Queen of the Moon

part 11: shaman

In the morning, Maximus, Jacob, Peter,  Andrew and I decided to head into town to meet this shaman who could help me with the spells that were put on me. His home was about a half day's trip there and back from the palace so we packed a lunch and even tents if we got caught up.

Riding through the misty Weirwood was fun but also very dangerous as there were all sorts of magical creatures afoot. Andrew and I shared a horse, mostly because he was worried that something could happen to me, so he could first hand block any blows. I saw Max gaze over a few times in an unkind way and I knew he was jealous of us.

A precarious situation I knew I'd have to manage carefully. I didn't want to lose Max's friendship but knew I would have to at any indication that Max had any sort of romantic feelings for me. I really just wanted everyone to get along. But that was impossible.

There were some things about Max I never told Andrew I realized, that if I did would convince Andrew that Max was a threat. And I really didn't want any more drama. It probably was not right for Andrew and I to share a horse, since we weren't married, our closeness was improper but I didn't care about rumors anymore. 

I was already the well known slut not to mention baby killer. And Andrew and I already shared a bed which only my brothers knew. Now a horse. But he and I had done nothing more than hold hands or kiss. And we'd promised each other we wouldn't do anything more until marriage which we both knew was coming soon.

A batch of fairies flew over us and tried to steal my coin purse which Tuck counteracted but then one took off with one of my necklaces, thankfully not the one Andrew had given me. I made sure to grab that one while the other was snatched. That was the only strange creature we encountered on the way to the shaman's house. 

He lived in a hut under a batch of very tall trees. He was standing outside as we approached and I was surprised at the sight of him. Most shamans were old men. As far as I knew, this guy was young, and not to mention muscular, he looked like he should be a knight or a bodyguard, not a shaman. His head was shaved and he had tattoos along his arm and neck. He looked like he could snap me in half, but he still smiled at me and took both of my hands in his and I could sense the goodness of his soul.

Inside the hut we went, the room smelled like freshly burnt sage and had a hanging plume of smoke that made the inside of the room hard to see. The walls were filled with shelves of jars and books. There were lots of chairs and a table in the center covered in a velvet tablecloth. He gestured for us to sit around the table. The center of the table had some sort of animal skull just sitting there.

"Hey Shaman, I've brought my good friend Sasha, and others, we're here because she has some bad people who put spells on her and are invading her dreams and I wonder if you can help her," Max said. 

Shaman didn't speak much, he reached for my hands, and looked at my palms.

"Very Dark Magic," was all he said after analyzing for a long time.

"So, can you help?" Andrew asked.

"Of course," he said, shrugging, "I'll send over the materials within 3 days."

"Send your bill to the palace," said Max.

"Send your bill to the house of Lord Andrew Blackmoon," said Andrew.

"He doesn't even know where that is. Don't worry, I'll take care of it," said Max.

"You don't worry. I take care of her," said Andrew.

"It's okay. Don't," I said to Andrew because I really did not want another fight. Not now.

"What's your problem?" Max finally asked the second we were outside.