My eyes flew wide in utter shock, and I gently dropped my teacup in order not to shatter it. Cerys righted herself and dropped her cup as well and cleared her throat "I meant seventeen years ago, don't mind me" she chuckled lightly. I had heard her clearly and she said what I heard she said.
Cerys Ashwood had youthful features that appropriated to a woman in her forties, yet she had spoken of her brother and said the events occurred seven decades ago. I was not convinced, and she knew it.
Her smile broadened, and I could swear I saw sweat trickle down the side of her head "I'm serious Natalya, it was a slip of the tongue believe me"
I didn't. I asked a few times if she was sure, and she nodded nervously. She took her teacup to her mouth to take a sip, she muttered something inaudible, but didn't pay much mind as I tried removing an unnoticed stain from my gown. Then it hit me, I could feel it in the depths of my mind, some unknown power tried to hit my mind, scramble it. A memory wipe spell.
One of the spells I had learnt these past days was a protection spell, if my brother insists on throwing lavish parties and events up until the day of his wedding then I intend to protect myself. This particular spell I realized would have protected me from lady Margaret's enchanted singing. The spell itself is still rusty, but it countered Cerys' memory wipe.
I sat still, she continued sipping from her tea as if nothing had happened as she waited to see if the spell worked. I on the other hand had a million questions running through my head. Cerys was a witch, and she just tried to make me forget that she had lived over seven decades but somehow maintained her youth. Recovering from my confusion, I righted myself in my seat, she smiled once more and spoke "Where were we?"
"You were telling me about your brother, about what happened between you two. Seventy years ago," I made sure to emphasize on the last bit. She paused, her breathing became hitched at the realization that that her spell did not work. I feigned confidence, but keeping in mind that if it were a more potent memory wipe spell, it would have worked "Did you really think that meager spell would work on me?"
She dropped her cup, the confusion and dread in her face cleared in utter realization "You're a witch"
"So are you," I countered. "Though a witch once told me one can always recognize its kin"
She grimaced "What that witch failed to tell you was that being able to tell if someone was a witch is an innate ability, I shut mine off twenty-five years ago when your father went on witch killing spree. I did not want to know if the person I met yesterday ended up on the chopping block the next day" I felt the pain radiating from her voice, perhaps she herself had lost someone when my father was butchering the witches.
"I'm sorry for the losses you've had to endure, but my father is gone now"
"But your brother remains no different" she countered. I shrugged "You'll get no arguments from me"
She chuckled lightly "Perhaps it would have been better to have you on the throne then" she said.
I shook my head "Not happening"
Feeling the need to change the conversation, I asked "What kind of a witch are you anyway, you've made yourself appear more youthful when apparently you're decades old"
She took a long sip of her tea before answering "I specialize in healing magic, but I'm also adept in other spells too"
"How are you able to keep yourself so young?" I asked, freeing the question that plagued my mind.
"I am old and powerful, I can slow my aging, but it'll catch up to me someday I can assure you of it" that made sense. "How old are you really?"
She chuckled lightly, taking another sip of her tea "Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady about her age?" I supposed my curiosity got the better of me at the end. "But to answer your question I am ninety-four years old"
I did not let my surprise show as I sipped another cup of tea. "I'm glad we got that out of the way, don't try to memory wipe me again" she chuckled "How did it not work on you anyway?" I shrugged "Protection spell, it's still a bit rusty though"
"I could show you how to strengthen it" she offered. I did not see any harm in it since she's a ninety-four-year-old witch. She stretched her hand for me to take "Let me show you" she whispered. I took her hand, felt the warmth on my skin. Her grip on my hand was strong, she closed her eyes, so did I, then I saw.
By the time evening came, the protection spell I had around my mind had been strengthened and she slipped into my mind a few more spells. The feeling of new power and knowledge in my mind felt invigorating, dare I say I felt more powerful today than I did yesterday. "I appreciate you teaching me these things" I said to her.
She smiled "Anything for the last high priestess," she took a deep breath before speaking "When I was in your mind, I could sense your power and I must say, you have a lot of it. You have enormous potential" I smiled, though I've heard this before "Thank you, I must leave now" we both stood and escorted me to the front door and gave me a tight hug "Come anytime you like, my home is your home" I gave a simple nod and walked towards the awaiting carriage.
When we passed the city gates, night had fallen and the rain was pouring on the muddy floor, but I would not stop because I was determined to reach the keep and enjoy the comfort of my warm bed. We walked past the long street and came upon a tavern, The waning moon "Perhaps we should stay and rest here my lady, the rain doesn't seem like it would subside anytime soon"
Amenadiel suggested. I personally didn't need the unnecessary attention that being in a tavern would bring me, but he did have a point, the rain wasn't going anywhere. "Fine, borrow me your cloak" he unbuckled the cloak and handed it to me, I wrapped it around me and pulled the hood so that it wouldn't make it easy to see my face and we walked in.
The tavern reeked of ale and wine, the barmaids ran around to deliver cups of ale and bottles of wine to different tables. It was loud and cheery, the men arm wrestled and gambled, while the women whored themselves to get as much coin as any drunken man could offer.
Nobody looked our way as Amenadiel went up to the counter to speak to the barmaid who looked like she got into too many fights, telling by the scar on her left cheek. He made it quick as he came back to me "They'll have a room ready for us in a few, care to stay for dinner?"
"No, a bed alone would do it for me, but you're free to stay for some dinner if you'd like" he shook his head "I will stay by your side"
I chuckled lightly "I think I can protect myself Amenadiel"
Whatever he was about to say got swallowed up when the tavern doors, a man six foot tall and muscles twice the size of my thighs walked in, behind him came the rattling of a chain, he pulled it without so much as an effort and a frail girl with copper skin and short black hair fell to her knees "ROOM!" he bellowed, "AND THE STABLES WILL DO FOR THIS ONE!" the space went silent, I took a closer look at the girl and I instantly felt something familiar, she's a witch.