Wand of the Witch by Arenson Daniel

Author:Arenson, Daniel [Arenson, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-03-29T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Water and Stars

"So... Romy," Neev said. "How many demon friends do you have who can help us?"

They were walking down a dirt road, a field of wheat to their right, a vineyard to their left. In the distance, purple mountains rose from mist. Geese flew above, incurring screams from Romy whenever they honked too loudly.

"Oh, lots and lots and lots of friends," she said. "So many friends you couldn't count them! Oh, all those friends that I have!" She thought for a moment. "Two."

Neev groaned. "Two friends, Romy? When you said we should go to Hell for help, I imagined... I don't know, at least fifty fierce demons with flaming whips and pitchforks of dragonbone."

Romy waved her own pitchfork at the birds who flew above. When they had flown away, she looked back at Neev. "Oh, don't worry. My friends are just as tough, mean, and scary as I am."

Neev sighed. "That's what I'm worried about."

They walked down the road until the fields faded into wild country. Grass and trees swayed and a stream gurgled. When Romy saw the stream, she froze, shivered, and pointed.

"Ducks," she said and began sucking her thumb.

Neev smacked his lips.

That evening they sat by a campfire, eating roast duck (Romy was less afraid of them roasted) and drinking wild mint tea. The sunset flowed around them, orange and yellow like Romy's hair of fire. After eating, they lay on their backs and watched the first stars emerge.

"What do you think the stars are made of?" Romy asked, twirling her hair.

"Candy," he said. "Fly and get me some."

She patted his stomach. "You've eaten enough tonight. You're going to get fat!"

"Remind me, who ate ten birthday cakes recently?"

She pouted. "I was hungry!"

"Pigs get hungry. You—"

He froze and frowned. Something moved inside the stream—a large shape with staring eyes.

"Who's the pig?" Romy demanded and stamped her feet. "You're the one who grew a pig nose last time you cast a spell. All I did was—"

"Shh, Romy. Look, in the stream!"

She turned to stare and gasped. "It looks like... a swimmer?"

A figure seemed to swim underwater, transparent and glimmering. The water began to rise, raining droplets, forming the shape of a woman wearing robes and a pointy hat. The watery spirit seemed to smile. It spoke in a gurgling voice.

"Hello, Bullies."

Neev gasped. Madrila! Or at least, it was a watery version of her. The spirit reached out her arms, and tendrils of water shot forward. Neev growled and lashed his magic, severing a watery tendril with blasts of fire. Romy squealed. The second tendril wrapped around her and began pulling her toward the stream.

"Romy!"

Neev ran toward her, grabbed her, and began pulling her back. Water wrapped around her like ropes, pulling her toward the river spirit. Romy tried to scream, but water filled her mouth, and she coughed and sputtered. Her wings tried to flap, but were pinned to her body.

"I've got you, Romy!" Neev said, but a jet of water shot out and hit his face. More water wrapped around his feet and tugged him.

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