Exile

Part 34

Immi was happy to see Dimitri again. She felt she owed him for saving her from the kidnappers, so she tried to be nice to him. Immi offered Dimitri food, a song on her flute, and even candy from her secret stash, but Dimitri always declined. 

She also noticed how she always caught Dimitri looking at Cindie. Did they know each other? Have they had a past of some sort? She tried not to think about it too much, she just hoped they could get to Enchantress Yunma's house safely from then on.

"Atlas?"

"Mhm."

"Do you know anything about Enchantress Yunma?" Immi asked.

"Not really," he admitted. "I've heard of Enchanters and stuff before but Yunma is a new name. She's probably been out of business or in another country for a few centuries."

"How old is she!?" exclaimed Immi.

"Most Enchanters and Enchantresses are preserved by their magic," explained Atlas. "She probably won't look a day over twenty even though she's at least a hundred years old."

"What do Enchantresses do?" she asked.

"Well, they do a lot of things, really. They fight in wars, for a fair penny, but they normally are rather reckless and energetic so they just travel the world making mischief. Or they used to."

"I could be an Enchantress!" exclaimed Immi, "I'm rather reckless and energetic!"

"That you are," laughed Atlas. "But some enchanters are corrupted, those ones are warlocks and witches. But they are said to be none left in the world."

"I hope not," said Immi. "They seem nasty."

"Very," concurred Atlas.

"How do we know that this Yunma isn't a witch?" asked Cindie who had been listening quietly.

"Honestly, we don't know," admitted Atlas. "We'll just have to be careful."

"The doctor said we would have to pay a high price for the elixir," Alana reminded everyone. "What do we have?"

"Dimitri's soul," joked Atlas. Cindie spun around to glare at him.

She must know Dimitri!, thought Immi.

"But seriously," questioned Alana.

"I have money," said Atlas. "We could sell Immi's jewelry. She hates it anyway."

Immi took off her necklace and handed it to Italzi, "It's all hers."

"Does anyone else have anything?" asked Atlas.

Dimitri spoke up, "I have 50,000 coppers."

"Whaaaaat?" marveled Alana. "Rich people."

"That should suffice," said Italzi. "How much longer until we're there, Atlas?"

"We might make it in about three days."

"Three days in this stupid cursed forest," groaned Alana.

"It'll be worth it," said Immi. "If this elixir is from an Enchantress, it's bound to work."

"Also," began Italzi. "I've been thinking."

"Like that's a first," whispered Alana.

Italzi glared at her and then continued. "What if we convince Yunma to help us overthrow the king?"

"That's almost impossible," said Atlas. "Enchantresses are bribed by money, power, and the guarantee of success. If you want to overthrow the king, your chances are pretty slim. Also, that was unwise to say in front of emo over here."

All eyes turned to Dimitri.

"Oops," said Immi.

"I'm not against you getting rid of my father. He hates me anyway."

"Oh that's a relief," said Alana sarcastically. "Now we totally believe you!"

"By the way, Alana," began Dimitri, changing the subject, "I met your cousin."

"VIGOR?" she half screamed. "Is he okay? Is he looking for me, ugh I'm an idiot. I should have left a note or something."

"Actually, he told me to look for you," said Dimitri.

"Oh?"

"He was worried."

"I'm so stupid," sighed Alana.

"It's okay," comforted Immi. "He'll be alright. You'll see him soon!"

"Anyway," said Atlas, trying to keep on topic. "Dimitri can't do anything anyway. He's not allowed to kill Italzi."

"I trust him," piped up Cindie, who had been quiet.

"I won't tell him, I swear," said Dimitri. "I want him gone too."