Page 11 of Secrets of the Lore Keepers
“No,” I corrected Maraini, my voice quavering at the thought of the ancient goddess.
After Sasha appeared, we’d made a half-hearted attempt to research the old texts. Some Mama kept in her room, but an even older book lay hidden in the cellar. Down there in the dark was spooky, with root vegetables that were molding away, some sprouting in the cool darkness. It was no place to keep an old text, for books needed to be taken care of, away from moisture. Yet there it was, in an old trunk, wrapped in a blanket to keep it dry. We got as far as opening the trunk before we heard a ruckus in the garden and had run out to find a crow attacking a snake while the cows bellowed in fright. After that, the land took up most of our attention. My thoughts strayed to it now and again, but I couldn’t help but feel frightened. It wasn’t a conversation Mama or Papa had had with us, yet, all the same, we knew.
“We need a memory potion,” I finished, unease creeping up my spine. Was it just me, or had a shadow darkened the sunshine?
“Sit.” Maraini gestured to the table. “Rae, get the tea. We can research together.”
I went for the tea leaves and cups. Kian remained standing. While I plucked porcelain on the table, he turned, examining the room from every angle. I knew what he saw, for it only confirmed his suspicions. It looked like a house of herbs and lore, with jars of lightning perched on a bench, their power still glimmering. Baskets were stowed beside the door, most of them overflowing with herbs. Just outside the door were eggs for the market, and a portion of the midsummer harvest, yet we were still so far behind.
Maraini placed the stack of books on the table and coaxed the fire back to life. Once the kettle was over it the three of us gathered, Maraini at the head of the table and Kian and I on either side. I glanced at his shades of dark blue hair, enhanced by the firelight, and willed myself not to be distracted by his presence. The jittery nerves within me settled as Maraini passed me one of Mama’s journals. “Here, this has potions in it, perhaps you’ll find one.”
Then she turned to our guest. “Kian, do you read?”
He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “There is no need in the wildwood,” he explained.
My eyebrows shot up. How could one not know how to read? I clamped my mouth shut before the words sneaked out. Instead, I turned my attention to the book and lovingly flipped through the pages. Each one was covered with Mama’s beautiful handwriting, a title, a list of ingredients, and mixing instructions. As I went through the book, the fragrance of lavender and peppermint lifted from the pages and a wave of homesickness passed over me. I thought of my words to Kian, of how we had no magic, and we weren’t witches at all. Yet as I thought of my words, memories rose and fell away. Perhaps there was a kind of magic in our blood, to craft potions and catch lightning, perhaps that was why our wares were so popular in the marketplace. Puzzled and unsure, I realized I needed to discuss more with Maraini. I needed to know the truth about our past before I could make any decisions.
I flipped another page and there it was. “Aha.” I held up the book. “I found it.”
Chapter Seven
It tookus the rest of the day to find the ingredients for the memory potion, and the next morning, Maraini and I mixed it while Kian worked outside, despite me trying to persuade him not to. Maraini and I stood across from each other, watching the steam from the kettle dissipate.
“Do you want to know what I found out?” Maraini’s tone was low.
I didn’t. But not knowing was worse. “You didn’t sleep a wink, did you?” I asked, tension warring inside me. I tucked leaves of tea into separate bags to sell at the marketplace, even though I knew it wasn’t likely that we would go to market. Not with what Maraini was going to share with me.
“I was right,” she said, eyes drawn to the faded pages of parchment. “In days of old the order of the Lore Keepers was established to protect the wildwood from the rise of an ancient goddess.”
Fear hummed through me as I listened.
“As we know, the magic is within our bloodline, but it’s also within this land. For as long as it’s known, Lore Keepers have dwelled here.”
“I know,” I breathed. “But that’s what I don’t understand. We are at least half a day’s ride away from the enchanted wildwood. How can our bloodline prevent the rise of a goddess who desires to rule the wildwood?”
“That’s the part that worries me,” Maraini agreed. “I stayed up all night, searching for answers. The goddess was buried here on this land. And the binding spell that keeps us here is also for goddess, to bind her to the ground, and prevent her from rising.”
A wave of nausea rose over me, and I pressed my lips together. The fire seemed too warm for a midsummer day, and I had the sudden longing to dose it with water. “You mean buried here? Under this land?”
Maraini nodded.
“Where?” My body trembled at the thought. A great evil was here and had been here my entire life? What did that mean?
“I’m not sure, but. . .Rae. Don’t you see? All of this means something. The death of our parents, I think it was because someone wants the goddess to return and claim the wildwood, and if the Lore Keepers are gone, no one stands in their way.”
“But. . .” I crossed my arms around my chest as though to protect myself. “Who would want the goddess to return?”
“We both know the wildwood is dark and evil, full of monsters.”
“And elves,” I added, thinking of Kian.
Maraini nodded. “Yes. Good and evil in a never-ending war against each other, a war we’ve never been privy to. But you’ve heard the tales from other villages, what happened to the Sisters of the Light.”
“That was years ago,” I protested.
“Aye, but that was when a new queen took over the rule of the wildwood. I believe it’s a cycle. A new queen rises, the wildwood fights against her, eventually she loses and another queen rises to take her place.”
I swallowed hard. “And the goddess, you think someone wants to wake her up so she can vanquish the Queen of the Wildwood and rule in her place?”
