A Witch Come True

by James Nicol

  A high platform had been erected at the far end of the hall with a long sturdy table and a few seats lined up behind it. Miss Prynce was busy directing people into the seats, most of which were already occupied, and the mayor was greeting people as they streamed in from the cold. Most of the town appeared to be there. People were standing at the back, partway down the aisle between the chairs and in the hall beyond. Arianwyn could see Millicent Caruthers who owned the boutique next to the Spellorium, Aunt Grace, Uncle Mathieu, Mrs Myddleton and her four children as well as many other people she had come to know since she arrived in Lull.

  ‘Good evening, everyone,’ Mayor Belcher began. ‘As you know we have been facing significant challenges since the recent storm, and as such, many of you have concerns. After taking advice I decided a town meeting would be the best way to proceed and to pass on information and also to hear your concerns.’

  The mayor continued with a longer than usual speech, the room soon growing uncomfortably warm. Everyone began to fidget in their seats; people looked beyond bored. Arianwyn stifled her own yawn behind her hand and sat straighter in her chair, fighting the urge to close her eyes for just a few seconds.

  ‘And now, does anyone have any questions?’ the mayor asked at last.

  It looked to Arianwyn as though every single hand in the hall went into the air. We’ll be here all week! she thought.

  But after the first few questions the hands started to fall quickly.

  ‘Are we going to run out of food?’

  ‘When will the shops open again?’

  ‘What happens if those giant jellyfish creatures come back?’

  ‘We might run out of firewood – can we get more?’

  The mayor answered all of these as well as he could and thankfully without imposing his own personal thoughts and feelings into the answers.

  Arianwyn decided to ask a question herself. She’d been thinking about how else they might send a message to Miss Newam and thought she’d come up with the perfect plan . . .

  ‘Yes, Miss Gribble?’ the mayor indicated Arianwyn.

  ‘I just thought that, well, could we try and get to Flaxsham for help?’ Arianwyn suggested. The trip would serve two purposes, she thought. They could fetch help and supplies as well as calling or telegramming Miss Newam at the C.W.A.

  There was a general murmur of agreement from the crowd. But the mayor’s face grew stony. ‘Well, that’s quite out of the question. We can’t get any vehicles out of the town, Miss Gribble: the snow is too deep. And from what we understand, the roads are quite impassable.’

  He smiled and then looked into the crowd, hoping perhaps for another question. But Arianwyn continued to speak: ‘But surely someone could go on foot?’

  The mayor looked as though he might be considering this for a moment until Arianwyn heard her father say, ‘No. Absolutely not. Out of the question. That would be incredibly dangerous.’

  She turned and looked across at her father. He was standing near the platform, staring not at Arianwyn but at the mayor, who seemed unsure how to respond. ‘Yes – perhaps not wise,’ Mayor Belcher said slowly. ‘We don’t want to risk putting anyone in harm, Miss Gribble.’

  ‘But aren’t we going to run out of food?’ Arianwyn asked. She regretted it as soon as she had said it. There were gasps from the assembled crowd and then everyone started to talk at once. Loud shouts filled the air as the mayor tried his best to calm the room and answer the questions.

  ‘Perhaps I could go on my broom – it wouldn’t take that long,’ Arianwyn offered quickly.

  ‘Absolutely not,’ Mayor Belcher called over the rising voices, but when they didn’t die down he stamped his foot on the boards of the platform. ‘We need you here, Miss Gribble. You are our witch!’

  The room fell silent but Arianwyn’s ears rang with the mayor’s words. She was fuming.

  ‘Rest assured I do not take this decision lightly,’ the mayor said at last. ‘And I have taken advice on the matter. Therefore, until further notice, we will be instigating a strict curfew.’

  ‘Advice from who?’ It was Aunt Grace who called above the grumbled sounds of disagreement.

  ‘Why, from Constable Perkins and . . . Sergeant Gribble as well.’

  Arianwyn looked quickly at her father. This had been his suggestion? She’d thought things were getting better after their afternoon in the Spellorium – she’d really felt like they’d turned a corner . . . And now this?

  The mayor continued, ‘The curfew will take effect from sunset to sunrise. And the gates will be locked and guards posted at all times.’

  The excited chatter died away, filled with shocked silence.

  ‘We must keep the town and all of you safe at all costs,’ Mayor Belcher added quickly. ‘Journeying beyond the safety of the town could have very serious consequences.’

  ‘You’re wrong,’ Arianwyn said in the silence that followed, before she had even thought through what she wanted to say. ‘This . . . isn’t a good idea at all. You’re putting everyone in more danger by doing nothing!’ She was on her feet and moving towards the platform. She caught the amazed looks from Salle and Colin. ‘We need to send for help!’

  Mayor Belcher was turning an interesting shade of purple. ‘Well, I think that is all we have time for this evening. THANK YOU!’ he shouted. Everyone looked rather bemused. ‘Good evening!’ the mayor said loudly and then climbed down from the platform.

  The room started to slowly empty, everyone filing towards the doors and heading back out into Lull. Arianwyn, unsure what else to do, had just joined the back of the queue when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned and came face to face with her father. ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this,’ she said.

  ‘What?’ her father said.

  Does he really not see it?

  ‘Told the mayor to do nothing. So we’re stuck here with no help! Grandma needs help, Dad.’ She shook her head. ‘We all do!’

  Sergeant Gribble pulled her to him, saying angrily, ‘I know what I’m doing, Arianwyn. I’ve been in worse situations than this, time and time again, and the best course of action is to hunker down and wait it out. The snow will melt. We could risk far more doing something foolish and stupid.’

  It felt like he had slapped her across the face. Foolish and stupid. ‘Is that truly what you think of me?’

  ‘No, wait – I didn’t mean—’

  ‘I think you did,’ Arianwyn replied as she tugged her arm free. ‘You think that what I am doing here, what I am trying to do, is stupid and foolish?’

  ‘That’s not what I said, Wyn.’ His cheeks were red as he stomped a few steps away. ‘Why won’t you listen to me? I know what’s best!’

  She could see it then, what really angered her father. This was why he was always so out of sorts. It was because she was the one who was asked and consulted, not him. ‘Nobody always knows what’s best all the time,’ Arianwyn said. ‘And you’re wrong now.’ She was suddenly aware that everyone was watching them.

  ‘That’s enough!’ her father shouted. His voice was so loud that it made her jump. ‘You will not speak to me like that in front of everyone. Get back to the Blue Ox, now.’ He pointed to the door.

  Embarrassment, hurt and anger all welled up inside Arianwyn like water boiling in a kettle. ‘You can’t just turn up after years and years and start to boss me about, Dad. I’m not a child. I have responsibilities as well, and whilst you might not think so, I do actually know what I’m doing.’ Then she was crying and she didn’t want to be there with everyone glaring. She shoved her way out of the town hall, through the crowd, and ran down the steps and across the snowy town square as fast as she could.

  The lights of the Blue Ox looked inviting, but that wasn’t where she wanted to be. She turned down Kettle Lane and was soon unlocking the door of the Spellorium. It was freezing inside; icy patterns laced the inside of the huge bowed window, but it still felt more comforting than anywhere else right then. The smell and the feeling in the Spel
lorium, even though it was dark, felt like home. It felt safe and welcoming.

  She walked slowly across to the counter and let the tears fall down her cheeks.

  She wasn’t certain how long she had been sitting in the dark for when she heard a tapping on the door, followed by the sound of Bob scampering across the floorboards of the Spellorium and Salle calling, ‘Wyn? Are you here?’

  She didn’t turn to look. Perhaps they would leave if she didn’t answer.

  Bob jumped up at Arianwyn, pawing at her legs with tiny cold paws and making a gentle whimpering sound.

  She heard more footsteps and guessed Colin was with Salle and Bob. Nobody said anything, but she suddenly felt comforting arms being wrapped around her and the weight of two bodies, two friends, leaning against hers.

  A few minutes later they were all sat upstairs, the fire crackling away and milk warming on the pot-bellied stove for hot chocolate. A few candles and lanterns lit the small space. They were all wrapped in blankets and eiderdowns and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the fire. Bob stretched out and munched on a ginger biscuit.

  ‘Well, now we’re really stuck, aren’t we?’ Arianwyn said. ‘It could take a week or more for the snow to clear or for the electricity to come back on. The maudants could come back at any point. And the High Elder will want the glyphs soon. And now we’re prisoners in Lull.’

  She noticed a brief look pass between Colin and Salle. ‘What’s going on?’ Arianwyn asked.

  ‘I think Salle has a plan,’ Colin said quietly. He smiled and patted her hand.

  ‘I do indeed.’ Salle grinned, sitting back against the armchair and looking very pleased with herself.

  Chapter 30

  CANTICLES

  e thought what everyone really needed was something to cheer themselves up after the last few days,’ Salle said in her most charming voice.

  They stood in the mayor’s parlour the next day, having snuck past Miss Prynce who was busy gossiping with her friend when they entered and hadn’t noticed them at all. Arianwyn hung back, still embarrassed by the argument the night before. This was all Salle’s grand plan, so she was leaving it up to her.

  ‘Hmmm,’ the mayor said, not entirely listening and searching through a stack of envelopes and folders on his desk.

  ‘And we thought,’ Colin added brightly, ‘that it might be nice to have everyone come to the town square to sing Yule songs. It would raise everyone’s spirits.’

  The mayor glanced up at them and pouted. He was considering it, which was a good sign at least. ‘I do think that, sadly, morale is low, especially with the curfew and . . . everything.’ The mayor glared at Arianwyn, clearly thinking about her argument with her father from the night before. Then he quickly looked away again. ‘Yes, I suppose it’s not a bad idea. But I really don’t have the time to be running about organizing things so I’m leaving it all up to you three.’

  ‘Excellent!’ Salle said quietly as they left the mayor’s office. ‘That was just what I was hoping he would say!’

  ‘What exactly is the plan? You were a little sketchy on the details?’ Arianwyn asked as they headed out across the town square.

  Salle tapped her nose and winked. ‘Don’t you worry about all of that, Wyn. Just be ready for a bit more singing in the town square tomorrow afternoon!’

  Word quickly spread around Lull that there was to be a concert and singing in the town square the next afternoon, and everyone’s mood lifted as a result. At three o’clock Arianwyn headed to the town square, wrapped in extra jumpers and two scarves. The square was packed with people and a carnival atmosphere filled the air. On the steps of the town hall, the band were playing Yule songs, the music drifting out over the heads of everyone there. People danced and laughed. Arianwyn stared in wonder. However had Salle managed this? The change in mood was like magic!

  ‘Wyn!’

  ‘This is amazing, Salle. I’m so impressed!’

  Salle glanced around herself as though she was seeing it all for the first time herself. ‘Oh, this – well, yes, I suppose so . . .’

  ‘Arianwyn.’ It was her father’s voice from behind her. She looked at Salle and Colin for help but they both suddenly found something fascinating to look at on the ground. Slowly Arianwyn turned. ‘Hello,’ her father said quietly. ‘How are you?’

  She was still so angry that she didn’t know what to say. She felt that her father had betrayed her, had embarrassed her in front of the whole of Lull and there was no way she could forgive him so simply, not after that. Couldn’t he see that? ‘Excuse me,’ she said quietly and walked away.

  One song slipped into another as the sky above Lull began to darken. Lanterns and candles were lit here and there as the first few stars began to twinkle in the velvety blue sky. ‘Come on,’ Salle said as a song ended. She reached for Arianwyn’s hand and pulled her away from the steps of the town hall as the band struck up another song.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Arianwyn asked.

  ‘Shush – just follow me,’ Salle said as they wove their way in and out of the crowd.

  The next thing she knew they were standing in the middle of Meadow Street facing the South Gate. The street was empty, everyone still in the town square except for Colin, Aunt Grace and Uncle Mat, and Bob who all waited further down the street. ‘What’s going on?’ Arianwyn asked. She cast a nervous look back, worried that someone might be watching as a feeling about what might be happening crept over her.

  ‘We’re going to Flaxsham,’ Salle said quietly as they carried on down the street.

  ‘All of us?’ Arianwyn asked.

  ‘No, just you and me and Colin – oh, and Bob as well.’ She smiled.

  ‘But the curfew? The gates?’ Arianwyn gestured ahead.

  ‘The South Gate isn’t being watched whilst everyone is in the square,’ Colin said.

  A thrill of excitement tickled along Arianwyn’s spine. Salle had known that would happen. But at the same time it was tinged with worry and fear. ‘I can’t ask you and Colin to put yourselves in danger, to get in trouble by doing this,’ Arianwyn said quickly.

  ‘I think it’s already too late for that,’ Aunt Grace said with a smile. She held out a knapsack. ‘Food for your little expedition.’

  ‘It’ll take you about twelve hours or so to walk from here to Flaxsham, maybe a bit longer because of the snow,’ Uncle Mat said as they walked towards the gate.

  ‘We’ll get our messages sent and bring back help,’ Salle said as she hugged her aunt and uncle.

  ‘Take care, and don’t get yourselves into any danger,’ Aunt Grace said, then she hugged Colin and Arianwyn as well, tightening Arianwyn’s scarf and straightening Colin’s woollen hat. Bob skipped about them as they waited. Uncle Mat checked quickly that no one was looking and then opened the smaller door in the huge wooden gate.

  ‘Quickly,’ he said as they hurried through and out into the snowy, frozen meadow.

  ‘We’ll be back as soon as we can,’ Arianwyn said.

  Aunt Grace smiled as the smaller door closed, and then the three friends and the moon hare stood staring up at the high stone arch of the South Gate.

  They skirted the town wall, heading for Flax Road which would lead them straight to Flaxsham and much-needed help, they hoped.

  They walked on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Even Bob wasn’t as excited as usual to be out in the meadow and followed close beside Arianwyn through the snow. They joined Flax Road and as the land rose up a little they all paused and turned to look back at Lull as the sky darkened. A few flecks of snow flew on the air that also carried the words of a song being sung in the town square.

  ‘And while winter birds sing to the high frosted moon,

  Here in our hearts we’ll hold you, till you’re home again soon.’

  They turned and carried on their way.

  Chapter 31

  NIGHT-TIME WALK

  he snow grew deeper the further they travelled from Lull, and it was so dark tha
t Arianwyn had to summon a light orb to float over their heads. Occasionally she led them off the path by accident, suddenly confronted with a snarl of frosted brambles, an icy ditch or a thick line of trees heavy with snow, and they had to double back the way they had come.

  They passed a few houses and farms, half buried in deep drifts, but most of them seemed to be abandoned. No lights shone at the shuttered windows, no paths of cleared snow led out from the doors.

  It grew colder and colder and colder as they walked on. After about an hour the snow began to fall again, little flurries whipped up by the wind, stinging their faces as they stumbled on through the dark.

  They had been walking for a couple of hours when Arianwyn felt a tug on her sleeve. It was Colin. ‘I think we need to stop to have some food, Wyn.’ He gestured back to where Salle stood shivering further down the road, leaning against a fencepost.

  ‘Oh, Salle,’ Arianwyn said, moving quickly to Salle’s side and wrapping her arms around her friend.

  ‘I’m fine, Wyn,’ Salle said through chattering teeth. ‘Honestly!’

  A couple of moments later they had left the road for the shelter of the wood, the trees shielding them from the biting wind and swirling snow. ‘Here,’ Arianwyn said, offering her own scarf to Salle. She refused at first, but then gratefully wrapped the long red woolly scarf around herself.

  ‘And here’s some soup,’ Colin said, passing Salle a steaming tin cup.

  Salle sipped on it gratefully, staring off into the dark wood. Colin offered Arianwyn a cup next and sat next to her on the fallen tree. They all ate quietly as Bob wandered in and out of the trees, occasionally digging furiously in the snow.

  ‘We’ll have to get moving again soon. Will you be OK, Salle?’ Arianwyn asked.

  Salle nodded, but then gave a gasp and dropped her cup, the dregs of the soup splashing into the snow. She pointed off into the trees, where a fluttering shifting light moved like sunlight dancing through water.

  Arianwyn felt the definite tingle of unadulterated magic but at the same time she could smell the stench of something darker.