Chapter 5: The Wards of Windborne

Theodora

The next morning, I awake late, the sun streaming through the curtains to fall gently upon my face. I smile, excited for my new life here in Murkfell. The villagers are kind, and my Red Cloak sisters have already made me feel at home here.

I dress in my new uniform, the same beige woolen dress and leather corset that my sisters wore the day before, and go downstairs.

Elwen and Cordelia are in the kitchen, a plate of bread, boar, cheese, and apples awaiting me. My mouth waters.

“Thea! You’re up!” Elwin enthusiastically pipes up. “We saved you some breakfast!” She leads me to the table where I immediately dive into the delectable food.

“It’s nearly time for luncheon,” Cordelia intones lifelessly, giving me a side-eye from the counter where she is chopping herbs.

“I apologize for sleeping so late,” I say sheepishly, then inquire after Jemma and Amity’s whereabouts in between crunches of apple.

Cordelia stops her chopping and searches in her apron pockets. “They’re out with patients, and I have a list for you,” she answers, still searching. “Elwen and I are preparing new medicines and potions today. We need help gathering materials.” She thrusts a piece of paper into my hand with different herbs, plants, and flowers listed on it. “You can find these all in the Windborne Wood. Don’t go into the Murkwood again. It’s too dangerous.”

“Okay…but I was fine before,” I object. “I don’t mind going — ”

“Thea, we can’t let you go into the Murk again,” Elwin interrupts, “even if you were safe before. Rumor has it that Ravyn Rathmore wasn’t in the Murkwood the other day, or you would have fallen into some trouble for sure. None of us go there, ever. Stay in the Windborne Wood. It’s protected by Granny’s wards, so Ravyn and her fell beast can’t get to you.” She squeezes my hand and smiles, picking up a basket of freshly picked herbs for distillation and taking them to the potions room.

“Granny? Who is Granny?” I ask, my meal finished. I stand to wash them, but Cordelia quickly takes the crockery out of my hands.

“I’ll take these. You better get going.” Her eyes gesture to the basket on the table. “Granny lives in the north woods, up the Windborne Pass. She has protected us from Ravyn for as long as I can remember. That’s why you’re safe in her wood.”

Putting on my cloak and grabbing my basket, I meet Elwen outside and we walk beyond the chapel toward the river, which flows through the forest.

I gasp.

Beyond the bank of the river, opposite the Murkfell side, is a wall of wards, extending up through the trees from the river. I can’t see where they end. The glimmering white sigils dance their way from the forest floor up to the sky.

“This is ancient magick,” I whisper, in awe of the sight. “I’ve never even seen wards this impressive even in Moonbright!” I exclaim, wondering at Granny’s handiwork. “And I can pass through these?”

“As long as you aren’t Ravyn Rathmore or her beast, you can pass through these just fine,” Elwin replies. “Do you have your list?” As I nod my consent, she continues her instructions. “Keep the village in sight so you don’t get lost. You won’t have to go far to find these.”

I nod again, understanding my task.

“Good. Well, if you don’t have any questions, then I’ll see you soon!” Elwen chirps, heading back to the apothecary.

I take a deep breath and cross the small wooden bridge to cross the river. It isn’t a large river, so the bridge is short, and I cross over into the Windborne Wood with no issues from Granny’s wards, even though I keep expecting to walk into a barrier of some sort.

I look up again at the shimmering wards. The intricate sigils are the handiwork of a talented witch indeed. I can’t wait to meet this mysterious Granny.

I begin foraging, the items easy enough to find: dandelion, elderberry, hawthorn, burdock, black cohosh, mushrooms.

I enjoy the cool, crisp, early fall breeze, the sunshine on my skin, the birds chatting away in the trees. It is easy to forget the gloom of the Murkwood here, and my spirit begins to feel lighter than air in this beautiful place with each passing moment.

The trees soar into the sky, creating a ceiling of evergreen above me. I pick a few fragrant needles for good measure. They will make a lovely tea. The sound of the birds and the river are the only sounds I can hear. I feel as if I am in a cathedral.

I spot some lovely mushrooms growing some distance off the path and wander in the area foraging, my promise to keep the village in sight quickly forgotten.

I am kneeling on the ground, gingerly placing the fresh mushrooms in my basket when I hear footfalls through the wood, twigs snapping, leaves crunching underfoot. Maybe Elwen or Cordelia have come to join me. I look around and realize I can no longer see the chapel or treehouses from the village. I had wandered too far.

I follow the sound of the footsteps, looking down as I walk to not trip over the immense tree roots crisscrossing the forest floor.

“Elwen is that — ”

The words freeze in my mouth. My entire body goes still, except for my heart, which is pounding furiously in my chest, threatening to burst.

The dire wolf of Murkfell is standing right in front of me.

The beast is enormous, but terrifyingly beautiful, its thick fur tan and marbled with white and gray, its amber eyes burning into mine. He is as tall as I am on all fours.

How did he get past Granny’s wards? The basket of herbs slips from my hand, forgotten, as I begin to back up slowly.

What do I do?? My breath hitches, the panic taking hold, constricting my chest. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I have no idea if my magick will work on this creature, or within Granny’s wards. I don’t want to wait around to find out.

So, I run. My legs feel like jelly, threatening to collapse under my weight as I jump over tree roots and maneuver around brambles that keep snagging my cloak.

Theodora and Lucien | Created in Canva and Midjourney 

The beast is behind me, crashing through the forest in pursuit. I can finally see the river up ahead, Granny’s wards showing me the way back to the village.

Suddenly, my cloak snags again, violently knocking me on my back, nearly taking my breath. The dire wolf stands over me, slavering, its amber eyes alight with the thought of a fresh kill. I close my eyes and think of my parents, my village, my clan…

I hear a low growl emitting from its throat, so deep and close I can feel it reverberating through my entire chest. It slowly walks around to stand over me, its glowing gaze boring into mine.

There is something about the beast’s eyes. They seem so…human.

He lowers his muzzle closer to my face, and I hold my breath, closing my eyes tightly. I call down my magick, as I have no choice. I feel it coursing through my body, tingling in my hands. I slowly lift my palms, ready to let loose a blast of blinding light, enough to allow me to escape.

But before I can, it speaks. He speaks.

“Help me,” he whispers, human words emitting from his lupine mouth.

My eyes widen, incredulous. The beast is speaking. To me. He doesn’t want to eat me. He wants help. I open my mouth to speak, but I hear my name echoing through the forest.

“Theodora!” Cordelia’s voice rings through the silent wood.

“Thea! Where are you?” Then Elwen’s melodic voice now joins Cordelia’s, almost like two birds singing.

I must have been gone too long, and now Elwen and Cordelia are searching for me.

The beast’s head jerks up, looking toward the village and back at me, his eyes pleading. Then he leaps, running through the forest on silent paws, leaving me shocked and alone, waiting for my sisters to find me.

To be continued…

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