Read Online The Watching Wood by Erika McGann - Free Book Online

bypass every form of attack. We can fight, and cast spells, but the faeries’ wiles will always find a way around them.’
    â€˜All except glamour.’
    â€˜Their one weakness: An innate trust of their own kind. It is something they cannot unlearn. And with this, the Hunters found their strength.’
    Rachel took it that one of each pair of faeries in each room was, in fact, a Hunter or a witch in disguise. A blue-skinned goblin paced one wall, its yellow eyes glowing in the shadow of its hunched frame. It kept a suspicious eye on the wispy, brown-skinned faery at the opposite side of the cell,who moved gracefully closer and closer. This watchful dance went on for some time until, finally, the goblin’s shoulders relaxed in the gaze of the brown faery, and it allowed the other to approach. A flash of silver, and the dagger pierced the blue-skinned chest. Rachel cried out in horror, clamping her hands over her mouth.
    â€˜A faery’s cunning,’ Aruj’s low voice repeated, ‘is what makes them dangerous. They fawn and manipulate and win your pity; and that is how they make you weak. You must learn to look beyond the cunning to the cruelty; it is that, which will keep you safe.’
    The blue-skinned goblin hadn’t seemed cruel. And the tiny wood nymph Rachel had danced with earlier hadn’t seemed cruel. But she trusted Aruj and his beautiful eyes, and decided she would never again be fooled by the play-acting of cute and cuddly faeries.
    * * *
    â€˜But the other three have already had a go. I’m just saying that I want to have a go as well!’
    Una’s black bob swayed from side to side as she looked between Jenny and Grace. Jenny stood firm, with her hands on her hips, looking down at the elfin-featured girl like a teacher instructing a toddler.
    â€˜And all I’m saying is that we’ll wait and see what the Trial is first, and
then
decide. We’ll pick the best person for the job.’
    â€˜But you’ll never pick me. And I want a go!’
    â€˜A Cloaking Trial, Una,’ Jenny was drifting dangerously into a patronising tone, ‘if there’s a Cloaking Trial, you’d be great at that.’
    â€˜And what if there is no Cloaking Trial? You can’t stop me doing the next one. I’m on this team as well, you know.’
    Grace sighed as she slid into her half-hammock. They’d been arguing like this since dinnertime. It was near lights-out, Rachel still wasn’t back and everyone was on edge.
    â€˜Grace, can’t I do the Trial tomorrow?’
    â€˜Of course you can do it if you want to.’
    â€˜No,’ Jenny said forcefully. ‘We pick the competitor after the Trial is announced, and play to our strengths. How else are we meant to win?’
    â€˜We’re not here to win, Jenny, remember?’
    â€˜I am.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ Una scoffed, ‘not that you’re insanely competitive or anything.’
    â€˜Look, I just want to show Meister and her snooty cows that they’re not better than us. Because they’re not. We’re awesome. Look at what Rachel did today. And Adie and Delilah – well, I know we didn’t win that one – but they showed off some serious skills–’
    â€˜And I’d just embarrass you.’
    â€˜No, it’s not that …’ Jenny’s voice became low and serious as she changed tack. ‘These Trials are dangerous, Una.They can be deadly.’
    â€˜Deadly, schmeadly. I’m having a go.’
    Grace raised her hand in the air.
    â€˜I vote Una does the Trial tomorrow.’
    Adie nodded and raised her hand. Jenny’s determined gaze fell on Delilah, but the small girl just said, ‘I don’t mind.’
    â€˜Yay,’ Una said with a grin, and crawled into her alcove.
    Defeated, Jenny dropped into the canal bed beside Grace.
    â€˜We’re not here to win,’ Grace whispered gently.
    â€˜It’s not about