CONTENT WARNING: mention of deaths of children, somewhat-mild sexual references. There's also some nudity, but everything that needs to be covered up, is covered up.
Katlego
I hear uncharacteristic chanting and yelling outside of my door. What kind of trouble would appear outside of my house, I wonder? - then I hear their words clearer. They're calling for me, saying I 'owe an explanation.' An explanation of what?
I open the door to a sizeable crowd outside, all with scowling, disgusted faces- some of whom are being sick into the grass, onto my doorstep. I don't know if I have the time to heal all of these people in one go. At the forefront of the crowd are people I don't quite recognise, but they're on the tip of my memory. Previous customers, maybe?
"If you're all here for cures, then I'm afraid I have a queue-"
"No! We've tried your 'cures', and we've all ended up sick as a result- including our children!"
Ah, that's where I recognise them from slightly...one of my many customers. But what on Earth are they talking about? I thoroughly check all of my ingredients for signs of contamination- so thoroughly, in fact, that I highly doubt it's anything to do with me. It's second nature; there's no way I wouldn't think to do it.
"I'm not sure what you mean. Perhaps there is a kind of illness spreading? How do you know it's my fault?"
"Because we all came to you over the same two days for cures, and we all have the same symptoms- vomiting. We're starting to wonder if you're making us sick so we come back to you for cures. A quick way for someone new to the area to make a Simoleon, yes?"
Before I have a chance to calmly defend myself, the fury at the accusation hits me. The gall of these people to think that I would do such a thing, and the gall of them to think it has something to do with me being new here! Before I can say anything, a familiar, disgusting figure makes his way through the crowd...
"I'm truly ashamed of you, Katlego Anansi. I thought it would be good to have another healer in Henford, and yet you've let everyone down with your greed and your lies."
Annorin. Who is he to accuse me of greed? The man is sitting on a pile of money taller than Mt. Komorebi! He would not have arrived so soon, were he not responsible somehow. What lies has he been spreading? Is this little man so desperate to undermine a business owner who is in no way a competitive threat to him?
"You had a hand in this, didn't you? What did you tell them?" I say it loud enough for the crowd to hear, but they all look at Annorin wide-eyed, somewhere between admiration and fear.
Henford is a strange place. Its residents seem to have their noses right up the backsides of the rich, sniffing around for a Simoleon or two. Ridiculous. Philanthropy is a dead concept here, and it confuses me to no end. Back home, our community were always helping each other out where it was needed. Am I really the outlier in this country because I wanted to help others whilst helping myself?
"I told them nothing. They are rightfully appalled by your lack of care for your patients, as well as for your craft."
Out of almost nowhere, I see a familiar flash of khaki. What's he doing here? This situation is bad enough without the presence of a witchfinder! I bet he'll tell Annorin of the witch bottle situation, I have no doubt.
As he grows closer, I realise it's not me he has a qualm with. His focus is entirely on Annorin.
"This woman is an honourable cunningwoman, Samuel. You've got no business acting like this is her fault. And even if she were responsible, her money isn't piled on top of the dead bodies of poor families like yours."
Goodness. I somehow didn't expect something so acid-tongued, even from a witchfinder. But why? Why is he defending me after threatening to kill me some time ago?
I tell the witchfinder to move out of the way. At this point, part of me just wants to let the beast do its work- but no, something likely not native to Henford in any way would cause too much of a stir. I don't understand it- in all my life, I've never been filled with such rage as I am now. I want to let my claws do the talking, but I hold back.
"If I cannot convince you that I have nothing to do with your illness, then I suppose there is little I can do. However, I want every single one of you to ask yourselves- who is more likely to be telling the truth? Me, the everywoman who only just arrived in this country, who genuinely cares for others- or this overgrown rat who charges extortionate prices to keep people alive? Me, or him?!"
The moment their eyes swivel towards him, I realise I've already lost. The lies of a man with gilded pockets meant more than anything I could say or do. I don't whether to laugh, cry, scream, or all three.
"The people stand with me, Katlego. I would never make anyone unwell to further my own business."
"I never made anyone unwell, Annorin! You're the one who makes your prices so sky-high that the people who need them can't afford them! Without me, these people would die!"
Even with that, they are still looking towards Annorin, and then back to me. The man who charges a lifetime's wages for his cures- what is it about him that is more trustworthy than me? Perhaps it is not my place to argue. Perhaps I ought to simply take my leave.
"Fine. If you want to waste your lives away trying to earn the money to buy one of Annorin's cures, then you can do just that. If you believe him over me, then I cannot, and will not, change your mind."
"Go, Katlego- far from here. Leave the healing to the honest people."
I
want to turn and claw him to pieces, but I resist the urge. The last
thing I want to do is cause even more of a stir than I apparently
already have. The crowd flock to Annorin, asking him about what best
combats nausea. I'd tell them, for free, but it is not my help they
want.
* * *
After gathering most of my tools and herbs, I call Nia from the living room. She flies out, my coin purse in her beak, and sits on my shoulder. She bends down. I pat her on the head and take my leave from this place.
Just as I am leaving, I hear a low voice behind me- the witchfinder. I am too angry at Annorin to be mad with him, but I end up snapping at him anyway.
"What? What do you want?"
"I don't want anything, Katlego," he says, in a calm voice. "You shouldn't have caved to Samuel Annorin. He's a tyrant. Hundreds of people have survived because of him, but hundreds more have died because he refuses to lower his prices."
The rage feels as if it is boiling in my veins. I ought to despise Gideon. He threatened to kill me, as well as having killed countless witches. For now, whilst my anger is focused elsewhere, I decide to hear him out.
"Why did you stand up for me back there, Gideon?"
He takes a deep breath. "Whether you believe me or not, I've decided to quit witchfinding. I've realised far too late what I was doing wrong. I spoke with a Peteran priest about it, and he told me I need to properly make up for what I've done. And with that, I owe you an apology for what I said to you. I know an apology won't cut it, but-"
"No, you're right, it won't cut it, Gideon," I reply. "But...urgh. This entire country is a broken mess. The people trust a man like Annorin more than someone like me. What is it? Is it because I am not from here? Is that it?"
Gideon looks down at the floor. "I think it's moreso because of Annorin's riches. He's well-known, and the rich credit him as the reason they're still alive. Of course, any man like that is going to be someone of interest for everyone else. Henford more than anywhere thrives off of false hope, and that false hope includes idolising people with fat pockets."
I turn away from him, sighing. Nia nuzzles at my cheek trying to cheer me up, but not even Nia can heal the tear this betrayal has left in my heart.
"I don't get it. The more I try to get to know this place, the more alienated I feel from it," I say, on the edge of tears. "And I don't think I'll ever get home again at this point. I hoped that in the meantime I could make this place feel like home, but it doesn't seem that way now. I don't think this place will ever feel like home."
Gideon
When we first met, Katlego seemed so proud and confident, but that's not the woman I'm seeing now. Maybe it's a hypocritical thought after our first interaction, but seeing the townsfolk flock to Annorin like that hurt. The man is a snake. Her business wouldn't have harmed Annorin's at all. The richest get all of their concoctions from him. He still has half of San Myshuno begging for his cures- to them, whatever Annorin's peddling is dirt-cheap. Katlego's herbalism is likely the only kind of care the poorer people of Henford could afford, and without that, well...
I can't imagine what it must feel like to not feel at home. I was born in Henford, and so were my parents. I've always had a place to call home. I've always had people to call home, too. Without family, I would be a very depressed man- though that's exactly what my actions have done to others. Maybe the worst thing any man can do is harm another's family. Once it's fractured somehow, it's incredibly difficult to put back together again. When Ruth died, trying to piece everything back together again...I don't want to remember it.
"I don't know what to say, Katlego. All I can really suggest is to just stay on the move until you find somewhere to settle down, though that just seems to be the life of witches in general."
"Ah, but I am not a witch, Gideon. I am a sorceress," she responds, her familiar vigour suddenly coming back to her in a much darker fashion than before. "I will find something else to do for a while. For now, I do not care whether these idiots live or die. They made the bed with Annorin, they can lie in it."
"You don't mean that, Katlego," I respond. "You have a good heart."
"Not for now, I don't. If you really want to make up for what you said you'd do to me, then you will give me your address. Then we can at least keep in touch- figure out how we try and prove to the people it had nothing to do with me. If that doesn't work, then we figure out a way to strike at Annorin."
Seems a bit far-fetched, but I did say to Prior Morgan I'd do what I could to make up for what I've done. I write my address into her journal, and bid her farewell. Her owl makes a strange, seemingly-friendly sound towards me.
"Oh, and don't even think about becoming a witchfinder again. Most of my magic is not harmful, but I have the means to tear you apart if I absolutely need to."
"Fair enough. But you have somewhere to go, right? There must be at least one person you can trust here."
Katlego rests her chin on her fist. "There was Esme who gave me her shack, but now she's gone elsewhere. And goodness knows where Áine is..."
...Áine?
Wasn't that Brádach's daughter's name? It can't be coincidence. It's not exactly a common name in Henford.
"Listen, Katlego- I need to find Áine. Maybe we can both go and look for her."
"I appreciate her, but I am not going to bother a pregnant woman with my problems. Besides, I don't know where she is right now. She's been looking for work. Why do you want anything to do with her, anyway?"
It's impossible. I have no way to prove to her that I don't plan to do any harm to her- but if I can find her, she deserves to know the absolute truth about her father. Maybe I should just be honest with Katlego.
"Her father was my partner in witchfinding before I quit. He told me about everything he'd done after I'd admitted to him that I was quitting my job...He killed her mother, and I believe it was to save his own skin. She needs to know about this."
Katlego sneers at the thought and swears under her breath. I shouldn't have made her more mad, but she needed to know the truth. "If I see her, I will pass on this information- though I do not know if she will believe me. Anyhow, Gideon, I ought to be on my way. Don't try anything, and don't get back into hunting witches, or I'll hunt you myself."
With that, she takes the little left that belongs to her and heads off into the distance, obscured by the heavy rain. If I can help Katlego find out what actually happened, I'll be glad. Annorin needs to be cut down somehow.
Áine
Before I head off to the small village for my new job, Reynold has taken us on a trip to somewhere outside of Henford, past Granite Falls. We borrowed a beautiful horse from Elias, one of the members of the Peteran monastery, though the horse seems to despise Reynold. I always thought he was good with animals- apparently not so with horses. It will be a shame to leave Kat and Reynold behind for so long when I am away, but at least I can write letters. I hope Kat is doing well.
We are in Lunvik, a small rural town that has since been abandoned- very shortly after it began to become industrialised. It's an odd place, and the unfinished nature of it makes it discomforting. It's a limbo between the man-made and the natural, both beautiful and hideous at the same time. The view from atop the lookout point, though, with the orange tint of the setting sun behind us, is a sight to behold.
"Are you nervous at all?"
"Not really. It'll be good to make some Simoleons. Maybe then I can find somewhere to live." I still don't know why we can't just live together until he has to move into the monastery. Even if it's only a few weeks, I would have taken up the offer. I would do anything to find a permanent place to call home.
"You don't seem yourself, Reynold."
He lowers his head a little, staring straight forward, no longer taking in his surroundings.
"Mother Joyce seems much more unwell lately...So many things I don't want to think about. But I don't have any choice. I don't want to lose her. She was like a mother to me. She can be strict sometimes, of course, but she taught me many things. My own parents were good for the most part, but there were so many things they should have taught me that they didn't- and that caused a lot of problems for me and my sister. Mother Joyce showed me the light, I suppose. I don't know how I'll react when she goes."
I lean into him, putting an arm around his shoulder as he leans his head on mine. "What do Peterans believe happens after death?"
"We believe the souls of the dead amalgamate to become part of the Watcher. They lose everything that made them who they were, and they become part of the entity watching over us. That's the only thought that comforts me, knowing that whatever happens, she will be watching. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye. I fear she'll die before she ever knew how much she meant to me."
The Peterans seemed to always have a very accepting outlook on death, willingly joining the Watcher- but nothing can prepare anyone for grief. No matter how much you accept it, it will still hit much harder than you expected it to.
"I think she knows exactly what she means to you, Reynold. I have no reason to think she doesn't. I know she can be cranky at times, but deep down, you mean a lot to her. All of the Peterans do, and the refugees."
He snuggles into me almost in the way a cat would, and we say nothing for a while, watching the Sun go down behind us until the Moon eventually replaces Him.
Reynold tells me the true beauty of Lunvik comes out at night, bathed under the soft light of the half-moon. There is something incredibly daunting about the place. The dense fir frees rise from the ground like the teeth of a monster. Everything not touched by the moonlight is shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. I don't think this is the kind of place I'd like to be alone in. Reynold and I have just ventured down the long cliff path back towards the lake, and my legs ache.
"Now you'll see why I brought you here, Áine."
We rest by the fence next to the enormous lake. The moonlight and starlight glitter and distort across its surface.
"It's quite nice." Even as a witch, I didn't see anything too special about this lake.
"Indeed, but there's more to it than that- the veil of magic is fairly thick here, you see," he says. "People used to bathe in this water every night when the Moon was visible. You've used moonwater in potions before, yes?"
"My mother did, I think. She said it was good for healing."
"You're right," Reynold replies. "It's good for allsorts, really- physical, mental and spiritual healing. It's not a substitute to more scientific methods, but bathing in moonwater is good for you. Especially for you, considering you're pregnant. Lunar magic is strongly associated with fertility. It'll help keep you and the baby healthy."
He gently holds my hand, as if asking me to join him. I take off my shoes and dip my toes in, quickly retracting my foot.
"It's freezing!"
"It's not so bad," he replies, laughing. "You'll get used to it once you're in here. You don't have to, but-"
"No, no, it's fine. It's a beautiful night, and the last we'll have together for a while."
Eventually, I strip down to nothing, the cool air biting against my skin. As I make my way into the water, Reynold takes my hand and leads me in. We stay where it's fairly shallow, and already I feel oddly at ease. Whether it's Reynold's presence, or the moonwater, or both, I can't say. My aching joints seem to soothe in the water.
The two of us hold each other close. He runs a curious, soft hand across my cheek, down to my breast, cheeky thing- and then to the stretch marks on my stomach. "I'm looking forward to meeting you," he chirps, his eyes meeting mine again. There's something different about them, but I can't put my finger on what. "Well, Áine? How do you feel?"
"I'm not sure how to describe it...Refreshed. Calm, I guess- what was that?"
I feel a mild, peculiar tap against my skin. I put my hand down to my stomach, as does Reynold, with his hand atop mine. We both feel it again, two or three times. It can't be the quickening, can it? It's only been a couple of months. That normally doesn't happen until later.
"Maybe it's the moonwater," Reynold says. "It has magic in its blood, no doubt- it's probably reacting to it a little."
At that moment, the two of us laugh together, with tears of happiness running cold against our faces. For the first time, I felt it. It means everything to me. Now I know I have a good chance of bringing it into the world, I can start thinking of its future without fear...though the fear of giving birth to the child lingers in the back of my mind.
I notice something about his eyes changing, as if they are taking on a light of their own- and they are. They gradually seem to illuminate until they take on a bright blue glow that could rival the Moon Herself.
"Why are you looking at me so concerned?"
"Your eyes are glowing. They're lovely, but I've never seen a witch's eyes glow outside of being shifted."
"I don't think I ever explained my magic to you properly, Áine. The magic in my blood is attuned to the Moon. You can do plenty with the moon's magic- mostly healing or protective spells. My eyes take on this glow if I'm attuned to lunar magic. I held off allowing myself to become connected with it when we first met, but now I trust you enough that I feel I don't have to do that when we're alone- and that means the world to me."
I've never heard of a lunar witch. The Moon is often considered to have certain effects on everyone, especially witches. The full moon is tied to 'lunacy', out-of-character and often out-of-control behaviour exhibited even by non-witches.
Wild magic was harnessing the power of Nature itself, but I've never heard of any witches specifically relying solely on the Moon to cast their spells before. Kat did briefly mention having terrifyingly-powerful sorcerers in her home country who used solar magic.
"You know you can be yourself around me, Reynold."
He gazes down into the water briefly, the light from his eyes shimmering on the ripples.
"Does anyone else know you're a witch other than me, Mother Joyce and your sister?"
"No. I haven't the heart to tell anyone else. I don't trust anyone else enough for them to know. You know how it is- those who seem like they'll support you can just as easily turn their back on you once you give in to trust. It's hard to know when to take the risk, even with other witches."
I feel his grip on my hands tighten. I feel Susana would understand; the other Peterans generally keep to themselves, but she's fairly outgoing. The way she talks about Reynold, I wouldn't be surprised if she herself had feelings for him- but I know she wouldn't overstep a boundary of any kind.
The two of us make the most of our last day together for what may be a long time. I knew how much I would miss everyone- the refuge witches, the Peterans, Kat, and of course, Reynold. The way I have to look at it, is that it's a chance at something new. I can do as my mother did- helping children who didn't have the same advantages others had. Considering little Mason and his mother were witches, I could help them as well. I hope that I am making Saoirse proud. For a while, the little village would be home.
I had less than a year to find a permanent place to stay, a place safe enough to look after a witch child. I doubted Reynold and I would be in each other's company for long periods of time, so we would likely have to share childcare between each other. Whatever happens, we will work it all out, I'm sure.