The Edge of Strange Hollow by Gabrielle Byrne (best affordable ebook reader txt) 📕

It didn’t take much to convince them that it was a fight that humans couldn’t hope to win.”

Poppy thought suddenly of the strange little book Nula had taken, and the rhyme the inklings had remembered for them. “Tooth for tooth,” she recalled. “Blood or bone.”

The woman squinted. “You’ve heard it, then.”

In a flash, Poppy remembered one of the images in the book. The tree and the woman, with all the people of the Hollows and the creatures of the wood stretched out behind them. “The promise of Prudence Barebone,” she breathed, covering her surprise by poking her head out from behind the rocks to look at Nula. She and Mack were still talking with Jute, but Mack narrowed his eyes at her, like he was sure she was up to something.

She ducked back behind the rock.

What was the little book Nula had taken from the Holly Oak? “So … what did Prudence do?” she asked the witch.

“Well, she did what anyone does in this cursed wood when they’re in trouble. She bound herself in a different way—a way she could choose, and she took something for herself in the bargain.”

Bells went off in Poppy’s head. “She made a promise.”

The old woman’s eyes lit. “Prudence made a promise.”

Poppy wasn’t sure whether it was the light in the woman’s eyes, or the ringing of her words, but for a moment it made Poppy’s hair stand on end. “What promise?”

The woman cackled. “A promise for the ages. A promise for all time. For all of us.”

“With the Holly Oak?”

“With the Holly Oak.” The woman gazed meaningfully at the apple slices in Poppy’s hand and Poppy handed her some more.

The old woman went on, chewing. “Prudence was afraid, you see. She didn’t want to grow old and die.” She breathed a long sigh. “So, she bargained extra years—for everyone. She wasn’t selfish, only greedy. She asked for reasonable safety—a ban on any creature entering the Hollows who meant humans harm. The Oak couldn’t grant immortality, so Prudence asked for long and healthy lives, more than double a human life-span. Bountiful harvests. No snow.”

A sour taste crawled up the back of Poppy’s throat. “But can the Holly Oak give us all that? I mean, how? What … what did Prudence promise in return?”

The woman shot her a sharp look. “Clever girl. All magic has a price, and what Prudence asked for was costly. She promised peace, I suppose you could say. She promised the humans wouldn’t harm the wood, and that they would stay, bound to the magic of the wood and the fog, protectors should the fog ever fail.” She bit off another piece of apple. “Then they all signed it. Every last one.”

Poppy shivered. The witch hadn’t actually named the price Prudence had paid, but before she could push her for more answers, the old woman leaned in. Her breath smelled like something had crawled in her mouth and died. “Then Prudence made a mistake.”

Poppy tried not to gag. This was important. She could feel it.

The woman began to back away. “She swore the Oak to secrecy. Now, only the rhyme remains … and these days you all have even forgotten that.”

The last time they were here, the Holly Oak had been trying to tell them something … something she wasn’t able to say. A geis, Mack had called it.

Poppy looked up. The woman was fading from view, her form shifting into mist. “Wait!” Poppy cried.

The woman’s glittering eyes were the last to go. A whisper echoed in Poppy’s ear. “Don’t forget,” it said.

“What’s all the shouting about?” Mack’s voice called.

Poppy spun around. The rocks that had blocked her and the old woman from view were gone. The shore was flat and clear. Everyone was staring at her.

Her scalp prickled. “Jute? Did any of you see where that old woman went? Or … or the rocks?”

Mack pulled a face. “What woman? What rocks?”

Jute shook his head. “No one’s here but us, my dear.”

“I was just talking to her! She was old, and she had—”

“No, you weren’t,” Nula scoffed. “You’ve been over there muttering to yourself for the last fifteen minutes.” She rolled her eyes. “I just thought you were in a mood.”

“No. I’m not in a mood. I was talking to someone. Right here! Behind some rocks! An old woman.”

Mack and Jute both looked concerned, but Nula came closer and pulled at Poppy’s arms, looking her up and down, then spun her around and did the same on the other side.

“What are you doing?”

“She didn’t bite you, did she?”

“No, she didn’t bite me!”

Nula narrowed her eyes at Poppy as though she didn’t quite believe her. “But you did say it was an old woman?”

Poppy nodded.

“Well, I guess you’re lucky, then.”

“Whyyyy?”

Nula rubbed her shoulder. “Even good witches can bite.”

Poppy gaped. “How did you know?”

Nula swatted Poppy with her tail. “I told you. You have to watch out for old women in the wood. They’re never just grannies. What did she want?”

Poppy looked at Mack and Jute. “She wanted to tell me a story.”

Mack and Jute exchanged a look. Jute shook his head. “There’s no time for stories, Poppy.” He pulled her into a hug. “Mack told me what’s happened. You have to get that magic bottle back to the Faery Queen.” He held Poppy away, then dug one hand into his pocket. “Hold out your hand.”

He dropped a handful of gold coins into her palm.

Nula groaned.

Jute closed Poppy’s fingers around the coins. “There’s no time to waste. The Holly Oak sent for me. I’ll go to her, and you can explain everything later—once you’ve fulfilled your bargain.”

“But—”

“Just hurry,” he said, brushing his fingers over her cheek. “I love you too.” His hand dropped to his side and he met each of their eyes, before turning away. “Now,” he said. “Run.”

They raced along the shore as Poppy’s thoughts flew to the Boatman, and then to the kelpies. Just the thought of the Boatman made sweat break out across her skin, but there was nothing—not even a bargain with the