Ivory trunks rose around me once more, and I spotted the korrigans waiting by a cluster of mushrooms, watching carefully. When they spotted me following, they shrieked and flew off again. I almost couldn’t bother with them- the forest held too much potential for mystery and wonder. But I had come out here for them, and I would retrieve them before turning back.

  Sol hovered nervously in the hole I had crawled out through, and I turned to him. “You may wait there, if you like. It’s your choice.”

  Sol retreated further in, flinching when the bottom of the Light briefly skimmed the stream.

  With wet knees and no companions, I started out through the forest, heading the direction the korrigans had vanished to. I was fifty paces from the wall when I realized how stupid I had been:

  The korrigans had convinced me to follow them.

  “Oh, no,” I muttered, turning around. But I couldn’t see the wall. I circled in the spot- I hadn’t gone far enough to lose sight of the wall! It was a huge silver wall, half the height of the trees, and rather hard to miss. How had I lost it so quickly?

  As I glanced around, I didn’t see the korrigans either- and I couldn’t hear any of the birdsong I’d heard yesterday. I tried to call back to mind all the things I had read about yesterday, and meanwhile cursed myself for this furtive mission. Why had I thought any of this a good idea?

  Something stirred in the forest nearby, the sound echoing so I couldn’t locate its source. The declivity of my circumstances made me almost wish I had allowed one of my sisters to take this venture instead of me. My heart started to pound as the creature in the forest drew nearer- it was large, and two-legged. I finally realized it was to my west. An image came to mind of the Pale-Walker Nyx had mentioned, and my heart hammered in my chest as I backed up to a tree.

  It stepped out of a briar thicket.

  The monster was at least a third the height of the wall, its wooden body supported by two gargantuan legs and draped in hanging moss and lichen. Antlers spread from its head, and rather than a face it had a long, pointed skull, punctuated with gaping black eye-sockets and cracked nostrils that emitted smoke.

  I prayed to every god, star, being, ancestor, or what-have-you, as I stood against the tree, that the creature would not see me. It lumbered slowly across the clearing to my west, long, clawed hands swinging slowly with each step. It didn’t look around or make a sound, besides its heavy footsteps. Was this a Pale-Walker? Was this why Cervis had insisted we remain quiet during our entry to the forest?

  It took slow, striding steps, making no noise but for its foot-falls. Long, slender arms swung at its side as it went, ending at hands of sharp pointed fingers like claws. It didn’t look around, but I had a feeling it didn’t need eyes to see.

  It was terrifying, to the point I was frozen with fear, and then- thankfully- it was gone.

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  As its footsteps retreated, I stepped lightly across the forest floor, watching out for sticks or fallen leaves. The three korrigans returned, wearing frowns, and then feigned terror and tried to fly away again. I shook my head at them- no way was I following them to whatever awful fate they had in mind.

  It was a relief to see Sol flitting cautiously through the trees, and I all but raced to his side when I finally saw him. He squeaked in relief and turned around, and I followed him, the silver wall finally reappearing. Sol led me back through the hole in the stream, and then to the grand staircase. At the top of it, I saw Cervis waiting, his head raised. Nyx sat at the base of the staircase, his cinder eyes gleaming evilly.

  “You’re in so much trouble,” he gloated, and I ignored him as best I could, traipsing instead up the stairs with Sol at my shoulder.

  “So, how was it?” Cervis asked, his voice light but with an undertone that could cut glass.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, instead of answering. “I should have listened to you, but I had to see for myself.”

  His eyes narrowed. “And what did you see?”

  “A Pale-Walker,” I said, and he gasped. Nyx ran upstairs as well, eyes wide with shock.

  “That can’t be true! You would never have survived that!”

  “Well, I did,” I said, crossing my arms at the fox.

  “Hold on.” Cervis met my eyes. “What did the Pale-Walker look like?”

  I described it in full detail, and then saw annoyance in Nyx’s eyes and relief in Cervis’s.

  “That wasn’t a Pale-Walker,” Cervis said. “Thank the moon- you would never survive an encounter with a Pale-Walker. That’s not anything against your pride; none of us could survive meeting one of them. It’s why we don’t go into the forest.”

  “Then what was that- that thing?” I asked, my mind recalling images of clawed fingers and smoky nostrils.

  “A wendigo,” Cervis answered. “Not quite as dangerous as a Pale-Walker, but you’re still lucky to be alive. You must never go back into the forest, Aster- nothing waits for you there but death. I’m not confining you to these walls to imprison you; I’m doing it because otherwise this world will kill you.”

  “And why should I be in it, then?” I demanded. “If it’s so dangerous, why bring someone else here to suffer your fate?”

  “My fate is out of my hands! Perhaps it is selfish of me to drag you into this as well, but if you had been alone as long as I have, you would understand! All I ask is that you don’t do stupid things like follow the korrigans or run off into the woods. If that is too much for you- and really, setting such rules is generous, as otherwise you would simply be dead- then by all means, disobey and get devoured by a Pale-Walker. See if I care!”

  He tossed his antlered head and strode off down one of the bridges.

  “You’ve done it now,” Nyx said cheerily at my feet, seeming thrilled at the sour end to the encounter.

  Cervis was right that I shouldn’t have gone into the woods- but if he wouldn’t tell me anything, and the books didn’t talk about it either, how was I supposed to find out? I couldn’t be kept ignorant forever; complacency and obedience only lasted so long.

  I needed to find out more, but I needed a safer way to do it. And I didn’t need Cervis or Nyx being so contemptuous while I found out.