Page 43 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

Blessings and Damnation

We backtracked, using the map, to head due west toward Wistran. And the last mischief hag.

Georgina spent her time at night tweaking and repairing M.A.L.C.O.L.M. She looked like a completely different gnome. Happy. Even humming to herself as she worked.

It was when she opened her mouth that I realized she was still the same surly gnome.

It made me smile.

Every town or village we passed in the Dead Forest was told the news that the mischief hag was dead and would bother them no longer.

Some didn’t believe us, thinking we were talking for attention or even coin.

Others did believe and welcomed our arrival with open arms. There the harsh whispers and hostile stares disappeared, to be replaced with gratitude, even adulation.

We spent another day at the toad village. I asked after Jeffron, but we received the unfortunate news that he had gone missing shortly after we left.

Avoiding the frogs, we arrived in Elancia a few days later with blue still draped across every available surface.

We were told they would stay until the cloth was completely bleached by the sun’s rays, to honor the beloved elven general.

Going straight to Castle Tanta, we still had to peace-bond our weapons but were let inside without a fuss.

The king was listening to his daughter sing when we arrived.

Her voice was lovely, a lyric soprano that felt far more mature than her youth should allow.

After her song, she thanked us profusely and promised us a private concert in the future, as it was the only thing of true worth she felt she could give.

Her father was grateful beyond words, granting us each a boon of our choice.

Georgia asked for a full day’s time in the Workshop with M.A.L.C.O.L.M.

Raewyn asked for money.

M.A.L.C.O.L.M. asked for another bowtie, this one with green dots. His voice box had been repaired by Georgina, so he at least requested it at an acceptable volume.

Ramiren and I decided a favor would be owed in the future.

We passed through Puldoni again, staying at The Forever Inn for nostalgia’s sake. The waitress recognized Ramiren but not the rest of us. I was not surprised.

It was a week before we reached Wistran, passing through smaller towns to take advantage of warmer beds and better food.

Raewyn asked a day after passing the kingdom’s border, “Leraska’s grove is near here, right? Should we stop in and say hello? Give a report or something?”

Georgina nodded at her. “That’s not actually a bad idea. She might have more information for us.”

I did not remark on this being the second time they had agreed on something. I didn’t want to ruin the moment. The Ivory Grove was marked on the map, and we followed the trail.

Leraska looked delighted to see us, extending her arms out in welcome. “You have made it! One left to defeat!”

Ramiren’s gait slowed in hesitation. “That’s right. How did you know?”

“News has reached me, friends. Whispers of heroes from Laeth defeating the legendary mischief hags of the Feylands. Rumors of a beautiful woman with a gleaming shield…” She indicated me.

She said to Ramiren, “Gossip of a silver-tongued broodling…” Ramiren’s face went stony.

“Reports of a masked priestess spreading… joy,” she said haltingly, motioning to Raewyn.

“And, of course, talk of a capable tinkerer and her loyal automaton. I hear all these things.”

Ramiren tried to keep his tone even, but I could hear the edge in it. “From who? We made good time.”

Leraska laughed lightly, as though unbothered by his line of questions. “Why, the wind. The birds. The sunshine. They all speak to me, Ramiren.”

Ramiren’s mouth went into a line. “I see. We came to see if you have any information for us about the last remaining hag, since you appear to be so knowledgeable of them.”

Leraska clapped her hands once. “Why, yes! I do, as a matter of fact. The specialty of the third mischief hag. While one liked traps and scrying, and the other enjoyed potions and strangling vines, the third loves illusions. She makes you see things that aren’t there.”

I recalled the mirrors and shuddered.

We were allowed to wander the grove to our heart’s content.

The fields of flowers, bushy colorful trees, and the gentle buzzing of bees and other insects reminded me of home, purple grass and red sky notwithstanding.

I wandered the gardens, smelling every flower within reach.

One made me sneeze, and a few of the flowers said in gentle voices, “Bless you!”

“Oh. Th-” I stopped myself from showing gratitude towards something that may or may not be fey, furrowed my eyebrow, and walked on .

It was getting dark before I realized I was lost. The garden turned from a simple hedgerow into a labyrinth. Though not particularly adept at mazes, I didn’t think there’d be any harm in walking around. How complicated could it be?

More fool me.

Turning a corner I wasn’t sure I hadn’t just passed two minutes before, a dull blue light caught my attention. Caution and anxiety whipped through me, until I remembered this was a protected grove. There is nothing dangerous here.

I approached slowly, rounding the ivy trellises, to see, under a pink flowered arch, a fist-sized globe sitting on a stone base that looked like it was made to house the round object.

What is that...

“Lost, Nathalia?”

With a startled shriek, my skeleton nearly jumped out of my skin. Turning, I saw Leraska approach with an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Oh, it’s alright. I didn’t mean to pry. I was lost and saw this.” I indicated the blue globe beside me.

Leraska stepped forward, touching her fingertips to it. “Yes, it’s for scrying. But, sadly, it doesn’t work properly.”

My curiosity got the best of me. “Oh? Why not?

She held out a hand towards me. “It’s a long and rather painful story. Come.”

Leraska began to lead me out of the maze. I knew that mischief hags were made by druids. Leraska might be a druid, though she never outright stated she was. Perhaps she knows who this mysterious mistress the second mischief hag mentioned could be?

“Leraska, if I may. There’s something I hoped you could help me with. One of the mischief hags we defeated mentioned something about a mistress. I know mischief hags are created by evil druids. Have you heard of any causing trouble?”

Leraska stopped so abruptly, I almost ran into her.

I backed away with an apology. She sighed grimly.

“One, yes. She was known as K’sar. She was a powerful druid, some say the most powerful.

She caused a lot of destruction, but no one has seen her face for, oh, over twenty years now, I believe.

People say she died, but no one really knows.

It’s entirely possible she created the ones you’ve been facing. ” She smiled gently. “Thank you.”

“Oh. You’re welcome.” I blinked. “What are you thanking me for?”

“For what you’re going to accomplish. Not many people can say they helped change the world.”

“Well, we agreed. They’re a menace. I can only imagine how repugnant the one who created them is.” We continued walking. Though I appreciated her acknowledgement, I made a conscious effort not to thank her in return.

Leraska and I bid each other good night after we exited the maze.

Heading over to the clearing where Ramiren and I were camped, with Raewyn and Georgina having opted to stay in the grove’s cottages, it was very quiet and serene.

Normally, I would join them, but I wanted to be closer to Ramiren tonight.

It was full-on dark by the time I tapped on the ornate tent. “Ramiren? Are you still awake?”

From within, I heard him. “Yes, please come in.”

Stepping through, my eyes immediately went to the broodling. He was sitting at a table, with several papers and books in front of him.

He did not look up from the large parchment in his hands. “Evening, Nathalia. I was just finishing up some paperwork.”

I came closer to sit in the chair beside him. “Oh? For what?”

He answered, still not looking up from the parchment, “A contract that needed to be reviewed, that’s all. Now that I have my whistling back, I thought I’d re-acquaint myself with the particulars.”

It took all that I had to not ask or peer over his shoulder at the tiny writing on the parchment.

He rotated his head to smile at me. “What can I do for you?”

“Nothing in particular. I just wanted to see my friend. See how he was,” I replied. It was true. With no thoughts of a lesson tonight, I merely wanted to be around him.

Ramiren lowered the wrinkled parchment in his hands and turned slightly in his chair to look more fully at me, his eyes staring over the rim of his glasses. He raised an eyebrow.

His disbelief made me laugh. “Truly! That’s why I came.”

He lifted his head and gave a warm smile. “Your friend is fine. A bit tired, but fine. We’ve gone a long way in a very short period of time. I’m looking forward to a long rest after this business is concluded.”

“As am I. I’m just not sure where. Perhaps Camlynn. Perhaps somewhere else.”

He shifted in his chair, the parchment crinkling in his hands. “Camlynn sounds nice, actually. I’ve enjoyed Rowin every time I stayed there.”

“You know my parents. You’re friends with my father. You could visit them if you came with me.” My eyes widened. “Us. I meant us.”

He returned to his parchment. “True. I could. I haven’t seen them in years.”

“How do you and my father know each other, anyway? I don’t believe I ever asked.”

“I had the pleasure of overseeing a pact with your father five or so years ago. I cannot discuss the terms, I am forbidden.” He grinned at my astonished expression.

“I adore your mother, though I wasn’t sure if she was going to kiss my forehead or put an axe through it.

It’s that assessing smile she has. Confident and vaguely menacing. ”