Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I peered outside the stable door. I had a perfect view of the cluster of homes surrounding an open space. They were constructed from black wooden beams and white painted walls, certainly proving Arwyn’s accusation about time travel. Every roof was made of straw, some coated in a thick layer of moss, whereas others almost looked new. It was like looking into a history book, except I was a part of it.
Mud streets connected the handful of homes. A horse trotted by, pulling a cart laden with woven baskets of winter vegetables. A queue had formed behind it, as people dressed in strange clothes waited to barter for food. Women wore dresses with the hems coated in dirt and grime, whereas the men’s outfits were mostly faded, baggy trousers and shirts. Children looked more like feral creatures as they played with one another, skipping between stones and chasing chickens that’d escaped from a pen nearby One bird scattered in our direction, but before the child could see me, Arwyn pulled me backwards.
‘It’s important they don’t see us.’ Panic pervaded his tone, even though he snapped in a hoarse whisper. ‘I haven’t waited out in this stable for you to ruin it the second you wake up.’
I snatched my arm back, although the warmth of his touch lingered far after. ‘You’ve just told me that we are stuck in the fifteen-hundreds. What did you expect, for me to just take your word and believe you?’
‘Well, yes, actually I did.’
Caym perked up, flapping over to my side. ‘ We can both agree that this witch is irritating, but Hector, show some thanks that he’s kept you alive. I haven’t brought you up to be so rude, or have I?’
I shot my familiar a look that told him exactly how he brought me up. Caym didn’t interrupt again.
Pain shot through my head. I was thirsty and hungry, frustrated and confused. I massaged my temples as I tried to focus on the worries at hand. ‘What about the other issue? You said there were two.’
‘Don’t you feel it?’
I wanted to snap at him and demand he got to the point. But Caym’s words lingered in my mind, reminding me that it wouldn’t kill to be polite. Hekate, why was this man so inclined to be secretive? ‘Besides the shit on my skin, my back and the impressive headache you’re causing me, I’m feeling nothing but fucking irritated.’
‘Then I might as well just ruin your day completely,’ Arwyn snapped. ‘Our Gifts are gone.’
He said it so matter-of-factly, the laugh that I released was the only natural reaction. But that laugh quickly faded when I focused on the bucket of stale water near me and attempted to move it with my Gift.
Nothing happened.
‘ My shadows are gone too, Hector ,’ Caym said, filling my mind. He sounded as helpless as I felt.
I was standing inches before Arwyn within the blink of an eye. My entire body buzzed with tension, so much so I didn’t think I would’ve been able to uncurl my fingers if I’d wanted too. Before he could so much as move, I grasped the front of his shirt and clung on with one hand. ‘What. Have. You. Done .’
He smiled, which only infuriated me more. ‘Whatever you’re suggesting I’ve done now, you can try again.’
My jaw ached from how tightly my teeth were clenched together. ‘Don’t play stupid with me, Arwyn. You’ve poisoned me. We both know thistlebane is the only plant with properties to weaken our Gift...’
‘ It’s not him ,’ Caym screeched, flying up to my shoulder and grasping onto me.
‘Whatever the crow is saying, you better listen. I know you think I’m your enemy, but I highly recommend you don’t make me a real one with this incessant blame game you seem to enjoy.’
I tried to shake Caym off, all without taking my eyes off Arwyn. ‘Then get talking.’
The moment of silence that followed was so thick with tension, a spoon could’ve cut it. We both refused to look away from one another, trying to read the micro-expressions to determine each others’ silent, inner thoughts.
‘Eleanor, the witch who owns these stable, would be better to explain it. But I’ll relay. There’s a stone circling surrounding the village. It is what keeps those demons, and others, out. I don’t know the connection between that old magic and how it’s affecting our Gifts, but it explains why we both cannot connect to our powers.’ Arwyn leaned in, his breath tickling the fine hairs on my face. ‘Did you hear the emphasis on my use of the word both ? Because why, if I was the reason behind your lack of Gift, would I also take away my own?’
I released him and stumbled back. An apology lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I clamped my lips shut and swallowed it down.
‘And where is this witch?’
Arwyn’s gaze flickered towards the stable door. ‘She’s promised to return at dusk to check on your progress. I think she’ll be relieved to find that you are up and about—until you open your mouth and ruin it that is…’
‘Shut up,’ I snapped.
‘Make me.’
My cheeks warmed as though fires had been set inside them. I turned around quickly, before he could see the embarrassment stain my face red. It was only then when the reality of everything he had just said settled in.
‘Romy,’ I stammered, my mind filling with demonic birds and promises of other monsters. ‘If this the Trial, who’s to say she isn’t out there?—’
Pain flared on my back, stifling my words. It was a phantom ache, but a way my body reminded me of the power these creatures had. Arwyn hadn’t said it, but I knew I’d almost died. If he hadn’t intervened, my time in the Witch Trials would’ve come to an abrupt end, as would my life.
‘I understand your loyalty, but this is a competition.’ Arwyn’s words were cold, but the way he said them was full of pity. ‘Romy will either survive, or not. It is just the way of the game.’
No. I refused to even add power to those words. ‘If that’s the case, good luck.’
I moved towards the stable doors again, only to be stopped by Caym. He flew before me, flapping black wings directly before my face.
‘You’re not leaving this village, Hector. I refuse to let you.’
‘Get out of… the way… Caym.’
‘ That’s not going to happen. ’ Caym continued his attempt to blind me. I didn’t know I was stepping backwards, out the way of his wings and reaching talons, until the hard press of a body bumped into my back.
‘This is becoming a habit,’ Arwyn said, his breath warming my skin.
Caym was before me, Arwyn behind me. I felt trapped and, worst of all, powerless.
‘Fine,’ I shouted, but Arwyn clapped a hand over my mouth.
‘Do me a favour and keep your voice down.’
My lips brushed the callouses of his skin. Arwyn’s grip was firm and yet gentle. I could tell he didn’t wish to hurt me, but he also wasn’t going to release me until he trusted I would behave.
Arwyn released me slowly, just as Caym perched himself on the straw floor by me feet, glaring defiantly up at me. Did he forget he was one swift kick away from being booted back outside?
Oh. The idea came thick and fast.
‘Caym, you’ll go instead.’
‘ What? ’ He squawked, although there was no denying the relief in his mental voice. Maybe because I was no longer insisting on going outside myself.
‘Romy is out there, and you either let me go, or you go. The choice is yours.’
We both knew the choice wasn’t his at all. Caym belonged to me—he was my familiar. Although he would act like my guardian, when it came down to it, he was powerless to refuse my commands.
‘ I will not leave you .’ Caym panicked, his shrill screech only adding to my headache. I caught Arwyn out the corner of my eye, one of his brows raised as he attempted to work out our one-sided conversation.
‘Yes, you will. You saw what’s out there. If we’re safe here, you’ll go and find Romy and bring her to us.’
I wouldn’t even contemplate the option that she was beyond saving. I trusted she was skilled, that she knew how to fight. Maybe she had found another protected place like this, or maybe she also had someone looking out for her as Arwyn had with me.
My heart sunk at the thought of other contestants out there. Not out of fear for them, but because they would try to kill Romy if she was standing in their way of reaching the end of the Witch Trials.
Like Jaz. The ruthless witch who had already put a target on my back. Salem. The man who I refused to believe was a Witch Hunter, even with all signs certainly pointing that way.
‘Go,’ I said, breathlessly. ‘Go now, Caym.’
‘ It’s been three days, there is no saying this Romy is even… ’
‘Go.’
The stone circle had dampened my Gift, but the bond between witch and familiar was untouchable. That was old magic, and clearly it existed still during this time. I could only imagine that was why Caym was even here. That we existed beyond the rules of the hallowed grounds of the castle. That our link existed beyond time and space as a construct. I was glad he was here, even if I was desperate to send him on his way.
‘I’m sorry, Caym. But this is the only thing keeping me safe. If you don’t go and find Romy, I will.’
Caym’s eyes focused, as though some invisible tether snapped into place.
‘ Tell the witch that if harm comes to you, I will personally gouge his tongue, feast on his entrails and take pleasure devouring his brain, ’ Caym warned as he became airborne and circled overhead. I watched him, part of me longing to apologise, withdraw my command, and beg him to stay. But helping Romy was a priority that burned hotter inside me than any other want.
I side-eyed Arwyn, who watched on with impressed intrigue. ‘Caym said he’ll miss you.’
‘ I’ll pluck out his pretty eyes! ’ Caym screeched, ‘ tell him, Hector. Warn him.’
‘Actually, he said something about eating your pretty eyes if you let any harm come to me.’
Arwyn’s amused grin seemed to widen. ‘He thinks I have pretty eyes?’
I refused to reply. Pretending I didn’t hear him was the only option when it came to Arwyn and boosting his already bloated ego.
‘You can tell your little crow that you’re in good hands,’ Arwyn added, eyeing my familiar as he flew towards a small glassless window at the top of the barn. ‘Promise, cross my heart and hope to die.’
Caym released a clicking shrill from his throat and then left, flying out of the gap in the straw roof.
I broke the skin on my lower lip, sinking my teeth in just to stop myself from clawing back my initial command. I hadn’t contemplated if it was safe for him out beyond the village. I still had no idea how Hekate had even made this trial possible. It was conjured, no doubt, but it felt so real. I wouldn’t put it past Hekate to have actually dropped us in 1563.
What I did know, as I turned back around to Arwyn, was that the only endurance Hekate was possibly testing was my ability to be in the same room with him with both of us being conscious.
‘So,’ I said, breaking the awkward silence. ‘Do you have a plan?’
‘Nope.’
Getting information out of Arwyn was like getting blood from a stone. ‘We’re just going to hide out here until the bell tolls?’
‘I’ll tell you what.’ He scrunched his nose up, eyeing me from head to foot. ‘If you sit down and let me see to your back, then we can discuss plans.’
‘Now you’re ignoring my question?’
‘It’s impossible to ignore you,’ Arwyn rebuked, yet again twisting my words. ‘Sit, Hector.’
I did as he asked, because frankly encouraging more conversation would only infuriate me further. I perched myself upon the edge of a stack of hay. Focusing on the wooden-slatted wall, I tried not to pay mind to Arwyn as he took position behind me.
That became impossible when gentle hands began to trace the skin of my shoulders.
A cold breeze brushed against my skin, making the hairs stand on end and my flesh prickle. I couldn’t see Arwyn, but his touch certainly painted a picture of him as he inspected my back. Since I’d woken, the stable hadn’t been so quiet. Only our breathing could be heard, and the soft brush of his fingers across my skin.
‘Impressive,’ Arwyn concluded, patting me on the shoulder before tugging my shirt back over my skin. ‘Whatever is in Eleanor’s salve is certainly working. Besides the scars, the redness is fading, so clearly the infection is also being dealt with.’
‘I’ll be sure to thank her when she visits,’ I said, trying my damn hardest not to show just how debilitating Arwyn’s touch was. Luckily, a ruckus distracted us, drawing our attention.
It came from outside, a chorus of shouts. We both paused, taking it in. My initial thought was that the demonic creatures had chased us. Had they found their way through the circle of stones? If so, my Gift had not yet returned, and we were without weapons.
‘Put this on,’ Arwyn commanded, handing me my ripped, bloodied black top from the castle. I did as he asked, glad for at least some coverage. He moved to the door and peered cautiously outside. Whatever he saw made him fumble back a step, concern etched into the lines across his forehead.
I stood, panicked, ready for anything. ‘What is it?’
‘Witch Hunters,’ he growled, holding the door open enough for me to see what he did. I couldn’t begin to believe we had Witch Hunters to face, on top of everything else. But Arwyn was right. Because outside the stable, on the distant road that led to this small village, were a group of horses ridden by people holding a banner with a familiar symbol.
‘When did the original witch hunts start again?’ I asked, slowly closing the door, aware of just how much my hands shook.
Arwyn took a moment to reply, but I knew he was aware of the answer. Every witch was. It just hadn’t clocked in my mind until I saw the cavalry riding towards us.
‘1563,’ Arwyn finally answered, the feral growl still lingering in his tone. ‘Or there about.’
‘Shit,’ I stammered.
‘My thoughts exactly,’ Arwyn answered, not an ounce of humour on his face.
I’d never seen him look so worried, borderline terrified.
The trial was beginning to make sense, and quickly. Hekate had planted us in the midst of the dark and bloody actual witch trials. Suddenly, what we had to endure became painfully clear.
Hands clamped down on my shoulders and spun me around. Arwyn drank me in with wide eyes before giving me a command I knew I couldn’t refuse. ‘ Hide .’