"Trivy!" I dismounted before Snow-Globe even stopped moving.
"I initiated our plan and I have your book!" Running to the gate and closing it so that Snow couldn't get out, I went to Trivys door and knocked. The door opened silently of its own accord, revealing the mystic sitting in front of the fire beside another person. It was an old lady, but she looked older than Trivy was, face wrinkled and body shriveled. Her skin seemed to glow yellow in the firelight. Neither of the women seemed to notice I was in the room.
Shivering despite the heat, I went inside and closed the door. Sitting at the table, I watched their backs. They breathed in unison, their chests moving in time to the chants they were saying.
"Cratrhia, griatrusa manthrolor gruatren chir." They whispered over and over. I don't know how long I sat there, observing them, but the sun got lower in the sky. When I judged it to be about three o'clock, the woman stirred. Coming out of her trance, Trividia smiled.
"Hello, my dear, wait a moment and then I'll introduce you to Grænaté." Trivy opened a window, letting a cool afternoon breeze enter the stuffy hut. Banking the fire, the new lady mumbled something to Trivy.
"No, you can trust her. She's got troubles of her own." Trivy replied, seating herself at the table. The other woman followed suit.
"So my dear," Trivy addressed me. "Have you initiated the primary stage of the plan?" I nodded, explaining how Mother and Dria understood basically what we were doing. I also described how fast the rumors I had spread about the affection Emma felt towards the prince, Hurlbert XII (a.k.a The Charmer) were spreading.
"How are you're preparations?" I asked, absentmindedly tracing a picture in the ashes on the tabletop.
"Everything has been coming along well, thank you. I'll expect that you read that book?" She indicated the volume in my hand.
"Yes, and I also went and bought several others. I find it all rather fascinating, and I found a friend who can do it too." I sighed, thinking of the journey. Where was he now? Probably picking up a book shipment or dropping off a completed scroll.
"Oh really? Hmmm…." Trivy smiled. "Anyone special?"
"Well," I murmured. "He certainly made me loose the spark with Jack. I'm utterly confused now."
"Does 'your friend' have a name?" She inquired, eyes sparkling.
"Yes, its Trey. He owns a bookstore in town." She drilled me with other questions, which I answered truthfully. Finally, she spoke to Grænaté. She introduced me to the old lady and explained most of my situation. She then told me that Grænaté had an aging disease and that without it she would look just over forty-seven. I stared in shock, the woman looked to be eighty, at least.
"How did you come about it?" I asked her, I had never heard of an aging disease in my life.
"I ate the purple fern from the garden of a hedge-witch in Norseland, were I used to live." She wheezed. "It smelled of the sweetest nectar, and my husband thought to steal some as a birthday present. Apparently, according to the hedge-witch, she used it to kill weeds. I ate it three days after my birthday, and have never been the same woman since. Now, if we don't find a cure soon, I shall die."
"Is there a cure?" I asked, eyes wide. It seemed terrible, to loose your youth and half of you're life-span so suddenly.
"Yes." She said, and seemed too tired to go on. Trivy continued for her.
"It is with the hedge-with who grew the plant. Grænaté moved away from Norseland years ago, and neither of us are strong enough for such a journey." The mystic smiled. "That's where you come in, sweet." She explained that she needed me too travel to Norseland and collect a second cutting of the purple fern from the hedge-witch Zoula. It had be acquired through Zoula's kindness, however, not theft.
"I will do it, kindly. But what about your husband, can he not travel for you?"
"My husband is the reason that I moved to Kria in the first place. He got our marriage terminated as soon as he realized what had happened to me. Almost immediately, he married another girl and had children. I could not bear to stay in the town after that, and rode as far as I could, east. When I hit Drakenzburg, I stopped. Will you please help me gain back the years I have lost to the purple fern, child? Please?" The amount of pleading in her aged voice almost brought me to tears.
"Of course, ma'am. Of course I will." Suddenly, an idea struck me. "Might I bring a companion? On my mission?" I ask, thinking to make it more enjoyable.
"Yes, my dear, certainly. Does it happen to be that Trey boy you mentioned before?" Trivy smiled and I nodded. As Grænaté thanked me profusely, I got ready to leave. Trivy handed me several other books to study and the address of the witch in Norseland.
"You make sure that you and your friend read these before you leave. They might help you against the Norse wildlife." She kissed me on the cheek and sent me on my way.
I rode slowly back to town, hoping to catch Trey and tell him about the mission, but was disappointed. Unsaddling Snow, I caught Jacks eye. We both made our way to the bench in under the rosebush in the garden.
"What is it, love?" He asked when I arrived.
"Jack, I…" My voice caught. I took a breath and tried again. "Jack I can't…" The look on his face made me stop once more. He was so unsuspecting. He didn't expect something this serious. I couldn't bear to break his heart.
"What is it, sweet? Did something happen?" His voice and touch forced my confession.
"Jack, I have to end this, us. We can't go on." I felt the tears coursing down my face. He went pale and his hands jerked off my shoulders.
"Are you joking?" He whispered, but the tears trying to force themselves from behind his eyes told her that he already knew the answer.My shoulders shook with sobs asI shookmy head.
"What did I do wrong? Is there someone else? Annie, I love you. What are you talking about?" His voice was horse with the strain of trying to hold back the tears.
"Nothing, its me. I love you, Jack, but not like that anymore. I did find someone else, I'm so sorry." I rested my head against his chest.
"But we had all those plans," He whispered, stroking my hair one last time. The tears were running freely now.
"Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry. It's just…"
"I know Annie, I understand." Jack got up. "I should get back." He wiped his eyes on his tunic.
"Goodbye." I held his gaze.
"Goodbye, my warrior girl." He walked back towards the stables. Before he got out of earshot though, Jack turned around. "I hope we can still be friends." He pleaded.I nodded vigorously and ran violently back to my room.
I collapsed, sobbing, on my red-quilted bed. It was not easy letting go of such a tight, long-lived, heart-feltrelationship. Even though it had been me doing the ending.
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