Page 52 of The Noldrin Witch

Elise shot Morgaine a look of surprise. “You did?”

“It was over a decade ago.”

“A decade spent making the rounds among the merchants of Metz,” Beth croaked. “By the way, when are you finally going to tell me where to find that infamous butcher you’re always bragging about?”

Morgaine cleared her throat and rose from her chair. “Enough about my affairs. Naturally, I could talk about myself all night, but then there would be no time left for a proper celebration. Let us have supper and prepare our stomachs for your miraculous brews, dear Beth.”

Without further delay, the three of them tucked into Elise’s supper with hearty appetites. Before long, the evening was filled with laughter and good cheer.

Beth had explained that her brews possessed an incredible power of relaxation and that even the stiffest of souls had found some measure of release in them. She recommended enthusiastically that if Elise did not intend to make the rounds around Metz the way her protector did, she ought at least indulge in a few lesser pleasures, her brews being one of them.

Thankfully, Elise had restrained herself to only a couple of sips and save for a few fantasies of Kurt, she remained in perfect command of her senses, which was far more than could be said for the other two.

After literally scraping the bottom of the pot for more substance, the witches proceeded to empty the cupboards. Even the dough left to rise for tomorrow’s baking did not survive the evening.

Elise opened a window for her crow to take flight, fearing he might become the next course.

There was so much banter and chatter that Elise scarcely needed to contribute much to the bursting mood. She spent hours relaxing as she listened to stories about the castle and received repeated instructions to find the Stone of Raj at any cost. Morgaine mentioned she would need to get close to it at night, when the barrier between the magical world and the mortal one grew thinnest, and that if Elise managed to secure a permanent residence at the castle, her chances of seducing Kurt would improve considerably.

Much of the advice, of course, Elise dismissed outright, but with so many useful details buried among the wickedness, she listened with keen attention nonetheless.

She went to bed well past respectable hours, the effects of the miraculous brews having already faded to almost nothing by the time she closed her eyes…or so she thought.

PART 3

The Great Tangle

Chapter 23

Elise was glad Susanne had advised her to arrive later that day. During her sleep, she had experienced the most intense dreams in all her eighteen springs. Those wicked brews had rattled her from head to toe, and now even Bruno looked weary on her shoulder as she made her way to the castle.

She walked toward the gates at a brisk pace with only one intention in mind: She was determined to make the finest impression possible. They would be so pleased with her diligence that she would soon be granted the freedom to roam the gardens during the evening hours.

Elise had shared her grand plan with Morgaine and Beth, and they had been fully in support of it. At dawn, however, Elise had risen in such a stupor from the few sips of Beth’s brews that she had managed to walk directly into a wall while preparing breakfast. The two witches, who had remained awake all night, were still deep in celebration, laughing, eating, and drinking as if the night had never ended.

Morgaine, noticing the unsteady effects the brews had on Elise, saw fit to prepare a potion that would help her perform any task with the smoothest of graces. The miraculous remedy was called the Dutiful Maid Potion. Her protector whispered the chant carefully and keenly advised her to use the powers of the concoction with restraint.

Elise had wished to make a good impression on the fairies completely on her own, but out of curiosity, and feeling her eyelids growing heavier, she decided to test the potion’s benefits just a bit.

She took a small swallow and whispered, “By dusting and fetching...”

But before she could finish the chant, her eyes flew open, and even Bruno startled. The crow eventually settled back on her shoulder, and she walked at an even faster pace to the gates.

Feeling her entire body filled with extraordinary energy, she reached the gates in no time. Once there, she only needed to tell the guards that this was her first day. The men recognized her at once and brightened at the sight of her. One of them offered to escort her to the fairies’ quarters, and Elise complied with great relief.

It was difficult to keep her hands steady, but she managed to place them at the sides of her ample skirt, burying them among the many folds of russet linen. Her cape, a new creation in the most exquisite shade of mulberry, concealed much of her black leather bodice and cream ruffled blouse.

When Elise and the guard reached the catacombs, she could tell she had arrived with some delay. Dozens of women and a couple of men hurried about with herbs and vials while others remained occupied with washing. A whole line of bells rang through the halls while people bustled from one side to the other.

The guard bowed to Elise upon seeing Susanne approaching from afar.

Elise suddenly felt nervous, seeing how composed everyone appeared and imagining they were all far more experienced in the hard labor of potion-making.

“Dear Elise,” Susanne said kindly. “Welcome.”

Elise curtsied and returned the warm smile. “Thank you for the opportunity. You won’t be disappointed.”

Susanne let out a small chuckle. “I suspect I won’t. Come with me.”