CONTENT WARNING: The usual mentions of death and murder.
Also, Happy 2nd Anniversary to your least favourite SimLit! It was on June 22nd. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with me throughout, hopefully you will see it out until the end ^u^
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I think I already used this before, but the dialogue that is entirely in italics is generally used when characters speak telepathically, such as when witches are in animal form.
* * *
Katlego
The weather looks as if it's beginning to turn - again. It's been a quiet day, mostly consisting of cleaning the place and organising all the herbal remedies. I hear the door creak open behind me, and quickly don my customer-facing persona...
...and doff it just as quickly.
"What right do you think you have to be in here? Get out!"
Nia bends down and spreads her wings at him, almost resembling a shield. Is this how desperate the witchfinders have become- to attack a cunningwoman? To be skulking around in broad daylight?!
His outfit is far too big for him, and he can barely hold his sword. A combination of emotions swirl in my chest. Panic, rage, confusion, all fighting for priority in my mind. I hold out my arm and urge Ellie to stay back. I don't want to have to use force against someone, but in this moment, I have to protect my partner. Not only is this a potential life-or-death situation, but a weighing-up of the necessity of force.
"So this is where you perform all of your deadly spells, is it?"
He holds his sword in a clumsy manner, and his slumped stance is confounding. Most of Volpe's henchmen have this brash stiffness about them, but not him. His voice is as unsteady as his stance.
"I do not serve Volpe's men! Take your sword and leave before I make you leave!"
I try to steady my shaking hands.
The more this man talks, the more unsure of himself he seems. He seems less like a hardened swordsman and more like he reads far too many cheap novels.
"Hand yourself in, witch! Your kind are a stain on Henford!"
"Don't you dare touch her!" Ellie screams, throwing an empty glass bottle his way- which sadly misses. The more I look at him, the more I notice his youth...he can't be any older than twenty, surely. Volpe always targets the young ones- the most impressionable of today's youth are prime targets for him.
"Why do you defend her so? Is it because you, too, are a witch?"
If the commotion gets any louder, someone outside will hear all of this! Then it won't just be the witchfinders' swords that'll be run through us- it'll be the pitchforks of the regular folk. I can't bring myself to use force against him- he's far too young, but I cannot deal with him anymore. I have to take the risk and do something I have not done for years.
If a human's feigned ferocity won't perturb him, then a tiger's genuine ferocity will.
Not only is the form of an animal a great stressor on the body, but the form of the tiger awakens a fierce darkness within me that I do not wish to act upon. There are few creatures on earth more powerful than the tiger, a smart and powerful hunter. The heightened capability of an animal to tear its aggressors to shreds and survive lingers in the back of my mind, but I must do everything I can not to. I have to rely on fear and fear alone, and to hope that nobody in Henford would ever believe that a tiger could ever possibly appear here.
The boy drops his sword and stifles a shriek.
"D-do not think about trying to h-hurt me, w-witch! All of the other witchfinders will find out of this place if I d-die!"
He tries to force my voice from his mind.
"Do you really think any of those men will care for you regardless of what happens to you? You're an expendable pawn! You mean nothing to Volpe and you mean nothing to any other witchfinder!"
Someone barges through the door. I freeze for a moment until I realise that it isn't any old passerby- it's a customer, a regular customer.
"What's a witchfinder doing here, hm?"
The boy trembles at the sight of him. He's got no chance. He's surrounded by a witch, a tiger, and a former witchfinder, and one of the only people to escape an altercation with Oskar Nivelheim alive. He's lucky to be surrounded by such powerful people- because all of us three could kill him, if only we were crueller.
"Daniel, stay out of this, for your own-"
Daniel takes a step back and gasps at me. "A tiger? In Henford?!"
"P-please, I...I..."
"Don't try anything." Daniel marches towards him with an intimidating glare. "I survived a fight with a vampire, so don't think you can try to run a sword through me. Now sit down."
* * *
Daniel demands that we restrain him. I urge him not to, but he insists- neither he nor Ellie are willing to 'take any chances'. Dan pushes his sword away from the boy with his foot, and the boy looks distraught towards the floor. He's still taken aback from the tiger- and, seemingly, so is Daniel.
"Who are you?"
"I...I-"
"Spit it out."
"Daniel, please-"
"Kat, please, let me talk to him."
"I don't have anything to say to you!"
"Then you'll stay tied to that chair for as long as is necessary."
The boy sighs in defeat. "Fine. I'm Edwin. I recently started working for Volpe- and if you hadn't have gotten in my way, I would have killed my first witch."
"How old are you, Edwin?"
"Sixteen."
That young? That's even younger than Daniel was when he was wrapped up in witchfinding. Volpe must be getting desperate.
"Boys your age should be in school, or at least working towards something, surely," Ellie says.
"Schools are for rich kids. You three should all know that. And I'd rather be living on the streets than in one of those wretched workhouses."
On the streets?
"So Volpe just rounded you up from the pavement, did he? Promised you something better?" I ask him, in a tone free of judgement. Edwin's demeanour relaxes, and he sighs through his teeth again.
"Volpe gave me a chance that no-one else has given to me since my parents died!"
Daniel nods his head in frustration. I'm sure this brings back plenty of unpleasant memories.
"I was in your position once, Edwin. Volpe forced me to work for him, and threatened the lives of my family if I didn't. Fortunately, I didn't have to kill anyone- and if you do the right thing, then neither will you."
"I think it's best we take this discussion away from here, Edwin- let the ladies get on with their work."
"Daniel-"
"All I'm going to do is talk to him, Kat- don't worry."
Part of me wishes I didn't feel this way. I'm sitting in front of a witchfinder who tried to kill me, and yet all I can feel is sorrow for him. Empathy is what separates me from the rest, but it sometimes feels like more of a curse than a blessing. My mother told me as a little girl that the goodness in my heart would pay off someday...
Daniel
I force Edwin to sit at the river's edge, but he seems completely willing. He doesn't move his eyes from the water's ripple.
"Is everything you said in there true?"
"It is," he replies, his voice shaking. "I've only been on the streets for a month now, when the money my parents had before they died ran out. It's horrible."
"And do you believe everything Volpe says about witches?"
"Of course I do! That cunningwoman's cures couldn't save my parents. They did nothing! Katlego acts like she's there for the regular folk when the Annorins are too expensive, and she could never be more wrong."
As much as I want to fault him for his line of thinking, he's still so young. If anything, Josiah and I are lucky to still have our father. Edwin doesn't have anyone to talk him out of these thoughts- and Volpe preys on these people like a vulture.
"You said you were in my position once."
"I was. I didn't kill anyone- my mentor Micah did all the killing so I didn't have to. It's a long story, but my father got me out out of it all."
"Listen, Edwin- I know you aren't as privileged as I am. You don't have a father, and I doubt you have a Micah, either. I don't want you to grow up like this."
"I don't have a choice, Daniel. None of us do. I know it seems like we're all following Volpe like he's some kind of second Watcher, but most witchfinders only do it to keep a roof over their heads. It's not their fault the machines put them all out of work."
"It's also not the witches' fault, either. I know you're upset about your parents, but Katlego would have done her best for you with the knowledge she has. My brother is a training physician as well an apothecary. Medicine is...complicated, for lack of a better word. Killing her, or any other witch, it won't bring the people you love back."
Edwin's eyes glitter with the sunlight reflecting off the water. He eyes the light gleaming on his sword, then throws it with the little might he has into the river.
"I can't just turn my back on Volpe, Daniel. He gave me a chance-"
"You don't really want to do this, Edwin. If you did, you wouldn't have thrown your sword away."
He gazes around the ground, conflicted.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Daniel. There's the danger of the witches, and then there's Volpe- I don't know what to do anymore."
"I've got an idea. My brother moved out of the family home. It's only me and my father, and we have a spare room. If he's okay with it, you can come and stay with us for a day. We fish for a living, so you can help us with that. My father used to be Volpe's witchfinder- if you don't take my word for what a terrible person he is, then listen to my father."
* * *
Gideon was surprised at first, but once I explained everything, I saw the look in his eyes- he thought back to Volpe, and to me, and he sat Edwin beside him without a sliver of judgment. He told him everything- everything he did, everything he thought he knew about witches. He told him of Volpe's corruption and of how he managed to get me out of witchfinding. Edwin's expression changed to something nearly tearful. I saw the moment it struck him that he'd been lied to and taken advantage of...and he can't be the only one.
Gideon promised Edwin that he could stay for a week, and that if he helped us with the fishing, we'd pay him some money of his own. He could pay his way at the inn for a short while then, at least, and he'd at least have reliable fresh food to eat every day. Gideon had been given a second chance by the former Peteran abbot; he certainly wasn't going to deny it to a young boy who might not have known better.
The trouble is, Edwin isn't safe if he escapes Volpe and never returns to him. There's every chance he may have to stay here for the long term, where he has a safe place to stay. I admit, I didn't think this entirely through before I took him back here- but I wasn't leaving a teenage boy homeless.
* * *
"Wow, look at this! It's so warm and cosy."
Edwin leaps onto the spare bed, chuckling to himself. "This feels a lot better than grass, you know- Oh, that horse statue is nice. Is that a gift?"
"Ah, that- that's a gift from an old..."
"Oh, I see," Edwin replies, laughing. "An old lover?"
I'd completely forgotten I was supposed to go and visit Eli. I don't even know if he'll remember me or recognise me, but we'd both had time to mature. Maybe we could try and strike up a friendship again, at the very least. I give Edwin some of my old clothes to put on so he can ditch his witchfinder costume. When I come back in after he's done, he's sprawled out on his bed again.
"You stay here- Gideon will make you something to eat. I have somewhere I need to be, okay?"
"Daniel, before you go-"
"Just Dan is fine. Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine. I just wanted to thank you for this. I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry. I will apologise to Kat as well, I promise," he says, full of sorrow. "I thought Volpe was giving me an opportunity, but after what you told me..." He looks down into the carpet, then back at me. "It was you and Gideon who gave me a better opportunity. Thank you. I won't make you regret it- I mean that."
* * *
I try to push the nerves in my chest away. It's been four years since I last spoke to him, and although that's more than enough time for something like that to not cause any issues, there's still a mild panic I cannot shake off. What if he's completely different now? Either way, it's worth the try.
Eli
There's a loud knock at the door. It can't be a client- it's far too late in the day. Who would be giving me a social call at this hour? I keep my chisel in my hand, just in case. I carefully open the door...and don't say a word at first. I drop my chisel onto the rug.
It's been...how long? Three? Four years? He looks so different now...
"Dan?"
"Good to see you, Eli. Sorry this is so sudden- I've been meaning to get in touch for a while, but I've been busy with work and such."
"No, it's fine. Come in."
I don't know what I'm supposed to say to him. It's been so long since I've spoken to anyone who wasn't a client or a relative.
"You've changed a lot."
Dan chuckles. "And you haven't changed a bit," he says, looking around the house. The house hasn't changed, either.
It was so long ago that I kicked him out, and so long ago that we had that huge argument- yet the guilt rises in my chest immediately. I don't know how often he thinks about it, but I've been mentally beating myself up for that day constantly since it happened. Finally in the company of someone who isn't my brother and isn't a customer, I already feel my true self slipping back to me, all that intensity of emotion that people can't decide whether they love or hate. Not now, Eli. Don't make him think you're too emotional again.
My stomach goes cold just thinking about what he just asked.
"No. No, I haven't. My sister hasn't replied to my letters for so long that I don't even know if she's still alive, and I don't want to have to keep hassling Violeta to find out. I haven't heard anything from my niece, either. And my brother...he's..."
My hands freeze. I leave the stew on the counter and duck out into the living room, almost dropping dinner all over the floor. I can't be around him like this- he'll hate me for it. To my surprise, he sits down next to me, reaching for my shoulder before pulling his hand back.
"What's troubling you, Eli?"
"I don't want to be too much for-"
"Eli, please. Just explain what's wrong."
"I don't know what's wrong. My brother is unwell, and when one of the best physicians across the globe doesn't know anything about an illness, then..."
All I can think about is Oskar. Science and medicine were both too far behind to save him, despite Owen's efforts. What if his illness is incurable as well? It's not like he can ask anyone else's thoughts- not when he suspects it's caused by his own magic.
"We hardly talk now. He has to cancel some appointments- that's not like him."
"I did hear that from Josiah, come to think of it."
I'm constantly fighting the urge to spill my heart out to him- but who else will I have to tell about this anytime soon?
"Dan, I just want to say, what happened before- I'm sorry. I know it's been a long time, but I've felt nothing but awful for what I did."
"You needn't apologise, Eli. I said some awful things to you as well." I notice him gazing into my eyes with concern. "You look like you need a good cry."
"No-"
"Eli, you're sitting here with four years' worth of repressed feelings swimming around in your head. That's not good for you."
No, he shouldn't be saying that. I shouldn't be feeling this way.
His voice sounds different- softer, more soothing than it was before. He's lost a lot of his youthful brashness that I remember well from when we were still just friends talking in the inn.
"If something has happened to my sister and my niece, and then something happens to Owen, I won't have any family left. Horrible things always happen to the people I care about. All this time I've been thinking about that over and over, and all that's kept me going is my woodwork and metalwork."
My work had become my main way of coping. I managed to drown out all the noise by chipping away at whatever I had in my workshop. Clients were surprised at how fast I was churning out commissions. It didn't matter how tired or hungry or stressed I was - I just kept going. I spent years telling Owen he needed to remember to rest and eat, and now it seems I have more in common with my older brother than I once thought.
I've tried to bear Reynold's words in mind - about whittling away at the wood and not at myself- but seeing Dan again has reminded me of the person I used to be, the person who loved unconditionally and felt everything intensely. I can already feel what's left of my old self creeping back up to the surface- and I don't want to feel like that whilst in the presence of an ex-partner. In this moment of feeling human again, I don't want him to leave.
I think about when I used to get into these moods- the way he'd hold me. I shouldn't be thinking about that.
"You have something to keep you going, which is a good thing. As difficult as it is, Eli, you have to try not to assume the worst. Medicine has come a long way, and Owen Annorin is one of the leading figures of medicine this side of the world. He'll figure something out, if no-one else does."
Owen hasn't always been there for me. He's defended my father after all he put others- and myself- through. He's withheld plenty from me, he's lied to me, but I'm scared to death something will happen to him. For no charge at all, I fashioned him a cane to help him get around a little easier- but it's all I can do.
Dan holds me in his arms and tries to calm me down, and that familiar inexplicable warmth spreads through my chest. At this point, I'll take whatever comfort people are willing to offer.
"I don't think shutting yourself a way is a good idea, Eli. If you'd like, I can try and keep in touch with you. I might be busy with work and such, but I'll do my best. It'd be nice to at least...sort of be friends again?"
"I'd like that."