Blood of the Abyss

blood in the abyss Part 9

Chapter 9

A Sorceress's Wiles

Lysandra

We exited the tavern, mounted the horses, and rode east until we found a hut at the edge of a marsh. My hair was driving me insane as it continued to puff from the excess moisture in the air. I huffed and grabbed a spare strip of cloth from my bag and tied up my hair. I was ready to get out of this place. A woman emerged from the hut and strode around the garden sprinkling an unknown substance in the air. We watched, bewildered as plants started to grow almost spontaneously.

"Looks like she's the sorceress." Caspian said and began dismounting. "Excuse me, miss!" He called out.

"Cas!" I whispered through gritted teeth. "Wait." But it was too late. The woman began walking toward us. The rest of us dismounted and began our approach to the woman. I first noticed that she was human. She had striking violet eyes, blonde hair, and delicate features. She was strikingly beautiful, and she knew it. The only one unseemingly affected by it all was Caspian.

"Can I help you?" Her voice sounded like silk, but something was unsettling about her.

"We are hoping that you have some information about an abyss?" Caspian ventured.

"You might need to be a bit more specific." She fluffed her hair and gazed at us with her piercing eyes.

I cleared my throat, and finally was able to speak. "More specifically, the rift to the demon realm." A flash of curiosity briefly registered on her face before it returned to its nonchalant expression.

"Only one such rift exists. Please come inside. We will speak more in my house. Out here anyone can hear us." She eyed the trees of the surrounding marsh suspiciously then turned to enter her hut, motioning for us to follow.

Her hut was quaint and smelled of many different herbs. Poultices sat on the shelves fermenting in clear jars and vases. In the center of the room there were a variety of cushions to sit on. The sorceress sat down furthest from the door and the rest of us sat in a half-circle facing her.

"So, what brings elves, a dwarf, and a halfling to me? What is happening that you are asking about this rift?"

"We need to close it. Its taint is affecting the orchard in Eodanor," I made eye contact with Caspian, "and the humans in Aglirim."

"And who sent you on this ridiculous quest?"
"The Mistress Merrilora of Eodanor." Caspian stated.

"Ah." The sorceress sighed heavily. "Well, 'tis a fool's errand then. The rift is full of dangerous magyks. Closing it will not be easy."
"We figured as much." I glared at the sorceress. "But we have to try. We can't let it destroy our home." A smile stretched across the sorceress's face.

"I understand this. Sadly, in the state that you are now, it won't matter if you are able to close the rift or not."

"What do you mean?" Caspian asked curiously. "What state are we in?"

"I mostly speak to the two of you." The sorceress pointed at Caspian and myself. "You two...well..." She trailed off.

"Get to your point, witch." Alwine grunted and folded his arms across his chest.

"My point, dwarf, is that there is a rift between these two. Hopes of sealing the demon rift are fruitless unless the rift between these two is resolved." Illine glanced at us confused.

"What do you mean? What sort of rift is between the two of them?" She asked, cocking her head to look at Caspian and I.

"Well, I'm sure you've all noticed the ebbing tension between the two of them. I mean I just met you all and I can practically smell the tension coming from the two of them." The sorceress grimaced. I felt my cheeks grow hot and glanced at Caspian and noticed the tips of his half-pointed ears had turned a bright red. He remained as expressionless as possible.