《Witch in the Woods》


 Chapter 1: Betrayal

    The door to the house was broken. It had been with hope she had approached the small house in the woods, stumbling forward through the trees when she had seen the red tiles through the trees. As she got closer, hope waned and when she stumbled around the side and saw the door barely hanging on a single hinge, all hope died.


    She pulled herself inside and pushed the heavy door closed, leaning her head back against it in despair. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Pain and fear overwhelmed her. She stifled her sobs as she listened intently. She couldn¡¯t run anymore. She knew they would find her in this house, but it was the best hiding place she had found in two days. Shaking from lack of food and sleep, she fought to keep from crying. Slowly, her shaking limbs began to relax, and without realizing what was happening she fell asleep.


    She woke with a start when she heard a voice. Moonlight streamed in from a hole in the roof. Dust and dirt floated in the air, flickering in the light. She held her breath and almost bolted when she heard the voice again, and this time she could understand words, ¡°She¡¯s gone!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean gone? I thought you had her tracks,¡± so much panic gripped her when she heard that voice, she froze in place, desperation rising from her empty stomach.


    ¡°I is tellin¡¯ you, tracks done disappeared against this tree. Like she been eaten or flew away.¡±


    The foul language that came from his mouth didn¡¯t surprise the young woman, but did shock her none the less. She had learned that he wasn¡¯t the gentleman she had dreamed of, but it was still hard to hear those words in that voice with equanimity. She covered her mouth with her hands, tears sliding down her cheeks but no sound escaping her.


    After a minute she heard him speak again, ¡°Fan out. Make sure she didn¡¯t find a way to hide her tracks.¡±


    ¡°Not none sure that be. Ah, take a calm and I be lookin.¡±


    The voices slowly faded away. The young woman sat until dawn, her mind not even working properly as panic came and went in waves. Slowly, as the sounds of the forest outside came alive with morning she began to believe. Escape. Tears of relief rolled down her cheeks. The pain she had been avoiding for days crashed around her and she gave into the sobs she could no longer fight off.


    Sleep finally overcame her with the relief of not being found. The sleep was hardly restful, but she was far past caring. Even the nightmares blending with memories didn¡¯t wake her up.


    ¡°Cat, wait,¡± his hand caught hers and she grinned at him. He pulled her back and she laughed as he caught her in his arms. He pulled her close and said, ¡°Kaitlyn Nickel, you did promise me a kiss.¡±


    She stopped and tilted her head up at him with a dreamy smile. She leaned close to his mouth and one of his hands slid up her back. She smiled against his lips and they slowly pulled apart, lips barely touching but no longer kissing. She whispered, ¡°Claus, when are we arriving in Tora?¡±


    ¡°Mmmm?¡±


    Kaitlyn drew back slightly and said it again, ¡°When will we get to Tora?¡±


    ¡°Oh. We only have to get through the forest,¡± he said and smiled. ¡°Not much longer now my little kitten.¡±


    She pouted a little and tilted her head to the side. He leaned down and pecked a quick kiss on her neck, deriving a giggle from her, ¡°Stop that, your beard tickles.¡±


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    ¡°Oh does it?¡± he said, but then took a deep breath and stepped back, ¡°I need to get away from you anyway or you won¡¯t be allowed to wear white at our wedding.¡±


    She blushed heavily and put one hand to cup her cheek, taking another deep breath. He then said, ¡°Come, we¡¯ll make our fortune on this trip and then be wed.¡±


    Standing, she brushed her hands on her grey wool skirt and straightened her blue blouse. Claus reached out and tucked one of her honey brown strands of hair behind her ear, she blushed and reached up to tuck it back into her braid. Claus picked up the bundle of sticks he had collected and together the pair walked back to the wagons of their camp. The other men, including Kaitlyn¡¯s distant cousin Malin, glanced up and then looked away from the pair.


    The travel had been rough, but she hardly noticed the poor food, rough men, and miles under the wheels of the wagon. Kaitlyn was smitten with her young man. He was best friends with Malin, a cousin of her cousin who was a cousin of her mother¡¯s brother.


    Their merchant train had been passing through her home town of Bellmoral, and the family had been flattered when Claus, the fourth son of the baron of Taro had expressed an intention to wed their third child and only daughter. Claus had kept his wagons of goods for an extra two weeks while he courted Kaitlyn and then she left her home to travel with him and her distant cousin to his father¡¯s home where they would wed.


    It was an amazing opportunity. Even a low, unlanded Baron¡¯s son was beyond her wildest dreams as the daughter of a tailor. When Claus had taken her for their first walk together and told her of his home town, it had felt like a dream. Even her two older brothers had been happy for her. Only her little sister, Adeliz, had cried when Kaitlyn packed to leave.


    Taro was a port city near the mouth of the river, far to the north of Bellmoral. They had already been on the trail for three weeks but still had at least a week more of travel. Kaitlyn sighed, then headed to her bedroll on one of the wagons.


    The next morning everything changed. The rolls hills and trees grew thicker and taller. The horses slowed to a crawl as the trail became rough instead of roads. They entered the forest for the first day, and that evening Kaitlyn, Claus, and Malin were sitting on a log when one of the men, a seedy looking man who scouted the trail ahead most evenings. Reger tended to be dirty, smelling like urine and poorly tanned hides. His long nails were nearly black with dirt. Kaitlyn had generally excused herself when Reger returned to report to the men. Tonight, he didn¡¯t give her a chance.


    He walked straight up to Clause when he returned from his scouting for the evening and said, ¡°I got the signs of dem beasts.¡±


    Claus looked up at the man and leaned forward, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Sure as can be without seein meself,¡± the scout shrugged.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Claus grinned.


    Kaitlyn look at her fiance and said, ¡°What beasts?¡±


    ¡°This is how we are going to become rich my love,¡± he said excitedly, grabbing both her hands. ¡°I want you to know, everything I do, I do because I love you.¡±


    She looked at him and felt a flutter of discomfort. Something in his eyes and tone sent fear down her spine, and she started to open her mouth to speak when her cousin hefted her by the arm roughly. She yelped in surprise and a little pain. Claus grabbed both her hands and Reger began tying them together.


    ¡°Claus?¡± she looked to her fiance in surprise and a little fear. He looked excited and had turned to two of the other men, leaving Kaitlyn to the uncertain mercies of her cousin and Reger.


    Reger threw a rope over a tree limb and Kaitlyn looked at Malin, ¡°Malin? What are you doing? Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Nope, you are going to be what really gets us that gold,¡± he said darkly, ¡°This is going to take this¡­¡±


    He gestured to the wagons behind him, ¡°from being a waste of our talents to greatness.¡±


    Kaitlyn cried out when the ropes holding her hands suddenly jerked up and she was hauled by her arms upwards towards the tree branch. Just as her toes were leaving the ground they stopped, leaving her suspended from the branch. Kaitlyn called out, ¡°Claus! Claus, help me!¡±


    Claus had climbed up on one of the back wagons and glanced at her once before he reached in and grabbed a club from the wagon. He jumped down and approached. She looked at him with hope and he looked at Malin, ¡°Is she secure?¡±


    ¡°Ask Reg,¡± Malin replied.


    ¡°As tight as a mole¡¯s backside,¡± Reger said gruffly.


    ¡°Kaitlyn, unicorns come to a maiden in pain to rescue her,¡± Claus explained. ¡°They sense her fear and can¡¯t resist coming. And unicorn horns¡­ are worth a fortune.¡±


    ¡°Pain?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Claus said, frowning. He approached her and put a hand around her to heft her weight slightly as he leaned forward and kissed her, ¡°but we will be more than rich enough.¡±


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t believe what he was telling her until he lifted the club and swung it at her legs. She screamed.

 Chapter 2 The Black Unicorns Curse

    Kaitlyn woke up in darkness. She slowly sat up, feeling dirt under her fingers. She blinked a few times and her eyes slowly adjusted to let her see by the faint moonlight filtering through the ceiling. Her mouth was so dry she felt like she couldn¡¯t move her tongue. She struggled to her feet, shaking and stumbling as she pulled open the door.


    In the yard near the door was a well. She prayed silently as she half-crawled and half-stumbled over to the well. She sank down beside the wall when she saw the rope was frayed, no bucket would be able to lower to the water below. She lay her head on the rocks making up the well, too tired, hungry, and thirsty to give anything more to despair.


    A sound in front of her made her open her eyes and she saw a dark shape. She sighed, too weak to scrounge up fear any more. A second shape rippled in the moonlight and she stared, her hands nearly burning with the memories of blood on them, red against white. She cringed back from that beautiful form, hiding her face as shame and pain welled in her.


    You were one of the hunters of my children.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kaitlyn croaked. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t¡­.¡±


    I smell her blood on you.


    Kaitlyn quivered and nodded, ¡°I ran¡­ I ran¡­.¡±


    That is why I will spare your life. You will understand us. You will hear our music until you are worthy.


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t even scream as the black horn touched her left hand, the invisible lines of blood crackling across her skin as the darkness consumed her.


    A gentle hand lifted her head and cool liquid slid past her lips. A voice filtered through the pain, reassuring words even if Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t understand them. She sank back into blackness with some relief, even as pain continued to skitter across her hands like a thousand fires.


    When Kaitlyn woke again she heard the crackle of a fire and lay on something relatively soft. Her hands ached, bound tightly in cloths. Slowly, Kaitlyn turned her head to the side, seeing she was inside the hut again, a fire in the dirt hearth. Someone who looked almost like a child stood near the hearth, stirring a pot of something which hung over the fire.


    Kaitlyn opened her mouth to talk, but the only sound that came out was a broken croak. The child looked up and said, ¡°Oh good, you are awake. Let me get you some water.¡±


    After an agonizing moment, the child re-entered the hut with a wooden cup. Looking at her more closely, Kaitlyn saw she wasn¡¯t a child. She wasn¡¯t human. She was small, somewhere just over a meter tall, but formed like a perfect woman. Her skin was brown, with lines of grey moving vertically up her arms, legs and neck where her skin was not covered with a tunic made of maple leaves. Her hair was a deep, rich green in strands like vines, which she had braided and coiled on her head.


    The cup was full of cool, clear water and Kaitlyn drank it almost greedily. The tiny woman then went to the pot and used a ladle to put some of the contents in a bowl and brought it to Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn tried to move her hands to lift herself up, but the tiny woman spoke firmly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put any weight on your hands for now, they are quite hurt.¡±


    Kaitlyn opened her mouth to speak, but instead found herself coughing. With a sad sigh, the woman went and got more water for Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn drank this more slowly and while she did, the woman spoke, ¡°My name is Javorora. I saw the unicorn curse you. I had to ask for help to save you, he should be here in a few more days. Your hands¡­ your hands are very hurt.¡±


    ¡°Unicorn?¡± Kaitlyn asked, ¡°but¡­ it was black.¡±


    ¡°A black unicorn is one which has killed other intelligent creatures,¡± Javorora  said softly, ¡°They darken as they do foul deeds and can only lighten by doing acts of greatness. I¡¯ve never seen a unicorn which was completely black before, it must¡­ it must have killed many, many creatures and done foul curses to darken that much.¡±


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes against a wrenching emotional pain. There had been ten wagons in Claus¡¯s caravan. Each had carried two men and another three rode as guards. Would nearly two dozen men be enough to turn a unicorn black? Could she have stopped them from dying if she had let Claus capture and kill that unicorn too?


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    She looked up and noticed the light still coming in the hole in the ceiling. She sighed and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Javorora patted her shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help care for you until Master Garthis can arrive and help you more. He is a great mage and may be able to help you unravel the curse the unicorn used. Now, I want you to eat all of this broth. I grew these mushrooms myself, they are a bit earthy, but they are full of health and happiness.¡±


    The broth tasted like Javorora had boiled dirt. It was thick, brown, and had only the faintest hint of mint. Kaitlyn tried her best not to grimace as she took each bite, but from the smirk on Javorora¡¯s face, the human failed miserably. Still, Kaitlyn ate every bite of it and wishes Javorora had more.


    The green haired woman shook her head, ¡°You have not eaten in so many days, if I give you too much you will be sick.¡±


    Kaitlyn accepted that and lay her head down. After a few minutes, the sounds of the fire crackling and a bird singing outside lulled her to sleep. There was little else she could do, and despite so many days of pain and fear her sleep was surprisingly dreamless.


    It was only the next day when Kaitlyn woke up to the sound of the door swinging open. Javorora jumped to her feet and ran to jump up and hug the man who entered. He laughed and swung her around in a circle, ¡°How are you Javorora? What are you doing in this dump?¡±


    ¡°Oh! You must help her!¡± Javorora cried and pointed to Kaitlyn, who had opened her eyes, but was so weak she couldn¡¯t even lift her head now. The bandages had soaked through with blood through the night.


    Master Garthis, as this man must be, frowned as he set Javorora down. He said, ¡°Is she a witch?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Javorora said, ¡°The house helped hide her from men hunting her, but a unicorn cursed her.¡±


    ¡°A unicorn cursed her but you want me to help her?¡± Master Garthis looked at the green-haired woman in surprise.


    ¡°Not a white unicorn,¡± Javorora said, ¡°A black unicorn. Black without any white at all.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that was possible,¡± the man murmured. ¡°It cursed her, but didn¡¯t kill her.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been here and the house hadn¡¯t been helping, she would have died days ago,¡± Javorora said sadly, ¡°She¡¯s awful weak now.¡±


    ¡°Let me see,¡± Master Garthis said. As he approached, Kaitlyn was able to get a good look at the man. Heavy set, he wore simple breeches and a shirt under a dull brown cloak. He was older, his hair and bushy beard almost completely white but with the original dark brown still apparent. As he kneeled beside the bedding where Kaitlyn lay, she saw crow marks beside his eyes, wrinkles showing he smiled and laughed more than he frowned.


    He frowned now as he carefully picked up her left hand. She stifled a groan of pain, but couldn¡¯t stop the tear escaping the corner of her eye and rolling down into her hair. He tried to be gentle as he carefully unbound the dressings from her arm to look at the gashes, lines, and rivulets which criss-crossed her arms.


    ¡°I feel the curse buried into these lines,¡± he murmured, ¡°why did the unicorn do this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s where¡­ the blood was,¡± Kaitlyn whispered.


    ¡°Blood?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°The unicorn¡­ they killed her. I had her blood all over my arms,¡± Kaitlyn almost whispered, ¡°Just let me die.¡±


    ¡°Did you kill a unicorn?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    Kaitlyn nodded with a sob. He lay her left hand on her stomach and carefully unwrapped her right arm, still being as gentle as he could manage. Kaitlyn slowly spoke, ¡°Claus¡­ kept hitting me until three of them showed up. I tried to make them run away¡­ but they wanted to help me.¡±


    The man paused a moment, looking sharply at Kaitlyn as she spoke haltingly, hissing from pain between the words. She kept speaking, needing to tell someone, ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ I didn¡¯t know what he planned. But¡­ I didn¡¯t fight either. I¡­ froze. I just¡­ I trusted him. They tried to help me, but they shouldn¡¯t have. They should have let him¡­¡±


    She stopped, gasping and squeezing her eyes shut as he removed the last of the bandages on her hands. He frowned and put her right hand on her stomach with her left, she didn¡¯t resist. He sat back and said, ¡°I can¡¯t undo the curse, it¡¯s literally been etched into your skin. If I removed your skin, you would die. I think I can help you control it, but there will be a price.¡±


    Kaitlyn sobbed and then nodded, ¡°I will pay.¡±


    ¡°Before you say that, I want to make sure you understand,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°Garthis¡­¡± Javorora spoke softly, her voice worried, ¡°her arms¡­ she can¡¯t keep bleeding.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if your curse can be undone,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°and it will prevent you from ever speaking to a human. I¡¯m not sure you could even see another human if they stood in front of you.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ but you¡­¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I am not human,¡± he said gently, ¡°my father is fae and my mother was an elf. Don¡¯t talk unless I ask you a question. I will try to explain¡­ no. You only need to understand that you will need to stay here for a time, perhaps years.¡±


    Javorora moved to kneel beside Master Garthis and looked at Kaitlyn, ¡°I will be here, my tree is nearby. You can be my friend.¡±


    Master Garthis put a hand on the dryad¡¯s shoulder and she fell silent, but clenched her hands in front of her. The half-fae man spoke again, ¡°I don¡¯t understand how the unicorn did this, and I¡¯m not sure how much I can undo and how much you will bear in terms of pain. Staying here is a risk, but I can¡¯t move you. This is an old witch¡¯s hut. When I first met Javorora it was seventy years ago, and the woman was ancient. The dyrads had known her as long as any of them had been alive. This house is drenched with her magics and I have no idea what they might do to you. Right now¡­ the house it keeping you alive.¡±


    He straightened a little and then said, ¡°But the other choice is to allow you to bleed to death.¡±


    Kaitlyn glanced down at her arms, the criss-crossed stripes of blood on her arms. Red blood. Her own blood leaking out with her life. She didn¡¯t want to die. She closed her eyes. She nodded and said, ¡°Ok. I¡¯ll take the risk.¡±

 Chapter 3 A Witchs House

    Master Garthis laid his hands over Kaitlyn¡¯s and she took a deep breath to try to steady herself. She felt light headed, the world focused down to a few feet around her. When the light streaming in from the ceiling faded she mourned that she would die in darkness. She closed her eyes.


    She felt like she was sinking. Pain faded as she felt like she floated on water. A memory of the pond at home came to her. Floating on the water with her brothers, their hands just barely touching each other. Only her hands separated from them, and she floated away by herself. She felt the swirl of water around her legs just before the turtle had swum up her skirt along her leg. She screamed.


    Pain rolled from her arms as the sensation of chains being pulled tight and scraping through her wounds crashed into her.


    Pain rolled through her spine as though a thousand nails drove against her back bone.


    Pain crashed into her head as something tried to squeeze her skull.


    She screamed.


    The house roared.


    Master Garthis was yanked away from her by invisible hands and thrown out of the house. Javorora vanished in a flutter of leaves. Kaitlyn was alone, the walls screaming around her. The blood on her arms no longer streamed, but showed as scars. She struggled and managed to sit up.


    The hole in the ceiling was gone. The fire blazed high, practically jumping out of the fireplace. A noise like a thunderstorm echoed around the room, but nothing moved under the sound of the wind. Kaitlyn was too exhausted to be afraid, but she had no idea what to do.


    She started when she heard a voice next to her ear, ¡°Child. The house. It is fighting me. I think I can break through, but it might collapse. When it does¡­ I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re strong enough to hold back the curse. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I will try¡­¡±


    ¡°What can I do?¡± Kaitlyn asked aloud, hoping Master Garthis could hear as well as speak to her.


    ¡°When you bled, you gave the house access to your life force, it¡¯s fighting to keep you because you can feed it more through your magic,¡± he said.


    ¡°Magic?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Yes, the curse¡­ to tie the curse and fuel it the unicorn bound it in your own magic,¡± the man said. ¡°It meant unlocking your magic, which I had no idea was even possible like this.¡±


    Kaitlyn felt some surprise. Her grandmother had joked the old women in thier family were witches, but their form of witches came in the form of useful tonics and healthy gardens. True magic, the kind of magic to control the weather or truly heal had been beyond them.


    ¡°Ok, take a deep breath,¡± Master Garthis¡¯s voice said beside her ear, ¡°You need to cut off the house.¡±


    Kaitlyn took a deep breath as commanded. She could almost smell roasting meat, and she felt an overwhelming desire to rend flesh with her teeth. Only she knew the thought was somehow of eating human flesh. Her stomach roiled. She rejected the thought and instead imagined porridge with fresh strawberries and cream.


    There was a wrenching sound like a rafter snapping and she winced. Master Garthis tried to speak, but she couldn¡¯t hear him any more. She looked down and her legs were sinking into the floor like it was mud. She shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    The entire house shook and she could feel the rage around her. A demand. She took another deep breath, but this time she didn¡¯t try to push away the feeling of the house. She embraced it.


    Darkness crawled over her skin again. Blood oozed from the walls like rivulets of tears. Loneliness and fear wrapped around Kaitlyn. She gasped slightly as a sense of betrayal bubbled up. Fear and anger. She was up to her waist now in the floor, and she spread her fingers on the boards which were around her waist.


    ¡°I know how you feel,¡± Kaitlyn whispered. ¡°Claus did all of that to me in¡­ a heart beat? A tiny piece of a heart beat?¡±


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    The final beat of her heart.


    ¡°¡­left you alone,¡± Kaitlyn whispered.


    Hungry. Alone. Scared. Lost.


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    For the first time since she ran, hands and arms covered in the crystalline blood of a unicorn, Kaitlyn looked within herself to acknowledge her own losses. The loss of an innocence, the knowledge that Claus must be dead and despite everything¡­ she loved him. She believed him and he hit her thighs with a club. He threatened to break her arms and legs. He had punched and pinched and hurt her.


    She had just been told she would never see her family again. She was cursed for something she hadn¡¯t wanted or willingly participated in. She was lost and far from anyone she knew or trusted. She was trapped and dying.


    Anger. Pain. Loss. Loneliness. Fear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    I don¡¯t want to die.


    Kaitlyn shivered as she felt the floor firming beneath her, forming boards again. She kept her eyes closed and felt the house around her. There was pain from neglect that began even before the old witch vanished one day. She had been old and sick for a long time. There was a sadness and loneliness that Kaitlyn felt was familiar.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you,¡± she said softly, ¡°but now I need that wizard¡¯s help. I need Jarovora¡¯s help. I need you to let them in.¡±


    The house shuddered from floor to ceiling, but then the front door fell inwards. Kaitlyn managed to stay sitting upright until Jarovora came over to her, then Kaitlyn collapsed against the dryad. Jarovora held the girl as the wizard entered the house, looking nervously around.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think the house had that much power still,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°There might be a ley line or something underneath¡­. I can¡¯t sense it, but the house may have a deep reach if the witch helped it.¡±


    He shook his head slightly and gently sat next to Kaitlyn and spoke to her, ¡°Alright, apparently I¡¯m not going to be able to separate you from this house, I am sorry. I was going to offer to teach you to harness your magic. It¡¯s extremely rare for a woman to come into her magic young, and if I had to guess the unicorn¡¯s curse actually blew open all your magic. Or the house did when you bled here. Given what I just felt¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    Master Garthis first looked at Jarovora and said, ¡°My dear, if we are going to be here for a bit, could I ask you to make us some tea?¡±


    ¡°I have some mint and chamomile at home ,¡± Jarovora said and stood up. She half-skipped from the hut.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to fix that door,¡± Kaitlyn murmured. ¡°I wonder where I can find new hinges.¡±


    ¡°So you are going to stay here?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡±


    ¡°The house is lonely,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°The witch disappeared and left it, probably she died out there somewhere, but all the house knows is that she left.¡±


    ¡°She imbued a lot of evil into this house,¡± he said, ¡°she lured children here when she could and ate them.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kaitlyn said grimly. ¡°The house remembers that. I won¡¯t do that.¡±


    Master Garthis looked at her intently and said, ¡°She did it to prolong her life. The house will tempt you with that you know.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded silently. The mage settled back, leaning against the wall and took a long look at her, ¡°You look educated, how much do you know of magic?¡±


    ¡°I know it can do things normal people can¡¯t do?¡± Kaitlyn supplied. ¡°I know it¡¯s part of the world and ley lines are like rivers, following the land but differently. Only the fae see the magic ley lines, but wizards can tap into it. Um¡­. I know a bunch of stories and things, but some of them are just kids stuff.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you actually have the basics then,¡± he said, ¡°you are right that ley lines are like rivers and cross our lands like rivers. We have one of the largest ley lines in the world in this forest, it¡¯s why there are so many magical creatures here. Many of them come to this forest even just to have their babies in the high ambient magic.¡±


    ¡°Ambient?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s everywhere,¡± Master Garthis explained. ¡°It¡¯s a fancy word for just being in the earth, the air, and the water. If I had to guess the witch lived here so long because her well taps into that magic. As long as you drink that water, you will be getting magic into your body.¡±


    ¡°Is that bad?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    He didn¡¯t reply instantly, but when he did he was thoughtful, ¡°That depends. Your magic is currently wide open, I bet you feel raw inside and out.¡±


    She nodded and he smirked, ¡°I can only imagine. Most mages don¡¯t reach the depth of magic you have for decades, and the only reason you aren¡¯t dead or out of control is the house is draining you as fast as you are building up magic. You immediately need to learn¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, the house is draining me? Is that dangerous?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Most mages and witches spend years putting spells on their houses, things like protections from their enemies. The house is taking the magic from you to renew those spells.¡±


    He pointed at the roof which no longer had a large hole in the tile roof and said, ¡°This house has several self-repair spells apparently. Very handy.¡±


    ¡°So the door will repair itself?¡± Kaitlyn asked, pointing at the door that still lay on the floor.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°She may have only put them on things like the roof and walls, she might have placed them on anything she couldn¡¯t repair herself, so the roof would make sense. I will teach you how to find and study the spells, but I will warn you that it is very difficult to read anyone else¡¯s spells. It is part of why teaching magic is so difficult. But first you need to learn how to manage your magic.¡±

 Chapter 4 Standing Up Hurts

    Master Garthis only taught Kaitlyn two things. The first was meditation which would allow her to access magic internally and externally. She found her magic like he told her and opened her eyes but didn¡¯t see the magic around her as he told her she could. He shrugged that off and then taught her how to cut off the house.


    She paused before trying and spoke aloud, ¡°I¡¯m just going to try it, but then I¡¯m going to let the house tap my magic again. The more it can use to fix itself, the better, right?¡±


    ¡°That is hard to say at this point,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°I will come by regularly, if things seem to be getting difficult I¡¯ll help you¡­.¡±


    She shook her head quickly and said, ¡°I promised the house I wouldn¡¯t leave. I won¡¯t leave it abandoned again. It¡¯s scare of that.¡±


    ¡°A house can¡¯t be scared,¡± the mage smirked. Kaitlyn didn¡¯t bother arguing with the wizard, but she put her hand on the house¡¯s floor reassuringly.


    She knew the moment she was cut off, and nearly fainted from the sudden pain which assaulted her, nails along her spine, slashes along her arms, and pressure in her head driving her to curl up on the floor. She let go of the block and immediately the pain faded. Master Garthis frowned and said, ¡°Your arms are healed¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be feeling any pain.¡±


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t reply and fortunately at that moment Javorora came in carrying a small basket with a few cups and herbs. She looked around and said, ¡°what have you been doing?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Master Garthis turned to look at the dryad.


    ¡°The garden out front, it felt different,¡± she said, ¡°angry. Don¡¯t do that.¡±


    Master Garthis frowned and said, ¡°The garden felt angry? That shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Javorora said with a huff, ¡°I can tell you without a doubt the plants were furious.¡±


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Master Garthis stroked his beard with one hand. ¡°I¡¯m curious about the spells on this house now. I wonder if the witch somehow used spells to tie the garden to the house.¡±


    Pretty soon the three of them were drinking mint and juniper tea. While they did, Kaitlyn leaned against the wall of the house and tried again to feel the magic around herself. It still didn¡¯t seem like there was anything there. She sighed and closed her eyes.


    ¡°Master Garthis, will you keep helping me?¡± Kaitlyn asked. ¡°I will find a way to pay you¡­¡±


    ¡°If you allow me to study the curse on you, it will be payment enough,¡± he waved a hand. ¡°A self-repairing curse etched to the skin of a human is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever heard of. It is brilliant to be honest.¡±


    ¡°Javorora said unicorns turned black when they killed people,¡± Kaitlyn said, looking down into her cup, ¡°How¡­ how does that work?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely certain to be honest, it is something about the magic of the unicorn itself,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°They create their own magic, they feed magic into the world,¡± Javorora said with gravity, ¡°I think that it means they put into the world the kind of magic they use.¡±


    Master Garthis tilted his head to a side and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the theory that they feed magic into the world, but never the part about what kind of magic it might be. I like it Javorora. What we do know is that when a unicorn kills a thinking creature, not a predator like a lion, but an actual intelligent creature¡­ some of the hairs on its body turn dark. How much turns dark varies depending on who they kill.¡±


    ¡°So a black unicorn¡­.?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Dozens upon dozens?¡± the wizard proferred. ¡°Maybe a hundred or more.¡±


    ¡°A hundred?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know much about the specifics, it isn¡¯t something I¡¯ve ever studied,¡± Master Garthis admitted, ¡°I think I could find out, but I couldn¡¯t tell you for certain today.¡±


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    Kaitlyn nodded and closed her eyes, trying to relax and rest her weary mind and body. She was going to need some time to heal inside and out. Master Garthis finally promised to return in ten days or so and left. Javorora also promised to leave until the next day.


    After they had left Kaitlyn opened her eyes, trying to look at her situation clearly. Part of her wanted to wail that she was a prisoner to a house that might want to eat children. Another part of her was just so glad to be alive she couldn¡¯t imagine ever complaining about a house, no matter how evil it might be.


    She held up her hand. Fine scar lines crisscrossed from fingers to elbow, pale lines reminding her of the curse of the unicorn. Beneath those lines she could sense the twist and pull of magic now, threading alongside her blood. She slowly rose to her feet and considered her clothes.


    Her grey skirt was bloodied and torn, shredded from running through the forest, bloodied from the unicorn and then herself without ever being properly washed. She had waded through some streams when she was trying to escape Claus and Reger, but she hadn¡¯t exactly been able to scrub out the blood. Her shirt might be worse. It had never been made to withstand the kind of abuse she had put it through, and the rents in the fabric made her blush at her own lack of modesty.


    She had no shoes. Claus had taken them off her feet and used his club with a frightening efficiency to hurt without fully breaking her feet. She had heard him tell Reger he could break her fingers and her hands, but a lame wife would be harder to take care of. Still, running barefoot through the forest had bruised and bloodied her feet.


    She went out into the garden and found the well. Javorora must have hung a new rope and bucket, because they were available. She drew the water and stripped out of her blouse and skirt. In just her chemise she carefully began the process of trying to wash the clothing and then herself in the cool water. She finally removed her chemise as well, blushing furiously as she stood naked in the garden and washed her underclothes as well.


    Without anything else to wear, she went back inside. She lay down on the straw bed Javorora had made for her at some point and went to sleep completely nude. Exhausted, she was grateful she didn¡¯t dream.


    The next few days Javorora came early. That first day the dryad surprised her new human neighbor and found Kaitlyn completely naked still asleep. Giggling, the dryad poked the girl and woke her up. With a start, Kaitlyn tried to pull something over herself, but she didn¡¯t have anything. Kaitlyn turned a bright red. She reached on top of her head and pulled at the braid holding her hair on her head. That is when she learned something else about herself had changed.


    Her hair was no longer a lovely honey-brown, but now flowed as long silver locks. She stared down at the hair as it fell across her shoulders in messy bunches. It was still thick and hung nearly to her waist, but the color was completely gone. For a moment she was entirely confused and then Javorora¡¯s presence intruded on her thoughts and her previous embarrassment overcame her again.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Kaitlyn cried. ¡°I¡¯m not dressed!¡±


    ¡°I see this!¡± Javorora grinned, ¡°I, for one, and glad to see you washed that awful shirt. Can I burn it?¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t awful, I like that blouse!¡± Kaitlyn cried.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s awful,¡± Javorora said, ¡°It gives you no shape at all. I thought you must look like a potato underneath that thing, but now I see you are quite lovely. You definitely need better clothing if we are going to be friends.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be my friend if I have terrible clothing?¡± Kaitlyn was shocked.


    ¡°No, absolutely not,¡± Javorora said, lifting her little nose in the air slightly. ¡°I have a reputation in this forest for being stylish and I am not going to let you ruin it with your¡­. sacks.¡±


    Kaitlyn had to chuckle, even as she curled up to hide her nakedness. She finally said, ¡°Alright, well when I can I will make something new, but that is all I have for now.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Javorora eyed her and then said, ¡°I wonder if the witch had anything worth wearing¡­¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to do much looking yet,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Washing what I had took all my strength yesterday. Now¡­ would you mind getting my clothes before we keep talking?¡±


    Javorora pursed her lips and said, ¡°Honestly, I prefer seeing you like this rather than in that¡­ trash. Maybe something to bring out your eyes. They are a pretty brown.¡±


    ¡°At least go get my chemise?¡± Kaitlyn almost pleaded.


    The dryad gave in on that and gave Kaitlyn the cream chemise. The dryad tilted her head and said, ¡°You know, that isn¡¯t actually a terrible little summer dress.¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding?¡± Kaitlyn looked shocked, ¡°It doesn¡¯t even go down to my knees.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Javorora said as she opened her basket and pulled out a pot of porridge, ¡°I never understood why human women wear those long skirts all summer. It¡¯s so much cooler to just run in a short little tunic.¡±


    ¡°Well, there are good reasons,¡± Kaitlyn said stiffly.


    ¡°Name three,¡± Javorora countered while she began unpacking her little basket with food.


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t have reasons, but she quickly said, ¡°Because we don¡¯t want to get dirty when we¡¯re gardening. Oh, and things like working in the barn. You wouldn¡¯t want to have your legs bare if you have to muck out a stable stall.¡±


    ¡°Stupid practice anyway,¡± Javorora said. ¡°Ok, that might be one. Name two more.¡±


    ¡°Riding would be pretty uncomfortable in bare legs,¡± Kaitlyn offered, thinking about this more and trying to come up with another good reason. ¡°Oh, and let¡¯s go with the obvious one - when it rains it gets cold.¡±


    ¡°And skirts get heavy,¡± Javorora replied.


    ¡°Not the point,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°it¡¯s still warmer than if you weren¡¯t wearing a skirt.¡±

 Chapter 5 Food

    ¡°I can¡¯t keep expecting you to bring me food,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I¡¯m going to need to figure out some kind of food for myself.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can at least help you through the summer, but come autumn we tend to get pretty tired,¡± the dryad said.


    Kaitlyn nodded and asked, ¡°Do you sleep through the winter?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes,¡± Javorora said, ¡°my tree does, and honestly there isn¡¯t enough to do during the winter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I always loved the winter,¡± Kaitlyn smiled, ¡°skating on the lake and building snowmen.¡±


    ¡°Skating?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°The local blacksmith had his apprentices make these blade-like things with frames around them. they tied onto our shoes and let us skate on the ice on the local lake,¡± Kaitlyn said with a smile. ¡°It is incredibly fun.¡±


    ¡°Maybe this winter I¡¯ll come out of my tree and we can go down to the lake and try something,¡± Javorora said non-committally.


    ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯m going to start by cleaning this place,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I think the house will be happier if it¡¯s clean.¡±


    ¡°A house can¡¯t feel,¡± Javorora said, ¡°it isn¡¯t a tree.¡±


    ¡°Oh I disagree,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°even houses without magic can tell when they are loved.¡±


    Javorora looked at Kaitlyn with an expression of disbelief. Kaitlyn shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not crazy. When you walk into a house, you can sense whether it is being loved and cared for. And it isn¡¯t just how clean it is, there is a feeling. Some places you walk in and it¡¯s spotless but you can tell the people who live there don¡¯t love their home. It¡¯s just clean because they have servants or something. Then you go to another home which is cluttered and busy and loved. You can feel the difference.¡±


    Kaitlyn finished her porridge and stood up. She first decided to take stock of what the little hut had. The door faced the south, with the straw bed being on the western wall with a large stone hearth. An old table was pushed against the northwestern corner, cluttered with trash. In the northeastern corner there was a cupboard. A pair of windows let in light along the northern and eastern walls, an old rotting chair sitting under one the northern window. Along the eastern wall stood a loom and spinning wheel.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d love to know how the witch who lived here fed herself,¡± Kaitlyn muttered. ¡°That cupboard could hold a day or two¡¯s worth of food, but not much else.¡±


    ¡°She probably stole with her magic,¡± Javorora said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s two days just to walk to the nearest settlement, and that is a settlement of satyrs. They would probably trade with a witch.¡±


    ¡°Satyrs?¡± Kaitlyn was surprised, ¡°They live in settlements?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they have a very cute little village tucked up around a hill, with the grandmothers living at the top,¡± Javorora said. ¡°If you break your curse with this house, I¡¯ll take you there sometime.¡±


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t respond immediately, instead she went to the cupboard to open it and to examine what is inside. There were three bowls of various sizes, a knife with a nick in the blade, two cups of different sizes, and some rotting rags. Kaitlyn wrinkled her nose and picked up the rags to toss them outside. She took out the bowls, the cups and the knife and set them on the door which still lay on the floor.


    The table was covered with things useful and things not. A mortar and pestle, a tin chamber stick with a numb of a candle still embedded on it. Several pretty rocks and a few bones with runes carved on them. A fork was stuck in a small bottle which looked like an ink well. The remains of herbs and unidentifiable debris. More rags.


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    Kaitlyn took the mortar and pestle to the other utensils on the door. She left the pot and long spoon Javorora had been using at the fire. She ran and hand through her hair and looked at the dryad, ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t much here to start with. I¡¯ll have to do some gathering in the forest.¡±


    ¡°What about that door?¡± Javorora asked, pointing to a tiny door right beside the cupboard. Kaitlyn had to move the remains of the chair, but then she opened it. It was a small room which only seemed to pass through to another door. But the room itself was full of gardening tools, two iron traps for animals, and a lot of cages designed to hold small animals. The room itself was barely two feet long, and the sloped roof in the room showed it was nestled tightly under the eaves.


    Kaitlyn was grateful that the house had been abandoned long enough that anything that had been kept in this room had escaped or died years before. She stepped across to the second door and carefully opened it. It opened to the back of the house, and she sighed with relief. A garden. Overrun with weeds, but Kaitlyn saw the bright green of peas on several vines and recognized the leaves of squash, potatoes, and onions immediately. There was also a massive jasmine bush right next to the door, half-climbing the house.


    There wasn¡¯t enough to feed much more than herself, and Kaitlyn would still need to learn how to use those traps to catch some meat, perhaps fish, or forage for wild grains. She sighed heavily. It was enough to help her get started, but it was not enough to sustain her for long. She was going to need to put in a lot of work to make this hut liveable again.


    ¡°So?¡± Javorora poked her head out and saw the plants. She squealed happily and dove out the door to the little stone wall half-buried, ¡°Chamomile!¡±


    ¡°Javorora, do you know how to use those traps?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Javorora said, ¡°I don¡¯t like iron very much. I¡¯m not fae, but iron always makes me think of axes.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded. she returned to the main room and picked up her new dishes. She took them out to the well and drew up fresh water. She scrubbed them thoroughly. Sand would be high on her list of things to gather in the near future so she could better clean and even polish the wooden dishes.


    After cleaning her new utensils, Kaitlyn took a nap. With her skirt and shirt dry she put them on and went into the garden. Javorora had been playing out there and somehow the rows of plants already looked a little neater. Kaitlyn took the spade and garden fork from the little work shed. She began the arduous process of weeding, aerating, and shifting plants to give them better spacing. She ended up digging up a small pile of potatoes. She brought out the largest bowl and piled the potatoes in it.


    She washed the cleanest of the rags and brought water in to begin the process of cleaning the table so she could work on it. When it was finally clean enough to work on, Kaitlyn cut up two potatoes and added them to the mushroom broth Javorora had been feeding her. She went back to the garden and dug up a young onion and a carrot and added these as well.


    Exhausted, Kaitlyn sat on the little stool in front of the spinning wheel. Javorora finally came in and said, ¡°It already looks so much better inside and out! Could the house have a cleaning spell on it?¡±


    Kaitlyn laughed a little and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think so, I just spent the entire morning cleaning and gardening. I¡¯m telling you Javorora, houses know when they are being taken care of. Maybe especially magical ones, but any house.¡±


    Javorora rolled her eyes and went to the pot, ¡°Oh, that smells pretty yummy, what did you do?¡±


    ¡°Just added some of the vegetables from the garden. Tonight when I bank the fire I¡¯ll put another two potatoes underneath the coals and eat them baked tomorrow,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°If I wanted to go gather some plants for weaving, do you know where I should go?¡±


    Javorora tilted her head and then said, ¡°I think I know a place where there are some nettles, but I know they can be painful.¡±


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to manage,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°my clothes are in tatters, I kind of desperately need some thread and I can¡¯t exactly go away for several days with no money and nothing to even barter with to try to get some. There¡¯s that loom, and I that is something I know how to do. I¡¯ll make some thread and at least be able to mend my clothes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you down to the streams tomorrow if you think you won¡¯t be too tired,¡± Javorora said. ¡°I¡¯d like to see if I can find some herbs down there any way.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and then said, ¡°Would you like some of my¡­. I¡¯m not sure I can call it a stew. My half-stew?¡±


    Javorora grinned and said, ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    The two of them ate and Kaitlyn worried. Her father was a tailor, she had helped her mother in the garden and the house but she didn¡¯t know how to do a lot of the things she would need to do. She didn¡¯t know how to make a basket like the one Javorora carried. She didn¡¯t know how to hunt, to skin a rabbit or gut a fish. She knew how to pluck a chicken and she knew those who could catch pheasant claimed they were basically chickens in the wild.


    After dinner Kaitlyn went out into the little garden and dug a hole. For the first time in days, she finally was able to relieve herself completely. She felt lighter as she returned to the hut and carefully picked up the front door to close it.

 Chapter 6 Weaving Fire

    The stream was not far away, a lovely brook babbling through the forest. Kaitlyn set about gathering the nettles, appropriately called stinging nettles for their serrated leaves scratched at her skin. Fortunately, she did not have the rash Javorora developed when handling the plants.


    It turned out Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t leave the house for very long yet. About an hour after leaving the house she began to feel pain, and by the third hour Kaitlyn was limping. Javorora carried the nettles tied in Kaitlyn¡¯s shirt while the young woman struggled back to the house. Kaitlyn was grateful to have the baked potato she could eat and slept most of the rest of the day.


    Kaitlyn then began to develop a bit of a routine. When she first rose in just her chemise, she went out into the garden to weed, manage, or harvest. The wild of the garden was slowly coming under control and as she expanded the area she could manage, she found mint, basil, and rosemary growing. She had to completely move the mint which was trying to strangle out the other two. She also started a pile of pebbles big enough to prove obnoxious. She had always liked pretty pebbles, so she started a little pile in one corner of the garden. When she had finished tending the plants, she returned inside to begin working with the nettles.


    First she stripped the leaves off the stalks and carefully rolled the stalks of nettle across the floor, gently breaking apart the woody pith and the skin from the inner fibers. She then worked on softening the fibers by laying them in the sun and using a pair of sticks to beat the fibers into a softer, cleaner and single strands. After three days of work she was finally able to sit down with some fibers at the spinning wheel. Keeping a bowl of water next to her to keep her fingers moist, she carefully began to spool the nettle onto a stick, since she didn¡¯t have a spindle.


    The day that Kaitlyn could finally make some repairs to her clothes was the first day Javorora did not come to see her. Kaitlyn had found a rusted needle among the rags from the table. She spent most of the morning try to sew with the fiber. It was much stiffer than she was used to working with from her father¡¯s tailor shop. She also didn¡¯t have any cloth to patch with, so she ended up sewing together holes and pinching together the pieces of cloth.


    She returned to the stream the next morning and gathered as many nettles as she could. When she got back to the hut Javorora was waiting next to the well. The dryad had brought two baskets today and as she walked up Kaitlyn said, ¡°Javorora, could you teach me to make baskets like that?¡±


    ¡°Sure, weaving baskets is pretty easy to get started,¡± the dryad said, ¡°how are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Better every day,¡± Kaitlyn said with a smile. It was true too, she was lasting longer and feeling stronger.


    ¡°Good, I won¡¯t be able to keep coming every day soon,¡± Javorora said. ¡°I wanted to make sure you were going to be alright if I didn¡¯t come.¡±


    ¡°I think I will be,¡± Kaitlyn said, but she wished she could feel more confident. She had never lived entirely alone.


    It was the eleventh day when Master Garthis returned to the the hut. Kaitlyn was in the garden in the back, carefully moving some carrot plants to spread them out and encourage their growth. When a shadow passed over her, Kaitlyn looked up and had mild panic at the massive winged profile. She scrambled toward the hut, and huddled in a corner.


    The knock on the door wasn¡¯t answered, Kaitlyn keeping silent and praying that whoever it was would leave. When the door shifted to the side instead of falling and Master Garthis looked in, he took one look at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°There was¡­. a monster!¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Oh! I am so sorry child,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°That is my friend who brought me here. Her name is Linnmel.¡±


    Kaitlyn wilted and buried her face in her hands. Master Garthis stepped into the room and said, ¡°Hmmm, the house is definitely self-repairing some things.¡±


    ¡°But not the door,¡± Kaitlyn pointed out.


    ¡°No, I brought you some hinges, a hammer and some nails,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°and a few other things as well. My housekeeper sent you a bolt of linen and a wool dress. She said she¡¯ll find some shoes for you as soon as she can.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaitlyn said and stood up.


    ¡°How are you studies going?¡± Master Garthis asked.


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    ¡°Studies?¡± she looked confused.


    He sighed and said, ¡°You need to mediate every day.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Kaitlyn responded.


    ¡°It helps you explore your own magic,¡± Master Garthis explained, ¡°You need to understand how your magic moves through you if you want to harness it. Most apprentice mages have only a little bit to explore and learn and they grow it as they develop. Your magic paths were blown wide open and the only reason you haven¡¯t accidentally blown yourself up or something is because the house has been draining you.¡±


    ¡°Wait, blow myself up?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Well, it sometimes happens,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°with young mages they ignore their magic too much and it goes out of control.¡±


    Kaitlyn frowned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think I understand.¡±


    ¡°I promise you will,¡± Master Garthis said calmly. ¡°For now I want you to promise me you will spend an hour a day mediating.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and said, ¡°I will try. I have so much I need to do¡­¡±


    ¡°This is important,¡± Master Garthis said firmly.


    ¡°So is eating,¡± Kaitlyn replied. ¡°I don¡¯t have a market I can buy food from. I am going to need food to make it through winter.¡±


    Master Garthis¡¯ expression softened and he said, ¡°With magic you can enchant your garden to keep producing through the winter, or conjure food for yourself. When your magic paths fill you will have the power to do all that and more. You have the kind of magical potential most mages spend decades developing. You will only be limited by your own imagination and control.¡±


    ¡°Ok,¡± Kaitlyn said dubiously, ¡°I will prioritize spending time meditating.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Master Garthis¡¯ tone sounded relieved. ¡°I haven¡¯t taken an apprentice before, so I might make some mistakes too.¡±


    Kaitlyn started a little at the word apprentice, then she blushed and said, ¡°I will try to make you proud master.¡±


    The wizard smiled and then sat on the stool by the spinning wheel. He said, ¡°Tell me what you¡¯ve been doing this week.¡±


    ¡°Well, mostly I¡¯ve been focused on food,¡± Kaitlyn admitted. ¡°And my clothes. They were in bad shape and I didn¡¯t know you would be bringing me more, so I got some nettles and make thread so I could repair. I¡¯ve done a lot of work in the garden too, weeding and spacing the plants there.¡±


    ¡°Nettles, interesting,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°and you used this spinning wheel I assume?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°It was harder than wool or cotton, but I figured it out. My father is a tailor, I used to help my mother create new threads.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°You are certainly looking and sounding much better.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and asked, ¡°Master, will¡­ will I ever be able to go home?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. ¡°Your curse¡­ unicorns are more powerful the older they are. Your curse is creative as well because it will continue to renew as your skin does. ¡°


    ¡°My skin?¡± Kaitlyn rubbed her arm.


    He held out his hand, she put her hand in it and he touched the lines on her arms, ¡°These are not scars, they are actually extremely finely written magical runes. If you look very closely you could read them. I had to cast a spell to enhance my sight to be able to read them. They are the instructions of the spell, but part of that instruction actually re-writes the instructions under your skin all over your body. Invisible everywhere else. I recommend that if anyone else visits here you cover these up. Mages, witches, and fae will all be able to read this if they look.¡±


    Kaitlyn tilted her head and said, ¡°Would it be dangerous to let others read it?¡±


    ¡°If it is fae, certainly,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°even minor fae will probably try to tempt you. It will be easier to just prevent them from knowing you have this¡­ possible temptation.¡±


    Kaitlyn then nodded, remembering stories of fae who tempted humans into deals which almost always tricked the human in a terrible way. She stood and said, ¡°Can I offer you something? I don¡¯t have much, but I have been improving the broth and I can draw you some water from my well.¡±


    He smiled and said, ¡°I aimed to improve that as well, let me go get the presents I brought you.¡±


    Her brought in a small trunk about half a meter long and about as deep as Kaitlyn¡¯s arm from elbow to wrist. He set it on the floor and opened it up. He set the bolt of light green linen and the brown dress. He also handed her a small bag with some cotton thread and several needles. He then pulled out a tea pot and a few eating utensils. He then pulled out a hatchet, mallet, nails and four hinges. Kaitlyn looked at the simple things with a sense of appreciation she never imagined she would feel for such simple treasures.


    ¡°Thank you so much Master Garthis,¡± she said fervently. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­. I just don¡¯t even know how to tell you how much all of this means to me.¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine,¡± he said.


    ¡°With this hatchet I can finally make a real broom,¡± she said. ¡°Can I make a self-cleaning spell?¡±


    ¡°They are very tricky,¡± the wizard said. ¡°Putting it on something like a cup, will it clean the cup while you still have your wine or tea in it? How will the spell know when you are done?¡±


    Her let her think about it. She pondered the thought and realized it was a challenge. If you put the spell on a table, would you be in the middle of cutting a vegetable and the spell sees the vegetable as ¡°mess¡± and clean it? How would the spell know what you wanted?


    ¡°What if¡­ what if you put it on a bucket to clean anything in the bucket?¡± she suggested.


    ¡°It might work,¡± he said, ¡°you might also be unable to use that particular bucket for any other task.¡±


    ¡°Because if I put soapy water in to carry to the table¡­¡± she thought aloud, ¡°it would possibly clean the water.¡±


    ¡°Or milk if you tried to put milk in it,¡± he said. ¡°You would be stuck with a bucket that only cleans things and can do nothing else.¡±


    She nodded and asked, ¡°Is it always this¡­. complicated?¡±


    ¡°No, there are spells that are simple and obvious,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I¡¯m going have you start learning some of those. Like starting a fire.¡±


    They spent an hour with him going over meditation again and then teaching her the simple spell that helped concentrate her magic and order it to heat a tiny thing. It took concentration, but she was excited that it would help her if her fire went out.

 Chapter 7 New Doors

    Kaitlyn was excited to repair the door. She started by picking the door up and trying to fit it into the frame. She wedged it into place and grinned, delighted to see it fit with only a little space at the top. That¡¯s when she realized she had never really thought about how hinges work. She put the hinge along the door and along the frame and stared at it. She practiced trying to open the hinge like it was nailed to the door and realized there was something wrong with trying to put the door in place first.


    She had to go around the house and throw her entire weight against the door to un-wedge it from the frame. It fell inside with a bang and she watched as a flock of birds flew up from the surrounding trees in fright. She looked carefully and saw where the old hinges has been on the door and on the frame. She had to remove the last of the rusted hinge from the door frame and then she nailed the new hinges into place where the old hinges had existed on the frame. She picked up the door again and tried to line up the old hinge location, but somehow the door wasn¡¯t high enough. She stared at it a long time, even going out back to dig her bathroom hole for the day.


    When she returned she tilted her head in consternation. She finally nailed the hinges where they seemed to go and then she learned why it wasn¡¯t aligned. The door scraped the floor loudly. She threw up her hands and determined to ask Master Garthis for some advice when he came back. In the meantime, she would leave the door open most of the day, which helped make the room cooler and air out the musty smells which had accumulated over the years.


    Kaitlyn made sure to spend time meditating and practicing her fire starting magic every day. The exercise Master Garthis had her doing had her create and feed a flame in the air, using her magic to feed it instead of sticks. He wanted her to be able to keep it going through the entire day. She found this more difficult than simply casting the spell because she had to always keep a part of her mind on the flame, feeding it carefully so it neither went out nor got too big.


    This task sounded simple, but it really wasn¡¯t. She found the challenge frustrating at times, and the second day was actually the worst because she felt confident enough that she kept forgetting about it. She would get distracted while she was gardening and suddenly realize her flame was gone. She nearly burned down the house while she was spinning by feeding it too much.


    Meanwhile, Kaitlyn began by making a broom and a smaller brush with the worst of the nettles. With these she began the process of cleaning the hut from top to bottom. The cobwebs, debris, ancient rotting herbs, and lots of rags all ended up in a hole in the garden that she then burned with delight.


    Using her new broom she swept the hut, then she used her hand brush to scrub the floor of the hut. The planks of the floor were surprisingly pretty once she could see them, a pale warm color without a single knot or crooked board. Kaitlyn thought it was a strange thing to admire, but the simple, clear lines of the boards made the floor quite beautiful.


    She stepped outside when she heard something in the bushes. She froze, it was large and somewhat thrashing. Her heart pounding, she slowly backed up so she stood in the doorway of the hut, ready to slam the door shut if she needed to. Suddenly, a scream of pain and agony rent the clearing and the sound of fighting broke out, large growls and snarls pinpointing the fight in a large hawthorn bush.


    Two creatures tumbled into the yard and Kaitlyn slammed the door shut quickly, listening intently as the fight continued. When there was a final cry of agony, she slowly opened the door. Both creatures lay on the ground. One looked something like a boar, the other more lizard-like but with feathers.


    Neither were moving, and Kaitlyn finally opened the door more completely and stepped outside slowly, ready to dash back to her hut if either moved. She used her broom handle and poked the boar. When she did, she noticed its throat was bleeding profusely. If it wasn¡¯t dead yet, it would be very soon. She turned to look at what it had been fighting.


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    The other creature was new to her, slender like a lizard, but with a wider head surrounded by feathers of green with slightly silver tips. They were currently stained crimson with blood. Laying along it¡¯s back were two beautiful, feathered wings, currently laying akimbo beside it. Kaitlyn finally found a deep gash from the boar¡¯s tusks on the lizard¡¯s flank. She wasn¡¯t sure why the lizard was unconscious until she noticed several feathers torn out from above it¡¯s eye. It wasn¡¯t bleeding there, but it must have been struck in the head as well.


    Kaitlyn began the work of butchering the boar, but left most of it for the lizard who had killed it. She nervously took a bucket of water and poured it over the wound on the flank. As she feared, this woke the creature up. It yelped and tried to scurry away, but that leg didn¡¯t move. It gave a sharp squeal of pain and half-collapsed again, short gasping sounds like sobs.


    She carved off a piece of the boar¡¯s rump with her larger knife and set it on a flat rock near the lizard. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are, but this is your kill and I think you need the meat.¡±


    The lizard looked at her and then nodded. She gasped and asked, ¡°Can you understand me?¡±


    It whistled as it nodded and reached for the haunch of meat. It whimpered and turned it¡¯s head to look at it¡¯s hurt hip. Kaitlyn said, ¡°If I look at it, will you bite me?¡±


    The lizard shook its head vigorously and tore off a piece of boar. Kaitlyn moved towards its side and then knelt down to look at the flank. Her stomach tightened at the sight and she carefully swallowed so she didn¡¯t lose her own last meal.


    The scales had been shredded and she could see the cut all the way to bone. She frowned and went to get a fairly clean cloth. She pulled water from the well and soaked the cloth, then began to gently clean the blood from the lizard. Her stomach roiled as she slowly revealed the extent of the damage.


    ¡°Why on earth did you try to take on that boar? It¡¯s nearly bigger than you are,¡± Kaitlyn muttered.


    The lizard snorted rudely and she looked up. It nodded and began whistling, growling, and other nosies she knew meant it must be explaining. She held up her hands and laughed a little, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t understand you. I¡¯ll have to ask Master Garthis what you are speaking. He should be here today or tomorrow.¡±


    The lizard sighed and used a foreclaw to pull the meat closer. Kaitlyn looked at the wound and then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She said, ¡°I¡¯m going to try tying the leg up to keep it clean. If you were human, a surgeon or healer would probably sew it closed. I don¡¯t know how to do that and I¡¯m worried I¡¯d hurt you more than help you.¡±


    She stood and said, ¡°Let me go get some of the feverfew. I don¡¯t know it will help you, but I know it¡¯s what my momma used to use for our scrapes and cuts.¡±


    When she returned, Master Garthis was standing in the clearing. He was whistling and hooting slightly to the lizard, crouched on the ground. Kaitlyn stopped and said, ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Master Garthis noticed her and grinned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the lucky lady. This little lad recently left home. He was looking for a good rabbit or deer when this boar apparently took slight to him. He tried to hide in your bush but the boar found him and got his leg. He thanks you for the help so far.¡±


    ¡°So the whistles and stuff¡­?¡± Kaitlyn prompted.


    ¡°Dragon language,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Fapallo here¡­ am I saying that right?¡±


    The lizard, Fapallo, half-shrugged and nodded with a whistle. Master Garthis laughed and tried the name again, sounding like he was trying to swallow the ¡°p¡± sound. Fapallo made the noises and Kaitlyn then tried. Master Garthis nodded appreciatively and said, ¡°So, he can¡¯t see out his right eye right now and you already cleaned up his leg a bit. He wants to tell you thank you.¡±


    Kaitlyn said, ¡°He doesn¡¯t look¡­. I¡¯m sorry master but he doesn¡¯t look like a dragon.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Master Garthis chuckled, ¡°There are approximately two dozen dragon sub-species. It¡¯s a bit like looking at a hunting hound and a rat terrier and knowing they are both dogs. Unlike dogs however, dragons are basically all intelligent.¡±


    Fapallo¡¯s whistle was slightly insulted and Master Garthis eyed him and said, ¡°Then you¡¯ve not met the grey sea serpents.¡±


    Fapallo muttered dark noises and Master Garthis turned to Kaitlyn, ¡°If you let him spend a day or two resting, he¡¯ll be completely healed.¡±


    ¡°That fast?¡± Kaitlyn was surprised.


    ¡°Well, the scaled won¡¯t grow back that quickly, but he¡¯ll be able to hunt again,¡± Master Garthis shrugged.


    Fapallo whistled again and Master Garthis said, ¡°He¡¯s asking if you would like him to stay for awhile, he¡¯d be glad to help protect you in return for a safe place to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t a lot of room¡­¡± Kaitlyn began uncertainly.


    Fapallo whistled again and Master Garthis replied quickly. After a short exchange the mage said, ¡°He said he¡¯ll usually sleep on the roof. He prefers to be outside unless it¡¯s raining really hard.¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case¡­

 Chapter 8 Fapallo a Friend

    Fapallo had been with Kaitlyn for three days the first time Javorora came to visit. The dragon youngling was away hunting when Javorora came to the hut. Kaitlyn was in the hut, carefully hanging some lavender and mint to dry from the ceiling. She was going to need to get more nettles soon, she was almost out of the string she had made with her first gathering.


    Javorora knocked and then poked her head in the open door. The dryad grinned and set her basket on the table. She said, ¡°This place is really beginning to look like a lovely home. Did you know the roof was completely repaired?¡±


    ¡°I have noticed it,¡± Kaitlyn smiled, ¡°I told you the house knows it¡¯s loved again.¡±


    ¡°And in here¡­¡± Javorora looked around, ¡°I couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine this place could feel so homey. I thought it would always have a slight undertone of rot and death.¡±


    ¡°I think there is still some of that underneath,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°when I meditate it is like a big darkness is hovering throughout the house. But I hope some of these things will help to dispel that. I¡¯m burning some sage in the fire every night, and of course lavender and mint both¡­ I love those smells.¡±


    ¡°So Master Garthis is taking good care of you?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°He has certainly been helping me,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°he brought me a hammer and a hatchet which¡­ it¡¯s amazing how much help two tools can provide.¡±


    ¡°You were able to fix your door at least,¡± Javorora said approvingly. ¡°But didn¡¯t he bring you anything else?¡±


    ¡°A tea kettle and some books to help me begin to learn to speak and read dragonic and all about herbs,¡± Kaitlyn said. She gestured to her flame and added, ¡°and every day I¡¯m getting better at keeping my flame going with concentration. It is so much harder than it looks.¡±


    Javorora looked around and said, ¡°You even got the door back on it¡¯s hinges.¡±


    ¡°Well, new hinges,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Master Garthis brought¡­¡±


    Kaitlyn trailed off in shock as Javorora swung the door easily open and closed. Kaitlyn stared at the door and said, ¡°It¡­. just this morning when I opened it it was¡­. it was awful. It¡¯s¡­. fixed.¡±


    ¡°But it didn¡¯t fix itself, you went ages with it broken,¡± Javorora said. ¡°You must have just done a better job than you realized. Or Master Garthis waved his hand and fixed it when you weren¡¯t looking.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, I didn¡¯t do a great job,¡± Kaitlyn protested. ¡°I had it all wrong and I meant to ask Master Garthis about it but¡­ I forgot when he was here because of Fapallo and¡­ I¡¯m telling you it¡­¡±


    Kaitlyn walked over and opened and closed the door. Had it been continuing to scrape? She couldnt quite remember when it had stopped. She looked up at the room¡¯s ceiling and wondered just how much the house was repairing.


    Javorora was looking at Kaitlyn with a puzzled expression. The dryad then went to her basket and pulled the cloth off the top. Inside the dryad had a bunch of mushrooms, some blackberries, and a bottle of honeyed wine. Kaitlyn grinned and said, ¡°Oh those blackberries will go so well with my pheasant tonight for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Pheasants?¡± Javorora looked happily surprised, ¡°You figured out the traps?¡±


    ¡°No, Fapallo brought them home,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Wait, you are living with a man?¡± Javorora looked shocked.


    Kaitlyn burst out laughing, especially given her own faux paus with Fapallo. She shook her head quickly and said, ¡°Fapallo isn¡¯t human.¡±


    Javorora put her hands on her hips and looked up at her friend, ¡°Species has nothing to do with it.¡±


    ¡°No Javorora, I mean it, he¡¯s not¡­ man-shaped,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Stay until he comes home, you¡¯ll understand then.¡±


    Kaitlyn told Javorora about her new herb knowledge and the dryad then offered to help find some of the herbs which Kaitlyn didn¡¯t have in her garden. Then Kaitlyn said, ¡°So tell me what you¡¯ve been doing.¡±


    ¡°Well, this is the best season for me to travel because my tree needs me the least,¡± Javorora said, ¡°So I went all the way to Tora and got some news.¡±


    Kaitlyn paled at the mention of the city where she was supposed to have married. She listened intently though and gestured for Javorora to give her more. The dryad grinned.


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    ¡°It seems that your unicorn went there too,¡± Javorora said, ¡°Actually, five unicorns showed up at the city according to what I was told. The black unicorn is apparently a giant of a beast, and was flanked by four smaller, lighter unicorns. However, it was one of the light ones who apparently did the actually killing. Skewered some baron and his wife right in the city marketplace. The black unicorn had cast a sleep spell over most of the city, but a few people are always able to resist that kind of blanket spell casting.¡±


    ¡°That was Claus¡¯s parents then,¡± Kaitlyn put a hand to her lips, ¡°How would the unicorn have known that?¡±


    ¡°No idea,¡± Javorora shrugged sadly, ¡°but the whole town was in mourning, apparently the baron and his wife were quite loved.¡±


    Kaitlyn felt tears in her eyes again and put her hands on her chest, trying to hold the pain from escaping. Javorora put out a hand and whispered softly, ¡°Did you know them?¡±


    ¡°They were¡­. Claus¡¯ parents,¡± Kaitlyn whispered, the tears beginning to escape her eyes. She sank to the floor, beginning to shake from the effort of fighting the tears. Javorora quickly came and wrapped her little arms around Kaitlyn¡¯s neck. This broke Kaitlyn¡¯s control and she began sobbing, clutching Javorora tightly.


    Fapallo came in right at that moment and growled deeply, the feathers all around his head puffing up to form a larger mane. Javorora saw him and her eyes went wide, and she said, ¡°Kaitlyn, I hope your Fapallo is a big lizard thing, otherwise we¡¯re about to get eaten.¡±


    Kaitlyn sank back onto her heels and nodded, ¡°Fapallo, meet¡­ Javorora.¡±


    Fapallo immediately stopped growling and almost crawled across the floor to gently nose at Kaitlyn¡¯s arm. She shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m ok. I just¡­¡±


    The sobs stopped Kaitlyn from speaking and she curled downwards, burying her face in her own arms. It suddenly was too much. The weeks she had been trying to avoid thinking about the loss of her family, the fact she couldn¡¯t go home. The loss of a future she had wanted. Knowing her possible mother and father in law had been loved by their people made it feel like Claus betrayed her all over again.


    Fapallo gently moved around Kaitlyn and curled up around her. Javorora also sat on the floor and stroked Kaitlyn¡¯s hair, ¡°You need this. You need to let it all out.¡±


    Fapallo whistled in a questioning tone and Javorora said, ¡°Claus was her fiance. He used her to hunt for unicorns. He hurt her to lure them out of the forest. That black unicorn cursed her because of it.¡±


    A sudden terror struck Kaitlyn and she looked up and said, ¡°Will he hurt my family?¡±


    Javorora looked at her for a long a moment in confusion and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Claus dead?¡±


    ¡°No, the unicorn!¡± Kaitlyn cried. ¡°It killed Claus¡¯ parents. Will it go hurt my parents because of me?¡±


    Fapallo growled fiercely and Kaitlyn jumped to her feet, ¡°I have to go. I have to warn them.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Javorora cried out, ¡°The curse¡­¡±


    ¡°I have to!¡± Kaitlyn almost screamed in a panic. The house was beginning to shake from foundation to roof.


    Javorora tried to grab Kaitlyn¡¯s arm, but the larger woman shook her off and practically ran to door. Fapallo inserted himself between Kaitlyn and the door, whistling in a series of clicks, trills and grunts. Clearly he was trying to talk to her, but she was in such a panic she wouldn¡¯t have listened even if she understood him.


    Dust was falling from the ceiling as the house continued to shake harder. All of the handful of dishes Kaitlyn had fell off the table. Javorora fell to the floor and yelped in pain when she was shaken into the hearth. Fapallo still blocked Kaitlyn from the door, talking at her without her understanding. She was trying to climb over him or around him.


    ¡°You have to stop!¡± Javorora said, a note of panic in her voice.


    Fapallo raised a clawed hand and punched Kaitlyn in the stomach. She crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath. He hissed at the roof and the house slowly settled. Kaitlyn lay on the floor in shock. Javorora crawled over to Kaitlyn and gently put the human¡¯s head on her lap.


    ¡°Fapallo, could you take a message to her family?¡± Javorora asked him.


    Fapallo made an almost tweeting noise, but it wasn¡¯t clearly whether it was a yes or a no. Kaitlyn curled herself into a ball and covered her head with her arms. Fapallo snarled silently and sat down. He concentrated and wrote in the air, ¡°Meditate.¡±


    ¡°Meditate?¡± Javorora read. Fapallo nodded firmly and pointed a claw at Kaitlyn.


    ¡°Kaitlyn, Fapallo says you should meditate,¡± Javorora told her.


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t respond and Fapallo growled a little and nosed into the middle of Kaitlyn¡¯s ball. She shoved at him and said, ¡°No! No!¡±


    Fapallo growled more fiercely and stamped a foreclaw on the ground. Kaitlyn sat up and yelled at Fapallo, ¡°No! Why the hell would I meditate right now? My family could be dying right now!¡±


    Fapallo growled again and stuck his face basically in her face, staring at her with his black pupil-less eyes. She wiped the tears from her face angrily and then shoved at him and said, ¡°No. No. I hate meditating.¡±


    He growled again, deeper. Javorora said, ¡°Kaitlyn, I think¡­ I think he knows something important. Please¡­ please try.¡±


    Kaitlyn glared but sat back and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, but she couldn¡¯t focus her mind. She took another deep breath, trying to focus like Master Garthis had told her to. She suddenly sensed the darkness all around her. There was danger, the house itself was prepared to do something. The house itself was angry beyond reason.


    The room was smaller. She could feel it now, the house was trying to drain magic from itself and from Kaitlyn for¡­ something. Kaitlyn felt suddenly cold. She also realized that the house was rapidly draining her to a dangerous point. She struggled and strained as she cut off the house. It was like pushing a giant boulder up a river, and when she finally had cut the house off, she was panting and sweating.


    ¡°No, not like this,¡± Kaitlyn thought at the house. A deep grinding noise echoed through the room as though it came from a distance. The room almost popped back to it¡¯s correct size and Kaitlyn kept the barrier up between herself and the house. She needed some time without the house drawing on her. She slowly opened her eyes.


    Javorora was standing just outside the door, her eyes very wide. Fapallo was crouched against the door, watching her with concern.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered to Fapallo.

 Chapter 9 Javororas Friendship

    The house was cold and dark. The fire had gone out in the hearth and Kaitlyn stumbled outside. Already, she could feel her hands and arms beginning to prick like pins were pressed against her skin. She drew water from the well with shaking hands and cupped her hands to drink. She rubbed the cool water over her hands and arms, wincing with pain.


    Kaitlyn went back to the house and put a hand on the doorframe. She closed her eyes and slowly sank into the mediation calm. The darkness still swirled around the house, but it was less now. She imagined just a drop of magic like the fire, only instead of turning it into heat, she tried to infuse it with love and gently she pushed this into the door frame, giving the house some magic.


    ¡°I am exhausted,¡± Kaitlyn muttered.


    Fapallo had followed her outside and not picked up a bundle of nettles from the ground near the gate. She looked at him and said, ¡°Is this what you were doing this morning?¡±


    Fapallo nodded and she tried to whistle ¡°thank you¡± but she knew she got it wrong even as it came out. Fapallo laughed a little and whistled back to her the correct pronunciation. She whistled again and he nodded.


    Javorora looked at Kaitlyn and said, ¡°Kaitlyn, what just happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure,¡± Kaitlyn admitted. ¡°The house was¡­ angry? No, not angry. It¡­ so when I agreed to live here I think¡­. the house wants me to be happy. I was unhappy so it¡­ it was trying to do something to make me happy? It isn¡¯t human, it isn¡¯t alive. Emotions are the wrong words. I think the witch who lived here put spells on the house to make it¡­. help her be happy?¡±


    Kaitlyn shook her head. Her own pain was pushed aside again, the panic that she might have lost the house was sinking in. The pain spreading along her arms reminded her why she needed the house. It was still protecting her from most of the pain. She could tell it was struggling to maintain even the protection she was feeling. When she meditated she could sense the bindings on her arms that the house¡¯s magic was holding back from squeezing her until she screamed in pain endlessly.


    ¡°I need to stop thinking the house is alive,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Master Garthis said it¡¯s just spells on the house that are following specific instructions. The house can¡¯t think. I was angry and sad, so some spell in the house triggered to try to make me happy. But there wasn¡¯t¡­ there isn¡¯t really anything it could do.¡±


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes to concentrate. Fapallo whistled and she looked up at him. He took a deep breath and finally lifted a claw and wrote in glowing letters, ¡°Message.¡±


    ¡°My family¡­¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Can Master Garthis contact them? Warn them? I couldn¡¯t bear if they got hurt because of me.¡±


    Fapallo snorted and took off into the air without another word. Kaitlyn took a deep breath and said, ¡°I feel like I owe you all so much. I would have died without you.¡±


    ¡°Well you don¡¯t have to thank me,¡± Javorora said, ¡°I¡¯m just glad to have a nice neighbor.¡±


    Kaitlyn laughed a little and said, ¡°Well as I get better with my magic, I plan to be an even better neighbor.¡±


    ¡°Oh? You are going to bring sexy males to the forest next spring so when my tree is flowering I can get lots and lots of males for myself?¡± Javorora waggled her eyebrows up and down teasingly. Kaitlyn stared at the dryad in shock and then burst out in slightly hysterical laughter.


    ¡°You have the worst timing possible,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can take this anymore. You can¡¯t throw these things at me like this.¡±


    ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you and that fiance ever¡­?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°No!¡± Kaitlyn objected fiercely.


    ¡°Wait, you really are a virgin?¡± Javorora gasped.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make it sound like a bad thing,¡± Kaitlyn protested, a little offended.


    ¡°No, no!¡± Javorora said quickly, ¡°It isn¡¯t a bad thing. I¡¯m just surprised. You are so beautiful.¡±


    Kaitlyn shook her head and pulled loose the white hair and said, ¡°This used to be brown Javorora.¡±


    ¡°I bet it was still beautiful,¡± Javorora insisted.


    ¡°Well, none of the boys in my hometown noticed,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°and apparently the man who did noticed, also noticed that no one other man was interested and used me as bait for unicorns.¡±


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    Kaitlyn walked away then, finding the thought made her more angry than she might have ever felt before. She went through the house and out into the garden in the back. She suddenly had an urge to unleash every ounce of magic she had. She looked up at the trees and sighed, any fireball would probably be a bad thing. She sank down against the low stone wall and stared up at the leaves, not recreating her little flame and not working in the garden. She just sat.


    Javorora woke Kaitlyn up with a supper of mushroom soup, baked potatoes, and tea. The dryad sat down in the garden beside Kaitlyn and asked, ¡°Are you ok now?¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at her hands, still prickling with sensations. Her stomach was still tense and at first all Kaitlyn did was sip at the tea. She finally sighed and said, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry I panicked and¡­ is this house evil?¡±


    Javorora shrugged and said, ¡°The stones building it aren¡¯t. The spells on it might be. You need to get strong enough with magic to find out and undo them if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at the house and repeated, ¡°The stones aren¡¯t evil.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of evil stones,¡± Javorora said, ¡°so when the witch built the hut originally it couldn¡¯t have been evil. Even what you described earlier wasn¡¯t evil. The house wanted to make you happy, that sounds pretty good to me.¡±


    Kaitlyn shook herself a little and sat up. She sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I have a lot of choice, do I? Even a few hours away from here, my fingers are so weak I can barely hold a cup.¡±


    Javorora spent some time with Kaitlyn, telling the human of some of the forest inhabitants Javorora was friends with. There were the satyrs Javorora had mentioned before, but there was also a group of fox-people, known as kitsune. Kaitlyn had never heard of them before, but Javorora promised to introduce her one day. There was also a teasing warning that they were incredibly handsome males with a wicked sense of humor. Kaitlyn had to smile at the descriptions of the pranks they apparently pulled.


    There were of course gnomes all over the forest, and several groups of elves lived here and there, but this was pretty central between all the elves so they probably avoided it to make sure they didn¡¯t start any petty wars with each other. Javorora knew of two dire wolves that traveled around the forest sometimes.


    ¡°¡­and of course the leshy and the dryads are all over in various places,¡± Javorora said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind some of the other dryad, but I will warn you if you ever come across a leshy you need to be careful.¡±


    ¡°What is a leshy?¡± Kaitlyn asked, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve heard of them.¡±


    ¡°Some humans call them imps, but they hate that because imps are something of fire and leshy are of wood and earth,¡± Javorora said. ¡°They live under the roots of trees and dig into the earth to find gems and things I think. They are about my size, but darker. They are mean.¡±


    ¡°So dryads, gnomes and elves I could trade with,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°If I can start imbuing potions like my book describes, they could come and bring me some of the things I can¡¯t get for myself.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that is a very good idea,¡± Javorora said. ¡°Do you need anything next time I come?¡±


    ¡°Some sanity?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    Javorora shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can find that in the market even in one of the elven villages. They have some good mead, can I substitute that?¡±


    ¡°That would be wonderful,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°How can I repay you?¡±


    ¡°Give me some of those dried lavender bunches you have inside,¡± Javorora said. She then added, ¡°Really. I can¡¯t grow lavender near my tree, it¡¯s too dark and wet. I would love some lavender to hang up in my house.¡±


    ¡°Here, let me get you a few bundles now,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    The two women went into the house. Kaitlyn carefully prepared a few of the partially dried lavender bundles and Javorora kissed her cheek, ¡°I¡¯ll try to come in a day or two, and I¡¯ll see what I can do about getting you some customers soon.¡±


    Kaitlyn smiled and waved as Javorora left. When the dryad was gone Kaitlyn decided to spend the rest of the afternoon reading her book on herbs. She took both books outside to the garden with the stool from the spinning wheel. She sat on the stool and began the work of gathering the herbs for her first potion.


    The first potion Kaitlyn wanted to make was a potion to help someone sleep. Combining chamomile, valerian, and lemon balm it asked to have the herbs ground fine and then ¡°suspended¡± in water. This is where magic came in. While suspended, the water should be brought to a point just before boiling and kept there for ten minutes. That would be a challenge.


    Kaitlyn carefully used her knife to cut a few leaves from the valerian and chamomile. She had transplanted the lemon balm, so she was careful to only take the oldest leaves, even though the book said new growth would provide the best results. She wanted all the new growth she saw to have a chance to claim the plant¡¯s new space.


    Inside Kaitlyn used the pestle and mortar for the first time and ground the plants. Her hands ached, and there were several times she looked at the leaves and tried to decide if she could stop before they were ¡°ground fine like sand.¡± She flexed her fingers and then finally resumed grinding. It took her a long time to get it ground to the point where she thought it was acceptable.


    Now came the part she really wasn¡¯t sure how to accomplish. She needed to ¡°suspend¡± the ground herbs in the water. She carefully poured a small part of the herb mixture into water and tried to focus her magic on holding them. She grabbed a few with her magic, but as she sought for them, she realized there were just too many. Most of the herb grains settled to the bottom of the kettle. She frowned.


    Kaitlyn tried to hold the herbs in her hand and ¡°pick up¡± the mixture with her magic. When she put this in the kettle however, it was like there was a bubble of air around the herbs, and when she mentally tried to shrink it or squeeze it, it popped. The ground herbs settled to the bottom of the kettle again.


    Kaitlyn ground her teeth, she needed the herbs in the water but held together. She needed something the water could pass through, but the herbs could not. Before she tried a third time and used up the ground mixture of herbs, she decided to take a break for dinner. She needed to get her pheasants cooking.

 Chapter 10 Making Tinctures & Pants

    Kaitlyn ended up not trying to make her sleep potion that night. She roasted the pheasants with herbs, onions, and carrots stuffed inside. She then carefully peeled and chopped some potatoes and put them into her kettle of broth which was quite low. She added some more water, and herbs and let that boil.


    While dinner was cooking she decided to begin working with the bolt of linen Master Garthis had brought to her. She had considered for days what she might want and finally decided to go with a tunic-like dress and trousers like men wore. If she was going to live alone, she was going to need to be able to do some things which were difficult in a dress and impossible to do modestly.


    She used some of her twine and began by carefully measuring some knots out by using her hand as a measurement. With a series of knots, she was able to then carefully begin measuring herself. She stripped down and measured her waist and counted the knots. She counted just over of 8 knots in her string. She then measured the widest part of her hips and got almost exactly between 10 and 11 knots. She then measured the wides part of her thigh at almost 6 knots.


    She put the string under her foot so the second knot just hit her ankle and pulled it tight along her inner leg. Almost 8 knots. She repeated it putting the string on the outside of her leg and measuring all the way up to her waist to get 12 knots. She carefully went to the linen and began plotting her pants using these measurements.


    Kaitlyn ground charcoal against the hearth and used a spoon to drip some melted fat on it. She quickly mixed this together. She coated a stick¡¯s tip with it and took this over to the bolt of linen cloth. Using this charcoal-mix as a pencil, she marked out the edges of her pants.


    She then sat back and considered how she would cut the fabric. She only had a knife, not scissors. She pulled out the knife and went into the sunlight to consider whether it was sharp enough for the task she had for it. The knife¡¯s edge was sharp except for that single knick near the tang. She went back inside and tested right on the edge of the linen. Immediately the threads of the cloth began to cut cleanly.


    Kaitlyn sat back and took a deep breath. She worked slowly and carefully, barely cutting inches. When she had finally cut everything out, her bird was almost entirely roasted so she took a break. She shifted her flame to hover in front of her as she sat and ate, using the light from her flame to see.


    After eating, Kaitlyn prepared the pants. There were several pieces for these simple pants. She made four panels, two for the front of her legs and two for the back. The hardest part had been creating shape for her hips and groin. She had given it a little extra space just in case. She then had cut out a band that would be for her waist. They were extremely simple pants, but she thought the would serve the purpose.


    Kaitlyn went to bed that night and slept deeply. She woke up twice during the night sobbing from nightmares. The second time she got up and went outside to get some water. She looked up at the stars. She was incredibly worried about her family. She wishes fervently she had never left home. For a long moment she felt so angry at Claus for ever looking at her with his gentle brown eyes. She almost hated him.


    She was still staring at the stars when she realized that she didn¡¯t have her flame next to her. Almost thoughtlessly she began to invoke the exercise. She stopped. The stars were beautiful and she didn¡¯t want the light from the flame. She wondered if she could make the flame create warmth without the light. She sat down on the ground and began experimenting.


    It was hours later as the sun began to rise that Kaitlyn stopped. She felt like she had almost figured it out. There was something to the casting of the spell she felt like if she could just¡­ concentrate it more then the spell would create heat without light. She went into the hut and ate some more from the roasted bird. She put some water in her kettle for tea. She then went into the garden and began to collect various herbs which she wanted to put in her tea. She got some fennel, anise, and sage flowers.


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    She put the leaves on a scrap of the linen left and folded it to press a little. Water oozed out and she stopped. Part of her mind had never stopped thinking about the problem she was having with the potion. She unfolded the cloth and picked up a leaf. She grabbed a second scrap of cloth and put the ground herbs on it. She put it into her kettle and watched as the cloth grew moist. She slowly began feeding her magic into the water like she was stirring. She didn¡¯t have any way to track ten minutes precisely except to count. So she counted.


    When she reached ten minutes she poured the potion into one of the bottles Master Garthis had brought her. She frowned, how was she supposed to test whether it worked or not? She set it on the table and then filled the kettle back up.


    She used the first scrap of cloth to make her tea. She was delighted with the way it worked to allow the flavors to work in the water and she didn¡¯t have to fish them out when she was finished. Kaitlyn finished her breakfast, worked in the garden for a little bit to continue her efforts in weeding and shifting plants to spread them out.


    During the afternoon Kaitlyn sat on her stool in the shade of the house while she sewed her pants. She was mostly finishing the legs when she noticed a small problem. Men¡¯s trousers were essentially straight from waist down, but her hips were significantly wider than her waist. She looked at the pants and held them up, she needed a way to allow the pants over her hips but narrow again for her waist.


    She finished most of the outseam and held them up again. She considered putting a draw string in the waist band, but she was worried how it would bunch and gather. She finally stood and stripped out of her dress and tried on the pants. They fit perfectly, except the problem she had already noticed.


    She pulled them up and pinched the sides by her waist. She looked at it and considered. She just needed to be able to pull these two seams against each other. She folded the cloth over from hip to wait on one side and then the other. She used a pair of pins and looked at the results as best she could. She wished she had some buttons, that would definitely be a good solution.


    She took off the pants and set them aside. She needed to spend some time meditating and practicing with her idea of heat without the flame. She held her flame in front of her nose and examined it. She put her finger inside the flame, and found that although it was warm, it didn¡¯t burn her or set her on fire. She could however feel something about it.


    It felt like sticking her finger into a pile of yarn but it moved. She closed her eyes and followed the ¡°thread.¡± She lost her place several times, but continued exploring until she found herself tracing a ¡°thread¡± back to her own chest. She opened her eyes, but didn¡¯t see anything. Mentally she clipped this thread and the flame fizzled. As she invoked the flame this time she intentionally built it around her finger.


    She felt as the threads formed and wrapped around her finger and although she couldn¡¯t tell apart what she wanted, she could feel the movement was important. The thread from herself split into two and began an intricate weave and dance around until there was heat and flame.


    She opened her eyes and looked at the flame, wishing she could see these fibers of magic instead of just feeling them. She would have to ask Master Garthis whether that was even possible. She went inside and took her hatchet to go and gather wood, her current pile was getting a little low.


    When Kaitlyn got back to the hut, Fapallo was on the roof sunbathing. She called up, ¡°Well? What did he say?¡±


    Fapallo hopped off the roof with a fluff of feathers and led her inside. A piece of parchment, wrinkled and a little battered, sat on the table. Kaitlyn picked it up and read the message.


    Kaitlyn,


    Your concerns are valid and I understand them. I do not believe the unicorn will go after your family, it doesn¡¯t make any kind of sense to spare your life, curse you, and kill your family. Your fiance was however the instigator of the deaths. I can¡¯t go myself to protect your family, but I have sent a message to a fae who owes me a favor.


    He is on his way to your family now with a message to explain to them you are alive but that Claus is not. He will then remain in the area for a year and a day. Should the black unicorn appear in the area, he will immediately send up the kind of alarms that can draw out even kings and gods.


    I will come in a few days and we can talk more.


    Master Garthis


    This letter made her feel slightly better, but Kaitlyn stared into her flame, worried about her family and wondering if they were alright. The tightness in her chest didn¡¯t disappear as she remembered learning to sew with her parents. Sitting up with her two older brothers as they began their apprenticeship with their father. Giggling as her little sister tried to refuse to learn at all¡­ and then turning out to be some kind of genius with embroidery designs. Love and tears infused her stitches as she worked into the night.

 Chapter 11 Fapollo proves Protective

    Fapallo was an excellent companion. Despite their language barrier, the pair of them almost instantly bonded. The dragon was friendly and calm, spending much of the heat of the day on the roof of the house. He claimed he was ¡°on watch¡± while up there, but with his eyes closed and wings completely laid out across the roof, Kaitlyn found his form of watching to be difficult to believe.


    At night he came inside and slept in front of the hearth. When she had nightmares, he came a few times and curled up around her, settling her into a snuggle against his warm side, tucked under his feathery wing.


    If Kaitlyn left the security of the hut, he almost always was around her, whether she knew it or not. Sometimes he was blatant, walking beside her and even helping her with tasks like carrying bundles of nettles, a basket tied to his side to hold herbs and roots for her to gather. If he saw, or more commonly smelled, something he wanted to hunt he would flick the basket with a claw. Kaitlyn would immediately unhitch it from his side and he would seem to flicker up into a tree to better stalk and pounce on his prey.


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t immediately realize how protective he was. She thought she had left alone, Fapallo having left in the morning to hunt. She was walking in the opposite direction from the river, a hilly and dark part of the woods. The large trees left wide paths along the forest floor, the underbrush barely able to grow above her knee because of the darkness under the canopy. The light which filtered through made the very air almost look green and golden.


    If she was honest, Kaitlyn liked this area of the forest because it was so unlike any forest she had ever seen before. It felt old, the massive trees each large enough for ten of herself to stand at arm¡¯s length and barely circle. She was aware this was a place where fae folk abounded. She had seen fairies occasionally, but most of the dark wood fair folk were shy.


    She sat down on a dead tree¡¯s trunk and pulled out her lunch, a potato with a bit of bird Fapallo had brought to the hut. She was about halfway through when the forest began to fall silent. She didn¡¯t notice immediately, when she looked up and began looking around to try to figure out where the danger might be, she couldn¡¯t see or hear anything.


    There was a noise like a large footstep and she held her breath, wondering what she could even do. She finally decided to hide under the side of the fallen tree. She heard something enter the clearing and her eyes went wide when a foot stepped down almost right beside her.


    The foot looked almost like a tree, but the toes had claws instead of toenails, the scale-like bark all over the foot and leg. She heard the thing lean over the tree and could hear it take a big breath. She tried to make herself as small as possible, but prepared to begin casting as much fire magic as she could manage.


    She heard Fapallo roar and the creature was sent sprawling onto it¡¯s back with the dragon kit on its chest. The creature was slightly human-shaped, but the legs turned backwards. The chest was almost sunked. The arms too long and ending in three claws rather than hands. The head was even worse, a mouth that opened unhinged like a snake¡¯s but with several rows of teeth. Four horns rose from the head, two swooping forward like a bulls, two swooping backwards.


    It scrambled as Fapallo bit and snapped, chasing the creature away into the woods. As soon as they were out of sight, Kaitlyn scrambled from her hiding place and sprinted for home. She half-collapsed as she reached the well and pulled up a bucket with shaking hands.


    When Fapallo winged in, she winced and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


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    Fapallo nodded and ruffled his feathers proudly. She nodded and said, ¡°Yes, you were amazing. When did you start following me?¡±


    He tapped the ground in front of himself and she shook her head. He tried again and then used his head to half-push her towards the edge of the land. She resisted a little, she wasn¡¯t ready to brave the forest today. He stopped her before she reached the edge of the clearing and then tapped her foot.


    ¡°Wait, you mean when I was here?¡± she asked. He nodded proudly.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± she asked.


    He whistled a half-question and she frowned. He tilted his head. He held up one claw like a finger. She said, ¡°One.¡±


    He nodded. He pointed at her and then held up the single finger. Her forehead crinkled as she considered and asked, ¡°Me alone?¡±


    He nodded again, happy. She frowned and thought about what choices he had made, if he thought she was alone and didn¡¯t join her. She asked, ¡°You thought I wanted to be alone?¡±


    He nodded again and she chuckled. She said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to make that guess ever again. I really appreciate when you join me. I¡¯m lonely enough just living here. If, for some strange reason, I need alone time, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Fapallo¡¯s crest fell a little and she couldn¡¯t help but throw her arms around him, ¡°Thank you so much for caring so much. I can¡¯t tell you how much it means to me.¡±


    Fapallo nuzzled her and when he sat back he pointed to his own chest and then Kaitlyn. She smiled and interpreted, ¡°You and me together, right?¡±


    He nodded happily and she replied in kind. She then said, ¡°Do you want me to make that blueberry dish again tonight?¡±


    Fapallo almost pranced. She had used some wild blueberries, honey, and mint to make something which was almost a jelly and served it on eggs which she broke and then mixed with a generous helping of pepper. Fapallo had loved it.


    Kaitlyn had five eggs they had found in the forest and she pulled these out of her storage basket and began preparing them. Fapallo settled down on her bed while he waited for her to finish.


    She asked, ¡°Do you know what that monster was?¡±


    Fapallo whistled, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it was going to hurt me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I know I said it before, thank you.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    She looked over in surprise and he pointed to his chest and then back to her. She smiled a little and nodded, ¡°Yes, you are my protector. I can still appreciate what you do.¡±


    ¡°Please remind me to ask Master Garthis what that thing was.¡±


    Fapallo whistled an agreement tone, but with his own question attached. Kaitlyn would need to remember to also ask Master Garthis if there was any way to learn languages faster, especially a language that covered a range of noise she could barely reach on either end. She also wondered if Fapallo could learn to speak more like a human.


    That afternoon Fapallo brought home two pheasants. Kaitlyn gladly roasted one of them which she split with Fapallo. The other she put into a pot to turn into a soup or stew. She giggled when Fapallo kept trying to sniff the broth and offered to let him have some in a bowl.


    He picked the bowl up in two clawed hands and carefully drank the broth. He closed his eyes and made a noise like a cat¡¯s purr. Kaitlyn grinned at his body language and said, ¡°I guess you like it then?¡±


    Fapallo nodded vigorously. She sat down crossed-legged in front of him and said, ¡°Good, then that is something else we can share together. I want to tell you thank you for today.¡±


    The dragon kit lifted his head magnanimously and the feathers around his face flexed slightly, preening like a bird. He then nodded and tapped a front foot on the boards under him and then himself. Kaitlyn said, ¡°This is yours?¡±


    He nodded and she grinned and said, ¡°Pretty sure it¡¯s my house.¡±


    Fapallo shook his head firmly and then tapped her knee and his own chest again. Kaitlyn asked, ¡°Our house?¡±


    The dragon kit nodded firmly and looked at her, pointing to himself and then her. She grantly reached out to scratch around his head, ¡°I¡¯m really glad you like it here. You can stay as long as you like. My house is your house any time.¡±


    He scooted his body until most of him was behind her, curling around her and putting his head on her lap. She kept scratching his feathers and he sighed happily. She spoke softly and said, ¡°Thanks Fapallo. I can¡¯t tell you how glad I am you¡¯re here.¡±


    He huffed slightly against her thigh and opened one eye to look at her. He whistled something and she again told herself she really needed to learn to speak - or at least understand - dragon language.

 Chapter 12 Javororas Tree

    Javorora¡¯s tree was about a mile from Kaitlyn¡¯s hut. It was truly a beautiful behemoth of a tree, even in a forest of massive trees. It dominated the area around its roots. When Kaitlyn visited the first time, she was taken on a tour around the tree by her dryad friend.


    The tree itself was large enough that four people could stand around the narrowest part of the truck and might be able to touch fingers. It wasn¡¯t the tallest tree, but the branches spread out to keep the bulk of the tree clear for sun.


    Javorora could enter and leave the tree like it was air. She flitted in and out of the bark, showing off the birds¡¯ nests one moment and then some mushrooms around the tree¡¯s roots another moment. Fapallo had joined the pair on this visit, but disappeared soon after they arrived.


    ¡°Come in, come in,¡± Javorora said, tugging on Kaitlyn¡¯s hand.


    ¡°In?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Yes, I want you to see my house,¡± the dryad gently tugged and Kaitlyn let herself be led to the trunk of the tree. Kaitlyn looked over her shoulder and saw a thin line of smoke above the trees.


    Javorora put a hand on the trunk of the tree and disappeared. An instant later, Kaitlyn found herself in a pretty little space, something between a sitting room and a dining room. The floors, walls, and ceiling were all wood, but instead of boards, it was like the grains of wood formed to almost-straight lines. It made Kaitlyn slightly dizzy if she stared at it.


    They went out the ¡°back door¡± and stepped out onto one of the branches high in the tree. Kaitlyn gasped and for a moment struggled to balance. Javorora caught her wrist and said, ¡°Calm down, I won¡¯t let you fall.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t¡­. we didn¡¯t go up,¡± Kaitlyn said quietly.


    ¡°The doors in my tree go where I want them to go,¡± Javorora said, ¡°that door technically goes to my bedroom and my dungeon.¡±


    ¡°Dungeon?¡± Kaitlyn stared at her friend in horror.


    Javorora laughed and crinkled her nose, ¡°Not really a dungeon, but I do have a spot in the roots where I have put people who tried to hurt us before.¡±


    ¡°Who would try to hurt you?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Well, there was a banshee,¡± Javorora said, ¡°that one was probably the most dangerous. I think she might have wanted to eat some magic, but dryads don¡¯t work like that. I think humans are the most common.¡±


    ¡°Humans?¡± Kaitlyn looked at her friend.


    Javorora smiled and said, ¡°Monster hunters occasionally try to take dryad branches. It isn¡¯t wise. I leave them in my little dungeon for a few days until I can get someone to remove them from my premises. I¡¯m a very good client of Master Garthis¡¯s in this way.¡±


    ¡°Client?¡± Kaitlyn was surprised.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I give him leaves or find rare herbs for him and he helps me out sometimes with that sort of thing,¡± Javorora said. ¡°Come on, I want you to see this.¡±


    Javorora led Kaitlyn across the branch until they reached a branching of the huge bough. There, nestled between the two smaller branches looked like a fruit. It was about the size of a small melon. Javorora said, ¡°The last human merchants I met were very nice. This will be my daughter.¡±


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    ¡°Oh wow,¡± Kaitlyn said, sitting down to straddle the branch and look closer. It looked like a carving of a human about the size of her hand. ¡°When will she be born.¡±


    Javorora tilted her head and counted with her fingers. She then said, ¡°Another¡­. three years probably.¡±


    ¡°Three years?¡± Kaitlyn exclaimed.


    ¡°Dryads must grow on their mother for nearly ten years before they are ready to bud,¡± Javorora said, ¡°she will stay near me another four or five years and then go and seek out her own bond tree. This will be my third daughter.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at her friend. She sometimes forgot the creature who looked like a little girl was much older than she appeared, or acted. The dryad grinned as she looked at her human friend, ¡°You know, you could aim to have a daughter so they could grow up together. You¡¯d need to get started soon though.¡±


    Kaitlyn gave her friend a bland expression and said, ¡°Yes, because I have so many suitors.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need a suitor silly,¡± Javorora said, ¡°just get Master Garthis to scry for some traveling merchants.¡±


    ¡°Are they common?¡± Kaitlyn asked. She felt she should know something like that, since her own travels through these woods were on the premise of traveling merchants. That had been the reason Claus had come to her town in the first place.


    ¡°They used to be,¡± Javorora said, ¡°Something has happened among the humans and they don¡¯t pass through our forest as often. Master Garthis keeps better track than I do. I think he said something about the kingdoms fighting.¡±


    ¡°I mean, I know there was a border war about a hundred years ago, but that was a hundred years,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°the third princess even came and married the prince. But she¡¯s now the queen mother, probably grandmother now. Before I left home the prince was already married.¡±


    ¡°Like I said,¡± Javorora said, ¡°I don¡¯t really know. All I know, is that there used to be a good set of traders that passed through and they are gone now. The ones who come now try to get through the woods as fast as possible, they even re-cut the road and built a stone bridge to avoid this part of the forest.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably a good thing,¡± Kaitlyn said as she looked up through the leaves, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready to meet new people yet.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Javorora asked.


    Kaitlyn paused and then admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t know who I am.¡±


    ¡°You are a witch!¡±


    ¡°Thanks. But I¡¯m not old,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°and I don¡¯t know very much yet. Javorora, I can barely control my magic and if I stay away from my hut too long I¡¯d probably die.¡±


    Javorora flitted into her tree and reappeared behind Kaitlyn, wrapping her arms around the human, ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Kaitlyn said, letting the tears slide down her cheeks. ¡°But I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m scared all the time.¡±


    Javorora listened as Kaitlyn spoke, holding the human girl with silent support while Kaitlyn cried. Javorora listened as Kaitlyn listed the many things she missed from home ¨C not the least her family.


    ¡°My mother¡­.¡± Kaitlyn said, looking at the dryad daughter growing in Javorora¡¯s branches, ¡°is the most amazing woman. She can sing. She has the most beautiful voice in the whole town, and she sings all the time. Seriously, all the time. She¡¯ll sing the recipe as she cooks. She¡¯ll sing while she washes the laundry. I think if people wouldn¡¯t laugh at her, she wouldn¡¯t ever bother speaking. Everything would be in song.¡±


    Javorora grinned and said, ¡°You sure you aren¡¯t part siren?¡±


    ¡°My mother might be,¡± Kaitlyn laughed, ¡°most of the rest of us can barely carry a tune and my older brother is deaf as nail to music. ¡°


    ¡°An older brother, eh?¡± Javorora said teasingly.


    ¡°Yeah, Fikri and Theobald,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Fikri is the one who can¡¯t sing. Theobald can, but he doesn¡¯t do it very often.¡±


    ¡°You miss them,¡± Javorora said, ¡°if there were more merchants, maybe you could get mail from them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what I would tell them. Oh hi Mother and Father, I have been cursed. That man I thought I fell in love with beat me and nearly killed me so he could murder a unicorn. Then a unicorn who has killed hundreds or thousands of people lay a curse on me. Don¡¯t forget I¡¯m a witch now! All my love to Fikri, Theobald and Adeliz.¡±


    ¡°Is Adeliz a cat?¡±


    Kaitlyn laughed and said, ¡°No! She¡¯s my little sister. She¡¯s two years younger than I am.¡±


    More tears fell and Kaitlyn turned to Javorora and said, ¡°You would adore her. She is so talented.¡±


    ¡°I adore you,¡± Javorora said softly, ¡°you are also talented.¡±


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t reply, instead she turned and buried her face against the dryad¡¯s shoulder. Kaitlyn wasn¡¯t even aware when Javorora moved them from the branch back to one of the roots on the ground. The moss on the root was soft and comfortable. They sat for a long time in the quiet under the canopy. When the pain began to set in, Kaitlyn forced herself to walk back to the hut.

 Chapter 13 A Lesson on Magic

    When Master Garthis showed up he brought the trunk again. Kaitlyn came out and finally got to meet Linnmel. She was a beautiful lizard-like creature with a face similar to Fapallo, but instead of a frill of feathers she had a bony plate. The lack of feathers on her wings looked strange to Kaitlyn, but Linnmel allowed her to look closer and found they actually had a fine layer of hairs. She also had a tuft of hair on her long tail, slightly similar to Fapallo¡¯s tail. Linnmel clearly enjoyed the attention, and preened a little under Kaitlyn¡¯s admiration.


    ¡°I brought you more presents,¡± Master Garthis finally said. ¡°I brought you some foodstuff I don¡¯t think you can gather very easily. I know you¡¯ve been surviving on vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Fapallo brought me some birds too,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I roasted one of them and set the other one drying as best I could.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± the wizard master said. ¡°I brought you some grains to make cereal and some flour. I also brought you a mirror, some shoes, and a blanket. I know it isn¡¯t cold yet, but I didn¡¯t want to forget.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I really can¡¯t tell you how much I appreciate all this. The shoes¡­ those will be so wonderful.¡±


    ¡°I felt bad I didn¡¯t bring them last time,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I had seen you didn¡¯t have a good pair.¡±


    Kaitlyn hefted the bag of oats and carried it inside. Master Garthis followed, ducking under the door and said, ¡°This place looks so different. You have done an excellent job cleaning it up.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°You really should come see the garden. I had to expand it because there were so many plants I wanted to keep. I have a lot of the herbs the potion book says I should use - oh, I think I made the basic sleeping potion. I was worried about how to test it though.¡±


    ¡°I usually keep some rabbits around that I can test on,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I can bring you a pair. How did you make it?¡±


    Kaitlyn explained her process. She had sewn the scrap of linen into a small pouch so she could reuse it. Master Garthis stroked his beard and said, ¡°That is rather ingenious really. I always created a permeable bubble with my magic and held it, but this allowed you to focus on stirring with your magic.¡±


    ¡°What is permeable?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°It means water or air can pass through, but not larger particles like the ground herbs,¡± Master Garthis explained.


    Kaitlyn nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve also been¡­ looking at the flame spell and I have some questions. I¡¯m hoping you can help me out.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean looking at it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Well I can¡¯t see the magic, but I found I can feel it,¡± Kaitlyn put her hand in her flame and said, ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ threads twisting around each other. I was hoping I could make flame without heat or heat without light. It would be useful. It feels like the magic comes from me and¡­ splits into two pieces but I can¡¯t figure out where they go from there or what to do with them.¡±


    Master Garthis looked at her in surprise and said, ¡°You¡­. can feel it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it connects to me right here,¡± she touched the center of her chest and closed her eyes so she could feel it better. She traced the line of the magic until the heat of the flame encompassed her hand.


    ¡°I have only met three other master mages who could follow magic like that,¡± Master Garthis told her, ¡°and of us the four of us, only I have been able to see it. It is a challenging undertaking to shift your vision that way. There are also some who can see the magic but can¡¯t feel it as a tactile sensation.¡±


    ¡°So I can learn to see it as well?¡± Kaitlyn asked excitedly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°It is something that just seems to develop. I was able to talk to Master Kirkard and he, like myself, just found himself seeing them one day. I will say it is possible, so please keep trying.¡±


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    ¡°I definitely will,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Is that how you were able to see the curse on me?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, that was a spell,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°It essentially translate the magic into words.¡±


    ¡°Can I use that on my flame spell?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    Master Garthis looked at her a long time and said slowly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    He then gestured with his head and they went outside. He sat on her stool and said, ¡°I want you to perfect these basics exercises before you start learning more complex spells. You have the power to use them, but you don¡¯t have the discipline to do it safely. It¡¯s like¡­ a swordsman. You are strong, but if you don¡¯t know how to aim the sword at your opponent, you are just as likely to cut yourself.¡±


    Kaitlyn frowned and asked, ¡°How long will all this take?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Master Garthis admitted. ¡°You are so different from any apprentice I¡¯ve heard of, and I told you before I¡¯ve never taken an apprentice. I will promise you this Kaitlyn, I will never hold you back from something without a good reason. If you don¡¯t understand or you don¡¯t agree, I want you to tell me. One of the most common reasons young mages die is trying spells they aren¡¯t ready for and they lose control. There are reasons there are so few true mages.¡±


    Kaitlyn considered this and said, ¡°Ok, why can¡¯t I learn the identification spell?¡±


    He smirked at her and said, ¡°Well I didn¡¯t expect you to challenge me quite so soon.¡±


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t smile, but instead crossed her arms in front of her. He nodded and said, ¡°It isn¡¯t that it is dangerous in and of itself. I just worry that you don¡¯t have the discipline to realize when you might be running low on magic. The spell can be pretty consuming. I think your power is slowly coming in, but I don¡¯t want you to push yet. Let me do some testing with you today and I¡¯ll consider it, fair enough?¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded. They sat and he had her do a variety of things with her floating flame. They talked about meditation and Master Garthis asked her to recreate her process for the potion. She ground up the herbs while the water came to a boil. While she worked, Master Garthis picked up the pants and said, ¡°Not what I expected you to make.¡±


    ¡°I thought that would be more useful than a skirt, but I kind of need some buttons,¡± she said.


    ¡°Buttons?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, I need about six buttons,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°My brother used to carve buttons out of wood, but I have no idea how to even start doing that.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, I think I could actually teach you a spell to help you with that,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°It is designed for fighting, but I saw an apprentice once using it for delicate carving. Which honestly is another great practice for control.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that would be useful,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Does it work on bigger things like trees?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t recommend it really, but yes it could,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I use it on trees?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Three reasons, you don¡¯t yet know which trees might house someone or something magical that would take offense to your meddling,¡± Master Garthis held up a hand and ticked off the reasons, ¡°and the second has to do with actually felling trees. I assume you don¡¯t know how to aim a tree to fall where you want it to go. And finally, it would take too long. This spell is limited in size to a tool no larger than your hand, or your arm if it is long and thin. It will fall apart if you try to make it larger.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know about making trees fall where I want,¡± Kaitlyn admitted, ¡°I never even thought about it.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± the master wizard said, ¡°so let¡¯s start working on it.¡±


    This spell was more difficult, because Kaitlyn had to envision the type of tool she wanted. She quickly started to incorporate feeling the threads to weave the shape she wanted. Master Garthis was impressed when she made a pair of scissors. She was delighted to learn she didn¡¯t have to hold the blade. She set the scissors to cutting flowers in the front yard while she utilized a second blade to begin trying to carve from a piece of wood.


    Master Garthis watched her for a time and then said, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be losing as much magic as I would have expected since you are keeping up three spells. So let me warn you of some the symptoms you are straining your magic limits.¡±


    The list seemed endless possibilities. From simple headaches before her spells began to explode and injure her. More elaborate things like having to pee frequently and the pee being strange colors. Then there were the truly strange ones like hearing voices or seeing visions. Apparently there was a very rare master who managed prophetic visions when he reached this point.


    It was almost dark when Master Garthis rose and said, ¡°I do need to get going. Send Fapallo if you need me urgently, and remember to be careful spending your magic.¡±


    ¡°Master?¡± Kaitlyn stopped him. ¡°Will my family be able to contact me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Master Garthis admitted after a long drawn silence, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell them how to contact me, only that you have joined my household to recover from some minor injuries in the attack which killed Claus. I thought this would be close enough to the truth to help assuage their fears. My fae contract will watch them for a year, at that time we can try to determine if the black unicorn is even a threat.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Master,¡± Kaitlyn said firmly.


    Master Garthis smiled and said, ¡°I feel like I could be thanking you. I thought I understood magic, but the way you are learning it and using it¡­ it is unlike any of the masters I know. It will be my own education to teach you, and I suspect it will make me a better wizard.¡±

 Chapter 14 Master Teaches

    Kaitlyn¡¯s magic lessons were not specifically difficult. Most of the lessons began with Master Garthis asking her about her experiences. He wanted to understand the spells on the house, what little she could tell him. The few times he tried to examine the house, he frowned in frustration and said it was too obscured. Something prevented him from being able to examine the spells like Kaitlyn could.


    He tested her control and mastery of the few spells she knew. Casting a spell was a process which felt like she was taking yarn to start a new ball of yarn. The initial part was incredibly difficult, the tiny pieces didn¡¯t want to roll together, and you had to hold them tightly into the figure you wanted until the shape began to form. Then you had to shape it correctly, rolling it too much in any one direction would not create a sphere, but instead something lop-sided and difficult to use. Once it reached enough size, it was just about size and feeding it more magic. That took patience. The magic had to follow the right pathways.


    The more complex the magic, the more difficult it was to begin the spell, and the more difficult to make it into the correct shapes. The spell for small tools could not hold together in a shape which was large or complex, that initial element of magic was not strong enough.


    Master Garthis explained the theory behind a larger tool spell, which could also form magical weapons. Even as he began describing the building and forming of the initial spell, Kaitlyn shuddered. The initial shaping of the spell was complex in ways she understood she wasn¡¯t ready to accomplish. Holding that kind of spell in her mind while trying to feed, build, and shape the spell was beyond her. Compared to that, the flame spell was just a little loop of magic that you could feed with more and more magical power.


    Once they covered her basics, Master Garthis sometimes spent some time teaching her the magical theories that he knew. While she was learning greater control and beginning to be able to build the more complicated spells more easily, he talked to her about various schools of magic he had studied. This was one of his areas of expertise, and he gladly could spend their entire lesson talking about it.


    In a distant land, they believed the elements were the source of all magic. These people worshipped the elementals themselves. Rock giants, leviathans, phoenix, and thunder birds were venerated. It was believed eating the flesh of one of these creatures would curse person¡¯s children to be blind and deaf to the element, unable to enjoy the warmth of fire or the cleanliness of water. They also believed the elements imbued magical properties into spells, so adding water or air magic into a spell could add flexibility.


    ¡°Does it work?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°It seems to for them,¡± Master Garthis replied. ¡°When I went to study it, I couldn¡¯t figure it out, but for the masters of the elements they could achieve feats I¡¯ve never seen elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°How does it work? How do you add an element to magic?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°All magic is formed of all the elements,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°To draw one element out is like making one strand in a rope much larger.¡±


    ¡°Then how does it help?¡± Kaitlyn asked. ¡°If I made a rope like that, it wouldn¡¯t help at all.¡±


    ¡°That is where magic is not a rope,¡± he replied. ¡°When you learn to identify and amplify different elements, you can adjust specific strengths and weaknesses in a spell.¡±


    He turned to her flame spell and said, ¡°I want you to concentrate on water while you build this spell.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think about water with the spell,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I know,¡± he replied, ¡°that is why it is a good challenge.¡±


    Kaitlyn tried to do as he told her, thinking about water. The flame did not form, just wisps of smoke. She tried again, but failed. Master Garthis spoke, ¡°Slow down. Feel the spell taking shape and as you do, think about a bucket of water.¡±


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    Kaitlyn nodded and squeezed her hands into fists while she concentrated. The flame spell began to form. She imagined the flame submerged in water, it fizzled and disappeared. She frowned, but when she looked at her master he was grinning.


    ¡°Disparate elements are hardest to work with,¡± he said.


    ¡°Disparate?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°More than just different, more like opposites,¡± Master Garthis explained, ¡°that isn¡¯t actually true of things like water and fire. There are schools that argue there is some kind of shape, but I disagree with this. All the elements interact with each other. Fire melts metal, but hardens sand into glass. Both metal and sand are considered part of the earth elemental group. Why don¡¯t they behave the same?¡±


    Kaitlyn frowned at the question and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t either,¡± Master Garthis grinned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that amazing?¡±


    The apprentice had to laugh at the boyish glee her master. Some of her lessons were more serious. In another lesson, Master Garthis tried to explain the limits magicians face.


    ¡°There are several things which limit a person,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°The first is your individual mana. Different people have different amounts of mana. It is like some people can hold their breath underwater longer or some people run faster. There might be something in a family, where just generally the people are stronger, or taller, or run faster. But it isn¡¯t a guarantee and someone gifted can comes out of seemingly nowhere.¡±


    ¡°How much mana do I have?¡±


    ¡°What you have access to isn¡¯t a lot, but it is more than most apprentices develop for several years,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve said that before, what do you mean?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Normally, in the nature of these things, you would have had to learn to grasp for mana outside yourself over several months,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°then you would begin to build your own mana reserves within. That unicorn blasted open the pathways to draw in mana within you.¡±


    ¡°So this is the most mana I¡¯ll control?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°Anyone might be able to swim, but someone who does it every day and practices¡­ can swim further, faster, and longer. It takes discipline to get there. As you get stronger, you can use more mana. Remember, the more you practice, the more you will be able to accomplish. Most apprentices take several years to be able to maintain spells as long as you do. What you need, is control.¡±


    He then said, ¡°Another common thing which limits people is their own mind. Spells help us form the magic, but one of the reasons I taught the flame spell first is because it¡¯s flexible. If you understand a spell, really understand how it is built and works, you can make adjustments to meet your needs. Control the size of your flame, or the temperature. This is what will allow you to learn the spells others build, like those on this house.¡±


    Master Garthis occasionally walked in the woods with Kaitlyn. On these forays he taught her to look for signs of the magical denizens of the forest. This would allow her to know which trees might be defended by some magical folk or another, as well as herbs and other useful items for potions. On one of the walks Kaitlyn asked, ¡°Why are there so many magical creatures here?¡±


    ¡°Many mages talk about mana lines in the world like rivers,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I belong to a school that thinks of it more like oceans because mana is everywhere. I have never found a land with no mana, and although mana can gather in larger quantities in some places and there are currents which move the mana around the world, there are no landmasses or banks.¡±


    Kaitlyn waited, but her master didn¡¯t continue and she asked, ¡°So¡­. why is this forest special?¡±


    ¡°Ah! I am sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I was thinking of Master Horten who has debated me on this point so many times. I was plotting what my next debate with him would bring. This forest is like a deep area of the ocean. There is a depth of magic that isn¡¯t found everywhere. Creatures sensitive to mana like to gather in such places. Dryads are common almost everywhere, but creatures like red caps need more mana to work their kind of magic.¡±


    Master Garthis stopped and Kaitlyn saw him staring. She looked where he was looking and saw a flash of white. She paled, and stepped closer to her master. The unicorn disappeared behind a tree, but Kaitlyn was now quivering with fear and looking around.


    ¡°And there are some who are born in areas of deep mana and then wander the world,¡± he said softly, ¡°like unicorns. I have never met someone who has managed to see a unicorn be born. I even knew a mage who kept a stallion and mare for over a decade, but they never foaled even though the stallion mounted the mare many times.¡±


    Kaitlyn tried to process this knowledge, but until Master Garthis wrapped her in a hug she stared at the place the unicorn had gone. Her master patted her back and said, ¡°I am so sorry Kaitlyn. Unicorns are often symbols of purity and luck, but for you¡­ I am so sorry.¡±

 Chapter 15 Bread Gardens

    Kaitlyn made bread that night. She wished she had some butter, but even just using the last of the fat from the pheasants, she made a passable loaf. It was late when she pulled it out of the pot which she had used as an improvised oven and she decided one of her projects during the winter would be to build an outdoor oven.


    She woke the next morning and magically created an awl to work on her buttons. She soon had four buttons, which was enough to test her plan. She put two on each side of the hips and buttoned them up. It worked perfectly. She stood in her chemise and new pants. She grinned.


    She continued during her meditation sessions to explore the tool spell, but now she wove different implements. She was seeing how the spell was incredibly diverse. She immediately began using it to stir the stew while she worked on other things, or carving a button while she planned a spot in the garden to build an oven.


    She had decided to make a shirt with buttons down the front, so she began working on the buttons while she gardened. She did the cutting and sewing in the evening by the light of her flame spell.


    Fapallo continued to bring meat to Kaitlyn regularly. When she mentioned wanting something with more fat, he took the challenge and brought her back a wild pig. She found a salt rock with help from Javorora to use the salt to flavor her own food. This also allowed her to preserve most of the pork meat.


    It had been almost two months, it was beginning to be cool in the mornings when she had a surprise. She was working in the garden and decided to get a few more final lavender bushels before there was a freeze. As she started cutting she stopped and took a step back. For a long moment, she didn¡¯t believe what she had found.


    The lavender grew right against the house, climbing the side near the back door. Kaitlyn grunted as she looked at the door. She called Fapallo, ¡°Fapallo, can you come back here and look at something?¡±


    Fapallo climbed off the roof and came over with a whistle she now understood as, ¡°What do you want or need?¡±


    ¡°Look over here,¡± Kaitlyn pointed to the back of the house.


    Fapallo looked and squawked a little, seeing what Kaitlyn had seen. She didn¡¯t understand what that noise might mean, but she suspected it might be inappropriate. She nodded and said, ¡°That second door wasn¡¯t here before, was it?¡±


    Fapallo shook his head and growled slightly. Kaitlyn shook her head and said, ¡°It isn¡¯t very big, I¡¯m afraid to open it up.¡±


    As she cut away the excess of lavender to expose a new, second door next to her backdoor she glared. Could Fapallo, Javorora, and herself all have missed this hidden behind the branches? Or was there some more magic going on that she didn¡¯t understand? She finished pulling away the weeds blocking it.


    She opened the door and burst out laughing. It was a latrine. It was a wonderful sight and she said, ¡°Definitely nothing too dangerous in there. And thank the gods, I was not looking forward to figuring out what do when the ground froze. I just wish one of us had noticed this door sooner.¡±


    Kaitlyn used her new latrine with a certain amount of glee. It had been so many months since she had been able to sit while she relieved herself. When she stepped out, Fapallo was on the roof again, his wings half-spread in the last rays of sunshine. He whistled as she went to the front to wash her hands in the well.


    ¡°We need to keep working on my language skills,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I didn¡¯t understand whether that was even a question or a statement. Can we start doing that in the evenings?¡±


    Fapallo nodded from the roof¡¯s ridge. Kaitlyn waved and went inside to begin making supper. Tonight she was mixing ground grains, carrots, herbs, and rabbit. She had stripped the meat from the rabbit¡¯s bones so she could grind the bones with her magical mortar. Apparently ground bones were a common ingredient in potions and even sometimes spellwork. She had two different potions she wanted to try to make, one as an antidote for certain kinds of poisons and the other a hair beautification oil and both called for powdered bones.


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    She was busy much of the fall gathering vegetables and storing them. Using her spell for small tools she was able to craft several crates to hold the vegetables and she filled the little hut as best she could. Even when Master Garthis arrived, Kaitlyn focused on her gathering.


    Kaitlyn remained in the garden, digging and harvesting while her master spoke to her. Even during her lessons, she kept working to prepare for the colder months ahead of her.


    He taught her two new spells, one which allowed her to tie her flame spell into an object which could hold magic. Different objects could hold the magic differently. Some rocks were very good at holding the flame spell. When buried in the ground, the rock held the heat of the spell without the light.


    The best rock was one which was a pale, tan rock. There weren¡¯t a lot of them, but they were the strongest in two ways. The first was that the rocks got hotter than the other kinds of rocks. The heat also spread further from these rocks. Master Garthis called the rocks ¡°tuff¡± and said there were reasons it was so effective. He couldn¡¯t explain what that reason was, only that he knew it existed.


    Master Garthis also did a poor job when he tried to explain why the heating spell worked. He apologized when she explained that she had spent the summer digging out rocks in an otherwise well maintained garden. She sighed as she began the process of putting the rocks back in the ground. She was able to space them out more carefully, spreading out the kinds of rocks which were better at exuding the heat where she wanted.


    Fapallo guessed the witch had just added rocks randomly when she needed them, but Kaitlyn was able to organize the placement since she was starting over. It helped her feel a little better that she was doing the work over to think she was making it better. She did end up with a remaining pile of rocks she would be able to use as she expanded her garden.


    The second spell he taught her allowed her to feed her magic into the plants themselves to guide the plants to grow in the direction she chose. This allowed her to guide the growth of the plants, including their roots, branches, and buds. She used this to encourage the squash plants to grow in specific directions rather than in random locations which might prevent other plants from growing.


    This second spell was difficult. The shape was the most complicated because the core of the spell had to be modified depending on what Kaitlyn wanted to accomplish. The flame spell was always exactly the same all the time. The tool spell always started the same and only got adjusted once the core of the spell was formed. This spell had to be built slightly differently every time.


    This is where Kaitlyn learned one of the next dangers of magic. Spells going awry. The first time Kaitlyn tried to build the spell, she thought she had the shape right. As she began feed magic into the spell she suddenly gasped as it felt like the mana was being drained from her. Master Garthis jumped up and grabbed her hand and instantly the spell snapped, her mana cut off.


    She looked up at her master and he nodded, ¡°It¡¯s alright. This was bound to happen with this spell. I forgot you always use internal mana. I¡¯ll need to teach you some bounds with your own mana before you practice this spell again.¡±


    ¡°Bounds?¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Creating some safeties within yourself to make sure you don¡¯t do that again,¡± he said.


    ¡°What¡­ how did I do that?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes when you build the spell you might place a hole,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°this hole will act like a hole in a pot, dragging all the mana out of the spell as you try to feed it.¡±


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I just stop feeding it?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Pressure,¡± he said, ¡°there was pressure from that hole which actually pulled at your mana. You could have stopped it, but this is part of why I am here to teach you. I also realized I hadn¡¯t warned you. By the time you figured out what was happening on your own, you might have been in much worse shape.¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± he master sat back down, ¡°Go into your own mana, we¡¯re going to work on setting up some blocks within yourself so if this happens again you know exactly what to do.¡±


    This was not a simple lesson, but it was an important one. Especially as Kaitlyn worked more with the plant-growing magic. She did learn within a day or so that growing a plant with magic came with draw-backs. Forcing rapid growth made the plant weaker and unless she also forced the root system to grow, the new growth quickly set to rotting on the limbs of the plant. Even focusing on both roots and limbs, forcing rapid growth on a plant clearly strained them and caused them to have poor flavor or even to die off. The spell was most effective long-term in guiding a plant to grow in a specific direction.

 Chapter 16 A little Elf

    Autumn was wet. Kaitlyn found herself often working in the garden and muddy and wet. Washing herself became a priority, and she determined that she would have herself a real bathtub as soon as possible. The crates in the hut filled up with turnips, potatoes, onions, and leeks. Hanging from her rafters were dozens of herbs from chamomile and mint to echinachea and licorice.


    Just before the first frost, she had an unexpected visitor. Fapallo was on the roof, his favorite place and whistled, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡±


    Kaitlyn was in the garden and rose to her feet. She whistled back, ¡°Friend?¡±


    ¡°Unknown,¡± Fapallo replied as he climbed off the roof to the front of the house.


    Kaitlyn came around the house and saw right at the edge of the clearing an elf. Kaitlyn had never seen an elf before, but she recognized them immediately. Slightly shorter than a human, slender, and the skin darker than any she had ever seen. The elf seemed to blend in with the shadows of the forest. Kaitlyn cautiously stepped into the open and said, ¡°Hello? Are you alright?¡±


    The elf almost collapsed against the tree, and Kaitlyn rushed forward. She put the elf¡¯s arm around her shoulders and hefted the creature to it¡¯s feet, leading it quickly towards her hut. The elf suddenly started to pull away and half-collapsed against the well. She stared at the creature. Dark skin would allow it to blend into the forest, but she couldn¡¯t tell whether this was a male or female from facial features.


    The form of the elf was slender, and their weight entirely negligible over Kaitlyn¡¯s shoulder. They hissed in pain as she tried to get them towards the hut. The elf pulled away from her and collapsed against the edge of the well. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t help but remember her own exhaustion and pain when she arrived and found this particular spot.


    ¡°No witch,¡± it said and she was surprised at the tenor of the voice. She still could not tell if this elf was male or female, ¡°thy shall not eat me.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to eat you,¡± Kaitlyn said, shocked. ¡°I was going to help you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie witch,¡± the elf almost growled. They pulled one of their arms against their chest and glared at Kaitlyn with some amount of anger.


    Kaitlyn threw her hands up in the air and went inside. She got some linen scraps and a bowl of stew. She brought these out and said, ¡°Where are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°I will be fine,¡± the elf said stiffly.


    Kaitlyn put her hands on her hips and said, ¡°Fapallo, go get Javorora for me please.¡±


    Fapallo snorted rudely, a word Kaitlyn hadn¡¯t learned precisely but she translated in her head as ¡°bastard.¡± He flapped off into the air. The elf looked at the creature and said, ¡°How did thee charm such a one as that?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°He¡¯s my friend. My master approved him staying here as long as he likes.¡±


    ¡°Thy master?¡± the elf asked.


    ¡°Master Garthis is teaching me,¡± Kaitlyn explained and set the bowl of stew on the stool. Mentioning her master had cleared impacted the elf as they joined her and slowly sat down. She knelt beside the elf and saw two injuries immediately. The elf¡¯s right arm was broken and a nasty series of cuts on the elf¡¯s right side. She went and got her bucket from the well and doused her flame spell in the water. The water almost immediately began to heat.


    She wet the cloth in her hand and said, ¡°I can¡¯t do anything about your arm until Fapallo and Javorora come back. It¡¯s going to need to be set and I can¡¯t do that alone. I¡¯m going to start by cleaning up these cuts. You saw me pull this water and heat it, I haven¡¯t been able to do anything else to it.¡±


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    She wanted to get herbs, but she was frustrated that the elf had accused her of ill intentions. She didn¡¯t want them to think she was going to poison them or something. She figured until Javorora and Fapallo returned, she could at least work on cleaning the blood from the elf. Hopefully the elf would recognize the dryad and listen to Kaitlyn¡¯s friend even if they wouldn¡¯t believe Kaitlyn herself. Then she could make them one of the healing tinctures Master Garthis had suggested she learn.


    The elf nodded and raised the shirt they were wearing. Kaitlyn carefully began to dab at the wounds and asked, ¡°This looks like some kind of claw mark, did you get into a fight with something?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± the elf sighed, ¡°I was hunting a deer and a stag with horns of gold and claws instead of hooves attacked me. I do not know the name of such, but it marked me and then led away my chosen prey. I was attempting to get home but apparently wandered afield to find you. This is a witch¡¯s hut, is it not?¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Kaitlyn said firmly. ¡°I am a magician¡¯s apprentice, not a witch. I¡¯m not eating anyone who can think so I don¡¯t like the term. I don¡¯t think there really is a name for someone like me. Oh, so sorry.¡±


    The elf had hissed in pain when she dabbed a little too hard. She drew back and took a deep breath. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t have much I can use to bandage you I¡¯m afraid. I¡¯ll do the best I can.¡±


    ¡°Thou are truly not evil,¡± the elf said in surprise.


    Kaitlyn made a face and said, ¡°I try not to be. General principle you know.¡±


    The elf gave her a look that was half-amused and half-shocked. They took their shirt off completely and began ripping it into shreds. Kaitlyn said, ¡°Wait!¡±


    The elf stopped and said, ¡°Are thou embarrassed at my nudity?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°but I can cut it up into better strips than you can rip it.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the elf said, ¡°thou are not what I expected to when meeting a human for the first time. I expected much more greed.¡±


    Kaitlyn decided not respond to that, for a moment reminded of Claus and the choices he made when offered the opportunity. In that moment, she decided to prove not all humans were like her ex-fiance. She would show the creatures of this forest that humans didn¡¯t have to be a bad thing. She couldn¡¯t entirely blame them if Claus and his kind were the average human they encountered.


    She called up her tool spell to carefully cut strips from the shirt. She was sad to ruin such a well-made garment. As a tailor¡¯s child, she appreciated how well woven the cloth itself was as well as how well stitched the clothing was. There was only small embroidered leaves on the sleeves, otherwise the cut of the cloth was the artwork itself. With a small grunt, she prepared to destroy the work once and for all. She carefully boiled some fresh water and set it to the side with her flame spell contained within it to keep the water warm.


    ¡°This is a very nice shirt, I¡¯m sorry I had to destroy it,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a shirt,¡± the elf shrugged, ¡°better the shirt than my life.¡±


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t help but look up at the elf in surprise. Even when she lived at home, she knew clothing wasn¡¯t simple and tearing apart a perfectly useable garment, much less one as nice as the one she had just destroyed, would not have been lightly. Yet the elf ignored it as unimportant. She wondered just who this elf was. In some ways, they reminded her of Claus. Claus had also thought some things were less important than Kaitlyn, a pan or a shirt was so easily replaced to him.


    In her current space, Kaitlyn really struggled to reconcile this attitude and she had to step away for a moment to collect herself. She wasn¡¯t exactly angry, but she definitely thought the elf¡¯s attitude was very entitled.


    The elf was eating when the dryad and dragon-kin came back. Javorora looked at the elf and blinked in surprise, ¡°You are awfully young.¡±


    The elf¡¯s face clearly showed embarrassment and Javorora put her hands on her hips and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t even chosen your form or caste, have you?¡±


    ¡°I have chosen my caste,¡± the elf said defensively, ¡°I am a hunter.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t chose your caste until you chose your form,¡± Javorora said with a hint of anger.


    ¡°Excuse me, what are you talking about?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Those elves are not like humans, they must choose their gender and after that they can also choose a caste,¡± Javorora explained simply. ¡°The caste limits them to a certain set of skills, strengths, and weaknesses. They are lucky they didn¡¯t end up in an entirely different elven territory.¡±


    ¡°I never heard of that,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°that must be difficult.¡±


    Javorora shrugged, ¡°So what did you need me for?¡±


    ¡°I need help setting this arm,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can do it alone.¡±


    ¡°Ah, very well,¡± Javorora said. ¡°Lay down elf child.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± the elf growled, but obeyed the dryad.

 Chapter 17 Elves in the Forest

    Kaitlyn threw up after they finished setting the arm. She barely managed to stumble away from the elf, who had been surprisingly stoic and vomit under the bush. Javorora had water ready for her when she turned back around. Fapallo nuzzled her with a chirp of, ¡°You ok?¡±


    ¡°I am no healer,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I kind of hated that sound.¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking about it,¡± Javorora said quickly, ¡°you look very green.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded, trying desperately not to vomit a second time. She closed her eyes and found herself seeking that quiet place of meditation. It helped. Her stomach settled and she slowly sat back on the ground.


    ¡°Are thou still ill?¡± the elf asked, looking pale but disturbingly calm.


    ¡°No,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Do you want to come inside and stay the night? I can¡¯t offer much, but you can at least sleep in warmth tonight. I¡¯m not sure where home is for you.¡±


    ¡°Nay, thank you kind witch but I must be home by moonrise or my parents will undoubtedly worry,¡± the elf said.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Kaitlyn said, pushing aside the pain thoughts of home and family brought up.


    The elf ate the stew and complimented Kaitlyn¡¯s cooking before they gathered their bow and left her little hut. Kaitlyn turned to Javorora and said, ¡°Thank you for helping.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Javorora said, ¡°You are kind of a terrible healer if you can¡¯t handle a simple broken arm.¡±


    ¡°Can we please not talk about it?¡± Kaitlyn almost pleaded. ¡°Do you want to stay here tonight?¡±


    ¡°No, I can get back to my tree well before dark,¡± Javorora said. ¡°Fair warning, during the winter I can be very hard to wake up. I will try to come whenever I am awake, but I wanted to make sure you knew¡­ I won¡¯t be able to come very often.¡±


    ¡°I will be ok,¡± Kaitlyn said, trying to put on a brave face even though inside she was very worried. She had never been alone so much and she already felt lonely. Fapallo helped immensely, and she thought if he had not been with her she would have given into a lonely despair a long time ago.


    It was only a few days later they had their first frost. Master Garthis arrived with a warm wool cloak, gloves, a warm hat, thick shoes, and a bolt of wool cloth. He also brought her another bag of grain and a small jar of sugar. He also brought her two more books on basic spells. She found she was quite excited about these books.


    Finally, he brought her two female rabbits. She put them in the little shed in one of the cages and added a little bit of the grain. She also added some carrots and some leaves from her vegetables plants. She liked them immediately, they were small and fluffy with very long ears.


    ¡°Master, I have a question for you,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°An elf got lost and ended up here¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, an elf got lost? How?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    ¡°Javorora hinted it had to do with the fact they hadn¡¯t chosen their gender or caste,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Ah, yes that would do it,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they were allowed out of their village. Usually the younglings are kept close.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he knew he wasn¡¯t supposed to have left,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°They,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°It¡¯s an interesting thing that allows them to determine what gender they need more of in their community, either because of illness or war or something else. Until they choose a gender, the correct term is they.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°That their gender isn¡¯t set until they reach maturity,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly, but I know there is a myth that dryad and elves are related. Or at least dryads and some elves. There are actually three distinct species of elves I know of and only the ones with the dryad myth choose their gender. Remember, plants are not gendered, they contain both parts for reproduction.¡±


    ¡°There are other elves?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


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    ¡°Yes, as I said I know of three distinct species,¡± Master Garthis said with a smile. ¡°You are a curious person, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Kaitlyn blushed and said, ¡°Mama used to say I could ask questions until a saint wore out.¡±


    ¡°Well ask away from me,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°Next time I come I¡¯ll bring a book on Elven species.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    She and Master Garthis worked through the afternoon on her magic. Kaitlyn felt despair as her Master began snapping at her to duplicate the flame spell making it exactly the same over and over until she maintained a dozen small flames. He then went down the line and critiqued their differences and made her adjust them. Towards the end she found herself rubbing her temple with the beginnings of a headache.


    The Master wizard stopped her and said, ¡°Excellent! You are growing into your powers, but it looks like your limits are within reason.¡±


    Kaitlyn frowned at him and he said, ¡°You have worked hard and I just pushed you to do each of these spells many times with speed and accuracy. I want to tell you, I am proud of your focus and your studies. You are making excellent progress. I think by midwinter you will be disciplined enough to learn the identification spell.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you aren¡¯t mad at me?¡± Kaitlyn asked. ¡°I kept messing up the duplicate flame spell.¡±


    ¡°I was pushing you,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°I needed to see if we could strain your limits with these exercises.¡±


    ¡°Master,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I am a little worried being here alone. Am I¡­ safe?¡±


    Master Garthis did not reply instantly, but looked thoughtful. He finally said, ¡°I think you are as safe as anyone can be in these woods. From what you told me of your hiding here, the house itself has some concealment if someone is actively hostile. Now, this doesn¡¯t mean the house would know that a wandering werewolf with no hostile intentions until he already is grabbing you¡­ but that is another possible use for the flame spell and for the tool spell. Neither are specific attack spells, but both have decent application you can use to defend yourself.¡±


    Fapallo made a bark-growl and Master Garthis nodded, ¡°And you have Fapallo. Even if he isn¡¯t right here, all you would need to do is fend off an attacker until he returned and if you barricaded yourself in the hut you probably could.¡±


    ¡°Probably?¡± Kaitlyn repeated worriedly.


    Master Garthis put a hand on her shoulder and said, ¡°I will not promise that there is nothing that could break in and hurt or kill you. There are powers in the world which can overwhelm anyone or any defense. I will tell you that I think you are as safe in this hut as you would be back in your home. At least physically.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded, only slightly reassured. He sighed and said, ¡°I wish I could bring you to my household, but I am worried if the unicorn¡¯s curse would make it impossible for you to function.¡±


    ¡°I can be gone from the house almost the entire day before the pain hits me,¡± Kaitlyn nodded, ¡°but when it begins¡­ it¡¯s still really bad. Will I ever be able to stop it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know my child,¡± he said gently, ¡°I hope as you continue to grow into your power you can find ways to manage the pain to allow you more freedom. I know this is not the most comfortable of homes.¡±


    Kaitlyn smirked and looked at the hut. She missed her mother¡¯s kitchen. She missed having more than a stool to sit on. She missed a real bed. She then said, ¡°At least the house is warm and the garden keeps me fed, right? And as long as I have you and Fapallo to keep me from getting too lonely I will be ok. Maybe someday my magic will be strong enough that I can expand the house a bit to give myself a real kitchen, or a cold cellar.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps that is something I can help with next summer,¡± the master wizard said, ¡°I will have to brush up on earth magic to build such a space. Elemental magics are not my strongest category of magic, I always have to go look up the more complicated spells.¡±


    ¡°What is your specialty?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    Master Garthis smiled and said, ¡°Space and time magic. A pretty esoteric specialty really unless someone claims they are prophetic.¡±


    ¡°Esoteric?¡± Kaitlyn prompted.


    ¡°Only a few people know or care about it,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Time magic really can only reliably look backwards. The ones who seek to know the future often go mad because the future is not set. You can¡¯t see THE future, you can see A future, or more often you can see several futures. The further into the future a mage tries to look, the more variations and branches they must follow. But the past¡­ knowing the past of a place or a thing is something I find fascinating.¡±


    Kaitlyn smiled and said, ¡°Thank you master.¡±


    ¡°Oh, speaking of which I wanted to show you a spell I put on the mirror,¡± he said.


    Inside the hut, Kaitlyn pulled out the mirror the mage had brought to her before. He held it in his hand and taught her the words to say. Instead of reflecting his face it now showed a room. After a minute a small man walked past. He stopped and jumped a little and said, ¡°Master Garthis! ¡®Tis good to see you.¡±


    ¡°Hello Mr. Lanslet,¡± Master Garthis said warmly, ¡°I am just showing Kaitlyn how to use the mirror to contact the household. I shall be home in a few hours.¡±


    ¡°Very well Master Garthis,¡± the brownie said with a bow. The flop hat on his head nearly fell off and he scowled as he scooped it back onto his balding head.


    Master Garthis waved his hand and the view of the witch¡¯s hut reappeared in the glass. He said, ¡°This can also help you feel more safe. If you ever are truly in danger, contact my house and help will come. Probably Linnmel, because if there is something dangerous enough to threaten Fapallo, I am not sure I could stop her from coming out here.¡±


    The large female dragon felt both Kaitlyn and Fapallo were ¡°kits¡± and in opinion, should be safe in a nest. Fapallo hissed at her the one time she had tried to groom him, claiming he was not nestling and she was not his mother. She had huffed, pouted, and left without carrying away Master Garthis with her.


    ¡°Well, I am very pleased with your progress,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°To give you an idea of this, it took me three years to be able to conjure as many fire spells as you have today.¡±

 Chapter 18 No Aspens Here

    It was strange stepping from the warmth of her own garden space into snow. Kaitlyn wore her new cloak, boots, and gloves. She had set her traps and now hoped to gather more meat for herself. Fapallo was willing to hunt, but since Kaitlyn had no idea how long he might decide to stay, she had determined she wanted to know how to catch her own meat.


    She had another goal as well. Apparently the white feathers of an owl were used in a potion of silence, something she wanted to try to make. It would allow her to move through the forest with a bit more confidence if she knew no one could hear her. Finding an abandoned nest or burrow was her plan. She also wanted to get out of the hut for a time. She was tired of looking at the same walls, the same trees, and the same books.


    She tromped through the snow and looked for any signs of owls. She knew this might end up being just a cold walk in the woods, but she had to try. It was a beautiful day really, the weather just warm enough to be comfortable but cold enough to keep the snow light and fluffy. The landscape was truly beautiful with the snow making everything glitter.


    As she was walking she occasionally stopped to look at a plant to try to identify if it was one of the herbs her potion book said she needed but was not already in her garden. She found two and took careful note of their locations to look at digging them up in the near future.


    One of her traps had been sprung without catching anything, the other had caught a fox. She summoned her magical blade and carefully removed the major organs. The kidneys she tossed into the trap, hopefully she could catch something else like the fox. She was finishing her field dressing when an arrow blossomed next to her head.


    ¡°You trespass human,¡± a voice said. Kaitlyn slowly turned to see an elf.


    This elf was not like her previous guest. This elf looked like snow and ice itself, pale to the point of albino. Kaitlyn looked to the trees and said, ¡°I was told that the silver elves only controlled among the aspens. I do not see aspens here.¡±


    ¡°We range these forests as we please,¡± the elf sniffed disdainfully, ¡°and humans are entirely unwelcome.¡±


    ¡°Well, you do not control this area of the forest and my home is in this part of the wood,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°If you would like to come with me back to my home, you will see that I will not trespass on the silver elven lands, it is a goodly distance.¡±


    ¡°If you lie to seek to draw me into a trap, I shall not miss your heart,¡± the silver elf said.


    Kaitlyn led the beautiful female elf back to the witch¡¯s hut. The elf frowned and said more respectfully, ¡°Forgive me, I did not know you were a witch. I thought all witches were older.¡±


    ¡°They usually are,¡± Kaitlyn said calmly. ¡°May I offer you some tea before you leave? As I told you, it is a goodly distance from where you found me, much less to the aspen groves.¡±


    ¡°Why would you be kind after I threatened your life?¡± the elf asked suspiciously.


    Kaitlyn looked at her frankly and said, ¡°It is rather lonely living in a hut in the middle of a wood. I would appreciate hearing anything of the outside world. I also would like to be able to trade with your people for things I cannot build here.¡±


    Master Garthis had given Kaitlyn some pointers when dealing with some of the races of the woods. The dryad and dark elves were more relaxed, and could bear a bit of mystery. The silver elves were sticklers for the rules and blunt to the point of rude. They believed that speaking any intentional untruth damaged some part of the soul. The other two species of elves were crafters by nature, one leaning towards products of the earth including porcelain and silk. The others were gentle pranksters who tended towards a semi-nomadic lifestyle following the herds of reindeer which came in and out of the forests. They hadn¡¯t been seen in years, so she may or may not ever run into them.


    The satyrs were a hunter-gather kind of people. They hunted for furs to trade with humans occasionally, but generally lived a subsistence life in some kind of harmony with the forest. There were a few other groups in the forest, but none had large groups or settlements of any kind.


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    With this knowledge, when Kaitlyn saw a silver elf, she knew she could be blunt. She also had not feared the bow once she knew the elf wa present. Her spell to weave scissors was so fast now she could have snapped the string before the elf had finished drawing. At least, Kaitlyn felt pretty confident in her own speed.


    ¡°Very well, I shall stay and give you some news of the parts of the world I know of,¡± the silver elf said.


    ¡°My name is Kaitlyn, can I know your name?¡±


    ¡°I am called Hyacinth by acquaintances,¡± the elf said.


    Kaitlyn brought the tea kettle and her herbs back out front. The elf looked at the comfortable garden and said, ¡°How do you maintain a temperature if you are not a witch?¡±


    Kaitlyn sighed and said, ¡°Your people would probably call me a witch because there is not a better name for what I am. I am not old, I am not evil. Master Garthis is teaching me to control what magic I have.¡±


    ¡°But you do not call yourself a witch,¡± Hyacinth said, clearly trying to catch Kaitlyn in some kind of lie.


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Kaitlyn said firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t like the title. But as I said, there is not a better name for what I do. I have magic. I use it to maintain a certain warmth in my home.¡±


    ¡°I would not happily leave if I had such warmth,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°I dislike the winter.¡±


    Kaitlyn cast her fire spell next to the kettle to begin heating the water and began combining her herbs in her pestle. She started with a little lavender and mint. She ground them carefully, not turning them into fine grounds, but breaking apart the leaves. She then carefully put them into her little sack of linen. Hyacinth had watched her and asked, ¡°What is this you are doing?¡±


    ¡°I use it to make my teas,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°It simulates something most witches and wizards do, but it doesn¡¯t use magic.¡±


    ¡°What does it do?¡± Hyacinth half-rose, looking quite aggressive.


    ¡°Holds the leaves in the water to allow them to steep without contaminating the quality of the water,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°It isn¡¯t as good as doing it with magic, magic keeps all the parts of the herbs contained, but it is good enough for normal tea. Better than if you just put the leaves in the water.¡±


    ¡°It is a simple solution,¡± Hyacinth observed.


    ¡°Sometimes the best solutions are simple,¡± Kaitlyn said. The water was now warm and she put her little tea bag in the water. ¡°I am sorry I can not offer much in the way of food, I don¡¯t have much beyond the vegetables from my garden and the occasional hunting Fapallo provides.¡±


    ¡°You were retrieving a fox from a trap today,¡± Hyacinth said, frowning again.


    ¡°I apologize, today was the first time I caught anything,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I would not feel like a good host if I offered you a raw fox.¡±


    Hyacinth laughed then, and said, ¡°You are trying to speak the way my people do, aren¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°Master Garthis told me silver elves are insulted by even accidental untruths,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to offend you. So yes, I suppose I am trying to match the way you speak.¡±


    ¡°I will note your efforts,¡± Hyacinth said. ¡°I will not be offended if you make slight errors. May I ask something of you?¡±


    ¡°You can ask,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Once I know the request, I¡¯ll let you know if I can do it.¡±


    Hyacinth nodded and said, ¡°My people do not like the cold, could our scouts stop here on their routes to recuperate for a few hours or overnight?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of extra space¡­¡± Kaitlyn began but Hyacinth held up a hand and continued, ¡°We would stay outside if needed. Simply sleeping in a warmer area for a night would be a major boon.¡±


    Kaitlyn thought about it a long time and then asked, ¡°What will your people provide for this service?¡±


    Hyacinth nodded slightly and said, ¡°Each of us will bring you supplies not easily found in the forest.¡±


    Kaitlyn thought about it and said, ¡°The general standard will be two pounds of grains.¡±


    Considering how little Kaitlyn was offering, she knew this offer was high. Hyacinth launched into a spirited haggling, offering no more than a tea cup¡¯s worth. Kaitlyn countered and eventually they reached about three quarters of a pound of grain. Kaitlyn then stood and said, ¡°I will consider our bargain set, and since you were not prepared, next time you are on patrol and choose to stay here, you will need to bring double.¡±


    ¡°That is reasonable, thank you,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°Would you like some stew? It¡¯s venison and vegetables,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Thank you, how much will that cost?¡± Hyacinth asked.


    ¡°It is included,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°As is water. Anything else might be extra unless offered freely.¡±


    ¡°So the tea?¡±


    ¡°A gift,¡± Kaitlyn replied. ¡°We could hardly come to agreeable terms with cold and empty stomachs.¡±


    Kaitlyn stayed outside with Hyacinth until Fapallo came home. She explained to the dragon-kin the deal she had struck, explaining he was not to attack the silver elves when they came to camp in Kaitlyn¡¯s front yard. He looked Hyacinth up and down once and then nodded and climbed on the roof. Later that evening when the two of them went inside he had her translate his whistles from her book, ¡°Good job. This was smart.¡±

 Chapter 19 A Big Elf

    It was only a few days later when Kaitlyn received two visitors. The first was the elf she had helped, their arm still bound although in a much better splint. The second elf was a male, tall and broad shouldered but clearly related to the youngling Kaitlyn had helped. She was meditating when they arrived at the edge of her clearing and stopped, the older clearly gauging the clearing with suspicion.


    Kaitlyn opened her eyes when Fapallo whistled and the dragon-kin climbed down from the roof to stand between the elves and Kaitlyn. She put a hand on his shoulder and whistled, ¡°Please wait. Peace.¡±


    One of the odd things about the dragon language turned out to be that certain words always had a tone of question and there was no easy way to turn them into a declarative. Peace was one of those words. It was always a question unless the dragon elaborated much more before using the whistle which would still sound questioning to human speech patterns.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you made it home alright.¡±


    The older elf slowly stepped out of the snow into Kaitlyn¡¯s warmer space. Their eyes widened slightly and they said, ¡°Thou are the witch?¡±


    Kaitlyn sighed and had to roll her eyes a little. She then said, ¡°Yes. Just¡­ might as well get used to the word. Apparently, it is my only option.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me, my young sibling told me a witch had saved them and¡­. I didn¡¯t believe at first,¡± the elf said.


    ¡°Please come in, I do not have much I can offer in the way of comfort, but I can offer some fresh tea and biscuits,¡± Kaitlyn said. She had begun using a little of the grain sometimes, now that she could use her magic to grind the grain into a fine flour she was having some fun trying to make better breads.


    ¡°Thou are too kind,¡± the older elf said, ¡°My sibling owes you much for helping them and you offer hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Well, what little I can offer,¡± Kaitlyn replied. ¡°We can discuss once I have something for us to drink and eat. I am Kaitlyn.¡±


    ¡°I am Haytham.¡±


    Kaitlyn had already decided what she would ask for, she desperately wanted more cloth of some kind so she could make a new bed. The current bed she slept on was little more than a pile of sticks with an old blanket on it. She wanted to make that more comfortable if she could.


    Like with Hyacinth, she brought everything outside to grind the herbs, boil the tea, and serve in her simple wooden cups. The biscuits she had to cook inside, but when she brought them out the youngling was poking at her work on an outdoor oven. She sighed as she looked it, so far she had managed a pile of rocks. She had no way to properly bind them together and they were too imperfect in shape not to have some kind of daub. Kaitlyn had been forced to admit she had no idea how to build what she wanted and left the pile of rocks.


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    ¡°Thy kindness surprises me,¡± the elf said taking a sip of the tea. ¡°I had somewhat expected anger that my sibling had arrived at all and had left without payment.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I am not a healer by calling, so my aide was no more than what one neighbor should do for another. I do hope to call you a neighbor in truth.¡±


    The elf looked at her sidelong and Kaitlyn sat down on the ground, leaning against Fapallo where he lay down, looking for all appearances to be asleep. Kaitlyn met the elf¡¯s look with a frank stare.


    These elves were dark of skin and hair, blending into the shadows of the trees. Unlike the silver elves who lived among trees, these elves apparently lived high in the branches of the largest of the trees. They were brilliant hunters and warriors in their own right. They respected strength.


    Kaitlyn decided to open her bargain, ¡°If you wish to pay some kind of debt on behalf of your sibling, you could help me. I do not have a proper bed, and I would like to stop sleeping on the ground.¡±


    Haytham didn¡¯t respond for a long moment and then said, ¡°Very well, I will have to get help, but I will bring thee a new bed within three days. Will this suffice for their debt?¡±


    Kaitlyn tried to hide her shock, she had expected a lot of pushback, but the elf had simply agreed? Who was this youngling that this elf traded so much for her poor healing efforts? Kaitlyn figured she might as well push, ¡°I meant the full bed, a frame, a mattress, at least one pillow and a feather down quilt.¡±


    The elf nodded and said, ¡°This one understands.¡±


    ¡°And any future elves who come through my home should bring a token,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°The value of a pound of uncooked grain. They may sleep out here if they need a place to sleep in warmth and safety, I will offer water and food as well if I have enough to share.¡±


    Haytham thought about this with a tilted head and then nodded and said, ¡°We will agree to these terms. This will be a boon to our patrols during the winter.¡±


    Kaitlyn could hardly contain her excitement until the elves left. After they were gone she went into the house and did a happy dance. Fapallo poked his head in and whistled, ¡°Good?¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the gods yes I am,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I will be able to get everything I need just by letting some elves sleep in my garden and eat my stew. And a bed. Oh Fapallo, a real bed.¡±


    She danced happily and clapped her hands, laughing a little. Fapallo snorted a laugh and she stuck her tongue out at him, ¡°You enjoy sleeping on the roof, but I want a real mattress.¡±


    The whistle Fapallo gave her wasn¡¯t one she knew, but she had a guess it was something mildly mocking. She stuck her tongue out again and set about preparing her evening meal. She had potential income and regular company between the two groups of elves. She paused. The elves did not always get along with each other. She would need to make sure she told them that her land was not a place they could fight. She would not let her new home become a battlefield.


    Haytham returned with six other elves three days later. They brought the pieces for the bed and spent some time building it. They brought two pillows, several bags of feathers they used to stuff a mattress, and a dark blue comforter. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t hide her happiness to see the bed getting hammered together. Haytham smiled at her and bowed, ¡°We will see each other again.¡±

 Chapter 20 Spring Illness

    The winter passed in relative peace. Kaitlyn focused on her studies on those tasks which were consuming for time if not always her mind. Weaving baskets was an excellent way to allow her mind to wander, practicing feeling the threads of her flame spell or the tool spell. When Master Garthis taught her the identification spell and she cast it the first time she felt blinded by all the various spells all over the house. She had to leave to concentrate on her own curse, but she found the script almost illegible.


    She had a few days late in the winter where she ran a low fever. She was doubly grateful for the new bed which was warmer and more comfortable than the mat on the floor had been. Her stew got pretty lean that last day, but just as she was feeling better Master Garthis came for his normal visit.


    He put his hand on her forehead and asked her, ¡°How long have you been sick?¡±


    ¡°Just a few days,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Mostly I¡¯m tired and feverish. My chest hurts a little but I don¡¯t have a cough.¡±


    ¡°Good, I know of a potion which should help you,¡± he said. ¡°Fapallo, I need a fresh deer with at least three points on their left horn.¡±


    Fapallo disappeared. Master Garthis waved his hand and some potatoes began dicing in mid air. He went outside once it was added to the stewpot and when he returned he brought more wood. He sat on the edge of the bed beside her and said, ¡°You could have sent Fapallo to get help, or used the mirror.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not that sick,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Like I said, mostly I¡¯ve just been so tired.¡±


    ¡°But you could have gotten more sick,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°and I would want to know so I could send you help.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaitlyn said sincerely.


    ¡°You are my apprentice,¡± Master Garthis reminded her, ¡°that means I am responsible for your health and well being. Just because you are separated from my normal household, I am still here to help you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you master,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Now rest, I will see to it that you are taken care of for a few days,¡± he said.


    When Kaitlyn woke up the master wizard was brewing a potion, scraping the bone of the antler carefully. She watched, and for a moment her mind drifted and she could sense the waves of magical power in the room as he deftly combined the ingredients.


    He brought her a cup of a liquid the color and consistency of blood. She wrinkled her nose but took a big gulp as quickly as she could. It was thick and oily, but didn¡¯t taste as terrible as she expected. She finished it off and Master Garthis immediately gave her a cup of water. She drank this as well and then lay back in her bed.


    ¡°Have you had many in the way of visitors?¡± the mage asked her.


    ¡°Only three, a silver elf and two of the dark elves,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°But they all seemed quite relieved in the warmth.¡±


    ¡°I am sure,¡± Master Garthis smiled, ¡°You have made this place a nice little haven in the forest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I needed it to be a haven for me,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I miss my family.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I hope you will be able to break this curse as you grow into your powers and then you can go and visit them. You will be a great wizard you know. Wizardess? Magician? Magic Lady? We will have to come up with a good title for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a witch,¡± Kaitlyn smiled.


    ¡°No, you are definitely not a witch,¡± he replied. ¡°I wonder why no other young women come into their magical powers. Arguably, even old witches when they come into their power are more powerful then men who begin learning later in life. I wonder if anyone has ever researched this.¡±


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    Kaitlyn had to smile. Her master wasn¡¯t so much absent minded as he was easily distracted by new ideas. He wanted to know and understand everything he came across and everything new was a mystery he wanted to solve. She hoped as she progressed in her studies she could join in his delight in the pursuit of the knowledge.


    While she was sick, Kaitlyn had a steady stream of visitors she had not previously met. Three brownies rotated daily coming to tend until she told them she was perfect healthy again. Even then, every third day the young Cilvic came and helped her with the cleaning and cooking. She vastly appreciated this, and only knowing that brownies were insulted when they were thanked kept her from effusing thanks on him.


    The visitors from the elves were still infrequent, but they came fairly regularly with the desired small tokens. The flour, sugar, thread, or cloth was very appreciated. As the winter began to wane from the forest outside her hut, Kaitlyn worried the loss of this income, for lack of a better term, would be difficult on her.


    It was early spring the day of the event. Kaitlyn was working in the garden in the back when she heard the small bell one of the silver elves had brought her. She had hung it near the well so they could let her know when they arrived. She brushed off her hands and came around front.


    Hyacinth had arrived, and carried with her a buck twice the size of a normal deer and with bright gold-looking horns. She dropped the animal on the ground and said, ¡°Forgive me, I needed a place to rest. This hind has been terrorizing our scouts so I had to come and hunt it.¡±


    ¡°No, I am glad to see you,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°How on earth were you able to carry that by yourself?¡±


    ¡°Silver elves each have about twice the strength of a normal human,¡± the elven woman said, clearly not even boasting. Kaitlyn wouldn¡¯t have argued even if the elf had said three times, the hind was a massive creature.


    ¡°I do not have the requisite gift, can I offer you some of this hind instead?¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Fapallo doesn¡¯t usually bring me much in the way of deer, they are too lean this time of year.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I must go use your outhouse now,¡± Hyacinth stood and walked around the house.


    Kaitlyn got the tea things and began making tea when she saw a shadow moving just at the edge of her clearing. A dark elf came into the yard cautiously until he saw the hind was already dead. He relaxed a little and said, ¡°I come bearing the gift¡­¡±


    ¡°AIYEEE!¡± Hyacinth almost roared from behind Kaitlyn and launched from the side of the house towards the dark elf.


    Kaitlyn reacted almost without thinking, wrapping vines of magic around the silver elf. Plants burst up and entangled her at Kaitlyn¡¯s command. The dark elf was drawing his bow. Kaitlyn glared and more vines entrapped him as well. She marched to stand between them and commanded the vines to turn their heads to her.


    Almost encased in vines, both stared at her. She didn¡¯t realize it, but her arms were glowing brightly and her silver hair was drawing in the light until it glowed as well. When she spoke, the magic escaped her lips like wisps of smoke.


    ¡°This is my land and it is safe,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°None will bring their fight here. My home is a safe place for all.¡±


    There was a deep grumbling noise and all three noticed the land had darkened until it was roiling in black smoke. Kaitlyn cast the identification spell she had learned and looked at her house.


    Instead of glowing with many spells, only one dominated and it looked like a giant mouth. The house opened its mouth and the vines began to slowly move towards that mouth. Kaitlyn glared, furious that the house would still think she would kill to feed it greater magic.


    She gathered her magic and commanded the vines back. It was like tugging a horse up the side of a cliff, but she fought. She felt her own magic blazing as she kept her house from eating the elves. She walked carefully until she could put her hands on the doorframe.


    Master Garthis had mentioned taking ¡°apart¡± a spell or a curse, but had told Kaitlyn she wasn¡¯t ready for the details. She could tell however, she didn¡¯t have a lot of time to learn. She commanded the vines to release the elves as she leaned her head inside the house.


    The inside of the house was dark, the corners no longer right angles but twists in reality. She didn¡¯t know the right way to stop this.


    ¡°This is mine,¡± she growled. For the first time since she had been cursed she felt¡­ this was her home. She wanted to see her bed in the corner and the awful basket she had made which she knew today had spring leeks and potatoes in it. This was HER house. Not that old witch that had eaten children.


    She stepped into the room, feeling the malice and anger around her. She had been feeding this house magic for almost a year. She had been giving it love and attention it had never experienced. How dare it defy her.


    She felt for a magical strand and yelped slightly as it felt like thorns and slime. She took a deep breath and reached again for that thread. She would need to find the spell which wanted to eat people and take it apart.


    ¡°Like unweaving a basket,¡± she muttered. ¡°I want this house, just not this filth.¡±

 Chapter 21 Stop Eating People

    Following a thread of magic was not a simple thing. Especially not one which kept attacking her until she was sure she was bleeding to death. Mentally, she grew exhausted. She wanted to let go. She wanted to rest. She knew either would be fatal now.


    The house fought her. The house tried to trap her as she moved along the thread of magic. It tried to turn the thread invisible. But Kaitlyn also was learning about the witch who cast the spell.


    The spell was thick with writing. The witch wrote of centuries of living. Eating the hearts and souls of children to stay young. There was a recipe for a potion, though not what the potion did. It called for the hoof trimmings from a unicorn with ¡°hair of death.¡± Kaitlyn sank to her knees when she saw that, and shivered for a long time.


    The house seemed full of corridors as she followed the thread. She would have sworn she walked miles. Her eyes unfocused on the house but seeing a large ballroom, or a greenhouse of broken glass, bedrooms upon bedrooms with beds both massive and humble. She stumbled when she would have sworn she walked right through a fireplace larger than she stood tall, the roar of the fire burning her skin.


    The witch had grand plans, but not the power to fulfill them. Kaitlyn wondered how she ended up mired here in the forest with the kind of power she had once possessed to create this curse.


    ¡°Of course she thought this place was actually a palace and she some kind of queen,¡± Kaitlyn muttered darkly. ¡°Dirty, awful worm of a woman. Telling the house to eat people to grow in power¡­. disgusting.¡±


    Kaitlyn would swear later she had to step over corpses more than once. Her legs trembled from the exertion as she climbed what felt like flights and flights of stairs.


    She stumbled and stopped when she found something like a knot in the thread, two ways to go. Reading the threads carefully, she saw one tied to the house itself, the other led to a darkness. Kaitlyn held the knot in both hands and considered everything she had been taught.


    Magic had to have sources. This house had a curse which was tied to it and to something else. That something else was written in a language Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t understand, the characters swirling and pulsing against the thread. The house¡¯s thread was short and frayed.


    The house growled audibly around her. She could almost hear the spell telling her it wanted to eat people. She couldn¡¯t let it do that. She could feel through the magic that she had to stop the house or it would eat everyone. It might even eat her.


    The house had been dying when she came here. As she fed it magic, she had somehow been strengthening this knot. She blinked when she saw a thread from herself to the frayed house. Everything fed into this knot. But she didn¡¯t know what to do with it.


    If she cut the frayed end of the house, would it all collapse? Would she be left screaming in pain from the curse the unicorn had put on her? If she cut that dark thread¡­ actually she didn¡¯t care much about that one. If that was the cost to get that out of her house, she would just have to pay it. That thread¡­ whatever it was¡­ was evil.


    She had no doubts what she wanted, but she didn¡¯t know how to accomplish it. She finally decided to take a simple and direct approach to this particular problem. It was a thread. She just needed to cut it away.


    She cast a pair of scissors and snipped that dark thread instantly. She didn¡¯t understand it, but she knew she did not want it on her house a moment longer. There was a scream, almost a howl as the thread disappeared away from the knot. Kaitlyn now could look more closely at the remaining two threads.


    She almost laughed at how simple this knot was. She didn¡¯t know what would happen if she untied it though. She carefully held it in her hand and touched the thread she had followed here, the curse which allowed the house to absorb power by eating people. She began working apart the knot.


    The last of the dark strand fell to the floor and singed Kaitlyn¡¯s left foot, but she was so engrossed in the feel of the magic of the knot she barely noticed. Pain had been building across her entire body. Her hands were bleeding, but she didn¡¯t notice. She began gasping for breaths with her pain. Still her fingers pulled at the threads.


    When the curse came loose it was like Kaitlyn was struck. She went flying and crashed against the wall. Part of the roof collapsed in and the entire house tilted to one side. Kaitlyn sat, her hands bleeding on her lap and staring up at the sky.


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    ¡°How many times am I going to feel like this?¡± she muttered as she eyes fluttered closed.


    When Kaitlyn awoke, Master Garthis, Hyacinth, Haytham, Javorora, and Cilvic were all in the room. She looked again and saw Fapallo acting as a seat for Javorora and Cilvic, his head practically hidden by Kaitlyn¡¯s bed. She groaned and everyone looked at her.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Javorora nearly jumped on the bed. Fapallo¡¯s head appeared beside Kaitlyn¡¯s shoulder as he looked at her and whistled a happy little phrase Kaitlyn wasn¡¯t sure translated well but came to something like, ¡°You bring light to my darkness.¡±


    ¡°How¡­¡± Kaitlyn found her voice croaked when she tried to speak.


    ¡°Four days,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°You nearly drained your own magic completely, and when combined with the shock of the pain from your own curse¡­ Javorora may have worked a minor miracle keeping you alive.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at the little dryad and whispered, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Javorora sobbed and threw her arms around Kaitlyn¡¯s neck. Kaitlyn lifted an arm, heavy in bandages, and tried to hug her friend. Javorora weapt against her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t do this to me! I couldn¡¯t bear to lose you again!¡±


    Master Garthis gave the dryad a minute and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s help her sit up Javorora, we have more news for her and I want to let her eat a little.¡±


    Hyacinth stepped forward when Kaitlyn was propped up and said, ¡°I owe you an apology Lady Kaitlyn. I abused your hospitality by attacking a guest on your lands. I will pay you recompense for that breach in your trust.¡±


    Haytham stepped forward and said, ¡°I was sent and we have negotiated with Master Garthis, who stood on thine behalf. Thine home and three miles in each direction shall be considered your lands and neutral within the forest. With thine permission, we shall plant something to denote the zone to all creatures and spread this news through the forest.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Kaitlyn looked at Master Garthis.


    ¡°You were unconscious, I thought it best if I negotiated on your behalf,¡± her master said.


    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I was hoping you could tell me,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Mistress Hyacinth said you stepped into the doorway of the house and were swallowed by darkness, the house itself shrouded. When I arrived you were unconscious and bleeding from the wounds on your arms again.¡±


    Kaitlyn glanced at her bandaged arms. Hyacinth said, ¡°There were awful noises too. Like a terrible beast growling and prowling through the house.¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t much ¡®through¡¯ this house,¡± Javorora commented, ¡°though I would swear this room is bigger now.¡±


    Master Garthis looked at the dryad and said, ¡°I am not sure you are the best judge of size of rooms, yours change on command.¡±


    Javorora shrugged and returned to the table where she clearly was using some of Kaitlyn¡¯s reeds to weave a basket. Kaitlyn looked at her little friend and couldn¡¯t help but agree a little. How else would a ten-foot dragon kin, two elves, two humans, a brownie and a dryad all fit? Somehow there were also two new chairs in the room and a small table next to her bed.


    ¡°I think¡­¡± Kaitlyn tried to sift through her memories of what happened, ¡°the witch tied something to the house. A curse or a spell and it allowed the house to¡­ eat people to get more magic. It wanted to eat Hyacinth and the dark elf.¡±


    Haytham frowned and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The witch who used to live here put a lot of spells on this house,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°So many and so layered they are extremely hard to even begin to identify. How could you identify this spell?¡±


    ¡°It basically used all the magic I¡¯ve been given the house for the past year,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I think. It¡¯s kind of a guess. There was also an evil thread in the spell, I didn¡¯t follow that one I just cut it off. I didn¡¯t want it anywhere near me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, a what?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    ¡°Evil,¡± Javorora piped up, ¡°she said it was evil.¡±


    ¡°There is no such thing as an evil threads of magic,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°there are evil outcomes and evil intentions, but the magic itself is not evil.¡±


    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t reply instantly, but then said, ¡°This one looked pretty evil to me.¡±


    ¡°Go on, so you cut this so-called evil magic,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°Then I untied the spell to eat people from the house,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I think it¡­. something blew up?¡±


    ¡°It sounded like it from outside,¡± Hyacinth said. ¡°and then most of the roof collapsed. I thought you dead when I found you, but you were just bleeding all over the place and then this dryad showed up and kind of took over. A few hours after you collapsed, the roof rebuilt itself.¡±


    ¡°I think the house took the rabbits,¡± Javorora said softly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t find them.¡±


    ¡°The house couldn¡¯t have taken the rabbits¡¯ minute magic without that spell which Kaitlyn untied,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°unless the witch had that spell duplicated for some reason, but I can¡¯t see why she would do that. I suspect they escaped when the roof collapsed.¡±


    Kaitlyn touched her stomach and winced, yes she had more injuries. She sighed and said, ¡°So what is this¡­ deal that got negotiated.¡±


    ¡°Cilvic is coming here to stay,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°he will help you take care of any elves who come through. Your hut and three miles in every direction is a declared neutral territory which each side agrees they will defend from any who attempt to break your neutrality. In turn, you will allow them to meet under your patronage protection if they need to negotiate further. Which they do. Regularly. Their war is ongoing and consistently needs to negotiate the release of prisoners.¡±


    Both elves glared at the other and Kaitlyn nodded. She then said, ¡°And¡­?¡±


    ¡°That is all, you are neutral territory and they will continue to pay to use your land for any rest and recuperation,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°Thank you master,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe your master is Master Garthis,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°I was also intrigued when he arrived,¡± Haytham said, ¡°I do not believe thee told me that.¡±


    ¡°Should I have told you?¡± Kaitlyn looked surprised. ¡°Does it matter?¡±


    ¡°Of course it does, his father is king of the autumn fae court,¡± Javorora said from the side.

 Chapter 22 Finding the Cellar

    Kaitlyn was so glad when everyone left. She needed time to process what Javorora had said, which apparently everyone else had known. Did that make Master Garthis a prince? Over the next few days and she recovered, Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t help but mull over this. What would a prince want with her? Maybe since his mother wasn¡¯t fae he was considered a bastard, unrecognized by his father.


    By the time she was hobbling around, she had decided he just was a bastard or some other kind of child a king couldn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t recognized. Cilvic took over much of her gardening duties. She had no idea where he was sleeping, in the evening he seemed to just disappear as she began to get ready for bed.


    When Cilvic brought in his first real harvest of leek and potatoes she began picking out one of the crates she had used over the winter. Cilvic said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I just put them in the cellar?¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t a cellar,¡± Kaitlyn replied.


    ¡°Yes there is,¡± Cilvic said. He moved over to a spot almost in the center of the room and tapped the floor. It rang hollow. Kaitlyn¡¯s eyes went wide and she said, ¡°I had no idea.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure the entrance is under the loom,¡± Cilvic said, ¡°I suspect you moved it the least when you cleaned everything.¡±


    ¡°That is true,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°it¡¯s too heavy to move easily. I mostly worked around it.¡±


    She stepped outside and called Fapallo with a questioning chirp. He trotted over and she spoke in common, ¡°Can you help us move the loom? We think we found a cellar.¡±


    Fapallo entered and walked over to the loom. He finally lay on the floor and began to carefully edge forward, looking almost like a massive dog on the floor. Kaitlyn put her hands up at the top of the loom as it began to wobble away from its spot towards the center of the room.


    Once they had moved they looked over the spot it had stood on carefully and sure enough, there was a well made trap door, even the handle blending into the floor. Kaitlyn pulled it open and Cilvic held up a hand, ¡°I should go first, I can do a short teleport if there¡¯s anything dangerous down here.¡±


    Fapallo growled a ¡°No.¡± and then whistled, ¡°I go. I am guard. It is mine.¡±


    Kaitlyn put her hands on her hips and said, ¡°I will send down my flame spell first, make sure the air is healthy.¡±


    Both looked at her in surprised and Cilvic said, ¡°How would it not be?¡±


    ¡°Gods only know what might have been rotting down there to foul the air,¡± Kaitlyn explained. ¡°It might need me to burn everything anyway. Scoot over Fapallo, I want you beside me while I do this because your eyes are better than mine.¡±


    Fapallo stuck his head down the hole while laying on the floor while Kaitlyn sent her flame into the cellar. There wasn¡¯t anything she could smell, and she expected Fapallo to warn her if he smelled anything. Her flame stayed bright and red, flickering slighting in what might be a breeze as it shifted down. The ladder had long since collapsed, the molding remains laying on the floor. Kaitlyn would need to build a new one.


    What they could see, the cellar was deep and dry. It went across the entirety of the house with several stone pillars to support the floor of the house. Fapallo hopped down after a moment and Cilvic followed, ¡°You might have to help me out again big fella.¡±


    Fapallo chirped a response, but Kaitlyn had no idea what it meant. The two of them disappeared and Cilvic called up, ¡°We found some lamps! This place is perfect ya know.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at the loom in the middle of the room and said, ¡°Except I have no idea where to put you now.¡±


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    Cilvic clung to Fapallo¡¯s back while he climbed up from the cellar. Kaitlyn asked, ¡°How deep is it? How long does the ladder need to be?¡±


    Fapallo tapped his nose and then flicked his tail twice. She said, ¡°Twice your height? That¡¯s huge.¡±


    Cilvic nodded and said, ¡°It is a beautiful cellar. It will be cool all summer. You could make the most amazing wines down here. Or mead if we had honey.¡±


    ¡°I did see plenty of bees last year¡­ what if we built some hives for them to come to the garden? Do you think we could get some honey?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Certainly, do you know how to make a hive?¡± Cilvic said.


    ¡°Not precisely, but I know how to find out,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I would also like to make a table and some benches for the front yard, when the elves come they have to sit on the ground and¡­. well I¡¯d like to improve that experience.¡±


    ¡°Now, a table I can make,¡± Cilvic said, ¡°I¡¯m not artist, but I know how to put together simple furniture.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Tell me what you need as far as tools.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± Cilvic grinned.


    Kaitlyn spent that day searching for the perfect trees to make into her ladder. She didn¡¯t need big trees, she needed two trees about the width around of her thigh. Fapallo went with her and they practices her dragon language. They worked on whatever new words they could find as they walked. She already knew ¡°tree¡± but she learned ¡°rock¡± and ¡°flowing water¡± during their rock with the variations for stream, river, and even waterfall. She found several trees which could work, and finally selected the first one to work on.


    She cut down the tree nervously. She had not forgotten Master Garthis¡¯s warning about cutting trees, but she needed this one. She then trimmed off all the branches from the section she needed, the base until almost twenty feet up. She then used some rope to tie the tree. Fapallo then took the rope from her and began dragging the log back towards her hut.


    By this time Kaitlyn was shaking, pain creeping up her arms both from the effort and from her curse. It was all she could do to follow Fapallo and could stumble towards home. When they arrived, she stripped her clothes and used her fire spell to heat water in the bucket for a quick little bath.


    Cilvic was already working on debarking the log, with a magical efficiency Kaitlyn had to admire. She was trying not to directly stare, but kept watching out of the side of her eye. Fapallo came over and whistled, ¡°I go hunting now.¡±


    ¡°Good hunt friend,¡± Kaitlyn replied, distracted from her attempt to look at Cilvic working. As she looked back, thinking about the dragon language for another moment, she saw the threads of magic Cilvic was using the lash the log.


    It was only a moment, and Kaitlyn gasped in surprise and then it was gone. Fapallo stopped and chirped, ¡°You ok?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she responded in dragon, almost not thinking, ¡°Good hunt friend.¡±


    She tried for the next hour to recreate or recapture the glimpse of magic she had seen. She ground her teeth, got a crackling headache on top of her other pains, and by the time it grew dark she was no closer to figuring out what had allowed her to see it for that moment in time.


    When Fapallo returned she was still outside, laying on the grass in the yard and staring up at the stars. She had eaten with Cilvic and come back outside. She had told the brownie she just needed to be alone, but that wasn¡¯t true. She hurt and somehow the idea of being in a house that used to eat people was the only way to end the hurt¡­ today it was the last thing she wanted. The stars above her were beautiful and she found herself dozing on the yard. When she woke up and made her way to her bed, dew was on the ground.


    When she woke up again, she ate breakfast and went with Fapallo to get another tree. She was excited when she found one pretty close to the hut. They repeated the process to cut down the tree and then strip the branches. Today, since it was closer Kaitlyn gathered the larger branches as well to take home.


    Cilvic had the first log completed debarked and had drilled holes about two and a half hands apart. He immediately set to work on the second log they brought in. While Cilvic worked on the ladder, Kaitlyn started kneading some bread to go with her day¡¯s stew.


    Cilvic had the ladder finished soon. Kaitlyn admired the ladder and said, ¡°If we brought two more logs, could we make one so I could get on the roof?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Cilvic said. ¡°A good ladder is always useful to have around.¡±


    The ladder itself turned out beautifully. Like a magical artist had created it. The two primary logs had been debarked and smoothed, then holes drilled at regular intervals. Cilvic had somehow created perfectly evenly sized bars which then slid through the holes on the primary logs. On the outside Cilvic had used wooden pegs to prevent these bars from sliding back again.


    Kaitlyn and Cilvic maneuvered it into the house and down into the cellar with relative ease. Fapallo then offered to help, taking crates of vegetables from Kaitlyn at the top while Cilvic delved into the dark space to organize. Kaitlyn delighted in the extra space and got Fapallo to help her move the loom to the side of the room.


    She stood with her hands on her hips, smiling happily to find the house did have the cold cellar she had always hoped for. She tapped her foot and wondered how she had never realized before the hollow echo.

 Chapter 23 Girl Talk

    Javorora and Hyacinth sat with Kaitlyn in the front garden, the new round table and four chairs giving them a place to sit together and have tea. Kaitlyn smiled at them, thinking to herself about the strange place her life had brought her. A year ago she had sat and had tea with other young women she had grown up with. Many looked much like her with similar hair, clothes, and expectations for their lives.


    Now next to her sat Javorora, a dryad woman who looked like her maple tree and across from Kaitlyn sat a princess of the Silver Elves, Hyacinth. Javorora had found out the truth of the young woman¡¯s identity and next time Hyacinth came to the hut she called it out. As only Javorora could with all the blunt and tact of a mallet to the head. These two were incredible. The dryad came several times a week, not quite daily, and when Hyacinth came as well all three spent time chatting.


    So Kaitlyn had done the only thing she knew to do and brought out her tea things and made chamomile mint tea. Thankfully, both of those plants grew like weeds. She had recently transplanted some mint to the front yard for both the pretty little flowers and the lovely smell.


    The bees also loved the blooming mint, and Cilvic was delighted with the bees he had managed to attract. Kaitlyn was excited to add honey as a sweetener to her diet. Right now she had some wild bee honey in a jar on the table with a stick balanced on it. She almost giggled happily to see the simple thing on her table which made her feel more civilized.


    ¡°So, why on earth are you the one coming out on patrol so often?¡± Javorora asked Hyacinth. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be ruling your people or some such.¡±


    Hyacinth rolled her eyes and said, ¡°My mother was very young when she had me, I probably have decades, if not a century or more before she even considers abdicating to me. She also has some wish that my younger sister was her heir. I am apparently¡­. not ambitious enough for her.¡±


    ¡°Not ambitious?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Oh I do terrible things like strike deals with the son of the autumn king,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°and come have tea with a human witch. And I am the greatest hunter of our people but not a warrior. All the failings which only a princess can brag of.¡±


    Javorora snorted and said, ¡°And yet, here you are still courting your mother¡¯s displeasure. Are you sure she won¡¯t just kill you?¡±


    Kaitlyn gasped in shock and the silver elf looked at Kaitlyn with an almost pitying look. She then turned to Javorora and said, ¡°I have enough allies in court that she doesn¡¯t dare. My father is the royal master of the council, and my brother is one of the lifestall¡¯s guard.¡±


    ¡°Your mother would kill you?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Only if she thought I plotted true rebellion I think,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°she is afraid enough of my friends and family that she can¡¯t. But she has made her displeasure clear and being away from court and out of her way helps us maintain the peace between us.¡±


    ¡°I have known mothers and daughters to argue, but never plot to kill each other,¡± Kaitlyn muttered.


    ¡°In your village there are not a million lives on the line when they do,¡± Hyacinth said with her usual bluntness.


    ¡°True, at best the happiness of a few are on the line,¡± Javorora nodded. ¡°This is why dryads send our daughters out into the world with encouragement for a daughter to travel far before she finds herself a tree. I traveled for three months without stopping before I bonded.¡±


    ¡°You did not stop at all?¡± Hyacinth raised an eyebrow.


    Javorora rolled her eyes and said, ¡°I only stopped for sleep and food. I traveled every day for three month, better?¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you for clarifying,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°I will say this, as a scout I believe I have learned more how the outsiders communicate than my mother ever has. I don¡¯t believe she has ever left the birch trees and these times when foreigners speak untruths are very difficult for her.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes we aren¡¯t telling an outright untruth,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°like what Javorora just did. She left out a detail that neither added nor clarified her story significantly. Yes, if she could travel without rest or food for three months that would be impressive. Or terrifying. I can¡¯t decide which.¡±


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    ¡°I would take terrifying,¡± the three-foot tall woman said with a prim smirk.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you would,¡± Kaitlyn said. She turned back to Hyacinth, ¡°but that detail would change only the most minor of details of the story. Some distance and some knowledge of her skills. It would be a lie if she tried to claim she could travel like that, but since we both know that is not something she is capable of, leaving it out becomes irrelevant. Does that make sense?¡±


    Hyacinth thought about it and then nodded, ¡°I think I understand. Those truths which are accepted between you do not need to be repeated.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°You are so patient,¡± Javorora rolled her eyes a little, ¡°they are just stuck up about these things.¡±


    ¡°We do not lie to one another,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°we can¡¯t lie to our queen or when we stand on birch leaves, which we use liberally in our council halls.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you lie to your queen?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Hyacinth said. ¡°I think it is a power of the crown. My mother never takes it off. At least, I have never seen her without it on her head. Some of my earliest memories are of that crown, the way it glitters.¡±


    ¡°Is it true it¡¯s made of starlight?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that either,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°I would believe it if I was told that by our priests though. It is beautiful enough.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could see it,¡± Kaitlyn sighed.


    ¡°Come to court with me some time,¡± Hyacinth said. ¡°You can come as my guest and shock my mother.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°we do not kill humans on sight you know.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Kaitlyn murmured. She looked at Javorora, and the dryad shrugged back to her silent question. Kaitlyn decided to take the chance.


    She held up her hands, showing the horrible red scars which wove around her skin like crocheted silk webs. She said, ¡°I was cursed by a black unicorn. The house¡­ it has ancient spells on it by a previous witch which allows it to keep me alive. If I leave for too long¡­ the pain is crippling. I am as much a prisoner here as anything.¡±


    Hyacinth frowned and said, ¡°This is why your master comes to you instead of your living with him. I thought it some kind of test he was having you live in this wretched cursed house.¡±


    ¡°The house may be keeping me alive,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I have heard of unicorns with darkened hair,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°but you said black.¡±


    ¡°And I meant black,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I was already quite weak and frightened when it found me, but I did not see any white hairs on it at all.¡±


    ¡°Why did it curse you? Is it evil?¡± Hyacinth asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Javorora said quickly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that,¡± Kaitlyn interjected. ¡°My finance used me to lure a unicorn to kill it. The black unicorn hunted and killed everyone else in the party. It told me it spared my life because I was an unwilling participant, but that I must still be punished.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t fair,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°There is no justice if you were being used against your will.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and said, ¡°I agree. Believe me, I already feel guilty that I believe Claus loved me and ended up being just¡­ a pawn. A stupid gullible girl. And an innocent, beautiful creature paid the price.¡±


    Javorora frowned and then said, ¡°Hyacinth, if you say you think she was innocent, we know you are telling the truth. Can you convince her that she is NOT at fault?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°our priests teach us that the sense of guilt sometimes is the gods¡¯ way of confirming that there is a guilt. And guilt by lack of knowledge or understanding is still a type of guilt. If I try to hunt and strike a deer, but I do not have the skill to stalk them and end their suffering, my lack of knowledge does not stop the deer from suffering. Possibly even longer.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes your whole honesty to a fault thing is annoying,¡± Javorora said.


    Hyacinth smirked and said, ¡°Would you prefer the lie?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Javorora replied.


    ¡°No,¡± Kaitlyn said quietly, ¡°thank you Hyacinth. I think you might be right. All I can really say is that I have learned so much since I left home. Claus was part of that.¡±


    ¡°I for one am glad you are here,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°and I shall seek a way to allow you to come to my mother¡¯s court so you can see how beautiful it is.¡±


    ¡°I will look forward to that,¡± Javorora said, ¡°because I can¡¯t wait to put this one into a silk dress.¡±


    ¡°Silk? Why would I ever wear silk?¡± Kaitlyn asked, ¡°My father had some silk in his shop once and it was ridiculously fragile.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t when it¡¯s well made,¡± Javorora said, ¡°besides, it¡¯s beautiful. And you would look amazing in something¡­. green I think.¡±


    ¡°You like everything in green,¡± Kaitlyn laughed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Javorora said, ¡°it is the color of life and joy and everything good.¡±


    ¡°When you come to my mother¡¯s court I will see to it you have a gown of green silk,¡± Hyacinth said with a laugh as well, ¡°and I think you should be in something like a rose just before it blooms, soft and pink and rosy. So two gowns then. And we shall see which my mother hates more, which we will agree is the better color.¡±


    Kaitlyn laughed at the idea, assuming this was the fun of young women talking over tea. Because surely a tailor¡¯s daughter, even one apprenticed to the bastard son of the king of the autumn fae, could never be at a royal court and even be noticed. It was a fun fantasy, but not one she would ever indulge in when she was alone.

 Chapter 24 Selling to Satyrs

    Cilvic convinced Master Garthis to help take down several trees behind the hut late in the spring. Two were diseased and risked falling on the house. By clearing out four other large trees, the wizard opened up a pretty little space which Cilvic quickly planted with seeds which had been brought by the elves over the course of the spring. Kaitlyn worried it was too late for a good planting, but Cilvic reminded her that she made an oasis, and if this space only needed stones to stay warm an extra few weeks it wouldn¡¯t be an extreme drain on her magical energies.


    In return he was able to plant about half an acre of land with beets, cauliflowers, cabbage, and wheat. Kaitlyn thought the wheat a fanciful addition. There wasn¡¯t enough land to plant much wheat, but Cilvic insisted he plant every seed they had on hand. As she watched the little plants sprout and begin to grow, she grew more and more excited for the harvest to come.


    She made a better broom and gathered all the nettles she could in the surrounding rivers and streams. She could use magic to scutch and hackle like she was carding wool. As her magic was growing, she found she could maintain these tools the entire day, softening the nettles to the point they felt more like cotton or linen.


    Cooking was another thing she loved. She had always enjoyed cooking, but now that she regularly had the scouts of the dark elves and silver elves, she spent time trying to improve her recipes. When Haytham brought her a sack of salt, she was able to take her food to a new height of flavor.


    It was nearly midsummer when she had new guests. The troop of six creatures tromped into the clearing and stopped, immediately dropping their packs on the ground and claiming the seats of the table. Kaitlyn came out the front door and stopped, blinking.


    Satyrs were creatures of myth and legend to her, she knew them by sight because they matched the description. Each stood taller than her by several inches, their top halves human and their legs shaped like goat¡¯s legs. She had not known before their faces also had a goat-like shape, with broad noses which pushed their eyes further apart. Their eyes had pupils more like goats as well.


    There were four with dark fur on their legs and one with a pale honey colored hair and the last was mottled black and white. They wore something like a pair of short pants to cover their groins and two wore shirts to cover large breasts while the other four only wore straps of leather.


    ¡°Do you have ale?¡± one asked.


    ¡°I am sorry, I don¡¯t,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I can offer you teas of various brews and stew, some biscuits and honey.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have ale?¡± one of the females asked, her honey-colored hair being tossed over her shoulder with a bit of a disdainful sniff.


    Kaitlyn gestured the forest and said, ¡°I don¡¯t exactly have a large farm nearby which can grow enough barley for me.¡±


    ¡°We grow barely,¡± the mottled man said. ¡°We will sell it to you.¡±


    Kaitlyn blinked. Barley for ale and bread and all the delicious things she could come up with? She grinned and said, ¡°I do not have much in the way of trade¡­¡±


    ¡°The elves warned us you are just building your customer base,¡± the mottled satyr said. ¡°This tavern will be a gods blessing for this forest.¡±


    ¡°Tavern,¡± Kaitlyn murmured the word in awe.


    ¡°Well, bring us your best and we will haggle,¡± the mottled satyr said.


    Kaitlyn brought out her tea things and made her favorite mint and licorice tea. The biscuits and honey basically disappeared and the satyrs praised the tea calmly. Kaitlyn wished fervently Javorora or Master Garthis was present, she had little idea how to negotiate this deal.


    Cilvic came around the house while they were eating the first batch of biscuits and honey. The brownie took one look and said, ¡°Mistress, I need your magic to assist me. Can you give me a saw this long with hooked tines?¡±


    His hands held out almost three feet long. Kaitlyn didn¡¯t even question it, but wove the tool. Cilvic asked for a few adjustments to the tines and then handle and then said, ¡°Thank you mistress. I will return to my assigned tasks.¡±


    Kaitlyn watched him, trying to keep her confusion hidden because he didn¡¯t have assigned tasks. He got to make his own list of tasks and Kaitlyn was delighted she didn¡¯t have to micromanage his time or attention. She turned back to her guests and immediately sensed them watching her with a different expression. She wished desperately that she could read their expressions better, but their strange eyes and unusual features made her feel quite lost.


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    She considered this, brownies usually did not work openly. Brownies preferred to be invisible servants, delighting in confusing their patron homes with chores being completed invisibly. The tool he had requested had also been very strange and detailed. She had no clue what he could possibly be using it for.


    Only a few minutes later he returned and said, ¡°Forgive me mistress for interrupting again. I¡¯m trying to complete this task, but I need two more shovels.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at him as she wove the shovels and he cleared his throat and said, ¡°Ah, mistress could you make this one long and thin?¡±


    She adjusted the shovel¡¯s head and then said to the satyrs, ¡°Excuse me for a moment. Allow me to go with Cilvic and check on his work.¡±


    She followed him around the house and spoke in a low tone, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    He looked at her and said, ¡°They should fear you Kaitlyn. You are a powerful witch and they are treating you like a child. Make a show of your power. Call in Fapallo. He will help impress on them that you are not to be trifled with. If they do not treat you with more respect I will call for Linnmell to come for a visit and you will make her a bucket of tea.¡±


    Kaitlyn tilted her head and asked, ¡°Are they dangerous? They don¡¯t look like they are.¡±


    ¡°Yes, satyrs raid for human women regularly,¡± the brownie said. ¡°These are more peaceful than most, but you need to show them you have power to defend yourself.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and returned to the front. She said, ¡°I apologize, good servants need management you know.¡±


    ¡°Do you have many?¡± the mottled satyr asked.


    ¡°Never enough for all that needs to be done,¡± Kaitlyn said. She then turned and used a fairly new spell she had learned to amplify a sound. She whistled Fapallo¡¯s dragonic name with, ¡°Please come home.¡±


    ¡°Could we have more biscuits and honey?¡± one of the dark-haired satyrs asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I do not have more biscuits on hand, but I will have them completed shortly.¡±


    She waved open the door and made sure the magical forced stirring, cutting, and preparing biscuits with her mind were occasionally visible. Just as she was finishing and sent the biscuits to her baking pan, Fapallo winged in. Kaitlyn stood with a smile and said, ¡°Ah, my lovely.¡±


    She then whistled and chirped in dragon language, ¡°Were you able to eat?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Fapallo said, fluffing his feathers as he looked down his nose at the satyrs. Kaitlyn came over and patted his neck and looked at the alarmed satyrs.


    ¡°Oh, forgive me, this is my familiar,¡± Kaitlyn said, coming up with the idea of the spot. She was a little surprised when she felt the pleased rumble under hand. She then added, ¡°I believe you were offering me some barley?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe we could deliver a hundred pounds of barely this autumn,¡± the satyr said.


    Kaitlyn pursed her lips and said, ¡°I would need at least three hundred pounds in order to begin making ale.¡±


    ¡°And how will you pay for that much barley?¡± the mottled satyr said.


    Kaitlyn considered this. Fapallo whistled softly, ¡°Coin. 10 Gold for grass.¡±


    She had to smile and said to Fapallo in common, ¡°I am not buying grass. Barley is somewhat better than grass for food.¡±


    Fapallo snorted and she shook her head, ¡°He does not like this plan, but I will offer you 10 gold for the three hundred pounds.¡±


    ¡°Ten, we grow the best barley you can purchase,¡± the mottled satyr said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°every merchant says their wares are the best. Until I see the wares myself I can not simply accept that as golden truth. Now, if you bring a silver elf with you next time and they will repeat that claim I would believe them.¡±


    ¡°Silver elves will not deal with us,¡± the blonde satyr grumbled.


    Kaitlyn blinked and said, ¡°Interesting. They are some of my most valued customers. They stay here on their rounds and they negotiated their treaty with the dark elves on this very spot.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s true they have made a treaty,¡± the mottled satyr said. Kaitlyn watched the rippled of movement in the others and knew she had just found something important.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°they have agreed my land is neutral territory and they meet here so they can avoid fighting.¡±


    ¡°They meet here?¡± the blonde satyr scoffed.


    ¡°Yes, Hyacinth and I had tea just a few weeks ago and discussed my visiting court with her at some point,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°This is impossible, Princess Hyacinth would never¡­!¡± one of the darker satyrs rose threateningly and Fapallo instantly growled fiercely. The mottled satyr slashed an arm down and said, ¡°No! Zrah sit down.¡±


    The dark satyr sat again, glowering now. Kaitlyn said, ¡°Ten gold for the barley and you may also participate in the neutrality of my land to meet with those you would otherwise never get to deal with. I will not even ask for a percentage of any trades you negotiate because of this benefit.¡±


    The mottled satyr considered and then said, ¡°Fifteen gold.¡±


    ¡°Twelve.¡±


    ¡°Done.¡±


    Kaitlyn held out her hand and the satyr shook it firmly. She then brought out the next batch of biscuits and said, ¡°By the way, tea and biscuits are a copper a person. Since this was your first visit, it will be gratis, but in future please be prepared.¡±


    ¡°What of that stew we smell?¡± one of the dark satyrs asked.


    ¡°A half copper a bowl,¡± she said. ¡°And a copper for two bowls and a biscuit.¡±


    ¡°Done!¡± they each said and soon produced coin.


    Cilvic seemed to appear in the hut with more bowls, beautifully crafted of smooth wood. Kaitlyn brought out the bowls and said, ¡°I hope you enjoy.¡±


    Back inside the hut she looked and Cilvic and said, ¡°How the hell am I going to get fifteen gold coins by autumn?¡±


    ¡°Nothing easier,¡± the brownie said, ¡°You sell a lot of stew.¡±

 Chapter 25 Its a Tavern Now

    Kaitlyn didn¡¯t know whether Cilvic sent out some kind of word, but suddenly her tables in the yard had people every day. Cilvic set to work making awnings so they were shaded on sunny days and protected from the rain. Javorora came almost daily for the summer and delighted in talking to and meeting the various creatures that came to Kaitlyn¡¯s tavern.


    All three elven kind now came, satyrs were not quite daily, and when a family of dwarves stopped by Kaitlyn sat down with them. She needed some metal and once again set to haggling. After agreeing to pay them her first five gold, they agreed to install the still she would need to brew beer.


    Potions joined the menu. Kaitlyn brewed almost constantly in the mornings to keep on hand some of the most basic potions which allowed the people who came to tavern to purchase. She had a single greater health brew which was listed for five gold coins.


    Master Garthis arrived after a week and looked at the changes developing and said, ¡°What is all of this?¡±


    ¡°Well, apparently I am running a tavern now,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Here, let me get you some tea master.¡±


    There were two satyrs sitting at one table and Kaitlyn set up Master Garthis at the second. The satyrs began whispering, but Kaitlyn decided to ignore them. She was not fond of her satyr patrons, although they paid well enough, they were obnoxious and she hated they way they looked at her.


    ¡°A tavern?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    Kaitlyn sat down and said, ¡°Now that I have all this attention from the various¡­ people in the forest I can¡¯t hide from them. This gives me income and use and¡­ gods know my magic is getting practiced.¡±


    ¡°Well, I see you have mastered magic tools and hands,¡± Master Garthis said as magical hands brought the satyrs their biscuits.


    Kaitlyn nodded and said, ¡°I needed them. And Cilvic is a godsend. I could not have done half of this without his help.¡±


    ¡°And are you meditating?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    ¡°I am trying to every day, but I don¡¯t feel like I am getting anywhere,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°it is¡­ every time I reach that point you told me of where I am in my magic and then it is like a blanket settles over me and begin to smother me. I have tried to¡­ outlast it but I literally feel like it is suffocating me.¡±


    Master Garthis frowned and said, ¡°It should not.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea what is happening?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    He took a deep breath and shook his head a little, ¡°It isn¡¯t like anything I have experienced. At the same time however, you are such a unique case. I wonder¡­ where do you meditate?¡±


    ¡°Usually inside,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°It¡¯s pretty much the only place I can find any kind of solitude and peace.¡±


    Master Garthis looked at the house and then said, ¡°Show me. Go inside and meditate.¡±


    Kaitlyn obediently rose and went inside. She settled on her bed and sank into the silence of her magic. As the oppression set in, she gritted her teeth. She stopped when the door banged open and Master Garthis yelled, ¡°Stop! Stop this instant!¡±


    It was wrenching to withdraw from her magic, but she did as her teacher commanded. He looked around the room with narrowed eyes and said, ¡°Come outside.¡±


    She followed Master Garthis outside and he pointed at a rock in the grass and said, ¡°Sit on that rock and meditate.¡±


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes and very quickly sank into her meditation. Outside, the oppressive feeling was less, it was more like a heavy blanket on her legs rather than her head. Master Garthis allowed her to meditate a few minutes and then said, ¡°That is good. I have an idea of what is happening. Come sit with me.¡±


    He sat with his tea cup for a long moment and Kaitlyn fidgeted. The satyrs at the other table dropped their coins and headed out of the clearing. Kaitlyn went and scooped up the coins, pocketing them carefully. She used her magic hands to begin to collect the dishes and begin washing them. She sat down at the table across from Master Garthis and waited.


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    The wizard finally tapped his cup and said, ¡°There is a lot of magic here. I can¡¯t untangle exactly what is going on. So here is what I think is going on. The house.¡±


    ¡°Is it always going to be the house?¡± Kaitlyn asked with a bit of exasperation.


    ¡°Possibly,¡± he said, ¡°The house has so many spells which are not yours that all want you to power them. I have no idea what they are, so I wouldn¡¯t recommend powering them. They could be more people-eating spells. I do think you need to start taking some time unraveling them. If you are going to grow into your magic, you need to be able to meditate every day and right now¡­ this is a massive¡­¡±


    ¡°Burden?¡± Kaitlyn supplied when Master Garthis trailed off. The wizard gave half-nod and half-shrug in response.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave, so you really have two options I can think of,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°You can untangle this mess of a house and possibly have a wonderful magical nexus with a magic well, or you can allow it to mire you and you will probably not grow too much past your current abilities.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t really a choice is it?¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°You¡¯ve told me I might be able to unwrap my curse or even remove it¡­¡±


    ¡°You will need to be much, much more powerful to accomplish something like that,¡± Master Garthis said.


    ¡°Then this isn¡¯t a choice, I have to unravel the spells on this house,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Do I have to do it like I did the people-eating curse?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t exactly tell you,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°you might. The good news is, most of the spells don¡¯t have much power and you might decide some of them are worth preserving.¡±


    ¡°When I tried to identify the people eating spell, it had that¡­. black thread that I couldn¡¯t identify,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°What if I find more of those?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, you can ask me to take a look,¡± Master Garthis smiled, ¡°I am intensely curious what that might have been. Your description is like nothing I have ever heard about, and might lead to entirely new branch of magic to explore.¡±


    ¡°Well, new to you at least,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    Master Garthis grimaced and said, ¡°Yes, since clearly the witch who lived here¡­ or at least some witch in its history knew something¡­ special. I hate when people think they should keep new magic secret.¡±


    Kaitlyn had to smile, because it was true. Master Garthis had written several books describing types of magic he had seen others do, even when he couldn¡¯t do them himself. Apparently, it had earned him several enemies, but he also said it was entirely worth it because he hated secret knowledge that others couldn¡¯t build on.


    ¡°So identify and untangle this house, how long do you think that will take?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    He looked at her and tilted his head to one side. He then said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you. You might do it in a year if you had the spells and strength to go without food or sleep. It might take you ten years. You might find a knot tomorrow and unravel the whole thing. Find some small spells and decide whether to keep them or start taking them apart.¡±


    ¡°What if I find a language I don¡¯t recognize again?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Well, hopefully the house won¡¯t be trying to eat anyone,¡± he said blandly. ¡°Then you can take the time to write it down and show it to me. I will help you translate spells as much as I can. There is plenty of fascinating spell craft here.¡±


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t agree. It wasn¡¯t so much fascinating to her. She felt it was more threatening. She had to sleep here and eat here. Sometimes the house felt alive, but not intelligent or even thinking. Just acting and reacting. When she had said as much to Master Garthis before he had scoffed, saying she was anthropomorphizing magical phenomenon and spell craft. It did not change her feeling when she spent too much time thinking about the house.


    Master Garthis put a hand on her forearm and said, ¡°Kaitlyn. You have done amazing things already. You do not need to rush.¡±


    She looked at him with tears and said shakily, ¡°I want to go home.¡±


    The dam broke within her and she began sobbing. He gently reached over and pulled her into a hug, holding her to his shoulder and patting her shoulder awkwardly. He let her cry for a time and when she slowly stopped he pushed a fresh cup of tea towards her.


    ¡°Rushing is dangerous,¡± he said gently. ¡°I understand you want to see your family¡­ I wish I could undo your curse today and set you free.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she said. ¡°I just¡­ sometimes it¡¯s hard because I¡­ I enjoy the magic and it seems like¡­ something is wrong with me if I am happy.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± he said firmly, ¡°your family would want you happy. They would want you happy if you had gone with that baron¡¯s son. You might have felt just as homesick there.¡±


    She nodded slightly, still trying to stop the tears. There were plenty of gossip and stories of women being sent away from family and feeling homesick and unhappy. At least she would have had Claus and his love. Before it had been ruined by pain and betrayal.


    ¡°Think of it this way,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°You are now my apprentice, and so being happy is actually an excellent thing because it means you will grow into your trade.¡±


    Kaitlyn laughed and said, ¡°I never thought I would be the one to earn a new trade.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes the gods put us on a new path because the old one was wrong and we didn¡¯t even know it,¡± he said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take some time and write to your family, I will see it the letter delivered and make sure the messenger can wait for a few days for a reply.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Master,¡± Kaitly said those words more sincerely than she felt she had ever felt them in her life.


    ¡°Of course, I am your master,¡± he said warmly, ¡°and I want you to be a most successful apprentice. You being miserable is not success for either of us.¡±

 Chapter 26 Dwarven Work

    One of the oddest people to visit were dwarves. They often paid in real coin, but for the ale they seemed to insist on giving her things they found useful. This garnered her an odd assortment of tools, herbs, and even clay.


    The clay they gave her was just small balls, though Cilvic claimed it was beautiful, he admitted he had no idea how to turn it into anything practical. It began collecting in the cellar in a barrel with some sludge-like liquid Cilvic claimed was water.


    When it turned into a ball larger than her own head, Kaitlyn decided to ask one of the dwarves why it was supposed to be so valuable. One of her semi-regular patron was a dwarf with extremely elaborate braids in a beautiful blue-black beard with a variety of gold clips and winking gems. Kaitlyn had been warned dwarves of both genders grew beards, so she wasn¡¯t sure whether this particular dwarf was male or female.


    The dwarf set a lump of the clay on the table the size of Kaitlyn¡¯s fist. Kaitlyn put down a tankard and then sat down and said, ¡°You can have it for free if you will answer a question for me.¡±


    The dwarf eyed her and then said, ¡°Can I hear the question before I agree to this deal?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°the brownie who helps me tells me this clay is of great quality, but¡­ what am I to do with it?¡±


    The dwarf huffed a laugh and then said, ¡°My name is Bowounelyn Bonesword, please call me Bow.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Bow,¡± Kaitlyn said with a tip of her head.


    Bow nodded and then picked up the ball from the table, ¡°This clay is gathered carefully and processed before we bring it out into the world. It can create dishes, cooking tools, cups and other things at half the weight of normal clay with twice the strength. It is soft while it is being worked and although those that use it tell me it is the most difficult clay to work with, the items it makes are beautiful and strong.¡±


    Kaitlyn was impressed by this, but had to admit, ¡°But I have no idea how to use the clay at all, I¡¯ve been accepting it, but honestly I¡¯m not sure if I can continue since I can¡¯t use it.¡±


    ¡°Your brownie is not using it?¡± the dwarf looked surprised. ¡°You mentioned you have brownies working for you.¡±


    ¡°One brownie, and he works most with wood and the garden,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°You should get more brownies around here,¡± the dwarf said emphatically. ¡°Brownies love working with witches and finding one who knows how to work with porcelain should not be terribly difficult. You can then replace these crass wooden mugs with something more refined and beautiful.¡±


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    Kaitlyn bristled a little at the insult to Cilvic¡¯s work. She found her mouth running away with her, ¡°I will not hear anything negative about these tankards, they are difficult to break, carved by hand, and sanded carefully to make them. He does an excellent job with everything he touches¡­¡±


    The dwarf held up a hand and guffawed a little. With a shake of the head the dwarf said, ¡°They are great for this little outdoor rustic look, but if you ever want to serve that delicious food for a higher price, you will need to improve the decor.¡±


    Kaitlyn took a deep breath and looked around her yard, trying to imagine what the dwarf was seeing with an open mind. The yard was so improved over the months sometimes she forgot just how bare it still was. The plants were finally being contained and managed, no longer looking like a little jungle.


    The well stood in the center of the yard. Cilvic had replaced some of the rocks around it to shore up the walls, but it was still pretty run down. They had taken down the rotting beams and roof over the well, making it look even shorter.


    The path was just worn dirt where people tended to walk, and despite her best efforts the grass and flowers she attempted to grow kept dying in patches which made the yard look worse rather than better. Looking at it with this critical eye, she wondered if she should just rake dirt across the entire yard instead of trying to grow anything in the front.


    The house itself no longer had holes, but the wooden walls were covered with vines and moss, even the roof looked in a condition that it was about to collapse. The tiles were covered with a mossy look in clumps and bunches. Kaitlyn frowned and put her hands in her lap.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to insult, I have been told you inherited this place as it was literally falling apart and on that you have made much progress,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°but some of my people hope to see further improvements. You are a witch, finding a brownie should not be difficult for you. I¡¯m rather surprised you say you only have the one.¡±


    The dwarf quaffed the ale and stood, leaving the clay behind as they left. Kaitlyn watched and then went back to the garden and asked Cilvic, ¡°Should I have more brownies helping out? Are you unhappy here?¡±


    ¡°Unhappy?¡± Cilvic looked shocked. ¡°You know brownies are happiest when working, right? There is always work here.¡±


    ¡°A dwarf just told me I should have more brownies working here,¡± Kaitlyn said quietly.


    Cilvic made a slightly rude noise in his nose and said, ¡°Dwarves don¡¯t like what they call menial labor, building or gardening or cooking, so the fact you do any of these things yourself is something they would disdain.¡±


    ¡°Then how do they build and get food?¡±


    ¡°Trade as much as possible,¡± Cilvic replied, ¡°They dig up gems. Some of us joke they can smell the stuff in the earth. Blacksmiths are considered honorable work and ironically, digging is a great profession. But a cook? An animal tender? A tailor? These are for the lowest of the low.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t value this work?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Oh they value it some, but it isn¡¯t good dwarf work,¡± Cilvic explained. ¡°They ain¡¯t all wrong, another brownie or two would be handy here.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have a place for you, much less any others,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Yeah, but we can make our own place and we don¡¯t need much space,¡± Cilvic replied. ¡°If you like, I can send out a message, see if anyone wants to help.¡±


    ¡°No, not right now,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can trade this clay for now. Maybe someday, but I don¡¯t think¡­. the house still has so much magic I haven¡¯t figured out. Let¡¯s wait.¡±


    ¡°As you like mistress,¡± Cilvic nodded.

 Chapter 27 Learning from Dwarves

    Three days after learning about the clay, a new dwarf arrived. This dwarf did not have a beard and wore a simple brown pants and shirt. The dwarf approached and bowed to Kaitlyn and said, ¡°My mistress told me you are looking to learn to shape clay. I am one such. I have brought some practice clay with me and I can teach you.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Kaitlyn was surprised. There were only two elves staying at the moment and she glanced at them before turning back to the dwarf, ¡°I actually¡­ ummm I was going to probably trade that clay.¡±


    The dwarf shook her head firmly and said, ¡°The craft is supposed to be an excellent tool for magical users, it is why my people have been bringing this to you as payment. I do not know the entire reason, but I can teach you the clay.¡±


    Kaitlyn considered this. She would need to ask Master Garthis on his next visit about this, but in the meantime it at least would give her something to do with the clay gathering in the barrel in her cellar. She finally nodded.


    The dwarf brought out a tool that looked like a large wagon wheel balanced on a stand, but the hub of the wheel had a flat space.


    Wetting the clay, the dwarf put it on the round space on the hub. She used a long stick and began moving the wheel around until it had a good spin. Shaping the clay as it spun on the table, the dwarf formed a delicate cup in just a few moments. Holding it up the dwarf said, ¡°Working clay requires focus. People think it looks easy, but to do it well you will need focus.¡±


    Kaitlyn was surprised as the lesson continued how many of the things which this dwarf said were similar to the things Master Garthis said. Learning to focus on the task and how small errors early in the process turned into bigger problems later. When the dwarf finally had Kaitlyn sit down and start, she immediately felt her respect for the dwarf crafter rise. It looked easy in the hands of the master, but the actual task of ¡°throwing¡± the clay was challenging.


    Following her teacher¡¯s instructions, Kaitlyn set the clay firmly on the hub of the wheel. She began it spinning and gasped when her clay slid off. The dwarf nodded and said, ¡°Try again, wet the clay and set it. Then set the wheel spinning.¡±


    It took several times to learn how to even use her new pottery wheel. Once she did, she began to try to apply they pressure as she was instructed to begin forming a shape. The ease with which the dwarf worked the clay showed a mastery Kaitlyn began to admire more and more as she attempted to recreate even a rough cup shape.


    The dwarf made Kaitlyn stop after an hour and said, ¡°This is an old wheel, your brownie can use it for a week as a model, but I will return to get it at that time. I will give you more lessons if you want them, but you will need to pay like an apprentice would.¡±


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    Kaitlyn leaned back and nodded, ¡°Thank you for this lesson.¡±


    ¡°My mistress paid for this lesson,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°I¡¯m just following her orders. She seems to think you will prove useful.¡±


    Before Kaitlyn could ask for that to be explained, the dwarf turned and left her clearing. Kaitlyn blinked as they left and then called out Cilvic. He quickly examined the wheel and determined what he would need to recreate something similar. He left muttering and disappeared for the rest of the day, but when he returned the similar wheel he had created turned smoothly and longer than the original.


    Kaitlyn used her mirror to contact Master Garthis, asking whether the dwarf had told the truth. When he arrived several days later, much earlier than he had told her to expect him, he was carrying several books in his arms and cried, ¡°It explains it!¡±


    ¡°What master?¡± she asked, hurrying forward to catch the books before he threw them in his excitement.


    ¡°I wish I had thought about it before, but it makes this make much more sense,¡± Master Garthis said picking up a book and then tossing it on the table to get to the book underneath.


    ¡°Master, I am confused,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°The house!¡± he cried, ¡°It¡¯s an enchanted object.¡±


    Kaitlyn gave her master a look rather than saying anything about how obvious his statement was. He looked at her and said, ¡°The clay girl! The clay can help you learn more about item enchantment. It¡¯s all in the same type of magic.¡±


    ¡°I am going to go get my bread out of the oven,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Would you like some tea?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said as he began to open his books and lay them out.


    Kaitlyn went inside and took three fresh loaves of bread and lay them on the work table to cool. She then prepared her master¡¯s tea and returned to him outside. He was tapping the table in excitement and said, ¡°I think learning the clay will be valuable for you, it is apparently a common way for young mages to study object enchantment.¡±


    ¡°Like my house?¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Yes!¡± he said, ¡°the clay research actually pointed me to these books which have some great things about object enchantment which I think you will need to help unravel the spells on this house.¡±


    He pointed to the cup and said, ¡°We¡¯ve talked about a cleaning spell on a cup. Apparently objects like this use something similar to a curse. There is a trigger before the action. So instead of the cleaning spell being just a constant, you do something like turn the cup upside down and that triggers the spell to activate. I did warn you that object enchantment was not something I specialized in, I never even thought of it.¡±


    He pushed one of the books towards her, open to a page describing working the spell into the clay while working it. In the example, a beautiful sculpture was spelled to change shape when it was dark and light up. Master Garthis was continuing to speak while Kaitlyn looked at the mage¡¯s explaination in the book.


    ¡°Your house is an enchanted object. If you study the masters of enchanted objects, and learn to enchant your clay, then you may be better prepared to begin to understand the enchantments on your house,¡± the mage said.


    Kaitlyn nodded absently at her master¡¯s words, engrossed in the words on the page which described how spells were embedded by shape, words carved into the clay, and magical spells laid over them. For the first time in months she felt like she held answers, a path forward.

 Chapter 28 Giant Bread

    The house was like a maze of threads. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t even follow many of them through the knots and twists they took. She spent three days just trying to find one spell she could begin to untangle. The spell she found was a spell to clean the windows. She almost laughed as she carefully retied it mentally into her own shape. The two windows needed an entire spell? How lazy was that witch?


    She set it aside and opened her eyes. She had several chores she wanted to accomplish to make the tavern a little better. The still was going to be delivered and she barely had seven gold. She needed to earn more, and ale would help.


    She wanted to cheat a little on brewing ale. She had put some dried raspberries in a jar with some water and allowed it to turn to yeast. She had been playing with some of the yeast and she was pretty sure she had gotten it to a point where she would be able to brew ale quickly. She was going to test it today with a batch of bread.


    She made the best dough recipe she knew, flour, honey, salt, water, and the only bit of butter she had been given. She kneaded it until it was elastic, then set it in a bowl and covered it with a cloth. She set it on the edge of the hearth and went outside.


    In the front yard she had three logs laid out. Using her magic tools and flame she carefully hollowed them out, using magic hands to pile the sawdust she created to one side. Two of the logs were large enough she was trying to make a bathtub. The third she planned to make into a planter for the front yard, so she kept the bark on it.


    On the planter, she was trying to incorporate what she was learning about magical item enchantment to add a spell to drain water slowly without holes in the log. It had a trigger of putting both hands on a specific place on the planter. The first time she triggered it, she cried out in excitement as the bucket of water she had poured into the planter began to slowly vanish. She then yelped when it began to puddle on the ground on her feet. She frowned and began smoothing the outside, carving magically a direction to point the water to the end instead of just ¡°anywhere.¡±


    She finished hollowing out the planter log and went back inside. The bread had already doubled in size. She giggled and clapped her hands. In less than hour, she was almost ready to bake her bread. The changes in the yeast were also her first bit of original magic. She documented what she had done, a fairly simple spell similar to the plant growth spell.


    She separated out some yeast to set it to begin a fermentation. She had high hopes for the barley when it arrived, but her first batch of alcohol would have to be mead. Using honey, water, and her wild yeast she combined them in her largest pot and set it near her flame spell. Because she wanted a warm but not boiling temperature, she carefully kept the flame¡¯s size and temperature just where she needed it.


    When the honey fully dissolved she finally added some fresh blackberries. She put all of this into a large jar one of the dwarves had bartered for a meal with. She stoppered it with beeswax and cast another new spell. This was the real experiment. She used the growth spell on the jar, and for a long moment wondered if it had failed. Then she saw bubbles, foam inside the jar. She didn¡¯t want to try to turn it into mead in a day, so she left it for the day.


    When Kaitlyn went outside she was greeted by Fapallo, who was shifting nervously on his feet. She whistled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He whined and then whistled a little bit that she always translated to herself as, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    ¡°Should I be worried?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t very reassuring.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    She decided to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. She went inside and held her master¡¯s mirror in her hand. She had no idea if she could hide in the house and remain safe, but if nothing else she could go out the back door and try to escape. It might be difficult to hide if the house fell, with the pain overcoming her, but it would give Master Garthis time to arrive and help.


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    She heard, and felt, what was coming. She stared at the two creatures which approached with true terror. They each stood at least ten feet tall, but moved with a shocking grace which belied their size. They were, to Kaitlyn¡¯s surprise, wearing bright colors of pink, light blue, and silver trim. She had never heard of well-dressed giants, only the maurading kind who were supposed to wear clothes of human skin. The man¡¯s beard was braided half down his chest and the woman¡¯s hair was piled neatly on her head.


    ¡°What a delicious smell,¡± the woman said, ¡°we were told there was a tavern here where we could expect lunch, but I was not expecting anything with flavor.¡±


    ¡°May I,¡± Kaitlyn stepped forward, trying to hide her nerves, ¡°offer you some tea? Bread or biscuits? Stew?¡±


    ¡°What is in your stew?¡± the woman giant said, sinking so gracefully onto the ground that Kaitlyn was jealous. The man also sat down with a grace, folding his legs under him so he sat on his forelegs, his feet tucked under his backside.


    ¡°It is a stew of pheasant, carrots, leeks, and herbs,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I also have some green beans I could cook for you if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°Let me have some biscuits and stew,¡± the male giant said.


    ¡°I want to try the bread I can smell,¡± the woman said with a nod.


    When Kaitlyn brought out the food, using two of her larger cooking bowls to serve them, she said, ¡°It will be five coppers each for the food, if you would like tea it I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any cups which you might find comfortable, but I would be willing to offer it for free.¡±


    ¡°Do not worry the size of the cups,¡± the giantess said with a serene smile, ¡°We can use human-sized things when we must. Bring us your best tea.¡±


    Kaitlyn put her hands in front of her and said, ¡°I choose the herbs and flavors I think will best fit my guests. Do you prefer sweet or tart?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, with this I think I would like tart,¡± the giantess said.


    ¡°One more question,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°would you like earthy or floral?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, a tart floral sounds intriguing,¡± the giantess looked at her companion, ¡°would you agree my dear?¡±


    ¡°I would indeed, can you manage a tart floral tea?¡± the giant asked Kaitlyn.


    Kaitlyn bowed her head with a slight smile. She knew exactly what she was going to brew. She brought out marigolds, blackberries, licorice root, and ginger. She carefully ground the licorice root and ginger, then added a generous helping of blackberries and marigold petals.


    When the giantess took a sip of the tea she closed her eyes and made the slightest sigh. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t hide her smile of pride when the giantess opened her eyes again, a look of delight in the large woman¡¯s face. The giantess said, ¡°This is truly delightful. I did not believe Haytham when he said you were a witch of culture and class, but he was right.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment,¡± Kaitlyn bowed slightly.


    ¡°We can not pay in coin, but I can offer you this,¡± the giant said and reached into a pouch on his hip. He pulled out a pair of kid goats. Kaitlyn had to fight to suppress the most delighted squeal of glee. A pair of goats would improve her cooking infinitely. She bowed and said, ¡°Please, this more than covers the cost of the stew, could I offer you something else? I can make an array of simple potions as well.¡±


    ¡°I will think on it,¡± the giantess said, ¡°Thank you for the tea mistress tavern witch.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment you paid me when you drank it,¡± Kaitlyn bowed again, ¡°please call me if you need anything during your meal.¡±


    Kaitlyn picked up the two goats and carried them around the back of the house. Cilvic was weeding the garden and stood up when she appeared. He saw the goats and his eyes went wide.


    ¡°A pair of giants gave them to pay for their meal,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°can you set up a pen for them?¡±


    ¡°Not today, I am going this afternoon to visit my mother, but I¡¯ll make sure they can¡¯t destroy the garden,¡± Cilvic said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Kaitlyn blinked, ¡°Good. Have fun with your mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the brownie said.


    Kaitlyn returned to the front yard to see a silver elf sitting at the second table, eyeing the giants a little. Kaitlyn brought out a bowl of stew and the elf put a sack on the table. Kaitlyn opened it and grinned at the salt inside.


    Between tending to the guests, Kaitlyn worked on her bathtubs. She was using sand to polish them down to a smooth finish, adding occasional water to keep it moving. She was also concentrating on setting a spell which would maintain water temperature in the tub. This tub would stay warm or cool or just shy of boiling if she added water at that temperature.


    She turned the tub over with her magic hands and stopped when the giant man stepped over and said, ¡°You are making large tubs, how will you fill it with water?¡±


    Kaitlyn lifted two buckets with her magic hands and doused her magic flames in them. The giant laughed and said, ¡°A practical use for magic. I like it. You should use equal parts beeswax, linseed oil, and pine tar to seal it. It will also add a lovely shine to the wood.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Kaitlyn bowed her head, ¡°I knew beeswax and pine tar, but not linseed oil. I will gladly try this combination.¡±


    ¡°It will be nice to see a kind witch in the forest,¡± the giant said, ¡°we have long argued that everyone needs a place to rest, relax, and talk. I hope you can be boon to all the folk here.¡±


    ¡°That is my hope as well,¡± Kaitlyn said.

 Chapter 29 Ladies Night

    There was a strange thing happening every few weeks. Somehow both Hyacinth and Haytham kept ending up at the tavern because their patrol routes had them doing so. Kaitlyn, Javorora, and Hyacinth always had tea together and Kaitlyn saved her mead experiment until Hyacinth came to share with her two friends the first taste.


    ¡°To Kaitlyn¡¯s magical mixture,¡± Javorora said.


    ¡°But it isn¡¯t magical,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°Yes it is,¡± Javorora replied, ¡°she used magic to make it. That makes it a magical mixture.¡±


    ¡°If she uses a spoon to stir her stew, does that make it a spoon stew?¡± Hyacinth asked.


    ¡°No, because there is no such thing as a spoon stew,¡± Javorora held out her cup, ¡°Accept my toast or make your own.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Hyacinth said and lifted her glass, ¡°I shall toast to trying something new.¡±


    Kaitlyn smiled at her friends and said, ¡°Personally, I shall toast to friends. Even when those friends are sometimes ridiculous with each other.¡±


    ¡°You know we only argue because we like each other,¡± Hyacinth said smelling the mead.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°Now let¡¯s drink.¡±


    They each lifted her cup and then took a sip. Javorora grinned and said, ¡°That isn¡¯t half bad.¡±


    ¡°Half bad? It is good,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°Whew, it¡¯s got a kick behind it too,¡± Javorora said, waving a hand in front of her face to fan it, ¡°I dare each of you to drink three cups and walk a straight line.¡±


    ¡°Oh my,¡± Kaitlyn said as she felt the heat begin to rise to her cheeks with another sip. ¡°You are right, this is strong.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s lovely,¡± Hyacinth said.


    The three of them giggled at the same time and began their second cups. Javorora passed out at the table. Hyacinth poked the drunk dryad¡¯s cheek and then poured a third cup, ¡°Well, can she sleep in your bed?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love that,¡± Kaitlyn sighed, ¡°It would be like having a little sister. Who is like three hundred years old.¡±


    ¡°I think,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°she¡¯s only about a hundred and fifty.¡±


    Kaitlyn giggled again, unable to stop herself. She gulped back the end of the second cup and poured a third. Hyacinth held out her cup and Kaitlyn poured her one as well. They were partway through their third cups when Haytham arrived.


    ¡°Look, it is the man who I shall marry when my mother dies,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°What?¡± both Kaitlyn and Haytham looked surprised by this statement.


    ¡°I shall marry him and cement the bonds between our people,¡± Hyacinth declared, ¡°Your sister will be queen and I will be queen and it will be an alliance of love and trust for the first time between our people.¡±


    ¡°Thou art drunk,¡± Haytham said in surprise.


    ¡°Kaitlyn has learned,¡± Hyacinth grinned, ¡°and it is delicious. You should try some.¡±


    ¡°How much have thee had?¡± Haytham said.


    ¡°Two cups,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I am halfway through my third,¡± Hyacinth declared, then downed it all in a rush and laughed, ¡°And now we can say three cups whole.¡±


    ¡°And it has gotten thee this drunk?¡± Haytham eyed the drink suspiciously.


    ¡°It is very strong,¡± Kaitlyn said and then giggled, but she couldn¡¯t explain what was funny. She didn¡¯t exactly know.


    Haytham took only a small sip and widened his eyes, ¡°This might be as strong as the moonshine the dwarves make. That stuff can light on fire.¡±


    ¡°Oh! let¡¯s see if this does!¡± Kaitlyn said, trying to cast her fire spell. Haytham quickly stopped her saying, ¡°Maybe when thee aren¡¯t drunk. I am not sure we want to test the fireproof spells this house might or might not have.¡±


    ¡°Oh poof,¡± Kaitlyn said but sat back. ¡°Oh! You should try the bread I make with this yeast too, it¡¯s yummy.¡±


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    ¡°Oh yes!¡± Hyacinth said and started to stand, but wobbled. Haytham said, ¡°Do you need help my lady?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hyacinth said, then said, ¡°Maybe. But we should take Javorora inside too. Can you carry her?¡±


    Haytham easily hefted the little dryad and all four of them entered the room. Kaitlyn went to the table and then stopped and said, ¡°Was there always a door there?¡±


    Hyacinth looked at the wall beside the fireplace, there was definitely a door. Haytham put Javorora on the bed and came over, putting his hand on his long knife and saying, ¡°Let me open it first and see if it is dangerous.¡±


    Kaitlyn shook her head and said, ¡°The house can¡¯t eat people anymore.¡±


    She stepped forward and pushed open the door. For a moment she felt a sense of vertigo, she leaned on the doorframe and stared at the room inside. It was a very short hallway, two more doors on either side. At the end of the hall was a window, the window she would have sworn used to exist next to the fireplace.


    The door on the left turned into a bedroom, the bedding entirely rotting and cobwebs covering every surface like sheets of white. The door on the right turned into a real kitchen. An oven built into a large fireplace, a table twice the size of the one in the main room, and a water pump right in the room.


    Kaitlyn returned to the room she had lived in for a year and sank on to her current bed. She tilted her head at the two elves, and said, ¡°Did my house¡­ grow new rooms? Or am I too drunk?¡±


    ¡°Ummm,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°I would swear that door wasn¡¯t there before.¡±


    ¡°I think thee should call thine master,¡± Haytham said, crossing his arms on his chest.


    Kaitlyn pulled out her mirror and had to try twice to concentrate well enough to activate the mirror¡¯s spell. A brownie Kaitlyn hadn¡¯t seen before noticed her and went to fetch Master Garthis, carrying a message that she wasn¡¯t in danger, but she was worried.


    Haytham had to explain, as Hyacinth had curled up on the bed and was snoring with Javorora. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t talk without the mirror flickering in and out, and she was beginning to develop a headache from trying to hold the mirror¡¯s magic. She only heard, ¡°I will come first thing in the morning. Sleep Kaitlyn.¡±


    ¡°I will stand guard,¡± Haytham said.


    ¡°Fapallo will,¡± Kaitlyn muttered and snuggled her two best friends on the bed.


    The next morning Haytham was sitting next to the hearth, talking softly to Fapallo, who lay with his nose pointed at the door. Kaitlyn was the first to stir and she half-stumbled outside to the well, drinking the cold water with relish. Her mouth felt like it was filled with dry cotton and her eyes filled with sand.


    Master Garthis was just arriving and said, ¡°Now, I am confused. What did Haytham mean you found new rooms in your house?¡±


    ¡°A door,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Come inside and see.¡±


    He stood a long time just inside the house and stared at the new door. He said, ¡°And you went through?¡±


    ¡°Haytham, Hyacinth and I,¡± Kaitlyn nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a real bedroom and a real kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Show me,¡± Master Garthis said firmly. Kaitlyn led the way and stopped in the bedroom, it was now cleaned of all the cobwebs and rotting items. The large bedframe stood almost gleaming, dark red and ready for a mattress and drapes.


    ¡°Yesterday it was¡­. filthy,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°The cleaning spell must have come through,¡± Master Garthis stepped into the room and went to the window and looked outside. He even opened the window and poked his head out, ¡°Go outside and wave to me.¡±


    Kaitlyn went outside and his head was looking out the window next to the front door. She stared at him and said, ¡°How¡­. is this possible?¡±


    ¡°More new magic,¡± he muttered and popped back inside.


    Kaitlyn went inside and looked sharply at her master, ¡°Master Garthis, this is more than just new magic, isn¡¯t it.¡±


    ¡°It is¡­. this is magic like I¡¯ve only seen the greatest fae kings master,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°those which are demi-gods in their own domain have this kind of mastery of spatial manipulation.¡±


    ¡°Spatial manipulation?¡± Haytham asked.


    ¡°This house, outside it looks like a hut, but inside it has more space than should exist,¡± Master Garthis explained. ¡°My father can do this kind of magic in the autumn realm. I¡¯ve seen the queen of summer make a palace within an acorn, but it isn¡¯t something they can do outside their realm. How did this witch manage this outside a fae realm? How did she manage the kind of powers it required?¡±


    ¡°Is there more?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Probably,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°but what triggered it? What caused it to show you these rooms now?¡±


    ¡°I need a real bedroom if my tavern will thrive?¡± Kaitlyn offered. ¡°Now we can move the bed and work spaces out of here and set this up as a better tavern space. Then I can start real cooking too. Wait, where is the cellar door?¡±


    As she had thought of cooking, she had instinctively looked to the hatch for the cellar, but it was gone. The floor was whole. They all went to the kitchen and immediately found a cellar entrance near the corner, with Kaitlyn¡¯s ladder already in place. This room had also cleaned itself and now a bright fire crackled in the fireplace to welcome Kaitlyn.


    Master Garthis helped Kaitlyn move the potion table into the kitchen. It took Fapallo, Haytham, and Master Garthis together to move her bed into the bedroom, since there was no mattress or drapes for the larger bed. They left the loom and spinning wheel in the main room. Kaitlyn talked to Cilvic about building new tables and chairs for the inside space as well.


    ¡°Ok, here is my theory,¡± Master Garthis said when Kaitlyn brought him tea in the front garden. She sat down and listened. ¡°The witch who lived here knew or understood something of spatial manipulation which alludes all but the most powerful fae and only in their own realm. Somehow she tied that sort of magic directly into her own house.¡±


    ¡°So there is more?¡± Kaitlyn prompted.


    ¡°Probably. My question is which rooms might show next?¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°What is the criteria for unlocking a specific room?¡±


    ¡°What she needs,¡± Cilvic said from behind the wizard. ¡°The house is still getting fed magic regularly by the mistress, and as it learns her needs it will unlock what she needs. Or what it thinks she needs.¡±


    Master Garthis scratched his beard, ¡°Or it is undoing in the order the witch had to lock rooms away because her magic was failing. I suspect it is just working backwards, unlocking them as it can.¡±


    Kaitlyn frowned, she didn¡¯t want a palace. She didn¡¯t need a palace and she certainly didn¡¯t want people to think she was anything other than a witch with a tavern. She looked to the mage and the brownie and finally decided she would have to claim the house for her own. She wanted to guide what rooms it gave her, not some mysterious need or whatever stupid set of rooms the witch who had lived here used to maintain.

 Chapter 30 The Regulars

    The tavern was beginning to have regulars. Aside from Haytham and Hyacinth, there was a group of satyrs who came for stew and potions. Kaitlyn would swear they were an adventuring party.


    One, Nah, dressed as a warrior with leather armor, a large sword, and a shield. Another, Akut, wore a bow and green tunic. Yet another, Shymzox, carried a staff and stared at Kaitlyn¡¯s magic hands.


    The final member, Kekin, looked different most visits. In one visit he wore nothing but a loincloth and carried a hammer. The next time he carried a lute, which he tried to play until the warrior smashed it. Kaitlyn had very quietly slipped Nah an extra bowl of stew for free. In this latest visit Kekin was wearing a mantle that once had been white with a symbol of a tree on it.


    Kaitlyn brought out their stews and said, ¡°I also have something new, a blackberry mead.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that sounds delicious,¡± Akut said, ¡°We will have a round. On me.¡±


    ¡°It is three coppers a cup,¡± Kaitlyn warned. ¡°And I will say, it is fairly strong.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Shymzox said exuberantly, ¡°I¡¯ll have two.¡±


    Kaitlyn brought out the cups of mead, her second batch and this time made in the still. It wasn¡¯t quite as strong, and when the satyrs tried it, their eyes went wide. Nah looked at her and said, ¡°Mistress Kaitlyn, this is¡­ glorious! We shall come here more often now.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to it,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    The dwarves which came regularly had been taciturn, and she didn¡¯t know their names. She could tell two them were miners, though she had no clue where they might have a mine anywhere in the forest. Although there were hills, she didn¡¯t believe there were mountains or deep veins. Several other dwarves were clearly scholars, tinkers, or smiths of one kind of or another. This second type of dwarf often came alone with either a book or a project they were working on.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Kaitlyn said as she set down a bowl of stew and a tankard of mead for a smith dwarf who had come.


    ¡°Ah, thank ya miss,¡± the dwarf said, and then returned to trying to pry a jewel from a box of iron.


    Kaitlyn paused and then said, ¡°Would you mind answering a question?¡±


    ¡°Only if I can have some of yer bread free.¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Kaitlyn nodded, ¡°why do you come here sometimes? I thought¡­ I¡¯m sorry if this is rude, I just want to understand better¡­¡±


    ¡°Dwarves ain¡¯t good always underground,¡± the dwarf interrupted her. ¡°Royal mandate says we have ta go above ground once a month. Some of us go up a little more ¡®cause the fresh air is good for us. Me? I like to get away from the hub of the tunnels and the noise. Helps me think.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaitlyn said. It helped to understand what her patrons might want, and knowing the dwarves needed this time above ground, she then started making sure to have flowers on the table when they came. The ones who looked anxious or unhappy, she could have Cilvic come into the front yard and work on something loud. It surprised her to see this helped them relax. Cilvic thought it was hilarious.


    Linnmel began coming as a patron as well, and the first time she transformed into a human woman Kaitlyn stared at the dragon woman, mouth hanging open. Linnmel didn¡¯t look entirely human, she still had horns and slight green tinge to her skin, her nails were claw-like, but otherwise she looked incredibly human in a dragon-leather dress which clung tightly to her form.


    ¡°How do you think dragon can have children with almost any other race?¡± Linnmel asked. ¡°We can change our forms into most creatures if we choose, though some are easier than others and some we can get better with practice.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ had never heard dragons had this ability,¡± Kaitlyn stammered.


    From the side Fapallo whistled, ¡°Dragons are almost all mages. Mages can do this thing.¡±


    ¡°Could I¡­. Could I learn this?¡± Kaitlyn asked, looking between son and mother excitedly.


    Linnmel laughed and said, ¡°Most certainly in a century or two. It takes more than raw power, it requires a knowledge both of your original form and the one you attempt to join which is difficult to develop. Most dragons master only one or two forms in their first few centuries.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Kaitlyn said and then folded her hands and said, ¡°How may I serve you Lady Linnmel?¡±


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    Linnmel smiled and said, ¡°I am meeting a friend of mine here. We have not seen one another for many decades. This was a good¡­. neutral place.¡±


    Linnmel¡¯s ¡®friend¡¯ turned out to be a dragon of white and silver twice her own size. Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t help but try to listen a little to the dragons speaking with one another, the silver dragon transforming into a snow-white troll covered in a white-fur outfit. The little Kaitlyn heard and understood, they really were just ¡®catching up¡¯ with one another. Linnmel however soon became a very regular customer meeting with friends of various species over either tea or mead.


    The first time fairies came to the tavern Kaitlyn almost banned the species. To say they were invasive and rude would be generous. They followed Kaitlyn constantly, she even caught one trying to watch her through a crack in the outhouse door. If Javorora had not been present, Kaitlyn might have actually banned them. Instead, Kaitlyn set some very firm rules when they arrived and soon began to appreciate the collection of fairy dust she was able to routinely gather after they hosted a party.


    By far, Kaitlyn¡¯s favorite patrons were werewolves. She was surprised when the beast men walked to the edge of her clearing and shook out their wolf forms. The pack of six were four males and two females and sat at an outside table.


    ¡°Welcome to the Witch¡¯s Brew,¡± Kaitlyn said as she approached. ¡°I can offer you herbal teas for a copper a pot, stew for a copper a bowl this size, or mead for three coppers a cup.¡±


    ¡°Stew for each of us and three pots of tea, six cups,¡± the male who had previously been a grey wolf with black front feet.


    When Kaitlyn returned with their food, she found Fapallo sitting with the pack, chatting amiably. Two of the werewolves could speak some dragonic and Fapallo was telling a terrible joke. The female who could understand was a redhead with blue eyes, and translated the joke as Fapallo whistled.


    The pack howled with laughter and the pack leader smiled at Kaitlyn when she set the bowl down. He mouthed, ¡°Thank you¡± to avoid interrupting the dragon kin and she felt heat flush her cheeks.


    After they had eaten, the werewolves began a bit of singing and drumming. They were joined by the dwarf who sat at the other table, and Javorora came outside to dance on the table while they sang.


    Kaitlyn took the dishes back to the kitchen and had her magic hands begin to scrub them while she began kneading more dough for bread. She looked up at a knock on the door to see the werewolf standing in the doorway, looking a little sheepish.


    ¡°Forgive me mistress, was our singing too much?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not at all, I am enjoying hearing it,¡± Kaitlyn said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s very nice to hear so much fun around here. even if it¡¯s just a song.¡±


    ¡°Well, if your stew is always this good, we will certainly come again,¡± he said.


    ¡°I am Kaitlyn by the by. I¡¯d offer to shake hands, but mine are covered in flour.¡±


    ¡°If the smell of that bread is any indication of the available option here, I will not be the least insulted you didn¡¯t shake my hand,¡± he flashed a grin and she finally paused to really look at him.


    He was tall, well over six feet, with broad shoulders and hair that was almost a grey color but also brown. His beard was dark, almost black and contrasted with his green-grey eyes. He wasn¡¯t handsome, but he was not ugly either. He was simply¡­ solid.


    ¡°I am Rashir, the alpha of this pack,¡± he said. ¡°I wanted to make sure our singing was not unwelcome, please feel free to come and join us.¡±


    Kaitlyn did. She was very glad when Javorora pulled her into a happy jig, and laughed at the mock fighting the werewolves engaged in later, pretending to fight with exaggerated claims and much laughter. The werewolves were great customers every time they came to the tavern after that. They eventually brought a drum, a fiddle, and a horn which some of the members could play.


    Rashir sang. He occasionally would agree to sing a ballad or other song which was sad and beautiful. The tone of his voice and the songs he knew brought tears to the patrons¡¯ eyes, and to Kaitlyn¡¯s eyes. She always made sure to make the best honey bread as soon as they arrived, and if they sang, danced, or mock-fought they got at least one loaf for free.


    Werewolves, dwarves, dragons, and elves also made good patrons because all of them could help if another patron began to be unruly. Kaitlyn had never had problems until she began serving mead, but then she began to see the meanest and the saddest emotions from people who drank.


    She had quickly asked Master Garthis for new spells. He gave her a new spell book which was designed for battle mages. She didn¡¯t like most of the spells, but did modify a distraction spell which put an illusion in front of a creature. She asked him why he would not teach her more aggressive spells.


    ¡°Honestly, there are two reasons,¡± he said. ¡°The first is that you have a well of power that¡­ I am worried it still can get out of control. What happened when you unraveled the people-eating spell, you took a spell that is not supposed to be used that way¡­. the only beings I¡¯ve ever known who could manage that kind of plant control had a natural affinity like dryads. But they are limited to their own trees. You are not, and the amount of power you can pull on¡­ I want to make sure you can control what you are doing.¡±


    Kaitlyn crossed her arms and said, ¡°You make me sound dangerous.¡±


    Her master reached out and put a hand on her arm and said, ¡°You could be. If I taught you how to cast a full fireball beyond the flame spell you already know¡­ what happens if you get too much and set fire to the forest? I don¡¯t want you to lose control of something like that.¡±


    She looked at him, hurt. He then said, ¡°I also don¡¯t want you to have the guilt of hurting someone more than you mean to. Killing a sentient being is not something to take lightly. If I can protect you from ever experiencing that, I will. Even if it¡¯s an accident because you made something too powerful, that is a guilt you can never erase. Unicorns turn black with each life they take. I don¡¯t want to learn whether your hair turns black with each life you take.¡±


    Kaitlyn considered this and then nodded a little. She trusted Master Garthis and she appreciated his honesty, even when she didn¡¯t want to hear all of it. She also sensed he was trying to protect her, which both felt very good and very frustrating. She slowly unfolded her arms and nodded, ¡°Ok. Non-lethal spells. Probably better for business if I don¡¯t kill my patrons, either by accident or on purpose.¡±

 Chapter 31 A Red Cap

    Red caps tested Master Garthis¡¯s fears. Kaitlyn was sitting at a table with Rashir and Javorora, working on sewing a new shirt when a small man appeared at the edge of her clearing. He actually appeared rather than merely came out of the trees.


    Rashir reacted first, growling and rising to his feet. Kaitlyn set her sewing down, looking at her new patron. He looked like a wizened old man, leaning heavily on a pike for support. He wore a simple tunic and hose, both a grey-brown with no dye. On his head was a pale red hat. His eyes were squinted, and his bear scraggly.


    ¡°You should not come here,¡± Rashir snarled.


    ¡°Stop,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°my land is neutral territory, everyone is welcome.¡±


    ¡°Kaitlyn¡­.¡± Javorora was clutching her own arms, ¡°that is a redcap. They kill humans.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at the man. He nodded and said, ¡°Aye, I kill those that trespass on my lands. Ain¡¯t my fault it¡¯s almost always humans.¡±


    ¡°You will not kill here,¡± she said firmly.


    He nodded and sat at the nearest table. No one else was here, so Kaitlyn approached and asked, ¡°What would you like to have?¡±


    ¡°Your blood on my pike,¡± he grinned, showing long teeth.


    Rashir growled again behind her, but Kaitlyn stood straighter and said, ¡°Sir, if you seek violence I will ask you only once to leave. If you wish to remain you will need to order and pay for some food and drink.¡±


    The red cap made a disgusted face and then said, ¡°Bread and wine.¡±


    ¡°I have ale, but not wine,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Fine,¡± the red cap was almost snarling and said, ¡°Your biggest mug of ale.¡±


    Kaitlyn went inside and carefully cut off two slices of bread and poured a mug of ale. She put some blackberry preserves in a small bowl and put it all on a tray. She carried it out and found Javorora and Rashir had resumed their table, but both faced where the red cap sat.


    As Kaitlyn set down the tray, the red cap leered at her and put a hand with extremely long fingers on her forearm. She tried to pull away, but he pulled her closer and said, ¡°Now, what exactly is a sweet little human girl doing alone in the woods my dear?¡±


    Kaitlyn jerked her arm away and said, ¡°I live here while I study with my master, Master Garthis.¡±


    ¡°Study?¡± he smirked, ¡°is that what they call it these days?¡±


    Javorora¡¯s gasp behind her only made Kaitlyn blush more furiously. She then said, ¡°Sir, I am student magician and I must insist that you pay now and as soon as you finish eating you will leave my lands.¡±


    He took a slow drag on the ale and leaned back in his chair, leering at her. Kaitlyn retreated to join her friends, picking back up the shirt, but unable to sew because of her shaking hands. The three sat in tense silence until the red cap called, ¡°I want another ale. I have coin. I expect my ale.¡±


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    Kaitlyn looked at her two friends as she stood up. Javorora was shaking her head, Rashir frowned in worry. The red cap called, ¡°If you refuse me hospitality¡­.¡±


    Kaitlyn went inside before he could finish. She returned with the ale and then said, ¡°This will be your final ale sir, I will be closed after this.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t even supper, what if someone comes?¡± the red cap asked.


    ¡°Then they will be unable to receive food or drink tonight,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    The red cap narrowed his eyes at her, but didn¡¯t do anything. Kaitlyn returned to her friends and sat down again. The three met eyes, but still didn¡¯t speak. When the red cap finished eating, he leaned back so the chair tilted far back, nearly tipping over.


    At that moment, Fapallo came home. In his mouth, he carried a small doe, still almost young enough to be called a fawn. The red cap took one look at Fapallo and lept towards Kaitlyn, his pike aiming for her. She froze, panic preventing her from reacting immediately.


    Fapallo gave a screech and dropped his prey as his fur and feathers raised like a dog¡¯s hackles. Rashir cried out and Javorora screamed. Kaitlyn grabbed for the first spell she could think of, her flame spell.


    Fire caught the red cap¡¯s hat and he let her go to quickly begin beating it out with his hands. His pike sliced her collar as he let her go, but she took the moment to leap away from him. She turned and said, ¡°You attacked me!¡±


    ¡°I need human blood!¡± the creature cried, fingers looking more and more claw-like and teeth even more pointed. ¡°Humans are evil and is it my created purpose to rid this forest of their taint. You taint this forest!¡±


    Kaitlyn drew back as spittle flew from the creature¡¯s mouth. He tried to leap towards Kaitlyn again, but this time Fapallo moved between them, hissing furiously. The red cap screamed in fury and drove his pike towards Fapallo.


    Magic flared and plants grew up and around the creature, holding it fast. The red cap hacked at the plants, but Fapallo was there and using wings and tail to distract the creature, he snatched the pike from the red cap. The creature let out a screech which made Kaitlyn¡¯s bones ache and frost appeared on the edges of the plants.


    The hat on the creature¡¯s head was now almost a grey color. Kaitlyn stared in horror as the creature thrashed in the vines. She turned at a noise and saw Master Garthis striding from a portal, looking pale. He took one look at the creature and spoke a word. Thunder boomed overhead and lightning struck one of the nearby trees.


    The red cap was no longer among the plant. Instead a painting of the redcap, whose cap was nearly white now, sat among the branches. Master Garthis looked pale and quickly came over to Kaitlyn and asked, ¡°Are you alright? Did he hurt you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­. no,¡± she started but then he touched her collarbone and swore. She reached up and touched the wound, looking at her own blood on her fingers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help her clean it,¡± Javorora said, coming over and taking Kaitlyn¡¯s hand and leading Kaitlyn to the well.


    The cut wasn¡¯t deep, but was several inches long. Master Garthis got the whole story from Rashir and then nodded. He said, ¡°There haven¡¯t been as many merchants coming through the forest paths, and those that do are being more careful. His hat¡­ he might still die of starvation.¡±


    ¡°Starvation?¡± Rashir asked.


    ¡°Red caps don¡¯t actually need food or drink,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°they survive on the blood of those who disrespect them. A single red cap might go two or three years without killing, but they need it as much as a wolf needs to hunt for meat.¡±


    Kaitlyn looked at the picture and asked, ¡°What did you do to him?¡±


    ¡°I trapped him,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°I will take him to my father¡¯s court. My father will know of a place where he can be set to protect something or other which men are foolish enough to try to take. It will give him the sustenance he needs without putting you or other innocents in danger.¡±


    Late that night, alone in her bed, Kaitlyn found herself sobbing. A kind of loathing that she hadn¡¯t acted faster filled her, and her mind went over and over the actions she had taken. What should she have done differently? How could she had prevented the red cap from attacking? Or if he attacked, which spell should she have used to stop him? What if Master Garthis had not arrived?


    She needed this place to keep her safe, and she needed to be a better mage so she could keep herself safe. Fapallo could only do so much, and Master Garthis might not always arrive in time. Cilvic had sent word as soon as the red cap had arrived and it had still been long minutes before her master arrived. She would have to be stronger.

 Chapter 32 A Day in the Life

    Kaitlyn hardly had time to herself any more. She refused to serve anyone breakfast directly. For any who slept in the yard she would bring out some bread, vegetables, and tea. Then she took the morning to do chores around the hut.


    This included infusing the rocks which protected and warmed her garden. Cilvic would ask her to make decisions on which plants they would cultivate or whether they might need to move some. Cilvic often gave her his opinion, but he refused to simply make the decision.


    When Kaitlyn offered to let him simply manage the garden, he shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s in my nature to assist, but when I begin to become the master my magic will weaken. I must ask you to direct me, but then I may apply all my skills to achieve your goal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to keep that in mind.¡±


    Mornings were also the only time she regularly was able to practice the things she learned from her magic lessons. Brewing simple potions to sell to her patrons allowed her to practice manipulating the power. She routinely kept a stock of general antidote potions, rejuvenation potions, and a few more cosmetic but also which proved to be much more profitable.


    Working the clay as the dwarves were teaching her was a challenge. Kaitlyn wasn¡¯t particularly patient with the medium. Her cups often deformed, and her plates were of uneven thickness. The dwarves however continued to bring her clay, and Kaitlyn could tell the practice helped her focus.


    Master Garthis gave Kaitlyn a book on basic item enchantment. In the book it explained that the greatest enchanted items were crafted with the magic at the same time. Kaitlyn used this clay to practice fusing magic with creation.


    Adding simple glyphs and designs to hold magic was one way to enchant an item. These were usually added after the shape had been created, and although Kaitlyn had only learned a few magical symbols, she added some to the cups and plates she tried to make.


    One of the challenges her dwarven teacher gave her was to enchant a plate to keep food warm without burning the hands of the holder. Kaitlyn made a dozen attempts before she was able to infuse her flame spell into just the upper layer of the plate.


    Item enchantment was exhausting, but Kaitlyn could see where it was a useful tool. She also couldn¡¯t deny, it gave her a greater appreciation for the complexity of the spells which were woven together in the hut itself. Adding a single spell, and a simple spell at that, was difficult enough.


    Some of her plates that she enchanted were great, but most either did not heat enough or were too warm. That wasn¡¯t even the initial plates which had be crushed down because they would burn any surface they were set on. Kaitlyn was improving.


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    The morning was also the rare time Kaitlyn was able to spend away from the hut. She and Javorora went into the woods on a regular basis to look for herbs, mushrooms, or to meet some of the local inhabitants. There were a family of menninkainen, short and stout like the red cap. Fortunately when Javorora introduced Kaitlyn the couple and their four children all greeted the pair.


    The echidna, a half-woman-half-snake became a regular visitor to the hut after meeting Kaitlyn. Vitodora was young for her kind, only about ten feet long, with long black hair she generally kept in tight braids down her back. Once she met Kaitlyn, she began to come to the hut just to be social with others. Many men didn¡¯t trust echidna, the myths said they used the male¡¯s body to host their eggs. However, the presence of a female with venom in her claws and fangs helped to keep some of the more rowdy characters behaved.


    The ogres were farmers. They came to the hut about once a month for a meal. They were not bright, but they were surprisingly kind unless someone threatened them. Kaitlyn even hired them to help Cilvic to expand the garden.


    Afternoons were always busy. The hut was turning into a busy location in the forest and a meeting place. Elves arrived every two or three days, the silver elves had patrols staying every two, three, or four days, while the dark elves were sticklers for every five days. Still, it was nice to see Haytham and Hyacinth twice a month.


    Every day there would be between three and fifteen or so creatures. The days when there were more than ten were difficult. Kaitlyn could develop quite the headache just trying to concentrate on her spells to carry out food and drink to people. The little window would have to be left open just so people could come up and ask for things and then the magical hands carried them to the customer.


    Kaitlyn enjoyed the lively atmosphere when it was about eight. She now had four tables, two could seat three people, one could seat four or five, and the latest table added could seat eight human-sized people. Or four ogres.


    Fortunately, it was only elves and dwarves who ever slept in her yard. Everyone else would come, eat or drink, and then leave again. This meant that as it grew dark, the yard would quiet again. Kaitlyn would get a chance to meditate or read a little before she also went to bed.


    Thus her days in the forest hut were not lonely, except in those quiet minutes as she lay down. This was the only time she could remember home. Several times she tried to write to her family, but she inevitably threw the attempts into the fire. On some nights, this was the time she found tears trickling down her cheeks.


    She missed laying in bed and listening to her older brothers argue or study. She missed her younger sister coming in to snuggle when Adeliz had nightmares. Mostly, Kaitlyn missed her parents.


    Kaitlyn had known leaving her parents would be hard. She had always known that communication would be scarce. Even when she had left with Claus, she had known she would miss them. She had not expected to feel randomly a desire to go find her mother and tell her something. Kaitlyn wished desperately she could show her father how hard she was working.


    Those tears always dried by morning, and Kaitlyn forced herself to get up with the sun. This was the only time she had to try to meditate and explore the threads of the house.

 Chapter 33 Curse Catalysts

    Kaitlyn spent time every day meditating outside and inside. She tried different locations to try to untangle the spells around her house. She had found a few small spells and unraveled them from the knots of spells. There was a spell which defined the garden, and it turned out it did not include the new land she and Cilvic had been working on.


    She carefully marked out the edges of the current land the house saw as ¡°its¡± land. Cilvic helped her track some plants both inside and outside, and they found bugs were less likely to try to attack the plants inside the house¡¯s range, but otherwise they couldn¡¯t tell a big difference.


    Kaitlyn also found a spell which had been entirely disabled. She had been forced to write down the language of the spell and show it to Master Garthis. He tilted his head and said, ¡°Interesting. I don¡¯t recognize the language.¡±


    ¡°Can we translate it?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try a simple translate spell first,¡± he said. This was a spell which was so much more complex than anything Kaitlyn could do yet. She watched in fascination, and she saw when he began adding layers of complexity on top of the spell. He frowned and began adding more layers. She watched as the spell layered at least a hundred times. She also recognized when he added a fae language layer, and then a dragonic layer which she could pick out a few words of.


    He finally broke the spell, looking strained and said, ¡°No, this can¡¯t be translated by spell. It might be an anti-translation written into the spell itself or it might be a feature of the language itself. I¡¯ll take this and contact some mages I know who specialize in languages, we¡¯ll see if we can get it translated. Needless to say, don¡¯t enable that spell until we know what it does.¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded and he said, ¡°I am seeing progress when I look at the house. It still looks like a gods forsaken knot, but more like a knot of yarn than a tangle of prickle bushes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand the difference,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°That¡¯s because it never looked like a prickle bush to you,¡± he pointed out, ¡°it has some kind of defense to prevent me from looking too deeply at it. I almost wish I could have met this witch who lived here. She must have been a genius.¡±


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous and he looked at her and quickly said, ¡°Kailtyn, that isn¡¯t anything about you. You have a depth of power any mage would feel jealous about. As you develop your knowledge, I think you will be amazing. She was probably hundreds of years old when she built this house, you are¡­ twenty?¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± she admitted and felt a little silly for being upset.


    ¡°You have nothing to be ashamed of right now,¡± he said, ¡°Remember, you are doing things that most wizards do only after three or maybe even five decades of building their magic. Your learning is completely different than anything I¡¯ve heard others attempting.¡±


    She took a deep breath and tried to nod, but she then shook her head and said, ¡°Master, how do I get my curse under control so I can go home?¡±


    He folded his hands in front of him and rested his chin on his laced fingers. He finally spoke and said, ¡°There are a few options. I¡¯ve been trying to find out more about unicorns and curses. There is much on the benefits of white unicorns, but the rumors and stories of the black unicorn are more difficult.¡±


    ¡°A unicorn is a well of magic themselves, so the amount of power they might be able to pull on is¡­. well the stories of white unicorns achieving feats few mages could muster even with weeks of work are not unheard of. The spell to revive the dead¡­ it¡¯s common enough for white unicorns to do such things and I know of a few rituals which could accomplish some of what a unicorn does. It would take weeks, even in a mana-rich environment to gather the power.¡±


    Kaitlyn shifted a little and said, ¡°Maybe they do something more efficient?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking into it, but I haven¡¯t found anyone who has ever been able to study unicorns. They don¡¯t like people, even if they will come to the defense of virgins - they defend virgins, and then they leave again.¡±


    ¡°So unicorns are excessively powerful but no one understand them,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°If you want to simplify it all, yes,¡± Master Garthis replied. ¡°So I¡¯ve had more luck with curse magic, but it still may not be as helpful as you were hoping for.¡±


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    ¡°Don¡¯t get my hopes up,¡± Kaitlyn agreed.


    ¡°There are wizards who had studied curses more extensively,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°both for good and for bad reasons.¡±


    ¡°How can a curse be for good?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Curses have two elements,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°a catalyst which activates a response. So one of the ways it has been used positively, is in dealing with sentient creatures who got into¡­. unsavory habits. A dragon who got a little too into human-hunting. In that spell, the wizard set up the catalyst as when the dragon touched a human and the response was for the dragon to fall asleep.¡±


    ¡°So every time the dragon touched a human, bam. Asleep?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± the mage said, ¡°it deterred the dragon from hunting humans. Mostly by making it so every time he fell asleep the humans apparently left him an offering of cattle. When he woke up he ate and went back to his cave. Eventually the dragon just stopped wanting humans because he developed a taste for cows instead.¡±


    ¡°So what is my catalyst?¡± Kaitlyn asked. ¡°What is a catalyst?¡±


    ¡°A catalyst is something that instigates, sorry starts, an event or a chain of events,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Arguably, planting an acorn is the catalyst for a new tree. Extremely simplified example, but it gets the idea across.¡±


    ¡°So¡­. my catalyst is¡­.?¡± Kaitlyn struggled. ¡°I just feel pain constantly¡­ there isn¡¯t a catalyst?¡±


    ¡°There must be a catalyst,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°There is always a catalyst. We just need to identify it and then we can begin to work around it if we have to.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, that dragon could have started using flames to kill humans, but because he wanted to capture them instead¡­¡± the mage said, ¡°the simple catalyst of touching a human could have easily been circumvented. The curse worked to change the dragon¡¯s behavior because the dragon had a precise way of behaving.¡±


    ¡°So I need to try to identify my catalyst,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Could it simply be distance from this place? Since this is where the unicorn cursed me.¡±


    ¡°That would be a simple enough catalyst to test,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°it takes you about three hours to notice the pain, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Linnmell, can you see how far you could carry Kaitlyn in three hours?¡± Master Garthis called over to the dragon.


    She nodded and offered a clawed hand to Kaitlyn to help the girl climb onto her back. Kaitlyn hesitated only a minute and then said, ¡°What if it is distance?¡±


    ¡°I will turn around if you begin to feel pain before three hours,¡± Linnmel said, ¡°Fapallo, climb on with her. If something begins to go wrong faster than she can let me know, you can help us.¡±


    Fapallo nodded and rose from his favorite sunshine location on the roof to climb on his mother¡¯s large back. Kaitlyn climbed up and suddenly realized she had no idea what flying would be like. She bit back a scream when Linnmel launched into the air.


    Kaitlyn clutched Fapallo and fought panic as they climbed above the trees. When Linnmel leveled out hundreds of feet in the air Kaitlyn slowly unclenched to look around. The canopy of trees looked like solid ground from this height.


    They went two hours away and there was still no pain. Kaitly got an appreciation of just how large this forest was. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how she had gotten this far in two days. She was pretty sure it had only been two days she had fled from Claus. Maybe it was three, but regardless how had she covered so much distance?


    As soon as they landed Linnmel said, ¡°It cannot be distance. Two hours away and two hours back, and there was not any pain at all.¡±


    Master Garthis took her hand to help her down from Linnmel¡¯s back and said, ¡°I am sorry, take some time to recover. We¡¯ll keep trying to figure out your catalyst.¡±


    Kaitlyn¡¯s legs were surprisingly shaky. Fapallo whistled, ¡°I¡¯m told it¡¯s the same if you ride a horse all day.¡±


    ¡°Except I am not a horse,¡± Linnmel replied with a slight undertone of a hiss to show her annoyance. Fapallo gave the larger dragon a mischievous grin and quickly took off towards the forest edge. The large dragon gave a half-hearted glare after him and then turned back to Master Garthis.


    ¡°Well, if distance is not a catalyst, that might be a good thing,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°When we do determine your catalyst you may be able to take trips away from this hut.¡±


    ¡°What else could be a catalyst?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Anything really,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°this will definitely require that we spend time experimenting with various catalyst which exist around here. A catalyst can either be something you require, like drinking from this well, or something which you trigger when you do something or encounter something.¡±


    ¡°So it might be that there is something in the forest which I encounter and acts as a catalyst when I try to leave on foot?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± the wizard said, ¡°that is certainly possible.¡±


    ¡°Master, why would the unicorn want to trap me here?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that either,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Honestly, the motives of this unicorn have to be one of the most baffling elements of this entire mystery. It keeps you alive but might be torturing you constantly if you had not been fortunate enough to be in a house that can leech the pain from you.¡±


    ¡°Could the unicorn have known the house could do this?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, until you started fueling the spells again with your magic, it just looked like an abandoned hut,¡± Master Garthis said, shaking his head.


    Kaitlyn shivered a little and for a moment considered asking Linnmel to carry her far away, regardless of the risks. This house and this curse scared her. There were a lot of things which felt contradictory. Master Garthis stood and said, ¡°Well, I am sorry we could not get more done today Kaitlyn, I¡¯ll try to come in just a few days because otherwise it might be two or three weeks.¡±

 Chapter 34 Woven Witches

    When temperatures began to drop, the popularity of the tavern grew. Kaitlyn struggled to manage her time as more people began sleeping in the area she kept warm. She began allowing some people to pay to sleep inside the main room, pushing the tables to a side in the evening and moving them back in the morning.


    Vegetables became a quality trade item, and Fapallo¡¯s hunting mandatory for them to feed the growing numbers of people. Master Garthis brought her more rabbits, and Cilvic spent most of his day in the gardens tending plants. He called on Kaitlyn regularly to help manage the plants.


    It was during one of these gardening sessions she unlocked an important piece of her magical skill. She no longer kept her flame spell up all time, but sometimes brought it up as a mental exercise to see how fast she could weave it and unweave. She was doing this while gardening when she realized she was staring at the flame and seeing the threads.


    She sat up on her knees and stared as she mentally wove the flame spell together, watching the threads form, solidify and ignite with flame. She took it apart until the flame disappeared. She wove it different shapes and grinned as she created a whip of fire in the air, and then a fence, and finally a dome.


    She unraveled the flame and turned to the house. Now that she could see the weaves of magic, she began in the kitchen, then the main room, and finally the cellar and identified several points where the magic tied to her. She was about to do more examination when Javorora poked her head in the cellar and said, ¡°Umm, Kaitlyn? Are you ok?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said absently.


    ¡°Are you sure? You haven¡¯t made bread yet,¡± Javorora had a little pout. ¡°It¡¯s almost lunch and the folks up here say they haven¡¯t seen you all morning.¡±


    ¡°I was¡­ I found something,¡± Kaitlyn said, lifting the thread of magic with her hand. Now that she could see it, she found several threads which she had never been able to feel blindly.


    Javorora said something else, but Kaitlyn didn¡¯t hear, and for the moment she didn¡¯t care about the tavern, the patrons, or even her friend. She was on to something important. She found a knot in the cellar near where she had placed the still. She couldn¡¯t feel it, but now she could see it.


    Circling it like a cat circling a mouse, she didn¡¯t touch it for the moment. Some of the threads were black, some blue, and several were transparent. The transparent ones were the most difficult because the only way she could really follow them was how they interacted with the others. They weren¡¯t invisible, but they were clear. Now that she knew they were there and interacting with the other magic threads, she was determined to figure them out.


    Master Garthis arrived and found her floating in the center of the tavern room, Javorora, Fapallo and Cilvic trying to manage patrons. At Fapallo and Javorora¡¯s insistence, the brownie had been convinced to call the master wizard. He stared at Kaitlyn and asked, ¡°How long has she been there?¡±


    ¡°Since just after lunch,¡± Fapallo told him. ¡°Is she¡­ she won¡¯t respond to us?¡±


    Master Garthis unfocused his eyes and stared at the mass of magic around her. It wasn¡¯t a ball of yarn, it was a small mountain and she was in the center, pulling threads towards herself. He quickly opened his eyes and said, ¡°Get everyone out. The tavern is closed until further notice. Javorora, go home. Stay in your tree until I send you word it¡¯s safe. Cilvic please return to the manor house with Fapallo and Linnmel.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Cilvic asked, ¡°is the house hurting her? I will use my magic¡­.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± the master snapped, ¡°any other magic might hurt her. She is doing something and I don¡¯t dare interrupt her. There is too much magic here for any of you to stay, I would be worried it might hurt you. Tell those outside they will need to stay away until warnings are removed.¡±


    ¡°What warnings?¡± Javorora looked at her friend in worry.


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    ¡°I will go and set warnings,¡± Master Garthis said and shooed everyone outside.


    Once outside the bounds of the house, Master Garthis began crafting his warning spells, alerting from literally every side, including above in the air, that this house was in a state of magical quarantine.


    Cilvic was the one who stomped over and said, ¡°Now explain what is happening to my chosen human and home.¡±


    Master Garthis looked and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure. She is pulling all the threads in the house to her. I have seen mages casting spells where the magic builds around them like that and then¡­ sometimes they explode. I have no idea if that will happen here because she isn¡¯t building the magic, but I also don¡¯t know what she might uncover and¡­ I can¡¯t protect all of you.¡±


    ¡°Can you protect her?¡± Fapallo demanded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Master Garthis said honestly. ¡°I will do my utmost, but she is dealing with magic neither of us entirely understand. She has already found several spells in this house we couldn¡¯t identify and in languages which resist translation.¡±


    ¡°Can you help her?¡± Javorora asked meekly.


    Master Garthis looked at the house and the dryad knew he was trying to decide. He finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I am going to try. She is¡­ something truly unique and if the world lost her now when she¡¯s just coming into her own I would¡­ never forgive myself if I didn¡¯t try. Fapallo, please go with Cilvic and Linnmel. Javorora, go home and wait. I will do everything I can. Even if it isn¡¯t much.¡±


    Inside the house Kaitlyn had found a vein of spells woven together like a rope. She pulled on them and they resisted her. She narrowed her eyes and looked more intently at the rope. It resisted because it was larger around that her own body, many of the threads those translucent strands of power.


    She stood and began following the giant root of magic. Around her the house seemed to rippled and shift, turning again into the palace she had seen before. Rooms larger than her childhood home were filled with strands of magic. She waded into one of these, following the massive spell rope. Some of the spells began to unravel when she touched them. She looked at them, now the she could easily see them.


    Several of the spells were spells of coercion. When she read their descriptions to bind words and dreams to sap the strength and¡­. potential from the victims she was disgusted. Taking them apart however sometimes meant seeing what the spells had wrought. Kaitlyn saw the witch as a younger creature, still a mature woman past child-bearing years, but younger than the shriveled creature who had left this house in this forest to wither and die.


    The witch was beautiful. A massive woman both in height and girth, she stood nearly twice Kaitlyn¡¯s height with hair as red as a sunset. The woman wore a robe of grey and gold brocade with some kind of blue fur trim at her wrists, ankles and neck. On her head was an amazing, huge, glossy blue fur, fluffy hat. In her nose was a giant sapphire with a gold chain which hung from her nose and connected to a massive gold hoop in her left ear. Each hand had rings of gold with gems of almost every color. In front of the witch were figures without faces or concrete forms. Kaitlyn could sense these were people who had come to this witch.


    Kaitlyn couldn¡¯t get details of these people, their impressions on the house were vague at best and the figures merged and wavered whenever Kaitlyn tried to look at them. Vast amounts of threads split from the house¡¯s giant rope to these people, frayed edges abounding among them. She began to carefully remove those strings, cutting some and simply pulling the rotting spell edges from the house¡¯s rope.


    The room began to fade, slowly shifting from a throne room until it was a long wooden room. The witch changed as well, loosing the grandeur of the robe, hat, and gems, except for one ring which held an emerald. This ring sat on the long table in front of the red-haired woman who faced an ancient crone with white hair and gnarled hands. Kaitlyn tried to step towards the image, but ran into a weave of translucent threads of magic.


    This is my house wench. Made from my bones and the blood of my veins.


    Then I know how to control it mother. Your blood, my blood, your bones and my bones.


    The giant rope was rooted out of this tapestry, and Kaitlyn knew she didn¡¯t know enough to understand what it meant. If she destroyed it, would the house collapse? If she kept it, could she learn to control the house?


    She ran her hands over the translucent threads, trying to find a beginning. She didn¡¯t feel it at first, but slowly pain began to build in her joints. She became slowly aware and wondered what had changed. What had caused the house to fail in its magical protections against her curse?


    The slice on her hand shocked her, and she drew back in surprise. Pricks along her back made her stop and she saw she was enclosed with more prickled threads. While she had been snipping off old and unused spell threads, somehow she had been encased in translucent and dangerous threads.


    She turned in a slow circle, using her magical sight and her magical senses to find she was well and truly trapped. She couldn¡¯t see the witches any more, but she could see that emerald ring on the table. Just on the other side of the tapestry. A tapestry which cut when she touched it.

 Chapter 35 Magics Price

    Blood dripped from the walls. Kaitlyn shuddered as she began to try to delicately pull a hole in the tapestry, but every time she touched it, she got cut again. The threads grew slick with blood and slippery. A massive gash on her forearm made her stop. This wasn¡¯t working.


    Every hole she started began closing instantly she took her hand away. She somehow knew, instinctually or through some commune with the house itself that the green ring was important. A thread tried to wrap around her leg, slicing her calf deeply and nearly dropping her. She cried out in pain and for a moment felt panicked to think it was eating her.


    She had not realized she feared the house this much. This house had been built on bones and blood. This house which was filled with unknown spells doing things she didn¡¯t control and didn¡¯t understand. She hated this house.


    Anger and fear seeped into her through every cut. She was angry at Claus. She was angry at the black unicorn who had cursed her. She wailed as the fury filled her.


    Pain continued to grow as the threads tightened, more and more cuts slicing her through her clothes. A thread wrapped around her throat and she relived the memories.


    Claus swung the club with surprising control. Enough to bruise, enough to jerk Kaitlyn from her toes and jerk her arms at the shoulder. Not enough to break bones. Two men held her leg while he pulled out her toe nails. She screamed.


    She screamed into the darkness, wishing desperately for the escape of unconsciousness but when it came they put something in her mouth and cool liquid seeped down her throat. She was forced awake again.


    Claus slapped her, hard. She glared at him and said, ¡°How long have you planned this?¡±


    ¡°We talked about how much money we could make on our way out of the kingdom,¡± he said calmly, washing some blood from his hands. ¡°We all dreamed of hunting the mythic beasts that roam this forest, but you can¡¯t go far from the road without running into elves or other monsters.¡±


    He went to the fire and got a hot iron rod. He brought it to her and said, ¡°One unicorn is all we need my love.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t love me,¡± she wailed.


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± he whispered and put the iron against her thigh. Kaitlyn screamed.


    A ringing almost song-like sound echoed across the clearing. The beautiful beast which bounded towards them was like a miracle out of a dream. White as fresh snow, almost glowing with the moonlight¡¯s reflection. A mane of glowing white almost looked like flames. Long, slender, almost delicate legs with tufts of white flame-shaped fetlock hair. The tail looked too long for the body, slender like a cat¡¯s except for the white hair at the end of it.


    The bright horn blazed with light as the unicorn rushed towards Kaitlyn. It lept as it approached and the horn sliced the rope holding her up. At the pinnacle of the jump, bolts seemed to sprout from neck, chest, and haunches. The unicorn squealed in pain and fell to the side.


    Ignoring her own pain, Kaitlyn crawled to the creature, tears streaming down her face. She cradled the unicorn¡¯s head saying, ¡°No. No. No.¡±


    The words were almost incomprehensible. The poor beast thrashed once, a whimpering whine. The horn nicked her chin, but warmth flooded even as it did and the wound healed. Many of her wounds healed, her toenails growing back and her burned thigh closing.


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    ¡°Please don¡¯t die,¡± Kaitlyn whispered. ¡°Get away. Get away¡­¡±


    She tried to return the healing magic to the unicorn through will alone, silver blood covering her hands as she tried to stop the unicorn¡¯s blood. Claus knelt beside her and heartlessly slit the creature¡¯s throat. Kaitlyn screamed.


    Kaitlyn screamed as the memories of the wounds she had collected over her life hit her. She gasped for breath as she pried the thread of magic from her throat. She tried to reach for the emerald ring, but even putting her arm up to the shoulder, it was out of reach. She began to tear at the tapestry of magic pushing through the hole.


    Kaitlyn¡¯s grandmother was sometimes called wise. She was sometimes called witch. She lived in the old farmhouse outside of town with Kaitlyn¡¯s uncle, aunt, and cousins. When Kaitlyn visited, her grandmother often told her of the history of the women of the family, including that they were gifted with herbs.


    The green plants seemed brighter after grandmother handled them. When Kaitlyn was eight she spent the summer out on the farm with these relatives. Her grandmother taught her about plants, telling her how ginger soothed a stomach and mint and honey as a cream for the skin.


    Kaitlyn¡¯s grandmother had been missing two knuckles of her ring finger on her right hand. That summer she told Kaitlyn she had traded that finger for a spell. She had met with a fae in the woods and in order to save Kaitlyn¡¯s mother¡¯s life, the old woman had traded that finger for the spell to heal her daughter.


    Kaitlyn¡¯s aunt shook her head and said, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t tell such stories to Kaitlyn. She is oft to believe you.¡±


    ¡°As you should child,¡± grandmother said. ¡°Your mother was just a mite older than you are now and dying of the wasting pox. I traded this finger for the spell to save her life and though I think it meant I had no more children either and came into magic early, it¡¯s why you live today. Never forget magic has a price and you must be ready to pay it.¡±


    Magic¡¯s price was about to be Kaitlyn¡¯s life. Blood flowed from a hundred cuts on her chest, neck, arms and shoulders. Her clothing was soaked red as the sharp threads of magic attempted to strangle her. She scrambled her hand on the table, the old, bent witch woman watching her while talking to the red-haired witch.


    ¡°This can be yours,¡± the witch woman said, ¡°but this takes it¡¯s payment in one way or another.¡±


    ¡°I know how to pay for the power,¡± the red-haired woman said.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure you believe that,¡± the old witch said with a bit of a cackle.


    ¡°Don¡¯t toy with me crone,¡± the beautiful red-head said. ¡°I have defeated you.¡±


    ¡°Me, yes,¡± the crone cackled again, ¡°and I hope you can defeat her too, because she will be a far more challenging opponent.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± the younger witch demanded.


    The crone waved a hand around her head and said, ¡°Her, of course.¡±


    ¡°The house is not alive,¡± the red-haired witch had almost a rough growl to her tone.


    ¡°No, she is not,¡± the crone said, ¡°but she is. She is the one you must truly conquer to come into all my powers. Blood of my blood and bone of my bone. Put on the ring and you will be witch of this place. You will be mistress of all you see.¡±


    The crone seemed to look past the red-haired woman as she said, ¡°What price are you going to pay her?¡±


    Kaitlyn¡¯s finger touched the ring, it was like there was a whirlwind of the words repeating around her over and over, ¡°Price. What price. Pay a price.¡±


    ¡°My price is that I won¡¯t burn you down you ungrateful bitch,¡± Kaitlyn growled. ¡°I will fight my curse myself. I will learn the magic I need. I will not be trapped by a house asking me to do evil.¡±


    Kaitlyn was jerked backwards by the hair, her finger losing the ring as she stretched. She basically screamed, reaching until she was sure her joints would pop out of place. She felt the ring on her middle finger. It burned her until she thought she would lose all the flesh on it.


    For a heartbeat she remembered her grandmother¡¯s knuckled finger, and the price to save someone else. Would she pay something similar to save herself?


    Her ring finger brushed the gold metal and cool, refreshing waves almost made Kaitlyn black out. She stretched with every ounce of will and strength she had as her finger closed on the ring, pulling it with her ring finger to cup inside the palm of her hand.


    She fell. And fell. And fell.

 Chapter 36 In the darkness

    The bottom of the house was deep, dark, and cold. Kaitlyn lay still for a long time when she landed. The sensation of falling had lasted long enough for her mind to accept inevitable death. When she realized there was something solid under her spine, for a long moment her mind would not accept her own survival.


    Hurting to breathe convinced her she was still alive. Probably alive. She clutched to her chest her right hand, the ring slipped onto her finger but not all the way to the bottom of her knuckles. She lay panting. She couldn¡¯t feel cuts on her skin from the thorn-like magic. She couldn¡¯t see or sense any threads.


    There was a presence down here. It wasn¡¯t oppressive, but it was large and heavy. Kaitlyn lay on the floor, just letting herself breathe and trying to figure out how she was going to get out of here.


    Put on the ring.


    She held the ring up to try to look at it, but she couldn¡¯t see anything. She tried to conjure her flame to see it, but when she tugged on her magic she found herself empty. She had never been empty before. She had been tired or mentally worn out. Her magic had never been empty before. Master Garthis had warned her of this a long time ago. Pushing now could kill her. She could easily kill herself. Trying to weave a spell now was a good way to lose control of the magic.


    Put on the ring.


    The floor wasn¡¯t dirt, maybe it was some kind of stone. Kaitlyn slowly sat up and tried to look around where she was. It was totally dark. There did not seem to be any difference between her eyes being open or closed. She tried several times to experience the effect, or the lack of effect. It was oddly fascinating to experience such total darkness.


    Put on the ring.


    This time she used her hands to feel the ring. It was a fairly simple band with a gem she knew was an emerald. Around the emerald were stylized symbols. She couldn¡¯t see them, but by feel she could tell one was a letter in fae. Master Garthis had taught her a word or two of that language which were usually warnings. Their words tended to present as symbols, an entire word or concept presented by a single character. This character was one she knew, ¡°Danger.¡±


    Put on the ring.


    The cold was seeping into her bones, so she carefully stood. She didn¡¯t feel any walls around her as far as she could reach and she wouldn¡¯t just wander around when she couldn¡¯t see anything. She held the ring and slid her left foot forward, making sure both that there was a floor and no hole and that there was not an obvious wall she would run into. She moved forward slowly, sliding one foot forward at a time, feeling her way. She began to shiver.


    Put on the ring.


    Kaitlyn¡¯s stomach growled. How long had she been here? What was happening to Fapallo, Javorora, and Cilvic? Had they called Master Garthis? She tried calling out to them, ¡°Fapallo? Fapallo! Help me Fapallo!¡±


    Put on the ring.


    ¡°Master Garthis! I need your help, I¡¯m lost!¡± She almost screamed.


    Put on the ring.


    ¡°No!¡± she yelled into the darkness.


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    Put on the ring.


    Kaitlyn fingered the ring. She was afraid of it. She had to admit it that she was afraid to put on the ring. She leaned down and put it on the ground. She shook violently, her hand hovering over it with a near-compulsion to hold onto the ring.


    Put. On. The. Ring.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Kaitlyn whispered the word this time. She slowly lifted her hand and stepped back, away from where she put it. She spoke into the darkness, ¡°I don¡¯t want to control this house. I don¡¯t want to be a witch. I have to be a witch.¡±


    She took a deep breath as the temperature in the room dropped again. She felt certain if she could see, she would see her breath in front of her mouth. She rubbed her arms, feeling a fear that was both from inside herself and all around her.


    Please.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need a witch,¡± Kaitlyn whispered, beginning to shiver. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be a witch¡¯s hut.¡±


    A loneliness she had felt before bombarded her. Decades of loneliness. Centuries of fear and hope, longing and hate. Threaded throughout all of this was a longing and loneliness. Kaitlyn wondered if the house was alive after all this time. Master Garthis had said so many times it was impossible, even the most advanced golems were never completely sentient and alive. They followed a set of rules determined by the spells that created them.


    Kaitlyn understood that loneliness to a depth she hardly wanted to acknowledge. When she had lived at home she sometimes felt that loneliness even when her family was all present. They didn¡¯t understand her then. They could no longer understand her now. How would they feel about a daughter who was friends with a dryad, werewolves, elves and dragons? How could she ever feel like she belonged anywhere ever again?


    It wasn¡¯t fair. Even Javorora knew there were other dryads in the world. The elves and satyrs lived in communities with their own kind. Kaitlyn didn¡¯t have her own kind. She was forever alone in her solitude. Like this house, alone because there was no other like her.


    Put on the ring.


    The spells that created a thing governed it. Kaitlyn knelt on the ground and scrambled forward until her hand touched the ring. For a moment the compulsion almost won.


    Put on the ring.


    If she put on this ring, this hut would be hers. She could make it into anything she wanted, things she had seen when she delved deep into its magical workings. A palace. A sorceress¡¯s perfect place to perfect her magic. Tapping into the roots of magic in the very world to do her bidding.


    It was tempting. If she was powerful enough she could go home and help her family. She could make sure they never suffered again. She could help her brothers become lords or even princes. There was a reason tales spoke of young men rising to marry a princess. Magic could open those doors.


    Put on the ring.


    Again she felt the symbols on it, squeezing her eyes closed tightly as she concentrated on her sense of touch. She pressed the ring into the soft flesh of her forearm to try a different approach. The second symbol was either something she didn¡¯t know or ¡°branch.¡± A dangerous branch? A branch of danger?


    Put on the ring.


    Put. On. The. Ring.


    PUT ON THE RING.


    She put the ring in her mouth, using her tongue to feel the next symbol. It didn¡¯t help and the dust and metal taste off the ring made her gag a little. She shivered, desperately trying to ignore the plea. The demand. The longing.


    She sat down and using her left thumb she mimicked the symbol with her right finger on the floor, trying to envision the symbol as she drew it. She gasped as she realized it was ¡°witch.¡±


    Put on the ring.


    The fourth symbol completely eluded her. She had no idea what it might be, even when she was confident she had figured out what it might look like. It wasn¡¯t a symbol she had been taught. She expected it was important, but she didn¡¯t have time to figure it out. She would have to guess.


    Trying to build a spell was a stupid idea. She knew this was dangerous, but she also knew that her lack of shivering any more was just as dangerous. Her hunger and thirst were dangerous. How long had she been in this darkness?


    She carefully used threads of magic, the smallest threads she could control. This was not like anything Master Garthis had really taught her, but she used elements of the flame spell to soften the metal while at the same time she used the plant spell which allowed her to direct growth. She concentrated the way she did when working with clay. She turned fae symbols into simple words.


    Welcome. Protect. Travel. Grow.


    Kaitlyn put on the ring.

 Chapter 37 Winter Outside

    Javorora prowled the edge of the markings. She was exhausted, it was winter and she was supposed to be asleep. But she couldn¡¯t sleep right now. She was too afraid for her friend.  It was barely a hundred yards, but the orange line Master Garthis had drawn on the ground was needed.


    She had already tried once to cross that near-invisible line to approach the house she could just barely see through the trees. She had been driven back almost instantly by the thorns which grew up in front of her legs, even with her bark-like legs it cut and sliced her. She didn¡¯t bleed easily, but it was like barbs of iron rather than plants. They only looked like plants.


    From the other directions three figures approached. Haytham and Hyacinth walked together, not touching but clearly supportive of each other. From the other side Rashir the werewolf walked, his head turned slightly to watch the house as he walked, edging the orange just like Javorora had.


    ¡°Anything?¡± Javorora asked them as they approached.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a ring around and each place we tried to enter has traps or visions or¡­ well it¡¯s clear nothing should be getting in,¡± Hyacinth said, staring at the house with an expression of worry.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Rashir asked. ¡°What caused this?¡±


    ¡°Kaitlyn found something I think,¡± Haytham said. ¡°Master Garthis says the lines of magic are shifting all over the house.¡±


    ¡°Is he coming back?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°He said not until one of his spells either wears out or tells him the house is safe,¡± Hyacinth said gently, ¡°there is no point until this¡­ stops.¡±


    ¡°What about Kaitlyn? She might be hurt¡­ hungry¡­¡± Javorora¡¯s lips trembled as she fought back her tears. Hyacinth came and hugged the dryad.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Hyacinth said.


    ¡°I shall watch,¡± Rashir said, ¡°My pack and I will come by as much as we can and if anything changes I will come and tell you.¡±


    Javorora nodded with a definitely morose expression. She slowly began trudging back to her tree, sniffling a little as she went. She wanted to be here for her friend. She was worried Kaitlyn would come out of this hurt again and need help. She didn¡¯t want to go to sleep for the winter and wake up to learn she might never see her friend again.


    Hyacinth caught up with her and said, ¡°If we haven¡¯t seen changes by midwinter, I will come and bring you some cake.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Hyacinth,¡± Javorora said and continued her trudging pace towards her tree. When she arrived she stepped up against the trunk and sank into her tree, allowing it to wrap around her with love and sleepy cool winter sap.


    Hyacinth rejoined Haytham and stood for a long time shoulder-to-shoulder with him looking in the direction of the house. She looked at him and said ,¡±This place has been important to our relationship.¡±


    ¡°What relationship? We fight and we¡­¡± he said.


    ¡°We debate,¡± Hyacinth interrupted, ¡°and we make love. For your love for me is undeniable.¡±


    ¡°I think thee have confused love with something else,¡± Haytham said.


    ¡°You continue to speak in untruths to try to annoy me,¡± Hyacinth said, ¡°but I speak only the truth. If we do not have this place to meet and bond, it will be painful.¡±


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    He didn¡¯t reply with words but silently put his hand in hers and leaned his head on her shoulder. She sighed and said, ¡°And the lie I will speak is that we are strong enough to wait.¡±


    ¡°Mistress Kaitlyn won¡¯t make us wait long,¡± Haytham said, ¡°and that is a truth I believe. She¡¯ll be back before we know it.¡±


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Hyacinth barely whispered, and then turned and kissed Haytham with a fierce passion she rarely displayed.


    Rashir sat at the base of a tree and looked into the forest, his back to the direction of the house. He couldn¡¯t bear to look at it any more. Born werewolves could choose when they shifted and he considered turning into a wolf just to avoid being able to see as well as a human, but then he would smell like a wolf. The smell coming out of the house was¡­ always intoxicating.


    The entire pack basically drooled when they even mentioned her bread. Her stew recipes had been replicated for the pack enough that they argued which of her recipes to cook on any given night. They ate more vegetables than they ever had before and often found they all were healthier for it. Komas hadn¡¯t had a toothache in over a month.


    It might be her kindness that made him want to be around her. It might be the others around her, Fapallo¡¯s sense of humor, Master Garthis¡¯s knowledge. As he sat he noticed a group of satyrs walking towards the hut. They passed right by Master Garthis¡¯s spell warning flashing symbols and playing a warning note.


    He transformed into a half-wolf form and loped over to them, growling in frustration. He called, ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°We honor the treaty, this is neutral ground beastman,¡± the satyr said. ¡°Go away and let us go get some mead.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t fools,¡± Rashir said with a deep growl. ¡°Did you not see the warnings?¡±


    ¡°Those must be for others, we keep the treaty,¡± the satyr said.


    ¡°No,¡± Rashir said, ¡°there is dangerous magic at work and makes the tavern unavailable.¡±


    ¡°When will it be done?¡±


    ¡°No one knows,¡± Rashir said.


    ¡°We will tell others,¡± the satyr turned and left. Rashir watched them leave, worried whether any of this was the right thing.


    He looked up in time to see the large dragonic form fly over the trees. Master Garthis had arrived. Rashir took off towards the wizard, curious what he was going to do.


    Master Garthis was setting up a table and setting spell ingredients on it. Clearly, her was going to study this magic as well. Rashir sat back on his haunches to watch the wizard work. he started by throwing a rock towards the house. Then the wizard levitated rocks into the space. He sent a rabbit in. He threw herbs and several different potions. After each thing, the wizard wrote in a notebook.


    Rashir shifted back and asked, ¡°Can you get to her?¡±


    The wizard whirled and jumped back, raising both arms with a shout. He put a hand on his chest and said, ¡°Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sneaking,¡± Rashir said, ¡°I have been here for at least half an hour watching you throw things.¡±¡¯


    ¡°The threads of magic are¡­ there is definitely a pattern to them,¡± Master Garthis said thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s a massive spell, and I can¡¯t find a source of the magic. This can¡¯t just be Kaitlyn. I think.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡±


    ¡°Her power being unlocked the way it was¡­ she was as strong as most mages get only after a century or more of study and practice,¡± Master Garthis said, tapping his lip with a finger, ¡°and she¡¯s been here over a year, practicing while this house is¡­ siphoning power from her.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying she could be that powerful?¡± Rashir asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Master Garthis said more firmly as he looked at something he could see but Rashir couldn¡¯t, ¡°not this powerful. This level of power¡­ I could guide this much power but I don¡¯t think there is a single creature that creates this kind of power.¡±


    ¡°What is happening in there?¡± Rashir asked.


    ¡°I wish I knew,¡± Master Garthis said, a wistful tone in his voice. ¡°She must be seeing some amazing magic and I just hope she can describe it to me when she comes out.¡±


    ¡°So you aren¡¯t worried she¡¯ll starve or anything?¡± Rashir asked.


    Master Garthis scoffed and said, ¡°The house isn¡¯t going to let her starve when it still has plenty of food stores. Now, if it¡¯s still inaccessible come spring I might get worried.¡±


    ¡°Why does everyone keep talking about this like she will be gone for months and months?¡± Rashir grumbled.


    ¡°Big magic takes time,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what magic Kaitlyn is wrapped up in right now, but she found something big. I¡¯m so jealous.¡±


    Rashir looked at the wizard in shock and said, ¡°Jealous?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°Kaitlyn is getting to experience so much while she is young. I only wish I could be there with her to see it.¡±


    Rashir shook his head and resumed his wolf form. If it might be months, he wanted to make sure his pack was taken care of and could manage to help with other fools like the satyrs who might ignore the warnings. All they could do is wait.

 Chapter 38 Midwinters Day

    On midwinter¡¯s day, already short and cold, there was an extremely rare double eclipse. The smaller moon crossed in front of the sun in the morning. The larger moon blocked it in the afternoon. It basically felt like a day of darkness from beginning to end. Magical creatures hunkered down, feeling a drain on their magic as the moons pulled magic high into the atmosphere.


    Kaitlyn woke in her own bed. The bed Haytham and the dark elves had gifted her. She was naked in her covers. Every muscle stiff and sore. She slowly sat up and for a long time stared at her hands. It took a few moments for it to register. She had on her right hand an emerald ring. Delicate filigree words formed both the circle of the ring and the clasp for the gem. Welcome and Protect formed the ring itself, while Travel and Grow acted as the filigree clasps around the gem.


    She slowly lifted her hand to look at the ring more closely. It wasn¡¯t perfect. It looked like the person writing the words had a jerky, almost slashing motion rather than a smooth curve. If she had been able to spend more time, she would have liked to do a prettier job, but it had been a solution under pressure.


    Kaitlyn slowly stood and moved to the wardrobe. She stopped. This wasn¡¯t her room. It was her bed. In a different room. This room had stone floors with a lovely blue rug with large yellow flowers woven in it. A big fireplace dominated one wall, a bright fire crackling and dancing merrily. A huge copper tub stood near the fireplace. Two tall back chairs with a table stood to the other side.


    Kaitlyn turned in a circle, admiring the tapestries on the wall. She had never actually owned a tapestry before, although her mother had made them on her loom. Neither tapestry displayed the usual kind of images, instead consisting of calming waves of blues, greens, with threads of yellow or gold. The pattern was both intricate and very soothing.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    The clothing in the wardrobe was wonderfully simple, skirts and blouses, warm parkas, gloves and a pair of tall boots. Kaitlyn dressed and hurried out of her room. She was right next to the kitchen now, tucked behind a stairway to a second story. The kitchen was larger, with enough room for two work tables and ovens on each side of the oversized fireplace.


    The tavern¡¯s main room was also larger. A huge fireplace dominated the center of the room, the stones creating four arches to allow access, the chimney stones looking like a spiral of white in dark rocks. Kaitlyn could not begin to guess at the kinds of rocks, neither were something she recognized.


    Several smaller tables stood along one side, a long trestle table with several benches stood near the front of the room. It was certainly a comfortable tavern room for a strange variety of guests considering the odd chair sizes which sat along the far wall.


    She stepped outside and found the front yard also changed. The well now stood to one side, a low stone wall around the edge of the property about waist height. She smiled and turned to admire her house. Her house.


    It was still a hut, barely larger than before, but sturdier now. The walls were no longer crumbling stone,but instead firm and clean wattle and wood. Windows stood on either side of the door which was nestled on a cute little porch. The thatch was taller now, and windows stood on either side, with a small gabled window poking out of the front. It was still a house too small outside for the space inside.


    Kaitlyn reached out with her magic and touched the wooden frame next to the door. Using flame, she carved a symbol on the wood. A large black kettle, the traditional image associated with a witch, but the smoke shaped a loaf of bread. Kaitlyn lifted her hand from the stone and smiled, ¡°Welcome home.¡±

 Update: Running Behind

    I am running behind on where I wanted to be for arc 2.  Unfortunately, the year is getting away with me with circumstances beyond my control.


    My 17 year old cat is dying. Which (when I feel logical) is a "oh, right duh he''s OLD" but he''s also been in my life for seventeen years and trying to imagine life without him is a bit like imagining life without my hand.  He has lost 1/2 a pound (8.9 oz)  in about 6 weeks and his blood work went from "normal for old man" to "stage 3 (out of 4) kidney disease."  I both wasn''t surprised (he''s lost a LOT of weight quickly) and was devastated. And hanging in the back of my head, I also have his sister (also 17!) who has had kidney disease at level 1 (now level 2) and they are a bonded pair.  I am terrified I''m going to lose her too.


    AND my job exploded.  Not literally but kind of strongly figuratively.  I support an internal system at work and we generally get 1-3 requests a month for new work.  Either a new long-term (internal) client or a one-time project.  Since Oct 1st we''ve gotten 27.  And 8 of them last week.  Like my boss and I (the only 2 supporting this system!) sat down last week and wrote all this out and HIS boss is running this MASSIVE LEAP IN VOLUME up to leadership.  Historically, we aren''t allowed to say no to helping people with this system.  We are the last and only option.  But.... we are 2 people.  And if not for some amazing organization and reminder systems my boss uses we would be dropping things left and right at the moment.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    The only reason I don''t feel like I''m drowning at work is that I know my boss and his boss 100% have my back, know the effort we are putting in, and are aware this is not normal.  But I am exhausted at the end of every day and I have been putting in some hours.  And trying to be an adult on top of that. And a mom.  And. And. And.....


    So I think I wrote a total 800 words last week and I was proud of it.


    I am going to start posting chapters in January.  Come hell or high water and when you hit my wall.... well, the posts will get sporadic and I''m sorry.

 2.1 Waking Up Again

    The fire was slowly starting in the fireplace. Kaitlyn rubbed her hands together, shaking with cold. She tried again to form the little flame spell she knew. Her magic spluttered and died, but a spark landed on the kindling and flickered.


    She gasped and carefully began blowing towards the flame, shivering as it built into a small flame. She grabbed a small stick and fed it into the flame. Kaitlyn pulled her blanket around her shoulders and waited. Slowly, the natural flame grew.


    Kaitlyn set her arms on the hearth and closed her eyes. She sought her magic. She tugged for a thread, anything. Pain lanced across her skull making her wince. She was well and truly empty of magic. She sank her head against her arms, resting on the cold hearth.


    The door flew open, a figure stood against the light from outside. Kaitlyn turned her head to see and lifted her head with a tentative smile. She recognized the form, even if she couldn¡¯t see Javorora¡¯s face with the light behind her.


    The dryad was small, perfectly shaped woman. Barely a meter tall, Javorora¡¯s hair was brown and grey this time of year. The little woman raced forward with a wordless cry and threw her arms around Kaitlyn¡¯s neck. The human woman wrapped her arms around the dryad, feeling the oddly soft bark-looking skin.


    Javorora pulled back and held Kaitlyn¡¯s face in her hands, ¡°You look awful! Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°No mana,¡± Kaitlyn mumbled. ¡°Exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your mirror, Master Garthis should be here helping you,¡± Javorora said.


    ¡°Can¡¯t find it,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°House¡­. I think the house hid it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can¡­. woah¡± Javorora stopped and stared at the room, finally looking around for the first time. ¡°Your house¡­ Kaitlyn, what happened to it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s mine,¡± Kaitlyn muttered.


    Javorora found the kitchen door. She disappeared and Kaitlyn added a small log to her weak fire. She sat staring at the flames, letting the dancing red and yellow tendrils mesmerize her. When Javorora returned, Kaitlyn was in a doze. Javorora put the mirror in her hands and said, ¡°Ok, call Master Garthis.¡±


    Kaitlyn stared at the little silver mirror and thought of her master. Her mind was fuzzy with exhaustion, and Javorora finally sat down next to her. The dryad began rubbing Kaitlyn¡¯s arms and said, ¡°Master Garthis said it doesn¡¯t take any mana, you just have to concentrate a little. Can you focus on him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kaitlyn admitted, ¡°I just¡­ need sleep.¡±


    ¡°Please Kaitlyn,¡± Javorora said, ¡°I think you need to let him know you¡¯re ok. We¡¯ve all been so worried about you. Master Garthis¡­. he¡¯s really been very worried.¡±


    Slowly, Kaitlyn tried again. She looked at the mirror and looked at her own reflection. The dark brown eyes were sunken and ringed with darkened, almost bruised looking skin. Her silver hair hung around her face in long, greasy strands. Her lips were almost a gray color and cracked. She slowly took a deep breath and tried to focus on her own eyes.


    ¡°Master Garthis,¡± she whispered, then she murmured the foreign words he had taught her so long ago. A face appeared, a brownie Kaitlyn didn¡¯t know. It squealed and ran off from the mirror. A few moments later Master Garthis appeared.


    ¡°Kaitlyn!¡± he cried.


    ¡°Oh Master Garthis!¡± Javorora said, grabbing the mirror as Kaitlyn slouched onto the hearth. ¡°Kaitlyn in back. The hut¡­. it¡¯s a house now and¡­ she¡¯s¡­. sick or something. Come quick!¡±


    ¡°I will be there momentarily, I will make sure to bring some herbs to help bring her to health,¡± the master said. Kaitlyn closed her eyes again, and let darkness come over her.


    Kaitlyn woke up in her own bed again. She was still weak, but now felt the stirring of her magic deep within her, like a second heartbeat but weak and faltering. She didn¡¯t open her eyes immediately, sensing warmth of both her blanket and the sound of the crackling fire. When she did open her eyes, sunlight streamed in the window.


    Master Garthis sat in the chair next to the bed, head slumped on his chest. His white hair had been shorn almost to the roots, leaving a spiky mess on the top of his head. Javorora bustled into the room with a wooden tray and said, ¡°Master Garthis! She¡¯s awake!¡±


    ¡°Oh praise heavens,¡± he said as soon as his eyes opened. He looked at Kaitlyn and raked his fingers over his scalp, further mussing the mess of hair.


    The older mage moved to sit next to Kaitlyn and gently took her wrist in his own, ¡°Your heartbeat is much stronger, good. You were in a bad place Kaitlyn.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I ran out of magic.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you are grounded into the house now and it was draining you faster than you could replenish,¡± the older mage said. ¡°I nearly had to try to break you away and I¡¯m honestly not sure if I could. What happened to you?¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Kaitlyn blinked and said, ¡°I am mistress of the house now. I am the witch. I saw¡­. I think the first witch gave me the house Master.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Master Garthis, she¡¯s been near dead for days and you trying to make her talk,¡± Javorora interrupted. ¡°She can tell you after she eats and I give her a bath. Get out and tell the others she¡¯s awake.¡±


    ¡°Others?¡± Kaitlyn asked.


    ¡°Werewolves, elves, even that dwarf who says they hate teaching you,¡± Javorora said, ¡°and we¡¯ve had a giant come by with some more goats for you if you promise to give her your recipe for honey cakes next time she comes. I told her you would be glad.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Kaitlyn swallowed roughly. It was slightly overwhelming to realize so many had come to see if she was going to get well.


    ¡°Now,¡± Javorora said setting the tray on the table, ¡°I will see you eating and then we will give you a bath. I bet you¡¯ll feel like new once your hair is clean.¡±


    Katilyn was able to hobble out of her room after her bath and walk to the tavern room. In the room sat her friends. Master Garthis and the semi-human form of Linnmel, the dragonic mother of her familiar sat near the fireplace. Fapallo sat on his haunches next the older dragon, listening to the pair talk.


    Haycinth, the Elven princess, and her lover Haytham who was the son of the leader of Haycinth¡¯s rivals were sitting on top of a table with their feet on the chairs, just barely touching. Haytham saw Kaitlyn first and jumped to his feet, ¡°Kaitlyn!¡±


    Everyone seemed to freeze for a heartbeat and then Fapallo led the charge to greet her. Kaitlyn smiled at them and said, ¡°I feel much better. I¡¯m ok. I promise I¡¯m ok.¡±


    ¡°A bath is it¡¯s own magic,¡± Javorora said firmly, a pout as she looked at Master Garthis.


    ¡°You were right,¡± the master inclined his head to her. Javorora sniffed and pointed to a chair for Kaitlyn.


    ¡°We are glad to see you,¡± Linnmel said, ¡°Fapallo was most upset you did not take him with you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to leave you behind,¡± Kaitlyn said to her friend. He came and put his head next to her leg, a whistled that she could only translate as ¡°You are my friend¡± even though her book on the dragonic language spent two pages trying to describe the meaning this particular noise was supposed to carry. There was a lot in there about ¡°I wouldn¡¯t eat you unless I was starving¡± and ¡°Not mate, not parent, but I love you.¡± It was a complicated thought condensed into a single sound.


    ¡°Can you tell us about it?¡± Haytham asked. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Technically, I don¡¯t think I went anywhere,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I never left the house.¡±


    ¡°Is this the same house?¡± Haycinth asked, looking around, ¡°did you make these changes with your magic?¡±


    ¡°Slow down,¡± Master Garthis interjected before Kaitlyn began her answer. ¡°I would like you to begin at the beginning. What were you doing when¡­ you became unavailable.¡±


    Javorora snorted a bit and Kaitlyn smiled, ¡°I was meditating and I found an interesting strand of magic in the house. Before I knew what was happening I was¡­ lost. I think I stumbled on the root of all the other spells.¡±


    ¡°How did you set up that lock?¡± Master Garthis said, ¡°No one could enter the house.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°Or at least, not consciously. But I think I saw the original woman who¡­ made this house.¡±


    ¡°Who was she?¡± Linnmel asked.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°What I saw, she was ancient. But she said something about, ¡®blood of my blood and bones of my bones¡¯ when she gave the ring to the other witch.¡±


    ¡°What other witch?¡± Fapallo bristled.


    ¡°The one who used to live here,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°She was the second witch, I think.¡±


    ¡°What ring?¡± Master Garthis asked. Kaitlyn held up her hand with the emerald on it. The master reached out and carefully began examining the ring.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t look like this when I¡­ took it,¡± Kaitlyn said. ¡°I reshaped it.¡±


    ¡°What did it look like?¡± Master Garthis asked.


    ¡°Meaner,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°It had magical symbols etched in it. I only knew danger and witch. There were two others, but I couldn¡¯t¡­ either I didn¡¯t know them or I couldn¡¯t figure them out in the dark. So I reshaped it.¡±


    ¡°In doing so, I think you reshaped the house,¡± Master Garthis said. ¡°Can you take the ring off?¡±


    Kaitlyn took the ring off and set it on the table. He reached for it and then shuddered as he approached it. Javorora reached for it next and said, ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ it¡¯s like it¡¯s screaming at me.¡±


    ¡°It yelled at me too,¡± Kaitlyn said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure I could resist much longer and I wanted to make sure I wasn¡¯t putting on something evil.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s screaming ¡®no¡¯ to me,¡± Haycinth said when she approached it.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Master Garthis mused. ¡°And when you woke up the changes to the house had been made?¡±


    Kaitlyn nodded. She then said, ¡°At first I felt ok, but after just a few minutes it suddenly¡­ I basically collapsed and I was so exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Drain shock,¡± Linnmel said, ¡°Master Garthis has done the same. There is a very, very short time if you drain your magic in a big spell where you still feel fine, and then the fear or excitement ends and you pay your price.¡±


    ¡°And this was big magic,¡± Master Garthis murmured as he looked around the house, ¡°the spells are definitely still a tangle, but¡­ they are definitely tied to you and I think you¡¯ll be able to unravel them more easily now. Now, you said this ring had magical symbols on it, how did you reform it?¡±


    ¡°I combined the fire spell for the heat with the plant growing spell and magic hands for strength,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°I never imagined them being used that way,¡± the master mused.


    ¡°The dwarves kind of hinted that their smiths used magic to forge things, it¡¯s what they told me when they were teaching me about clay,¡± Kaitlyn said.


    ¡°Ah, probably some secret clan magic theory,¡± the master mused, ¡°Fools and stubborn secretive fools!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t all mages have secrets?¡± Javorora asked.


    ¡°Yes!¡± the master threw his hands up, ¡°Many, many of them do! I have spent my life learning as many methods as I could and writing about them to teach to others. All it takes is one mountain falling on them or a plague or¡­. a witch dying alone in the woods with the secret for one of the most amazing crafts of magic I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±


    He waved his arms around to indicate the room. He then pounded his hand on the table, ¡°Bam! Secrets lost. All because they wanted their super-secret special method. Instead, if we just shared the knowledge, think what we could accomplish!¡±


    Kaitlyn smiled a little at her master. This is what made him an excellent master to learn from. He truly loved to share the knowledge, rather than just horde it for himself. Master Garthis took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I feel¡­. passionately about this.¡±


    ¡°I can tell,¡± Javorora said with a dry sarcasm.


    ¡°You,¡± he pointed at Kaitlyn, ¡°rest. No magic for a week. I¡¯ll send Cilvic and another brownie to help you out. Everyone out.¡±


    ¡°Except me,¡± Javorora said, crossing her arms across her chest, ¡°I¡¯ll put her to bed.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± the master mage said.