The Witch's City

by M. Gregg Roe

  Saxloc felt somewhat down as he walked over to Audrey’s cottage with the item he had found. He knocked on the door, but neither of the people he expected to be there answered. It was Cinda, and the way she was dressed was only marginally above being naked. He had always admired Cinda—tall, slim, and pretty, with long hair that was both dark and wavy. He had seen her wearing dresses that were somewhat revealing, but nothing like that.

  “Master Saxloc!” exclaimed Cinda, smiling and exposing her perfect teeth. She twirled completely around, causing her skirt to flare upward briefly. “What do you think? One of my clients purchased this for me. I am to wear it for him tomorrow now that it has been mended.”

  “I think that he is a lucky man,” Saxloc told her, knowing that his face must be red. “And that you aren’t wearing any underpants.” That comment brought amused laughter from inside.

  “I am not. That allows copulation to begin without disrobing. Is it not efficient?” she concluded proudly.

  “It certainly is,” he agreed. “Can I come in? I have something for Audrey.” He nodded to indicate what he was carrying.

  “You may,” replied Cinda as she stepped back and gestured for him to enter. “I am only dressed in this manner because Mistress Rosalind wished to see me attired thus. Your timing is most propitious. I must now change clothing lest I freeze.”

  Saxloc walked in as Cinda disappeared into Audrey’s bedroom. He closed the front door and saw Audrey and Rosalind sitting on the large green rug in front of the fire. To the left of the fireplace, Benson was curled up on a folded piece of dark blue fabric. A square table off to his near right was covered with Sparrow tiles. He smirked at the two of them. “Now I don’t need to go to Desires and pay to see Cinda naked.”

  They both laughed at his joke, and he heard Cinda call out, “And now I must decide how much to charge you.”

  He held out the long wooden box he was holding. It was nearly half a yard wide, but only a third that in the other two dimensions. Made of a light-colored wood, it had two brass fasteners holding shut its hinged lid. “Go ahead and open it,” he said to Audrey as she and Rosalind both stood up.

  It took Audrey a moment to puzzle out the fasteners, but she soon solved it and opened the lid to reveal neat rows of brightly-painted Sparrow tiles made of wood that matched the box. Saxloc’s parents had bought it for him when he had expressed an interest as a child.

  “Sparrow tiles!” said Audrey, delighted. “Are these yours?”

  “They were, but I’m giving them to you. I haven’t played in years.”

  “Really? I can have these?”

  Saxloc nodded and then watched as Audrey carefully closed the box. She took it from him and Rosalind promptly grabbed it and sat down to examine it. Audrey grinned and then grabbed him, hugging him tightly and kissing him. He returned her embrace enthusiastically, enjoying the feeling of her body pressing against him.

  “I am finished with the bedroom should the two of you wish to employ it,” stated Cinda as she walked up behind him.

  Audrey looked embarrassed as she released him and stepped back. Saxloc turned and saw Cinda dressed normally and smiling primly at the two of them. He glanced over and saw Rosalind carefully examining one of the tiles from the box.

  Turning back to Audrey, he said, “I couldn’t find the instruction book. Sorry.”

  “That’s fine. I’ve still got the one I borrowed from Kora, and Rosalind has everything memorized.”

  “Can we play for real?” asked Rosalind, looking incredibly eager. “We’ve got four people.”

  “I am agreeable,” stated Cinda.

  Saxloc looked at Audrey and she smiled and shrugged. “Why not? Start setting things up and I’ll get us all some rice wine.”

  He had never really cared for the game, but he could tell that Audrey was determined to learn it. And he remembered his mother’s advice. If Audrey was interested in Sparrow, then he would be too. He did poorly, but the four of them had a good time. It was a pleasant ending to what had been a terrible day.

  10

  ‡ Acolyte ‡

  “You wanted to see me?” said Siljan before the door was even half open.

  Isadora looked up calmly from where she was sitting in front of her desk. “Yes, Siljan. Please have a seat.”

  Siljan plopped herself down in the chair next to Isadora’s desk. It was a wooden chair but had a soft blue cushion. Isadora’s room was larger than Siljan’s and had a larger wardrobe. The shelves opposite the bed displayed several pieces of light blue pottery that Siljan had been surprised to discover had been made by Isadora herself when she was younger.

  Isadora was Siljan’s primary teacher at the temple. Siljan respected the woman but had never really liked her. She was always serious and frequently pessimistic, or at least she had been until recently. Following Morton’s demise in Glasston, her personality and behavior had changed markedly. The largest change by far was that Isadora had gone from seemingly not being interested in sex, to steadily working her way through every available man at the temple complex. Siljan knew this all too well because the wall their two rooms shared wasn’t nearly soundproof enough.

  “Siljan, are you happy here? You have fulfilled your original promise to remain for one year. You are free to depart now if that is what you desire.”

  “Do you want me to leave?” She knew that both Isadora and Alessandra were often unhappy with her progress. Not to mention her laziness and sleeping in.

  “I do not,” said Isadora with just a trace of a smile. “You are troublesome, to be sure, but you have great promise. And we desperately need you, even if you are still an acolyte. With Morton gone, we intend to minister to as many people as possible. But at present we are short-handed.”

  Siljan tried to choose her words carefully. “For now, I plan to stay. But I can’t say for how long. And I still want to go adventuring with my friends from time to time.” There was also the issue of disappointing her family, especially her father.

  “That is fine. We are grateful to both you and your friends for the actions you have taken to protect this temple.”

  “We were happy to help.”

  Isadora nodded. “There is a matter that we need to discuss concerning your continued progress, but first there is something that I need to explain. You keep commenting on how I have changed. You are correct, but it is really more that I have returned to my old self. Allow me to explain.”

  Siljan sat up straight in her chair, now very interested.

  “When the two of us first met, something terrible had already occurred here. Morton and his servants had overrun the temple. Alessandra managed to evade them, but they slew everyone else in the temple, as well as all of the guards and staff. Julien and I chanced to be away. There had been a large fire in Millton, and we went to offer our assistance. You and your companions arrived at the temple, saved Alessandra, and drove Morton away.

  “Julien and I returned to find only Alessandra and two new guards she had hired. The news was horrifying. Most of the slain had been transformed into undead by Morton and subsequently destroyed. One of those who perished was dear to me. We were in love. He was called Wilfred, and we planned to eventually marry.”

  Isadora paused, looking both sad and wistful. “I was devastated, and it changed me. I became suspicious of any visitor to the temple, including a certain girl who claimed to have actually been born outside of Andoran’s Realm.” Isadora smiled slightly. “But that turned out to be true.

  “When I watched Morton’s body being reduced to ash in that glass furnace, I felt reborn. His threat was finally ended, and I resolved to get on with my life. And that is what I am doing.”

  “So your old self was a nymphomaniac?” joked Siljan, grinning as she tried to lighten the mood.

  “I have, perhaps, been overdoing things,” she admitted. “But that type of behavior is not unusual for a Priestess of Kyran.”

  It was certainly true of Alessandra, and in her case also includ
ed women partners. That had been quite a shock for Siljan when she had first arrived. She still wasn’t sure what she would do if Alessandra ever approached her.

  “Well, I for one like the new Isadora better,” announced Siljan.

  Isadora wrinkled her nose as she laughed—something else new. “I had hoped that the issue would resolve itself, but Alessandra and I are agreed. If you wish to become a Priestess of Kyran, then you must lose your virginity.”

  Siljan desperately tried to keep her composure. It was her biggest secret and greatest shame. She liked to flirt, especially if the man was cute. But if intimacy began to actually look possible, she became her own worst enemy. She got nervous. She teased and taunted and drove them away. Siljan didn’t know why it kept happening or what to do about it.

  “This is a Temple of Kyran,” continued Isadora in a serious voice. “A Priestess of Kyran is required to be able to counsel people on a range of subjects, including sexual matters. How can you do that if you have no experience?”

  Isadora continued staring as Siljan thought furiously. Denying it was pointless; Isadora would never believe her. Finally, she said, “I want my first time to be special. I haven’t met the right man yet.”

  “Everyone wants their first time to be special, but not all get their wish. I think that we have been more than patient. You are nearly nineteen.”

  That was both true and embarrassing. “But where am I supposed to meet someone? There are no big cities near here, and I don’t have time for dating.”

  Isadora narrowed her eyes before saying, “Siljan, you are simply making excuses. There are men here at the temple complex, as well as in Fisherton. Ariel was able to find someone here.”

  “Ariel is a guard and she fell for one of the other guards,” protested Siljan. “The last time I checked I was the only acolyte, and I don’t exactly have a lot of free time.”

  “You are making excuses,” Isadora repeated.

  Siljan rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll strip myself naked tonight and throw myself at Julien. That’s how Audrey got Saxloc in Farmerton.”

  Isadora laughed, wrinkling her nose again. “Did she now? That was quite bold of her.” Isadora smiled devilishly. “That is not a bad idea. Julien is very nice, and he is experienced. An experienced partner your first time is quite wonderful. Believe me, I know.”

  Isadora’s wistful expression was making Siljan blush. Julien was very nice, and she really liked him. He was older, but not that much older. The problem was that she thought of him more as a friend than a potential lover.

  Siljan grinned. “Okay. Tell Julien to eat a big dinner. I’m coming for him tonight.”

  Isadora smiled gently and waved her right hand. “He really would not mind. Give it some thought. You could do far worse.”

  Now I’ve done it; I’m trapped. “Uh … okay. I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. Do you have anything to prevent pregnancy?”

  Siljan sighed again. “No.” She had bought something ages ago, but it had gone bad and she had thrown it out. That made her sad just thinking about it. I had so many plans.

  Isadora smiled slyly. “I will give you some of my AP powder. That will give you one less excuse.”

  “Okay. Thank you.” I really am going to have to do this.

  Isadora pushed back her chair, stood, and stretched her arms above her head. “I believe I will make use of the bath. Would you care to join me? Perhaps I might give you some advice for this evening?”

  The large hot bath was Siljan’s absolute favorite thing about the temple. When Isadora finished her graphic “advice”, Siljan was red from more than just the heat of the water. But it was a good thing because she had been suffering from a number of misconceptions that would have proven incredibly embarrassing.

  Siljan spent the entire afternoon working on improving her magical skills. She was trying to learn something called “multi-cast” from Alessandra. It would let her cast two spells nearly simultaneously, but there was a cost—it consumed additional magical energy. She would have to watch out for that if she ever actually mastered it. She wasn’t making much progress, and that was annoying. She knew that Hankin was also working on it, and she was not going to fail.

  During dinner, Julien acted just like his usual friendly and pleasant self. Siljan spent some time studying him while eating. He wasn’t especially handsome, but he was muscular and fit. And maybe personality should count for something.

  That evening, Siljan lay in her bed for a long while and thought about it. She even prayed to Kyran for guidance, something she hardly ever did. Finally, she got up, mixed some of the AP powder that Isadora had given her with water, and drank it. An hour later, she completely undressed and walked down to Julien’s door. She opened it and Julien looked up and smiled as he asked, “Can I help you with something, Siljan?”

  Siljan spread her arms wide, thrust out her chest, closed her eyes, and said, “Yes, Julien. Make me a woman.”

  Julien chuckled, and Siljan opened her eyes. He stood up and said. “Very well. Shall we go?”

  “Where?” She had thought they would just do it in Julien’s room.

  “The bath, or rather the area just outside. Isadora already reserved it for us. She told me what you said earlier, but I didn’t think you would actually show up naked.”

  Siljan grinned, feeling surprisingly calm. “I mean what I say. Let’s do this.”

  Julien walked up and took her hand gently. “I am at your service, Siljan.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Siljan woke and automatically glanced at the ceiling. Her room had no windows, but the entire roof of the temple was translucent. She had gotten good at estimating the time as long as the sun was out. It looked to her to be about mid-morning. It was nice of them to let her sleep in. Sleeping in was one of her favorite things, but it was rarely possible at the temple. Sometimes she was expected to help cook breakfast and had to get up incredibly early. No one should be up that early.

  After the previous evening’s activities, she felt tired and sore, but most of all happy. Julien had been kind, considerate, and quite expert from what she could tell. And he certainly hadn’t lacked for stamina. It lasted much longer than she had expected.

  She heard a knock on her door and suddenly realized that an earlier knock was what had woken her. “Come in!” she called out as she sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She was wearing her favorite nightgown—made of soft gray flannel and bought from a shop in the Witch’s City.

  The door opened and Isadora walked in carrying a tray that she carefully placed on Siljan’s desk. The smell of the food on it—some kind of omelet—caused Siljan’s stomach to rumble. “Here is your breakfast. Was there much pain?” she asked with a concerned look.

  “Some, but I took your advice.” Julien had waited patiently as she used magic to heal herself. That was something the average girl couldn’t do. It had been way more pleasurable after that.

  Isadora leaned against the wall next to the desk. “And now I must say something that may sound cruel: Julien is your friend, but not your boyfriend. He likes you, but is not in love with you.”

  Siljan felt herself blushing as she remembered telling Julien that she loved him as the two of them lay side-by-side on the thick rug. She had expected him to get straight to business, but instead, the two of them had spent considerable time kissing, caressing, and fondling—her personal favorite. Showing up naked had been a mistake because he wasn’t able to slowly undress her as she had him. She had, in fact, gotten the wrong idea and now felt ashamed.

  “Julien has been serving as your combat instructor,” continued Isadora. “You may now think of him as an instructor in sexual skills as well.”

  “Do I need more instruction?” It had felt very natural.

  Isadora smiled in a secretive fashion before describing something that had never occurred to Siljan, and that she now desperately wanted to try. “Maybe I will ask Julien for one or two more lessons,” she said, trying to
sound casual.

  “Good. I recommend taking AP powder every day from now on. Then you will not have to worry about it.”

  “I will.”

  “Siljan, I am aware of the difficulties you have experienced when approaching men. This may help you, or it may not. Please speak to either me or Alessandra if you still feel that you still need help.”

  “Okay, I will. So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

  Isadora waved a hand. “Not a thing. You may have the day off.”

  “Really?” She hardly ever got a day off.

  “Yes. Spend hours in the bath. Sleep all day. Whatever you like.”

  “I should lose my virginity more often,” Siljan said with a silly grin. Isadora’s face scrunched up and then she burst out laughing.

  11

  ‡ Misfit ‡

  After a surprisingly busy day at her temple, Branwyn felt tired as she arrived at her front door. She tried the door, found it unlocked, and sighed. Where they lived was quite safe, but she still wanted the door locked when neither she nor her husband were home. It meant another lecture for her daughter and their troublesome guest.

  Branwyn entered and hung up her cloak on one of the pegs just inside the door. She didn’t hear any noise, and a quick tour showed no one in the sitting room, kitchen, or dining room. It was an improvement over the arguing that had greeted her arrival the day before. The two girls just weren’t getting along, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  She walked down the hallway and knocked twice on her daughter’s door before pushing it open and entering. Valwyn frowned at her from where she was lying on her bed. “I told you to always wait for permission to enter!” she exclaimed in mock indignation as she sat up. “What if I’d been naked? Or with a boy? Or naked with a boy?”

  Branwyn enjoyed her daughter’s sense of humor and couldn’t help smiling. “You are too young to date. But you’re right, I should have waited for permission.”