic tone. ¡°You know, trying to make yourself a mystery won¡¯t do either of us any good. I¡¯m stuck here with you- I imagine for the rest of my life- and eventually I¡¯ll figure out all the answers. You may as well tell me them at the start. It¡¯ll make things easier for us both.¡± That same flicker of amusement reappeared. ¡°If I thought you incapable or unintelligent, perhaps I would spell out my tale for you. But you are no child and mine is not a bedtime story with a happy ending. I implore you to put that spirit and courage to good use- find the answers on your own.¡± He finished his plate and walked off, leaving me to finish my breakfast only in the company of Sol and my irritation. Cervis could be cryptic and closed off if he so desired; I would find the answers on my own. And I would do so without peeking into that wretched journal Nyx guilt-tripped me about. Perhaps this was doing exactly what Cervis wanted, but I couldn¡¯t force him to talk to me about his secrets. And I suppose I shouldn¡¯t- I¡¯m a guest in his home, after all. No, I live here, too, I reminded myself. And so did a bunch of hovering Lights, a night-fox, a Stag, and apparently an unknown man. I shivered at the mesonoxian visitor from the previous night, and tried to convince myself it was a dream- but daylight¡¯s clarity didn¡¯t reassure me at all. Sol led me to the library once more, and I sought a book on astronomy. Twinkle, Twinkle, Tales Above drifted to me at my request. One inconvenience of this room was the utter lack of seating; I rang the bell and called out, ¡°I need seats in here, please.¡± The Lights didn¡¯t respond this time, but with a series of bubbling pops, stools and chaises appeared in the room. I would have preferred a chair with a back, but I doubted the magical palace would care to supply that. ¡°Thank you, palace,¡± I said, and sat on one of the chaises to read. The book was organized with images of constellations drawn on the page, their stars twinkling and their stories written beneath. Such mysticism and color permeated the pages as to stop me many times on my journey through the book before I found the tale I sought. Finally, after half an hour¡¯s reading, I found it: Cervis the Stag. I turned to the story below and began to read; I remembered bits of the tale from my Father¡¯s version, but it seemed he hadn¡¯t had all the details. Once upon a time, in the Land of Free Men, there lived a hunter named Marathis. He was a poor man who lived in the woods in the countryside, and the only richness he desired was the love of a beautiful princess named Silia. Silia¡¯s father, however, was a rich, condescending man, known for his collection of hunting trophies. When Marathis came to ask Silia¡¯s hand, her father laughed and said, ¡°No sorry excuse for a hunter like you will ever marry Silia. You couldn¡¯t even catch a stag, I¡¯ll warrant!¡± Truly enough, Marathis had made a pledge to an ancient forest god that he would not hunt deer, and in return the god granted him easy hunting of all small game in the forest. Marathis returned to his forest to plot anew how to capture Silia¡¯s heart and attain her hand in marriage; she had bade him good luck before he ventured back out, and he had strong hopes that impressing her father would win him the bride he dearly loved. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. And so Marathis returned to his forest god and pleaded: ¡°If I can but hunt one deer, I can marry my true love.¡± ¡°True love does not ask that we give up our morals,¡± the forest god replied. ¡°You will have to find another girl.¡± Marathis despaired; without the forest god¡¯s blessing, Marathis had been poor and starving, and he feared what would happen if he inspired the wrath of the forest god. But he could not give up on Silia, either. He captured rabbits, erskines, weasels, moles, badgers, raccoons, even foxes- and to no avail; Silia¡¯s father remained unimpressed. Finally, Marathis began a new plan. He ran far from the forest where his god dwelt, and crossed many countrysides, following the rising sun. Finally, he came to a forest like none he had ever entered. The creatures that lived here greeted him and wandered about, entirely unafraid. Marathis realized he was in a forest that had never been touched by Man. Marathis delved deep into the forest, and he knew the forest god watched by the light of sun. When the moon was high overhead, Marathis found a golden stag, tall and proud, walking among the branches. Marathis aimed his bow, shot, and killed it with ease. With the golden stag, he rode fast for Silia¡¯s house, hoping to deliver the deer to her father before the sun rose and the forest god discovered Marathis¡¯ misdeeds. But as luck would have it, it was dawn when Marathis arrived. A sense of foreboding took over the hunter, but he quickly forgot it when Silia¡¯s father, impressed by the kill, agreed to let Marathis marry Silia. But as Marathis cheered, the slaughtered deer rose from the table, its head now only a skull. ¡°Why have you slain me?¡± asked the deer. ¡°What right have you to take my life?¡± The forest god then descended into the elaborate estate in which Silia¡¯s father lived. ¡°Did you know the name of this deer? The life he had lived? That he was my own son, Cervis?¡± Marathis gasped and began to plead for mercy, apologizing to the god and the deer with all he had. He bowed before his god and declared, ¡°I shall take whatever punishment you deem worthy. I have sinned in your eyes, and I no longer deserve your favor. You asked little and gave much. I bring shame upon myself.¡± ¡°You shall take Cervis¡¯s form and live as a deer for the rest of your days,¡± the god decided after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°When you die, you will live in the skies and watch my creations by night.¡± Marathis accepted this fate, and from there on lived in the body of a stag, and became known by the name of Cervis. When eventually the golden body decayed and shuddered its last breath, the once-hunter¡¯s spirit ascended to the heavens and was there stretched into the stars. I closed the book and pondered this. Could the Cervis I knew be the ghost of this stag? Or was it simply a name granted in tribute to the deer-centric legend? I looked around the room and found another book that might hold answers- Creatures of the Palewood. But this one provided no more absolute knowledge than the first. The Palewood, evidently, held creatures much like those I had known back home, with only a few distinctions. The foxes were black and could talk. The violet-jays were carnivores. The badgers were horizontally striped and diturnal. There were no ¡®Pale-Walkers¡¯ mentioned, no Owl Queen, no monsters of myth or legend as Cervis had implied. I began to wonder if perhaps he had concocted all of these obstacles to convince me to stay and not venture out. I decided to start with the korrigans- perhaps if I could learn more about them on my own, I could gauge exactly how ¡®dangerous¡¯ this place truly was. I closed the book and heard Sol let out an alarmed chirp. The Light followed me as I returned to the grand staircase that led into the gardens, this time not needing a guide. I was starting to learn my way around, though I still had no idea what pattern this place designed. I began to head toward the garden, my mission well planned. I wouldn¡¯t follow the korrigans- but I would study them. Back on the ground, with solid dirt beneath my feet and the sun shining on me from a calico sky, I felt better. Grounded, so to speak. Flowers and shrubbery trembled in the breeze between the stony runlets of the garden, and I began to walk along the streams, looking for the korrigans Cervis claimed dwelt here. All the while, Sol buzzed around me, squeaking loudly and trying to convince me to turn back before I stumbled into the korrigans. It didn¡¯t take long to find one. She looked exactly as the book had depicted: a small creature, half-girl and half-owl, with flapping wings and beady eyes. She soared up to my height and observed my face, and then let out a sound of disapproval and fluttered back into the leaves. ¡°Well, that one was friendly,¡± I said, and continued on through the flowers. Sol all but screamed at my shoulder. I wondered if I should listen to Sol- but then, Sol was timid, even for a Light; perhaps he just wanted back into the palace. Well, I wasn¡¯t going. Not yet- not till I had some answers. Farther down, three korrigans danced about in a birdbath. One splashed water on another and let out a high-pitched cackle; the other responded by dumping a whole pail of water on that one. It cursed shrilly as its wings drooped, and I smiled as I watched them. Then they spotted me. Shrieks of alarm accompanied the three as they flitted about, the soaked one being lifted by the other two as they moved to hide behind the birdbath. ¡°Wait!¡± I demanded. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you!¡± I ducked around the birdbath and they flew off toward the leaves. I dove after them, but they were faster than me, even carrying their sodden friend between two of them. The exacerbating journey through the garden- three korrigans fleeing as I chased after them declaring my own good will- led me to a part of the garden wall with a small hole where the stream let out. The korrigans fled through it and I knelt on the side, sighing. ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to leave the walls,¡± I muttered, and then thought about it. ¡°Well- the korrigans weren¡¯t exactly pranking me this whole time. And if the Stag is truly using them for pesticide, then I shouldn¡¯t let him notice three of them are gone¡­¡± With that in mind, I crawled through the hole, knee-deep in the stream and out into the Palewood. Chapter Seven Ivory trunks rose around me once more, and I spotted the korrigans waiting by a cluster of mushrooms, watching carefully. When they spotted me following, they shrieked and flew off again. I almost couldn¡¯t bother with them- the forest held too much potential for mystery and wonder. But I had come out here for them, and I would retrieve them before turning back. Sol hovered nervously in the hole I had crawled out through, and I turned to him. ¡°You may wait there, if you like. It¡¯s your choice.¡± Sol retreated further in, flinching when the bottom of the Light briefly skimmed the stream. With wet knees and no companions, I started out through the forest, heading the direction the korrigans had vanished to. I was fifty paces from the wall when I realized how stupid I had been: The korrigans had convinced me to follow them. ¡°Oh, no,¡± I muttered, turning around. But I couldn¡¯t see the wall. I circled in the spot- I hadn¡¯t gone far enough to lose sight of the wall! It was a huge silver wall, half the height of the trees, and rather hard to miss. How had I lost it so quickly? As I glanced around, I didn¡¯t see the korrigans either- and I couldn¡¯t hear any of the birdsong I¡¯d heard yesterday. I tried to call back to mind all the things I had read about yesterday, and meanwhile cursed myself for this furtive mission. Why had I thought any of this a good idea? Something stirred in the forest nearby, the sound echoing so I couldn¡¯t locate its source. The declivity of my circumstances made me almost wish I had allowed one of my sisters to take this venture instead of me. My heart started to pound as the creature in the forest drew nearer- it was large, and two-legged. I finally realized it was to my west. An image came to mind of the Pale-Walker Nyx had mentioned, and my heart hammered in my chest as I backed up to a tree. It stepped out of a briar thicket. The monster was at least a third the height of the wall, its wooden body supported by two gargantuan legs and draped in hanging moss and lichen. Antlers spread from its head, and rather than a face it had a long, pointed skull, punctuated with gaping black eye-sockets and cracked nostrils that emitted smoke. I prayed to every god, star, being, ancestor, or what-have-you, as I stood against the tree, that the creature would not see me. It lumbered slowly across the clearing to my west, long, clawed hands swinging slowly with each step. It didn¡¯t look around or make a sound, besides its heavy footsteps. Was this a Pale-Walker? Was this why Cervis had insisted we remain quiet during our entry to the forest? It took slow, striding steps, making no noise but for its foot-falls. Long, slender arms swung at its side as it went, ending at hands of sharp pointed fingers like claws. It didn¡¯t look around, but I had a feeling it didn¡¯t need eyes to see. It was terrifying, to the point I was frozen with fear, and then- thankfully- it was gone. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. As its footsteps retreated, I stepped lightly across the forest floor, watching out for sticks or fallen leaves. The three korrigans returned, wearing frowns, and then feigned terror and tried to fly away again. I shook my head at them- no way was I following them to whatever awful fate they had in mind. It was a relief to see Sol flitting cautiously through the trees, and I all but raced to his side when I finally saw him. He squeaked in relief and turned around, and I followed him, the silver wall finally reappearing. Sol led me back through the hole in the stream, and then to the grand staircase. At the top of it, I saw Cervis waiting, his head raised. Nyx sat at the base of the staircase, his cinder eyes gleaming evilly. ¡°You¡¯re in so much trouble,¡± he gloated, and I ignored him as best I could, traipsing instead up the stairs with Sol at my shoulder. ¡°So, how was it?¡± Cervis asked, his voice light but with an undertone that could cut glass. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, instead of answering. ¡°I should have listened to you, but I had to see for myself.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°And what did you see?¡± ¡°A Pale-Walker,¡± I said, and he gasped. Nyx ran upstairs as well, eyes wide with shock. ¡°That can¡¯t be true! You would never have survived that!¡± ¡°Well, I did,¡± I said, crossing my arms at the fox. ¡°Hold on.¡± Cervis met my eyes. ¡°What did the Pale-Walker look like?¡± I described it in full detail, and then saw annoyance in Nyx¡¯s eyes and relief in Cervis¡¯s. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a Pale-Walker,¡± Cervis said. ¡°Thank the moon- you would never survive an encounter with a Pale-Walker. That¡¯s not anything against your pride; none of us could survive meeting one of them. It¡¯s why we don¡¯t go into the forest.¡± ¡°Then what was that- that thing?¡± I asked, my mind recalling images of clawed fingers and smoky nostrils. ¡°A wendigo,¡± Cervis answered. ¡°Not quite as dangerous as a Pale-Walker, but you¡¯re still lucky to be alive. You must never go back into the forest, Aster- nothing waits for you there but death. I¡¯m not confining you to these walls to imprison you; I¡¯m doing it because otherwise this world will kill you.¡± ¡°And why should I be in it, then?¡± I demanded. ¡°If it¡¯s so dangerous, why bring someone else here to suffer your fate?¡± ¡°My fate is out of my hands! Perhaps it is selfish of me to drag you into this as well, but if you had been alone as long as I have, you would understand! All I ask is that you don¡¯t do stupid things like follow the korrigans or run off into the woods. If that is too much for you- and really, setting such rules is generous, as otherwise you would simply be dead- then by all means, disobey and get devoured by a Pale-Walker. See if I care!¡± He tossed his antlered head and strode off down one of the bridges. ¡°You¡¯ve done it now,¡± Nyx said cheerily at my feet, seeming thrilled at the sour end to the encounter. Cervis was right that I shouldn¡¯t have gone into the woods- but if he wouldn¡¯t tell me anything, and the books didn¡¯t talk about it either, how was I supposed to find out? I couldn¡¯t be kept ignorant forever; complacency and obedience only lasted so long. I needed to find out more, but I needed a safer way to do it. And I didn¡¯t need Cervis or Nyx being so contemptuous while I found out.