The Dark Witch And Her Knights

20

The days began to blend as Arbor and I found harmony living together. As with my time with Gavrial, we were completely isolated from the rest of the world. My time with Arbor was anything like my time with Gavrial though. I was a naïve child being sheltered by the witchman. Today I stood a new woman, a Witch.

Little by little Arbor and I grew closer to one another. I allowed him in my space and he let me into his, training me in the ways of the witch. I had learned to cast spells I had never dreamed of. Brewing potions almost seemed pointless. That's not true; they were good for a lot of things spells couldn't do.

Gradually Arbor stopped holding back his desire for me, small touches that were more than friendly and compliments that made my heart swoon. He assured me if it weren't for the curse he would have still tried to pursue me. I allowed his advances but he knew something was wrong. I was still getting sick.

I knew I could open my heart to this man but the fact that it wasn't my choice rubbed me wrong.

Sleep did not come for me last night. My eyes followed the moon outside my window. I watched as it traveled over the mountains and below the horizon as the sun fought for dominance over the sky. Stella slept peacefully in a purring ball on my lap the entire night.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. I heard it creak open. "Sable, you are awake already?" He questioned seeing me.

"I have yet to sleep," I told him not moving my eyes from the sunrise.

"There is an herb on top of the mountain I must restock on. I know I should ask if you would like to come,"

I cut him off with a yawn. "But we cannot be separated."

"Yes. We'll leave in a little while."

"Fine," I retorted unpleasantly.

I changed into a dress with a deep purple skirt. The bodice was white and the vest brown. The lacing up the back would have had me begging someone for assistance. Now with the snap of my finger and a little Latin, I could lace up my dresses all by myself. My black boots were short-heeled and laced up over my knees. In the kitchen, I grabbed a loaf of bread and an apple. The ruby-red fruit went into the pocket of my cloak and the bread ended up in shreds as I devoured it piece by piece. I met Arbor outside the cabin where he led us on our hunt.

Hours later my hips ached and I was crying for Arbor to let me rest. When he said on top of the mountain I had no idea he meant the very top. I thought he had meant above the height his cabin rested.

"Must we cross this?" I asked fearing for my life.

A bridge decaying in age lay in our path. It looked like a small bandage over a giant wound. The crag was split so deep I couldn't see the bottom between the bridge's planks of wood.

"We must," he said fearlessly crossing the chasm.

Trembling I put one foot forward and took each step one at a time. The other side didn't come fast enough. The last step was too far and I jumped to escape the danger faster. Arbor's arms opened wide catching my shaking form while he laughed at my distress.

"I made that bridge you know?" My eyes peeled open. I looked up at him from his chest where my head had been resting. "I doubt it would break."

I pushed out of his grasp and continued down the footpath without him. Eventually, we came to an area bare of forestation. The ground became rocky and the winds grew colder the higher we hiked. Stella meowed her disappointment with the terrain and cold. She had refused to venture further remaining at the edge of the wood.

We reached the top and Arbor showed me roots that blended in with the rocks. They latticed all over the mountain top but I could not spot the tree they sprouted from. There was only one place where he could take a bit of root without destroying the plant entirely.

"What is it?"

"Rock root," he said simply.

"What is it for?" I impatiently asked.

"It can be used in many potions, a See Me potion for one. I used the last of mine in our brew." He held a decent size chunk of gray wood in his hand, examining it. "This will do," he said tossing it in the satchel over his shoulder.

"We can go home now?"

"Yes." His green eyes glittered back at me. "We can go home now."

My lips curled slightly with delight at the handsome smile that rested on his face. His mind evidently wandering somewhere else in contemplation. I started to make my way back down the mountain with him trailing behind elatedly. When we reached the wood I couldn't find Stella. I called out to her repeatedly without the slightest clue as to where she went.

"Do you think she would have returned without us?" Arbor asked.

"I do not think so but I cannot be sure." I rubbed my arms searching for warmth. The sun was starting to set. "I do not like the feel of this," I told him. All our early delight vanished.

"When you think of your familiar, what do you feel? Try to cast your mind into hers. See through her eyes," he tried instructing me.

Closing my eyes I concentrated on Stella reaching out for her. It was dark I could sense her fear and angst. She was struggling. Fighting. Someone had snatched her up by the scruff of her fur, carrying her off. At first, I could only see their dark vested chest. Stella's body swung in a circle and I saw exactly where she was.

Not wasting any time I took off through the woods hoping to reach Stella before her abductor could get away. Arbor was right behind me, calling after me to slow down. When the trees thinned out I knew I was nearing the chasm. The man was hidden by a dark cloak ready to cross the bridge with Stella clawing and hissing in his stretched-out grasp.

I reached into my pocket holding the item within firmly. "Hey catnapper," I called halting him before he could cross. He turned and looked at me. I raised my apple high and threw it directly in his face. The apple hit him with such force it smashed into pieces causing him to drop Stella in shock and tumble backward into the open chasm.