Princess Nymeria's Arc

Chapter 8 of 32

“Sit," Mirelle said. "Eat. Your wolf too." She dropped a strip of dried meat by the hearth. The wolf sniffed it, then took it. Nymeria watched the old witch move. Nymeria ate. The wolf lay near the fire and chewed. "You look at me like you don't trust me," Mirelle said. She sat across the table. "Smart. But I gave you a fair trade. I keep my word if the spell works tomorrow we have a deal to fulfill." Nymeria softly spoke. "You promised a way out of Shadowfen I did not know there was anything other than this world." “ Oh yes many realms, But first hear me." Mirelle leaned forward. "Your blood told me things. You have fire. You have the charm that pulls people to you. You can cast illusions and manipulate dreams, but you know these." She tapped the table. "There is more inside you. A magic you have not woken." Nymeria set down her spoon. “I do not want any more powers or magic, I just want to be free to love who I want to love.” "Not yet." Mirelle rose and crossed to a shelf. She pulled down a heavy book bound in black. Dust slid off the cover. She set it in Nymeria's hands. It was cold and thick. "A book of spells. Learn them. Master all you are." Her old eyes held Nymeria's. "You cannot fight with power you fear." Nymeria opened the cover. The pages were old, crowded with marks she did not know. Her charm and her fire had never been enough. Now she held the rest. She closed the book and pressed it to her chest. "I'll learn it," she said. "Good." Mirelle took a candle and led her past the cauldron to a low door. Beyond it lay a small room. A bed sat against the wall. A window showed the dark forest outside. "Rest tonight. Both of you. At dawn we will speak again." The wolf followed Nymeria in and lay by the bed. Nymeria sat and opened the book again by candlelight. The marks swam, then one word settled. She read it slow. She felt the fire in her stir, answering. She had come to the tower to escape her father. She would leave with more than a door. She would leave with a way to hold her own power. Nymeria blew out the candle and held the book close in the dark.