CH 6 – Forest Night Berries
By the time they had reached the castle walls, Marcellus and Savin had already avoided any attention set by the guards.
The toll was paid to get over the Moat, much to the collectors confusion (why would a servant and that Alchemist be going out of the castle now of all times?) But either way, he let down the bridge briefly for them to cross. He warned them that it would only be down again by morning, "yes yes, pray just let us cross when the time comes."
The grumpy toll collector grunted and was off to bed once again, 'blasted kids waking him up in the night..'
"So Miss Juniper, where do we start?" Marcellus smiled, the thought of them being one step closer to making the tincture had excited the Alchemist.
"In the forest obviously," her smirk had a mocking tone though Marcellus only laughed.
She didn't say another word before running up the small bank of grass and into the forest. That same feeling she often had gotten in the wilds was back and she suddenly felt at home. Waiting for Marcellus as to not loose him, she had a slight skip in her step as she led him deeper into the forest line. Turning back, Marcellus noticed that he could not see the river anymore. Many had gotten lost in the forest never to return, he stepped closer to Savin, sure to follow her every move.
"How will we find these Night Berries?"
She turned with a flash of blue eyes, "they're found not to far away from shore, I know a place where we will find them."
Soon they had reached a natural dome in the trees, it was deathly beautiful thought Marcellus. Savin ran over to a bush with black berries growing in clumps, picked three bundles and handed them to the knowledgeable Alchemist and Physician.
"Be sure not to eat them. Their quite poisonous."
"How will that work in the tincture then..?"
"Perhaps there is an ingredient that cancels out it's effects?"
Marcellus grew inpatient, pulling the list of ingredients needed from a pocket inside his robes, he searched through them.
"Uh yes, I should have known t-"
"Shh!" The forest had become unnaturally quiet and Savin instantly noticed the still of the wind. She looked with all seriousness to the concern on Marcellus' face.
"Can you climb?" She whispered.
"Not with any skill."
"Good enough," she walked over to a tree, helping him get to the highest branch he could possibly reach.
"Now wait there."
"Ah, I've dropped the list!" He said as loud as he dared, the silence of the forest was making him nervous.
Savin picked up the list and waved it at him, there were crunches in the bushes nearby and she automatically stopped.
By this stage, her heart might as well have been literally in her mouth. She jumped behind a tree away from Marcellus', careful not to draw any unwanted attention to him.
"I swear, I heard something over here did you not?"
"That's what I thought." A familiar voice was carried by three pairs of footsteps.
"Perhaps we should go back. There must be wolverines in these parts."
Savin knew those voices, and silently cursing her luck, stayed as still as possible. The Witch Mother, was here with two others from the Coven.
Under the unbearable tension, a twig snapped under Savin's weight.
Marcellus was unsure of what to do, these must have been other witches, and that meant Savin was in trouble. Though when he caught her eye she insisted he stay where he was. His mind was torn.
'She better know what she's doing..'