WATTPAD FEATURED The year is 1601 and hate is burning high. Rosy Coldron is a witch. Bill Ignatius is a witch hunter. They are desperately in love. But what future can they have in a world ruled by hate, fear and prejudices? PYRE tells the story of...
"You." Keeper Colin glared at Rosy over the rim of his gilded goblet standing on a table covered in linen so fine it would easily grace the manor house.
Anger stabbed into the soft of her belly but she willed it away. "Let me guess. You were waiting for somebody to come forth but you don't want me as I'm too inexperienced and too disrespectful?"
The old Keeper sighed. "No, child, it's not that. You still have your life ahead of you. I was hoping for somebody older. You have given your vows to the Green, so you qualify. But I would have liked to spare you."
He waved at the carved oak chair facing him. "Pray, sit down. Let us drink and discuss this in a civilized manner."
Colin's joints cracked when he got up, but his movements were as fluid as hers. He rummaged in the ornate cupboard behind him and returned with a second goblet which he placed in front of her, filled it with a spicy smelling drink from the pewter jug, and shifted it across. It was hot, she realised when her hands closed round the goblet. She had not even noticed how chilled to the core she was despite the balmy weather.
Rosy sipped the smoking sweetness, drank in the spicy aroma of honey and apples.
"Better?" Keeper Colin asked.
How could it be better? Today was the day of the solstice. The day the White Wardens would be leaving. Her last day on this Earth. But that was not what he meant.
"Yes, better. Thank you. To return to the conversation, am I right to assume somebody older would not have enough life force to give, might well be sick? And that might taint their gift. Tell me, Keeper. Why did the Council rule out sacrifice?"
The old man ran his long stick-like fingers over the rim of the goblet. The movement made the thin wisps of steam coming from the drink swirl and dance. "We were convinced we shouldn't ask for it. We were hoping people would come forward out of their own free will."
"But they haven't."
"No. They seem to be prepared to throw parts of their families to the wolves instead."
"I haven't drawn them towards us, have I?" Rosy asked in a small voice.
"Possibly, but they would have come anyway. And soon. That's why we have to risk it. We cannot wait until winter solstice. And we feared there would not be enough light to see us through even if we lasted that long. No, it is now or never." Colin drank from his goblet, his Adam's apple shifting in his scrawny throat.
"We will get through, right?"
Colin tapped his long fingers against his nose. "If you're serious about your offer, then you better trust the Keepers, young woman."
His words stung. But then he was a Keeper, what did she expect apart from the usual arrogance? Rosy shuffled upright in her chair, determined to get this behind her "Well, I do. But I also want to understand what it is you're planning. So, if there is no sacrifice, then it will take whatever feeble magic the red ones have to offer, everything stored in the sacred items, all the White Warden's and their familiar's might, correct? All of this taken together will just about enable us to open the portal that will take us to safety. Am I right?"
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