World of Ashes

Chapter Four

Elide hadn't looked back once when she had left with the Ironteeth to find the Crochan Witches. But part of her had wanted to stay with Lorcan, despite what he'd done. She knew it was wrong, a betrayal of her friend and Queen, but she still  wanted to feel the weight of his hand on hers, to be able to look at him for security and reassurance, something that before she'd met Manon, she hadn't been able to do since her uncle took her nursemaid away. 

It was a comfort, to have someone who cared. Stop it, she told herself. You are with Manon and the legendary Thirteen. They are your sisters. They will take care of you. 

The wind tugged at her onyx hair, blowing it in her face. Elide and the witches sat around a fire on a hilltop in the Southernmost tip of Oakwald Forest. There had been rumors of a witch living in the nearby village, so they had gone to track her down. 

"Elide?" it was Ghislaine. The almost human-like witch was always quickest to pick up when Elide was feeling uncomfortable or uncertain. She had lived the longest among humans, and was used to their facial expressions in a way the other witches weren't. 

Elide turned around, feeling Manon's steely gaze on her back. "I'm fine. It's just been a lot the last few days." 

Ghislaine nodded, and moved over to give Elide a closer seat to the fire. 

As Elide stood, she nearly toppled over again. It was so strange to be able to put a good portion of her weight on her crippled foot. The first thing Manon had done after they left Aedion and the rest, was get all the witches new clothes, and an ankle brace for Elide. She could walk now, with hardly a limp and no pain at all. 

Edda and Briar were reporting their knews about the Crochan Witch to Manon and Asterin. 

"...they say she never interacts with the villagers, except to heal people who are near death. Likely keeping a low profile from the Irontheeth and also Adarlan."

Manon nodded. "We'll pay her a visit tomorrow." Then she went to Abraxos and disappeared into the misty night. 

***

Elide was still getting used to the way the Thirteen worked, and how she fit into it. They moved like a single being, hardly having to communicate. Reports were given to Manon and Asterin, and often Sorrel, while the others mostly followed orders. When a conflict or uncertainty came up, Manon would present the situation to the rest of the group, and, based on their opinions, decide the course of action. As far as she could figure, Elide was half Omega witch, half puppy that they were taking care of. But there was something else, too. They seemed to listen to her almost like they would Manon or Asterin.

And she could tell there was something Ghislaine, and probably Manon too, knew about Elide, that they weren't telling her. And she could tell it was important.