The forest spun around Hush, his legs threatened to fold underneath him, and all the while Petal’s menacing laugh echoed in his head.
Where were they?
He looked around. Mist was edging in from around the glade, but there were no sign of humans. He almost allowed a sob, but he didn’t dare risk it. If any of his sisters heard him cry, the next few days would be all the worse, and they had followed him before to watch his abhorrent trades.
Pine tree Marys were the mistresses of the forest, worshipped by hunters and wanderers. They ruled their kingdom of hazy forests and fens by luring men to them and ensnaring their souls. As long as the men remained faithful they were rewarded with pleasure and luck in hunting, should their interest wane the hulders’ bloodthirsty nature would surface.
Hu
