Page 55 of The Noldrin Witch

“Are you serious?” the old fairy said. “You don’t even know where this innocent soul lives.”

“We haven’t yet finished the Healing Potion for the wickedness from Falaine, and I’ll need all the help I can gather.”

“Use the fairies who live in the castle quarters.”

“If she wants the job, she needs to work for it.”

Fabian turned and left with a huff and a dismissive wave.

Susanne looked ready to combust at his haughtiness, but she did not follow him. It seemed the knave had earned the right to be so well positioned there.

“I’ll be leaving this afternoon,” Susanne said softly. “But I’ll make sure to give you a room here so you won’t put yourself in danger by traveling during dusk.”

Elise could barely believe what she was hearing. Susanne was truly a fairy godmother. She stood there, staring at the older woman and adding all manner of miracles to Susanne’s virtues. Eventually, she nodded and gave the benevolent woman a small hug.

Susanne chuckled and wrapped her arms around her in return. “Now, go back before Fabian finds something else to complain about.”

Elise let out a soft laugh. She was just on her way out when she spotted a blonde head moving among the potion tables.

Adelle?

Her face must have shown the utmost confusion, because Susanne felt compelled to follow her gaze and explain.

“She’s the daughter of Commander Langohr. She’s taken an interest in potions lately. She likes to spend time around the workshop whenever her father is here...which is becoming a daily occurrence.”

Elise sighed. For a moment, she thought this might have something to do with Kurt offering her a place on the magical staff, but that seemed far too far-fetched. With an almost inhuman ability to see only the positive in every situation, she promptly dismissed the idea as folly.

Chapter 24

Elise arranged the many parchment sheets Susanne had given her into a neat pile beside the remaining seven baskets full of herbs. Shortly after, she set off to wander through the gardens. She would find the Stone of Raj at any cost, or so she promised herself.

With a slight tremble still lingering in her hands, she began her search with earnest determination. Unknown to her, the arduous labor of collecting the blessed ingredients had left her with a most attractive flush and a healthy sheen. Her figure appeared more defined as well. The muscles of her arms contracted only to accentuate the ripened curves of her form. She was the very vision of sin, the sort of woman men paid good coin to admire. All in all, it was a fair reward for someone who had spent the morning at war with herbs.

With the effects of the potion still running through her veins, Elise scouted the palace gardens most efficiently. She searched every terrace, every flower bed, every path, and every corner she could find.

The gardens seemed endless, and it was difficult to judge their true size, for walls of greenery divided the grounds into countless sections. To Elise’s tired mind, it all appeared utterly confusing.

She was glad to have left everything perfectly arranged in the herbarium, should anyone go looking for her there. At least they would have no grounds to complain about her lack of labor since all the herbs had already been collected.

She walked for a couple of minutes more, feeling the heat touch her skin with increasing intensity. Then, while wandering through a section of the gardens far from the castle, she heard voices. She immediately hid behind a bush and peeked through the leaves to see who might be enjoying their leisure. To her great horror, she discovered it was Kurt and Adelle who had chosen the very same spot.

Elise had no wish to eavesdrop. She remained hidden at a respectable distance, quiet as a mouse. That was until a loud croak from Bruno brought the nobles’ conversation to a halt. She looked around for a way to slip away without being seen. Thankfully, Bruno’s interruption was soon forgotten, and the conversation ended not long after. Even though Elise had not managed to make out a single word, she could tell Adelle was not pleased by whatever had been said.

Only moments after Adelle departed, Kurt turned to take his leave. Elise was relieved as this would allow her to search for the magic stone in peace. Not wishing to waste time following false leads, she took out her mirror to ask Morgaine for guidance.

“Morgaine, Morgaine,” she called, but nothing happened.

She rubbed the mirror like a magic lamp, shook it, and even offered a prayer, but nothing. There seemed to be no way to make the cursed thing work.

“Help me, Bruno,” she said.

To her surprise, the bird took flight and cawed so loudly she had to cover her ears.

Elise expected the mirror to be working, but it remained the same. Instead of calling Morgaine, the loud caw summoned a more masculine figure. The strong scent of leather and wood reached her nose in an almost indecent manner.

“Elise?”

She turned, feeling every inch of her skin awaken at the tall presence. A sudden warmth spread through all the sinful parts of her body at once.