Page 10 of Crown and Dragon
Another chuckle shook him. “I’m sure you’ll still get a chance to take some foul humans out. Even if we are meant to be undercover during this mission, such endeavors hardly ever go according to plan.”
The forest below held a softer green than the Fae realm’s Gwerhune. It was sparser too, with fewer leaves on the trees and fewer ground-covering ferns and flowers. It wasn’t ugly—more like reserved. As if nature had to watch its back around humans, so it was keeping a lower profile.
They didn’t have to fly long before they circled the Witch’s abode. Trees that looked to have survived a fire reached new branches toward the sky, and a collection of Unseelie portal stones—thankfully closed by the Unseelie king a while back—dotted the clearing around the house. Of course, “house” was a pretty serious misnomer. The structure’s walls were like a castle keep—solid stone and imposingly tall. Slate tiles covered the angled roof.
Ragewing landed, and soon they were rapping on an overly complicated door. An iron-worked raven descended the length of the oaken slab while gears clicked and shifted. The dramatic entrance at last swung open to show a tall female with globe-like pale eyes and straight hair that reached to her waist.
“Welcome, knights.” Her voice seemed to echo slightly as if she possessed a power that worked in a way similar to Mistgold blood. No one seemed to know exactly what race the Witch came from. She was like the Druid who often worked with King Lysanael—a being singular in make and beyond the pages of historical scrolls. “Come in.”
She stepped back and Marius led the way into the stone cottage. A cauldron bubbled over invisible flames in the middle of the cluttered main room. Green light shimmered over the ceiling’s rough-hewn beams. A colorful tapestry showing a human farm graced the wall. In the image, Unseelie monsters hid in the trees along the border. Bundles of dried lavender, yarrow, mint, henbane, and sage hung from a row of hooks. Doors leading to other chambers hid along the dark walls. Beeswax candles flickered along a wooden slab-type table that stretched along the western side. Vials supported with wooden frames, a mortar and pestle, and numerous colorful bottles crowded the table.
The Witch’s gaze felt like a press to the throat—a blade’s threat, not a kiss. “I have your potions,” she said quietly, turning toward the table and lifting two corked blue bottles.
“Thank you, Witch,” Marius said, accepting one of them.
He spoke calmly enough, but Tahlia could tell his body was coiled and ready to attack if needed. Not that he would win. The Witch was more powerful than anyone except the Druid.
The Witch handed the second bottle to Tahlia. The glass was cool and the contents looked oily. Tahlia wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to drink it.
“You know,” the Witch said, “your Queen Revna took this same potion when she infiltrated your realm to assassinate your king.”
Was the Witch permitted to talk about the royals’ sordid past? Tahlia doubted she followed anyone’s rules.
Tahlia shook her head. “Such a wild story.”
Marius’s features gave nothing away as he stared at the Witch.
“I have adjusted the potion because you,” the Witch said to Tahlia, “were once dosed with mintbane.”
“You mean ghostmint?”
“The plants are the same, though their size differs, yes. I created this potion with a lower percentage of mintbane and added more of my other ingredients so it is less likely you will lose consciousness while the magic takes hold.”
Stepping forward, Marius looked from Tahlia to the Witch and back again. “Lose consciousness?”
Though her stomach turned, Tahlia gave Marius acalm down I’ve got thislook.
The Witch glared at Marius. “You won’t feel much pain at all, but humans struggle with such concoctions. Lady Tahlia already has mintbane in her system.”
“But that was a while back.”
“It never leaves your blood.”
“Ah. Great.” Ophelia strikes from the afterlife.
“Is there any chance of permanent damage to Lady Tahlia?”
“There is always the chance that the magic will do something unpredictable. I can’t promise you anything, Commander,” she said snidely.
“Of course. We understand.”
“You don’t because you don’t know the Old Language and can’t work runes,” the Witch said, turning back to her cauldron and staring into the depths, “but I appreciate the sentiment regardless.”
“Forgive me if this is inappropriate,” Tahlia said, “but would you consider traveling to Dragon Tail Peak right away to heal my dragon, Vodolija?”
“I will not heal your dragon until you fulfill your side of the agreement with my queen.”
“I’d be faster and more capable if she were healed. Even if she remained hidden in a forest near the mission starting point, her presence would ease my mind and improve my physical abilities. Don’t you want the most capable agent working toward your queen’s goal?”