So I whispered, “Psst.”
His head whipped round immediately, then flew back as the arrow pierced his upper lip and smashed through his teeth. I heard the clunk of it hitting the back of his helmet.
But that hadn’t killed him, so I crept over to where he lay on the forest floor, groaning weakly with blood bubbling from his ruined mouth, making him choke.
Not allowing myself to think, I ripped off his helmet and nocked another arrow. I stared down at him for a second, into his piercing silver eyes as they pleaded with me. Then their colour went flat and dull as I fired a second arrow into his forehead.
My hands were shaking wildly as I lowered my bow. I still felt out of it, like I wasn’t really the one who had just done that. Just killed someone. I put my bow away and fumbled with the leather skin, taking a deep gulp of lukewarm tea, then another.
When it started to clear the last of the mushroom fog, I looked back down at the dead guard, ruthless determination chasing away the nausea in my gut. I had to hide the body in case there were any other guards around. It would give them too many clues. It would make them keep looking here.
I glanced around quickly and spotted a nearby tree with a hollowed-out trunk. Grabbing the fae’s ankle, I grunted as I dragged the body over. I was sweating by the time I got it there, but I didn’t pause, heaving the dead guard up and into the dark hollow. Then I quickly gathered leaves and branches until he was completely covered, not even a trace of his silver armour showing.
I straightened up and looked around again, fingers twitching by my sheathed dagger. It was totally still and quiet, but I felt like I was being watched. I scanned the trees keenly, looking for any flash of silver.
A jet-black stag appeared from behind a thick trunk, lifting its great antlers into the air as it watched me. Its eyes were soft and sad, and we stared at each other for a long moment.
It didn’t move as I slowly backed away, still watching me as I turned and started walking quickly away from the dead guard. I had no idea where I was, so I just had to hope I was walking in the right direction or that Nua and Gillie would find me soon.
I got a little nervous as I padded as quietly as possible through the trees, keeping my footsteps light. Every direction looked the same, and I’d been… not with it when I’d been walking here.
I took another gulp of tea, staying alert in case any other guards were lurking nearby. My branch arm was already grabbing my bow before I’d even registered hearing the unnatural rustle of leaves above me. I swung it up with an arrow nocked, before letting out a breath and lowering it.
“Nua.”
He dropped down from the tree, landing nimbly on his feet.
“Are you alright?” he asked worriedly, hurrying over. “We lost sight of you after you looked up at the trees and said hello to… something.”
I blinked, trying to remember. Long black hair that moved in waves. Glowing orange eyes and a wide grinning mouth. But I couldn’t remember anything it had said.
“We knew that meant Ogma would have been close, so I waited around here, and Gillie went back a little way in case I missed you when you were returning.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I accepted the hug he gave me after slinging my bow over my back. “There was a guard when I left Ogma. I killed him.”
Nua sucked in a breath, jerking back to stare at me. His fingers squeezed my shoulders. “Are you alright?”
I nodded, resisting the urge to glance back towards where I’d hidden the body, even though I was a fair distance from the tree now.
“Come on.” Nua urged me forward. “Let’s go home. So it all went okay, apart from… that? You got your second name?”
“Yes.”
Nua’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank the gods.”
The forest was getting dimmer as we walked, not saying much. I glanced up at the treetops, noting how dark the sky was getting.
“How long was I gone for?”
“Hours. But that’s normal. Time moves differently when you go to the place where Ogma is.”
Even though I couldn’t remember much from before I found her little hut, I remembered every second of my meeting with Ogma perfectly. I opened my mouth to tell Nua what she’d said, but closed it again a moment later.
I trusted him, but… the words felt private. Between me and her.
We found Gillie not far from the sidhe, and he clapped me on the shoulder with a big grin.
“How was it? See anything creepy?”