Iย could not yet see Ioneโbut her Cards were brilliant in the darkness ofย the wood. Pink and red and forest-green lights emanated, and I knew my cousin was out of the meadow and into the trees, retrieving Elmโs horse where sheโd left it. Mounting. Riding this wayโjust as the Nightmare had planned.
He hunched low to the ground and cocked his head to both sides, cracking the joints in his neck. Grip lax around his sword, heโd stopped moving the trees after weโd spoken to Ravyn. His self-imposed task was one heโd honed for centuries.
He waited.
Heโd waited, while Ione and Ravyn confronted Hauth. Waited, as Jespyr and Petyr crept through shadow undetected. Even as heโd guided the trees into the meadow, heโd been waiting. Waiting.
For the Destriers to come.
But I was not so practiced in the art of stillness. My mind ticked on a steady rhythm, not a chime, but a chant.ย Midnight. Midnight. Midnight.
Hush, the Nightmare admonished.ย I can feel your worry in my teeth.
It canโt be helped.ย I let out a long breath, which did nothing to ease me.
You have so little time.
I heard them then. Footsteps. Several pairs, all of them running.
Ione rode loudly, weaving through the wood. The Destriers behind her were far quieterโdifficult to home in on. But not impossible.
The Nightmare tightened his grip on his sword and tapped it upon the
earth, his namesake tree slithering out of his mouth like a hiss. โTaxus.โ
Shepherd King, came the chorus of their reply. โHow many Destriers are in the wood?โ
The Black Horses arrive, eight in their rank. They verge near the Maidenโto chase and to flank. Mind all your circles, guide the wood as you please. To hunt the Kingโs guardโcut them down at the knees.
The Nightmare stood to full height. Veins dark with magic, he swept his sword into the air. The wood trembled, then began once more to move. Dirt and mist and snow shrouded his eyes, so he shut them, content to listen to the noises of the wood.
I listened with him. I heard the groaning of treesโthe rumbling of roots as they ripped toward the Destriers. I could hear the beats of Ioneโs horse. Then, above it, menโs voices echoed.
The Destriers were shouting. Screaming.
The Nightmare opened his eyes, and Ione cantered past. The horse whickered, dodging through shifting trees. Ione kept her seat, turning the animal in wide circles through the wood. For each pass, she drew more Destriers from shadow, and the Nightmare, with swings of his blade, cut them down with the trees.
When four Destriers were left, Ione turned the horse, hurtling once more toward the Nightmare. One Destrier was so close behind her the tip of his blade cut several strands of hair from the horseโs tail. He pulled a knife, flinging it at Ione. But with one swipe of his sword, the Nightmare bade the trees to knock it from the airโand the Destrier from his feet.
Ione rode until she was next to him, dismounting in a flurry. She dropped her hand into her pocket and seized the red light therein. โBe still,โ she said, panting. โBe still, Destriers.โ
Louder, Ione, I called in the dark. โLouder,โ the Nightmare echoed.
Ione clamped her eyes shut. When she commanded the Scythe a third time, her voice shifted to a thunder greater than the whickering horse or the rush of incoming Destriersโgreater than the wood itself.ย โBe still!โ
Salt touched everything. Even me, though the Scythe had no sway over the Nightmare. When I looked through my window, three Destriers stood paces awayโarrested in utter stillness.
Darkness emanated from their Black Horse Cards. Unmoving, the
Destriers looked upon my cousin, unmistakable disgust flashing over their eyes.
Ione came to stand next to the Nightmare. She measured the Destriers, taking in their frozen statures and hateful gazes. With the Scythe, and her thunderous command, sheโd bent them to her will.
But it took only a needle-thin whisper to break them. Ione turned to the Nightmare, dropping her hazel eyes to his sword. โGo on, then.โ
His mirth coated our shared darkness. When the Nightmareโs sword sang through the air, the yew trees answered its call. With an impact so great I heard nothing but a terribleย snap, the Destriers were knocked from their feet, ground by roots into snowโinto nothingness.
I let out a shaking breath, and Ione winced. A drop of blood fell from her nose. She reached into her pocketโreleased the Scythe. โIs that all of them?โ
The Nightmare closed his eyes, listening to the wood.
โIs BessโDid she see all of that? That must have been terrible to watch.โ
The Nightmare ignored her, clearing his throat to speak once more to the trees.
โWill you tell her Iโm sorry about Equinox?โ Ione scrubbed a hand over her face. โI feel sick, thinking we fought over Hauth bloody Rowanโโ
โYou know, yellow girl, Iโve always liked you best. But if you do not be quiet and let meย listen, Iโm going tell the trees to press their branches over your mouth.โ
Ione balked, and I swatted at darkness.ย Would it kill you to be civil?
Iโm already dead. But yes. Decidedly.ย He opened his eyes a sliver.
Peeked at Ione. โElspeth is lecturing me.โ
Hesitant at first, then blossoming, a smile spread over my cousinโs mouth. She could not see it, but I answered with my own.ย Oh, give her a hug.
Donโt be grotesque.
A moment later the Nightmareโs spine straightened. He put a finger to his mouth, warning Ione to remain silent. There were voices in the wood again. Men, shouting.
โFor fuckโs sake, Tyrn,โ a booming voice called. โStop cowering.
Theyโre only trees.โ
I jolted forward in the Nightmareโs mind.ย Thatโs my fatherโs voice.
A second answered, pointed and snide. โOnly trees? When was the last time that wiry shrub in your courtyard ripped itself free and wrapped branches around your neck, Spindle?โ
My smile widened. Elm.
The third voice was my uncleโs. โAt least the wood doesnโt seem angry with us, thatโs somethโoh, Spirit, another one.โ Wet coughs echoed through the trees. โI canโt look at another dead Destrier.โ
โHuh,โ Elm said. โI donโt feel that way at all.โ
The Nightmare rolled his eyes. He tapped his sword upon the ground.
The wood went still, dirt and snow settling.
Three figures stumbled into view, like ships upon stormy seas. Wrecked ships, by the look of them. Their shoulders were slumpedโtheir hands tied behind their backs. Their skin was bleeding and bruised and blackened with frostbite. None of them walked without a limp.
Ioneโs breath caught. She ran forward.
Donโt be shy, I chided.ย Go say hello.
When Elm and my father and uncle saw the Nightmare and Ione coming, their mouths fell open.
Tyrn stumbled forward first. With his hands tied, he could do little besides push his broad chest at Ione and the Nightmare. He smelled of sweatโgrime and filth. โIone,โ he sobbed. โElspeth. Iโm so sorry.โ
The Nightmare hissed and wrenched away. โGet away from me, you traitorous scab.โ
At least untie him.
Grumbling, he passed Ione his sword, discontentment sliding over his mind.ย I might stab him if I do it.
Ione cut her fatherโs restraints, then my fatherโs. Erik Spindle had more poise than Tyrnโhe didnโt try to hug the Nightmare. But he stared into his yellow eyes. โWhatโs happened to you, Elspeth?โ
โIโll explain later,โ Elm said, breathless as Ione cut his binds. When his hands were free, he shook them at his sides and looked down at my cousin, a flush sliding over his marred skin. โHey, Hawthorn.โ
The Nightmare took his sword back and snapped a finger in Elmโs face. โFocus, Princeling. Time is running out. Heal yourself with the Maidenโ then we must get to the stone chamber. How many fallen Destriers did you
count in the wood?โ
Elm dragged his gaze from Ione. โWhat?โ
The Nightmare ground his molars. โHow manyโโ โFour,โ my father said. โWe passed four dead Destriers.โ
Ione met the Nightmareโs eyes, her face stricken. I knew what she was thinking. Eight Destriers had chased her from the meadow into the wood. Four were dead on the forest floor, three crushed by the trees behind us. Seven. Seven had fallen.
Which meant the eighthโ
There!ย I shouted.
He was paces away, walking on silent step, fitted with a shortbow. Even behind the darkness emanating from his Black Horse, I recognized him. He was the same Destrier whoโd chased me through the mist on Market Dayโ the one whose face the Nightmare had cleaved. Royce Linden.
The Nightmare slammed his sword back against soil. But before he could command the trees, Lindenโs arrow flew. It grazed Elmโs arm, then lodged itself into the muscle of Ioneโs shoulder.
She faltered back a step.
The Nightmare sprang forward at the same time as Elm. Linden pivoted
โlet loose a second arrow. The Nightmare cut it from the air and kept running. Linden threw down his bow and drew two knives. But the Nightmareโs gait was so fast, so trained and full of fury, that when he reached Lindenโlimbs and blades collidingโthe unflinching force of him knocked the Destrier onto his back.
Lindenโs skull collided with roots. He looked up, awash with loathing.
The Nightmare drew in a breath, lifted his blade once moreโ
โGive me that,โ Elm said, ripping the sword out of his hands. Auburn hair in his eyes, he placed the blade over Lindenโs chest and spoke through his teeth. โYou know how this goes, asshole. Be wary. Be clever. Be good.โ
I shut my eyes. When I opened them, a fatal blow had been dealt through Lindenโs heart. Blood wept from it onto the forest floor. The Destrier shut his eyes, gasping only a moment before the great, final sleep called him through the veil.
Elm stared down at him a second longer, then turned away. He handed the Nightmare back his sword and had the good sense to look contrite. โI was keeping a promise.โ
By the time he and the Nightmare got back to Ione, the arrow from her shoulder was on the groundโher wound already healed. She held her Maiden Card in her hand and tapped her foot, hazel eyes narrowing over Elm. โThat was excessive.โ
He let out a broken laugh, then surged forward. Catching Ioneโs face between his palms, Elm leaned over, crashed his mouth against hers, kissed her feverishly. โIโm sorry. I should have gone with you. Iโm not clever at all. Iโm sorryโIโm sorry.โ
The Nightmare and I stared.ย We seem to have missed something rather important, I said.
Small mercies.
My uncle and father turned away, scarlet. When Ione managed to pull herself from Elm, slightly dazed, she passed him the Maiden Card. Elm tapped it, letting out a sigh of relief when his woundsโhis cuts and bruises and blackened bits of frostbitten fleshโhealed until he was without blemish.
My father and uncle did the same. I felt my own relief, seeing them restored. But the chant in my mind returned, louder than before.ย Midnight. Midnight. Midnight.ย I cleared my throat and spoke to the Nightmare.ย Thank you. They are alive because of you. And nowโ
We must take the Cards and meet Ravyn in the chamber.ย But just as he said the words, the line of his shoulders went rigid. The Nightmare looked out into the wood, and I saw what he sensed. Light, flickering in our shared vision. A flurry of color.
There were Providence Cards in the wood. Only, they werenโt headed in the direction of the stone chamber, but the opposite. And fast.
I called out into nothingness.ย Ravyn?
No answer.
My heart bottomed out.ย Somethingโs wrong.
The Nightmare clasped his hand over Ioneโs shoulder. โBring the Maiden and Scythe and Twin Alders to the stone chamber.โ His gaze found Elm. โI have plans for you yet.โ
He ran. Not after the lights, but toward Castle Yew.ย Faster, I called over the drumming of his heart.ย Run faster.
He ripped through the tree line and faced the meadow. Snow decorated every blade of grass, but it was not pale.
It was red.
Ravyn was on his back, a hand pressed against his side, his copper skin the color of ash. His eyes were open, glassy, his breath coming in quick, halting breaths.
Blood. In the snow, in his clothes, upon his face and hands. So much blood.
The Nightmare let out an inhuman snarl. And I saw what he was focused on. The hilt of a daggerโlodged between Ravynโs ribs.
I screamed.
The Nightmare dropped to his knees at Ravynโs side. โNo,โ he said, stilling Ravynโs trembling hand. โDo not pull the blade out. It stanches the blood.โ
Ravyn blinked and looked up with unfocused eyes. He said my name, a whisper, just between us. โElspeth.โ
I thrashed against darknessโagainst nothingnessโtrying to get to him. My consciousness rattled so greatly the Nightmare began to shake. โHauth Rowan?โ came his venomous question.
Ravyn managed a nod. โMy Mirror, the Cardsโheโโ โI will find him.โ
Ravyn wincedโtried to focus. โElspeth,โ he said again. โTell Elspeth not to hate me.โ
Something fractured in the dark room I inhabited.
The Nightmareโs hands shook on his sword. Unflinching, five hundred years old, he looked down at Ravyn, his lost descendant, and trembled. โI wanted a better Blunder for her. If you perish, that Blunder will never exist.โ
โIt cannot exist unless the Deck is united,โ Ravyn growled, blood on his lips. โOnly you can see my Cards. Find Hauth. End it the way you wanted to, Taxus. Iโll be fine.โ
The sound of snappingโteeth and bonesโfilled my dark room. And I realized that the thing that was fracturingโbreaking in a thousand razor- edged piecesโwas me.ย It canโt end like this.
The Nightmare clenched his jaw. โIโll come back,โ he said, to me, to Ravyn, to himself. โHow long can you last?โ
โI was ten minutes late to Spindle House.โ An invisible thread pulled the corner of Ravynโs lips before pain stole it away. โIโll be ten minutes late
through the veil.โ
I wouldnโt let him go. I could not.ย No, no, noโ
But the Nightmare was already running. Faster than Iโd ever felt him go. His sword sang as it cut through the cold Solstice air. He ripped through the meadow, flinging us back into the wood.
It didnโt take long to find Hauth. He was bright with colorโnearly the entire Deck tucked in his pocket. He released himself from the Mirror Card
โno longer invisible. I could see his broad back, his pumping arms.
The Nightmare stopped running and lowered to a crouch, holding his sword above the earth. He tapped it three times on hardened soil,ย click,ย click,ย click. His eyes rolled back, darkness eclipsing our shared vision. The space around me widened, as if the Nightmare and I were expanding. I could not see him, but I knew the Shepherd King with golden armor was with us. For he was the Nightmare, and the Nightmare was the King, and I was both of them.
Magic burned up our arms, powerful, vengeful, and full of fury.
We looked out onto the wood, marking Hauth Rowan, and spoke the name of our flock. โTaxus,โ we said in a long, scraping call.
The earth answered on a thunderous boom, the yew trees awake once moreโand moving. Their roots ripped from the ground, cleaving the wood as they hurtled toward Hauth.
He looked back, eyes wide. With another clamorous roll of earth, Hauth shouted and fell. The yew trees encircled him. We guided our sword in intricate arcs through the air, casting nets, moving branches and roots to cut him off at every turn.
The trees caught Hauth at his middle. He shouted, swore, swinging his sword. But the branches tightened their hold, knotting around his ankles and wrists until, pressed with his back against a gnarled trunk, Hauth could no longer move.
We raised ourselves to full height, Shepherd KingโNightmareโI. When we stepped forward, the forest stood still for us.
โYou should have known better than to flee into my wood, Hauth Rowan,โ the Nightmare seethed. โYour Destriers met their end here. So, too, shall you.โ
Hauthโs green eyes narrowed with recognition. He spat my name like a curse. โSpindle. Or do you go by a different title now?โ The thin line of his
mouth twitched. โHowโs Ravyn?โ
The Nightmareโs hand found Hauthโs throat, just as it had at Spindle House. Only now it was not just he who was ravenous for blood, but I as well.
I screamed into the dark. The Nightmare opened his mouth, and my scream became his, a horrid sound of despair and hate and rage so complete it shook the trees, dousing the arrogance in Hauthโs face and painting dread upon him.
And suddenly it was not Hauth that we were looking atโbut another man with cunning green eyes. Brutus Rowan.
The NightmareโTaxusโI spoke in a low, menacing whisper. โThere was a time, once,โ we said, โwhen rowan and yew trees grew together in the wood. They spoke in delicate rhymesโwhispered tales of balance, of the Spirit of the Wood. Of magic. But time is as corrosive as salt. As rot. And now the rowanโs roots are bloodstained, and the yew tree twisted beyond all recognition. We are monsters, the pair of us.โ
Brutus Rowanโs brow lowered. When I blinked, it was Hauthโs face once more. โThat is what it takes,โ came his acidic reply, โto be King of Blunder.โ
The Nightmare let go of his throat. With a swing of his sword, the trees holding Hauth began to move. They dragged him through the wood, following the pull of the Nightmareโs sword as he walked ahead.
The trees reached the edge of the wood. Loomed over the stone chamber the Shepherd King had built for the Spirit of the Wood. They dangled Hauth a moment over the rotted-out ceilingโ
Then dropped him.
He crashed into the chamber. When his back collided with the stone below, Hauth let out an ugly groan and thrashed, draped over the stone like an offering.
The Nightmare entered the chamber through its window.ย Midnight?ย he asked the yew trees.
Minutes away.
Salt coated the air and mist slipped over us, a cool, silver waveโa turning tide. Hauth struggled to his feet, nine Providence Cards slipping from his pocket onto the chamber floor, a mural of vivid color in the darkened room. Nightmare. Mirror. Iron Gate. Well. Chalice. White Eagle.
Prophet. Golden Egg. Black Horse.
Hauth backed against the far wall of the chamber. His crown had fallen. He picked it up and placed it back on his head, his foot knocking against another crown upon the earthen floor. One with twisting yew branches instead of rowan.
The Shepherd Kingโs crown.
The Nightmare picked it upโplaced it on the stone where he had forged his Cards, where his children had diedโthe place that had become his grave. There was no time, no time at all. Still, guarding the window to the chamber, trapping Hauth inside, he waited.
Midnight, I urged him.ย Ravyn!
And yet, he waited. Waited.
Waited.
Then, like spider silk, his voice strung itself around the chamber. โYou are the final Rowan,โ he said. โThe last of your kind. Know that, before the Spirit takes you to rot.โ
โYou are wrong,โ Hauth answered, his voice dripping disdain. The trees had stripped him of weapons, but his hands knotted to fists at his sides. โYou may have an easy enough time killing my brotherโbut youโll findย thisย Rowan difficult to dispatch, Shepherd King.โ
The Nightmare laughed, wicked and infinite. โFool. Iโm not going to kill your brother.โ He opened his arms, a beckoningโand a promise. โIโm going to crown him.โ
He looked over his shoulder, waiting once more. โNeither Rowan nor Yew, but somewhere between. A pale tree in winter, neither red, gold, nor green. Black hides the bloodstain, but washes the realm. First of his nameโ King of the Elms.โ
I saw them then. Out of darkness, three lights shone. Red, pink, and forest green. The Nightmare stepped aside, and the lights drew closer.
Elm and Ione climbed into the chamber, the final Cards of the Deckโ Scythe, Maiden, and Twin Aldersโcradled in Ioneโs hand. Neither of them wielded the Maiden. But to me, they seemed so beautiful they were terrifying. Elm glanced between Hauth and the Nightmare, his green eyes narrowing.
โYou know what you must do?โ the Nightmare asked him.
Elm nodded.
The Nightmare caught Elmโs hand and pressed the hilt of his sword into it. โThen itโs yours. All of it.โ
Elm took the sword. Searched the Nightmareโs eyes. โYou wonโt stay?โ โIโve got to get back.โ He glanced one last time at the glowing lights of
the Providence Cards he had livedโbledโdied for. โTheyโre waiting for me.โ
He turned out of the chamber.