“Hmm? Oh, it’s just a forest. But the animals here seem to be aware of what happens on Endla. I think they’re always watching and waiting, to see what the Wandering Forest will do.”

Jaren had never even considered that a forest could be watching him. He looked up into the branches that swayed slightly in the breeze, imagining that the trees were listening. He had always found this forest to be oddly quiet, and now he realized why: there was no birdsong or rustling in the underbrush. The only sound was the wind. “What about the poison in the lake? Is that part of the Forest’s magic?”

“Perhaps. I don’t know all of Endla’s secrets. They’re kept especially well from incantu, lest we leave and tell them to the outsiders. They say they send us away to protect us, but the truth is, we’re dangerous to Endlans.”

“How?”

“Because we don’t need the Forest like they do. And if we knew Endla’s vulnerabilities, we could share them with outsiders. Perhaps they think we have a vendetta against them.”

“Sounds like you’d have good reason to.”

“Some, maybe. I’ve made my peace.”

“Have any Endlans left by choice?” he asked, thinking of her parents.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I heard of a woman who tried to cross the ice one winter, when I was just a baby. But the ice was too thin, or the island didn’t want her to go, and she fell through a crack and disappeared.”

“So the Endlans are prisoners, in a way.”

“I suppose so. I know I’m glad to be clear of the place, even if I do miss my parents. I thought of trying to go back in the winter, but I don’t trust the island or the other Endlans. They have people who guard the shoreline, just in case. Watchers, they’re called. After they complete a year of duty, they attend a secret ceremony and become true citizens of Endla. And whatever happens to them there must be powerful, because after that, they don’t question the way of things again.”

Jaren had a final question, but it felt almost too personal.

Lupin arched an eyebrow. “You’re wondering why they don’t kill us outright.”

Jaren flushed. He didn’t like the way this girl seemed to read his thoughts. “It doesn’t sound out of the realm of possibility, given what I’ve heard about Endlans.”

“I’m sure some would like to, but our parents wouldn’t allow it. And I’ve heard not all children are so lucky. Stray too far from the safety of home, and an elder might give you to the Forest. If it’s hungry enough, the Forest might take you itself.” She glanced at him and burst out laughing.

“What?”

“Your face. You look terrified.”