Witches in Training (#2 in the Witches Trilogy) [rewrites ongoing]

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Gifted

VINNI

Here's the thing about elf politics: it's complicated. At any one time, there are the usual supporters, half-supporters, rabids, assassins, mercenaries, alliances, false pretences, ulterior motives, debates, manipulation, backstabbing and lying, but there's also this thing called magic involved. Magic treaties, promises, bonds, fealties and anything else that you can think of.

There is also a constant underlying arguement about the most important role in elven society. Opinions differ: scholars, Seers, warriors, teachers. But the most heated topic is the topic of outsiders, that is to say, people like us. Some are totally against it. Some are all right with it. Some are agreeable to certain types of visitors (like Janine). There is a high level of bias from each party. It's fortunate that Janus does not allow such conflicts to guide his decisions, and he convinces-albeit after two hours-the Council that we need the help.

He volunteers to take us to the Seer personally and ushers us out of the chamber as efficiently as he can. "Who are we seeing?" Abby asks, her lips moving as little as possible. We've all gotten the sense that this is not the sort of place you want to go blurting out all your plans. Frankly, even if I could, I wouldn't have, because I'm intimidated by this old, powerful man.

"One of our best and most trusted Seers, Lilian." Janus says a little too loudly for comfort. He sets us off at a brisk pace, out into open woods.

"We're not going to Lilian, are we?" asks Abby after a few minutes of surveying the landscape around us.

"Very observant." Janus murmurs. "But be quiet... there are elves with certain gifts for the trees."

Our final destination seems to be a dull white and brown structure with two floors at best, a modest dwelling tucked neatly into an arena of lush trees. A small boy, probably slightly younger than Vera, sits outside fiddling with something. Janus glances at him as he knocks on the door; the boy is slight, with neatly trimmed dark brown hair and brownish blue eyes. He's toying with some scraps of paper.

The door opens and a girl in her late teens stands in the doorway, looking startled. "Janus! What brings you here?" Her waist-length hair is dark brown like the boy's and bangs skim the top of greyish blue eyes. I assume that she's the boy's sister, since she's hardly old enough to be his mother.

"Sage, I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No, of course not." Sage gestures for us to enter the house.

"Perhaps a little introduction would be prudent while I go and speak to Ari." Janus suggests, nodding at us.

"Yes, of course." Sage shows us into a spacious living room of sorts. The first thing I notice are the shelves, fronted with frosted glass, that line most of any available wall space, They hide a mass of things, I can see. The second is the grounded colour palette, earthy tones, nothing abstract. "My name, of course, is Sage." The elf produces cups of steaming, creamy liquid from thin air and hands them out. "What are yours?"

I get the feeling she already knows, but she's just asking to be polite. We do a quick round of introducing our names, while sipping the drink, and she nods. "And where is the Addonexus?"

The others glance uncomfortably at me. "Gone." I say darkly, hiding my face in the pretence of drinking from my cup.

"And I understand you wish to consult a Seer about Raelynn?"

"Yes," I say, watching her for signs that she'd start her prophesising or Seeing or whatever you want to call it. "But I have a question. Why did Janus bring us here, in particular?"

Sage frowns. "There are... different parties." She says hesitantly. "Regarding who the elves should side with in the upcoming confrontation. Some want to remain neutral. Some want to fight with you. Some would ally with her. Taking you to the wrong person, obtaining the wrong or incomplete information, may very well be your death."