The Girl, The Rat, And The Five Whiskered Snow Dragon

Chapter 16

A Sorcerers' Sortie

Kalin stepped into the clearing knowing well whose hut he eyed. It belonged to the witch of the wood, Innego, Ondine, whatever you like. She would probably not be inclined to help him, but then she could not deny his request without consequences. He walked to the well that rested in front of her home and called out: "Innego, come from your hut. I wish to speak with you of a hunt."

There was silence, an eerie silence, a quiet which should not be, considering the forest around them. Finally, the witch came from her hut. "I felt your presence long before you came, assassin. Your power is like a striking thought which cannot be disregarded. What help could you need from me when you already carry so much aid within you?"

Kalin smiled, not caring for the witch's admiration and especially not caring for her veiled disdain. "I come inquiring of a boy which Nimren demands be brought before him. He fell not far from here, from a height which would have killed another man. I searched for his body and it was not to be sought. He has brown hair and wears a blue bandage to cover his dead eye. His face is scarred in such a way that if you've seen him, you know of whom I speak."

"Would I then? Well, I suppose Nimren desires his soul as he desires all souls? Why he would send his great apprentice? Who is this boy?"

"He is nothing, but he did carry an artifact of much power, which I also did not find among the debris. I could not sense it when I attacked him, and so he gained a small reprieve from my capable hand."

"I see." Innego showed no emotion. She sensed the talisman only slightly when Erroneous brought it near her. But after touching it, it left such an imprint on her magic ego that she knew Kalin would sense it, too. She spirited it inside her umbry box, a box designed to thwart all magical essence, secreting whatever artifact it might hold. "What is it?"

"It is a talisman in the shape of a lion's head. You know I don't mean any disrespect to you, witch, but my duties require me to search your hut for it."

Innego's eyes narrowed. "Of course, I know you would trust my word if I were to tell you 'I do not have such a thing,' and I tell you that I do not, but you must look anyway."

"I must, and I must also insist that you wait outside."

Innego nodded and stepped away from the open door.

Kalin walked past her and moved silently through the small home. He knew from the beginning that Innego probably knew of the talisman. She would be more able to sense it than he, but not now, not since he'd felt its sting as a wraith. To find the talisman now, one would need to be a master of the arcane. Kalin just happened to be such a one. If Innego had the powerful artifact, she would be no fool to leave it about haphazardly. She would likely hide it, and not just any place of shadow, but a place even hidden from the magical senses. Kalin knew this, and he also knew how to sense the faint anti-magic which such a dampening cover would naturally posses. He found Innego's umbry box with little trouble. It was hidden in the wall and he called it out from its place with a raising of his hand. The box hovered from the wall, separating from it like a rock being pulled out of water. He brought the box to himself, admiring the powerful umbry box which was ancient, judging from the intricate runes carved into the fading wood.

Innego ignored Kalin's order to stay outside. She knew well enough the likelihood of his finding it, but still she hoped he might not. When she came inside, she was the slender elf, onyx blade at the ready, if need be. "You don't understand the power of that thing. It is beyond you."

"Is it? I wonder why you would hide it from me." He slid off the cover of the box—noting Innego's physical change—as he turned it over he caught the falling talisman by its chain, not wanting to touch the lion just yet.