Laura put her knitting in her lap and looked out at the tree before her. “Our history says these trees exist in many worlds. That their branches lead to different places, ones not ravaged by magic or mist, ones where beasts do not exist and the world was never broken.”
Fallon made a small movement at Shea’s side. She looked up to catch a fleeting grimace before he schooled his face to impassivity.
Laura’s smile was sly as she looked at Fallon. “You don’t believe. That’s alright. I didn’t either for a long time and then I followed one of these branches to a place so utterly unlike this one that I fled in terror. That day, I learned that every story that was passed on to me, even the ones we no longer tell as anything but myth, was true. You see, these trees don’t just protect us from the mist. In a way, they call it to us. They’re one and the same. Two halves of a whole. With the mist will come other things, some wondrous, many terrifying.” Laura picked up her knitting and began rocking again. “You have your work cut out for you, future conqueror. Pick your teller wisely.”
*
Shea and Fallon were quiet as they walked along one of the thick branches, its bark covered by a mossy plant except in the middle where hundreds of feet had worn a path through many years. Each digested the teller’s words and predictions. One thing she now knew was that the tree would protect those touching it from being lost in the mist, but it sounded like it could be dangerous in its own way too.
Shea and Fallon climbed one of the ladders hanging from the branches above, then made their way across one of the many rope bridges as they traveled further and further from the village’s heart.
The air was cool against Shea’s face, while patches of sunlight warmed her as she passed under them. She took a deep breath then released it. She let go of some of the worry eating at her. They were away from all of the responsibilities and duties that came with the Trateri. She was determined to enjoy the next few hours.
The sun was setting the world aflame with a golden glow as it sunk behind the horizon when they finally reached the spot Shea had picked. The golden tint picked up the deep auburn in Fallon’s hair, a color that was only obvious at times like these.
Fallon stopped beside Shea, taking in the scenery around them. Shea had chosen a spot where the branches of the soul tree and the trees surrounding it had interwoven so closely that it blocked out any but the briefest glimpses of the world below. On one side of the branch floor was a deep groove where water had pooled, creating a series of mini pools. From a branch above, a small stream of water trickled down, creating a small waterfall shot through with the hues of sunset. Moss covered everything as it drenched the small scene in lush, verdant greens. A small purple flower that Shea had learned only grew in spring lent a pop of color to the world.
“How did you find this?” Fallon asked, his face expression alight with wonder.
Shea’s shoulder jerked in a half shrug. She didn’t think he would enjoy learning she left her guards behind as she wandered outside of the safety of the camp and village.
The censorious glance he leveled on her said he guessed how but didn’t feel like arguing with her before he turned his gaze back to the small oasis.
“This is beyond anything that I’ve seen before,” he said, as his eyes took in their surroundings.
Shea gave him a small, pleased smile. She thought he might like it, since he was used to the rocky plains of his homeland and the forested mountains of the Lowlands. Nothing like this. Even with all her travels, this place stood out—a place that most of the world didn’t even know existed, for the simple fact that so few people look up.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” She shrugged out of the pack and set it on the branch at her feet. “I brought food for dinner and a change of clothes for both of us. We can stay the night up here if you’d like.”
The gaze he shot her said she’d surprised him.
“Or we can go back. I know you’re busy with everything; I just thought it might be nice to take a night to ourselves before things get even crazier.”
They hadn’t had one in a while—if ever. There always just seemed to be something in the way, whether that was one of the clan heads demanding his help with an internal clan issue, or him needing to visit with his soldiers, or having to make battle plans because one of the villages decided to rebel. Shea just wanted a little time to themselves.
“No. No, I’d like this.” Fallon’s gaze was warm on her and Shea gave him a happy smile.
“Good. Race you to the pool.” She pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it before taking off at a run for the cool water.
There was a long silence before Fallon gave a war cry and pounded after her, the wood under Shea’s feet vibrating slightly as he gained on her. She hadn’t made it even halfway there before he swooped her into his arms and tossed her over his shoulder as she shrieked with laughter. She wriggled madly until he slapped her on the ass. She yelped before wriggling even harder than before, laughing the entire time.
He walked to the edge of the pool and then stopped. Shea used her hands to lever herself partially upright.
“Don’t you dare. These shoes take forever to dry, and I don’t want to climb down with soggy boots,” Shea told him.
His shoulders heaved in a sigh. One huge arm wrapped around her upper thighs to pin them against his chest. The other got busy unlacing her boots before tugging them off in a feat of strength and dexterity that impressed Shea, despite how hard she thrashed as she fought to escape.
He repeated the act with her pants and underwear until she was hanging over his shoulder, her ass bare to any passing breeze. One large hand came up to cup a cheek before squeezing it. He slapped it again, and this time it stung without the protection of a thin layer of cloth. She yelped and then whacked his ass in retaliation.
His shoulders bounced as a deep chuckle rumbled in his chest.
Shea’s eyes closed and she slumped over his shoulder. Crap.
“Yeah, you didn’t think that through, did you?”
“Fallon,” was the only word she got out before she was sailing through the air. She took a deep breath before the water rose up around her, covering her head. She bumped against the smooth wood on the bottom. Her feet under her, she pushed, exploding up.
She slicked her hair back and blinked away water to glare at Fallon. That was her intention anyway. Fallon had disappeared.
“Fallon?” She waded a step toward where he’d just been, noticing belatedly the pile of clothes in his place.
A hand grabbed her ankle and then yanked. She went under with a shriek.
They surfaced at the same time. She splashed him in the face which triggered retaliation as he wrapped her in a bear hug and sank under again. She came up laughing, his hard chest pressed against her back and his arms wrapped around her front.
“Do you give up?”
Shea tilted her head so she could look at his face. “How did you even get undressed and into the water so fast?”
He gave her a smug smile. “I was very motivated.”