Trial by Fire

“How far are we from Salem?”


“Hours. I won’t make it,” he replied honestly. Lily started rubbing his arms with her hands, trying to chafe some warmth into him. She was really cold, something she couldn’t ever remember happening to her before, but Rowan was literally freezing to death.

“Can’t we build a fire?” she asked.

“Not out in the open. There are Woven tracks everywhere.” He paused before continuing. “But there is a cabin nearby.”

“What are we waiting for?” Lily asked enthusiastically.

“It was abandoned years ago when a Woven built her nest not far from it.” Rowan watched Lily’s face carefully. “The nest may be empty by now. And then again, it may not be. Are you sure you’re up to it?”

Lily felt him shaking in her arms and pushed down her own fear. “Let’s hurry.”

A grateful look crossed Rowan’s face, and he squeezed her a little tighter before turning and leading her quickly through the trees. They speed-walked for about half an hour, racing the lowering sun and the lowering temperature. Lily clamped onto Rowan’s hand, frightened that he was going to freeze to death before they got there.

“Can’t you take some heat from me?” she asked. Rowan shook his head tightly. “Does that mean you can’t or you won’t?” she pressed.

“W-won’t. You’re c-cold, too,” he said haltingly, his lips nearly numb. Lily started to protest, but Rowan cut her off. “The cabin is over the next rise,” he said, pulling her down behind a bush and crouching down next to her. “Wait here. I’ll go check it out. Don’t make a sound until I come back.”

“Rowan—” Lily began, but he’d already pulled out his knife and crept away on cat-quiet feet.

Lily peeked around the bush, trying to figure out where he’d gone. She couldn’t see anything but forest. She strained her ears listening for him, but all she heard was the wind and the creaking of the frozen limbs of the trees as they swayed and rubbed together. Lily stayed still, her breath tight in her chest as the forest darkened. More sounds joined the ghostly chorus of the trees—skittering, rustling sounds.

Lily edged her way back into the bush, drawing her knees up to her chin protectively as time passed. Too much time. She didn’t know anything about Woven behavior, but surely if Rowan were attacked, he’d fight back. She’d be able to hear that. Wouldn’t she?

Lily felt pressure on her forearm and jumped, clapping a hand over her mouth to keep herself from screaming.

“It’s me,” said Rowan’s disembodied voice. “The nest is empty.”

He dissolved out of the background and became visible again—the same way he had that night when he’d caught her trying to run away with Juliet. Lily almost threw her arms around him she was so relieved but settled for smiling at him instead.

Rowan pulled her up to her feet and held her hand as he led her through the dark trees. They walked for about five or ten minutes before Lily saw a clearing with a small, stone cabin in its center. The cabin had a thick oak door studded with iron bolts, and a wide chimney that tilted atop the slated roof. It looked like it came out of a storybook. Lily could easily imagine a jack-o’-lantern by the front door and a black cat hissing at them from the crooked roof.

They pushed the door open, and Lily smelled the murky scent of moldering leaves and wet ash. Rowan’s willstone glowed, lighting up the pitch-black room. As he walked in front of her, Lily saw that Rowan’s body was edged with a halo of opalescent magelight. He looked big and otherworldly.

“There’s a candle around here somewhere,” he said. It took him a few moments to find it, and when he did, he brought it over to Lily.

One of his ice-cold hands snaked up the sleeve of her jacket and wrapped around her forearm.