"I know because daughter, you daughter, she visits the Ancient Clan. At Crystal Lake City," the witch said, as if it was an ordinary thing, but the words slammed into Rhys like waves against the bow of a ship. For a moment, he shook his head, as if he'd been rocked by the force of a blow, but the Witch of Deep Currents gave him no time to collect himself as she continued to speak.
"Word comes to southern shores, where the White River meets the seas, word that new Mother of Trees is born," Esselk'ti said. "Word that she goes to learn from Mother of Thorns in the Briar. Word travels fast on the river, reaches me, so I learn of this. My Mother, the Mother of Tides, she learns of this fast because no witch faster on the seas than me," she said with a hint of pride in her voice.
"After told her, she send me back," Esselk'ti said, taking a few steps closer to Rhys, then a few steps back to where she started, miming the course of her journey.
