A Witch's Rite

by N. E. Conneely

  My eyes drifted back up to the rhododendron. The maze walls had bulged out to contain the hole, making me question how much of this maze was magical and how much was physical. No normal plant could've withstood the force of the explosion. While I'd known the plants were resistant to my magic, the tractor blowing up had been a physical reaction, which should've hurt the rhododendrons even if my magic couldn't. Not only that, but the maze walls had moved. Plants, even magic ones, didn't simply take fifteen steps back. There was also the issue that the plants would've had to multiply to maintain the hedge while expanding outward to cover more area.

  Sitting down, I let my magic explore the area, especially the maze walls. They had the same feeling as the shells, of being magic but not magic. That wasn't all. It was hard to read the spells. Almost like they were shifting away from my probe, but that didn't make any sense. Probes, especially small, careful ones, were nearly impossible to distinguish from ambient energy.

  Pulling my power back to myself, I simply felt the magic around me. Other than the fractured remains of the spells that had been on the tractor, all I could feel was energy, both the types I was used to working with and the strange magic I'd felt when examining the snails. That was wrong. I knew there were other spells, there had to be, or the hedges couldn't do what they were doing. I felt like I was missing something. There was an odd tingle against my chest, almost like I'd gotten a chill.

  Opening my eyes, I reassured myself that I was alone. Whatever was going on magically, I wasn't going to solve it from here, which meant I had to get across this crater and, with a little luck, find another member of my group. As nice as it would be to see Patrick, Elron was the one I really wanted to find. We made a good team, especially against unfamiliar magics. My chest tingled again. I reached around in my shirt, trying to see if some bug was nibbling on me. When I came up empty, I turned my attention back to crossing the big hole.

  After debating the options, I took off my pack and let it slide down the wall. Searching the edge, I hoped I would be able to control my descent. Rolling down and crashing into my pack or chunks of metal wouldn't improve my day. Taking a deep breath, I carefully lowered myself over the edge of the crater.

  Seconds later what had started part crab walk, part slide, had morphed into slide and try not to hurt anything important. As the ground leveled out, I was able to plant my feet and come to a rather controlled stop. Dusting off my hands and the rest of me, I was relieved to find that I was only slightly bruised.

  I didn't waste any time getting the backpack on and heading across the crater. The far side was going to be the difficult one, and I wanted out of there so I could find Patrick. Studying my next adversary, the far wall, I worked through my options. As much as I hated to admit it, something like what Patrick and I had tried earlier when climbing the wall of the maze was my best bet.

  At the base of the wall, I gave it a once-over. This time luck really was in my favor. It was steep, but I thought it had just enough of an angle that I could crawl up. I took off the backpack, dug out the rope, and tied it around myself and to the frame on the backpack. Then I sent a silent prayer to the earth, asking for any help it was willing to give. Hoping I wasn't making a mistake, I started up the side of the crater.

  I was only a few feet up the wall when the earth gave way under me and I slid down. After a few choice words, I shifted a few feet to the right and tried again. Partway up the wall of dirt, I ended up sprawled out in the clay, cursing Ned, the maze, the police, and my choice of profession. When I finished my useless display of anger, I got back on all fours and tried again. This time I managed to clamber up onto flat, solid ground.

  After a moment's rest, I hauled my pack up. With both of us across the crater, I quickly put up the rope, shouldered the backpack, and hurried in the direction of Patrick. Not only did I want to get as far away from the tractor as I could, but I wasn't entirely sure how I'd gotten here, and it could take some time to find Patrick.

  The first couple of turns were easy, but then things started to get difficult. I didn't remember the entire journey, and the walls of rhododendrons looked the same. Not seeing much of a choice, I resorted to shouting his name.

  "Patrick? Where are you?"

  A couple of turns later I tried again. "Patrick? Can you hear me?"

  When I didn't hear anything, I called for the rest of the group. "Elron? Wells?"

  Nothing.

  I kept trying to backtrack and continued calling to the men. As the sun began to slip low in the sky, my voice grew shaky. If they could hear me, they would've answered. Slumping against a hedge, I had to admit the truth. I was lost. I had no idea how to find Patrick, Elron, or the others. And, worst of all, I was going to have to spend the night in here, all alone, knowing Ned was working on the next way to kill us.

  Tear gathered in my eyes, and I stood there and cried. Here I was, the oh-so-powerful witch, and I couldn't get myself out of a magical problem, never mind save the day. Elron, Patrick, Wells, and Gudger were depending on me, and I couldn't save them. Worse than that, I desperately wanted one of them to show up and save me from being alone through the night.

  When my tears dried up, I took a sip of water, noticed my dwindling supply, and silently berated myself for wasting tears on a useless display of emotion. No matter how weak I felt, they needed me to do my best. And if I couldn't do that, I needed to do what I could even if that wasn't very good. Like it or not, my worst was better than what most witches could do with a cabinet full of supplies and a day to prepare.

  Stowing my canteen, I did my best to shove my doubts and feelings of inadequacy into a dark corner of my mind where they wouldn't cause much trouble. I took a deep breath and stood up and started moving. They needed me, and I had to prove to myself that this wouldn't break me. I could do this.

  Putting one foot in front of the other, I moved away from my moment of weakness and back to being useful. I called out to the men, peered down corridors, and carefully weighed the options before I chose a direction. Knowing the types of tricks the maze could produce, I stayed vigilant.

  I kept wandering through the maze long after it was apparent that I wasn't going to find anyone unless I stumbled over them. When nothing terrible had befallen me by nightfall, my concern for the others increased. If Ned wasn't focusing on me, what was he doing? Was one of the men dealing with something dreadful, or was Ned simply taking time to enjoy the effects of his work? And how was Gudger doing? From what the men had said, Gudger was injured when Ned abducted him. Werebears were tough, but they still needed medical treatment, and I doubted Ned would be willing to doctor a hostage.

  Finally I had to admit defeat and find a place to rest for the night. Since my choice was essentially what part of the rhododendron hedge I wanted to cozy up next to, I started narrowing down the options. My current area was well sheltered from the elements with several turns close together, but I wanted to be able to see if someone was approaching.

  With a resigned sigh, I kept walking. A short while later, there was an intersection with a corridor to each side and directly ahead of me. I picked the center path. It wasn't long before it dead-ended. That wouldn't do either. It would be far too easy for Ned or one of his minions to trap me back there.

  After backtracking to the intersection, I went to the left. A few minutes later I found a corner where I could see down the path for a long way in each direction. It wasn't as sheltered as some of the other places, but the better visibility mattered more than being protected from the wind.

  Setting up my camp, I silently thanked Elron for packing far more than he thought I would need. Because of his preoccupation with preparedness, not only did I have extra clothing, but I also had food, a sleeping bag, and an emergency blanket. The light jacket I'd packed wasn't enough to keep me warm, and I hadn't brought gloves. I'd feel much better in a sleeping bag.

  As I bedded down, I took inventory. The good news was that I would be able to get through the night. Now, it wouldn't be co
mfortable, but I would survive. I also had enough food for a couple of days or so depending on how I rationed it. The real problem was water.

  While Elron had packed the water purifier thing and had made sure I was carrying more than enough water for the day, I was running out of what I'd hauled up the mountain, and I had yet to find another source of water. I was sure there had to be a stream around here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

  Eyeing the plants that made up the wall of my prison, I had to admit that if Elron were here, there was a good chance he'd know how to get some water out of those plants. The problem was I was a good witch and a lousy outdoorswoman.

  After eating a small meal and drinking less than I wanted, I scampered out of my nest long enough to take care of my bladder. When I returned, I hunkered down for the night. I really didn't think I'd get much sleep, but I needed to try. Before I closed my eyes, I said a prayer to the earth and moon.

  Keep them safe. Keep them be healthy. Help me help them and help them help themselves.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Elron

  A soft rustling reached my ears. I froze, uncertain if it was another trap or if I had finally found Michelle. The noise seemed to be coming from the other side of a turn in the path that was a few feet ahead of me.

  There was a lull, then I heard something rooting around in the leaves. If I squinted, it almost looked like the top of the hedge was moving. While there were plenty of things that might want to hurt me, I doubted they would be making this much of a ruckus when I was so close.

  Firmly believing in being prepared, I summoned my sword, took a good grip on it, and cautiously approached the turn. I moved forward, one silent footfall after another. Be it friend or foe, I was as prepared as I could be.

  A couple of steps later, I could see tawny fur. Inching closer, I relaxed slightly. That was a white-tailed deer's hind end. The deer thrashed around, trying to go through the hedge. While my first instinct was to go aid the deer, I was suspicious. Not only was this the first native creature I had seen in the maze, but when I had attempted to communicate with the local fauna, I had been unable to find any. Perhaps in some places that would not be cause for alarm, but in these woods I should have been able to sense a plethora of creatures.

  Since the deer looked normal and I could feel her presence, I suspected she was exactly what she appeared to be: a trapped animal. However, that brought a different question to mind. How had she gotten here? I had suspicions that there were spells working on my mind. If that was the case, then perhaps I could see and sense this deer because she was captured in some part of the spell.

  There was a warmth against my chest. I felt as though I was forgetting something important, but I could not identify it. Setting it aside as something to contemplate later, I watched the doe. If she was caught in some part of the magic, then perhaps my earlier suspicions about the not entirely plantlike natures of the rhododendrons were true.

  Sighing, I dismissed my sword. Though a deer could be dangerous, I suspected this one simply needed help, and in helping her I might be able to find some answers.

  I sent a calming pulse to the deer and kept my voice soft and low. "Greetings. My name is Elron. I am an elf, and I can help you."

  Panicked images of being trapped and unable to find her herd flooded me.

  "Slowly now. I will do my best to free you, but you must take it slowly."

  The images simplified, and I could see her moving along, then she was stuck. Something happened that frightened the rest of the herd. They had fled, leaving this doe here all alone.

  I dropped my pack on the ground. "I am going to take a look at the plant that has captured you. Do not be alarmed."

  Stay still.

  I made soothing noises as I came up next to her. When I was close enough, I reached out and set a hand on her hip. She started but quickly stilled. As I reached for the branches, I wondered how well this would go. Since my previous attempts to work with the rhododendrons had been unsuccessful, there was a good chance this would be as well.

  To my surprise, I was able to move enough branches to see around the deer. She was well stuck, but it appeared that her head was all the way through the hedge.

  "What do you see?" I asked her.

  Trees. Blue sky. Hedge.

  Now that was interesting. If she could see trees, the maze was most definitely playing tricks on my mind. However, if I could get her through the wall of rhododendrons, there was a chance I could follow.

  I continued looking around her, trying to determine exactly what she was stuck on. While there were several sizable branches, I was not sure I was seeing the item that was holding her. In order to get a better idea what was preventing her progress, I started tracing her back, legs, and stomach with my hands. My fingers hit something. Even though I was unable to see it, I could feel a stout branch pressed against her middle.

  "Stay very still. I think I can get you free."

  Reaching in with my other hand, I got a solid, two-handed grip on the branch and pulled. It slowly bent in my direction. Though I still couldn't see what I was holding, the rhododendron shifting in response was clearly visible. Digging my feet into the ground, I pulled again. Whatever it was that I was yanking on cracked, sending me tumbling back.

  The doe darted forward. The last I saw of her were her heels kicking up as she vanished through the hedge. From the other side: Thank you. Help you?

  "If you could find a way to help me escape this place, I would be most grateful."

  Come through same place?

  I quickly shouldered my pack and started bending back branches, trying to find the hole I knew she had left behind. After a moment it was clear that whatever spells were holding me here were still in full effect. Being in contact with her had done something to suspend the effects of the spells, but knowing I was spelled did nothing to help me escape.

  "I cannot. There are some spells still holding me here."

  Sorry. Help if I can.

  "Thank you. Be safe."

  There was one last flicker of acknowledgment, and then she was gone.

  I sighed and looked around. As far as I could tell, there were no other creatures sneaking up on me, and with night beginning to fall, it was time I rested. Since I doubted there was any part of the maze that was much better than another, I started making this my temporary home.

  As I settled in, I pondered what I'd learned. The maze most definitely had a mental component. While I was unsure of how it worked, I had some suspicions. It seemed to be actively preventing me from connecting with the person I cared about most or using my abilities. That spoke to something that was reacting to my desires or had some type of feedback from me. Then there were the maze walls. Since I had been unable to see what was holding the deer, it stood to reason that the rhododendrons were magically enhanced and perhaps obscuring some of what had been there before them or even what was actually in that location.

  All of those were spells that Michelle should be able to combat. Though her abilities would depend on her being able to counteract the magic on her mind. If the mind spells were preventing me from using nature, hers would prevent her from using magic, or at least useful magic. If we were together, there was a chance she could work through me, but we had to find one another first.

  No amount of logic or belief in her ability to take care of herself would ease my concern. Finally I prayed to the earth, asking her to keep Michelle alive and well. Even if we failed to rescue Gudger and Wells was lost, I needed Michelle to be safe. She was my entire world.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Patrick

  Inadequate was a good word for how I was feeling. I'd even tell someone that, but there was no one there to tell. I was all alone in this godforsaken maze because I was too clumsy to keep up with Michelle. If I ever got out, I was going to claim that the ground rose up and grabbed my foot. There was no circumstance in which I'd admit to Wells, Gudger if I ever saw him again, or the rest of the office, that a
witch wearing a giant backpack had outrun me.

  That was embarrassing enough, but to add insult to injury, I'd been looking for Michelle or any of the others for hours without success. The only thing I'd managed to do in all my searching was get so lost I couldn't have found my way back to the last spot I saw Michelle if I wanted to. And I was pretty sure I'd seen the possum that had caused Michelle and me to fall off the cliff. As soon as I saw its backside scramble under some bushes, I'd turned around and found a different path. One run-in with that creature was enough.

  The worst of all this was that I had been invited along because of my magical ability. That was it. If Gudger and Wells were still around, I was sure they would be regretting choosing me. My magical abilities had been almost useless, and it was clear that I didn't have enough on-the-job experience to handle a situation like this. At this very moment, Wells was probably carrying out some grand plan to rescue Gudger. All I'd done was bumble around and have Michelle save me.

  Sighing, I looked at the giant rhododendron walls all around me. There had to be something useful I could do. The problem was I didn't have a clue how to be useful when I didn't know where I was, never mind how to find anyone else.

  A strange shape at the base of the maze wall caught my eye. The shadows were so deep I had to lean down to get a good look. Just a clump of dirt. Straightening, I gave all the rhododendrons near me a once-over. While I didn't see anything else that merited an investigation, it was getting difficult to see. The sun was low in the sky, and these high maze walls cast deep shadows. It wouldn't be long before I was bumbling around in the dark.

  I couldn't decide if I should keep moving through the night or find a place to bunk down. While I could use the rest, I didn't think I would be able to relax enough to get a good night's sleep. Ned had sent enough trouble after us when we were awake that I didn't want to know what he could manage if I were asleep. On the other hand, I hadn't exactly been making progress during the afternoon, so a couple of hours of downtime wasn't likely to make the difference between us getting out of here and being stuck a little longer.