Page 10 of The Wand of Lore

“No, perhaps I don’t. But I am not in the habit of inventing fake curses. If I wanted to curse you, I would curse you, but this time I don’t have to. You, sir, are cursed. Somebody powerful wants you dead.” She didn’t mention that this curse was far more powerful than anything she could conjure. Let him think she was deadly.

He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He closed it again. Then opened it and blurted out in one breath, “Help me, please. I’m sorry I came to your house yesterday, and I’m sorry I accused you of anything, and I just don’t want to—well, can you help me?”

“No. How many times do I have to say it? I have no good reason to help you. I don’t like you, I don’t trust you, and I worry you will hurt my family and my village.”

“If you don’t help me, I will destroy everything you love.”

Gwenneth rolled her eyes. Mustn’t let him see the chill that ran down her spine at his words. These were exactly the kinds of threats she was trying to avoid when she limited her social activities. She kept her face stony and neutral and responded as flippantly as she could. “You do that. I have places to be, and I’m already behind schedule.”

“Wait!”

“Not this time,” and she started walking away.

“Youcan’thelp me, can you? You aren’t strong enough!” he called after her.

She stopped and turned slowly around once more. She wouldn’t have him running around believing there were limits to her power, althoughof coursethere were limits to her power!

“I could. But I won’t.” She immediately regretted that she had responded at all. If she was better at dealing with people, she would have known to keep walking. Too late now. She had to dig herself out of this hole. “I would if you were useful or decent. You are neither, and I simply don’t like you.”

He squinted at her, then jumped off his horse, and stood in front of her. “I could make you rich if you cured me.”

She shrugged. What use would she have of riches if her sister was dead?

“I am a simple woman with simple desires. You cannot help me.”

For a moment, he said nothing but blinked his inky brown eyes rapidly as something akin to panic swept over him. His body tensed and his face grew taught. He looked like a scared little boy in a very large man’s body. Then the moment passed and his permanent scowl returned.

“You are leaving. I know you quaint village types. I’ll bet you’ve never left the village before. And do you know what happens to women who travel this road alone? Just where are you going? I guarantee you, wherever it is, I have been there. Let me guide you, and in exchange, you can free me from the curse.”

Gwenneth considered this. It was true that she didn’t know the way, and also true that a woman traveling through the countryside alone was vulnerable. She had her powers, but the post-spell exhaustion made using them too unsafe to be a viable option. A strong man like Marvin could be useful, and his horse could be invaluable. There was the small fact that she could notcure his curse. But that was a tiny, almost insignificant detail. Once she found her mother’s wand, perhaps she would have enough power to help him with his curse. That is, if he no longer posed a threat. She could keep Marvin with her so he wasn’t menacing her little sister, get smooth passage to the castle, and help the man with his curse if he earned it.

“If you guide me to Gorenth and help me find a relic I believe to be hiding there, I may be able to help you. I will only help if you pledge to keep me safe and to leave my family alone. If I feel the slightest bit harmed, I’ll leave you cursed. If my sister is harmed, I’ll personally kill you before the curse beats me to it.”

“Gorenth the city, or are you actually intending to infiltrate Gorenth Castle?”

“The latter. Too chicken?”

He let out a hearty belly laugh. “Not a chance. It just so happens that I know the ins and outs of Gorenth Castle better than most. I could even guide you to where the king hides his favorite trinkets.”

She gave him a sideways glance, the question dancing in her eyes. But when he didn’t offer an explanation, she didn’t pursue it. “Do we have a deal then?”

He didn’t stop to consider the terms but stuck out his hand in front of her. She took it, and the two shook.

Chapter Ten: Vaylor

Vaylor exhaled a sigh of relief. Sure, he was going to be stuck with this sharp-tongued witch whom he despised, but he believed her that the curse was real. If he was being honest with himself, he could feel it stewing in his body, a darkness simmering at the edge of his consciousness threatening to overtake him. Best he enlist her help. If she didn’t cast it, it had to be from one of the king’s witches, and that was a truly terrifying thought. It would mean his death was likely ordered by the king himself, and that the witches would never help him, probably couldn’t even if they wanted to. They were miserable women who had been arrested in their homes, dragged to the castle, and forced to cast spells for him if they wanted to live. They were treated horrendously, poorly fed, hardly clothed, and never allowed to see their loved ones.

As a matter of fact, this trip to Gorenth Castle could be exactly what he needed. Where before he was tasked with dragging a live, unwilling, and dangerous witch to captivity, now he would be escorting a weakened witch to voluntary imprisonment. He would get his curse removed, then deliver her to his father, who would reinstate his title and perhaps, dare he wish it, stop treating him like stable dung.

Vaylor skipped a little, feeling quite pleased with himself as he held out his elbow for the witch. “My lady,” he said.

She scrunched up the left side of her mouth, raised one eyebrow, and waved his elbow away. No matter, Vaylor wouldn’t let her dampen his mood.

“Well, if you won’t let me treat you as a gentleman ought, at least allow me to take your pack from you, and let me offer you my noble steed, Sir Henry, to ride upon.” He made a dramatic gesture toward the white horse.

“Sir Henry?” Gwenneth’s eyebrow remained cocked.

Vaylor shrugged. “Sir Henry. He’s my best friend, and more deserving of the title than any human I’ve ever encountered, knight or otherwise. He will tolerate your presence.”

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