Bri snarled at the trunk as she passed. How close had Remy come to being a tally on that tree? She bet it filled the witch hunters with pride every time they got to mark another line. Another witch head. Another bag of gold. Now, the tree was covered nearly down to its roots, a coven gone. She thought to the red witches back in Yexshire. Mere dozens had survived and were now back at the temple in the High Mountain Court. Others had emerged from their hiding spots around Okrith upon hearing the news that the High Mountain fae had returned, but there were still so few of them. It would be many generations before their numbers matched what they were before the losses from the witch hunts.

“Bri?” Bri snapped her head up at Lina’s voice. Lina’s eyebrows lifted as if she was waiting for a response to a question Bri hadn’t heard.

“I’ll try not to kill anyone until we have answers,” Bri gritted out, giving Lina a hard look as she guessed what the question was. Judging by Lina’s grim nod, she’d guessed correctly. “And I’ll try to keep you from doing the same.”

Lina flashed a menacing grin, nudging her horse forward. The riders fell into a single-file line to navigate the narrowing path.

Fury filled Bri’s chest as she rode past that tree. With a burning desire to avenge the fallen witches, her fingers twitched for her dagger. Schooling her expression, she promised herself she wouldn’t make a hasty grab for her weapons. She needed to get answers and protect Lina . . . no matter how much she wanted to ram her blade through the witch hunters.

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Signs of life started to pop up along the road. Discarded wagon wheels, tattered scraps of fabric, broken glass, and rusted steel lined the edges of the path, bleeding into the dense underbrush. Were it not for the trail of smoke rising above the canopy, Bri would have thought the site was abandoned.

The travelers twined their way through the narrow trail, the forest opening up to reveal a ramshackle dwelling covered in climbing weeds and moss. It was built like a hunting tavern, constructed with giant beams and stag antlers adorning the outer facade. The windows were shattered, the door falling off its hinges and the thatched roof caving in. No one greeted them as they dismounted.

Lina held up her hand to the other guards waiting with their horses. “Stay out here. Keep watch,” she commanded stiffly.

Bri wondered if Lina didn’t want the guards to overhear any conversation between Bri, Carys, and herself. The palace was a leaky vessel, secrets spilling from its hull. It was wise to control the flow of information to the guards. Lina moved to enter the decrepit building but Carys stepped in front of her, her hand resting on her sword, and entered first.