Acotar retelling

Spill the Tea

Gradually, I made my way out to the grove of trees in the west. I walked through cultivated gardens, over grassy hills, and through the spring woods beyond. I continuously saw shimmering in the corner of my eye, I was certain it was mail, a faerie, but when I turned it transformed. The light became water reflecting in a clear stream, the sun catching on a particularly pale white petal, or leaves floating by in the breeze. It irritated me that I had no way of discerning whether it was fae or nature making the movements, but I carried on regardless.

The woods contained a wide variety of trees, oak, elm, beech, and finally, birch. I set up my double loop snare with the cloak Alis prepared for me, and I waited.

~~~~~

The afternoon was drawing to an end and the sun was lowering on the horizon but I still waited. I'd taken cover in a nearby oak, sturdy and bushy. The eternal spring kept my cover as I hid from anything approaching my trap.

The screech of the Suriel was unmistakable, a terrible, wicked thing hollowed out and full of pain.

"Child, I see you have learned your lesson, brought me a nice cloak instead of an old chicken. You also appear to have gained the courage to ask your questions, very well."

"Do— do you remember me?"

"No, but I do know you, I see the version of you that has been, a reflection across the version you are. You went through a lot to return, to do it over."

"Is there any way for me to return? To my timeline or universe?"

"Perhaps, but you must ask yourself, is it worth it? Would you rather face your fears again and save those you love, or go back and know you didn't try?"

"I will tell you again child, stay with the High Lord," the Suriel said. "That's all you can do. You will be safe. Do not interfere; do not go looking for answers after today, or you will be devoured by the shadow over Prythian. He will shield you from it, so stay close to him, and all will be righted."

I opened my mouth, but the Suriel hissed, "Naga. Free me and run."

I did as it requested, shooting the share and attempting to flee. And then I screamed, as high, as loud, and as hard as I could manage.

The snare shattered. Like a shadow on the wind, the Suriel was off, a blast of dark that set the four naga staggering back.

The one closest to me surged toward the Suriel, the strong column of its scaly neck stretching out.

No chance of my movements being considered an unprovoked attack anymore—not now that they'd seen my aim. They still wanted to kill me.

So I let my arrow fly.

The tip glittered like a shooting star through the gloom of the forest. I had all of a blink before it struck home and blood sprayed.

The naga toppled back just as the remaining three whirled to me. I didn't know if it was a killing shot. I was already gone.

I raced for the stream using the path I'd calculated earlier, not daring to look back. Lucien had said he'd be nearby—but I was deep in the woods, too far from the manor and help.

Branches and twigs snapped behind me—too close—and snarls that sounded like nothing I'd heard from Tamlin or Lucien or the wolf or any animal filled the still woods.

My only hope of getting away alive lay in outrunning them long enough to reach Lucien, and then only if he was there as he'd promised to be. I didn't let myself think of all the hills I would have to climb once I cleared the forest itself. Or what I would do if Lucien had changed his mind again and Tamlin didn'it show.