The Forgotten Mountain (The Collectors' Society Book 3) by Heather Lyons

Author:Heather Lyons [Lyons, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-23T06:00:00+00:00

GERTRUDE SLIDES A BOTTLE filled with tree bark closer to where she stands. “How much do you know of the Wise Women?”

She’s testing us, I realize, but I am willing to play just a little. “There are thirteen, all presumed to have some sorts of magical abilities. Twelve seem . . . less nefarious than the thirteenth, based on a story we have heard.”

The sound of scraping fills the space between us as she grounds the flowers to a fine dust. “Are you referring to the history of Queen Briar-Rose?”

When I tell her yes, she continues. “For centuries, the Wise Women have watched over the people of this kingdom. In the beginning, their intentions were pure: they were impartial, fair in their gifts and guidance. Kings and peasant alike would journey to visit them, bringing offerings in exchange for whatever it was they desired. Many were turned away, those found worthy were blessed. Those who were not were punished. But time is not always a generous mistress. Time allows slow changes, the warping of beliefs based upon observations both common and uncommon. The Wise Women eventually became less cohesive as a group and more splintered in their beliefs. Petty jealousies arose, arguments over who and what deserved their insight and gifts. It all came to a head when the King held a banquet and bade the Wise Women to attend. It was not often they were summoned from their caves, and this alone prompted much anger and resentment amongst some. But the true difficulty lay in that the King specified only twelve could attend. One would be forced to stay behind.

“As you can imagine, the thirteenth was truly angered. She was already bitter and outraged over the summons, but to discover that one was to be excluded? It was not to be borne. Lots were drawn; the angriest of all was selected to remain. Rather than allow rationality to rule as it once had for centuries before, she journeyed behind her coven and ensured the King, and the kingdom, knew what punishments were in store for insulting the Wise Women. Whilst many of the Wise Women agreed with her, albeit silently, there was one who felt she went too far. It was one thing to punish the King for his insolence, it was another to destroy the future of an innocent babe whose threads of life were yet woven. It was she who altered the curse.” Gertrude selects a bottle and pulls out several dried leaves. “The princess suffered, of course, as did the entire castle. But they were not alone in their punishments. The Wise Woman who dared to go against one of her sisters was also castigated.”

A quick trip to a rack laden with tiny, herb-filled jars has Gertrude bringing several more ingredients to her worktable.

“What happened to her?” Mary asks.

“She was banished.” Gertrude’s mouth is set in a flat line as she pulls a dried plant I do not recognize from the jar. “Sent into exile by a majority of her sisters.

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