The Witch Child's Amulet: #4

Chapter 4 - Mama's Healing Potion

Getting out of Mithil Gan proved a lot trickier than getting in. In the first place, Mithil Gan was so large that it took twenty-four hours to go from one end of the city to the other; and in the second place, the lord of Mithil Gan was no fool. He knew that a celebration of such magnitude was ripe with opportunity for magician mischief, and given the reason for the celebration, it was more than likely. So even though the south gate, which faced Ost Tera, had only been guarded by a handful of men; there were nearly four times as many near the north gate, which faced the dreaded swamps of Niris Tul.

To add to the complexity of Vano and Bridgette’s plan to leave the city, word had gone up through the ranks that Lord Kolompar had entered Mithil Gan yesterday morning, passing through on his way to the capital—And the capital was west.

In the afternoon, Vano and Bridgette camped in a large public garden area, as near the north gate as celebratory attractions had been allowed to be. They were among several other picnicking patrons and families, and did not stand out as a pair to be suspicious of. As they ate, they discussed their next move.

“We could cause a distraction.” Bridgette suggested, “You could use some of my tricks to make it look like a magician was causing trouble, and I’ll sneak out while they investigate.”

“Maybe. But I don’t think every single guard would come running. Some would undoubtedly stay behind, in case the ‘magician’ tried to escape that way.” Vano sighed, looking off toward the north gate.

“Then they’d see was just you. Honestly, I don’t understand why you can’t just walk up and ask to be let through. Why are you so sure they’d stop you?” Bridgette asked.

“Because I’m not supposed to be going that way—No one is.” Vano replied.

“But you’re Haygen’s nephew, can’t you order them to let you pass?” Bridgette asked.

“Eh. I’m not his favorite nephew. In fact, I think it’s well known that I’m not a favorite of any of my aunts or uncles.” Vano confessed, “They think I’m foolish.”

“You are.” Bridgette sighed.

“Hey now!” Vano complained, looking at her with a mixture of incredulousness and deep amusement.

“Well, you can’t deny it. You’re very childish.” Bridgette said with an unconcerned shrug, “Yesterday, you said we were using games and treats to hide from the guards, but I’m more convinced we were using the guards as an excuse to play games and get treats.”

“You asked me directly if I was using the games and treats as a cover, and I said I was. Was I lying, miss Narvian?” Vano asked, putting a hand on his hip and looking at her expectantly.

“No. You weren’t.” Bridgette said, looking from her sandwich sidelong at him. When he relaxed his defensive posture, she continued: “Not completely anyway.”

Vano laughed in spite of himself.

“It was a half-truth.” Bridgette clarified, looking at him. She admired his good humor, even at being called foolish and childish, but her thoughts quickly gave way to seriousness once again. “Should we just take the west gate and turn north from the road?”

“Our chances of slipping off would be better if we did it that way, but it’s still risky. There’s a lot of traffic on the west road, and it’s guarded too.” Vano said, “Even so, I think it’s our best chance.” As he spoke, his attention was called across the garden to a group of children, sitting before a small stage and laughing at the colorful performers galivanting across it. The show was quite nonsensical and rowdy, but Vano smiled.

“It’s a long detour, but if it’s our only option.” Bridgette sighed, folding the remains of her sandwich in a paper wrapping. “If we’re going to waste another day in this dreadful city, and have to go the long way round after that; the sooner we start out the better.”

 “Actually, Bridgette, I think there might be some hope for your idea after all.” Vano said, still watching the show across the way, but now his grin had become mischievous.

----

The guards weren’t quite sure what was happening at first; when out of a sudden poof of smoke, jesters in funny masks and shoes were doing acrobatics, chasing each other, and making a ruckus of noise! “What on Nyruu?!” One demanded, only to get a party blower in the face. After that the guards began to shout orders, telling the performers to be off, and aggressively corralling them when they refused to listen. Some paces away, the children who had watched the troupe on stage stood watching them harrass the guards and continued to laugh as they did so. Paint, pies and confetti were thrown by the jesters; attracting more of the guards’ attention—And more of a crowd. Soon, the audience of children were joined by a large group of curious adults who stopped to watch the amusing display of rambunctious jesters and irritated guards. Everyone, except the guards, were laughing.

It wasn’t until one clown was shoved to the ground that the troupe realized the shenanigans were not being taken in the way they were intended, and the laughter on the lips of the crowd died as well.

“You there! What is the meaning of this?” The captain of the guard demanded, pointing at the foremost jester.

“My apologies, sir. He thought it would be funny.” The jester replied, gesturing back toward the crowd.

“Well, they certainly think it is. But we don’t.” The guard said, “You have a place where you preform, and I won’t tolerate any tomfoolery beyond it. Now get back there, or I’ll arrest you all.”

The troupe hurried away quickly, followed by the children. The rest of the crowd dispersed. The guards were left wiping various substances from their helmets and hauberks, and muttering about what trouble citizens were. No one noticed that one of the jesters, and one of the children, had slipped out of the gate through the guard house.

----

The two ran without stopping for a long time before they finally collapsed; Vano on his face and Bridgette on her back, both were breathing hard. They were out of breath, but safe for the moment.

“I... did not think… that was going… to work!” Bridgette said between gasps.

“Me… Either.” Vano said with a breathless chuckle.

Bridgette squirmed, sitting up suddenly. “What?!” She snapped, “You mean you… suspected we’d get... caught?!”

“No, no, of course not.” Vano replied, “If I suspected we’d get… caught I wouldn’t have tried it.”

“Oh.” Bridgette said, falling backward again. She wasn’t going to discuss this until she could breathe again, and maybe not even then. Vano had been very upfront about his plan, bribing the jesters to harass the guards for his own amusement, and even purchasing one of their own outfits for himself so he could join the fun. Meanwhile, Bridgette was to stand among the children until Vano gave her the party blower signal. Once again, his foolishness proved an effective strategy.

Once they could breathe, the two resumed their journey. Several hours later, as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon and the dark shades of night enveloped the world, Vano and Bridgette finally came in sight of the boarders of Niris Tul. It loomed up before them, black and ominous against the sky, only a furlong away from where they stood.

“Is it safe to enter the swamp at night? What kinds of dangers are there?” Vano asked, looking at Bridgette.

Bridgette fidgeted uncomfortably. “I don’t know. I haven’t been inside since I was a baby.”

“In that case, we had best wait until morning.” Vano said. He started to remove his travel pack from his back so that he could set up camp, but Bridgette stopped him.

“I agree, but let’s not camp out in the open. Let’s get as close as we can.” She insisted, “And… Let’s not light a fire tonight.”

The two companions found a place by the roots of a giant tree, upon the very threshold of Niris Tul, and ate their dinner by the light of the stars. Whereas Vano kept glancing nervously to the pitch blackness beneath the eaves of the swamp, he noticed Bridgette was doing the same in the opposite direction. She would glance nervously back toward the hills and countryside near Mithil Gan, almost as if she still feared pursuit. After they had eaten, they curled up on the soft grass under separate blankets. Vano facing Niris Tul, and Bridgette facing away.

For Vano, the nightly noises of the region behind them were different than the nightly noises of the region ahead. Things seemed more stifled and ominous within the swamp. At times, while peering into the pitch blackness, he fancied he saw lights that weren’t quite light; but ghostly glimmers. As Bridgette lay there, she also began to feel anxious, but for a different reason.

“So, what happens after this?” She asked softly, “Are you going to go back to Suddlepuff?”

Vano did not respond right away. “Depends.” He said slowly, “If you’ll eventually be coming back this way, I could wait for you, to escort you through Mithil Gan again.”

“Actually, I might stay in Niris Tul…” Bridgette replied, “If they’ll let me.”

Vano rolled over to look at her, even though it was almost too dark for him to see her. “Why wouldn’t they let you?” He asked.

“I don’t know that they wouldn’t, but it’s possible if--... If they’re afraid.” Bridgette said, hesitating a little.

“Ah, so they already know how incredibly bossy you are.” Vano said teasingly.

Bridgette chuckled, but it was only halfhearted and short lived. Vano could tell there was a sadness behind it, even being unable to see her face. “Actually, they think I’m cursed.”

“Why would they think that? Did you have some kind of run in with a Zev?” Vano asked. The magician artisans he used to study under had told him a little bit about the Witch Kings and their descendants, so Vano knew magicians from Zev’s line were workers of blessings and curses. He also knew that many Zevs dabbled in dark magic due to the fall of their forefather, so if Bridgette’s people thought she was cursed, a Zev was the only explanation Vano could think of.

Bridgette did not respond at first, leaving Vano to figure his guess correct, then she spoke: “Not that type of cursed. My family had this idea to free our people, but a Fortuness said that only trouble would come of it… I guess she was right. Everyone’s gone now. All the Witch-Hazels.” She said sadly.

“So, you’re not only an orphan, you don’t even have an extended family to turn to.” Vano surmised, feeling his pity toward this poor child could go no deeper. Bridgette told him and Dolly that she’d been on her own since her mother’s death, but he didn’t realize until now that she meant completely alone.

“I still have an aunt, but I can’t turn to her.” Bridgette replied.

“Why not?” Vano asked.

“Never you mind.” Bridgette responded sharply, “Now are you coming into Niris Tul with me tomorrow, or not?”

The sudden change in her tone followed by such a question took Vano off-guard. “I was going to offer, but I didn’t think you wanted me to.” He said.

“You might as well.” Bridgette replied. “Your family already thinks you’re foolish, if they hear you’re going around dressed like that, they’ll disown you.”

Vano looked down at his chest and realized that he was still wearing the jester disguise. He must’ve forgotten to change—Well, no. He hadn’t really forgotten. There hadn’t been any opportunity since leaving the acting troupe’s tent. But he wasn’t displeased; he rather liked the whimsical style and bright colors. “You’re probably right.” He chuckled. The conversation lapsed into silence for a time as Vano looked back toward the magical swamp and thought of all the scary stories and dread rumors he had ever heard about it. It made him nervous. “Am I allowed in Niris Tul though? I heard humans can’t find their way in those swamps.”

Bridgette sat up, “Oh right. I forgot about that.” She said, bring her finger to her chin and looking up thoughtfully, “I’ll have to make a Potation Of Location so I don’t lose you. But I don’t have anything I need for it, so I guess we’ll have to find it all tomorrow.”

She laid down again.

“Where?” Vano asked.

“In Niris Tul, silly, where else?” Bridgette answered.

“What if you lose me before you make the potion?” Vano insisted.

“Hug a tree and wait for someone to find you… Hopefully it won’t be someone who wants to kill you.” Bridgette said simply. Silence followed. Bridgette figured Vano would digest that uncomfortable thought and go to sleep with it in his mind, but suddenly she heard something unexpected: A sharp hiss of breath through his nose, followed by a series of short muffled gasps. Vano was trying to suppress laughter.

“What?” Bridgette demanded, turning over and sitting up once again.

“You remind me of a bobcat kitten; so tiny and cute, but mean as sin.” Vano laughed, laying down and turning his back to her.

Bridgette also laid down and turned her back to him for the final time. Hours passed; the night wore on. Neither stirred. Bridgette figured Vano was fast asleep, but sleep illuded her as she fought with herself: There was no movement that she could see in the dark, but she fancied she could feel a dreaded presence, getting closer and closer. And watching… Always watching.

‘No’ she told herself, ‘He won’t come close. Not with Vano here.’

Vano. He was a man both stupid and cunning, but honest and good as she deemed. He had kept his word and escorted her safely through Mithil Gan, now it seemed he was willing to go even further, but he didn’t understand. He didn’t realize the danger he was in. He didn’t know about her history, or the amulet, or the real reason she wanted to be a Level 50. Least of all, he didn’t know about Corvin.

…Corvin…

Bridgette felt her stomach tighten as the name came into her mind. She squeezed her eyes closed and gripped the purple pouch that hung around her neck. She kept her grip on the pouch until sleep finally took her, and the night around them wore away.

----

Clearly, despite his humor over it, Vano had gone to sleep with her disquieting comment in his mind, because in the morning he presented a solution to it: He pulled a rope out of his travel pack and tied their wrists together after Bridgette had removed her gloves. There was more than 8 feet of length between the knots, so neither Vano nor Bridgette would be tugged around or hindered by the bond, nevertheless they were connected so Vano was sure he would not get lost.

Thus, the two plunged into the swamp.

The first thing Vano noticed was how incredibly old the place felt: The trees were huge, ancient, and overgrown with lichen and hanging moss. The world beneath their boughs was dark and gloomy, save for strange little balls of light that flitted to and fro among the foliage. The air was heavy with moisture and filled with various earthy smells, none of which were unpleasant. Flowers and foliage he had never seen before were all around them. Every now and again, Vano could swear he saw a mushroom move, or something that shouldn’t have eyeballs blink at him from the branches of the trees. Initially it seemed foreboding, but he soon came to appreciate the beauty in it.

“Are we going anywhere specific?” Vano asked.

“Not yet. We’ve got to collect resources for the potion first—Keep an eye out for Keonor Root and Mind Mallow. They’ll be tricky to find, but they’re the most essential ingredients for a Potation Of Location.” Bridgette replied.

“Right. Keonor Root and Mind Mallow.” Vano repeated, looking around awkwardly. He couldn’t put a name to any of the plants he saw. “Uhm… What do they look like?”

“Keonor Root is very leafy and probably the greenest thing you’ll ever see. Mind Mallow is a cluster of tiny pink mushrooms, usually by the root of an elder tree.” Bridgette explained without looking at him. She was busy searching for other resources.

“Once we find them all, how will you brew them?” Vano asked. He didn’t want to be a pest, but of a sudden he was filled with curiosity. Being in the ancestral homeland of the magicians had revived questions in his mind that had lain dormant for many years.

“After we find all the resources, we’ll find my family home. There should be a cauldron there, assuming nobody has found it and raided it.” Bridgette replied. She did not seem bothered by his questions, which encouraged him to ask more.

“So, your family has a house out here somewhere?”

“Somewhere. Mama told me I was born beneath the eves of Niris Tul, in the family home of the Witch-Hazels. Ergo, we must have one.” Bridgette answered.

“But you don’t know where.” Vano said.

“Well, I haven’t been here since I was born.” Bridgette scoffed.

The companions continued to travel deeper and deeper into the swamp. Every now and again, Bridgette would exclaim with joy, and harvest one of the unusual plants from off the ground or out of a tree. Meanwhile Vano had quite forgotten about the Keonor Root and Mind Mallow; instead, his thoughts were swallowed up in a matter he found very strange: “It’s interesting that we haven’t seen any other magicians yet.” He said after a while, “I thought Niris Tul would be for magicians what the capital is for humans, but it’s more like a ghost town in here.”

“Consider it a blessing. I don’t want to have to compete with anyone over resources. We’ll be lucky if we even find everything we need as it is.” Bridgette said, then scoffed. “Ironic, really. Potion making is the one skill my mama taught me, and thanks to the scarcity of resources, it’s the hardest thing to do.” Bridgette replied.

“Why didn’t she teach you anything else?” Vano asked, ducking under a low hanging tree branch.

“Mama used to say ‘All things in wisdom and order’. She wanted me to learn alchemy and potion making before anything else because it was like The Witch Kings and the covens: Each magical resource has certain properties that enable it to do certain things, so it’s important to understand what it does and why, especially when mixing multiple resources together. You can’t throw a bunch of random resources into a cauldron and hope you get what you want out of it— The same is true of us. We each have magical gifts. If we know as much about ourselves as we do about the ingredients for our recipes, we’ll know how to bring our gifts together to create something wonderful.” Bridgette explained, getting a little carried away in fond memories of her mother’s lessons. “Mama told me that our magic was a privilege, not a power, and everything we do with it reflects on the world. The scarcity of resources reflects the desperateness and division of the magicians.”

“Your mama was a very wise woman.” Vano observed.

Bridgette nodded, but suddenly her face hardened and she took a swipe at a tall blade of grass. “Doesn’t help me now, does it?” Bridgette said, suddenly bitter. “If she had taught me about wands, we wouldn’t have to be hunting for resources right now, I could just cast a spell to keep us from losing each other.”

“Well, considering what you’ve accomplished with just alchemical marbles and potion lore, I’d say she was right. She taught you the most important stuff first. But now that you mention wands, I notice you don’t have a familiar either, even though you could at your level. How come?” Vano asked.

“I think you mean a specter. I have to take the blood-oath with it before it would be considered a familiar.” Bridgette explained.

“Specter then. Why don’t you have one? Wouldn’t a specter help you find magical resources? I know Angry Sock does.”

“Mama wouldn’t let me have a specter yet because she didn’t think I was ready for one. She told me that even born of dank shadow, specters were living creatures; lives to be respected and taken care of. Now of course--” Bridgette paused suddenly, in both words and walking. Turning slowly, she looked at Vano with a raised eyebrow. “Angry Sock?” She repeated.

“Not-Ki-Ki’s familiar—Err. Specter.” Vano said simply.

“Not-Ki-Ki?” Bridgette echoed, stressing the name and giving Vano an oblivious look.

Vano slapped his forehead and chuckled. “Right. I’m sorry. You’re not acquainted with the nicknames I have for my family yet: Well, Ki-Ki is my cousin Kiedith, Haygen’s daughter. Not-Ki-ki is her magician friend.”

“Magician friend. You mean, magician slave.” Bridgette scoffed.

“No, they’re real friends. They’ll probably be better friends after Keidith becomes high queen, unless Haygen does what I think he’s going to do. Then they’ll be less friendly.” Vano mused. “Actually, he was Haygen’s friend first. My grandfather raised them together… But their relationship has since soured.”

Bridgette turned and continued their trek. “Why do you call him Not-Ki-Ki?”

“It just kind of stuck.” Vano said, “Growing up, I spent every summer with one of my aunts or uncles, but Haygen was the only one I enjoyed. When the war started and magician slaves began to appear around his castle, he and I started getting into fights, because I didn’t like it. I staged a miniature coup. Unfortunately, I got caught. My uncle was demanding information out of me and since I wasn’t good at lying, I decided to make the truth as confusing as I could.” He winced at the memory, but Bridgette did not see it since her back was turned to him, and he was still wearing the jester mask anyway.

“That sounds like something you would do.” Bridgette said with a fond smile, “I once tried to do that to Mama; it didn’t work.”

Vano looked at Bridgette in silence for a moment. It seemed that the deeper they went into Niris Tul, the more Bridgette seemed to talk about her mother. Their every conversation seemed to turn to her. “I wish I could’ve met your mama.” He said suddenly, surprised to hear himself say so.

Bridgette turned around to look at him. She too seemed surprised by his comment. “Why?” She asked.

“She sounds like someone who appreciated the true balance of the world and the meaning behind things. There aren’t many people like that.” Vano replied, then put his hands on his hips and smirked. “Also, I would’ve liked to compare you two: You describe her as being so gentle and wise, yet she gave life to such a fireball.”

Bridgette smiled sheepishly, “Yeah. Heh. I’m not much like her.”

At that moment, something caught Vano’s eye. “Is that Mind Mallow?” He asked, pointing toward a cluster of pink near the base of a large tree. Bridgette’s gaze followed where he indicated and immediately her eyes lit up.

“It is! Good eye!” She cheered, rushing forward to gather it. “Now all we need is the Keonor Root.”

At that moment, there was a snap—But it must have been a distraction, because the direction Bridgette and Vano looked was not the direction from which the ambush came. A cold creature shot from the grass and coiled around the pair, binding them together. As they struggled against its vice-like grip, it reared up and hissed at them, and they could see it was a two-headed snake! Then out of nowhere, three magicians appeared and surrounded them; a man and a woman who looked to be about Haygen’s age, and a young woman who was probably in her early 20s. Vano was quick to observe that the magicians were not all from the same coven family; the man and young woman were Aytos, while the other woman was a Miric, yet all wore similar dark red clothing.

“You were right, Miva. It’s the Witch-Hazel girl.” The man said, looking at the Miric woman. She was tall and wore a pointed hat, and her face was flawless and smooth despite her age. When she strode forward and stood in front of Bridgette, Vano could see a similarity between them: Miva had the same upturned nose and curly hair, though her hair was much longer and darker than Bridgette’s, and did not have a white spot.

“Well, at least I can still recognize you.” Miva said.

Bridgette glared. “Aunt Miva. It’s been a long time.”

Miva snapped her fingers and the snake that held Bridgette and Vano bound released them. “Not long enough.” She replied snidely, then suddenly looked at Vano. “Who is this?”

Bridgette stepped quickly and defensively between them. “He’s my specter.” She said steadily.

Vano glanced quickly at Bridgette, then at Miva again. “Klippin. At your service, M’lady.” He said with a sweeping bow.

“Klippin is an unusual name for a specter.” Miva said.

“It’s an unusual name for anyone if you think about it.” Vano said with a smirk and a shrug.

“You accepted a specter? Bridgette, how could you?” The man asked, seeming horrified, which Vano thought was strange.

“He wanted to help me, Uncle Ikalis.” Bridgette said, “But I don’t plan to make the blood-oath with him if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Why is he tied to you?” The young woman asked.

“She didn’t want me wandering off.” Vano explained, momentarily lifting his bound wrist up so the rope could be seen.

“So, he can’t run away? How cruel!” The young woman said, looking at Bridgette as though she were a monster. Vano didn’t appreciate it.

“It was my idea.” He said.

The young woman ignored him and continued to look at Bridgette. “You have to release him!”

“If Bridgette chooses to ignore her mother’s teaching about the preciousness of life, that’s her affair.” Miva said coldly, “But the safety of Niris Tul is mine. Go back the way you came, Witch-Hazel, you’re not welcome here.”

“Only the Heir of Keonor has the right to exile me from Niris Tul.” Bridgette retorted.

“That or one of the coven leaders.” Miva added.

“Well, you’re not a coven leader either.” Bridgette replied. “Even if you were, it wouldn’t be my coven, so I obey no command but the Heir of Keonor.”

“The line of Keonor is ended. There is no heir.” The man, Ikalis, said.

“And we will not risk leading Corvin to any of the coven leaders. His murder of your mother and others of lesser blood has been enough. I am the one who stands before you, so I will make sure our home and everyone in it is kept safe.” Miva said.

“Everyone except me, clearly.” Bridgette replied pointedly.

Vano felt the conversation was going over his head; Niris Tul had a monarchy? That was news to him. Didn’t Keonor have many heirs? Who was The Heir? Whoever he was, Bridgette seemed fiercely loyal to him. To hear that Bridgette’s mother had been murdered was not as great a shock, because Vano had assumed as much, but he didn’t realize that Bridgette knew the name of whoever did it.

“You leave me no choice. Even when you came to me three years ago, you did not seek the shelter of a home nor my care as your last living relative. You only sought allies in your father’s war-- A lost war that you continue to rage in his name, though the name of Witch-Hazel lay in the dust with as much value as the bones to whom it belonged. That fire burns in your eyes even now and will not be quenched, so I must turn you away again.” Miva said.

“Turn me away?” Bridgette repeated incredulously, “I haven’t come back to you. I don’t need your help anymore; my magic power exceeds yours.” With this, she lifted her hand and momentarily showed her magic level to her aunt. Miva’s face was unchanged, but Ikalis and the other young woman looked at Bridgette with wonder. Bridgette lowered her hand and continued; “You ambushed us to demand I leave. Fine, I’ll leave your presence, but I won’t leave Niris Tul.”

Bridgette turned and began walking away, Vano turned to follow her.

“Bridgette, you are a danger to us and everyone who lives here.” The young woman cried suddenly, stepping forward and putting a fist over her chest. She seemed to have a gentler nature than Miva or Ikalis, but nevertheless believed the same things about Bridgette that they did. “If Corvin follows you, no one will be able to challenge him. How many have tried to stand in his way and have met their fate? Please, release Klippin and leave Niris Tul.”

“Klippin doesn’t want to be released, thank you very much.” Vano replied, turning back and looking down his nose at the trio. “I don’t know what this is about, but it doesn’t sound fair. I like Bridgette, and I intend to stay with her no matter what.”

“Then you are foolish.” Miva said bluntly.

Vano laughed unexpectedly, causing the magicians to stare at him in confusion. “That seems to be the one thing everyone can agree on.” He said, looking at Bridgette. “Too bad united opinions can’t make peace, eh?”

“Are you a fanatic as well?” The two-headed snake hissed suddenly from Miva’s shoulder, “Or are you just ignorant to where you’ve cast your lot? The Witch-Hazels are infamous. Loyalists and extremists who sought to rescue the enslaved, even through forbidden means if necessary. They were working on a secret weapon that would give the heir untold power and break all Magic Binds, no matter where in the world they were: An Ultimate Master Key they said.”

Master Key. There was a word Vano hadn’t heard in a long time-- Not since he was a boy. He remembered something that he had learned about the First Witch-Kings and had a vague idea of The Master Key’s origin and importance. At the very least he knew it was the only thing that could remove a magician’s Magic Bind.

“So? If it can be done, what’s wrong with that?” Vano asked.

“It can NOT be done.” Ikalis interjected.

“There is a reason they did not succeed, and all of Niris Tul knows about the curse of misfortune that haunts their footsteps as a result. Any who have associated themselves have been likewise cursed.” The two-headed snake said, “Even my mistress’ own sister, to the great sorrow of her family, accepted a Witch-Hazel’s proposal and thus met the fate destined for that line.”

“She knew the risk and has received her just comeuppance.” Miva said.

“How can you say that!?” Bridgette demanded; her voice cracking as angry tears came to her eyes. Her fists were clenched and her tiny body trembled. Vano was becoming angry himself.

“I guess you and your sister weren’t very close if you can speak of her so cruelly.” Vano scoffed.

“That is no business of yours, specter.” Miva said angrily.

“Maybe not, but Bridgette is, and I don’t like how the three of you are speaking to her.” Vano replied. “You speak of her as though she were bound to some inescapable doom, which frankly I find quite ridiculous, but even if that were the case, I would expect you to show her compassion not contempt.”

“Look, Klippin, we are just concerned for you.” The young woman said. “You have not met Corvin One-Hand yet. Anyone who has placed themselves between him and Bridgette has died. If you do not sever your ties with her, Corvin will be the last nightmare you’ll ever have.”

“So be it. Those who have fallen trying to protect her are heroes who can stand at Judgement with a clear conscience, knowing they did not turn away a child in need. What can you say? You, her own family!” Vano lectured.

“Just leave us be, Miva!” Bridgette shouted suddenly. She had clearly had enough of this. “Niris Tul does not belong to you, and neither do I, so you do not get to decide how I meet my fate.” She and Vano turned together, going back the way they’d come, when suddenly both were pulled back by the rope that kept them from getting separated. The young woman was holding it.

“You can’t! Not with Klippin!” She cried desperately, “Syphon, please stop him.”

The two-headed snake shot toward Vano like lightning, ramming into him with enough force to knock him backward into a dead tree and quickly winding itself like a vice around him, holding him against the trunk.

“Hey!!” Vano and Bridgette protested unanimously. Bridgette grabbed an alchemical marble from her pack and hurried toward the two, but Ikalis barred her way.

“Leave him alone! He’s my specter!” Bridgette shouted.

Meanwhile, the young woman came and knelt beside Vano, pulling a dagger from a sheathe at her side. “This is for your own good.” She said, then used the blade to sever the rope. Vano and Bridgette felt their hearts sink. They were in the midst of Niris Tul, with it’s human-befuddling magic all around them, and now they were separated.

“My good? You care more about a strange specter than you do about your own flesh and blood?” Vano demanded.

“There are other magicians, Klippin. You’ll find a better one.” The young woman said.

“No, I won’t. I will follow Bridgette. I don’t care how you try to stop me.” Vano retorted, struggling to free himself from the grip of the snake.

Bridgette pulled back her arm, ready to throw her marble. “If you don’t let him go, you’re going to be in a very sticky situation. Corvin will come here to find me, do you want him to find you instead?”

“Look out!” Vano cried, but the call came too late. Miva had come up behind Bridgette, and with a swift swing of her staff, knocked the marble from Bridgette’s hand. The marble exploded against a tree, leaving a sticky pink substance. Bridgette was barely in time to dodge another blow from Miva, this time aimed at her head. She barrel-rolled to the side, then threw a marble at Miva. The witch was apparently more skilled than Vano’s servants; once more swinging her staff, she bat the marble away somehow, without even breaking it! Ikalis moved to assist his wife, grabbing Bridgette by the wrist even as she tried to throw yet another marble at Miva. Bridgette was forced to drop the white marble she was holding, covering the swamp floor beneath them with a thin layer of ice. Bridgette gave a strangled cry and fought her uncle like a wild animal, kicking and clawing at him. The young woman stood and ran from Vano to assist with holding Bridgette.

“Hey! Three against one isn’t fair!” Vano complained.

“Keep still, or I will tell my mistress what you really are.” The snake hissed quietly. It had positioned one head by either of his ears and spoke with both mouths. “Miva does not love humans.”

Vano felt his heart skip a beat. Somehow this specter had seen through his disguise, but Vano found any concern he had for himself was swallowed by his concern for Bridgette. Though she fought like mad, she could not free herself, and now the other young woman had a hold of her too. “If you won’t leave willingly, we’ll just drop your unconscious body at the boarder.” Miva said, approaching steadily. She looked as though she intended to strike Bridgette with the end of her staff!

“Go ahead and tell them!” Vano snapped at the snake’s left head, “And make sure you use my full name; Klippin Vano Kolompar.”

A look of realization came into the eyes of the snake, just as Vano hoped. It hissed viciously and tightened its grip so that he could barely breathe. “Mistress! A human, Mistress! He is a human!” It cried.

Miva, Ikalis and the young woman all stopped what they were doing and looked toward the specter with alarm. “NO! He isn’t! He’s not!” Bridgette cried desperately. Miva glanced at her for a moment, then hurried passed her toward Vano. Ikalis and the young woman continued to restrain Bridgette.

Miva roughly snatched the mask from Vano’s face. “A human!” She growled, throwing the mask to the ground with fury and turning to face Bridgette with a face like thunder. “You’ve gone too far this time, Witch-Hazel! You brought a human into Niris Tul.”

“It’s not forbidden to bring a human into Niris Tul if a magician is willing to vouch for them!” Bridgette argued.

“And are you?” The young woman asked softly. She looked horrified when Vano’s mask was removed, but something seemed to have yielded in her as she looked at him. Her desperation to separate him from Bridgette had dissipated, leaving only intrigue and… Respect?

“I keep calling him my specter, what else could that possibly mean?” Bridgette snapped.

“Not just any human, mistress. He is Kolompar.” The snake hissed, squeezing Vano as it spoke the name.

“Then he must die.” Miva said coldly.

“What?” The young woman gasped. “NO!” Bridgette shrieked at the same time. “Please, Miva! If I’m cursed like you think, then his fate will catch up to him eventually, just leave him alone!”

“No.” Miva said, “He has the blood of Haygen in him. This is personal.” At those words, Vano’s attention was drawn to the magic bind on her wrist. Ikalis and the young woman also had binds. This was personal. He could barely breathe and felt his heart pounding in his chest as he stared up into Miva’s eyes. They were cold and merciless. She fully intended to end his life.

At that moment, Bridgette’s hands began to glow green and she sent a concentrated amount of magic exploding outward, sending Ikalis, the young woman, and Miva hurdling across the swamp in different directions. The snake struck Vano before it too was hit in the head with another magic pulse from Bridgette. It fell to the ground unconscious. Vano crumbled to the ground himself, gasping for breath and gripping his shoulder where the snake had bit him. In an instant, Bridgette was at his side.

“Come on!” She urged, quickly tying a knot in their severed rope. Vano forced himself to his feet and ran with Bridgette into the swamp, pausing only for a second to grab his jester mask off the ground.

----

It was a long time before Vano and Bridgette stopped, yet by the time they did, Vano found he was feeling worse instead of better: His shoulder was burning, he felt dizzy, and his vision kept blurring out. He wondered if the snake had venom, even though it wasn’t a real snake. Bridgette, upon examining her hand, found it was bruised from Miva’s blow.

“I should’ve known Syphon would see through you. Specters can smell magic, of course he wouldn’t smell any in you. Uhg! Of all people we could’ve run into, why did it have to be Aunt Miva?!” Bridgette groaned.

“Very unfriendly that aunt of yours. I don’t like her.” Vano huffed.

“That makes two of us.” Bridgette muttered.

“Also makes us even if you think about it. Both our relatives are jerks.” Vano laughed. He seemed a little delirious.

“How badly hurt are you?” Bridgette asked, refocusing on him.

“I’m not hurt. I’m just out of breath.” He couldn’t think clear enough to remember that Bridgette was Narvian.

“Really? Okay then. Let’s keep moving.” Bridgette said, turning to walk away. Vano moved to follow her, but before he knew it, she turned back and gave him a harsh shove. He fell to the ground without any resistance.

“Okay, now I’m hurt.” Vano said.

“If you weren’t hurt, a ten-year-old wouldn’t have been able to push you over.” Bridgette scolded, “Hold still and let me see the bite.”

Vano grabbed her wrist to stop her, but she knocked his hand away and proceeded pull the collar of his jester outfit down over his shoulder. The snake’s fangs had left two deep holes in his skin, which were bleeding, and also seemed to be boiling with dark green. “Vano!” Bridgette cried angrily.

“What? I didn’t know it was that bad!” Vano said defensively. Seeing the ugliness of the wound, he quietly chided himself for having revealed his identity to the snake, but it was the only thing he could think of that would keep Miva from striking Bridgette.

Without another word, Bridgette reached for the purple pack around her neck and opened it, drawing forth a tiny vial. The glass was darkly tinted so Vano couldn’t see what was inside it, but when Bridgette uncorked it, a strong smell of lavender filled the air around them. “Lay back and hold very still.” Bridgette commanded. Vano did as he was told, watching her closely. Her hand trembled as she lifted the vial over his shoulder and carefully tilted it. It was very nearly upside-down before its contents trickled out; a tiny drop of opalescent liquid fell from the mouth of the vial and landed on Vano’s wound. Immediately his shoulder was enveloped in warmth and tingled clear down to his fingertips. Before their very eyes, the boiling green evaporated and the puncture wounds sealed closed. The sensation faded, leaving Vano’s arm and shoulder feeling good as new.

Vano readjusted his outfit while Bridgette carefully replaced the cork on the vial and returned it to the pouch around her neck. “What was that?” He asked in wonder.

"It's a healing potion Mama made. It's the last thing I have of hers, and I don't know the recipe, so I try to use it sparingly." Bridgette explained, hugging the pouch close to her chest. “I don’t have much left.”

"Then why use it on me?" Vano asked.

"You're my friend." Bridgette said, looking him and smiling softly. It was the first smile she’d ever given him that actually reached her eyes. It was beautiful. He smiled too.

After that, it seemed a spell was broken: Bridgette became much more friendly toward Vano and smiled at him frequently. The two companions resumed their search for Keonor Root the following morning, and had no further trouble from Miva or her family for the rest of their time in Niris Tul.

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