Page 10 of The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork

Avery’s stomach braced. Conversation could improve a myriad of culinary sins. “I’d love one.”

Pleased, Velouette bounced on her toes before leading the way down the hall toward her office. “Something to warm the bones always helps after a trial like this one.”

“Is it a common occurrence?”

“No, thank Fate. One of my more recent defense cases was a particularly talented young leprechaun who got in trouble after he cast a glamour9 on his high school bully.”

“That required a trial?”

“It required cleanup. That never makes the council happy. Magistrate Dubois was compassionate enough, though.”

That was a relief at least. Still, she had to ask. “What kind of glamour?”

“He gave her a pig face.”

Avery snorted back a laugh.

“Oh, Mercy Radu!” A voice cried from down the hall.

Velouette tensed, the flow of her gait becoming stilted like the movement now caused her pain. She smiled, but it did not reach her sparkling eyes, and when she spoke, her tone had lost its warmth. “Hello, Ms. Aldridge.”

Ms. Aldridge was human, approximately five feet, four inches in height, and in her early forties. Either she had never learned to soothe her tawny brown hair’s natural frizz or didn’t see the point in doing so beyond throwing it back in a bun at the nape of her neck. She had a nervous smile and clutched her woolly cardigan around herself—whether for warmth or protection, it was unclear. “I understand you’re very busy, but if I could ask just a moment to discuss my appeal with you.”

Velouette brushed past the woman to her office door, fetching her keys from her pocket.

Ms. Aldridge’s voice strained, raising in pitch and desperation. “I think if you hear me out, you’ll agree that my sentence was without cause.”

Velouette took a deep breath. “You’ve spoken with Justice Norton?”

Ms. Aldridge flinched. “Well, no, but—”

“I can do nothing for you, Patricia, until Justice Norton agrees to unseal your file.” The zână opened her door and gestured for Avery to enter.

“The Justice refuses to see me!” Patricia Aldridge cried desperately.

Velouette spoke through a tight smile. “I cannot imagine why.”

“I was thinking if maybe you spoke to him—you could convince him to at least consider hearing me out.”

“Ms. Aldridge—”

“Please.” Patricia’s voice was tearful. “I am begging you…”

The ice around Velouette thawed, and with another deep sigh, it melted away completely. “I will mention you came to see me.”

Increasing the absurdity of the moment, Patricia fell to her knees before the Court Mercy.10 “Oh thank you, thank you!”

The natural soft blue of Velouette’s face flushed to lilac. She bent over to pull the woman to her feet before any more spectacle was made of them both. “I do not expect it will alter his mind,” she warned.

Patricia shook her head so vigorously the frizz of her hair bounced. “No, of course not, but…maybe if it comes from you?”

“Ever the optimist,” came the Mercy’s tired reply. “Good day, Ms. Aldridge.”

Patricia Aldridge bobbed her head and then her body. This awkward curtseying movement shuffled her past Avery, while she whispered “thank you” over and over again like she’d just received a blessing from one of the Aos Sí themselves.

Avery quirked an eyebrow, and Velouette gestured again for her to step inside before she was accosted by someone else. “Does that happen often?”

“Patricia Aldridge, former witch. She’s been hounding nearly every Mercy in the court for years to try to speak on her behalf. My assistant has always dealt with her in the past, but…” She gestured to the empty desk in front of them.