Page 58 of The Noldrin Witch

Beth lifted her chin up. “Courage, my darling. That’s always the answer.”

“It is settled then,” Morgaine said. “Now we only need to keep looking for the Stone of Raj tomorrow, and you will be fine.”

“That is why I came earlier,” Elise said happily, lifting the shiny key to show the witches. “I was assigned a chamber at the castle.”

Morgaine’s smile grew wider. “Was it the duke’s doing?”

“No!” Elise protested. “It was a fairy. I believe she’s the Chancellor of Magic. I heard one of the guards call her that.”

“Mmm,” the witch hummed. “Either way, you are in, my darling!”

Beth grabbed a cup and raised it in celebration. “To magic, love, and the delicious nights Elise could spend there!”

This time Elise found herself blushing rather than amused.

“Beth!”

Chapter 25

Elise had barely slept during her first night at the castle. Her chamber was located above the workshop. It was still on the ground floor, but at least she did not have to share the small room with anyone else. This came as a most pleasant surprise, since she was planning to scout the gardens at night in the days to come.

That very thought had kept her awake for a good part of the night. It was a demonic quality of her mind to stay focused on the task at hand and be unable to rest before completing it.

Another thing that had kept her restless was, of course, the memory of Kurt. Every time she closed her eyes, there he was, looking at her with those deep blue eyes that could undo her on any given day.

And his lips. Oh, his lips.

Poor Elise stood a far better chance of getting some rest by focusing on her impending task of finding the magic stone.

Bruno was still sleeping atop the small table in the corner of the chamber, beside the mirror attached to the wall. Elise washed her face using the pitcher and basin and grabbed one of the dresses she had stored in the large old chest that sat beside her bed.

The arrangement was not luxurious in any sense of the word, but it was sufficient for Elise. She had enough room to walk about, and the stone floor held a pleasant warmth that spread from the massive fireplace at the end of the hall.

Fabian had said to meet outside the workshop before dawn, and not wanting to disappoint the prickly fairy, Elise made her way there in no time.

She waited and waited for anyone to arrive, but nothing happened. After half an hour, Elise decided to entertain herself by returning to the workshop and wandering among the potion tables. Eventually, she occupied herself by reading some of the scrolls on the shelves as her wait stretched on for nearly two hours.

She was starting to feel the effects of the early hour when she heard footsteps in the hall connecting the chambers to the workshop.

The dozen people who entered the ample chamber were surprised to find Elise already there. Some regarded her with a smile, though others appeared less pleased. No one dared say a word. They were likely waiting for the one person with the authority to decide whether her presence was a blessing or a disaster. They did not have to wait long.

“How did you get in here?” Fabian demanded as soon as he laid eyes on her.

Elise swallowed hard.

“You told me to come before dawn.”

“But who let you in?”

“I was assigned a room in the castle.”

“What?” the fairy barked. “Who gave you the key?”

Elise looked around, confused. She composed herself quickly and explained, “It was Susanne who arranged it.”

But the man, still wearing the same old red leggings, seemed set on his own ideas.

“That cannot be. She would have told me. You must have gained the favor some other way...” A twisted smile formed on Fabian’s face as his dismissive eyes traveled over Elise.