Spring ? 7 ? 2 Capital Witch

  “Josie, I need a break. I need to sit down for a moment,” Nan said through gritted teeth.

  The woman made her way over to a fallen tree, and sat down on the soft, moss cushioned surface with a harrumph. They had already been walking for a while, silent and cautious, and Josie still wasn’t sure why. Nan hadn’t explained anything after what she had called ‘the passage over’, just urged for them to be on their way. One of the few things Nan had said, soon proved to be true, and Josie was glad for the advance notice - otherwise she might have just about doubted her own sanity.

  The first thing to change was the season. Somehow, it felt as they were crossing back through winter; same as with the distortional effect back at Veilwood House, the signs and differences had been subtle, but unmistakable once noticed. Josie marvelled as the air turned freezing cold, and she suddenly sunk her foot into a thick blanket of pristine white snow on the frozen ground. It was not just a remnant snow heap of their own fading winter, but fresh and powdery instead, as if it had just settled down. They had passed quickly through this winter phase, and to Josie’s surprise, the surrounding forest turned into a wondrous canvas of fiery autumnal glory. The occasional small light was drifting about, with a glow resembling fireflies, but in every imaginable hue. Bit by bit, their number increased until they were all around in the air, illuminating the dim but serene woodland atmosphere.

  The vegetation seemed to be the same old in passing - at least at first. After walking deeper into the forest though, closer examination revealed unfamiliar, odd growing plants, nestled throughout the forest’s now mossy ground. Soon, Josie found them all around, they filled the surroundings and gave the forest an outlandish look. From time to time, minuscule gnats would flit by, leaving a trail of slightly shimmering particles in their wake, and even the sounds around them grew more foreign by the minute. The melody of these woods had changed into something so alien, that even apart from the obvious, there could be no doubt for Josie that she was treading uncharted grounds.

  Even Glubsch was aware that all was not as it seemed to be here, and didn’t stray far. His thoughts mingling with Josie’s, the sensation still new to her, told her of the exotic fragrances and sounds the cat’s much more refined senses picked up. Being a part of his experiences and getting to share his view on things was exhilarating, and Josie appreciated the unintrusive and reassuring presence in her mind. The small animal had sat its behind half on her boot and waited for them to continue on their way. Still, her questions remaining unanswered, Josie got more and more frustrated with the developments of the evening. And what was ‘Fae Wilds’ supposed to mean? Sure, they were some place else, but as to where exactly, Josie had no clue whatsoever.

  Nan, sensing the girl’s tension, sighed and waved her over.

  “Please, please do not shout at me, Josie. We are in dangerous parts, my dear,” the woman told Josie with a quiet but urgent tone. “I know we still need to talk about everything that is going on, but being here will make things easier for me. Honest,”

  “Sure. I mean, it’s not like I have any other choice. I just don’t get what all the secrecy is about,” Josie grumbled, yet kept her voice down as Nan had asked for.

  “Well, it is not so much secrecy on my part as insecurity, rather. I am still quite unsure about how to proceed, and more over about how to help you. I can not very well guide you on this subject, not on my own” Nan admitted, and the frustrated defeat on her face awoke Josie’s compassion.

  This seemed to take a lot out of Nan, a physical toil as well as an emotional one. Glubsch rammed his little head in Josie’s shin, as if to prompt her to answer.

  “Okay. That much I understand. But can’t you at least tell me where we are headed?”

  “I will try. There are two people I have in mind who could help you, but I am still uncertain who best to ask. I have not been here in a very long time, and when I last left, I did not part on good terms with either of them.” The old woman’s face was not only darkened by the shadows of the forest, but also by regretful remembrance. “Yet, those two are the best among my choices. One will be able to give us pointers on how to proceed back at home. Make - connections. Even if I might be unwelcome there, I still think we will find help for you.”

  Nan sighed and her brow furrowed.

  “From the other one - if the other one agrees to see us at all, that is, we could gain crucial information about your magic. Getting involved with that person is - complicated. That is the reason I am still undecided on the Witch.”

  “On… which one are you undecided?” Nan’s answer had once again done nothing but add to Josie’s confusion.

  “Oh, no, no, no, Josie. We are talking a Witch, capital, as in w-i-t-c-h,” the woman spelled it out for her.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me, Nan. I’m supposed to believe they're real, too?”

  “How else would I know about familiars?”

  “I, well - I don’t know what that means, but - “

  A hoarse croak came from the branches above, their heads jerking upward in unison. Glubsch’s fur bristled, and he cowered down, as if readying himself to pounce. Josie felt his startlement and picked him up, the embrace steadying both their nerves.

  “Your argument is moot, as both are already waiting for you,” a voice called out.

  This one was new and unfamiliar to Josie, the timbre grating and sonorous, and the words had the slightest linting inflection to them. Apart from Glubsch’s, it was the strangest voice Josie had ever encountered. It was only after a moment, that Josie realized with a start to have experienced the words the same way as she would Glubsch’s when he spoke. With a frown, Josie realized that Nan wasn't even the slightest bit fazed by the words, and remained as calm as ever.

  “Well met, Jake. I take it you were sent as a guide?” Nan addressed the unseen entity in the gloom, and with the sound of beating wings, a sizable, dark bird sailed out of the darkness. It touched down gently on the tree beside Nan and rustled its feathers. The old woman nodded at it, and to Josie’s surprise, the bird inclined its head in response.

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  “I was, indeed. Your arrival here has not gone unnoticed,” the bird acknowledged.

  “Then I am even more thankful for the aid, as travelling the Wilds is not as effortless as it once was for me,” Nan thanked the bird and turned towards Josie. “This is the Crow, Jake. We have not seen each other in a very long time, but known each other even longer.”

  “That is true, old friend. You are behaving quite strange, are you well?” Jake enquired.

  “I am, but I appreciate your concern. Come closer, Josie, will you? He will not hurt us,” Nan beckoned the girl closer.

  Glubsch shuffled a bit in her arms while Josie took a reluctant step forward, and with a small jolt, Jake hopped and regarded the girl for the first time. His dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and he tilted his head in surprised curiosity.

  “Interesting,” the Crow mused. “And who might the two of you be, little ones?”

  “These are Josie and her companion, Glubsch. I suspect he might also be a familiar,” Nan introduced the pair. “Things have changed on our side of the veil, old friend. I am afraid to say that we might need help - not only regarding Josie and Glubsch, but the Uncanny we encountered as well.”

  “Well, I’ll say,” Jakes friendly snarl sounded impressed. “Times are certainly never dull when you are around. I am glad to find that at least this much has not changed.”

  Josie caught the furtive glance the old woman shot in her direction after the Crow’s last words, but was too fascinated by the exchange to linger on the thought. Glubsch seemed to be fine, and after a small wiggle in her arms, Josie decided to let him down to the ground again. He sauntered over to the tree and held his head up high, sniffing the air around Nan and the bird. He had not talked to Josie since their passage over, but now he grunted at Jake.

  “Stay close,” the girl told her cat. “We don’t know who else might be around.”

  Jake croaked again at this, rustled his feathers and fluttered his wings a bit, to which Glubsch backed up a few paces and returned to Josie's side.

  “Do not worry, little one. No foe is near,” the bird appeased her. “That is not to say that we should linger here. We best make haste,” he added, and hopped up the fallen tree, bringing him closer to Nan.

  “Well, Jake, haste is not something I can achieve with ease these days,” Nan sighed and motioned at her body with one hand while tapping her walking cane on the ground with the other. “Time on the other side of the Veil has taken its toll on me.”

  “Worry not, my friend, for I have come bearing a useful gift,” Jake told the woman.

  He spread his wings wide and beat them, only once, but in such a strange motion, that they seemed to touch, no, almost overlap in front of him. When he folded them back, a small, glowing pouch lay on the moss of the fallen tree beside Nan. The woman's eyes went wide.

  “I see you remember this. Do you still know how to use it?”

  Nan answered by way of a curt nod, and beckoned Josie closer.

  “Where does it lead?” the woman asked Jake.

  “Why, the Tavern, of course. My Mistress ventured there as soon as we became aware of your return,” he answered, yet again leaving Josie to wonder what they were talking about.

  Nan seemed content enough with his reply, yet her brow had furrowed at the mention of the Tavern. The girl picked her cat up and went to stand beside Nan, while Glubsch writhed until he faced away from Josie’s chest, intent on watching goings-on with his own eyes. The old woman picked up the pouch and reverently caressed the stitched pattern on the pouch. To her great surprise, Josie saw that the embellishments were very similar to the pattern Nan had stitched onto Josie’s coin purse. The girl resolved to ask about it later, as the woman took a deep breath and began to speak.

  “Out in the wilds and all alone,

  this wandering soul longs for home.

  An ember I hold, from hearth to hand,

  to guide me through these distant lands.

  Be thou my anchor, be thou my door,

  so I am not lost nor lone any more.”

  Nan touched her lips to the small pouch with a faint kiss, and all of a sudden, a dark, wavering portal sprang into existence with a strange warble and a rushing sound. Glubsch hissed, all of his fur standing on end, and Josie gasped, but Nan stood up and put one hand on the girl’s shoulder. She squeezed for a brief moment to reassure Josie, but then let go of her and started to walk towards the portal, leaving the speechless girl behind, eyes wide in wonder and her mouth agape.

  “Now you know why I said showing you would be easier. How was I supposed to even begin telling you about all this?”

  Josie gulped and shook herself out of her reverie. “Did you know we would meet Jake?” she asked and glanced at the Crow.

  “Not so soon, but yes, I had planned on introducing you if the opportunity arose.”

  “Come, friends, you must not dawdle,” the fascinating bird crowed. “The doorway is not made to last long, and my Mistress awaits!” With a few mighty beats of his wings, he took to the air and whooshed through the portal.

  “His Mistress?” Josie asked Nan while they walked up to the portal. For some very strange reason, Glubsch was purring all the while, and Josie faintly registered that he seemed to have picked up on a delicious fragrance. Neither Nan nor he was afraid of the portal, so Josie wasn’t either.

  “Yes, Josie. His Mistress, the Witch - my cousin, Hepzibah.”