《The Greyfield Chronicles》 Chapter 1 : The Witch The nobility had a solemn duty to take care of the lands and people they ruled over. That was what Venza Greyfield''s father always said, and what his father said, and what his father¡¯s father said. It was something she''d taken to heart. It was why she waited patiently in the carriage with her father as they made their way to Rentley, a frontier town at the edge of the Odolenian Empire. Even if she was bored stiff. Her father struck an imposing figure on the opposite seat, built like a wall and decked out in the fine dark metal armor worn only by someone in his station. Lord Lucius of House Greyfield was not just any member of the nobility. He was the Lord Marshall of the Odolenian Empire. In war time, the Empire''s armies followed only the Emperor himself over him. His bright red hair, a trait that he''d passed on to her, shone faintly in the late morning sun as he peeked out their carriage''s window. They''d left home just as dawn broke, so the trip hadn''t taken too long. The Greyfields, despite their contributions to Odolenia, did not rule as much land or people as some of the other highborn families of the Empire. It made keeping watch of their holdings comparatively easier. "You''re sure you''re alright there, Scamp?" her father asked her. "You didn''t have to come with me, you know." "We take care of our people," she answered. "This is part of my duty." Lucius smiled behind his beard, though it didn''t quite reach his eyes. "Bold words for a nine year old girl." Venza opened her mouth to argue, but knew by now whatever she said would be met with something like ''You''re adorable,'' or ''You''ll grow out of it someday.'' When her father saw her annoyed face, he quickly added, "But thank you for coming along. This inspection is very important." Venza nodded, though she knew he was lying. Rentley was a frontier town of little importance, surrounded on all sides by thick forest and the ruins of previous attempts to settle it. No one in the Empire actually expected this attempt to fare any better. They''d come with a company of almost a hundred soldiers, knowing the frontier was uncharted territory at the southern tip of the Empire with all manner of monsters lurking in the wilderness. In comparison, the thirty or so militia guarding Rentley may as well have been scarecrows. That was the irony of her father being Lord Marshall: In times of war, Lucius commanded all the armies pledged to the Empire. In times of peace, the Greyfields had very few soldiers they could actually command. It made keeping their lands safe against monsters and bandits quite an undertaking. It was just short of noon when their carriage stopped at Rentley''s gate. As an outpost on the dangerous frontier, they''d at least built walls to protect themselves, even if said walls were made of logs and manned by only a few archers. Venza had her first look at Rentley: A scattering of small wooden houses surrounded by a flimsy wooden wall, save for the gathering hall which, while simple and only two stories, was at least made of stone. Her father helped her out of the carriage, and soon she was standing in the center of the small frontier town. The air gave her chills despite the thick traveling shirt and breeches she''d opted to wear. Odolenia was largely hot and humid, particularly in the capital, but out here, people needed to dress warmly. "The garrison is ready for inspection, Lord Marshall," a tall, slim man with a well-kept mustache saluted as Lucius approached the gathering hall. He wore the gray uniform of House Greyfield''s standing army, the Grey Guard. "Lord Marshall?" Venza''s father echoed with distaste, though he returned the salute. "What''s with the formal nonsense, Adam?" The man, Adam Vosmer, snorted and then clicked his tongue. "Now, now. This is an official inspection. We need to keep up appearances." He turned to Venza. "And how are you, young lady? Did you get bored in the carriage with just this old man for company?" Venza smiled. She''d always liked Vosmer. When she''d asked her father for a fencing tutor and he''d refused, Vosmer taught her the basics of self-defense, anyway. In secret. Naturally, her parents found out eventually anyway. They did not approve. "The view was interesting, at least," Venza said. "Mother never lets me out of the house." "A shame, that," Vosmer spoke. He glanced at Lucius, seeming to silently ask if he''d do something about that, but her father was nothing if not stoic. "Well, come along then. They''ve prepared a welcome feast for us." "Good. I''m starving," Lucius said before wrapping an arm around Vosmer''s shoulder and dragging him off. Venza followed in their wake, taking in the (admittedly limited) sights and sounds of Rentley''s gathering hall. A single, large chamber where meetings took place occupied most of the space, though she spotted a pair of doors on one end that she presumed went to other rooms. A large hearth blazed with warmth on the far side of the hall, and Venza welcomed it. She rather disliked the unfamiliar chill out here. The wooden tables and chairs the settlers used for their meetings had been rearranged to accommodate their company into a sort of makeshift mess hall. The smell of slow-roasted meats filtered into her nostrils, and Venza realized that she, too, was starving. "Welcome, Lord Greyfield and company!" a man spoke, saluting them, his fist over his heart. He''d been standing near one of the doors at the far end. He had a wide face, and seemed to be missing all of his hair, though he seemed physically fit at least, judging by how well his brown robes wrapped around his body. He extended a hand in greeting. "Constable," Lucius greeted in turn, taking the bald man''s hand. "Thank you for having us." His face split into a wide grin. "Whatever you''ve got cooking smells great." "Only the best for your Lordship," the constable answered. Venza thought she might''ve recognized him from home, though she couldn''t be sure. Father certainly seemed to have forgotten his name. "Good to see you, Johnson," Vosmer said, likely thinking the same thing Venza was. He and Lucius had been through a lot together, after all. She doubted her father would''ve been quite as successful as he was without Adam Vosmer at his side. "Sergeant Vosmer," Constable Johnson said in turn. "Ah, sorry. I heard it''s Lieutenant now? Congratulations." Vosmer brushed him off. "Thank you, but there''s no need to stand on ceremony." Venza rolled her eyes. So much for this being a formal inspection and keeping up appearances. The constable seemed to notice her behind his two superiors, and smiled. "Is that-" "Aye," Lucius spoke. "It''s little Venza. You haven''t seen her in, how many is it now?" He trailed off. "Heir Greyfield," Johnson said by way of greeting. "I haven''t seen you in three years. Do you remember me?" "Of course I do, Constable Johnson," Venza lied, returning his smile. Lying was bad. Unduly embarrassing someone in public was worse. At least that''s what her tutors told her. "Thank you for having us. Has Rentley been treating you well?" "Oh, just fine, Heir Greyfield," the constable answered, turning back to her father. "And where is Lady Greyfield?" "Not here," Lucius answered easily. "She needs her rest, as you know." "Oh, of course. Forgive me, Lord," Johnson spoke, though Lucius waved it off. It was easy for others to forget her mother had a condition, considering how rarely she was seen outside the house. The four of them sat at a single table along with other figures of import from the settlement, though Venza quickly forgot their names and faces. She met a lot of people as the sole heir to the Greyfield name, and while she knew she should, she simply couldn''t remember them all. Besides, it wasn''t like they were paying her much mind. They were nice to her, naturally, since her father ruled over them and defended the realm, but beyond that? She might as well have been invisible. They had roasted fowl with vegetables and rice, washed down by freshly-squeezed fruit juice. The people at their table seemed to alternate between trying to sound important and flattering her father. She figured they''d realized what a bad deal they''d gotten being posted out in the sticks and wanted back into civilization. When lunch was ended, Venza eagerly followed her father into the constable''s office, only for him to stop her at the door. "Now, now, scamp," he said, not unkindly. "This is official business. I''ll take it from here." "But Father-" she began to protest, but he shook his head with finality. "Perhaps when you''re older," he said. "Go explore Rentley for now. Meet the people." Understanding their subjects was one of a ruling family''s duties, but she couldn''t help but feel like a child being told to run off and play. "Yes, sir." She gave him the customary salute, her fist over her heart, and retreated into the mess hall. She encountered Vosmer, who''d slipped away for a bit before lunch ended. He seemed on his way to the meeting room. She jerked her thumb behind her as if to say ''Yep, he''s in there.'' This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it He gave her a reassuring smile. "He''ll let you in someday. Just keep at it." Venza nodded. Who else was he going to groom to take care of their lands and their people? She had no siblings and her mother seemingly couldn''t make any more. As Vosmer entered the meeting room, Venza turned around and left to explore the town like her Lord Father had suggested. The soldiers had largely left, off to inspect the settlement''s defenses and supplies to report later. Rentley was largely self-sufficient, partly because few traders bothered to come so far, not when the settlement was so small and the road so perilous. Venza smacked her lips, decided she needed something sweet to go with the savory lunch she''d eaten, and headed out to see what the frontier town had to offer. The chill air outside reminded her she wanted something both sweet and warm. She spotted a woman who seemed to be selling flowers in front of the gathering hall and approached her. "Excuse me, miss?" The woman, who had short blond hair and freckles all over her face, beamed at her. "Oh, aren''t you just the cutest? Would you like a flower?" "Afraid I''ve no use for flowers, ma''am," Venza answered, though she kept her tone polite. "I''d pay for information, though. Is there anywhere I could get sweets around here, preferably freshly baked?" Realization seemed to dawn on the woman''s face. "Hang on. You''re not from around here, are you?" Venza thought that would''ve been obvious, given how she was asking directions, but she nodded. "Correct. I arrived this morning with the convoy." "Well, my sister runs a bakery behind the gathering hall," she said. "Do you need me to walk you there or-" "That won''t be necessary, ma''am," Venza spoke quickly. "I''m sure I can find it on my own. Thanks." She took a silver coin out of her pocket and gave it to the woman before making a quick getaway. "A whole silver?" the flower seller called behind her. "This is too much!" Venza pretended not to hear her and continued walking. "Ask for the baker''s secret!" the woman yelled. Venza gave a thumbs up without looking back, wondering what that was about. Oh well. She''d find out. She passed a chapel dedicated to the the Four. She deliberated popping inside to pray for a safe journey, and made her decision not to when the smell of baked goods reached her nostrils. She made the Sign of the Four with her hands without so much as a prayer then headed off to find sweets. The bakery was a cute little single-story building made of wood, though she suspected not entirely, or it might burn down. Most of it was open, which revealed a single stone oven that blew smoke out of its chimney. Venza smiled to herself and approached when something caught her ear. "Witch!" she heard a child''s voice say, a short distance away. "Get out of here, witch!" another one seemed to answer. Venza stopped in her tracks. The voices were coming from behind one of the many little houses in Rentley. She supposed it was her duty to check it out, so she did, if only to sate her curiosity. She didn''t think an actual witch would somehow be in Rentley, after all. The settlers would''ve reported that first thing. Following the voices that seemed to taunt a ''witch'' and hearing no rebuttal whatsoever, Venza crept close to the wall, peering around the corner to find a most unexpected scene. Two large boys, roughly around her age or maybe a bit older, and even taller girl with uneven blond pigtails, loomed over a small girl. They had her cornered against the wooden wall and there wasn''t an adult in sight. Venza might have to report someone for abandoning their post later. The small girl had a blank, unresponsive expression, like she was unaware of the trio''s presence. A surprisingly fine black dress framed her small body. Venza held herself steady. A responsible ruler didn''t just butt into every single conflict they saw. "Hey, Kindra, let''s see if she really is a witch," one of the large boys said, presenting what looked like a bucket full of something to his friends. Venza couldn''t quite see it. "Let her have it," the girl Kindra, who seemed to be the ringleader, said. The boy nodded and then dumped the contents of the bucket on the girl. It had been filled with mud. The girl''s long, black dress was soaked. She barely flinched and didn''t speak, only shot the trio with a glare that could have either melted ice or frozen water. Venza snapped, storming out of her hiding place. She drew a deep breath and yelled, "What the blazes do you think you''re doing?" The three bullies flinched, looked for the source of the protest, and seemed to relax when they saw it was just a girl slightly shorter than they were. "Almost scared my pants off, you twat," Kindra told her. "Butt out. This ain''t none of your business." "It absolutely is my business," Venza answered. "As heir of House Grayfield, I demand you to explain yourselves." "Air of house what?" Kindra sort of repeated. "Bah. You talk weird. Just like she does. Ain''t never seen you around here, come to mention it. You a witch, too?" "You''re prosecuting this girl just because she''s an outsider?" Venza asked, her voice cracking a bit. Her tutors would''ve chastised her for losing her cool, but she couldn''t ignore this. So much for not butting into every conflict she saw. "We ain''t prostituting her! She does that to herself, with demons!" One of the boys answered. "Now, sod off unless you wanna end up like her." "I can''t do that," Venza responded, her tone serious. "Stop this at once, or I''ll have to use force." "Them''s fighting words," the ringleader said. "Oh, good," Venza drawled. "I was wondering when your pea of a brain would understand a word I said." She took up a ready stance, just as Vosmer had taught her, with her hands up to block blows and her legs apart to give her better balance. There were three of them, and they were all taller than her, but she was sure she could take them. If she couldn''t fight off three children, how was she supposed to protect the Empire? "Stand back, citizen," Venza said. "I will be your shield!" Her father¡¯s words. The trio glanced at each other, confused, and then shrugged. "Get her," Kindra commanded, and the two boys obliged, moving in to grab her. The first boy reached for her, but Venza ducked under his clumsy grapple and struck him hard on the chin with an uppercut. She then jammed her elbow into his chest, driving him backwards. "Give up yet?" she asked. The second boy lunged at her with a haymaker. She stepped aside, swept her leg down and sent him sprawling forward. She kicked him in the shin for good measure, causing him to howl and clutch his lower leg. Unfortunately, while she''d been occupied, the tall girl had gotten behind her. The ringleader slammed her with a full-body tackle, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Her opponent might have been bad with words, but she wasn''t entirely stupid. She had Venza''s arms pinned to the ground, and the difference in size was simply too much to overcome, even with her training. "Who the hell are you?" the ringleader asked. "Like I said," Venza said, rather frustrated. "I''m Venza, of House Greyfield. We are the rightful stewards of this land!" She would not show fear to this bully. If she screamed loud enough for help, someone would come. "Rightful stewards of it? You think you own these lands?" a new voice spoke, completely monotone. It took Venza a moment to realize the little girl they''d dumped mud on was speaking. "That''s rather presumptuous, isn''t it?" Venza chanced a glance at the girl, and her eyes widened like dinner plates as she saw the girl was no longer alone. A swarm of mosquitoes buzzed about at her side, seemingly in thrall to her. "Witch!" one of the boys yelled. "She really is a witch!" The girl named Kindra stood quickly, leaving Venza forgotten on the ground as she faced this new threat. Venza jumped to her feet. "Get back to the gathering hall, the lot of you!" Venza yelled. "There''re soldiers there. Tell them to send help! I''ll hold her off!" The three bullies, shocked into action, bolted in the direction Venza had come. When she was sure they were gone, her face curled into a smirk. "We should go before they come back. I imagine the guard will scold them for telling tall tales." The girl, who Venza now saw had chestnut brown hair that fell just short of her neck looked at her with a puzzled expression. "You''re not scared?" "I''d rather you didn''t cover me in mosquito bites," Venza admitted. "But I doubt you could really hurt me when you can barely hold them together." She gestured to the swarm, noting how several insects seemed to fly off in different directions. It had perhaps halved in size since the ''witch'' had conjured it. The girl shrugged and the cloud of mosquitoes scattered, leaving no trace of their congregation. "It''s a neat trick, though," Venza said. "I''ve never heard of a spell like that." "You''re magically trained?" Venza pursed her lips a moment. "Yes." "But?" Venza didn''t immediately answer. So the girl hazarded a guess. "But you can''t do magic, can you? Otherwise you''d have used a spell instead of subjugating them physically like you attempted to." "Attempted?" Venza asked. "I took two of them down." "I''m pretty sure they just stood up and ran," the girl answered. "Hardly seems like you took them down." "Maybe you really are a witch," Venza quipped. "Your spell isn''t what I was taught magic should be." "Then your education is flawed," the girl answered. She was still dripping with mud. "In that case, I''d love to hear what yours was like," Venza said. She walked past the girl and started heading to where she guessed the bakery was. "Come on. I''m buying." "Buying what?" the girl asked with a blank expression. Chapter 2 : Secrets Five minutes later, the two of them sat by the riverbank. Venza held two warm orders of ''baker''s secret'' while the other girl used magic to clean the mud off of her. It seemed to gather itself out of her dress before dropping to the ground. When she was done (and Venza had reminded her to wash her hands), Venza handed her one of the two pieces of ''baker''s secret'' and nearly bit into hers before she stopped and thought to ask, "Why is it called ¡®baker''s secret?¡¯" On the outside, it just looked like a normal piece of elongated bread to her. She assumed the ''secret'' was whatever was inside, but looking at it she had no way to tell. "Because it has a secret," the girl quipped unhelpfully, biting into her own piece. "That secret being?" Venza asked, taking that as a sign that the bread was safe to eat. Her mouth filled with a creamy, sweet taste she decided she rather liked. "A secret." Venza rolled her eyes. "What''s your name?" The girl hesitated, then shrugged. "Aiela Durrell." "And you don''t live here?" "They were picking on me because I''m someone who lives in the village that they see every day," Aiela drawled, rolling her eyes. "Of course I''m not from here." "Point taken," Venza conceded. "But why didn''t you fight back? You could''ve scared them off easy." A long, deep sigh answered her before the girl''s words did. "Oma says I shouldn''t do anything to antagonize the settlers," Aiela answered. "The wilderness will have them soon enough. Personally, I don''t agree but Oma knows best." "Oma?" Venza repeated. "As in grandmother?" Aiela nodded. "You two live nearby?" Another nod. "Just the two of you?" "Yes. You have a lot of questions." Venza thought about that. She was right. "Do you have any for me? Only fair I answer a few, too." "What was that strange phrase you said?" Aiela asked. "What strange phrase?" "The one about you being my shield," Aiela clarified. "Are those your family''s words, or something?" Venza bit her lip. They were her father''s battle cry whenever he leapt to the aid of their citizens, but it was a little embarrassing to admit for some reason. "O-oh, that. That was- That was nothing. Anyway, is your grandmother home?" The girl seemed unsatisfied with her answer, but didn''t press. "Should be." Venza considered. Despite Aiela''s odd demeanor, it was obvious the girl was intelligent. Something was very wrong here. Their convoy wasn''t due to leave Rentley for a few more hours, so she had time. "Take me to her." Aiela''s brow furrowed. "Why?" "I think I need to have a word with her," Venza said. "She shouldn''t be teaching you to tolerate bullies." The brown-haired girl snorted. "I''m not tolerating them. They''re just beneath me." "So, you didn''t care at all about them dumping mud on you?" Venza asked. "And that''s totally not why you threatened to swarm them with mosquitoes." Aiela stood silent, eating the rest of her secret bread before answering. "Understood. I will guide you to Oma." "It''s fine," Venza said, giving Aiela a reassuring smile. "We''re just having a small chat." "Come on, then." The smaller girl started walking, not towards the settlement but away from it and into the wilderness. "You''re not afraid of being attacked out here?" Venza asked. The girl seemed completely unperturbed by the wilderness around them. "No." "You can''t be that powerful," Venza countered. "It''s not my power that keeps me safe." "Fine. Keep your secrets." They walked in silence for roughly ten seconds before Aiela spoke up again. "It uses the previous day''s unsold bread as filling, mixed with eggs, milk, and sugar." "What?" "That''s the baker''s secret." "Is that safe?" Venza asked. "Yes," Aiela answered, actually shooting her a questioning look. "Not everyone can afford fresh ingredients every day. This method allows the baker to make use of the scraps instead of just throwing it all away. Just don''t let it sit in your house for long after purchase." "I knew that!" Venza protested, though she did feel embarrassed about asking. Father always told her to think of the common people and their circumstances, but it was easy to forget when you weren''t one of them. "Really?" Aiela asked. "Isn''t your father ruler of Rantori?" "It''s called Rentley," Venza corrected. "And well, I suppose he is, but he''s not the emperor. Father reaches out to the people often." "No, it''s Rantori," Aiela insisted. "Rentley is what your people called it after the original inhabitants died out. Oma told me so." Venza frowned. She''d never read that in a history book. She considered simply insisting she was right, but this girl seemed unusually sharp. "Who were the original inhabitants?" "The elves," the girl said simply. "Elves are a myth," Venza said. "No, they''re history," Aiela said. "As in deceased. All of them." "If they''re dead, where are the graves? The ruins of their cities?" "Look around you," Aiela answered. "They''ve been reborn as the forest, because even in death they cannot find peace." "I''ve heard this before," Venza rebutted. "The Four Gods slew them for attempting to usurp their power. It''s just a myth. It''s why people can''t raise the dead or control the animals," Venza''s eyes widened a fraction. "Like you were doing with those mosquitoes." "Just because almost no one was alive to see something happen doesn''t mean it didn''t happen." Aiela responded evenly. "And you''ve got it wrong. You are allowed to control animals, it''s just that you can''t." Venza scoffed. "Those insects would like to have a word, if they could talk." She paused. ¡°They can¡¯t talk, right?¡± Aiela paused, then answered. "My magic can only control creatures with no backbone, like bugs and worms. And no, they cannot talk." "What makes them different?" Aiela shrugged. "I don''t know everything, little lordling. Perhaps they''re beneath the gods'' notice? Either way, I''d appreciate if you didn''t bring this up with the Temple of the Four. I''d rather not be branded a heretic." Venza blinked. That was the most emotion she''d gotten out of the girl in the time they''d been together. Venza raised her hands in a placating gesture. "I wasn''t going to tell, I swear. I don''t think it''s right, what they do to people, going behind the Emperor''s back and all." "He can rot, too," Aiela said plainly. Venza held her tongue. The Emperor was a good friend of her father''s, but she didn''t think this girl of all people would say such a thing without due cause. "We''re here," Aiela spoke. They''d come upon the bottom of a cliff, covered in thick vines. "Is there an illusion or-" Aiela rolled her eyes and parted the vines with her hands to reveal a well-hidden tunnel with light visible at the end of it. "You can still turn back." "You really don''t want me to talk to your grandmother?" Venza questioned. Aiela stared at her blankly. "I cannot accurately predict what would happen if you two met, but it would likely not end well for you." Venza shook her head. "You are strange." Aiela shrugged. "Says the girl who''s trying to meet Oma." Aiela led the way through the narrow tunnel. It didn''t take long before it spat them out the other side: an isolated space that housed a single, stone hut. Smoke blew from its chimney, though somehow disappeared long before it got high enough to give away the hut''s existence. Magic, it seemed. In truth, the very place they were in had a feeling of unnaturalness to it. Why was there a tunnel within a cliff face that just so happened to lead to a place perfectly sized for the one hut? A tiny garden surrounded the hovel, but she''d never seen the kinds of plants it had before. A corner had different-colored mushrooms that ranged from puny to taller than Venza was. Another sported crystal-like flowers that seemed to move ever so slightly whenever Venza turned away from them. "I''ll go first," Aiela declared. "Let her know I brought someone home. Well, she knows that already, I''m sure, but whether you''re friend or foe is up to what I say." Venza bit her lip as Aiela left her alone in the garden, trying to project an air of indifference. What had she gotten herself into? Seconds felt like hours as she waited for the other girl to come back out. After a moment of internal debate, she''d decided to keep her eyes on the crystal flower, just in case it could move. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The door to the hut finally opened and Aiela beckoned her to come in. She wasn''t sure she felt any relief getting away from the strange flower. The inside of the hut Aiela shared with her grandmother was dark to the point Venza could hardly make anything out. How did they see in there? The door remained open behind her, allowing some light to enter, but it was almost as if the very sunlight refused to come inside. She could make out Aiela to her left, waiting silently, and in front of Venza, right smack in the middle of the hut, was a figure who was either seated or very short. She couldn''t see anything of its features. "The girl tells me you wanted a word," the figure spoke. Her voice was high-pitched, creaking, like a door opening in the middle of the night. Suddenly, Venza could make out one new detail: something glittered in the faint light: sharp, bright points right where she thought the figure''s mouth should be. "Speak, then." Venza swallowed, hoped it hadn''t been as loud as she thought it was, and said, "You''re Aiela''s grandmother, I take it?" The sharp points glittered again. "For all intents and purposes." "Did you know your granddaughter''s being bullied by the children in Rent- Rantori?" Venza asked, correcting herself at the end. She wasn''t sure she believed Aiela''s tale, but she was in someone else''s house. Best to be diplomatic. Something seemed to change in the figure''s posture, though Venza could see so little she couldn''t have been sure. "Girl, is this true?" A moment''s hesitation, and then Aiela spoke. "Yes, Oma." "Tell me their names." "That won''t be necessary, Oma," Aiela said, her calmness giving way somewhat to urgency. "They''re only children." "I said tell me their names, girl." Venza, following her gut, interrupted. "She dealt with the problem." She imagined Aiela''s grandmother blinking at her in surprise, because she certainly couldn''t see it. "What?" "She used a spell I don''t recognize to scare the bullies off," Venza clarified. There was a shift again, Venza could tell, though she couldn''t say what exactly changed in the old woman''s demeanor. "I just used Swarm," Aiela said nonchalantly. "Sent a few bugs at them. Nothing extreme." Silence, and then the old woman broke into high-pitched cackling that sent shivers down Venza''s spine. When the old lady finally calmed down, she said, "Ah, I wish I''d seen it." "I thought you said I shouldn''t get the villagers riled up?" Aiela questioned. "No," the old woman drawled. "I said if they do anything to you, let them be, tell me about it, and I''ll take care of it." "They were only children," Aiela said, repeating what she''d said to Venza. "So are we," Venza answered before turning to the old woman. "And that''s why I wanted to talk to you. You shouldn''t be teaching Aiela to just take it." The old figure spat. "As if I of all people would preach pacifism." When Venza seemed not to understand, she added, "It means shutting up and taking it." "I- I know what it means!" Venza hastily replied, though she was lying. She''d never heard the word in her life. She wasn''t entirely sure she believed that was what it meant, either. The old woman huffed. "So you''ve got something to say about how I raise my granddaughter, do you? How old are you?" "I''m almost ten," Venza answered. "Child, I''ve been around longer than you can trace your family tree back, and you think you can lecture me? Me?" "You keep saying that, but I have no idea who you are," Venza snapped. She couldn''t help it. This old lady was being rude. The old woman cackled. "Well, that explains a lot, doesn''t it?" She made a thoughtful sound. "You''re an amusing one, I''ll give you that. I''ll tell you what: Let me read your fortune." Venza''s brows furrowed. "My fortune?" "Yes, girl. Are you deaf?" "No, but why would I-" "Just allow it," Aiela said. "It will be easier." Venza shot the other girl a questioning look and then shrugged. What harm would it do? "What do I have to-" "Here," the old woman said, and a small, burlap sack floated out of the darkness. The string that held it shut quickly untied itself before her eyes. "Blow into the bag." Venza gave it a skeptical look. She couldn''t quite see what was inside, but she did as asked, blowing air into the bag as if putting out a candle. On cue, the bag turned itself upside down, and a handful of small animal bones clattered to the wooden floor. The old woman made no apparent move to get them. "I see, I see," the old woman said, mostly to herself. "Interesting." "What?" Venza asked. "What is it?" There was the glimmer again, which Venza now understood meant the old woman was smiling. "Why should I tell you?" "It''s my fortune." "And it''s my reading." "What was the point, then?" she asked, losing her patience. "Nobody ever knows what the point is," the old lady answered. She made another thoughtful sound. "But now I see why you''re here." "What?" "If you''re so against how I raise my granddaughter, you take her." Venza blinked, sure she was mishearing. "Excuse me?" "Take her with you," the old woman repeated. "To live in your manor. You teach her how to behave since I''m clearly no good at it. Maybe with you, she''ll grow a backbone!" The old woman cackled. "Wait," Venza said. "You can''t be serious!" "But I am," the old woman said. "Girl, go with this child. Learn how to be a proper lady." "Why?" Aiela protested. "I see something in her," the old woman answered simply. "And you could learn a thing or two. You listen to me far too easily." Aiela looked about to protest, but then said, "Yes, Oma." "See what I mean?" the old woman asked. Venza whirled on Aiela. "Are you seriously okay with that?" Aiela shrugged. "If Oma says so, I''ll do it. She knows best." "I''m nine!" Venza protested. "I can''t raise someone my age!" "So? You have a mother, don''t you? Make her do it," the old woman drawled. "Or if she''s too sick, I''m sure one of your servants will." Venza froze. "How do you know my mother''s ill?" Again, the glimmer, the smile that hid in the shadows. "I just read your fortune, child. Or are you telling me you''re not Venza, only Heir of House Greyfield, daughter of Lucius and Nora? Are you not the very same Venza who dreams to take her father¡¯s place as that fool of an emperor Harway¡¯s attack dog someday?" "But I never-" Venza stopped. "Am I supposed to believe you''re a Witch, too?" The old woman scoffed and seemed to direct her statement at Aiela. "Is that what you''ve been telling her, Girl? Bah. You''ve barely scratched the surface. You¡¯ll need to do a lot more than send mosquitoes at children before you¡¯re a proper Witch." "I never said I was a good witch, Oma," Aiela answered innocently. "But no," the old woman answered, turning back to Venza. "I am not a Witch. I am the Witch." Venza felt overwhelmed by the sudden resurgence of a memory. There was a story for children about an evil hag who''d lived a thousand years, stealing away naughty children who didn''t listen to their parents. "Oma as in grandmother?" The twinkling somehow seemed to grow brighter without actually illuminating the room. "Took you long enough. I suppose, yes, I am her grandmother, of sorts, but Oma is also the first half of what most people call me. Do you know the second, child?" This was bad. Really bad. Venza forced herself not to look behind her to see if the door was still open. It must have been since the shack hadn¡¯t gone entirely dark. "Surely, you couldn''t be. She''s a myth. A fable. A story to scare away children." She vaguely remembered herself saying the same thing about elves. "And yet I didn''t seem to scare you away," the Witch said. "Why is that, Venza of House Greyfield?" Because she didn''t know, obviously. Still, she couldn''t just say that. "I''ve studied magic. It doesn''t scare me like it would the common folk." "Of that, I am aware," the Witch drawled. "You have astounding affinity for one your age, and yet you seem to look down on magic. Why is that?¡± Venza¡¯s mouth opened, then closed. Did she look down on magic? ¡°It¡¯s a useful tool, but magic isn¡¯t everything,¡± she answered. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± the Witch asked. ¡°Because I also know your ability to do magic is blocked. I could even tell you why. Do you dislike magic because it¡¯s something people expect you to do that you can¡¯t? Wouldn¡¯t it be so much easier to take your father¡¯s place as Lord Marshall if you could hurl fire from your fingertips? Annihilate armies with a thought?" Venza swallowed. The crone had literally read her like a book. "No magic is that powerful." ¡°Ignorant,¡± the old woman muttered. ¡°Just because you haven¡¯t seen it doesn¡¯t mean it does not exist. Your own mother was known as the Phoenix of Odolenia in her prime.¡± Her mother? Surely, no. Nora Greyfield could barely do magic anymore, at least not without lapsing into illness. ¡°You said my magic was blocked? And you could tell me why?¡± "Yes, but I won''t," the Witch said. "So, child, do you know who I am now?" Venza bit her lip. Her skin crawled as she forced the words out of her mouth. "You''re Oma Mala, the most powerful Witch who ever lived." "People have called me less flattering things, I suppose," Oma Mala answered. "What did you mean?" Venza asked. "What do you mean by ''what did I mean?''" "When you said you saw something," Venza added. "You seem to know more about me than most people do." Again, the faint glimmer in the dark. Were those her teeth? "You have the potential for greatness," Oma Mala answered. ¡°But right now you¡¯re just an impulsive child chasing a near-impossible dream.¡± Venza blinked. "Will- will I succeed my father?" "The future is not set in stone," Oma Mala said, sounding bored. "Now then, I think you were leaving." "Wait! I-" "Leave," Oma Mala''s voice was deep, warning. Venza felt a push against her mind, and found her body moving on its own. "R-right, well, it was lovely meeting you," Venza said. Wait until her father heard about this.
A short walk through the woods later, and Venza found herself rather perplexed, indeed. She could not remember how to get back to Oma Mala''s hut, or even what the old woman had sounded like. All she could remember was that she was supposed to get someone to take Aiela in, and that she''d met Oma Mala somewhere in the forest. And that Oma Mala, greatest of all Witches, who''d lived longer than the Odolenian Empire, had told her: "You have the potential for greatness." The rest was a blur. She most definitely could not lead her father and his men to the witch''s lair. Walking beside her was Aiela with a simple leather bag Venza hadn¡¯t even seen her take slung on her shoulder. It looked too small to fit much of her belongings. "Don''t beat yourself up," Aiela commented, seeing Venza''s apparent misery. "She has that effect on people." "You could guide us," Venza suggested. "And sell out my grandmother?" Aiela asked, looking like she''d been asked to jump off a cliff. ¡°Besides, you have what? Maybe a hundred men? She¡¯d wipe them out with a single spell.¡± Venza would have argued again that no magic was that powerful and her father was unbeatable, but she did remember the part about how her mother could supposedly do the same, and Oma Mala was leagues above her. "Is she really your grandmother?" "For all intents and purposes," Aiela echoed the old witch''s response. Venza rolled her eyes and grinned. "Whatever you s-" A scream from further ahead interrupted her. The two of them shared a look before Venza ran towards the direction it came from. "Come on!" "What? What are you going to do when you get there?!" Aiela yelled, but Venza was already moving. ¡°You¡¯re just a kid with no magic!¡± Chapter 3: Her Legs Moved Forward nine. Think! dart fuck?" Venza cried out, instinctively rubbing her shoulder. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. you did know The town is busy receiving guests instead of actually patrolling outside, am you that You I exactly Chapter 4 : Departure told are you She''s Oma Mala''s granddaughter, This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Surely this,
Chapter 5 : An Unusual Trip Home cheating before years. ten Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. smell would make it extra hard to kill you,¡± Aiela said without hesitation. could Chapter 6 : A Murder of Birds William
Venza He''s probably stronger than my father in single combat, This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
did real you
Chapter 7 : Arrival Their that.
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she Chapter 8 : The First Night does did dozen?" Lucius repeated. "It''s not that I''m being stingy, but that''s a lot of mages." I''ll This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. you
Aiela whom. Chapter 9 : The First Morning Venza hadhad This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Chapter 10 : A Lesson in Magic two, are Death Magic? course was after The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. knowing confirmthe Miss Venza, you Young Miss,move actually can Chapter 11 : Bargains Struck Aiela land
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Now, who¡¯s being childish?¡± Chapter 12 : Frustration - Relaxation Venza
was Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
are you Chapter 13 : Seeds Planted IYouyou
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Chapter 14: Grandpa Greyfield couldn''t was are This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. still am Chapter 15 : The End of the Beginning full is so too promise. you. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. many am
is only that Chapter 15.5 - Whats Best for his Daughter Lucius very distant relative, Lucius repeated to himself. No Greyfield would think to profit off of a war that hurt people. and allowing him to have a large personal army was a recipe for disaster. It made defending Astamarr from monsters a bit more difficult, but Lucius understood the reasoning. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. can¡¯t resist it.¡± could imagine it. It was the same feeling of a knife twisted in his gut that he¡¯d felt when he¡¯d found Venza fending off that lone Bloodbeak in the forest of Rentley. Chapter 16 - Six Years Later Aiela experience other ways.
Venza her estimation, a half-troll, half-human would have been even larger and bulkier. Aiela had said something about how it was a genetic disorder, which was right about the place in the explanation she¡¯d lost Venza. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. two. ¡° fuck, Aiela?¡± Chapter 17 : Morning Routines Aiela Aiela did not sleep again that night. She lay awake, concerned about the course she and Venza were on. Oma had said Venza would be bound for great things but with the way things were, Aiela couldn¡¯t see how that would happen. Deciding she¡¯d wallowed enough for one morning, she moved to leave her room but stopped when she remembered she had one last bit of business to tend to. She approached her window, where a pepper plant soaked in the dim light. "Good morning," she spoke to the plant. It bore peppers that had no right to be the size they were, being nearly three times larger than normal. It was a wonder they managed to stay attached to the plant, but careful application of magic could fix almost anything. With a thought, she sprinkled her new botany project with water before heading out. Water Magic was incredibly useful, she found. She was glad she managed to pick it up during her stay here. ___________________________________________________________________________________ At half an hour before seven, Aiela made her way to the kitchen. With a thought, she ordered some of her Hidden to pick up damp rags and give the hallways a bit of polishing. A clean home was a happy home and all that. As always, the smell of food being prepared assaulted her nostrils like the sweetest temptation. She smelled bacon and eggs, just like her first morning here. "Miss Aiela!" Milly greeted at her approach. "Good morning. Do you want a snack or-" "Good morning, Milly," Aiela responded quickly. "No, I''ll hold off until Venza comes down for breakfast. I''m just here for the usual." "Of course. Thank you for your hard work, as always," Milly spoke with a hint of reverence. In six years, her magic had assisted enough people around Verdeholm that she''d gotten quite popular with the townsfolk. She''d modified their crops to grow larger, better food. She''d nursed a few people on death''s doorstep back to the living. Many times when the local healers deemed someone a lost cause, they came to her, instead, and she could find solutions they couldn''t. The satisfaction of showing up Healer Jones was all the thanks she needed, but she never turned down promises of favors or the occasional stipend. They needed money for the ¡®war effort,¡¯ after all. One of her next projects involved replacing the town''s pulley-and-rope wells with something a bit more expedient, but it was a work in progress. She could have settled for a simple pump and a few pipes, she supposed, but that required having to teach some of the townsfolk how it worked so they could maintain it when she wasn''t around. She''d rather work on something else. Especially if it was something no one in neighboring regions could replicate. Aiela pushed her musings out of mind and focused on her daily task. The kitchen housed several barrels of water pulled up from the well by the staff. She thought of a great, cleansing wave destroying bacteria, and then released her Purify spell. A soft, green light enveloped the barrels for a few seconds, cleansing them of harmful substances. She willed her Hidden to provide her a cup, and then used the Manipulate Water spell to siphon water to the cup straight from the barrel. Scan, she thought, and a heads-up display appeared before her eyes: Substance: Water Acidity: pH 7 Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Turbidity: Clear Potability: No Bacteria Detected She nodded to herself, satisfied with her work. "I''m done," she said, almost absentmindedly. "Thank you again." She nodded to the servants in the kitchen. She wasn''t sure why they were so grateful. She drank that water. Obviously, she would want it clean. Aiela turned an eye to the wall clock, noticing she still had fifteen minutes before seven. Venza would be in the middle of her workout, despite having been out late at night. ___________________________________________________________________________________ "Seventy-six," Venza counted aloud as she pushed her weight off the floor. "Seventy-seven. Seventy-eight." "Seventy-two," Aiela said as she entered Venza''s room. "Seventy-one, seventy-four." Venza groaned, but didn''t stop her push-ups. "Must you always try to make me lose count?" "I''m doing you a favor," Aiela responded. "So you can do more." Venza worked out in her room nearly every day before breakfast, only missing it when she had urgent business or her body was too sore for it. Honestly, Aiela had expected her to skip considering she¡¯d spent the night brawling the town¡¯s ¡®Half-Troll.¡¯ Still, Aiela made no complaint as she perched herself on her usual chair, finding her eyes glued to Venza''s toned, powerful form. Venza''s body was not overly bulky with muscle, but anyone paying close attention would see she was at the peak of fitness for her age. The most astute would even realize her strength was not entirely natural. She had the strength of the average grown man, at least, though she would still lose to the most athletic men in the realm. Or Russell. There was only so much Aiela could do without directly editing Venza¡¯s genes, after all. "Almost done for the day, then?" "Maybe," Venza answered between gasps for air. "Unless you''re up for some sparring?" Aiela considered. She supposed she could use a workout. "Before lunch, maybe." "Sounds good," Venza said, panting. She counted herself up as she approached her goal of a hundred push-ups. With a final sigh, she hit her hundredth repetition and promptly collapsed on the floor. "Good work," Aiela said. "Do you want me to-" "No," Venza answered, pulling herself up to sit on the floor. "No Relief spell today, thank you. I can''t rely on your magic to pick me up every time." Aiela nodded. "Such a hard worker you are, my lady. I¡¯m glad your face didn¡¯t bruise." ¡°Thank you, really,¡± Venza said. ¡°Sorry. I just really had to let off some steam.¡± ¡°You stress yourself too much,¡± Aiela remarked. Venza shrugged. "Have to be ready. Bloody civil war in the south and all." "Ah, yes," Aiela responded. "Some of the nobles in Serian broke off and formed their own principality a few months back." "Yeah, they''re calling themselves the Principality of Savaryn," Venza answered, repeating what she''d heard from Vosmer. "They don''t share a border with Astamarr, but the strip of land between us is hotly contested so we''ve got to keep on our toes in case they want to expand their territory." Aiela nodded. That strip of land was unsettled wild territory home to a number of monsters. It was close to where they¡¯d met as children. "They''d be fools to attack the Empire so brazenly," Aiela said, unconcerned. "They have a fraction of its population and military strength. They''d be annihilated." "But if they do, we''re the first line of defense," Venza said. "You mean the Grey Guard are the first line of defense," Aiela reminded her. "You and I are not part of the military. Not even Astamarr''s local defense force." "I-" Venza stuttered, letting out a sigh. "You''re right." Aiela blinked. She hadn''t expected that. Her jibes were usually met with a roll of the eyes or indignation. Right now, all she could see in Venza was reluctant acceptance. She swore internally. She should¡¯ve realized with how rash Venza had acted last night. That wouldn''t do. That wouldn''t do at all. She needed to fix this, and quick. "We''ve been doing good work," Aiela began. "They have to accept you eventually." Venza perked up at that. "I suppose we have." "We''ve helped patrol the roads before," Aiela reminded her. "Even put down our fair share of monsters." "Without permission," Venza reminded her. "Without acknowledgment, either." "Not true," Aiela said. "Vosmer acknowledges us. So does your grandfather. And most of the people of Verdeholm." "I guess that''s true," Venza conceded. "But they''re not the ones who need convincing." "Then we do more," Aiela said. She had no concrete idea what she was suggesting, but this was what humans did when they needed to perk others up, right? "I''ll keep an ear to the ground for problems that need solving. You can try asking Vosmer for things that need doing, too." Venza seemed unconvinced. Eyes that belonged to someone who''d spent nearly a decade trying to prove herself with little to show for it stared back at Aiela. "I suppose." "Come now. We have work to do," Aiela told her. "Your father is away on the crown''s business as usual and the Grey Guard are stretched pretty thin." "Fine, fine. Not like I had anything better to do, anyway," Venza said, but her lips twitched into a small smile. Aiela resisted the urge to sigh in relief. Venza needed the nudge. She didn''t need to see Aiela worried about her. Chapter 18 : Strength and Suspicion Venza was eat, but she was curious, and it was always good to measure how much she¡¯d improved over how she used to be. ¡°Fine. Fine.¡±
Scan, one of the spells Aiela had known from before she''d come to live in Verdeholm. sure This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Chapter 19 : Scouting Mission Aiela
Venza Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I
Chapter 20 : Infestation would are
Aiela
Venza Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. me she is you Chapter 21 : The Serpents Path and our gear,¡± Aiela commented. expensive,¡± Venza said. ¡±Oil lanterns are a lot cheaper if we¡¯re talking about putting them all over an entire town. Your moss lanterns are better than either, but those weren¡¯t around a hundred years ago.¡± Three?" Venza echoed, knowing Aiela was referring to her affinity with Earth magic. "Why is your Earth affinity so high again? I understand Nature because you''re always working with plants, but how did you get so good at Earth?" Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Chapter 22 : Sally Several somethings raced up the water towards them, at a speed Venza could hardly believe, but Aiela had already raised her hands up in a blocking movement. She must have cast a spell, as a great wind suddenly blew into existence, buffeting the river upwards into a sort of watery wall. Reach, she thought at the same time she punched her right fist forward, twisting her body to put more force in the blow. The impact reached across space to stab the monster in the left eye. As the monster roared in pain, a bloody trail leaked from its eye socket. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Aiela Venza Chapter 23 : Our Past are with them." fascinating this conversation is," Venza interjected. "How did you wind up working for these bandits with Sally here? I imagine she could hold her own quite well against your average brigands." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Biological. What did that word mean again? Venza was sure Aiela had explained it before. Flesh and blood, perhaps? Aiela are we suggesting?" Venza asked. Chapter 24 : Our Future You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Chapter 25 : Cultivated Power Venza father''s jurisdiction," Aiela reminded her. isn''t here," Venza said. "And when he''s not here-"
Aiela had very helpfully stood at the side and provided color commentary while snickering at her misfortune.
"If they refuse," Venza said. "Your optimism is cute," Aiela drawled. "Surely, they will cower in fear of a teenage girl with a giant stick." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Aiela
Venza "What?" Aiela asked. "I didn''t make it that hot." "Who are you people?" Lauren asked, approaching her saviors from behind.
Lauren nodded. "He was a complete sicko. He was trying to break me. Said he wouldn''t give me food until I begged him to- well, to do things to me." Lauren laughed. "Are you having him look after animals or something? That does sound like Tom." "Oh, relax," Aiela said, sounding amused. "I''m sure Herman can explain the situation to them." Chapter 26: Heading Back "This creature is clearly not a bandit," Aiela added. "Those, you''ll find over there." She pointed in the direction of the bandits'' camp.
"We have the Child of Fertility to thank for that," Venza said, turning a knowing gaze towards Aiela. Aiela¡¯s hand shot up to stop her from speaking further. "I transformed the crops in Astamarr over several harvests with magic. The scholars at the magic academy and the Temple of the Four never figured out my spell, so they gathered the rumors of a child aiding farmers and twisted the story into something they could make sense of." Venza, however, said, "Well, she did threaten them, but the farmers look up to and feel they owe her too much to disrespect her wishes. The entire town does, really." Aiela spared her the pain of having to explain. "Venza''s technically a very powerful mage. Far above average. She was stronger than me when we met, actually, but let''s just say that due to certain issues, she has very few spells she can actually cast." That was right. Aiela had been ''breaking her way in'' to spheres of magic she hadn''t originally possessed by using other magic in similar ways, like purifying water with nature magic to learn water magic. She''d even somehow cheated her way into fire by burning people with hot water. The remaining rare spheres, however, were harder to cheat her way into, according to the talented mage. "Well," Tom began, looking embarrassed. "We met a Nature Mage once. He said you had to be born with magic. That you could never get it. Said it was a gift from the Four." This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "Hang on," Venza said. "You mean Tom isn''t a mage? Then how is he controlling Sally?" "Well, you kind of did go back for her when no one else would," Lauren said. "Most people wouldn''t risk their lives for a monster." "It is a significant advantage, certainly, but easy enough to disprove. Every so often, a farmer or gardener picks up a Nature Sphere from working with plants so much. Fishermen and sailors can sometimes gain affinity for Water Magic over their years of work at sea. It is rare, but not impossible, though much more difficult if you don''t have even a single Sphere to start with." "I didn''t say you did," Aiela said. "Only that you can." "It''s not magic," Venza said. "Well, technically it isn''t, though I guess she did make them with magic." "The street lamps are filled with a type of cave moss that glows in the dark," Venza explained. "Aiela, uh, improved them, like she did with the crops. Now, they light up the town automatically at night. We''ve put some up outside, too, for the farms and some houses, but someday, Aiela and I hope all of Astamarr will have light at night." Venza chuckled. "I''m not sure Aiela''s interested in anyone, though it''s not like we meet a lot of boys our age." "What do you think Aiela would have me do?" Lauren asked. Chapter 27 : A Tense Dinner selective summary of the day¡¯s events to her mother. army of bodyguards cannot hope to match a Lord of Odolenia wielding a Revenant Arm, especially not the Lord Marshall.¡± were untrained brigands." you keep indulging her," Nora shot back. "How do you sleep at night, knowing you enabled your best friend''s daughter to put herself in danger?" did scout them beforehand Lady Nora," Aiela said. "Lest you forget, Venza was under protective spells and wearing armor that is as hard as steel as long as you don¡¯t hit it with magic. As I said, there was one mage and I handled her myself. The biggest threat left in that camp had been a crossbow, and between my spells and Venza''s ''party trick'' which can take a grown man out of combat from a range of more than twenty paces, a single crossbow wielder without the element of surprise is laughable.¡± because of what happened sixteen years ago," Vosmer said, not yielding an inch. "She yearns to follow in her father''s footsteps, whether she has our help or not." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. reluctantly believe, but this has your name written all over it, or did you think I would forget who was casting unknown Nature Magic on crops without notifying me first six years ago?"