The Wishing Tree - Book Two [Completed]

Secrets - Part 9

I sit in front of the fire with Mason. We built it the old fashioned way to avoid suspicion. I maintained my vow of silence through hours of pushing and pulling the cart with the quillore. I used the time to mull over Maizie's revelations and to question whether I really want to see Ryan right now given what he is doing on the Third Realm.

"You know, you can speak to me now, Queenie. Rocco and Riven are far enough away guarding the quillore's body that they won't hear you."

I continue to look into the flames. I know Mason doesn't want to hear my jealousy, my anger, and my fear. He already expressed his distaste for Ryan's musings about me. I can't imagine he wants to have it coming from both sides.

"I never thought I'd have to ask you a second time to open your damn mouth." He raises his eyebrows. "Will you finally admit that Maizie is a nightmare?"

He is goading me and even though I know it, I can't help responding. "She's trying to help."

"Alright then, what helpful thing did she do last night?" He looks expectant, and I have a feeling that he already knows.

I look away again. "Just leave it alone, Mason."

He stands up and moves around the fire to the other side, near his pack, his back turned to Rocco and Riven. "Check your sequence. Anything else there yet? We have the heart now."

"Which, by the way, was completely gross. It was still beating."

He reaches into the bag and throws the heart at me. I catch it instinctively and cradle it in my hands. It's still beating. I give Mason a quizzical look. He offers a small smile in return.

"It doesn't stop beating, Hannah. That's why we had to stab it through the head."

I nod and examine the heart in the firelight. It makes a slight sucking noise as it pumps air instead of blood. Another pang of guilt moves through me for my part in the quillore's death.

"That body will feed the colony for quite a few months." He says the comment offhandedly, almost as though he doesn't know he's easing my conscience.

I walk over and place the heart back in his bag and remove the list from inside my dress. I look at the first two numbers and mentally tick off the wings and the heart. The third task is faint on the page, and as I angle the paper closer to the light the writing becomes darker and darker. I turn the page to Mason, feeling a sense of dread. It's an easy task, but one that presents so many risks.

A ghost of a smile plays across Mason's lips. His voice is gentle and fills with an emotion I can't place. "That one's easy, Queenie. Rocco already suspects something, and he certainly doesn't trust me. He'll be easy to convince."

Convince a member of the Muttaty Colony to join your quest. 

I read the words, wondering what fear this might be addressing. I meet Mason's eyes and marvel at the brilliance of the green. They don't look cold or hard or sinister to me anymore. There is a stirring of apprehension in my belly at how much I've come to trust him and how quickly he's won me over. Rocco's warning is still ringing in my ears. I try to keep my face blank as I study Mason. There are so many things about him that are a mystery that I feel a little foolish for being so reliant on him.

"Why doesn't Rocco trust you, Mason? What is it that I don't know?"

He frowns. He pauses for a long time, and I start to think it will be another one of our conversations that doesn't go anywhere.

"Truthfully, you're not the only reason I've been avoiding any colonies. I suspect you're going to find out soon enough," he says.

He rises and leaves the fire without another word. I watch him wander over to the two boys and slap Rocco on the back in an overly friendly gesture. I see Rocco tense and look over toward me.

Rocco ambles over to sit across the fire from me and his smile is uneasy. "You should get some sleep. You're going to need it."

I meet Rocco's eyes across the flames. "Is it safe for Mason to go to your colony?"

Rocco's surprised by my question and he turns his head slightly to the side. "You're worried about him?" He frowns. "I'm certain he can take care of himself. There are better questions you could be asking right now."

I struggle with whether I should just ask those questions. If Mason already believes it's inevitable, maybe he won't mind if I know? I look towards Mason, perched on the edge of the firelight's reach. He appears relaxed and unaffected by the fact that Rocco and I are sitting together. I know he left to give me an opportunity to work on Rocco, but I'm having a hard time finding the desire to manipulate him.

I don't ask him any more questions and with one last look towards Mason, I lay my head on the ground and fall asleep.

Author's Note:

Why do you think she needs to convince a member of the Muttaty Clan to join them? What fear do you think this addresses? Do you think one of them will join them? How would you convince one of them to come on a quest with you? How do you think Hannah will do it?