Drawing in little breaths, Phae listened to the sound of him approaching from the far side. She twisted some strands of hair away from her face and tried to calm the trembling. There were dead leaves all around the tree, creating a crackling carpet as he approached. She heard silence as he paused.
He appeared around the corner of the oak, so close she could see the scars on his face. He had a rugged look, sun-browned skin from a life out of doors, and scars across his face as if some terrible beast had clawed him savagely. Up close, he seemed a little younger than he had from afar. He stared at the tree, not down at her, his gloved fingers touching each ripple of bark. There were twin daggers sheathed in his belt. She could not believe he had not noticed her cowering in front of him. His lips pursed and he paused again, sniffing the air. He came closer, his boots nearly striking her. Phae tugged her legs against her body. Was he blind? How could he not see her?
An expression came over his face, a clouded look. He shook his head, as if he smelled something bad. Then he proceeded to circumnavigate the trunk. His boot collided with the tip of hers. He was right over her. She stared up at his scarred face, willing him to look at her. But he did not glance down.
Phae let out a slow breath of relief when he finished his circuit of the tree and then tromped off into the woods, never looking back. She did not understand it, but she was grateful. Hugging her knees with both arms, she pressed her face against the bark and felt tears of relief well up in her eyes. Perhaps, he would not find her after all. After resting, she could retrace her way back to the cabin and see what had become of Trasen. Exhausted, she dozed, pressed against the oak.
A hand shook Phae’s shoulder to wake her. She started. Kneeling by the oak tree she encountered a man with a gray beard and snowy white hair. He had a stern look on his face. She saw a Druidecht talisman hanging from his neck and a surge of relief immediately quelled the panic.
His beard was cropped and she noticed he was short. He glanced back at the woods the direction her pursuer had gone. “You are safe for now,” he said in a whisper. “But your pursuer is nearby.”
Phae nodded vigorously. “He may have killed my friend up on the ridge. How did you find me?”
He gave her a curt smile. “My wife led me to you. She saw you running from that man. How she called me is a Druidecht secret. But you are safe as long as you stay near this tree.”
“I can’t stay here,” Phae said, shaking her head. “I need to go back up the mountain and search for my friend. Can you guide me?”
He shook his head angrily. “You do not understand who is chasing you. It is one of the Arch-Rike’s minions. Who are you, child, and why does he hunt you?”
“I don’t know you,” she answered, immediately distrustful.
“I am a Druidecht, girl. You can trust me.”
She said nothing.
“For pity’s sake,” he grumbled.
“Where is your wife?” Phae asked, looking around.
His grizzled beard quivered with frustration. “You are a troublesome girl.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult. I don’t understand how that man passed by me without even seeing me. It was as if he could not see me.”
“Well, he couldn’t!” the old man said, annoyed.
“How could that be?” Phae said desperately.
He ground his teeth. “Wonderful,” he mumbled. He turned to the tree. “Well? Am I supposed to explain it to her all by myself?”
Phae suddenly had the feeling the old man might very well be insane. “You are talking to…the tree?”
He put his face in his hand and shook his head in frustration. “You know I don’t like talking to people. Maybe you should tell her.”
Phae swallowed. “Who should tell me? Who are you talking to?”
“To my wife,” he answered. “She’s here with us.” He looked up at Phae. “You don’t know what you are, do you?”
He was talking about her fireblood. He saw a girl with red hair. A man was hunting her in the woods. The Plague had been reported in Havenrook. The protection her blood provided would be valuable. She understood now.
“Yes,” Phae said at last. “I know what I am.” She slowly stood. “Not even the Druidecht intervene when we are taken. You are like the rest of them.”
His eyebrows crinkled. “No, I don’t think you understand. Do you know how rare you are? Who…who was your mother? Where is your mother? Haven’t you been taught about Mirrowen? Do you know…?” He ground his teeth in frustration again. “I shouldn’t be the one telling her!”
Phae backed away from him slowly. “I don’t have the fireblood,” she lied. “Not everyone with red hair does have it. I’m Aeduan, just like you. The man hunting me thinks I have it. He’ll murder me. If you are a Druidecht, then use your magic to stop him.”
The Druidecht shook his head. “Druidecht magic won’t help against him. Come back to the tree, girl. Now.”
Phae shook her head. “No.”