The Unordinary Life of the Enchantress

Chapter Ten: Escape

The apprentice leaped down from the top of the cliff, running to aid his mentor. On his way over, he swooped to pick up a large stone, tightening his grip on it until one side flattened to a sharp edge. Quickening his pace, he neared the scene, hurling the sharpened stone towards the tentacle that had wrapped itself around her neck. The rock sped towards the Enchantress's neck, tearing the slimy tendril and allowing her to rip the detached appendage from her neck.

Letting out a gasp as she finally freed her neck, she dug her fingers between the twists of the tentacle around her waist, tightening her grip as she focussed her energy to her hands. The scaly length of slime beneath her hands burst, sputtering a viscous, grey liquid across her dress and drenching her hands. With her body now free, she turned to look at the monster which had attempted to steal her.

On the other side of the creek sat a small bubble of flesh – its whole exterior encased in mucus-covered blue scales. She stared at the mystery creature in awe, watching with fear-struck wonder as it raised more of its tentacles. The boy immediately ran to her, taking hold of her wrist and dragging her towards the cliff.

Snapping out of her terror trance, the Enchantress ran ahead, resting her hands on the cliff's side and drawing them back slowly. With her hands' movement came a clump of earth being drawn from the wall of dirt, effectively creating a ledge to help them return to the top. She pulled herself onto the ledge, turning back around to help her apprentice up.

She saw the mystery creature reach out another tendril, shooting it towards the boy. Throwing her hand forward, pointing her palm towards the creature's appendage, she called on the wind and pushed the tendril away with a high-powered gust. She hastily grasped her apprentice's arm and hoisted him onto the ledge and the two climbed back onto the cliff. As they pulled each other over the edge, the child ran to them, pushing the Enchantress aside and taking a solid grip of the boy's hand.

With a tired huff, the Enchantress chose to ignore the girl's rudeness and turned to face her pupil.

"Do you know what that was?" she inquired.

The boy looked back to the creature, who was still reaching for them with its uncomfortably long, scaly tentacles. He glanced back to the Enchantress and nodded.

"It is a scaled river decapod," he explained "which is strange, since the water here should not be deep enough for it to be content." His brows furrowed in confusion.

Giving a slight shrug, he ushered the Enchantress and child away from the cliff's edge.

"It's better to keep out of its sight," he mentioned.

The Enchantress gave him a puzzled look.

"It looks like a lump of scales, I see no eyes!" she stated. "How does it see?" Her eyes wandered to the child for a moment.

Hearing this, the boy laughed, finding his mentor's confusion of the forest's creatures amusing.

"It does have eyes," he chuckled. "You simply cannot see them. They're hidden by some scales."

"What is it?" the child croaked, her voice still hoarse.

Turning his attention to the child who was gripping his hand, the boy began to ramble "It is named a decapod as it is composed of a body with ten individually moving tentacles, and – although it appears to be covered in spiky scales – it's actually quite mushy to touch, and very slimy too."

The Enchantress watched with intrigue as her apprentice explained the anatomy of a decapod to Zel. For the first time since she had met him, he was speaking of his research- that is, his research that has nothing to do with her.

Nodding along with his lesson about the scaled decapod, Zel began to slowly drag him towards a faintly outlined path. Noticing the child edging towards the level ground, the Enchantress followed closely behind. She intended to garner the apprentice's attention and lead them back to the path she had initially set out for. To her surprise, the child had led them to a new merchants' route, one that would lead them directly out of the forest. Shocked, baffled, and outwitted by the little girl, the Enchantress began to question her own knowledge of the paths.

The little girl led the remainder of the journey, dragging the boy by his hand as the Enchantress begrudgingly followed close behind. Although the Enchantress understood the child's gift and was aware that the child's knowledge of the paths was due to her seeing ability, she could not help but feel out-smarted and, consequently, very irritated by this outcome. Just as before, when the duo was taken to the cottage, the child led them in a straight line and they never once threatened to trample the foliage, nor was their pace obstructed by a tree in their path.

By noon the travellers had reached the edge of the forest. They stepped away from the last of the forest's trees, taking in the planes of grassy land that was lain out before them.

Worn from the morning's journey, the apprentice slumped himself onto the grassy plains beside the ongoing path. He let go of Zel's hand and looked around to admire the scenery. The midday sun soared high, coating the land in its warmth. The long blades of wild grass glowed an ethereal green as the soft breeze pushed them to dance and sway, filling the air with its rustling melody.

Allowing herself the join the boy in his short rest-stop, the Enchantress breathed in the clean air, smiling at the scent of grass oils, wildflowers, and... bread? She opened her eyes in confusion, looking out ahead.

At the end of the path was the looming outline of a large village, from the nearest structure extended a long stream of aromatic smoke – most likely from a bakery. The Enchantress felt her stomach grumble, the sound reminding her that the travellers had yet to eat. She unconsciously licked her lips, hunger and the thought of food overtaking her mind. Standing up, she turned to her entourage, her eyes glinting with anticipation.

"We have only an hour's walk left," she announced. "Let's hurry along, the sooner we get to the nearest settlement, the sooner we can get some food – and a healer for Zel." Her eyes flickered to the child as she hastily added those last few words.

The apprentice stared at his mentor, his expression a mingling of amusement and wonder. Her mood changes so quickly, he thought. With a smile, he quickly took out his beaten leather journal, scribbling a few words onto a crowded page before putting it back in his pocket.

Standing up, the boy took hold of Zel's hand and approached his mentor.

"Okay, let's go," he responded. "The sooner we get to a healer, the better."

With a swift nod, the Enchantress turned on her heel and skipped towards the fragrant smoke, her apprentice and Zel right behind.