CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE #2
‘Any time,’ Nyssa replied, feeling the flush in her own cheeks growing deeper.
Thankfully, they weren’t given much time to dwell on the shyness bubbling between them, because at that moment there was a rustling in front of them and a figure appeared out of the thicket.
Tall and thin like the trees around him, the elf wore long, dark green robes decorated with whorls of golden leaves.
There was a golden circlet resting against his forehead, and an ornate wooden staff in his left hand.
‘Elowen,’ he bowed his head, voice a low rumble, ‘it is an honour to see you again.’
Elowen stepped forward and fell into a half-bow of her own. ‘The pleasure is mine, Elder. Thank you for permitting us.’
‘Of course. Although as I’m sure you’re aware, you are only to tread ground in elven territory; the druid order that resides here won’t take kindly to trespassers.’
The leaves around them gave a sudden rustle, as if the forest itself were listening.
Nyssa had heard of the elven and druid clans that inhabited hidden woodland territories, where they lived a more traditional life than those that chose to reside in towns and cities, but she had never had reason to venture into said territories before.
It felt sacred. Like entering a hidden, divine world.
‘I remember, Elder,’ Elowen replied. ‘We shan’t enter their territory. Nyssa and I shall only remain long enough to retrieve the orb, and then we’ll be on our way.’
Nyssa offered what felt like an awkward bow when the Elder’s gaze settled on her. ‘Greetings, Elder Rhydian. Thank you so much for allowing us to use the orb.’
‘I have not yet made such a decision. I invited you here to test your worth; then, we shall see.’
Nyssa had to clench her fists to channel the sudden frustration rushing through her.
She was so sick of people requiring her to prove her worth, and if the entire fate of Nighthaven and potentially the wider magical community didn’t depend on it, Nyssa would have told the Elder where he could stuff his precious orb.
Instead, she plastered on her most polite, coven-leader smile. ‘Of course, Elder.’
With a single gesture of his staff, Rhydian said, ‘Come.’
He turned and retreated into the trees without a sound. Elowen moved to stand beside Nyssa, her arm brushing lightly against hers. ‘Do you know what sort of test he has in store?’ Nyssa asked in a low whisper as they followed after the Elder.
‘Not him,’ Elowen replied. She looked different beneath the forest canopy. Brighter, almost, as if a light had been lit beneath her skin. Still, there was a tension to the set of her jaw. A wariness to her gaze. ‘The orb will determine if the elf is worthy.’
Nyssa’s step faltered. She’d assumed she’d be the one being tested, given it was her spell they’d be using the orb for.
‘El, are you sure …?’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Elowen’s smile was too tight to be genuine, but she quickened her pace before Nyssa could question her further.
The idea of going through yet another test of her worth had filled Nyssa with white-hot frustration, but it was nothing compared to the rage she felt at the idea of Elowen being tested. These people had put her through enough.
She wanted to say as much, but she could tell by the determined set of Elowen’s shoulders that it wouldn’t do any good.
Despite how she felt about it, she needed to let Elowen make this choice for herself.
All she could do was stand by her side when she did, as the elf had done so many times for her.
Nyx let out a quiet chirp inside Nyssa’s satchel, a reassuring sound that made Nyssa’s steps a little surer as Elder Rhydian led them through the woods.
The gnarled, ancient trees seemed to watch them, silent sentinels on an endless guard.
Nyssa was no druid or elf, but as a witch, the magic inside of her still recognized the power of nature.
It stirred beneath Nyssa’s skin, awakening in a way that felt different than usual, almost …
reverent. Nyssa let the sensation flow through her, making a silent promise to ground herself in the woodlands surrounding Hawthorne Cottage as soon as they returned so that she might hold on to this newly awakened part of her magic.
‘Here.’
Elder Rhydian came to a stop before a large ash tree, its roots raised so high that Nyssa had to carefully step over them.
Moss coated the ground, making it slick beneath her boots, and the leaves of the tree were the colour of the perfect sunset.
There was a small groove in the tree trunk, large enough for one to fit a single hand in.
Rhydian gestured to said hole, his voice echoing among the trees.
‘The orb is hidden between realms. It shall only reveal itself to an elf if it deems them worthy; Elowen, come forward.’
If Elowen felt hesitant, she didn’t show it. She strode gracefully towards the tree, her chin set, and asked, ‘What must I do?’
‘Reach your hand, palm up, into the hole,’ Rhydian explained. ‘Close your eyes. Allow the orb to reach out to you. It shall do the rest.’
Nyssa reached to stroke Nyx’s head as the familiar began to whine. Elowen turned to look at them over her shoulder, a small, private smile on her lips. I’ve got this, her eyes said, before she turned back to face the tree and slid her palm into the gaping hole.
It took hardly a second for the darkness inside the groove to light up.
A soft, golden glow began to emanate from the tree, and Nyssa could feel the power of it even from a few feet away.
It felt different to her witch power. More like the soft, tingling warmth of Elowen’s healing magic.
It bathed the elf in its light, turning her auburn hair fire-red and her skin translucent.
She was the most beautiful thing Nyssa had ever seen.
There was no way for Nyssa to know what was happening in Elowen’s head, but she saw the moment the elf’s shoulders tensed, her free hand clenching into a fist at her side. Nyx moved to hop from Nyssa’s satchel, and despite how badly Nyssa wanted to go to help Elowen, she held her familiar back.
‘She has to do this by herself,’ she whispered.
Elder Rhydian didn’t acknowledge Nyssa’s words, but she thought she saw appreciation flash in his dark, calming gaze.
He was watching Elowen with an unreadable expression, one that didn’t give away whether he thought she’d pass the trial or not.
And yet when Elowen let out a gasp just a few minutes later, her eyes flying open as she withdrew a swirling ball of light from the tree, he gave a knowing, almost proud smile.
‘The orb has decided. Congratulations, Elowen.’
Nyssa wanted to run and gather Elowen in her arms when her eyes filled with tears. ‘I didn’t think … I mean, I strayed from the path …’
Elder Rhydian placed a hand on Elowen’s shoulder. ‘We all walk our own paths, my friend; just because yours differs from the clan’s does not make you any less worthy of your ancestry.’
Nyssa’s throat burned, her eyes prickling. And when Elowen turned to her, smile bright and face lit by the light of the orb, a single tear slid down her cheek.