The Witch of Storn

Chapter 25

A week had passed since Rey had first woken up in Zaria’s care. It wasn’t the greatest situation to be in but she was grateful. When she took the time to think about it things weren’t so bad; someone wanted her dead but had no idea she was still alive (hopefully), she could leave the bed at last, even if it had to be done with the aid of a stick, she didn’t need Zaria’s help anymore to make use of the toilet (Rey was extra-grateful for this fact; it was beyond mortifying to have Zaria help her onto the chamber pot and the elder never let her forget it either), she could have a bath at last, and her hostess was a great cook, even if she was a grumpy old hag.

Literally, Zaria was a ‘crooked, ugly, old woman, well-versed in the dark arts’, as Mythical Tales charmingly put it.

She was a witch.

Rey had nearly flung herself out the window when Zaria had revealed the fact to her during one of their now regular nightly talks. The woman had just laughed, rather evilly, as she watched Rey cower in a corner of the room while brandishing her walking stick. She had laughed some more when Rey had warned her to stay back, probably because the voice the threat was delivered in didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Finally she had taken pity on the scared girl and explained that the description of witches in the book was wrong and incredibly biased. It had taken some time before Rey could fully trust her hostess again, and even now she still jumped if Zaria snuck up on her. Of course the older woman was finding all of this very amusing, taking the chance whenever she found one to scare Rey. She had only stopped after she had startled Rey into dropping one of her precious glazes – as the expensive crockery was called – and shattering it.

It was night once more. They had eaten, and the dishes had been cleared and washed up. Now they sat outside on the porch steps, basking in the cool evening breeze. It was a full moon that day, so Zaria decided to take their usual session outside. So far Rey enjoyed the decision, even with her misgivings.

“You’re sure it’s safe to be outside this late at night?” It was the umpteenth time she was asking the question that night, and she was sure Zaria was itching to sew her lips shut, but she had to be absolutely certain.

Zaria sighed like she had the weight of the world resting on her shoulders and lowered the bowl she had been about to drink from. She put it on the small round tray that sat beside her and turned to Rey.

“Rhaenar,” she said very calmly.

“Yes?” Rey replied in a small voice.

“For the last time, it is completely safe. Do you know why?”

There was a brief silence during which Rey realized she was supposed to answer.

“Uh…because you’re here?” It wasn’t her smartest moment, but she hoped the flattery would at least mollify Zaria.

It didn’t work.

“Nice try, but we are safe because the house is in a ring of protection. Nothing below the level of a griffin should be able to get in without my permission, and I spent three months laying down that circle, so I should know. Even common insects and bugs are kept out. Now can I enjoy my night tea, in peace preferably?”

Rey apologized and Zaria picked up her bowl again with a huff. Rey admitted to herself that she was being too paranoid and tried to relax. She placed her empty mug to one side and leaned back on the step behind her, moving gingerly so as not to make her injuries worse. At last she was on her back, staring up at the brilliant blue moon and the twinkling stars dotted across the dark sky. There were no constellations she could point to, even though she had known much about stars when she had been on Earth. Helene had been the stargazer, the one with all the fancy dreams. Rey had just wanted something tangible, something she could hold on to and proudly claim as hers. They were so different but when they worked together they made up for each other’s flaws. It had always been just the two of them. Rey and Helene. So why would she—

“Is everything alright?”

Rey felt the vibrations in the wood beneath her as Zaria lowered herself to lie beside Rey. She answered quickly, grateful for the distraction from her unwelcome thoughts.

“Ah, yes, yes, everything’s fine.”

“Really?” Rey couldn’t see Zaria’s face but she could bet the woman had one eyebrow arched.

She didn’t let Rey answer, going on to say, “Because from where I’m standing – or lying, things don’t seem so good. There’s someone out to kill you, you’re lost and penniless—“

“Why is it always the money with you!”

In spite of the retort Rey was laughing. Maybe Zaria had been serious but for some reason it amused Rey.

“—and you’re hobbling about with a stick when you haven’t even turned twenty. Does that sound alright to you?”

Giggles bubbled from Rey’s lips, growing in intensity and frequency until it was full on laughter. She felt Zaria’s presence leave the floor and a concerned face peered into hers soon after, but she just couldn’t stop laughing. Soon her eyes were wet and there was a trail of tears down her cheeks but she kept laughing.

It all seemed so ridiculous for some reason. Things were supposed to look up when you were granted new life, not go from bad to certain doom. Everything was going wrong for her though. Would it have been better to move on? Start a new life without any memories or previous knowledge? It could have been. She could have forgotten all about Helene, she wouldn’t even have any idea of a Helene. Like always she didn’t get a choice. She never got one—

“Y inhere fare.”

The laughter stopped. Rey looked up at Zaria, who had a warm hand on Rey’s forehead and was stroking it softly.

“W-what? What…what’s going on?” She felt strange, like she had woken up in an unfamiliar place. She looked around, seeing the porch, the trees, the clearing in front of the house; why did it all feel so strange even when she knew it like she knew her own name?

“Rhaenar!”

Rey jolted. “Yes?”

Zaria took her hand off Rey’s head and sighed, returning to her seat.

“I am rather sorry about using that spell on you; it tends to leave people feeling a bit disoriented for some time. You looked like you needed it though – you wouldn’t stop laughing and it was starting to sound like hysteria.”

Rey didn’t answer and Zaria didn’t ask her to. They just sat there in the not-silence of the night, watching the sky and listening to the calls and night sounds of the wildlife. Rey’s thoughts flitted here and there, unable to stay for long so she let them be, choosing to enjoy the tranquility. At last her head felt clear, enough for her to whisper a small “Thank you”. There was an answering hum from beside her, and the quiet returned. They lay there for what seemed like hours, looking into the sky. When a cloud rolled across the moon Zaria sat up. Rey let out a small groan as the warmth of her presence went with her. She could hear the crockery they had used for tea clinking against each other. The other must have been packing up. Usually Rey would help but she didn’t feel the need to move. All her problems seemed so far away now that it was just her, the open air and the blue moon. Zaria moving around in the background was just background noise.

Rey wished she could stay like that forever, not having to worry about anything, completely safe. Not totally safe, it seemed because her peace was broken by a slightly painful tap to her head.

“Ow,” she whined. What happened to the nice Zaria from earlier? Was it just an illusion that came as an after-effect of the spell?

“Get up, girl. It’s time to sleep.”

“Noooo,” Rey didn’t want to leave, “can’t I stay here? It’s so comfortable and—“a betraying yawn left her lips, “—peaceful.”

“You can stay here if you want, but know that when you freeze to death all I will do is throw your frozen corpse into the woods for the scavengers.”

Rey’s eyes stayed closed.

“Can’t you just, I don’t know, resurrect me? You’re a witch, aren’t you?”

The sharp knock that hit her in response forced her pained eyes open. They looked up to find an unamused Zaria staring down at her.

“I’m a witch, not a necromancer. Up. Now.”

Rey groaned loudly but did as she was told, accepting the stick from Zaria and using it to get to her feet shakily. Once she was standing Zaria turned on her heel and headed into the house, carrying the tray and its contents into the house.

“Come on, old woman. Or do you need my help to get to your room?” Zaria said over her shoulder.

Rey grumbled at the woman and hobbled into the house after her, closing the door behind her and sliding the lock into place. Zaria had said there was a ring of protection, but she also said to always lock the door, just in case. There was some clattering from the kitchen so Rey headed that way, making it to the doorway to see Zaria putting away the last of the dishes.

“Oh…”

“Did you need something?” Zaria raised an eyebrow at her as she wiped her hands with a napkin.

Rey shrugged. “I wanted to help with the dishes but you’ve done them already. Good night then.”

She turned around and headed up the stairs after Zaria replied in kind. Making her way up the stairs was no easy feat, but the promise of her soft bed and warm blanket spurred her on, and when she got to the top at last she grinned tiredly. She stumbled into her room and flopped onto the bed, laying there for a while as her conscience nagged her to put the covers over herself. It was ignored until a pointedly cold breeze blew into the room, then she groaned and wiggled off the blanket, pulling it over her body properly.

She closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep.