Sprigling

THE WILDS

Where the poisoned forests creep back over the trade-roads, Spriglings come up first — hedge-cuttings the blight taught to run. Each is a fistful of green with a splinter of malice for a heart, quick as a rumour and about as dangerous alone. Farmers' children once wove such twig-dolls for luck. Malgareth remembered the custom, and returned it with interest.