The Dark Witch And Her Knights

2

"Magic believers are dead fools!"

But I was still breathing.

My heart longed for the touch of magic. Something, anything mystical to spark the bland organ thumping in my chest. Stella could feel my angst plopping herself upon my lap and purring. Mother dropped two herbal baskets on the table in front of me spooking poor Stella away.

"Jumpy thing isn't she?"

"Probably all the abuse from Ms. Wartol," I responded, disappointing my mother.

She sucked her teeth knowing I was right. "You have a choice here. Either you remain in the house for the next four days, cleaning, cooking, whatever task need be done"

"But that's not fair-"

"I'm not done. I am your mother and you will let me speak."

I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff remaining silent so she can dish out my punishment like supper.

"Either you remain in the house for the next four days, cleaning, cooking, whatever task need be done," she repeated to make a point in case I wasn't listening to her the first time, "and I will apologize to Ms. Wartol on behalf of our family. Or you will take these baskets to the market, acquire the needed supplies on the list I have drawn up. Then head into the forest and find the rest," she saw the light in my eyes ready to jump on the second choice. Her face clearly showed she wasn't done yet, "But you must apologize to Ms. Wartol properly and you only have six gold shields to use at the market."

My mouth clamped shut as I looked at the long list in one of the baskets. This was a trap for sure.

"The baskets must be full and your apologies must be given before you return or don't return at all."

My mouth fell open in disbelief.

"The choice is yours."

Four days of not leaving the house sounded safer than not being able to come back at all if I failed her charge. Would she truly not allow me back home? Could she truly abandon her eldest daughter to the streets- over this? She would go to such lengths to display punishment upon her disobedient child who jokingly threatened the neighbor with black magic in the name of Satan. Rather than have the guard come down on them and burn them all at the stake as devil lovers or witches.

She knew how strong the battle was inside me. I could hardly resist. It's why she made the second task so difficult.

Mother looked at me in such a way that I could only describe it as scheming.

My hands shook as I reached them out making a choice I would soon live to regret.

***

I looked at the list in my hand over and over again as I made my way to the market. I had nine hours till sun fall but I hadn't the slightest clue how I would be able to retrieve everything with only six gold shields in my pocket. It was a trap indeed. Punishment by hard labor. I even considered taking the money and running away, but six gold shields weren't even good enough to pay for half a journey to the nearest city.

The first stop was the tailors. Purchasing six feet of sterile cloth and twelve feet of sanitary thread cost two and a half gold shields. The tavern then charged me three whole gold shields for a container of purifying alcohol. Thankfully Stella followed me everywhere and hunted out several rats in the pub. The barkeep was so grateful she dropped her price down from five shields. I had two silver wheels left and a long list ahead of me.

Mr. Port only charged me two copper plates for mineral oil after his wife told him how I had helped her last week after a fall she had leaving the apothecary at closing time. The candle shop chief took mercy on me only charging five copper plates for a jar of beeswax. We had once studied at the same institute for a season just a few years ago. He had been stung voraciously by bees and I gave him a salve to help his many blisters.

I had one copper plate left and seven hours to get the rest of the stuff I needed. My stomach grumbled in hunger. I flipped the single copper in my hand wondering if I could purchase anything with it. The smell of sweet bread wafted up my nostrils making my stomach growl louder.

"Greetings, Mrs. Tabby." My feet dragged me towards her bread stall.

"Hello, Ms. Sable. What's got your young heart so down, child," she kindly asked tossing Stella a piece of bread.

I told her of my impossible task and she frowned. "Awe honey, she's trying to teach you a lesson is all. Even if that Old Dusty Ms. Wartol is a worthless, loveless hag. She'll get hers someday." She tossed sweet bread in my basket pulling the cloth over it for safety. "On me. Maybe you can bring dear Stella over to my house tomorrow. Mice keep getting in my damn grain barrels, ruining all my backup stock."

Stella circled and purred around her legs messing with the hem of her dress. "Thanks, Mrs. Tabby as long as I survive the day I'll be there tomorrow."

"Oh hush child, your Mama won't cast you out. That I promise. And if she does you come to see me. Let ya' sleep on the haystacks in the shed."

She pinched my cheeks and sent Stella and me off. I had purposely retrieved all the items on the list I could not forage knowing the coin my mother gave me wasn't good enough for that. I made my way back home snacking on small pieces of the sweetbread Mrs. Tabby gave me.

I reached the house hoping to leave the items, retrieve my tools, and head into the forest. The door was locked and I couldn't get inside. Was this her way of punishing me? Locking me out until the task was completed. I went around back only to find that door locked too. The nearby shutter crept open and my sister stuck her head out. Her long blond curly locks cascaded down the side of the house.

"Merrygold you must let me in. I need to retrieve my tools."

"No way. Mother said if I let you in she'll throw me out too."

I looked at her flabbergasted.

"Merrygold Thistle. If you don't open this door this instant, I will chop off all your hair while you sleep."

"Nope, not allowed. Did you get everything on the list?"

"No. I need my tools to get the rest," I whined kicking the bottom of the door enraged. The cheap hinges bent and I could see through the crack into the kitchen.

Merrygold vanished from the window returning moments later with my spade and sheers. "Leave the stuff at the door. I'll bring it in once you're gone."

"Thank you, thank you." I dropped the full basket at the door no longer caring what happened to it and retrieved my tools from my sister.

"Don't forget your list," she called as I dashed from the back of the house in the direction of the woods shoving said list into the hidden pocket of my dress.