Chapter 25 #2
On and on, Bear and Raven rowed, fighting against the tide, the wind, their jaws tight with determination.
‘There,’ said Elbar, gesturing to her left where a tiny flash of light twinkled for all but a moment, reaching her senses.
The noise of the horn was muffled, the sound of the weather dominant as the rowing boat was tugged to land by two men who Scarlen had never seen before. Their dark cloaks and woollen hats helped conceal them in the night.
‘This way,’ said Elbar, no walking aid, just her power alone guiding her now she had no Rings to shackle her magick.
They were led to the back of a wagon and shuffled inside, the horses taking off at once, the road bumpy and the journey long. Raven had Wynter in his arms the whole way, but Bear sat close to the entrance, peering out of the canvas, watching the trail, though there was nothing to see but a forest.
Scarlen sat still, the patter of rain above soothing her somehow. She had no idea where she was being taken or why she had agreed to escape with them. It was still such a blur, and Bear had hardly said a word to her, let alone look her way.
Something squawked, or someone, and the horses slowed. Bear jumped out, and Scarlen scooted forward to peer outside, jolting back when Elbar appeared.
‘We’re here. Get out.’ Elbar touched Scarlen’s arm as she climbed down. ‘I thought you might come.’
‘Well, that makes one of us.’
Bear was back, hurrying everyone towards the trunk of a large tree where an opening appeared, a glow of light coming from inside.
‘It’s all right,’ Elbar told Scarlen. ‘It’s safe.’
Scarlen entered the tree, not having the energy or time to dissect that fact.
The ground was earthy and soft, and when the opening of the tree closed behind them, the noise of the rain disappeared altogether.
Sparkles of gems bounced off the walls, a pink mist swirled above, and the scent of sage came in waves deeper down the spiralled route.
‘What is this place?’ Scarlen whispered, brushing over the embedded jewels, feeling no roughness.
‘Some earth witches have homes like this,’ replied Elbar. ‘Deep into the land. Hidden, secure. This one belongs to my friend, Ulafe.’ She thumbed to the tall man with long grey hair behind her.
Ulafe raised a hand in greeting. ‘You will stay here for two days, then it will be safe for you to return home.’
Scarlen figured he didn’t mean her home, but she did know it meant she was heading north, if she wasn’t in Borough North already. ‘Where are we?’
‘Borough Mids. Top side,’ replied Ulafe, obviously not wanting to reveal more than that. He passed Elbar and opened a door, its hinges creaked as the arched wood went inwards. ‘Welcome to my home.’
A small square hallway held bookcases and wall lights filled with witch magick. Flowers sat in vases upon two side tables, one either side of a staircase that led down, and three closed doors, all light-wood, were in view.
‘Bed and wash chambers downstairs,’ said Ulafe. ‘Up here, we have a kitchen, sitting room, and my potion room, that one is not for visitors.’
Scarlen was the only one to nod.
‘First, let’s remove those Rings,’ said Elbar, and Ulafe rubbed his hands together, steam rising from his fingertips.
Raven was the first to have his Ring turn to dust in Ulafe’s hands, the white powder vanishing as soon as it touched the wooden floor. Wynter was next, then Bear.
‘You have no Ring?’ Ulafe asked Scarlen, looking a little baffled.
She shook her head as Elbar replied, ‘She’s not a shapeshifter.’
He noticed the blood on her sleeve. ‘You have a wound?’
‘A small slice,’ she told him, even though it throbbed as though not small at all.
‘Allow me to fix that.’ He hovered a hand over the cut, and it healed at once.
Scarlen thanked him. ‘So, you’re a healer as well.’
His grey eyes twinkled. ‘I get called many things, but I’m just me.’ He gestured at the stairs. ‘Let me show you to your room. You need to get dry and sleep. We’ll talk come daylight.’
Everything seemed so homely, and it reminded Scarlen of the cottage she had stayed in for two days before her money was pinched and she was forced onto the streets where she had stolen the bread.
Ulafe stopped at two opposite doors. ‘Perhaps the women in one bedchamber and the men—’
‘Perhaps not,’ said Raven, opening one door and taking Wynter inside.
Ulafe opened the other door, revealing a cosy room with a double bed, armoire, and a shower chamber to one side. ‘Everything you need is here. Nightwear in the armoire.’
Scarlen stared at the flickering multicoloured flames in the small hearth opposite the bed, wondering where the smoke went. She knew little of witch magick, just that some were quite powerful and often sought-after if so.
Approaching the fire, Ulafe said, ‘All is safe. And it’ll keep you warm.’
‘It’s pretty,’ she replied, watching the colourful sparks twinkle as they danced upwards before fading.
‘I shall bid you goodnight.’ Ulafe headed for the door.
‘Thank you,’ said Scarlen, and Bear gave a nod of appreciation as Ulafe closed them in.
Bear turned to her. ‘The shower will be warm. You go first. Get out of those wet things.’
Scarlen glanced down at herself as she opened the armoire to reach for a white shift. ‘We could shower together.’ Her dream in prison now doable, but she could feel the energy was off between them. ‘Bear?’
‘I’m tired, Scars. Let’s talk tomorrow.’
She took the nightwear into the shower chamber and hung it by some brown towels.
Unlike the prison showers and a dark cell, there was no hole in the ceiling for the water to pour through.
Instead, a cluster of tiny holes poked through a wooden branch fixed high above the circle of forest-green panels, and when she stretched out her arm beneath it, the warm water sprayed down, stopping when she pulled her arm back.
Leaving the door to the shower chamber wide open, Scarlen set about defrosting and getting ready for bed, not that she was the least bit tired, as the amazement of where she was overruled.
Naked, she entered the shower, a rush of happiness filling her as the warmth of the water felt more like a hug. Untangling her hair, she used the soap provided to wash out the scent of Horstal, the memory of her past.
Bear paced the bedchamber, teeth clenched, fists just as tight. The need to be under the spray with Scarlen was strong, but he didn’t know who she was, and it still bugged him.
Scarlen started humming as though no cares were to be given, and part of him couldn’t blame her, as they should be rejoicing at such a time, but still he grimaced, her naked body so close.
Bear marched to the shower chamber door. ‘Doing okay in there?’ he snapped. Did she just giggle?
‘It’s wonderful. You should try it.’
His frown lines deepened. ‘I will when you get out.’
Scarlen met him in the doorway, droplets of water upon her pale skin. ‘All yours,’ she said softly, locking eyes with the fire in his.
His growl was a lot deeper now he had no Ring, and he could feel his halfling itching to make an appearance, which only happened for two reasons. One, he was angry, or two, excited.
Scarlen grinned. ‘I know you want me.’ Then she went back under the shower and waited.