The Burning Witch 3: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy

CHAPTER 10 A SUFFERING OF THE SOUL

Eric stepped from the shop in Vessa and gave a cursory look around at the people drifting past; all of them were huddled against the biting cold. The occasional sunbeam pierced through the light gray clouds drifting along the sky, but the sparse break from the overcast weather was not enough to brighten the overall atmosphere of the outside.

Nodding to Sir Vohn, Eric then addressed the hunched over shopkeeper who had come out from the store behind him, bowing reverently.

“I thank you for your patronage, Your Highness. Glad tidings to you and your future queen.”

Eric bobbed his head, making sure to remain as stoic as possible so the man wasn’t made to feel uncomfortable by an errant smile.

Behind him in the front window of his shop, gold and jade glimmered amongst swells of black silk, twinkling at the crowds that drifted past prettily.

The prince then made his way back onto the street, his black cloak shifting a little to reveal the sword at his side, consequently inspiring a man carrying a hefty bag of flour to cross to the other side of the road. Both Sir Vohn and three other armed guards from the castle fell into step beside the prince as they walked.

“I have to admit, while I know I’m one of many who can’t say they’re surprised Lady Katarina had a whirlwind marriage, I am surprised you’d put yourself at the mercy of Finlay Ashowan,” Sir Vohn observed quietly to his friend with a chuckle.

Eric cast the knight a warning look and continued walking.

“I wasn’t speaking ill of her,” Sir Vohn added cautiously.

The prince still didn’t say anything.

The cold was already seeping through the fine seams of their leather boots, chilling their toes, and so the idea of hurrying back to the carriage to partake in a warm fire and heated cup of moonshine soon overcame all other thoughts.

Upon reaching the inconspicuous black carriage, Eric proceeded to climb in and close the door behind himself.

He eyed Vessa with its colorful roofs and black window frames, hinges, and doors idly.

That is until Eric felt an odd fluttering in his chest.

He ignored it.

Then it grew, and an icy twist in his gut made him look around the city scenery more scrupulously … He opened his mouth to shout to Sir Vohn to tell him to keep a lookout, only for the color in the world to suddenly fade and a creeping dread to spread through him …

He’d felt it before.

Slowly, with horrific foreboding and fear filling him, Eric turned and found the devil seated across from him in the carriage. Seemingly appearing out of thin air.

The man sat with his arms folded, wearing a fine black wool coat and his hair unbound and brushed to a silky sheen. His dark eyes fixed unnervingly on Eric.

“I hear congratulations are in order, Your Highness.”

Eric’s hand flew to his sword despite feeling every inch of him starting to tremble.

The devil sighed at the movement, completely nonplussed as he glanced out the window, his expression bored.

“Don’t bother. I’m here to talk. It seems we now have a common enemy.”

“What the hell do you want?” Eric demanded angrily, his pulse quivering in his throat.

The devil eyed the prince as the carriage began to move, no one outside seemed to notice the devil’s presence …

After his intent appraisal of Eric, Sam settled back in his seat. “You’re improving. For now, anyway. That new wife of yours is more of a boon to you than you’ll ever know. Poor girl.” He scoffed.

“Don’t talk about my wife,” Eric threatened hoarsely.

The devil gave a soft laugh. “Yes, yes. Now, aren’t you curious about who this common enemy is? After all, unlike myself, they are interested in doing whatever it takes to get Katarina Ashowan out of Troivack. Even if it involves harming her.”

“I’m guessing something to do with the witch behind Witch’s Brew?”

Sam’s eyebrows rose and he smiled. “Very good. I’m glad you all were able to work out that much. Though you got a small detail wrong … ” he added more to himself.

“What about that woman?” Eric asked, the prickling fear in his mind ebbing away.

The devil looked around pensively. “She’s closer to you all than you realize. She wants Lady Katarina sent back to Daxaria, but if she gets desperate, she could take it further, like I said.”

Confused, Eric inched forward on his seat. “Why does she not want Kat here?”

“Hard to say. I myself am uncertain of her exact plans. I didn’t even know she was bringing over creatures from the Forest of the Afterlife. It’s risky, given they are loyal to me.”

Eric tilted his head. “Why would the beasts be loyal to you if you are the one who killed the first witch?”

Sam laughed. “Because I think this world should once again be theirs. Witches and humans … they are not worthy of all this world has to offer. There are exceptions here and there, but those few people don’t outweigh the amount of betrayal, greed, and undue pride in the rest. Back when the world was filled only with those beasts, humans were the weaker, new additions. Almost like their pets … But as time went on, it became clear that humans carried the capability of what they deem to be ‘higher knowledge,’ but with it came deeper depravity. The beasts are neither good nor bad; they are simply as nature intends. A greater wisdom lies within them. I didn’t know how undeserving humankind was until my parents took the earth from our beasts and sent my sister and me here.”

“So you have nothing to do with the sightings of the beasts here in Troivack the past few years?”

The devil didn’t give an immediate answer. Instead he said, “I had nothing to do with the attack on Lady Katarina. That came because of that woman who wished to hide her presence from me. Which means Lady Katarina is very close with her.”

Eric swallowed. “The witch is in the castle.”

The devil raised an eyebrow and gave a mystifying smile. “I never said she was a witch.”

The prince’s alarm made his eyes widen.

“Now, I didn’t come here to make things easy on you. If I meddle too much with the fates, my own existence becomes one headache after another until my death and rebirth, and it would be most inconvenient at this time.”

“What do you want?” Eric asked darkly.

The devil took his time leaning back in his seat, eyeing the outside.

“I want you to tell me everything you learn as the king investigates. Only then can I have a hope of figuring out her plan.”

“I don’t suppose you could just tell us the identity of this woman?” Eric added dryly.

The devil’s face grew serious. “I wouldn’t need you annoying beings if I knew who she was. I only know she is a woman that needs to be kept in line, and she has grand plans that I cannot pinpoint as of yet.”

It was the prince’s turn to take his time responding.

“You know … I have to wonder …”

“Do you?” the devil drawled.

“You are a being that is condemned to live eternity on this earth, tormenting and tempting people into darkness and destruction. Do you just live from whim to whim, or do you yourself have a more grand objective?”

His brown eyes growing distant, Sam’s mouth curved slightly. “Yes. And no.”

“Is it that you wish to return to the Forest of the Afterlife? Or to destroy everyone wicked here in the world?” Eric theorized, his tone casual.

Sam’s gaze flit to him, almost making the prince flinch. “While I do enjoy my whims and my games, I suppose in reality I’m waiting like many people do. Waiting to see what plan the Gods have in store for me.”

Eric couldn’t hide his surprise at being answered so honestly.

Then again, the devil was trying to convince him to be an informant …

“I’ll agree to provide information if you tell me more about this woman and promise not to hurt anyone I care about or who is innocent—”

“You’ll do it because this woman is a threat to your beloved wife.” The devil cut off Eric, his expression lazy. “The most I can tell you about this enemy? She might be disappearing periodically for hours or afternoons at a time here and there. That is really all I know.”

“How did she get her hands on Witch’s Brew and connect portals to another world if she herself isn’t a witch?” An edge entered the prince’s voice when he realized the carriage was nearing the castle.

Sam’s hand rested on the door handle. “She has connections.”

“Alright, she doesn’t want witches in Troivack, and she is trying to lure you out into the open. Why?”

The devil laughed, but … Was Eric imagining it? Or did the devil suddenly look tired?

“I don’t know why she doesn’t want witches here, but as for me … you don’t worry about that. It’s between her and me.”

Eric frowned and opened his mouth to question how the devil could have such an intimate feud with a woman he had never met before, when the overwhelming cold and fear overcame him once more.

Sam exited the carriage that had pulled to a sudden stop as the driver seemed to be talking to a cart driver that was conveniently stuck in the road.

The devil abruptly turned back around, only his face and shoulders visible in the carriage window. “I’ll give you one final gift as an incentive. I’ll have it sent later this evening; it isn’t any use to me anymore. Good day, Your Highness.”

It took what felt like ages for the world to turn right again.

Even after the carriage resumed its journey to the castle.

In the interim, Eric focused on taking calming breaths …

He had learned a lot from his exchange with the devil, but he was too shaken up to get a sense of what he should do about it all.

Closing his eyes, he at last let out an aggravated grunt.

“When this is all over, I’m taking Kat on a three-month honeymoon, and no one except servants are allowed anywhere near us.”

Eric stared at the kitchen door wearily.

He knew exactly where his father-in-law was likely to be working through his emotions.

However, the presence of the two guards added an extra deterrent to him going in and facing his former friend.

The guards glanced back and forth to each other periodically, wondering why the prince hadn’t attempted to enter the kitchen …

Eric pretended to ignore this as he leaned his shoulder against the wall.

Then the door opened of its own accord, and out stepped the Royal Troivackian Cook looking incredibly pleased.

“Ah! Your Highness! I was just about to go retrieve a bottle of white wine for His Grace to finish preparing the sauce for the next meal. Did you wish to speak with him?” Christos bowed.

Knowing that Fin could most likely hear everything being discussed, Eric gave a resigned nod.

“Go right ahead.” The cook then addressed the guards. “I have my most trusted aide in there, keeping an eye on things,” the man added confidently.

The men-at-arms jerked their chins down in understanding, and Christos scurried past them toward the cellars.

When Eric stepped over to the Troivackian men, however, they each held up a hand.

“We have to inspect your pockets to be safe, Your Highness.”

Raising an eyebrow, Eric proceeded to raise his arms without a word and allowed the guards to perform their inspection of his person without comment.

When that was all complete, he was permitted entry into the kitchen.

The sight before Eric took him back instantly to a time long before …

A time when a new redheaded cook stood behind a table and had greeted him warmly. The kind stranger had cut up fruit for him and listened to him talk about his training with a sword, and who had a kitten he could play with …

Fin was in the middle of whisking together the sauce that the Royal Cook had mentioned, while the aides were working quietly nearby, leaving the duke standing alone behind the cooking table just like when he had been the Royal Cook in Daxaria.

The room was already brimming with mouth-watering scents that could even make a full man’s belly rumble.

The house witch didn’t look up from his task as Eric approached.

“Hey, Fin.”

The duke glanced at him briefly and continued whisking.

“Are we going to talk about this?” The prince kept his voice low.

At first, it didn’t seem like the house witch was going to break his wall of silence, but just as Eric dropped his chin to his chest and started to turn back toward the door, he spoke.

“Eric, I loved you like a son or a brother, and I want you to live a good life, but you are not whole right now, and I know you are aware of that. So I can’t understand why the hell you would drag my daughter into it.” Fin slammed the bowl down on the table, the bang making the aides as well as the sauce jump.

The prince slipped his hand into his pocket.

“You were … are … You mean a lot to me too. Regardless of the past. Fin, I tried. I did. I did everything I could to stay away from her. She’d either find me, or some twist of fate would bring us crashing back into each other, and—”

“There is more than one way to keep your distance from someone,” the duke interrupted firmly.

“You of all people should understand that it isn’t always so simple,” Eric threw back defensively.

Fin opened his mouth to make another argument, but the prince plundered on.

“Look, I know what I’m not. Better than anyone, I know what I’m lacking. But if I had to make the choice between being with Kat while I still figure out what my life is going to look like, and losing her? I have no regrets. I am sorry for the way it was handled, and if we knew you were going to arrive the very next day, of course we would’ve waited for your presence before any final decision would have been made. There just hadn’t been any update on where you were for nearly a month.”

Fin pressed his fists into the tabletop and stared levelly at Eric.

“Done is done. You two are married,” the duke returned tersely before turning to the trays of warm dinner rolls and starting to cut small wedges in them before putting them back down on a platter.

“So you’ve given up on me completely? Written me off all over again?” The prince’s throat tightened as old wounds rose back to the surface.

“I can’t support what I know is a bad decision. I won’t try to undo it, because it is not my place, but I won’t pretend to be happy about it either.”

“You know what else wasn’t your place? Telling a room full of people about my issue. I kept quiet about all your family’s under-the-table dealings ever since learning of them. I didn’t even blame you for leaving me in that ruddy town all those years ago when I told you I needed you.” Eric felt his eyes grow warm.

Fin chucked a bun down and rounded on the prince once more.

“I may be a witch, Eric, but I’m still Godsdamn human! I had a wife and two kids at home that needed me! I had offices to run, schools to inspect, your father to help! I’m sorry I had to leave you, I am, but it was the right decision! I can’t …” Fin trailed off, his hands clenching into fists before meeting the prince’s eyes. “I’m not a hero. I’m not the … the impervious person you always thought I was. I’m just trying to do the best I can like everyone else.”

“You’re asking for grace, but you won’t give me an inch. You’ve judged me, abandoned me, and now when I’m starting to maybe turn things around, you drag me through the mud again for being human myself. Fin, I … I already said I’m not arrogant enough to know I won’t have problems again. But I was hoping that maybe with the help of friends and family, I might have a shot of making an actual life for myself again. I guess I should’ve just died in a gutter and not bothered coming back, according to you, because”—Eric dropped his voice, an angry tear falling—“I guess an addict is all I’ll ever be in your mind.”

Turning away from the duke, Eric pinched the corners of his eyes and stopped any more tears from escaping. He stalked out of the kitchen without bothering to look back, passing Christos coming back from his trip to the cellar and leaving Fin alone with all their hurt and history laid out before him.