CORA

CHAPTER 2

Rhea sent a word out to her twin sister Thea. She and Dorian spoke to Cora about it and she was excited though she felt bad she was going without her parents.

Dorian was a well trained warrior too and was part of the warriors back them in Winslow, he had always taught Cora how to defend her self in the face of trouble, she was well trained on combat even though women weren’t allowed in the battle fields they still needed to know about it in case of trouble. Rhea also taught her all a woman should know and she knew Thea would teach her anything else she felt was necessary.

“Cora your Aunt Thea would be coming to take you with her back to Winslow” Dorian said to Cora. He watched her for a while just so he could tell her reaction to what he said, when he didn’t get any he continued

“You have always wanted go outside a Belrom and also see the beautiful manor and the palace of Winslow and this is the an opportunity for you” He said.

Cora smiled. She was really excited but she had to contain her excitement, she didn’t want her parents thinking she was super excited to leave them. True she always wanted to know what life outside Belrom was like, she was happy she would be living in one of the biggest and richest town which was Winslow.

Her father had told her about their migration and how Belrom had come to be, he also told her about King Castor and his hatred for witches and sorcerers. She was a witch and by 21 she would be a full blown witch but that didn’t deter her from wanting to go to Winslow. Being an adventurous person, it only increased her excitement.

Dorian brought out an ancient looking book, he handed it over to Cora.

“Have this Cora” Her father said

She collected the book “what is it for?” Cora asked

“It is the book of spells. I want you to keep it safe from prying eyes and use it when necessary” he said.

“How do I know when it is necessary?” she asked.

“You would know when it is” he said giving her a light pat on her back as he walked away leaving her to thoughts.

CORA’S POV

On the morn of Aunt Thea’s arrival I woke up so early and super excited though I tried to hide it, it was still evident. I’m sure mama noticed it. The truth is that I couldn’t wait for her to get to Belrom and take me back with her.

Aunt Thea arrived by midday which happened to be the eve of my 21st birthday. I and Mama say by the entrance of our tent when Aunt Thea arrived. She came with a brown horse, it came to a halt a little distance from where we were seated and so she held it by the lead rope as she drew closer to where we were.

Aunt Thea is the exact replica of mama though she was slightly bigger and had a longer brown hair. Mama and Aunt Thea jumped into each other’s arms, their embrace was filled with so much love and I could tell they really missed each other. Papa came out to join us in welcoming Aunt Thea. I stood by the side waiting for them to acknowledge my presence.

“This is Cora” Mama said drawing me closer to her

“You didn’t tell me she was this beautiful” Aunt Thea said. She sounded just like mama. I moved closer to her and she gave me a hug. She lifted my chin, she kept complimenting me while looking at me. I also noticed a dark mole by her right cheek, mama didn’t have one.

That must have been how they were differentiated when they were little.

Aunt Thea and mama were trying to catch up while papa went to get wine. Just then heavy steps disrupted the conversation I was enjoying. It was Griffin, he kept panting and pointing towards the road leading to the witches vine.

“What is it Griffin?” Mama asked hurriedly

“The elders... the elders heard Cora is about ....to leave ...to leave the village instead of planning for her initiations. They are on there way here” he said breathlessly.

“You both have to leave this minute.” Mama said dragging i and Aunt Thea towards the direction of the horse. Papa rushed out with some of my belongings I packed the day before.

“You will need this” he said handing over my belongings. Papa helped me onto the horses back just after Aunt Thea had climbed on it.

Aunt Thea tried convincing mama to come with us but she refused.

“Rhea there is still time for you to come with us” Aunt Thea said.

“I can’t leave my husband Thea, please take care of Cora for me” Mama said.

“I will” Aunt Thea said and we galloped away. We heard loud chants from behind. It felt like they were very close to us. I turned back to see mama and papa trying to stop them. Aunt Thea hit the horse and it galloped faster.

As we rode faster , the wind started blowing ferociously, we had strong balance in the horse or we would have been thrown off, the trees started bowing in the order of the wind, Aunt Thea maneuvered the horse the through the narrow path trying so hard to avoid the bending trees.

I could still hear the witches chanting and saying some spells, I didn’t think Aunt Thea could hear them, but I could and they were so loud like the witches were just next to me. I quickly remembered the fog dust papa gave me.

“Aunt Thea, I can make the wind stop” I said

“That would be great” she said still concentrating on the path.

I took a pinch or the dust and said some of the spells my father taught me, immediately the wind calmed down and then it finally stopped but we didn’t stop.

We continued riding at the same pace.

The witches started enchanting the spells again, louder this time and suddenly fire appeared before us causing the horse to neigh loudly and then halt abruptly almost throwing us off balance again, but just like the first time, we didn’t fall off.

I held into Aunt Thea who grip the lead rope on the horse firmly. It got its balance back and jumped over the fire.

“We need to get to the border quickly” Aunt Thea shouted.

We rode silently this time without any disturbance.

“We can’t go through this border, we will raise suspicions” Aunt Thea said. So we rode through Caden instead. We rode till dusk, we were gradually getting closer to the Winslow, it was so quite and except the constant chirping of crickets, we rode through the hills and I could see lightnings.

We got closer to some group of men who were well equipped.

“This must be Winslow border” I thought

“Stop” one of the men said, they were dressed like warriors. They were guarding the border. I and Aunt Thea came highlighted from the horse. From the way she acted I knew she was scared.

“We are coming from Caden” she replied the guard.

“Okay, pass” he said.

Aunt Thea and I held the lead rope on the left hand and i on her right and then were about to continue moving when another guard shouted

“Wait!!!”

We froze for a bit, Aunt Thea’s grip on me tightened. I could tell she was so scared. The guard came closer to us, he looked at me for a while before he finally spoke

“You don’t look like you’re from Winslow” he said

I was about to respond before Aunt Thea interrupted me.

“She is a distant relative, I had to bring her to live with me since her parents are no more” she lied.

The guard didn’t seem convinced that the story but then had no proof to stop us from entering, so he let us pass.

Finally we entered the city of Winslow. It was indeed very beautiful. Aunt Thea led the way, we finally got to her home. It was bigger than the tent I lived in with my parents in Belrom. While we approached the house I saw a man waiting by the door with a fire torch.

He beamed with smiles when he saw us. He rushed to us and took the horse from Aunt Thea and disappeared with the horse and returned few minutes later without it.

When he came back he hugged Aunt Thea and gave her several pecks on her face.

“This must be her husband” I thought.

Aunt Thea drew me close and introduced me to him.

“Honey my niece Cora.” she said.

“Wow. She’s so beautiful” he said.

Aunt Thea then turned to me and said “my husband Evander”

I smiled and he drew me in for a hug. “Welcome Cora”

“Thank you Uncle Evan” I said and they both giggled. He liked the way I shortened his name and so I’ll stick with it.

“You must be tired from your journey, come in and have a bathe. I prepared dinner” he said.

“Thanks honey” Aunt Thea said giving her husband a light kiss on the lips.

Aunt Thea took me to a room. “This would be your room hence forth” she said and then left me to get settled in.

The room was quite big for one person. It was bigger than the tent I shared with mama and papa and we slept on the hard floor. But this room had a wooden structure covered with fine clothe and soft fur.

Aunt Thea had called it a bed. I quickly took a bathe and ate the delicious food Uncle Evan made and retired to the room leaving Aunt Thea and her husband, they were so affectionate about each other just like mama and papa.

I laid on the bed, I had never felt anything like this. It was so soft. I enjoyed the feeling on my skin I didn’t even know when I drifted off to sleep.