Page 12 of Adtovar
Beside her, Maddie issued a relieved chuckle. “This is Adtovar. He’s here to help.”
“Help?” Lafalia repeated, as though she didn’t understand the concept, then drained the rest of her water in one loud swallow.
Maddie took the cup from her, looking pleased. “You seem to be feeling better.” The gratitude in her dark gaze as she glanced my way squeezed my heart. “Let me get you some more water, I don’t want you to get dehydrated.” Grabbing the battered metal jug, she escaped from the room before I could stop her.
I stood up, distancing myself from the bed and easing into the lone chair in the room. The wooden slats creaked and groaned ominously under my weight, warning me of their frailty. Lafalia’s one good eye tracked my every motion, her gaze sharp and attentive.
“I’m relieved the painkiller worked so swiftly,” I remarked, attempting a bit of small talk to ease the awkwardness. Maddie assured her I was there to help, but theextent to which I could trust this female—or she me—was still a question.
“Yes,” she replied, her small head nodding earnestly. “I am in your debt. Which is why....” Her eyes darted to the doorway, a fleeting glance filled with unease, before locking onto mine once more. “You must be careful here.”
A faint smile curved my lips, amusement and nostalgia combined. “I’ve always found it wise to keep my guard up when stepping into a gladiator pit.”
A faint blush deepened the color of her cheeks, painting them with a touch of rosy embarrassment, but she shook her head vigorously, her lavender hair swaying with the motion. “I don’t mean with the gladiators or Bozzo,” she clarified, her voice a mix of insistence and urgency. Her eyes darted toward the door once more, cautiously. “I mean with Maddie.”
“Maddie?” I exclaimed, my voice tinged with surprise.
Lafalia gave a slow nod. “You seem kind. I do not wish you to be hurt.”
“Why would Maddie hurt me?” I pondered, utterly bewildered. Nothing I had seen of the beautiful human woman indicated she was a danger to myself or others.
Lafalia beckoned me nearer with a gentle wave of her hand. I approached her side, once more lowering myself to kneel by the cot. Her one good eye locked onto mine as she spoke in a hushed voice. “Maddie is good to the females. She takes care of us. But she doesn’t like males. She uses her powers on them.”
“Powers?” The word hung in the air, its implications twisting the tale into something increasingly bizarre.
“Maddie is a powerful witch,” Lafalia said, her tone dripping with reverence. “She has smote Bozzo several times with her magic. It’s why he leaves her alone and never lets the gladiators pick her as a prize. Bozzo fears what she will do to him.”
That explained a lot.
Witch. I recalled the word from my Earth studies, a term that lingered uncomfortably in my mind. I’d read about the Salem witch trials, and the tales of persecution and injustice that befell intelligent, strong females had left me feeling deeply unsettled. On my home world and others, magic most often divided into two categories. There were the priests and priestesses, devoted followers of the gods and goddesses, who wielded their magic in the service of goodness and light. In stark contrast were the sorcerers and sorceresses, who dared to explore the shadowy depths of magic’s darker arts. Maddie struck me as neither.
Hearing Maddie’s soft footsteps approaching, I ended the exchange with Lafalia with a smile and returned to my chair. My thoughts spun in a whirlwind. Lafalia’s words about Maddie hadn’t held bitterness or the intent to sow discord. I’d encountered enough females in my lifetime to sense when jealousy was at play. But this was different. There was sincerity in Lafalia’s eyes and genuine affection for Maddie. Lafalia’s intention seemed not to turn me against Maddie but rather an intercession to keep her safe.
The moment Maddie stepped into the cell, Lafalia relaxed, even though her wide, bright green gaze returned to me often. No doubt wondering whether I would tell Maddie of her warning. I did not—at least not yet. Instead, I sat silently, letting Maddie attend to the female, giving her water and checking her many bandages. Lafalia proved a good patient and, thanks to the painkiller, much more comfortable than when she arrived. When Maddie finally nudged her back toward her bed and much-needed rest, Lafalia wrapped around her caretaker in a heartfelt hug. As she turned and walked away, her footsteps were noticeably steadier and more robust, a stark contrast to the frail and weary steps that had brought her to us earlier.
“Now, do you see why I don’t want to leave the females here? Not a single one of them,” Maddie said when Lafalia’s footsteps faded.
“I do, and I understand.” It was true. No female should have to endure such treatment.
“Good.” Maddie sat on the cot, drawing her feet up under her. “So, we can come up with a plan to rescue everyone. Not just me.”
“Perhaps.” I observed her closely for a moment, taking in every detail—the flawless, smooth skin that seemed to glow under the light, the deep, almond-shaped eyes that held mysteries within their dark depths, and the wild halo of curls that erupted from her head like an untamed crown. There wasn’t a single inch of this female that appeared sinister or malevolent. The notion seemed absurd, yet I felt compelled to ask. If Maddie possessed some extraordinary power, bringing her aboard theHistoriamight put everyone at risk. “I do have one question for you.”
“What’s that?” She cocked her head slightly, the corners of her full lips flickering upwards.
I shifted my weight, leaning forward, ready for what I didn’t know. “Lafalia told me you are a witch.”
Her dark eyes flashed wide, and then she laughed. It wasn’t the nervous laugh of someone whose secret had just been exposed. This was a hearty sound of amusement.
Not what I expected.
“In my world, females who practice the magic of the gods and goddesses are called priestesses. Are you a priestess?” I didn’t even bother mentioning the other option. I would bet my own soul there was not an evil bone in Maddie’s body.
She regarded me with a curious glint in her dark eyes, a soft chuckle still lingering in the air between us. Eventually, she drew a deep, calming breath, her laughter subsiding as shesteadied herself. Her gaze remained fixed on me, intense and honest.
“I guess you could call me that. On Earth, I’d be called amambo—a voodoo priestess.”
Chapter 6 – Maddie
