The Witching Hour

Ch. 6

Avalonna

Avalonna could not believe that she was actually packing for a journey such as this one. It would take several days to get to and from the northern wilderness and she filled her satchel with essentials. She even put in a small personal mirror she had loved when she was a child, hoping it would bring her fond memories and joy if needed. She left the falcon statue with Connor, as she dared not to use magic any time soon out of fear it would exhaust her during her trip. Lydia was able to use some of their family's financial savings and supply Avalonna with enough funds for necessities and emergencies she may need during her trip. She even gave Avalonna the family's horse to use. This was not what she had been expecting for her 21st birthday. Even when she was a little girl and heard tales of knights and monsters, she always thought she would be one of the girls who ended up riding away with the handsome knight at the end, not the wicked witch he had to slay. She sighed to herself and hung her satchel over her shoulder. She had talked her plan over with her brother and Lydia and they agreed she should head out at night, as there were less people traveling and she would be in the next town by morning. She slowly crept down the stairs, as if to preserve every lasting moment she could in her old house, as she had no guarantee she would be unharmed on this trip. She took a piece of bread to eat and calm her nerves and then prepared her horse outside for their travels. She secured the satchel to his harness and also was able to find her old quiver and arrows and, along with a new bow she purchased in town, felt she was safe enough for her trip.

"I am sorry you have to go so soon, Val" Connor said, appearing from inside the house
"I had hoped after such long travels that you would stay a while, or perhaps permanently." He grinned half heartily and embraced his sister.

"I know, little brother. Perhaps after all this is over, things will be normal for us again." She embraced him in return and then shook her head laughing at herself,
"Magic, honestly... Magic! Can you believe such a thing?" She smiled and both siblings laughed for a moment.
"To know that both of us had these powers all along... it's beyond either of our imaginations isn't it?" Avalonna said with a light chuckle.

"I agree. I honestly wouldn't believe it if I hadn't almost been attacked by my birthday gift and put to sleep by your spell." He grinned and Avalonna slapped his arm gently.

"You know both of those were just accidents. Perhaps if mother had just worn us once..." She said, rubbing her arms and looking down.

"There was no time, Val. We were young and she was taken far too soon." Connor said trying to cheer up his sister.

"Connor is right, love." Lydia said, coming out from inside the house. She came over near the siblings and gave them each a kiss on the forehead.
"She loved the both of you, as did your father. They would have told you when the time was right." She placed the black book with the star emblem on the cover in one of the pockets on the horses saddle.
"For you. I have now memorized it and will remember anything that Connor may need to know while you are traveling." She said with a hopeful smile.

Avalonna nodded an embraced her adopted mother for several moments.
"Thank you, Lydia, for all you have done for Connor and I." She said, and when she stepped back, realized that the sun was already setting.
"I suppose I should be heading off..." She said, shrugging and letting out a light, nervous laugh.

"I suppose so, my dear." Lydia said, tears in her eyes as she embraced Avalonna once more.

"Try to come home in one piece, Val. I would appreciate learning some magic too." Connor said with a grin and kisses his sister's cheek.

Avalonna wiped her eyes and chuckled lightly. She nodded and said her final farewells as she got on her horse and began her ride towards the heart of town. She knew she would have go past the marketplaces and meeting areas until she reached the town's borders. From there she would plan a course to each neighboring town and go around the woods that lay directly north of Eversong. This was the best way to avoid the Capital of Aster and the Red King's home domain that was hidden beyond the great forest. She began to take in the scenery around her and listened to the sound of her horse's hoofs trotting along the stone roads as she entered the center of Eversong. Numerous townspeople were making their way through the center, many retuning home from their work or a trip and some were out for last minute preparations for their evening meals. Avanlonna smiled and watched as families reunited and retired to their homes for the evening. She could not help but think about her future, and if there was a family of her own in it or not. She would love one, but obviously being a child of a witch could be dangerous, she had lost her own parents for that very reason. She was sure that she did not want to have a child until she could guarantee its safety and the witch hunts had ended. She touched her star necklace without thinking as she rode through town. It was not long after she made her way through that she heard a familiar voice call from behind her.

"Miss Val! Is that you? Wherever can you be going at such an hour?" The shopkeeper from the bizarre, Caspian, said as he approached her. Avalonna said a quiet curse under her breath for her long farewells that kept her in town a few moments too many.

"Ah, Mr. Caspian, how nice it is to see you again," she smiled down at him from her horse,
"I have some family business to attend to beyond Eversong and must be on my way." She said with a slight nod if her head.

"You're leaving? Oh, my dear, have you forgotten our rearrangement? How will I ever get my favor from you if you're nowhere to be found?"Caspian asked with a grin.

Oh no... The favor. Avalonna had forgotten all about the debt she owed in all the commotion of the last day.

"Oh yes, well I was planning on returning home of course as soon as possible." She said with a polite smile.

"Hmm and where is it you're headed?" He asked as he approached her horse. It huffed at him but otherwise remained calm.

"North! Yes, far north, to visit some... Family friends." Avalonna blurted out.

"The North?" Caspian asked stunned, "that is a long and dangerous journey for a young girl by herself, these must be very special friends." Avalonna nodded in agreement but did not reply.
"Hmm... If this is the case, I now know what your favor to me will be. Please allow me to accompany you on this trip, miss Val."

"Oh, no. Thank you, but that is quite alright, sir." Avalonna replied as politely as she could, not wanting to be around the curious stranger any longer than she had to.

"I insist my dear, I shall go to my home and pack immediately and join you with my horse in but a few moments." He said with a smile and bow and ran off before Avalonna could reply again. She cursed under her breath and sighed in disbelief at how her journey had begun. If she couldn't even get out of this predicament the way she wanted, how could she hope to survive what was to come?