“Nan there is a strange man in our front yard looking very lost,” Felix said, looking thoughtfully out the ancient glass of the kitchen windows.
The strange man standing there was named Dana, and Dana was not so much lost in the literal sense but the metaphorical one. He had in fact meant to be here, however why he was there was a bit more lost on him. And so he stood in the overgrown front yard, boots soaked through from the morning dew, head cocked like a dog, figuring out what exactly to do next.
Knock on the door I suppose
Dana took a few indecisive steps towards the worn wood door, palms inexplicably sweaty despite the chilliness of the morning. He knocked twice, and then stepped back, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to part it one way or the other. They’re magus not inlaws. He thought to himself, abandoning the task self-consciously just as the door opened.
On the other side stood a woman, tall, but not tall enough to reach Dana’s 6’4”. Dana could only formulate the adjective ‘intimidating’. The adjective rested on a certain ethereal quality about her. She was older, tall, thin, pale, and rather androgynous, short white hair smoothed back, not-quite-black eyes staring like she was looking through him.
Neither spoke, and for every second that passed Dana imagined a hair visibly turning grey on his head under the excruciatingly impassive stare of a woman that may have been better suited to be a statue.
“I was sent by the king, I am the weaver’s son,” Dana managed, having rehearsed the line in his head since he set foot out the door nearly three hours ago.
“Are you sure you have the right place?” a girl, looking to be in her twenties with warm, light-brown skin and wavy dark brown hair appeared behind the pale woman. The girl was pretty, of slender build but athletic, she leaned casually against the door jamb, interested.
Dana looked behind him, then back again through the door at the girl, “is this not the Circle Coven? The um… the one at Edge’s Hollow? I didn’t think there was…” Dana looked behind him again, as if this would offer some clues, and then back again at the women, feeling foolish, “I didn’t think there was another.”
The younger girl glanced sideways at the older woman, who finally spoke, “we did not send for you but apparently the king has for us. Come in..?”
“Oh! Ah! It’s- it’s Dana,” he said, inclining his head in a rushed bow.
“I am Nan, come in Dana, we’re just having breakfast,” the pale woman said, turning on her heel and reentering the home.
“I’m Sawyer. Nice to meet you,” the girl said, smiling, clapping Dana on the shoulder before stepping aside to allow him in.
Dana nodded, smiling, pretending that the friendly gesture he had received wasn’t going to leave a bruise.
The inside of the house was as predictably strange as the outside had been and it took a lot for Dana not to gawk. The front entrance opened onto a set of decrepit looking stairs leading up, a hallway, and to the left a rustic and ancient looking kitchen, dried bundles of herbs hung from the wooden rafter supports of the low ceiling. A long wood table was situated in the middle, half had been cleared off for presumably eating as there were plates scattered about with toast and jams. The other side was piled high with both the mundane and the bizarre. There was a great many stacks of parchment, a few sets of candles, what looked like a bird skull, a few jars of spices, a folded up traveling cloak, and a set of scales that looked primarily like it was storage for mosses. Regardless of the foreign nature of the actual contents of the house it seemed to Dana- against all odds- welcoming.
“Felix, this is Dana, he was sent by the king,” Nan said from almost directly behind Dana, making him jump about a foot in the air.
The Felix that the older woman was addressing stood at the opposite side of the kitchen, leaning against the sink, a mug in hand. She was pretty, slight and fair, with long red hair that was braided and pulled over her right shoulder. Even in the dim kitchen Dana could see Felix’s eyebrows furrow at the news, it vaguely reminded Dana of the look his little sister gave when she didn’t understand how to do something. It was endearing.
Dana snapped out of the thought, inclining his head again, “Good morning.”
The red head’s eyes fleetingly settled on Dana, a slight bow of the head, and then they snapped their focus back onto Nan who had at this point whispered by Dana. They need a bell on her he thought as the older woman gracefully took a seat in front of a plate of toast. Sawyer took a seat on one of the mismatched chairs as well, tucking into what seemed like her own abandoned breakfast plate.
Not knowing what to do Dana just stood there, trying to find an inoffensive place to stare blankly at to avoid any eye contact- or accidentally looking at the weird stuff he assumed magus had, like a three-headed rat, or something. Dana had seen a frog get run over by a cart once and had gone down like a sack of potatoes right where he stood in the middle of a high street. The possibility of seeing something and fainting in a coven full of magus seemed way worse.
“You can sit you know,” Sawyer said, looking up from their food.
“Ah me? Um no, I’m great. Standing is great, thank you though.”
A few minutes past in relative silence.
“Why did the king send you?” Felix finally interrupted the silence, looking frustrated no one else was going to ask.
Dana deflated slightly. His own information on the subject tenuous and hazy at best. So for all intents and purposes he just showed up at their house with a knapsack out of the blue.
“I thought you would know, um… he-he didn’t say much. He said I was going into the woods with you I guess. Something about hunting. I’m sorry, he just said to come here today. Actually it wasn’t even him it was a… page.”
Dana finally moved his eyes from where he had been staring at the fire crackling in the stone hearth, all three of the women were staring at him expectantly. Oh man. Dana thought. Was he getting pranked? Was this a hugely elaborate prank?
Dana was saved from struggling through another attempt at an explanation when every head in the kitchen turned towards the entrance way. Three seconds later there was a knock at the door. If Dana wasn’t so stressed that would have seemed cool.
“I’ll get it,” Felix said, crossing the kitchen, the vague smell of the woods on her skin as she passed by.
Dana craned his head around slightly to see the newest visitor, hoping that one of his friends from the borough would be standing there laughing, telling him how he looked like an idiot. The man that stepped in was decidedly not that. However, there was a spark of recognition in Dana’s brief glance. He was the mentor wytch in the court’s coven. Dana remembered his thin and pale austere face from the parades that would through his borough during feast days. He always looked so severe when he rode by on his horse, but in the dim light of the cheery hearth fire he just looked older.
“Felix, how are you my lovely?” the man said warmly, taking her at the forearm, as she took his, they pressed their foreheads together softly. Dana had seen that greeting before. It was a greeting between magus.
Dana turned back, as if he wasn’t supposed to see the greeting, Sawyer and Nan had both risen from the table.
“And you must be the weaver’s son!”
Dana felt like he had must have jumped ten feet in the air as he felt a hand clapped on his back in friendly greeting. What was with these people and hitting? He thought as he turned around to face the new arrival, doing his best to put a totally-not-panicking smile on his face. In Dana’s short thirty years of living that face had seen an embarrassing amount of use.
“Wait, they told me your name, Danny?”
“Right, sorry, Dana, it’s been a long morning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be getting much shorter. I’m here to spread some light on your arrival,” the man said, the levity dropping from his voice like a mask.
Sawyer cleared a space at the table for him, Nan retaking her seat, owlish and staring eyes never leaving the man, “Noel, please do enlighten us. And Dana, you should take a seat as well.”
A minute of sliding things around, and mismatched chairs and stools clattering and the five of them were seated around the table. Now that Dana was sitting he could appreciate how truly out of place he was.
Noel, who in that time had somehow procured a cup of tea, took a sip then set it down, sighing, “I was called this morning to his Highness’s library, where I found his Excellency very entranced by one of Family Rapparis’ banners. Rodolphus’ own in particular.”
The magus with the exception of Noel looked around the table at each other, a lack of recognition clear on their faces.
“Rodolphus is the one that becomes a god right?”
Everyone at the table turned to Dana, who shrugged, “there is a pub in my borough named after him.”
Noel leaned back, running a hand through his white hair, “the very same Danny well done. Rodolphus, the king who became a god by slaying a spirit.”
“Okay? So? Why’s this guy here?” Sawyer’s interrupted, impatient.
“The trappings of being human are starting to catch up with our King- he’s not as strong as he used to be and that scares him. Though of course he did not admit this to me, but all of the Center and indeed the rest of the royal court does their fair share of whispering… Anyway, he intends to be the next man turned God- the next Rodolphus Rapparris. He told me as much.”
There was a moment of intense silence as the reality of the situation washed over everyone seated at the table. Even Dana who did not understand the implications could understand it was not what anyone wanted to hear.
“He wants to go into the deep woods,” Nan filled in, something about the passivity of her voice making the fact somehow more intimidating. Noel simply nodded at her gravely.
Even the magus that lived at the edge of it didn’t want to go in. Dana thought, noting the serious looks being exchanged and the atmosphere in the room dropping several degrees despite the still-roaring fire.
“Um, sorry, now I’m even confused. Why am I here?” Dana asked meekly, trying not to look anyone in the eye lest they detect his hesitancy.
“You’re the son of a weaver, like the one that joined the company in the story. The King thinks that you’re very important to the success of this venture,” Noel answered, without breaking the look he was giving Nan.
“Well, why does he need us? He has a hunting party,” Felix interjected.
“The story specifies the rest of the company was comprised of magus- not knights and nobles. Alas.”
“Well, we’re not doing it right? You told him it was impossible, right?” Sawyer said.
“I tried. He threatened both court covens with breaking the bonds. We are set to leave in two weeks’ time.”
The silence that followed stretched so long that Dana wondered if they had fallen into some sort of group trance and half a mind to clear his throat to remind them he was there when Sawyer broke the silence.
“Wait- both court covens? The center is coming too?” she sounded scandalized.
Dana caught Felix rolling her eyes, slipping down into her seat slightly in a way that told him this particular argument had played out many times before.
“Yes, the center too. Merida is just as excited as you are I assure you,” Noel said coyly winking at Nan. She smiled for the first time. Dana wished she hadn’t. It looked entirely unnatural, he couldn’t help but imagine it was a smile a wolf would give to a lamb.
Sawyer stood up abruptly, looking petulant, “I’m going for a run.”
The older man held up a thin hand, “do what you like. However, we need you to be back by dusk. I’ve called on Alder to meet with us to discuss being our guide. Do not be late.”
The color drained from the girl’s face, her temper dissipating as quickly as it had come. Dana glanced around the rest of the table, noting Felix’s face looked just as unnerved at the news. Yikes. Sawyer left in silence, the front door slamming behind her.
“Are you hungry Dana?” Felix said, breaking the bubble of silent introspection that had settled upon the table.
Dana looked up from where he had been staring down at the wood grain of the table, trying to figure out what God he hadn’t supplicated to enough to land him in this situation.
“No, I’m fine.” That was a lie. “But, ah, should- should I be involved in talking with Alder? Whoever this person is.”
“You know him as kiron perhaps?” Nan offered, not looking up from the mug of tea she was nursing.
“Oh” Dana choked out, all attempts at seeming unphased out the window. His sisters had always joked he could never win a game of cards.
Kiron was only whispered about in his borough- supposedly he ferried people across the river that separated the rest of the kingdom and the Deep Woods where the spirits lived. He was said to be terrifying- though when pressed people could not articulate why other than a pervasive feeling of cold when he was around. However these were simply rumors, no one Dana knew in his borough had ever been to The Edge much less the Deep Woods. No wonder Sawyer and Felix didn’t look too enthused about the prospect of having to meet with him. It wasn’t until then did Dana realize how close they were to that river and to the woods. A shiver crackled down Dana’s spine, hair standing on end on his arms, imagining Kiron could hear them, drawn by the mention of his name.
Noel sighed, pushing himself up, mug drained, “well Miss Felix, Nan my love, Danny, after spreading such joyous news. I’m back off to the Center. We’ll arrive after dinner if Nan would be so graceful to have us back.” At the name Felix caught Dana’s eye, smirking, Dana shrugged.
Nan stood now, rounding the table, “of course my friend, you are all welcome here.” They held each other’s forearms, pressing their foreheads together like Dana had seen earlier between Noel and Felix. Dana watched the older man leave, taking in the dignified air of his clothes, and the age that settled restlessly on his thin shoulders. He couldn’t explain why, but Dana felt he could trust him.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur of Dana trying very hard to not get in anyone’s way, and trying not to break anything that could curse his lineage for a thousand years. Sawyer had eventually come back, slick with sweat but looking much calmer than she had before.Evidently light-hearted enough to crack a few jokes before going to take a bath.
Dana’s anxiety decreased as the day progressed, lapsing into friendly conversations with Sawyer and Felix, who were close enough in age to himself that the exchanges proved close-to effortless. Felix proved to be very much like Ariel, Dana’s younger sister; Felix was soft-spoken, often serious, but possessed a razor-sharp wit and an impeccable ability to deliver a full conversation’s worth of meaning through one look, the results of which sent Dana into tears of laughter. He also gathered she could use a bow as she returned from the outside later in the day with a bow in one hand and what seemed to have once been a rabbit in the other.
Where Felix was quieter and subtle Sawyer was loud and bold. Sawyer was a restless person who was quick to laugh and quicker with a comeback. Determined and headstrong she spent most of the day alternating between trying to convince Dana to spar with her and having perceived Dana had no clue what magus actually did, trying to convince him of various ‘typical’ wytch customs. Admittedly, Dana was fooled the first time, having been convinced by a very earnest seeming Sawyer that it was polite for visitors in a wytch’s house to wink at the head wytch of the house whenever they made eye contact as a sign of thanks. Felix joined in, deadpanning that it was part of wytch tradition, steeped in thousands of years of lore.
It took Nan asking him if his eye was okay for him to realize the joke.
“Come spar with me,” Sawyer asked, standing in front of the ratty chair Dana had taken to. He looked down from where he had been twiddling his thumbs, watching painted gold stars pass over his head in the chipped blue night sky of the ceiling. Sawyer was looking at him expectantly, eyes sparkling. Dana smiled weakly, any decent excuses he had conjured drying up on his lips.
“Leave him alone Sawyer, the kid looks about to cry,” the voice was Felix’s, from where she stood in the doorway, bow in hand, “No offense Dana.”
Dana raised both hands tiredly, “None taken.”
Sawyer rolled her eyes, flopping onto an adjacent sagging couch dramatically, “Fine.” Dana shot a thankful smile at Felix as she passed through the room and up the stairs leading to the second floor, her footsteps silent on a floor that squeaked an impossible amount for Dana.
“Take it easy Dana, you’ll need it for tonight,” the red-head said before disappearing fully.
Sawyer made a small sound of distaste, and then fell silent.
In the down time throughout the afternoon Dana felt himself slowly warming up to the small and crooked cottage, being so bold as to brave a small tour of the first floor (he hadn’t dared climb the million year old looking stairs that disappeared into the dark second floor). The very small greenhouse that attached to the back reminded Dana of the one their neighbor’s had on the roof of their shop. However, the one here felt much earthier, with grey stone comprising the walls and only the domed ceiling being made of glass. Dana didn’t recognize a lot of the plants that lined the ancient looking walls, but wasn’t necessarily surprised- he hadn’t spent a lot of time outside of the city. He was surprised by the closeness and warmth he felt from the rest of the cottage, with its low beamed ceilings, warm fires burning in the various hearths, and ancient but comfy sofas, on which were thrown equally as old blankets and pillows, overlapping worn rugs covering the merrily creaking wood floors. It felt, to him, like the house had a life to it, the spiced and woody air its breath. His favorite feature, if pressed to choose, were the tiny yellow stars on the ceilings. Sawyer had caught him standing in the middle of the den, staring open-mouthed when he had first noticed. She laughed until Dana looked down and away, cheeks red but he couldn’t help but smile.
Only once the sun started coming through the blurry glass windows of the cottage at a slant did the mood in the home start to take a turn for the serious. Dana couldn’t help but notice the beginning of the glassy stares of people lost in thought, eyes constantly straying to outside, where the woods grew thick beyond their stone wall. There was even less talk over dinner, which was taken not at the kitchen table but in the den, with everyone taking seats that looked to be habitual. Felix sat cross legged on a pillow on the floor, back to the den’s fireplace, Sawyer sat- or more aptly lounged across one of the endearingly lumpy sofas in the cramped room, and Nan sat in a large winged chair with her long legs curled under her. Dana chose a seat on the floor close to Felix but out of the way, feeling strangely content despite being in a strange place with people that could without hesitation turn him into a tree, preparing to talk to a spirit that people in Dana’s borough were too afraid to call by name.
Dana offered his services to do the washing up after dinner had ended, finding familiarity in comfort in something he often did back home. He couldn’t help but wonder what everyone was doing back in his borough, what his sisters were doing, what idiotic plot his friends had come up with to alleviate boredom for the night. Dana never claimed to be an adventurous type, preferring the comfort of the familiar and the warmth of places and people he knew. And yet, even in this new place he didn’t feel anxious- in fact the opposite- a worrying amount of calm. Like a boat tranquilly adrift in the eye of the storm.
It was only when something dark cut across the lanterns at the stone wall did he refocus. A sick feeling of dread running down his back like an icy touch. Leaning closer to the window above the sink, Dana tried to make out the figure, but it was only when the shadow grew nearer and caught the light pouring through the cottage windows did he find his breath again.
Noel was striding across the lawn in a traveling cloak, three other younger figures followed not far behind. Dana vaguely recognized the three other faces from the same parades he had seen Noel at. They were much younger than Noel, but carried themselves in the same dignified way all those who belonged to the court did. As the group passed closer by the house, Dana could literally feel the slight crackling of energy that came in the aura of magus.
The dishes had been done long ago, drying upside down on a cloth, but only then did Dana finally turn off the water, hearing Nan announce the coven’s arrival, despite her own perch in the den, away from any window that could have seen them coming. The announcement was followed by a knock from the front door. Dana despite everything couldn’t help but smile at that, the trick would never got old.
There was the sound of clattering and shuffling of three separate pairs of feet, but only Felix and Nan appeared in the front hall that opened up to the kitchen and the front door. Sawyer did arrive as the door opened, her already annoyed face souring as the group crossed over the threshold upon being welcomed in. Dana stealthily grabbed an already clean bowl, starting the water again and pretending to clean it, lest anyone notice him very clearly eavesdropping as welcomes and thank yous were exchanged.
His cover was only slight blown by the fact he couldn’t help but watch the greetings and take in the new people. Two girls stood behind Noel, one was pretty in the way that well-crafted swords were, judging by the looks exchanged between Sawyer and herself, she was Merida. In contrast, the girl who Nan welcomed as ‘Pup’ seemed warmer, her beautiful curly black hair was pulled up in a bun, her dark skin glowing and when she smiled dimples appeared on her cheeks. The final person to step through the threshold was a boy, taller than either of the girl’s by at least a head, his extremely curly hair making him appear even taller-nearly Dana’s height.
“Wheatley,” Nan said gently, taking a few steps towards him. The boy smiled thinly, seeming distracted even as he took Nan’s arm, leaning his forehead against hers in greeting.
It was Merida who first noticed Dana’s social voyeurism, head turning smoothly to look at him as if she had known he had been there all along. Dana suspected she had.
“Hello,” she said, voice pleasant and clear. All eyes turned to the kitchen as Dana set down the twice-cleaned bowl on the counter, feeling like he had just been caught committing a crime.
“Dana!” Pup said, breaking apart from the crowd to cross through to the kitchen. Dana- caught off guard- barely had time to formulate a smile and to hold out his hand before both were ignored in favor of being pulled into a hug by the much shorter girl. Dana felt his skin crackle with energy at the contact.
“Oh, sorry,” Pup said, pulling away, still smiling, “I forget sometimes that feels weird for you guys.”
“Ah, um, it’s okay, nice to meet you…?” Dana asked, as if he hadn’t been listening in.
Merida snorted from where she was at the entrance, Dana made a mental note never to play cards with her.
“It’s Pup, I- we,” she motioned to the others, who were coming to join them in the kitchen, “were briefed by Noel earlier.”
“I am Merida, nice to put a name to a face,” the other girl said, extending a fair and delicate hand that surprised Dana with its firmness when he reached to shake it. Whatever came out of Dana’s mouth in response was lost on him, feeling overwhelmed.
“I’m Wheatley,” the final newcomer said, voice distant, hanging a bit farther back, arms crossed across his chest. Wheatley’s dark skin seemed flushed, his whole demeanor affected. Dana nodded towards him, earning a weak smile in return.
Wheatley jumped about a foot in the air when from behind him Noel clapped his hand together, “well now that we are all acquainted with Danny, it’s nearly time don’t you think?”
As soon as the words left his lips the room’s atmosphere changed, like static was building up, almost intolerably, prickling up the the hairs of Dana’s arms and the back of his neck. He had only heard rumors about how you could feel a magus energy in a room, he certainly felt it now. With the change, he felt his heart plummet down to his socks, having been so caught up in trying to keep his wits, he had forgotten why they were here. As if when he agreed to the summons of the King he hadn’t thought of the actual consequences of what was being asked. And now they were about to meet with Kiron, and not even the magus seemed comfortable with the idea. Looking around the faces of everyone in the room didn’t make him feel much better. Nan and Noel seemed blank, devoid of any sort of human emotion as they exchanged glances. Pup’s smile had slipped off her face and now joined Merida in looking as serious as the grave. Sawyer and Felix were likewise stony-faced. Wheatley was by far the worst, hands fisted in his sweater so tight his knuckles were nearly white, eyes glazed over.
Outside, the wind which had been blowing against the western side of the cottage, now switched directions, passing through a wind chime on the outset of the property, the effect an inexplicably eerie chord. Oh gods, protect me. Dana prayed. Deciding in that moment to refind his religious side.
“He’s coming,” Nan said, almost in response to the chime, reaching for her cloak that hung along one of the many hooks. Dana’s heart, if possible, sunk lower. Noel, who hadn’t even taken off his traveling clothes, pulled open the door. He paused, hawkish eyes looking over everyone, and with a small motion of his head, bade everyone to follow.
Dana put one foot in front of the other, legs heavy, mouth feeling like it was cotton. It felt like he was in a bizarre dream. This morning he woke up in his own bed to the cat licking his face. Now he was outside of the city limits and heading to commune with a spirit with the two separate court covens. He was only vaguely aware of the others milling around as he stooped to pull on his boots, fingers too numb to tie the laces and settling for just tucking them into the top. When he stood, it was only Wheatley, Sawyer, and Nan left in the house. He met eyes with Nan, there was nothing comforting in the evenness of her gaze. Despite this, he felt slightly warmed by the fact that she seemed to want to keep him alive. And honestly, that seemed to be the most you could ask for with her.
Stepping out into the summer night, Dana discerned the vague figures of Noel, Sawyer, Pup, Merida, and Felix making their way towards the stone gate and the woods beyond. They moved not entirely like humans, maybe more like shadows, cloaks billowing in the summer breeze. Taking a quick breath he crossed the ancient threshold, stepping down into the path that led out of the yard, joining the night. Dana didn’t turn but heard the door shut behind him, Nan and Wheatley joining him and then hitting stride. They didn’t look back either, their pace compelling Dana to follow. In the distance, a bird sung a few sleepy notes, the trees rustled their leaves like worried hands. Dana eyes darted anywhere but beyond the stone gate, lest he see what he knew would be somewhere in those woods.
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