Page 12 of Spellbound
We didn’t go upstairs, where the protectors gathered; I could always tell them apart. They were muscular and usually had a sword or dagger in their belt. Occasionally, I’d see the odd quiver of arrows and bow on their back. They looked out for us, kept us safe, and when I thought about it, it was probably the protectors who’d retrieved the dead bodies from the sacrifices found recently. They stayed out of the other covens’ business for the most part. According to the elders, protectors were picked because they showed incredible strength and bravery. They could sense danger and had remarkable reflexes. They had what they called light magic.
There were three kinds of witches, and the elders used three things to represent us. Water represented light magic, which the majority of covens, the casters, potioneers, and protectors had. Blood represented dark magic, as my coven had, and gold represented illusory magic, which the magicians had. As a result, we were called blood witches which was justgreat.
Naomi knotted her hand with mine, then tugged Maddox’s arm with her other arm. “Over here.” She ushered us to a quiet spot under the balconies, where potted plants had been placed on shelves pressed against the smooth, gray walls. I looked at a pot that held purple adins and white blossoms. They were used quite commonly to heal from viral infections, brewed by the potioneers into consumable remedies.
The smell of smoke from burned sage mixed with crushed herbs lingered in the air. Maddox leaned back against the wall, kicking one leg behind him and pushing the sole of his shoe against the stone. He crossed his arms over his chest, and his cufflinks caught a glimmer of light as he did.
Naomi entwined her fingers together behind her back, then rocked back and forth on her heels. “I still think he’ll be a protector.” She grinned at Maddox. “Or a caster, but I’m putting my skal on protector.”
I placed a hand on my hip. “I’ll put a skal on protector too.” I rolled my gaze up to the balcony overhead. I could hear them walking around. “He has the right... build.”
Maddox scoffed a laugh. “Build?”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t get a good look at him last night. It was dark. But he was tall and well built.”
He snorted. “Well built?”
“You know what I mean.”
He shot me an appreciative look. “Hmm. Well, I’m sticking to caster. I haven’t met him yet, but most of them are casters, so I’ll play it safe. In fact, I’ll take you up on your bet.” Maddox pulled four skal from his pocket, then turned them over in his palm. “If I win, I get eight. If he’s a protector, you each get two.”
“Unless he’s something else,” I said.
“Unlikely,” Maddox answered.
“Always stats and facts with you,” I replied.
Maddox pushed the skal back into his pocket. “The servers are here.” He motioned toward the group of men and women. Some had come from the kitchens and were still wearing aprons. I spotted a woodchopper among them wearing green overalls. “Of course they’d come to watch,” he said as we watched them take their seats. “They’ll do anything to be a part of the magic.”
They weren’t required to be there like the covens but were extended the invitation anyway. Most of the servers had enough magic to be classed as a witch or warlock, but not enough to be placed into one of the sectors. A small number of them had strong magic, but it had been repressed through some kind of traumatic event, and a small minority were prisoners of minor crimes who’d been forced to join the servers as a way to lessen their sentences. They served the community.
While many looked down on them, I saw them for what they were: the backbone of Istinia. Without them, we couldn’t survive. Spells and potions could be used for many things, but not everything, and someone needed to keep track of day-to-day living: make the beds, clean the academies, run the stores, send and deliver the mail, and everything else. Our town was up and coming, so businesses were beginning to boom, bringing more servers in than ever before.
Alma included them. Each town, or province in Istinia, had an elder from the council, and she was ours. She had also created the arches spelled to keep the passable area between the mountains from being able to be crossed. I looked at her frail body and graying hair, and it was hard to believe, but she’d been younger then—and as powerful as they came, according to the stories.
My attention diverted as a group of casters arrived. All of them were girls. Some smiled in our direction, others scowled.
I breathed slowly. My heart rate amped up a little when I saw all the covens mix. Like the magicians, we were looked down on, and more so on me because I was human-born. Our magic wasn’t seen as important, like the casters or potioneers, and wasn’t as exciting, like the protectors’.
“Oh, it’s Craig.” Naomi smiled at seeing her crush take a seat at the back of the temple. He was followed by two other magicians. He waved, his eyes landing on me for a few seconds, and he glanced at Naomi. Before she could go over there, the sudden drumbeats silenced the room, and Viktor walked inside.
I could see him better in this light. His hair was a dark brown, so deep it could have been black if not for the light hitting it at certain angles. His shirt sleeves were rolled up on his arms. He looked ready to fight at any moment. His strong nose complemented his chiseled jawline and sharp features. He was muscular but trim. He brought his hand up to his short beard when they sat him down. I couldn’t see his eyes from where I was standing, but I couldn’t forget the darkness in them I’d seen yesterday. The rings of blue had seemed alien against the penetrating black.
Alma lowered the hood of her white robe. She extended her arms in welcome. “Thank you to those of you who came tonight. Daughters, sons,” she said, referring to us as family, like always. “I am overjoyed to have you here to welcome our newest resident of Fairwik.” Chatter rose until Alma waved her hands down. “Before we begin.” She raised her voice over the unintelligible gossip. “Allow me to put some rumors to rest. I may be old, but I’m not dead.” A smile played on her thin lips. “I hear the same things you do. I will remind you all that giving life to rumors is never smart. We live by truths, so today, I am here to give them to you. Openness is important to the welfare of our coven.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. Maddox whispered softly, “The truth, for once. Well, only when it suits them.”
Naomi shushed him.
Alma’s wrinkled eyes trickled their gaze over me, then moved up to the balconies. “Viktor did indeed come from Salvius. While he gets used to Istinia, I hope you will all make him feel welcome.”
Maddox scoffed. “Unlikely. They never gave you a chance, Elle.”
He had a good point. I was human-born, and the other witches thought me weak, as if my blood were diluted. Although, when I saw the way the girls eyed him, I didn’t think that would be a problem for them anymore.
“Now.” She took Viktor’s hands in hers, then walked him toward the three large stone basins. Inside of them were three different liquids. One shimmered crimson: blood. Another was clear, sparkly: water. The third shined brilliant, bold: liquid gold. “Let us begin.”
Silence befell us. Three other elders, also wearing long white robes, explained the rules to him. We couldn’t fully make out what they were saying, but I’d gone through it when I was brought here, so I remembered it for the most part.
