Spark paused to look into the water. “I do! It’s just a little thing, isn’t it? I hope it’s the right one.”
Following his directions, Spark pulled the fish inexorably up. Its struggles broke the water as it splashed and flailed, its scales flashing silver.
“Hold it fast,” Aran said.
He spread the cloak between his arms and waded into the stream. Luckily they’d hit some shallows, and the was water only a little above his knees.
As if sensing his approach, the fish thrashed wildly.
“Oh no,” Spark cried as the red berry popped out of its mouth.
Aran lunged, cloak outstretched. The berry swung back and forth on the end of the string. And the slim silver trout fell into the folds of the cloak.
He whipped the edges together and splashed back to the bank. Spark took his elbow to help him out, and, squelching with each step, Aran moved several paces away from the stream. He could feel the fish wriggling desperately within the woolen confines.
“Now what?” Spark asked.
“It’s getting heavy,” Aran said. “I think it’s growing.”
“Stand back.” Spark pulled out her bow and took a wary stance.
He laid the cloak down. Sure enough, whatever was under the fabric had grown bigger, and it was still thrashing. He backed up, hands going to his knives.
The cloak fell open, and he could only stare. It wasn’t a fish. It wasn’t even a monster.
It was a girl.
Her naked skin glimmered like moonlight. White blossoms were woven into her long, dark hair, and her eyes were wide with fear.
“Hey there,” Spark said, taking a step forward.
In an instant, the girl was on her feet. She cast a wild glance about the forest and, before they could stop her, bolted into the shadows of the trees.
Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure, Magic
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Wait!” Aran cried. “We have to follow her.”
The maiden’s pale figure was quickly disappearing into the dark woods. He and Spark plunged through the underbrush, barely keeping the girl in sight. Only her glowing skin kept them from losing her completely.
Branches caught at Aran’s arms and the scent of crushed bracken fern stung his nose. They got no closer to the girl, but fell no farther away, either. Above, the unfamiliar stars shone down, distant and impassive.
The forest ended. Ahead, the maiden scrambled up a sudden hill, the grasses silvered beneath the moon. She reached the top, her faintly glowing form framed for a moment against the night sky. Then she was gone.
“Hurry,” Spark gasped, though she had fallen a few paces behind.
Aran reached back and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him to the top of the hill. Except it wasn’t a hill, but a grassy mound. The midnight landscape spread out around them, with no sign of the fish maiden.
In the center of the hill grew a tree covered with starry blossoms. And one perfect, golden sun.
“Oh,” Spark said. “The golden apple.”
“Do you think it’s safe to just pick?”
Belatedly, Aran let go of her hand and readied himself for combat.
“I think so. After all, we had to fight the giant, fish up the girl, and then pursue her. That’s three.”
He wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Senses alert, he followed Spark to the base of the tree. She reached, but the apple hung too high, gleaming far above her hopeful fingertips.
“Boost me up,” she said.
Aran cupped his hands and they managed to get her into the crook of the tree. Carefully, she edged out along one of the lower branches. He paced below, ready to catch her if she fell. White petals drifted down in the wake of her passage.#p#分页标题#e#
“Almost there,” he called softly.
She was so close, the golden glow cast a soft light over her face and the ragged ends of her hair. Watching, Aran held his breath. She reached, and plucked the apple. It parted from the tree with a sweet, musical chime.
“Got it.” She smiled down at him.
And fell, as a sudden, furious wind lashed the branches of the tree.
He caught her, breaking her fall as the two of them tumbled to the soft grass.
“We better go,” he said, though part of him wanted nothing more than to lie there with her, limbs tangled together, and count the unearthly stars.
Overhead, the trembling wail of the Wild Hunt echoed through the sky. Way to break the romantic mood. They scrambled to their feet.
“Over there.” Spark caught his arm and pulled him toward the far end of the hill.
A small faerie ring shone, nearly hidden by the silvery grasses. Without a word, he and Spark leaped into the center. He didn’t care where it went, as long as it took them away from the hunt.