The Eldest Marked

6. Two of Wands

Winona sat on her mothers bed with her supplies spread out around her. She was given a bag that would not stand out much in the Origin, a messenger style bag of black leather with charms sealed into it. She practiced running her hands along it to reveal its pockets intended for more occult objects. Unless she willed it with a well placed gesture, the pockets of almost living flesh stayed knitted together.

"How many times are you going to repack your bag?" Demeter asked from in front of her wardrobe, where she was sorting through clothes to find something suitable for them to wear to blend in.

Winona opened a hidden pocket along the strap to place her familiar's stones in. She tested the placement with the bag across her body. The stones hummed reassuringly against her chest. "That depends, if I can't finish packing it do I still have to go?" she asked.

Demeter set down the dress she was inspecting. "Winona I will not have anymore of this talk. You were born with the ability to change the lives of so many people. That is an incredible privilege that should be honored. Stop complaining," she said.

The heat of her cheeks was almost unbearable. It wasn't often that her mother used that tone of voice. Every time she felt the same sort of dread. Winona packed her bag back up silently.

Demeter set a simple, modest grey dress down on the bed for her. It didn't feel too different than what she would usually wear, maybe cut a little different, more form fitting, but when she inspected it the stitching was remarkably precise.

"Are you sure you don't want to invite Harper or Fiore over? We have some time and I'm sure they would like to see you before you go," Demeter said.

"I don't even know if they would know where I'm going. Harper turns eighteen in the fall, and Fiore next year's spring. I'd rather see them when I get back," she said. It took all of her strength not to say 'if' she came back.

"Why don't you send Pyxidis to tell them you will be going on your trip? That way I don't have two cranky teens trekking all the way over here just to find you absent," Demeter said.

Pyxidis poked his head out from under the covers at the sound of his name. Winona held out her hand for him to join her. He jumped up onto her hand and stood to bring himself up to her eye level. She focused her intentions into him, the path to her friends houses, and what she would like him to say.

"I am leaving on a trip for my eighteenth birthday. I don't know when I will be home. But I will send Pyxidis back to you whenever I can. This is my familiar, by the way. He's great. Anyway. Love you guys," she whispered to him.

He sat back down and after a few nervous grooming swipes of his paw, repeated the message back in her own voice. She jumped back, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Winona had read about familiars and what they can do since acquiring Pyxidis, but it was a different thing to actually witness it.

"Thank you Pyx. Go on now," Winona said. Pyx scampered out of the room. "Does my voice really sound like that?"

"Unfortunately, yes," her mother teased. "Now off to your readings."

***

"There is one last order of business we need to take care of," Demeter said. The sun was long set, the table cleared of dishes, and the promise of sleep soon upon her.

She summoned her familiar to drag a book from its hiding place behind the smoke hood of the stove. The weasel dragged the book in front of Winona with a huff, as if to say 'You could have gotten that yourself'. The book was bound in dark green linen, with a golden embossed title 'Family Names'. The cover was still slightly warmed from their dinner fire.