Page 31 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“Okay, whatistracking us then, oh wise one?”

Torren glared at her. “Don’t get cross with me, Lass.”

Cypress threw one of the large nuts at his head.

“Aye, watch it,” Torren said as he ducked out of the way. He caught the offending nut in his hand on its descent, though.

“Answer the question.”

“It’s a Durdiddle.”

Cypress blinked, then blinked again. “It’s awhat?”

“A Durdiddle. They are creatures of darkness. Deadly to unsuspecting travelers all across the Wylds.”

She couldn’t help it. A loud crack of laughter burst from her lungs, sending her bent over her knees, trying to catch her breath.

“What are ye laughing about, Lass?”

“You’re telling me, the best name conceived for a so-called deadly creature of darkness wasDurdiddle?”She wheezed, laughter still threatening to split her apart.

Torren’s face contorted with the effort it took him to restrain himself, until finally laughter burst free, his throat working with the motion as he clutched his middle.

It was several minutes before the pair could control the laughter and absurd humor that echoed through the Faerie ring. When Cypress was able to, she asked, “So what does this thing do? Diddle you to death?”

Again, Torren’s face contorted with effort. “I don’t think I’d mind being diddled to death,” He muttered, hand pressed to his chin.

“Is that how I will hear your death told, Torren?” Cypress asked, then adopted the deeper tone of voice she used as Captain Cy. “Here ye, here ye, Torren of the Fair Folk dead, diddled to death at the edge of the Wylds!”

Cypress was still laughing when Torren said, “Only if it’s by your hand,CaptainCy.”

12

Not Nearly

EmergingfromtheFaeriering the next morning was like stepping out into the darkest part of night.

Daybreak and the warmth of the morning sun had roused Cypress and Torren from the depths of slumber, the embers of their fire long ago turned to ash. They’d eaten a quick breakfast, basking in the sun’s warm rays.

But one step outside the Faerie ring, and pure black enveloped the trees, pressing in on Cypress’s senses. It was as if the order of the day had flipped, as if they’d slept through another full day and emerged into night. But, she knew better. The sun had warmed her face and had kissed the tip of her nose within the bounds of the Faerie ring.

“Be careful, Lass. The creature won’t reveal itself until it thinks you’ve let your guard down,” Torren instructed, leading his horse through the trees, presumably in the direction of the road.

Cypress had no choice but to trust Torren’s path as the pure darkness felt almost alive with the way it pressed down, seeping in each of her pores, suffocating her every breath. Seren’s beautiful sooty face hovered just over her shoulder, the rhythmof the horses' hooves on the ground beating in time with her heart.

On and on the pair walked while Cypress kept her ears open for any sign of a creature following them. Occasionally, a twig would snap in the distance, and her breath would seize her lungs, but Torren kept walking.

“This darkness is not natural, is it?” Cypress eventually asked when it had seemed like they’d walked for half the day without even a hint of daylight seeping through the thick canopy of leaves.

“No, Lass, it is not. The Durdiddle can call shadows to it so thick even the day turns to night,” Torren replied, gesturing around to the deep shadows that have surrounded them since leaving the safety of the ring.

“And it was not dark within the Faerie ring because?” Cypress asked, even though she could guess the answer.

“I already told ye, Lass. The forest always listens and will help those who ask for it,” He winked, sending his customary grin over his shoulder at her.

“What language were you speaking to it in?” Cypress asked in a hushed tone, drawing level with him as they rejoined the road, darkness still enveloping the forest.

“Is now really the time?”