Ceileigh slowed to a walk when she realized the mist wasn't letting up. She could see the dim outline of her torso and upper arms, but the rest of her body was obscured. She shuffled for a few steps with her hands outstretched and really hoped she wasn't about to run into one of the bandits.
"Leandor?"
"I am here, master," she heard him say. Though the fog swallowed their voices, he sounded close.
She angled herself toward his voice. "Stay there, I'll come to you." She shuffled that way until her fingertips brushed against something hard. "What is that?" she puzzled aloud.
"That is my arm," said Leandor.
"Oh! Sorry." He's like a rock! She jerked her hands away at once and Leandor wondered why. He couldn't see her expression through the fog, and had trouble deciphering human expressions most of the time anyway. She seemed…unsettled, perhaps? Had he done something wrong?
"Anyone else out there?"
"I am here, Arisen," Hannah called calmly, sounding very muffled and far away.
A light appeared far in the opposite direction. "Follow my lantern, Arisen!" Vibeke cried cheerfully. Why on earth didn't I buy one of those, Ceileigh sighed, rolling her eyes. I suppose because I intended to be back before dark.
She looped her arm through Leandor's. "Can I just - I don't want to get separated again."
"Of course, master," he said, wondering why she was willing to touch him now. Ceileigh looked up but couldn't see his face. His body looked like a big shadow, but his arm was warm and solid and very reassuring. And distracting, she thought with a frown.
They found their way to Vibeke and she led them out the other side of the fog. They found themselves on a soft path of dark brown dirt, lined with trees so thick they blotted out the sky. Rabbits scurried between the large ferns, greenwarish and mushrooms that grew in great patches on the forest floor.
"Here is the grimoire, as requested!" said Vibeke, producing it with a flourish from some hidden place in her pant leg. Ceileigh wondered if that's where her lantern had appeared from and disappeared to as well.
"Thank you. It's so damp in here, it's like I'm at sea again!" Ceileigh said, wiping away a fallen strand of hair that was sticking to her forehead.
"I hear running water nearby," said Hannah.
"A river, perhaps?" said Leandor, listening.
Ceileigh sighed, starting down the path. "I hope so, I'm parched! I already drank all the water I brought," she admitted sheepishly. She hadn't done so well with rationing.
"Wait." Leandor pulled her back with an arm around her waist.
"What is it?" she squeaked, surprised eyes flickering to his face before her brows knitted together in consternation at the close contact. She'd felt way too much of his arms today for her own good, and now she was pressed up against his side. What's with the touchiness anyway? she wondered, realizing this was the first time he'd ever made more than the necessary amount of contact.
"I hear voices. Enemies may be nearby," he said, not seeming to notice how flustered she was.
"I will find out, Arisen," Vibeke whisper-shouted, stabbing one dagger into the air dramatically before disappearing into the trees. Ceileigh agreed to wait there, so Leandor let her go. A few minutes later Vibeke popped back out a little farther down the path on the opposite side and they joined her.
"'Tis a search party, Arisen! Someone named Quina has gone missing," she announced in her normal voice.
"Quina? That's my step-sister's name, and not a common one! We're so close to Cassardis, it has to be her!" Ceileigh exclaimed, running down the path out of sight. Leandor frowned and ran after her immediately, and the other pawns followed suit.
Four men were gathered next to a wide but shallow river, arguing. A dark-haired, bearded man in light blue fisherman's clothing was inspecting part of a broken simulacrum he held. A blonde man with a handlebar mustache was debating which way to go with another dark-haired man who had a goatee. A younger clean-shaven man stood apart, scratching his head and looking around with wide eyes.
"Valmiro!" Ceileigh called, causing the younger man to whirl around, gaping in surprise.
"Ceileigh!" he exclaimed, joy overtaking his face as he caught her up in a bear hug. "Maker, what are you - are you looking for Quina too?" he asked, pulling back with his arms still around her.
He certainly is friendly, thought Leandor, quietly scrutinizing the man. Does he not know this is the Arisen he treats so casually? Ceileigh was smiling more than he'd ever seen her, and though Leandor was always glad to see his master happy, he also felt…disappointed. He supposed it was because she was letting this man act so familiar despite their conversation in the alehouse. He realized he was grinding his teeth and made himself unclench his jaw.
"Leandor, this is Valmiro, I grew up with him in Cassardis," she said, breaking the hug but standing with her arm around the man's waist, and his around hers. "And this is Lazoro, Ramon and Elvar," she introduced the others. "I worked with Elvar at the pier. He was in a different crew though."
"And now here you are - the Arisen!" Valmiro said, beaming at her.
"I never did think such a one would rise from Cassardis," laughed Elvar. "How many can say they once worked alongside a hero?" he said playfully, winking at Ceileigh.
"Please, stop!" Ceileigh said, laughing and holding up her hands in protest. "I'm still the same person! You're embarrassing me!" Indeed, the blush Leandor had seen so many times was creeping up her face.
"Though we are glad to see you, we bear ill news, coz. Quina has been missing since yesterday," said Lazoro. "She quested here to the Witchwood to find a cure for your mysterious wound. She meant to be back in the same day, but never returned."
"She came here because of me?" said Ceileigh, clearly upset by that notion and worried for her step-sister. "We must find her quickly. Can you tell where she went?"
"Unfortunately not," said Elvar. "The same fog as at the entrance was here in the forest as well, though not quite as thick, until we came upon this figure. We mistook it for an enemy, and when I broke it with my knife, the fog in this area lifted." He dropped the two halves of the figure on the ground. It was a wooden post with a white sack impaled on the top for a head, and a cross-stick for arms. "Yet see between those hills there? The fog is still around us, held back by some invisible barrier."
"'Tis quite unnatural," said Valmiro with a frown, folding his arm and rubbing them nervously.
"That is strange," Ceileigh agreed. "But let us make haste after Quina. That path is as good as any if we don't know where she went, yes?" she asked, gesturing across the river and to the right.
They were soon back into the mist and were now headed left. The forest's lush green hills were closer together and the paths between them were now cluttered with large rocks. They were forced to move slowly, pushing their way past ferns and other plants that sprayed out from the steep slopes beside them.
"This place is quite disconcerting," Hannah said in a low voice.
"It is creepy," Ceileigh agreed. "It's so quiet, and I can hardly see a thing. Any number of beasts could be lurking nearby and we'd never know it."
"And it's so muggy," complained Valmiro, tugging at his shirt to fan himself. His complaining grated on Leandor, but at least it was better than watching him make puppy eyes at Ceileigh all day. A scared boy is not worthy of the Arisen, even had she the time for him, the pawn thought, frowning as he hacked through a tangle of roots that had grown waist-high.
"There! Another figure," Elvar pointed. Lazoro pulled out a stout saw and cut the wooden man in half, dissipating the fog quickly.
"Look!" Ceileigh shouted, eyes full of worry. "Quina! Quina, are you alright?!" She ran toward a hunched over figure sitting on a mossy rock a short distance down the trail.
Quina's head snapped up in surprise. "Ceileigh! I never thought to see you here!" The girl was slightly sweating and looked pale.
"What happened to you?"
"It may have been a mistake to come here alone. I was in such a rush for answers though," Quina admitted, her mouth twisting in self-deprecation and pain. "I've been stumbling around in this mist for more than a day, and I was bitten by a giant spider. See here? I've healed the bite wound but I'm poisoned and I dropped my pouch somewhere back there when I tripped over a root. At least I think it was a root."
"A giant spider, you say?" Ceileigh shuddered. "You know I hate spiders of any size! Anyway, one of my pawns is a mage, I'm sure she can heal you." She gestured Hannah over.
"Forgive me, Arisen, but I do not possess the skills for curing poison. I can only heal physical trauma," the mage said sadly.
"What I need is mithridate," Quina said. "Which was in my pouch."
"Lucky for us, I happen to have some in mine. Always pays to be prepared," said Ramon said with a wink.
Moments after Quina chewed the leaves, the poison was gone and the girl stood up with an embarrassed grimace as her fellow Cassardians gathered to express relief and make sure she was really okay. "Did you all come searching for me? Forgive me. I would never wish to worry any of you."
"We were looking for you," Elvar told her. "We came across Ceileigh by happenstance. Actually, I don't know what brought her this way." He gave her a questioning look.
"I was retrieving a book from Aernst Castle for someone in Gran Soren," she said. "Bandits were chasing us, but I don't think they followed us in."
"Aye, many think this wood is cursed, and now I'm in it, I can see why!" said Lazoro.
"It is rumored a witch walks these woods - one who understands the language of the dragon. I know not if she's truly cursed this place, but if I find her, I will beg her aid in healing your wound. I haven't given up on you, coz," said Quina with determination. "Will you accompany me? I would walk easier with friends at my side. And who knows when I'll get to see you again," she said to Ceileigh.
"Of course! I would not pass up time with my little sister," Ceileigh smiled, looping her arm through Quina's. "And I'm eager to hear what this witch has to say, if she can help me."
"Now tell me of these bandits, and everything else that's happened since you've been away!" Quina demanded. They headed down the path, talking in low, serious tones with their heads close together. Leandor sighed imperceptibly, hoping Ceileigh was at least paying some attention to her surroundings.
"I wonder what time it is?" Ceileigh yawned when they stopped to rest some time later. It felt like they'd been walking for hours. They had all been gathering food and other useful items as they walked, and she dug around in her travel sack for something small to eat.
"It's impossible to tell in here," said Quina, plopping down on a log. "I just hope we can ever find our way out." Ceileigh sat next to her and soon they were huddled together again, poring over the grimoire and discussing what it's texts might mean.
Leandor walked ahead a ways and found himself at the edge of a tall cliff. Below, on a large grassy plain covered in pink and purple flowers, was a cottage, built into the base of the biggest tree he'd seen in any world. "Master, could this be the witch's dwelling?" he called. Since the ground dropped so steeply, he could see the sky for the first time since entering the woods. "It is night," he added, pointing.
Ceileigh walked to him, munching on some nuts wrapped in greenwarish. "So it is. I bet you're right about the house, let's check it out."
The search party climbed down to the field with them but stopped and shifted nervously when they reached the bottom of the stairs that led to the cottage's landing.
"I'm not goin' in there, coz," said Ramon to Quina. "We only came to find you, not to enter a witch's home."
"Please don't go in, she might curse you," said Elvar with a hand on both sisters' shoulders.
Ceileigh put her hand over his. "Thank you for your concern, but I don't know if she can do anything worse to me than what's already been done."
"I am afraid for you, but I think you should go. If there's a chance she can help you, it's worth the risk," said Valmiro, drawing Ceileigh into another hug. She smiled and patted his back, but pulled away quickly.
"Thank you, friends. And don't worry, Leandor and my other pawns will keep us safe. I'll be back soon."
This would actually be a cute little place if it was cleaned up, Ceileigh thought as she, Quina and the pawns ascended the S-shaped open staircase. There was a lit lantern hanging outside the door, but the crates stacked all over the landing had dust and dirt on them from disuse. Some of the sack piles even had plants growing up through them.
"I hope she still lives here," Quina said. Ceileigh knocked on the door and listened for movement. After a moment she shrugged. Quina walked softly to a window and peeked inside.
"There is a girl inside, but I don't see the witch," she said. "An apprentice, perhaps?"
Ceileigh knocked again. "She's coming," whispered Quina, quickly tiptoeing back to the door.
The girl who answered the door greeted them politely but switched between focusing on them and lapsing into a far-away stare. Ceileigh had the brief thought she might be drugged and held as prisoner here, that the witch was evil after all. Her hair was held in two ponytails by black ribbons, and she wore a plain black, knee length dress with brown sandals. She wore many necklaces and bracelets holding charms from older religions that were being forgotten by the people. She herself was very slim and pale as if she didn't go out very often.
"I am called Selene. Please come in," said the girl, and they shuffled in, standing in awkward silence for a moment until Quina spoke.
"Begging your pardon, but we seek the witch of these woods," she said. The girl stared at her mutely with large, dreamy eyes, rocking back and forth on her heels. "We hear she is an ancient and wise woman. We would ask her aid in a dire matter."
"Ah, you speak of Grandmother," the girl said in a soft, distracted voice, as if her mind was elsewhere. "She is dead."
"Oh - I'm sorry," Ceileigh stuttered, taken aback at the matter-of-fact way the girl imparted that information.
"Your grandmother? I see! Did she pass on any knowledge of the dragon? Can you understand wyrmspeak?" Quina asked hopefully.
"Gran said the Faith was watching, and so kept it a secret. She was afraid. That if I knew those teachings, one day they would find me and brand me a heretic," said the girl, still rocking.
Quina's face fell and Ceileigh felt her heart, or whatever was where her heart used to be, drop in disappointment. She had at least been hoping for information she could use against Grigori in the upcoming battle, if not a cure. Don't lose hope, she told herself. She glanced around the cottage interior. Chests of drawers and shelves overflowing with herbs, curatives and potions lined the walls. Sacks of food and more supplies were piled everywhere. A large disc of tree trunk served as a thick table that dominated the middle of the room. A blaze was roaring in the large fireplace on the right wall.
"How long have you been here?" she asked the girl. "Are you alright alone?" She looked quite young.
"Gran said not to speak with people from beyond the wood. I am fine here. Comfortable. I have time to learn, and adapt," she said. Ceileigh wasn't sure what that meant, but if the girl was happy and not being harmed, then it was none of her business.
"Thank you, Selene, we will be on our way," she said, turning for the door. As she did, the girl suddenly grabbed her arm and peered closely at her face.
"Might I - Might I know you? You seem familiar…"
"No, I'm sorry," Ceileigh told her, unnerved. She pulled her arm away a little too roughly and left.
Leandor stopped her just outside the door with a hand on her shoulder. "Master, that girl-"
"Arisen, look! Someone watches us!" Vibeke cried, pointing. She saw the person immediately, hiding behind some tall brush at the right edge of the meadow. They were short and wore a long black cloak with a deep hood that hid their face. The search party whirled toward the figure too and gave chase, shouting for them to stop. Leandor charged down the stairs after them, sword drawn. Ceileigh, Vibeke and Hannah brought up the rear.
The cloaked figure had a good head start and disappeared down a path they hadn't seen before. To their surprise it led to a short tunnel made of rock, and when they came out the other side they were standing on a cliff overlooking the trail right outside Cassardis. The lights along the front wall and the shine off the gate were easily visible to their right. The Cassardians all exclaimed they had no idea an entrance to the Witchwood was right here by their village this whole time.
"It appears the enemy has eluded us," said Leandor with downcast eyes. "Forgive-"
"Don't start, it's okay," Ceileigh smiled, poking his side playfully. "Maybe it wasn't even an enemy. Maybe we'll find out one day, or maybe we'll never see them again."
Ceileigh said goodbyes to everyone, tearing up when she hugged and thanked Quina, and one by one they began trailing back to the village except for one.
"Excuse me, may we have a moment?" Valmiro said, placing his hand on Ceileigh's back and looking at Leandor expectantly.
Knowing Leandor's lack of knowledge about human expressions, she started to explain. "He means he wants to speak priv-"
"I realize what he wants," Leandor cut her off and walked away. She gaped after him in surprise. She couldn't quite call his flat tone disrespectful, but he'd never interrupted her like that before, and he was usually so neutral toward others that this was a shock. Unless they presented a threat, that is, and Valmiro was probably the least aggressive man she knew.
"Sorry, that was…weird," said Ceileigh. "You were saying?"
Valmiro took her hand in both of his. "What Quina said about not giving up on you - she's not the only one, you know." He tilted his head, trying to meet her eyes again when she looked down with raised eyebrows, uncomfortable and a little impatient.
"You know I don't feel that way about you. You're my friend, a good friend I've known my whole life. If I haven't changed my mind all this time -"
"But why won't you just give me a chance?!" said Valmiro in frustration.
"Things are - my situation is bigger than this right now anyway, Valmiro! Even if I wanted to, I can't think of you, or anyone, that way anymore. At least not for a long time. Until this dragon thing is over. Do you know what I have to face? I can't have…distractions." Her mind flashed to Leandor in the fog.
Leandor had turned to glare at Valmiro from where he stood several yards away when he heard his tone. Now Valmiro glared back at him for a moment before dropping Ceileigh's hand and slumping in defeat.
"I see. I understand," he said sadly. "I cannot compare to...the life you lead now, anyway." Before Ceileigh could say any more, he walked away. She let out an exasperated sound and shook her head before walking to Leandor and the other pawns.
"Let's just get out of here," she said, sounding sad and irritated. Leandor didn't like to see her upset, but he was glad she'd kept her focus after all.
They gathered close and Ceileigh dug out the ferrystone. She flung it straight up, said "Gran Soren" in a loud, clear voice, and the rock burst, filling the air around them with zig-zagging, multi-colored lights. The ground and trees around them disintegrated and slid away to be replaced with less grass, a ring of stones, and buildings. When the lights faded they were standing outside the Pawn Guild.