Read Online The Wildkin’s Curse by Kate Forsyth - Free Book Online

me if I don’t faint with relief.’
    Merry could still hear the low voices of the other two arguing, although he could barely see them in the soft, dappled light of the forest. The Erlrune had woven them cloaks for the journey, and like everything she made they were imbued with magic, being grey at dusk, green at noon, and black at midnight, as changeable as water. Now he could hear Liliana say, ‘Why do you find it so hard to be beaten by a girl? Typical starkin—’
    â€˜If you call me “starkin scum” one more time, I swear I’ll knock you down just like a boy and then see how you like it,’ Zed replied furiously.
    â€˜I’d like to see you try,’ she replied coolly, one hand flying to her quiver of arrows.
    â€˜Come on,’ Merry said. ‘Stop arguing. I thought you were worried about noise, Lili? Can’t we just agree it was a tie?’
    â€˜It was not a tie!’ Liliana said. ‘I won fair and square. But you’re right, Merry. We should be quiet. It’d be a shame to endanger our quest simply because a pig-headed starkin boy can’t accept defeat.’
    She forged ahead. Zed had no choice but to fall in behind her, for the path was narrow and rough, leading under brambles and briar, over roots and boulders, and in and out of immense trees whose needles covered the ground in a rich, brown, slippery carpet that muffled their footsteps.
    â€˜Isn’t she the most aggravating girl you’ve ever met?’ Zed said, lagging behind to speak to Merry. ‘She just can’t bear not to have the last word, can she? Really, someone should let her know just how annoying that is.’
    Merry grinned. ‘Now, I wonder who that reminds me of?’
    â€˜And the way she always pushes ahead. It’s really not very ladylike.’
    â€˜A gentleman would always stand back and let her go first, though,’ Merry said, who had often suffered from Zed doing exactly the same thing.
    Zed frowned, then said unwillingly, ‘I guess so. I suppose
someone
has to teach her the right way to behave.’
    Merry said, ‘Teach her by example. No matter how bossy she is, just smile and nod and say, “As your ladyship desires.” Soon she’ll be as gentle as a lamb.’
    Zed thought about this for a moment, then shook his head. ‘Can’t see that happening,’ he said despondently. ‘I say, Merry, can’t you . . .’
    â€˜No,’ Merry replied.
    â€˜But why?’
    â€˜I like her,’ Merry said. ‘Besides, she did win . . . not by much, I admit, but she did still win.’
    â€˜Rubbish!’ Zed cried. ‘Are you blind? I won by a good three inches.’
    Merry smiled and nodded, and said, ‘Yes, sir. As your lordship desires.’
    Zed shot him a suspicious look, then smiled reluctantly. ‘Oh, all right then. Still, she did cheat!’
    Liliana had come to a halt beside an old, twisted tree. She gestured to them impatiently, her other hand resting on a thick root that writhed out of the ground, creating a small dark hole beneath.
    â€˜Anyone nearby?’ she asked the omen-imp, who had been swinging and scuttling his way through the high branches in his usual fashion. Tom-Tit-Tot made a rude face at her, but launched himself into the air and flew out of sight. He came back a few moments later and perched on the tree root above Liliana’s head. ‘All is still, all is quiet, makes me want to start a riot.’
    â€˜Please don’t,’ Liliana said. ‘Come on then, you boys. Follow me.’ She ducked into the dark crevice under the tree root and disappeared.
    â€˜What, in there?’ Zed asked, and looked at Merry in disbelief.
    â€˜I think that’s what she means,’ Merry replied.
    â€˜It’s all right for her, she’s half my size,’ Zed grumbled, putting down his satchel and bending down to peer into the dark hole. He sat