Chapter 3
Anessa walked to the very center of the open space where the earth rose in a small hill. Here Anessa would stand high enough for all to see. The council circled around her, and the lesser witches stood behind their respective coven leaders.
Kasimira of the fire coven brought forth a scepter. It was taller than Anessa, styled more like a wizard’s staff than the previous Queen’s royal wand. It would be incredibly impractical for spell use, but it looked impressive and would intimidate dignitaries from other kingdoms. The very top was empty; however, the gold was splayed out like a setting for a large diamond. Kasimira pointed at Anessa’s hands.
Anessa reached up and placed the ball of flame from the circle fire into the top of the scepter. When Anessa took hold of the scepter, it began to change. The fire condensed into the center, and the scepter shrank to a respectable wand length of twelve inches, clear as glass with a hint of light gleaming as she turned it in her hand.
"May it always light your way." Kasimira walked back to her position in the circle and bowed. The rest of the fire coven bowed with her.
Grizelda approached with a black cloth in her hands.
"May death spare you." Grizelda placed the cloth around Anessa’s shoulders.
The cloak settled, a high collar wrapping all the way around Anessa’s throat and forcing her chin high. Grizelda clasped a delicate looking silver chain around Anessa’s neck before stepping back to her place and bowing. The death coven filled with spotted aged witches joined her.
Timea of the time coven approached. She motioned to several others who carried a throne, dark as the night sky. However, it sparkled from within and lights shimmered like a meteor shower across it.
"May time be the testament of your reign." Timea joined the other time witches and bowed with them.
Anessa sat on the throne. It curved with her body and rose higher so Anessa could still see above the crowd.
Zarina of the air coven approached with a pair of white doves. They flew around Anessa before settling on either shoulder.
"May you always find your way home." Zarina said. She joined the others, and they bowed.
Imelda of the life coven approached holding a dagger. The gold handle glinted in the candle light. An emerald tree adorned the handle with roots forming into the guard for the blade.
"May your blood bind with your true love to keep him with you for all time." Imelda whispered to Anessa. Loud enough for all to hear she said, "May you guard life, and also know when to take it."
Anessa took the knife in her other hand.
Last, Erisa of the earth coven approached. She held a golden crown on a pillow. It had seven spikes, one large spike in the center with three smaller ones on each side. One for each coven. Gold threads as fine as spider silk hung down from both sides and the back.
"May you hold your head high and know what to do."
The weight of the crown settled on Anessa’s head, and the gold threads entwined in her hair, anchoring it in place. Anessa wondered for a moment what type of vision she must have made there under the starlight. Did she look as powerful as the queens before her?
When she looked around, all the witches bowed before her. Grizelda began the chant once more, and the rest joined in.
At last Anessa blended her voice with theirs.
As her voice harmonized with theirs, she felt their life sparks through the gifts they’d given, each one of them under her protection, offering their allegiance. She could give them more power, or take it away, and she could feel which ones had the potential of taking her place when the time came.
Here they were all one. In darkness and light, life and death, represented by the sashes they wore. Elemental opposites, all blending together for as long as time would allow.
The chant ended, and Anessa felt the loss, like a door being closed on the connection she’d just found, but the tingling was still there, behind that door, waiting to be opened.
"There will be time to celebrate, but now is not it," Anessa said. "Now is a time to mourn the loss of Queen Calandra. She reigned for centuries of peace and healing after the great witch wars. We will celebrate the changing of Queens on the Fall Equinox as we celebrate the changing of the seasons."
The lesser witches left one by one until only Anessa and the council remained.
"I have a personal matter to attend to," Anessa said.
"For that magician?" Grizelda spat.
"There is much to do before the equinox," Lira said.
"The witch queen is much too important to be running errands for some boy," Kasimira agreed.
"Imelda, you know what I must do." Anessa looked at the life witch for help.
Imelda looked at Timea.
Timea sighed. "Let me look into the circle fire for guidance."
The council around Anessa stood and summoned the circle fire. Timea gazed into the center for several minutes, frowning.
"You will have a choice to make, Queen Anessa. One choice will lead to peace and prosperity for the covens. The other to death and war. But if you follow your heart true, it will guide you through. In your future I do see, two loves to learn from. One to keep, and one to make you weep."
"I’ll be back tomorrow. It should only take a day, I trust you all can play nice while I’m gone.” Anessa looked at Kasimira pointedly before leaving the council for her new chambers.
Grizelda followed. "Did you not hear the prophecy?"
"I heard, and it said to follow my heart."
"You’ll kill us all chasing after that man. In the month since Rothe trapped that Queen in the mirror, the King has employed magicians and wizards to trap any intending harm."
"Grizelda, it will be fine."
Grizelda flicked out her wand and pointed it at Anessa’s lips. "Mele kaklasaite."
A bitter taste filled Anessa’s mouth. "What did you do?"
"Mind your tongue."
Chapter 4
The next morning Anessa carefully brushed her hair a hundred strokes and dressed in a black dress with silver embellishments that matched the cloak from Grizelda. She looked at her crown, wishing for something smaller like a hair comb. When her fingers brushed the cold metal, it morphed and shrank into a comb with golden flowers at the top. Similar to the royal wand, it could change shape based on Anessa’s desire and need.
She transported herself and approached the King of Eventyr’s castle with Grizelda’s warning in mind.
Anessa wasn't sure if taking the magic mirror would qualify as harm, but she didn't want to be stuck in this depressing city any longer than necessary. For in the days following Rothe’s visit the village had emptied. People fled in fear.
"The things I do for love," she muttered. "I'm just offering my help. I'll be home before dinner."
"Halt in the name of the king!" A guard yelled.
Anessa grabbed her wand instinctively. The glass tree wood had been polished through years of use and comforted her. She’d left the wand from the fire coven back in the mountain.
"State your name and business."
"The grand witch Anessa. To see the King about the magic mirror."
"Leave your wand here, and we'll escort you."
"It comes with me."
"Then you don't get in. King's orders."
"Then the Queen will be trapped forever."
Anessa heard the guards arguing before one decided to ask the king. While she waited, she straightened her black dress and smoothed her hair. Not long after, she was ushered into the throne room, wand in hand.
"What do you want, witch?" the king asked.
"The mirror," Anessa replied. She liked the fact that he'd skipped the formalities.
"No."
"I can save her."
"Everyone else has failed. How would a lesser witch succeed when even Calandra failed?"
The words hit her like a boulder to the stomach. Calandra had tried to free the Queen? "I am no mere witch. You may be King of men, but I am the Queen of th
e covens. Calandra’s age claimed her at last."
The hair comb transformed into the crown it was for just a moment.
The King’s face paled. "I meant no offense my lady. This last month without my beloved has been trying. Where so many others have failed to bring her back to me, why do you believe you'll succeed?"
"I know how Rothe made the mirror and the spells he cast."
"A miracle at last to be sure. But how could you know this?"
"He was --" The lie stuck in her throat. Curse Grizelda. "I watched him make it."
"I sent a message to every magical being when this first happened. Why would you help now?"
"A plea for help warmed my heart." Rothe’s plea for the piece of glass was the only reason she was here.
The King nodded. "My beloved always said nothing is more powerful than the heart."
"Then you will give me the mirror?"
"You may work here with my sorcerer. I’ll have rooms prepared for you."
"I work alone. I’ll take the mirror to my home and return when the spell is broken."
"The mirror stays here. I appreciate your offer to help, but the mirror doesn’t leave the castle. Tell my sorcerer Vardon what you know, and he’ll work on it."
"Very well. I’ll need some time to gather my things and bring them here. Could I see the mirror before I leave?" Anessa asked. She was stalling for time to figure out a solution. Maybe she could get it out of the castle before anyone realized it was missing.
"You will have two days to return. Vardon will show you to the mirror when you get back. If you fail, you will be executed for conspiring with Rothe. Wrath of the witches be on Rothe’s head."
Chapter 5
Great. Now what am I supposed to do. Anessa thought to herself. Rothe had said there was no way the Queen could be released from the mirror.
Anessa approached the black mountain with twelve knights from the castle, including Knight Captain Theron. They'd been sent with her to help her carry back whatever she needed. It took longer than transporting, but there was no way she’d have the energy to transport all she’d need to the castle, and multiple trips in one day would exhaust her magic. The black mountain resided in the heart of the glass forest.
While many magical creatures chose to make the forest their home, all had to live in harmony with the seven covens Anessa resided over. This was how she'd come to know Rothe. On the run from the King, he'd sought refuge in the forest. Against the advice of the witch counsel, Anessa convinced Calandra to allow Rothe to live within her land so long as he didn't cause trouble for the witches if the King found him there.
Curious about his legendary powers, Anessa began visiting him to learn more about sorcery. As time went on, they became friends, and then something more. Anessa remembered the day the King's knights came for Rothe. She'd spelled the trees to block their path so that they could never reach Rothe’s home. They'd left and crossed the forest off of their list of places to search.
As the group reached the base of the mountain, Anessa stopped her horse.
“Wait here,” she said.
Captain Theron looked up at the black mountain towering above the trees, then back at her. “Yes, My Lady.”
He unnerved her. While the others wouldn’t meet her eye and kept their distance, Theron rode right next to her and always made eye contact when they spoke. His eyes had flecks of green and blue mixed with the brown. He was younger than Rothe, but held himself with the air of authority won only in battle.
She got off the chestnut colored horse she rode and went around a bend where she would be out of the sight of her escorts.
"Visa Vagen," she said.
A whistling wind rushed past her and swirled between where the last of the trees stood before the mountain. The air began to shimmer, and the scenery on the other side of the trees blurred to her view.
"Oscailte," Anessa called. Seven birds flew and landed on the trees. A bird for every coven. They each sang a different musical note when she pointed to them with her wand like a music conductor. Each one sang a note higher than the one before.
"Doras."
A glass bird flew next to her. The key to her home. As the bird connected with the wind, it let out a call. The bird shattered apart and the pieces seemed to melt where the wind caught them. As the wind swirled faster and faster, the glass reformed into the shape of a door. It was held by the wind between the trees.
Anessa called for the knights to move forward.
"Don't spook the birds," she said. "Especially the dark ones, they'll eat your eyes out of spite."
She pushed open the door to her home and a tunnel going into the mountain appeared. A series of stones lining the path lit up the way.
“I’ll have my things brought here. If you attempt to enter, you’ll wish the birds had killed you, one peck at a time.” She looked pointedly at one of the young knights who was looking around nervously.
Anessa walked down the hallway until it opened up into a large cavern. Immediately the room was filled by witches adorned in black robes regardless of their coven. They were mourning Calandra.
"My Queen." One approached and bowed. "What brings you home?"
"I need some of my things. I will be staying with the King of Eventyr for a while. The men outside will be transporting the items."
"What do you need?"
Anessa listed the items she didn't have a problem with others packing for her. "I'll see to my personal study. I expect all of the knights to be living and ready when I leave in an hour. I want to be back at the castle in time for dinner."
Anessa walked to a large stone on the far side of the room, ignoring the scurrying of the witches running to do her bidding. Normally she wouldn't order that the men all live, but she had precious items that she didn't want to lose because a witch spelled a man.
"Suas," she said with a flick of her wand. She stepped up onto the stone. It lifted out of the ground and began ascending to her chambers.
When she reached her old room, Anessa stepped off the stone. One of the younger witches carrying a box of items Anessa had requested be packed stepped onto the stone. Another witch joined her, and together they commanded the stone to descend.
Anessa passed multiple young witches all busy with packing up her items from her old room. When she reached her bedroom, Anessa commanded she be left alone. She needed space to think, and she wouldn't be able to do that with all the people around her. It was too dark in here, even with the glowing rocks for light. She needed sunlight.
An old door next to her closet provided the relief she needed. It opened to her bedroom in her vacation home where her bed was still unmade from when she left it yesterday.
Anessa felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around and pressed her wand to the throat of the person who dared touch her.
"It's me, Rothe," the woman said.
"Prove it."
"Cheilt amach."
The woman’s blond hair began shrinking and darkening. She grew taller, her shoulders thicker and broader. Soon Rothe stood in front of her.
"That doesn't prove anything. A transformation spell is a basic craft for a witch."
"You healed my arm after the dragon ate most of it." He extended his arm to show her the scars she'd caressed so many times.
Anessa felt the seeds of her magic still there and let out a sigh of relief. She pressed her lips to his. "I've missed you."
"I saw you yesterday."
"A lot has happened. I--"
"Do you have it?"
"No. The King is making me move to the castle in order to fix it."
"Why does he think you can fix it?"
"I may have told him that I knew the spell you cast."
"Like that would help. It can't be undone."
"I could free her if I wanted to."
Rothe chuckled. "There isn't enough magic in the entire world to free her if I don't want it done."
"So confident?"
"The mirror will conti
nue gathering power. If the King doesn't give the mirror to me, it'll become something the world has never seen."
“Anessa?” Gizelda’s voice carried through the doorway back in the black mountain.
“Go.” Anessa pushed Rothe out her bedroom door and closed it just as Grizelda entered from the black mountain.
“Here you are. If you don’t hurry, those knights won’t be there for long. Even with your command, some of the younger witches are eager to practice their magic on outsiders.”
“I was just grabbing a few things from here. Then I’ll be on my way.” Anessa walked out of the room, and into her workroom next door. There she grabbed her grimoire and several small bottles and jars, packing them carefully into a trunk.
Grizelda laughed. “This task wasn’t so easy, was it.”
“I’ll be staying at the King’s Castle for a bit. I’ll be back by the equinox.”
Grizelda brought her the gown from the water coven. “There is more magic here than you know. And it will keep those jars from breaking when those idiot mortals carry that trunk.”
“Thank you.” Anessa carefully tucked the gown in with the rest of her things. She moved to her desk and the small chest there. Once packed, she and Grizelda carried the trunk back to the black mountain where two lesser witches took it to the knights.
“Watch over the cottage for me while I’m gone, Grizelda.”
“I will.”
“And remove this curse from me.”
“Hen tafod.”
The bitter taste coating Anessa’s tongue faded, almost completely.
“Thank you.” Anessa picked up the wand from the Fire witches and carefully tucked it into the pocket of the cloak from Grizelda. Then she returned to the Knights, and with a nod to the Captain they started back to the Castle.
Chapter 6
Anessa stood in the workroom the King had given her. It was nicer than the space she had in her home. It was large, filled with light that filtered in through the transparent ceiling and windows. Sunlight penetrated every corner of the room. She'd have to make some improvements when she returned to her own room.
A chiming sounded from somewhere in the disorganized chaos unpacking had brought. It took a moment to locate the trunk where the sound had originated. It was the one she’d packed herself. The guards had deposited it to the side of the room after the Grand Sorcerer had deemed it safe.
Snow White's Witch (Tales of Eventyr Book 2) Page 2
