Thirty One: The Sleeping Spell

Wren and Nassir were at the door to Mila's cabin when I arrived. I wasn't surprised, they probably sensed my alarm.

"What is it, Wren?" Schula asked.

Puko chose that moment to fly from my shoulder to Nassir. I slowed to a stop in front of them, pushing the bits of loose hair from my face.

"There is something wrong. There is something in the valley, and it's gotten to two of the witches."

Nassir and Schula looked to each other, then opened the way to the cabin. Schula cleared her throat. "Do we need to go somewhere? This isn't a discussion to have out in the open."

"No, not tonight. Let's go inside," I agreed, and we locked ourselves in.

Schula pulled a pot of tea off the fire and Nassir took a seat at the table. Puko sat on the back of his chair, and I sat on the bed.

"What has happened to these witches?" Nassir asked calmly, accepting a cup of tea from Schula.

"The witches have been patrolling the edges of the valley since we told Mila about that thing we felt," I said.

"Yes, they said as much after Mila sent you off to see Gilly that day," Schula said, sitting down on the bed next to me and handing me my own drink. She leaned against the headboard and laid her legs across my lap. I leaned back against the wall and took a drink of tea.

"Did you know that two of the patrolling witches have been put under some kind of magical sleep? " I asked.

"Caw!"

Nassir looked surprised. "No, we did not."

"They were each found by another of the patrolling witches. Two different parts of the valley. I think... I think whatever we felt in that field is still here and I think that's what did something to them." I took another long drink.

"There could be any number of things that crawled out of those caves," Nassir said. "I sensed some very unusual creatures, the likes of which I have not encountered before."

I frowned. "I'm glad I couldn't see them then."

"But I don't think that makes sense either," Schula said. "The things in the caves around here, these witches will have known about them for as long as they have had a community here. I think this is probably something else, and I'm worried that it followed us into the valley."

Neither me or Nassir had anything to say to that. The silent moment stretched out until Nassir broke it. "It's no good to speculate on it, what we should be focusing on is helping those witches. What can you tell us about their situation?"

"The sleep seems to be a magical one," I said. "Purda said you could try something called a mind walk."

"I've never heard of it," Schula said.

Nassir scratched at his chin. "I think they mean meditation. It's possible to reach out to them through the mind, if they are also in there trying to reach back. If they are asleep against their will, then their consciousness might still be in there trying to wake up."

"Oh, that makes sense," I said. "If the witches don't wake up in the morning, Jana is going to run here and fetch us."

"Then we shall be ready if they need us," Nassir said. "I would be happy to assist if I can. They have been gracious hosts and have kindly indulged my curious questions."

Schula took her legs off of my lap and turned to set her feet on the floor. "That's another thing that has been bothering me lately."

"The witches accommodating us?" Nassir asked.

"The valley has been surprisingly accepting of us as fae," Schula said slowly. "And it makes me wonder if all the animosity between us is one sided."

"I was wondering the same thing," Nassir said. "It would not shock me to learn that it was the politics of the fae creatures that pushed them away to begin with."

"That's all the more reason to help them then," I said. "I can't imagine what harm would come to repairing the relationship between the witches and the Wyldes. I think I was told once that the witches occasionally try visiting the Wyldes for just that purpose."

Schula nodded. "They are far and few between, but yes there have been cases of it. The fae and other beings in the Wyldes always ignore them though."

"But, why?" I asked.

Schula didn't have an answer. Nassir didn't have an answer.

"Caw!"

Nassir reached over to stroke Puko's feathers. "Lark came for that purpose, and you came with her. Didn't you, Puko?"

Puko bobbed his head into Nassir's touch.

"Well, there is no use speculating tonight," Schula said. "I say we sleep now and wake early. I want to be ready to help if they come for us."

"Thank you." I smiled at them. "Let's get some sleep."

~

I tossed and turned all night. I could hardly sleep, and the sleep I did get was riddled with strange dreams.

The black presence which I hadn't heard from in months swam at the edge of my mind, trying to reach in but not quite able to. I also had vivid dreams of running through the fields around Thanantholl. The trees and vines scratching at my legs, the wind blowing my hair around. But quickly my run through the Wyldes turned cold, and I found myself in the icy depths of the Sangolin planes. I ran, my heart racing as I fled the terrors of Icehold.

I would wake in fits, and Schula silently held me and calmed me down more than once.

Some time before dawn I gave up on sleep and started making a porridge in Mila's outdoor cooking fire. Puko came with me, riding on my shoulder and trying to steal ingredients from my hands as I dropped them in the pot. From there, it didn't take long for Schula and Nassir to join me outside.

Schula sat on a bench by the garden and stretched. "I wonder how those witches are today."

"I'd say we'll know pretty quick if they want us or not," I answered, eyeing the east sky. "The sun will be coming up soon."

"Your porridge is burning," Nassir said.

I looked down and cursed, just as the smell hit my nose.

"I'm sorry," I said as I pulled the pot off the fire. "I swear, I'm usually a better cook than this."

"We know." Schula chuckled. "Here, let me help."

Schula and I dished out the parts that weren't burnt to the bottom of the pot and ate quietly while we waited. At one point, Nassir went off to find an outhouse and Schula and I were alone to enjoy the silence.

"Hey, Wren," Schula said, looking up from her bowl.

I looked up with a mouthful of porridge. I swallowed it and put my spoon down. "Hm?"

"I know you had dreams last night. Were any of them about..." She bit her lower lip, trying to find the words.

Realization clicked. "Yes, I felt it. It was faint, but it was there."

She just nodded and looked back down to her bowl. "I wonder what it means."

"Maybe we're getting closer." I shrugged. "Or maybe it wants to remind us to look for it."

Footsetps took my attention. Schula and I turned to see Nann trotting toward us as Nassir returned just in time.

"Wren,"  Nann called. "You are all requested."

I stood, setting my bowl down. Puko hopped from my shoulder and took to the sky.

"Let's go then," Nassir said.

We followed Nann back to the house where the sleeping witches were being watched. Jana's face was gray and serious. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but I didn't know her well yet and I didn't want to speak of anything that the rest of the valley shouldn't hear as we went.

I found out what the problem was as we arrived. Jana opened the door, and on the beds were now three witches instead of two.

The three of us walked inside, standing at the foot of the beds. Mila and Purda were already there, and so was Gelwyn who very much looked as though she wanted to say something but didn't.

Puko swooped through the door and landed on Mila's lap.

"I assume Wren has told you of the situation," Mila said.

We all nodded. Mila looked to Purda, and so did the rest of us. Purda opened an ancient book, crumbling at the corners with yellowed pages. She turned it slightly to show us a simple drawing of a fae who was meditating.

"I have exhausted the knowledge I have of medicine and magic. These witches three have fallen under an unnatural sleep. This book, kept by one of our sisters long past, mentions a mind-walk in which a fae was able to contact a sister who was under a sleeping curse." Purda set the book on a table next to her. "Is this something you would be willing to try now?"

Nassir stepped forward. "I will try. What you are describing, it sounds like our meditation. It is a way we control our magic, something that I believe is different than the magic of the witches."

Mila's eyes met mine. "Do you do this as well, child?"

"Yes, Mila," I said.

"Do you have a witch you would like to start with?" Nassir asked.

Purda gestured to the witch on the bed before her. "Jana is the strongest, and fighting it the hardest. I believe she will be the most likely witch to be reached."

Nassir sat on the foot of her bed, taking one of Jana's hands in his. "Very well."

He closed his eyes. Schula and I watched intently. Nassir was older than either of us, and he had made such strides in his magic since his imprisonment in Icehold, all thanks to his ability to meditate. I even found him while meditating when I was in the darkness with him. If any of us were going to reach Jana, it was him.

Nassir's face was furrowed in concentration. He breathed slowly. One... two... three...

It was just as I had been taught, and I found myself breathing with him. Schula reached over and held my hand as we watched and waited.

Suddenly, a gasp from the bed had the room startled. Jana's eyes had popped open and she was clutching at her heart.

"Jana!" Gelwyn stood from her corner, speaking for the first time since we had arrived.

"Jana," Purda said. "How do you feel?"

Jana looked around the room, slowing her panicked breathing and settling her eyes on Nassir.

"I am... fine. Now."

"Jana," Mila said. "Can you tell us what happened?"

Jana nodded, sitting up slowly and accepting a cup of water from Nann. "I was walking the edge of the caves, that's the last I remember. I was stooped down to see a footprint, and the sleep hit me. I was stuck, I couldn't wake up."

"I will go to the others," Nassir said. He sat at the foot of the next bed, and repeated his actions once more. The room watched intently as he worked. Even Jana watched with wide eyes as Nassir woke up the other two witches.

Purda asked them all what they could remember. Neither of the other witches remembered any more than Jana had. Nann brought them each water and Gelwyn helped settle blankets and pillows around them. Purda and Mila did their best to check them over for lingering signs of illness or magic, but found nothing. The witches were as perfectly fine as they were before they had been put to sleep. No trace of magic, and no memories of their assailant.

"This is most strange," Mila said, petting Puko on her lap.

"It is," Gelwyn agreed. "And it has not happened before, until these three entered the valley."

She narrowed her eyes at me. I took a step back in surprise.

"Lay no accusing fingers on Wren, Gelwyn," Milla snapped. "If something followed them in, it is not their fault."

"It is still their responsibility," Gelwyn argued. "And until this... situation is dealt with, I will not hold a gathering!"

My heart stopped. The whole reason we were waiting here was because no one would give me the answers I sought without waiting for this gathering. I clenched my fists, and my jaw, and stepped forward. But Schula was quick. She put a soft white hand over my fist, and spoke.

"We will do what we can to find this intruder. Will that suffice?" she asked.

Gelwyn looked down her nose at the three of us. "If you can manage it, I suppose you will still be allowed one question at the gathering."

"Gelwyn," Mila warned.

"It's enough," I said. "We will find this intruder, and I will find out what we came for."

"Your studies," Schula whispered.

I shook my head. "I'm done with my studies. I'm grateful for what I've learned, but both my teachers have been preparing me to learn on my own after I leave. Besides, I only have two days left anyway."

"So be it," Mila said, looking into my eyes. "Do not let me down, child."

I nodded, and Schula and Nassir pulled me from the cabin. Puko flew from Mila's lap to sit on my shoulder again.

We had two days to capture this intruder before the new moon.

I just hoped that would be enough time.