It was still weird seeing the Oak Land so green. The trees held the fruits of both summer and autumn now, and I hoped Pagiel would soon realize there was a lot to love here in the Otherworld. He and his followers didn’t need the human world. This was where they belonged.

We reached a part of the road that I knew well, a bend that would soon put us in sight of Dorian’s castle. I breathed a sigh of relief. We had done it. We would bring Pagiel home and fix all of this.

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, an arrow zinged by Pagiel, only just barely missing him. It was followed by two more, one of which took one of Pagiel’s riders in the chest. I pulled out my athame and gun. The air swelled around us—a result of both my magic and Pagiel’s—and his riders drew weapons. Shouts from the trees around the road told me we were rapidly being surrounded, but I couldn’t see by whom yet. I looked around frantically, trying to decide how we could best defend ourselves.

Before I could say anything, Pagiel gestured to me and Jasmine with his sword. “Seize them! Use them as hostages! They’ve led us into an ambush!”

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“What?” I exclaimed. “They aren’t with us! I don’t know who they are!”

Pagiel didn’t seem to hear me. Neither did his followers. A few of them advanced on me, which was pretty foolish on their part. I held out my silver athame in a warding gesture and summoned a sudden rush of dark clouds and flickering lightning above us that was mostly for show. I didn’t want to hurt them, not when a third party was attacking us. The trick worked, and his riders hesitated.

“I’m not your enemy,” I told them. “Deal with me later. Worry about them.”

Our attackers conveniently chose that moment to finally show themselves. They were a mixed group of warriors, with no real uniformity to their attire. They could have been ordinary brigands, but on a few of them, I caught the flash of a golden willow tree pin. To round out the mix, they’d recruited a few wandering spirits and trolls.

“They’re Maiwenn’s people,” I said to anyone who would listen.

Finally, one of the riders was smart enough to realize the danger. “The Willow Queen has sent her assassins to kill our lord!” he exclaimed. “Attack! Defend Pagiel!”

Many of his followers were his age. So young, I thought sadly. But from the fierce looks on their faces, they were more than willing to defend their leader. I respected that. Me, I didn’t have much concern for Pagiel. He could take care of himself, so I left it to others to fret over him as I charged forward to help thin out the opposition.