Twenty Nine: The Healer

The fleeting feeling of a presence in the valley was quite an upset to the peaceful life the witches led here. Nassir kept watch all night as promised, but nothing appeared again. In the morning we told Mila, and she gathered a few key witches to conduct an investigation of their own to be safe. Unfortuneatly as the keeper of the valley, Gelwyn was one of them.

Mila and three other witches I hadn't met yet were satisfied with our story and took the matter seriously. Gelwyn spent an hour trying to pry apart our every world. When she was finally done with that, she insisted on leading her own search despite the fact that the other witches had been taking a look around while she was wasting time.

Puko stayed on my shoulder all morning. I was used to him coming and going, but he seemed to want to snuggle into my neck while I was trying not to snap at Gelwyn. It was comforting for sure, and I stroked his head absently while I grumbled.

"I just don't see how anything would have gotten past me," Gelwyn muttered, looking on the ground where we heard the footsteps.

"You are not omnipotent, Gelwyn," Mila said flatly. "That is for the Mother and no one else."

Gelwyn sniffed indignantly and turned to another portion of ground, clearly putting her back to MIla. "Do not speak to me as though you can understand the burden of the keeper of the valley."

One of the witches rolled their eyes and another shook her head. Mila raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as she walked slowly over to where I waited with Schula and Nassir.

"Go on, child," Mila sighed. "You've done well to tell us, even if you think it could have been nothing."

"Nothing can breach the valley," Gelwyn scoffed.

Mila ignored her and continued. "You should go to your lessons, there is no more tale to tell and we will let you know if we find anything."

Gelwyn huffed at being ignored, but she didn't say more. I could see the ghost of a smile on Mila's lips, and I did nothing to supres my own.

"Thank you, Mila," I said.

"Is there anything we can do?" Schula asked. "I mean, not that the few chores you've given us aren't enough, but we can do much more you know."

Mila narrowed her eyes at Schula, then slid them to Nassir. "Very well. You can come with me today and assist me in my own tasks. You might even prove useful."

Nassir chuckled at that and bowed his head to Mila. "I would be honored to try, Miss Mila."

Mila nodded curtly and turned back to me once more. "Go on, child. We will handle the rest here."

I knew when I was dismissed, so I reached out and gave Schula's hand a squeeze and waved as I headed to Gilly for the day.

Puko continued to ride on my shoulder. He didn't seem upset or anything, which I was keeping a close eye on. But if he was calm, I felt that I should be as well. Or at least try to be.

The path was familiar. So were the stares of the witches. At least many of the neighbors now waved at me as I walked by. Or maybe they were waving at Puko.

Probably Puko.

I did stop at Mila's cabin so I could retrieve my book and charcoal. I would need them for another day of copying spells.

I reached GIlly's house with no incident save for the irritation of an insect that dwelled in the valley and nipped at your ankles. Puko would sometimes swoop down and gather a mouthful of them, but new ones would just come back a moment later. My stomach growled at the loss of breakfast as I opened the door.

"Good morning, Gilly." I stopped in my tracks as I saw Gilly at the table with another witch. One I hadn't seen before.

Gilly stood up, grabbing another mug from the shelf by the table. "Come on in, Wren. There is someone I'd like you to meet."

I walked toward the table and the other witch stared up at me. She was a westerner, with pale skin and light eyes. Her hair was white with age and fell in a thick braid down her back. She had more wrinkles than the desert sands, and she looked only half aware of her surroundings.

"Wren, this is Purda. Purda, this is the new witchling that needs a teacher." Gilly sat a fresh mug of tea down at the table and pulled over a spare chair so I could join them.

"It's nice to meet you," I said softly. I sat in the chair, my eyes not leaving the gaze that Purda set on me. Unblinking, and somehow looking right through me. I shivered, and took a sip from my mug.

"You as well, child of Lark." Purda took a sip from her mug and released me from her intimidating stare. Then she pulled some kind of grain from her pocket and set it on the table. An offering to Puko.

"I had heard you were taking on the bird," Purda said. "Take care of him, and he will take care of you."

I nodded slowly. "I intend to."

A smile played on her lips for a moment before Gilly put her hand on the old woman's forearm.

"Purda, would you be willing to teach her a little of your healing arts?" Gilly asked. "She won't be here much longer, but we should give her a start to it before she goes."

Purda turned those light eyes to me once more. Again, assessing me in some unseen way. This time I didn't blink or look away, and it earned me a smile.

"I suppose I could show her a couple things." Purda folded her hands in her lap and watched Puko for a moment. "But before I agree, I would ask one question."

"I will answer, if I can," I said. I wrapped my fingers around my warm mug. I don't know why this Purda could command my attention so well, but I wasn't particularly bothered by it either. She reminded me of Mila, in many ways. I wondered if all of the oldest witches were this way.

"If we have gained a new witch, especially the child of one of our prodigies, why would we train her part-way only for her to leave so soon?" Purda asked, and sat back in her chair to await my answer.

I... didn't have one. I blinked and looked to Gilly, but she wasn't going to help me. This was my answer and mine alone. No one else's words were going to satisfy a woman like Purda. I took a deep breath and tried to answer.

"I didn't ask to take this witch test in the first place," I admitted. "I came to find Mila and hopefully find out more about the barrier to the Wyldes. It's only been a few short months since I found out I was a witch in the first place. Since that time I've been on my own quest to fix the barrier and stop someone who has hurt me and the ones I love dearly."

"It sounds as though you have no intention to be one of us at all, young one," Purda said. It wasn't really an accusation of any kind, but more of an observation.

"I... I don't know yet. I don't know what I will want to do in a year. In ten years. I just know right now that I've found a home and I'm going to fight to keep it." I gripped the pendant under the layers of my tunic. "It's not as though I don't want to learn how to be a proper witch, but I don't have the luxury of time to consider it either. I was told I would have to be a witch to attend the monthly gathering, so that's what I'll do."

Purda nodded slowly, her eyes settling on mine again. "You have the desire to learn, but the need to rush off on your quest."

Gilly laughed. "Ah, to be young again."

Purda gave Gilly a look. "You are half my age, Gilly."

Gilly waved Purda's concerns away. "Just because you are older does not mean I am the youthful thing I was a decade ago."

Purda nodded. "So be it. Wren..."

I sat up a little straighter. Even Puko stopped eating his grains and paid attention.

"I will give you the first tools of a healer, and the book to figure out the rest on your own. I can't spare more time than that for one who will not stay with us for now. But when you are able, and if I am still walking under the Mother's sun, then come back to me."

"I will," I said. "I do want to learn, I just..."

Purda raised a hand. "Do not fret, Wren. We wouldn't hold such a quest against a witch who seeks to bring a bit of peace to the Mother's lands. But while you are half elf and your search for this knowledge comes from a good place, do not forget that you are half witch as well. The Mother may yet call on you, and you must answer."

A chill ran down my spine. I didn't know what to think of that, so I pushed the thought aside for later.

Purda began to stand. She was unstable on her feet, but her hands were steady. Gilly helped her up and handed her a small walking cane that I hadn't noticed against the wall before. "Gilly, point her to my cottage tomorrow after breakfast."

"I will, Purda. Thank you." Gilly took the old woman's elbow and helped her through the house and down the front steps. Once she was on the solid earth again, Gilly and I waved her off and came back inside.

"So what did you think of Purda?" Gilly asked with a smile. She sat back down and took a long drink of tea.

Puko finished off his breakfast and hopped over to sit on my shoulder. I stroked his head feathers as my stomach growled. "I..."

Gilly laughed as I blushed. "Let me get you a sausage roll, I just made them last night."

As Gilly got up and pulled something wrapped in linen from a basket, I took another sip of tea before answering.

"I liked Purda. I think she will be the same sort of teacher as Mila."

Gilly raised an eyebrow as she set a stuffed roll before me on the table. Puko eyed it with interest but I nudged his curious beak away as I took a bite.

"Purda might just surprise you then," Gilly said, amused. "But she's the best in the valley. It irks Gelwyn to no end that she won't take an official apprentice, but Purda won't settle for less than exactly what she wants."

"I can believe that," I said.

"Well, let's make the most of today." Gilly pulled her spell book from a shelf and opened it to a new page. "You've done well, and the moon is approaching our evening of gathering. I think I will take note of Purda's teaching method and give you the tools to go learn on your own."

I stuffed the end of my roll in my mouth and swallowed. "What does that entail exactly?"

Gilly gave me a sly grin. "You know just about every technique I have to teach you, now you just need to know the recipes."

My shoulders slumped. "I'm copying more of the book, aren't I?"

She nodded curtly, her hair bouncing around her shoulders. "That's exactly what you're doing. And once the dust has settled and your Wyldes are back in order, you had better come to old Gilly and finish perfecting it."

I opened my book with a sigh and Gilly pressed a charcoal stick in my hand.

"Get to it girl, you've got a lot to cover. Ask questions as you go or you'll never know what notes to make for yourself."

"Yes, Gilly."

And for the rest of the day, I copied her book.