“It was made to serve as a cruel punishment. For whom exactly it was first conceived, we do not know. But it remains an effective threat today,” Adamantia answered.
“It’s not something that can be easily destroyed,” Sasha replied. “It’s magic we no longer understand, knowledge lost through generations without use.”
“Do not forget that inter-coven magic is outlawed, punishable by death,” Selene said sternly. “There will be no more talk on the subject,” she finished, and I felt something like fear prick the back of my neck, yet it wasn’t my own.
I turned to look at Selene and she offered me a smile that seemed perfectly normal.
“I am not intruding, am I?” Fotis asked as he entered. When we all turned to the entrance at his arrival.
“Not at all, Councillor Cliffwind,” Adamantia replied, and waved him over. “Join us — drinks, ah, here they are.”
Servants entered, carrying trays of glasses. Fotis grabbed one as the servant passed him.
“Thank you,” he laughed and took a large mouthful of what I presumed was wine.
“How do you find your room?” Selene asked when he reached us. She reached out and took a glass for herself that the servant offered, and when the young man held the tray of glasses out to me, she pushed it away, silently denying me.
“My pet does not drink alcohol. Only fruit juice or decaffeinated coffee at this hour,” she instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” the servant responded. “Do you have any preferences, Lady Flores? I shall request it from the kitchen?” he asked me.
“Eh,” I stuttered, put on the spot. “Orange juice?” I said but it sounded more like a question. “Or water, anything is fine, really.”
“I will return with orange juice,” he replied, and offered a small smile.
I didn’t think I would ever get used to servants waiting on me. It just felt rude to put them out. Now he had to go all the way back to the kitchen, and I had no idea how far away that was—all to get me orange juice. I should just dehydrate.
“Thank you,” I replied.
“Percy, this is Fotis of Cliffwind—the village that has requested your assistance,” Selene said, taking my attention from the servant.
I stood from my chair to shake his hand when he offered it. He was an older man, with a dark grey beard—short and stubbly—ruddy cheeks, a bit of a belly, and combed-back white hair.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. We haven’t had a flower girl in Cliffwind since I was a boy,” he said and shook my hand excitedly.
“What are you hoping I can help with the most?” I asked.
“Our root vegetables will be ready for harvest soon, but a rot has gotten to roughly half of them. Can you do something about that?” he asked.
I thought for a moment, “Only if the plant is still in the ground. If you’ve harvested already, I might not be able to do much,” I explained.
“Harvest season is upon us,” he said, shaking his head sadly. “If we wait until you arrive on the tour, what can be salvaged will be lost.”
“Fields of what size are we talking?” I asked.
As it stood, my magic for such things as harvesting was pretty limited. Sure, I could bring enough crops to harvest to feed myfamily—even my village if I worked to exhaustion—but I couldn’t do it fast, and it would be a physically draining task.
“We’re not a big town,” he said. “Only about eight hundred of us—barely qualify as a town really. I’m the councillor with the least residents. We have two fields of maincrop potatoes, and a smaller field of onions and carrots,” he explained. “The potato fields together are about one acre total. We usually get a yield of about thirteen tonnes, which isn’t near enough to feed the town as is. With half the crop lost, we’ll need to buy more from our neighbours—probably have to look outside Ardens, as I know others have been affected. It’s been much wetter than expected,” he added, rubbing his arm as if soothing himself of worry.
I felt terrible. If I could gather my magic I’d be useful. I’d be able to help Fotis and the people of Cliffwind. But an acre was manageable, if I had enough time, two or three days. It would drain me immensely, but I could do it.
“How long will we be in Cliffwind?” I asked, turning to Selene.
“Only a day, pet. The schedule is tight after the tour we must make our way to Borealis for the Royal Conference,” she answered.
“Would it be possible for me to stay in Cliffwind for a few days and catch up with you on the tour after?” I asked. “I could manage an acre, but not in a day, three maybe, a week would be better,” I explained.
Selene frowned.
