Chapter 26 Non
Non
“When are these Anoethau trials taking place exactly?” I asked as a shiver wracked my body. Despite opting for my fleece-lined habit, the new Autumn chill in the air was bitter.
Jazz, who I had seen very little of over the last week, looked more sombre than I had ever seen them before.
“Two weeks from today.”
That was considerably less time than I had anticipated, although I had been given virtually no further information on what exactly was to come and what was expected of me during these trials.
I'd not seen my grandmother, the Cyngor Blaen, or my cousin once since the night I was nominated.
That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but the last few days had been so quiet I couldn't help the feeling of uneasiness in my stomach.
The only communication I had received was via Jazz, who'd informed me the morning after my first night watch that my training with the Northern Coven had been paused temporarily but would be resuming this afternoon, much to my dismay.
Jazz and I had been like ships passing in the night; we'd had a few awkward conversations in our room when I would come back from night watch, and they were leaving for morning training.
But gone was the banter and flirty rapport we'd had before, and I missed it greatly.
It seemed to be one of the very few things that grounded me during the fever dream that was the last few weeks.
Kicking a stone with my boot, I watched it skitter over the crunchy leaves that covered the forest floor. The change in season had come quickly and aggressively at Llwyn Onn. The lush green forest that surrounded the castle had turned to shades of orange and red almost overnight.
“How's Alaw's training for the Anoethau going? Is she nervous?”
I'd not seen Alaw or Addae over the last week, though admittedly, I hadn't ventured to the dining hall once in that time.
Most mornings, I had barely managed to get myself changed into pyjamas before falling into bed after my shift.
Dinner was magically delivered to my door each evening before my watch started.
“Not at all. She's practically bouncing off the walls with excitement.” Jazz's response was clipped, and I was surprised when they divulged more about Alaw than necessary.
“Alaw has been preparing for these trials her whole life, like all Witches and Wielders do.
Most will choose a specific god to worship who they feel most connected or drawn to.
Practically the entirety of Alaw's family are vassals of Amaethon, the god of the Harvest. That's who she's hoping to be chosen by if she completes the three trials.”
I responded with a hum of agreement, and we continued walking in silence for a while before the trees opened up, revealing a small break in the forest where a cosy log cabin was nestled.
A plume of smoke snaked out of the chimney, and the noise of hammering rang out through the otherwise silent woods.
This was Henffych's home and workshop; the latter was a wooden annex attached to the side of the cabin and the source of the hammering sound.
Jazz cleared their throat as we climbed the winding path.
“Excited to get your Arf today?” From what I'd gathered, this was supposed to be a momentous occasion for a Wielder, but Jazz's voice lacked any enthusiasm.
“I guess? I'm a little confused why we're even bothering with an Arf made of wood when it's pretty evident I won't be able to wield it.”
Jazz's face was pensive as I eyed them in my peripheral vision. They kept their gaze fixed on the cabin ahead.
“Have you tried wielding Carnwennan yet?”
The mention of the dagger made my mind replay the events of my first night watch, where I had, in fact, summoned Carnwennan.
I had also received an offer to be trained by the Ail of the Western Coven and somehow had ended up kissing him, too.
Oh, and to top it all off, he would be my biggest competition in the upcoming Anoethau, where his main goal was to pick off the weak one by one. Yep, I was done for.
“I have,” I replied, tucking my chin to my chest, hoping I could hide the visible blush that heated my cheeks. Fuck, I'd really lost my mind since joining this Coven. What kind of sicko gets turned on by someone who's trying to kiss them in one breath and kill them in the next?
Jazz only nodded in response.
Technically, he had kissed me first, but I had most definitely kissed him back. The worst part was that I didn't regret a second of it. I could die happy having been kissed like that.
Like he had waited centuries to taste me.
Without thinking, the tip of my tongue swept over my bottom lip, as if his taste still lingered there. Considering one of the very few things I was instructed to do was to steer clear of him, I somehow found myself wrapped up in his arms far too often.
I'd not given Dylan a verbal answer about the training offer either, but each time I thought about it, my mind screamed at me to say yes.
My power was furious that I hadn't agreed.
It was bizarre that I had an innate connection to a non-sentient being's feelings.
Whatever my power was, it certainly made its feeling towards Dylan known.
He was probably the best person still alive who could train me, and he had access to a secret summoning circle, which meant we could go unnoticed the whole time.
If I wanted a shot at surviving these trials, he was my best chance.
And selfishly, a tiny spark in the pit of my stomach ignited at the thought of spending that much time with him.
Although I had been on night watch every night since my encounter with Dylan, I hadn't ventured from my post into the trees to find the summoning circle he'd staggered through that night.
He hadn't come back to provoke me either.
But each time I stared into the darkness of the trees that he'd sauntered out from, a shivering feeling like I was being watched ran down my spine.
I didn't divulge to Jazz how I had wielded Carnwennan or who had shown me how to do so, but their silence told me they had an idea.
As we cleared the final few steps to Henffych's workshop, Jazz nodded towards the large brass knocker that sat at the centre of the workshop door.
I did as instructed and knocked three times.
Rubbing my sweaty palms on my leggings, we stood in silence, waiting for Henffych to answer. The surrounding forest was silent; the only sound was of things being thrown, and there was a string of swearing from the other side of the door.
The feel of Jazz's hand gently grabbing my upper arm nearly made me jump out of my skin.
“You coming here today to get this weapon made for you is all for show, you know?
Ledr Bronwen knows you won't be able to do anything with it, but she'll expect you to use it in the Anoethau all the same.
Just don't forget you were also gifted a god weapon the other night, which means right now you have a choice as to which Arf you decide to use during the trials.
You can keep Bron happy but inevitably meet your demise with a piece of wood you can't do anything with or...” Jazz stepped closer to me, the thick embroidery of our habits pressing against each other.
“You can use Carnwennan. It will make Bron furious, but at least it gives you a chance at surviving. You also have a choice as to what Coven you serve. You might have been nominated to represent the North during the Anoethau, but if you survive, the choice is yours and yours alone.”
Jazz's stare bored into me, and a sliver of tears lined their eyes. Emotion bubbled in my throat as I croaked out a response. “Whose side are you on, Jazz? Mine or my grandmother's?”
The hint of a smile appeared on Jazz's lips as they lowered their voice to a whisper. “I'm on whatever side keeps you alive, Non. Believe it or not, in the short time we've known each other, you've come to mean a great deal to me.”
I was frozen in place at the sincerity in those words. They were the last thing I had expected since all our recent interactions had been so frosty.
The next thing I knew, Jazz was pulling me into a tight embrace, and from behind us came the sound of multiple locks on a door being turned.
Jazz's warm lips brushed against my ear, “I know I said I don't like talking about her much, but my aunt, who had Llyr's power, left the Southern Coven to serve the West and be with her wife. It caused an uproar, leaving a huge divide in our family, but the years she spent with Desra in the West, she was the happiest I’d ever seen her.”
As Jazz pulled away, my mouth hung open in shock at the insinuation they were making. But the door to Henffych's workshop swung open, and an imposing figure whose eyes and nose were barely visible under the unruly curls of his black hair and beard stepped out.
“Get inside, you sods. I ‘aven't got all day,” Henffych snapped.
In one hand, he held a wooden mallet that was bigger than my head; in the other was a bundle of leaves rolled up like a cigarette. Ash fell from the burning end onto his worn boots.
With a grunt of disgust, he turned and made his way back into the workshop, flicking his cigarette on to the floor.
I looked back at Jazz with bewilderment. They shrugged and ushered me through the door, following closely behind.
“At least he's in a good mood today,” Jazz said with a sigh of relief, and the door to Henffych's workshop slammed behind us.