Chapter 27 Non
Non
I was stuck in the Healers' Ward for two ruddy days.
And instead of focusing on getting better, all I could think about was how much time I'd wasted when I could have been training.
I'm not sure if it was when High Healer Sioned told me I'd swallowed one of my own teeth after a hit from Seren, or when Zenn's words kept playing on a loop in my head, but at some point I'd made my mind up that as soon as I was back to my usual self, I would tell Dylan that I wanted him to train me.
During a few of my conscious and more lucid moments in the Healers’ Ward, Jazz had come to visit. Dark circles under their eyes seemed more prominent than ever, and they had very little to say.
When I'd asked what was wrong, they'd dismissed me with the excuse that they weren't sleeping because they'd gotten so used to falling asleep to the sound of me snoring like a pig.
They'd placed a kiss on my forehead and told me to hurry up and get better so they could have a good night's sleep again.
On the second day, and much to my surprise, Addae had visited and brought a large bunch of hydrangeas for me. I was grateful that Addae seemed to talk enough for both of us, as the tooth regrowing spell Sioned had used on me that morning was agony.
Once I was nearly back to my old self, and with some expert nagging, Sioned had allowed me to leave with strict instructions that I take things easy. Seren had managed to break three of my ribs with one kick.
A handwritten note on my pillow greeted me when I got back to my room that evening.
Your punishment will continue now that you have been discharged from High Healer Sioned's care. Return to your posting, and your night watch schedule will commence as usual. I will be in touch shortly to discuss an adjusted schedule once the Anoethau begin.
There was no signature or any indication of who sent it, but honestly, she didn't need one. This was the first contact I'd had with Granny since the night of the Anoethau nominations.
She was distant because she was absolutely furious with me.
Not because I'd gotten myself accidentally entered into the trials, but because my slip-up had embarrassed her, the family, and her Coven.
And it had likely got her a slap on the wrist from Pen Arwr Aeron.
Getting myself killed during the Anoethau would make Granny's year, hell, maybe it would make the next decade for her.
But something had shifted in me while I lay impatiently in the healer's bed.
I'm not sure what had changed, maybe it was the severe head injury, but the idea of dying and letting Granny win didn't sit well with me.
I'd started to warm to the idea of surviving this whole thing.
The summoning circle was almost impossible to find in the darkness. Had it not been for the black leather satchel I'd tripped over that was tucked under a bush next to it, I probably would never have found it.
The satchel had a brown tag attached to it that had my name on it.
Inside was a set of training clothes consisting of leggings and a corseted sleeveless habit with a breathable cotton undershirt.
I was apprehensive about putting black on again in case I was caught.
But then I remembered that the summoning circle would bring me to the Western Coven encampment, and showing up in a purple habit would have been almost as disastrous as wearing black to the Anoethau celebration.
I changed quickly behind a tree, and at the bottom of the bag was a leather strap that seemed to be a holster for my dagger.
It was far too small to wrap around my waist, but too big to be attached to my arm.
After fiddling with it for a while, I came to the conclusion that it was supposed to be attached to your thigh.
I sheathed Carnwennan and made my way towards the summoning circle. It was as unpleasant as expected, and for a moment, I thought it hadn't worked when the forest surrounding me looked identical to the one I had just been in.
But as I turned in a circle, I eventually saw the warm glow emitting from the encampment in the distance.
I had absolutely no idea where I was supposed to go; I'd half expected Dylan or someone to be waiting for me at the other end of the circle. Then again, I hadn't contacted him to tell him I'd decided to train. Which made the bag of clothing in my size with my name on it even more peculiar.
My plan was to skulk around the Western Coven encampment until I bumped into someone I knew. The hundreds of densely packed pabells created a network of dark alleyways that made moving around unnoticed pretty easy.
I'd hoped that the tent that belonged to Dylan as Ail to a Coven would stand out from all the rest. My grandmother certainly would have made sure her pabell was as ostentatious as possible.
As I wove between tents of every colour and shape, it was evident that no singular one stood out as belonging to Dylan or Caerwyn.
Eventually, I came to the centre of the encampment, which was considerably busier than any of the areas I'd previously explored. Larger tents that could have slept families of at least seven or eight formed a cul-de-sac around a large central aelwyd.
For me to continue exploring the other side of the settlement in hopes of finding Dylan, I'd have to walk directly across the busy fairway, out in the open where anyone could spot me.
I tried to reason with myself. I was wearing black, and if I kept my head down, I could cross from one side to the other without being noticed.
From the shadows in between two tents, I studied the crowds of Witches.
I realised that walking in a straight line would draw too much attention.
People seemed to move from one tent to another in a clockwork fashion, and some sat on benches around the edge of the fire.
Others handed out bowls of what looked like stew to passersby.
But they all moved in one direction. The only ones who darted into the middle of the fairway were children who chased and tackled each other.
This could work if I was quick, but the more time I spent hiding between tents looking suspicious, the more chance I had of being spotted.
So, like a big girl, I tucked my chin to my chest and stepped out in the open.
Within seconds, my shoulder bumped against an elderly man who was sweeping the floor with a broom as he muttered under his breath. Luckily, he was so engrossed in his ritual that he didn't look up to see who'd nudged him.
I exhaled a grateful breath and pushed forward through the hordes of people.
Everything seemed to be going great until I heard raised voices coming from up ahead. I peered up to see that the crowd was parting down the middle, people scoffing and tutting at who or whatever was moving the wrong way.
Once enough people had moved to the sides, I saw that the commotion was being caused by four Western Witches, all dressed in their formal black habits, walking like they had somewhere important to be.
At the front of the group was Lleucu, who looked fuming as usual, a circular shield with a jagged edge like a chainsaw strapped to her arm.
She was flanked by three people, two of whom I didn't recognise.
But the shortest of them all, who loitered at the back of the group, was the teenager who'd been asking all the questions in the tent the night of the Anoethau nominations.
The group had covered a lot of ground in the few moments I had stood watching them, but they were now getting so close that I was in serious danger of being recognised, especially by Lleucu.
Scanning my surroundings, I could see that the gaps between the larger tents that circled the fire were much wider than the closely packed ones on the outskirts of the encampment. It meant hiding in those wasn't an option, as they were just as exposed as the fairway itself.
Each of the large tents to my left had lights on inside and smoke snaking out of their chimneys, indicating that they were occupied.
Spinning on the spot, I tried desperately to find somewhere where I could avoid being seen.
In a panic, I began pacing backwards away from the group, storming closer and closer.
My fingers brushed against a soft fabric.
I turned to see I'd backed up to the entrance of one of the large tents that was made out of midnight blue velvet.
This pabell, unlike any of the others, didn't have any signs of life inside.
The small gap in the doors only showed darkness.
It was a risky choice to hide in here, considering the hour.
Its occupants could just have been asleep.
But it was either anger some sleeping Witches or come face to face with Lleucu.
Both were terrible outcomes, but I had a slim chance of running back to the summoning circle if I got away from Lleucu.
Anyone who was close enough was far more focused on the terrifying quartet than on what I was doing. So I snapped the curtains open and stepped inside.
I was immediately met with the smell of smoke and iron, but it wasn't unpleasant.
It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.
But from where I stood, I could make out that the tent was in two sections.
The front part, which I was stood in, was nearly pitch black.
Only the faint outline of a large table in front of me could be seen.
The back half of the tent, however, was dimly lit with hanging jars that held candles.
A sofa and a bookcase could be seen, as well as other soft furnishings.
The foot of a bed poked out from an alcove created by a large, draped curtain.
Thankfully, the space and the bed didn't seem to be occupied. But I only let myself breathe again once I'd peeked through the gap in the doors and saw that Lleucu and her comrades had passed the pabell and were well off in the distance.