A grounded plan, not fair but the lesser evil and I agreed.
Running off had crossed my mind right after. I told myself that I would follow through with it, as soon as our romance ended, but until then, there had been no other option.
“I don’t want any trouble, I’ll do as you suggest,” I said and he eased his posture.
He got up and advised Loyra to pack some dishes in a portable container.
I declined his offer of their carriage since I wanted to pick herbs in the woods. A task long overdue.
“Don’t forget to add veal for the lady of wolves,” he told her and kissed my forehead before he slipped through the door frame. “Welcome to the family.”
13. Calling
I hated carrying the container uphill. It weighed me down and the dress tangled itself around thorny bushes, hindering me from climbing. I couldn’t hold it up anymore, but at least I had a place to store the herbs, right?
While I examined the plants, I sorted my thoughts but all I could do was obey. I should’ve been glad that no one was questioning me about being a Witch.
I stuck my nose into the moss and took a deep breath. There were no chains in the water, but I distinguished the air and its components clearly. Something else was present besides tiny droplets of water. It reeked of death and peace—the Underworld, following me wherever I went.
When I lifted my head, the black wolf was standing in front of me again and sniffled my hair. After it recognised me, it whined until I followed it deeper into the forest.
Upon arriving at the den, high-pitched yips greeted me. They came from four black pups.
She was a wolfess, and I connected with her instantly. We were the same in one way or another and I left all the meat the Di Centis had given me with them. She licked my cheek while the pups climbed onto my dress, thanking me.
Afterwards, I pulled the container upstairs until I let myself fall on the squishy mattress of my loft.
I pressed the moist handkerchief on my nose and it swayed my senses. They weren’t healing but numbing Claire.
It nagged on me.
No signs of her being a Mage. No other pulling force than lust when I saw her. Perhaps it was sleeping inside of her or was forced to keep still.
I opened Herbs of Viflem and Heior and read through the properties of each plant, hoping to find the missing piece.
Lavender had been, as suspected, a way to calm her and protect her from outward powers. With her naivety, it was reasonable. I skipped to Yipi flowers and realised my foolishness by reading through the passage.
‘A tranquilliser for the Oracle’s eye. Can cause irreversible damage combined with roasted Rogmarn root.’
I rushed through the Oracle section in Four Wonders of Gods, where I found familiar symptoms and traits.
‘Petite stature, clear iris, dreams, visions, overstimulation, sleepiness.’
There was only one way I would find out the truth, even though I was almost certain.
I poured white wine into my altar’s chalice and placed it in the middle of the rune.
“Veymor!” I called since I knew no chant to conjure him. I needed to get his attention and so, slit my hand open again and let the blood overflow the chalice until it started spreading in the rims between the stones.
“Hear me, God of the Underworld and appear.”
The chalice quaked, and Veymor slid through the floor, picking it up. “Yes?”
I handed him the handkerchief, and he sniffed on it.
“Rogmarn, are you trying to poison me?” he roared but when I fell back, he drew close gently.
“It wasn’t for you,” I said. “I think Claire’s an Oracle. No, I’m certain she is and this is supposed to be her medicine.”
He frowned and skipped through the pages of the books. “I’m no Doctor, but this won’t heal anyone.”
He bandaged my hand and explained that I’m not obligated to spill blood every time I call him, though he appreciated it.
“You should tell her,” he said. “There aren’t many Oracles left. She could meet Frya. It’s a great honour.”
“I think that’s the opposite purpose of this medicine.”
Aware of how close Tonio wanted to keep her, he would have never allowed it. It was easier to tranquillise her than to make her stay if she was aware of her powers.
The blood inside me boiled and drenched my fresh bandage. Even now that I knew the truth, there was no other option than obedience.
I closed the books and stacked them on the table before lying down.
“Sometimes, I wish I never arrived,” I exhaled.
“You’re distracted, that’s all,” he said and laid himself beside me. A black robe appeared around his limbs. He was right, I needed to focus on my education.
“It’s time to find out what it means to be a Volkov,” I said.
He smiled at me but remained quiet.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes. I should be a red-haired magical prodigy, granddaughter of Gerogy Volkov. I wonder if anyone remembers my name.” I tucked myself into the sheet and wrapped it around my head.
“Have you done something memorable yet?” he asked.
I shook my head. I was still irrelevant and had the perfect cover until Claire dragged me out of my own interests. Of course, I followed, led by emotions. Last night, we reached the point of no return.
“You should go to Gerogy,” he said. “I could claim you and teach you about your inner Witch.”
“And miss the opportunity to learn literally everything? Did you see this library?”
It sounded like a joke, but I still considered it since I couldn’t overshadow my witchiness by being a Mage. I had to set priorities, just like Tonio said, and my opinion
