I swallowed hard. “I’m not leaving her like that,” I growled. “We need her, and the amulet, to stop Keirran. So, please, change her back.”
The witch chuckled. “I suppose I could do that,” she began, making me slump in relief. “Though I don’t see what I would get out of it.” She pondered a moment, then snapped her fingers. “Here is a fun game, Ethan Chase,” she cackled. “I’ll let you take the Summer girl and the amulet, free of charge, and I’ll even agree to change her back—” she gestured to the flock behind her “—if you can pick her out from the rest. Bring me the right bird, and I’ll let you all go.”
My stomach dropped. “And if I choose wrong?”
“Then one of your friends will become a happy member of the flock,” the witch said. “And you can try to guess again. But, be warned. I am only agreeing to let one bird go tonight. Whether it is the Summer girl or your little human friend will be up to you.” She grinned, showing a mouthful of jagged teeth. “So I would try to get it right the first time, Ethan Chase.”
“Dammit.” I raked a hand through my hair, looking helplessly at the others. If I guessed wrong, and Kenzie paid the price... “No,” I told the witch. “I won’t do this. There must be something else you want.”
“There is nothing else that I want,” the witch said calmly. “I have all that I need. You have trespassed onto my land, and there is a price to pay regardless of the circumstances. I’ve given you your task, and if you want the Summer girl to leave this place, you know what must happen. That is the deal, and neither you nor your clever human friend will change my mind. Take it or leave it, Ethan Chase.”
Kenzie moved close and put a hand on my arm. “You can do this, Ethan,” she murmured, and I shook my head in protest. “You have to,” she went on. “It’s the only way to find Annwyl. We can’t turn back now.”
“I can’t,” I said through gritted teeth. “What if I guess wrong? I’m not going to put you in danger like that. I’m sorry, but I refuse to have a chicken for a girlfriend. That’s not going to happen.”
“Ethan.” Kenzie squeezed my wrist. “We’ve come all this way,” she whispered. “We have to get Annwyl and the amulet back to the wyldwood before the war starts. It’s the one chance we have at stopping Keirran and the Lady.” I took a breath to argue, but she overrode me. “Your family is depending on you. We have to bring him back.”
I slumped. “Dammit, Kenzie. You had to bring up Meghan, didn’t you?” But she was right, and we both knew it. Shooting a glance at the yard, at the dozen or so chickens I had to choose from, my insides churned. So many, and they all looked exactly the same. “Any tips for chicken wrangling in that animal trainer head of yours?” I asked desperately.
“Not really my area of expertise,” Kenzie replied, glancing into the yard. “But...all animals respond better to patience and slow movements. Try not to chase them around. If Annwyl is in there, if there’s any part of her left at all, maybe she’ll recognize you.”
“Boy,” the witch said, sounding impatient. “Time is wasting, and I have a kettle on the stove. If you are going to do this, get on with it.”
I squeezed Kenzie’s hand. “All right,” I muttered. “Wish me luck.” For both our sakes. Swallowing the dryness in my throat, I opened the gate and stepped into the yard.
Okay, this was probably the stupidest thing I’d ever agreed to do, and that included all of Keirran’s high jinks as we’d trailed him to one end of the Nevernever and back. Yeah, following Keirran had led to my death, but at least no one had ended up as a chicken.
The flock eyed my approach from different corners of the yard, beady eyes glassy and blank as they milled around with nervous clucks. None of them looked like they recognized me.
I took a few steps toward them. They skittered away. I took another few, to the same result—fearful squawking as they ran behind logs and bales of straw. They wouldn’t let me near them.
We were so screwed.
Behind me, the witch let out a cackle. “Having trouble, boy?” she called, and I resisted the urge to flip her off. “Try cornering them between the haystacks and the water barrel. I’m usually able to trap a couple of them there.”
“Right,” I muttered, and took a step toward the water barrel, where a trio of hens huddled. They tensed, ready to run, and I stopped.
Wait a second. This is exactly what she wants me to do—chase them around like an idiot until they’re scared and exhausted and too terrified to come near me. What had Kenzie told me a few minutes ago? Animals respond better to patience and slow movements. I couldn’t stomp after chickens like a giant, hoping to gain their trust. Even if Annwyl’s scrambled chicken brain sort of recognized me, chasing them around would just freak her out.
I stared at the three birds in the corner. Two of them tensed, ready to run, but one hen peeked out at me with wary eyes, as if it was unsure whether to flee or not. If I made any motion toward her at all, she would.
Okay, then. Annwyl, wherever you are, I hope there’s enough of you still in there to remember me.
Very slowly, I sat down, crossing my legs in the damp, cold grass. The chickens watched from the edges of the yard, a few curious, but most of them still wary. I shot a quick glance at the spot the one hen had been, but she was no longer there.
God, I hope this works, I thought, and closed my eyes.