Page 70 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“In my experience, Lass, it is best to let a Diviner assess your blood on an empty stomach.”

Cypress wrinkled her nose. “You think I’m going to throw up?”

Torren pulled a face, his shoulders rising to his ears. “Others certainly have, but I think you’ll be fine. Probably.Maybe,” He said, walking back toward the streets with a single glance toward her to make sure she followed.

Cypress rolled her eyes, but strolled after him. “Wow, such confidence.”

“I don’t pretend to understand how the powers of a Diviner work.”

“Right, because you’rejustTorren, not the heir apparent to the Wylds,andGrethnah, if you wanted to push the claim.”

“I do not want the human lands. They haven’t mourned a single day of my absence, why should I pine for them?”

“But you’ll work to save them?” She asked, unable to look away from the wonder that was the village even as she interrogated him.

Torren didn’t reply immediately.

Now that Cypress was beneath it, the underside of the hill seemed to be as far away as the clouds in the sky, the thick roots of the tree nearly as big around as she was.

The cover of night seemed to be draped over the Faerie ring as Cypress stepped under the hill, bringing with it the bioluminescence of the Wylds.

Everywhere Cypress looked, there were countless glowing fireflies, moths, and butterflies dancing merrily over the houses, through the grasses. Buds of flowers unfurled their blooms, filling her nose with the heady scent of wildflowers.

To her surprise and delight, Cypress found many bushels of her favorite Fire Vine flower blooming along the sides of the streets. Their spicy aroma warmed her to her toes.

When she bent to pluck one of the blooms, Torren reached out a hand to stop her.

“Don’t Lass- It’ll burn…ye,” he said, words trailing off as she plucked the stem without effort.

“What are you talking about? These are my favorite, I put them in my bath water,” Cypress said, shooting him a dirty look.

She appreciated his warnings most of the time. Other times, Cypress felt like he coddled herentirelytoo much.

“You.. You put them in yourbath water?”Torren asked, eyes narrowing at each stumbled word.

Cypress raised an eyebrow at him. “That is what I said, isn’t it?”

Torren shook his head. “It’s a wonder no one connected the dots sooner, Lass.”

“What do you mean?”

“Fire Vine flowers are known to leaveintenseburns on contact. It’s only harvested by Pixies, who cultivate it into various tinctures and salves. More than that, though, a bloom picked too early is as volatile as a wildfire.”

Cypress looked at the flower in her hands, then back to Torren.

“You mean to tell me I’ve been bathing with essentially black powder for practically my whole life?”

Torren pressed his lips together, the skin around his eyes crinkling. “It sure would explain your… personality,” he offered with a wry smile.

Cypress threw the flower she’d plucked at his face.

“Aye! Watch it, Lass!” Torren shouted, ducking out of the way before the petals ever touched him.

Cypress threw her head back and roared with laughter.

“I’ll get you back for that, Lass. Just you wait.”

“Can’t wait to see you try,” Cypress countered, grinning.