it was not one who was common to Tuatha.
The crowd began to whisper. “Do you recognize her?” Flynn asked Ronan.
Ronan glanced over his shoulder, as if he knew I was listening. “No.”
As she passed over our heads again, she gave out a cry. In the distance, something answered. I craned my neck to see what it was.
A cloud as black as night flew over the land, but it was only when it was over our heads that I realized it was made up of hundreds of creatures just like the first.
“Na mistéirí,” Flynn said quietly. “Mysteries. Riddle-Makers. They were the final challenge in the very first tournament. A dozen or so competitors were slaughtered almost immediately. This is the first challenge?”
Ronan stared above us. The creatures flew in a circle before breaking off and going in different directions. “I guess, not only do we have to solve their riddles, we have to solve the riddle of their location.” He smiled at his brother, but it was tight and didn’t reach his eyes.
I reached for their shoulders. I couldn’t very well hug them, since their actions would look very strange, but I wanted them to know I was with them.
Be so careful.
Their bodies were tense under my hands, but each gave a quick, almost imperceptible nod.
“The tournament has begun.” Killian’s voice was quiet, but it still reached every competitor. At once, Folk darted away.
The water Folk hurried toward the loch, while other creatures either ran or disappeared completely, using their magic to whatever advantage they could.
On the dais, Killian held out his hand, opening a portal.
“Shit,” Ronan muttered as Killian jumped through it.
“Let’s go.” Ronan twisted his hand and a portal opened in front of him. With one last quick glance over his shoulder, he commanded, “The Riddle-Makers are too dangerous. Stay here and away from them.” Then, he and Flynn hurried through the portal, leaving me behind.
I considered staying put for about five seconds before dismissing the suggestion. I was invisible, I wasn’t part of the tournament, and I was determined to help. Surely, the Riddle-Makers wouldn’t care about some invisible spectator. I didn’t care if it made me stupid or naive; Killian needed my help, and I was going to give it.
I had been searching for hours, but I hadn’t found one Riddle-Maker yet. Nor had I found Killian.
Now, I trailed after the Folk of Mag Mell. They spoke about the other competitors and their strategies, but none of them included anything like driving Killian mad.
They took a path through the woods, stepping over moss-covered logs. I followed, stepping where they had, careful not to make too much noise. But their voices muted their footsteps and mine.
There was a sudden, piercing scream. Birds exploded from the trees, launching themselves into the sky. Ahead of us, something huge burst through the canopy. I ducked down, along with the Folk, as a Riddle-Maker flew over our heads. In her talons, she held the ruined and bleeding body of a competitor.
“Did you recognize him?” one of the Folk, a tall woman with blonde braided hair wrapped around the crown of her head, asked.
“No,” another one answered. He had hair a shade darker than Flynn’s. It was long, like the woman’s, and braided over his ears and down his back. “He was missing his head.”
“I’m not dying that way,” the woman said. She put her hands on her hips and faced her group. “I say we leave Tuatha to the Fair Folk who live here. What do you say?”
There were nods all around. I barely had time to jump out of their way before they began hurrying back to the castle.
There was a decision I understood. Good for them. Live to fight another day.
I wished Ronan, Killian, and Flynn had that option.
Alone, I continued on the path. It curved away from the place I’d heard the person scream, so that was a relief. I tilted my head back, studying the sky. The sun wasn’t quite overhead, though I knew we’d walked long enough that it should be midday. I wondered if Tuatha was playing fast and loose with time the way it did for mortals.
It was cool in the forest, but the trees were spaced far apart. The moss gave way to leaves and dry ground, and I had to be more careful of where I stepped. I was so focused on the path, I didn’t notice that the forest had opened up to a meadow.
It was beautiful. Tall green grass stretched in