‘Hmm, yes. Compassion; a weakness of the human state.’
‘No, not a weakness,’ Artride commented. ‘It is our strength; something which sets us apart from the cold-hearted and the ignorant.’
‘Is it truly? When it affects you nearly as much as the tormented and can put your own life at risk? What good can that do? No, I say it is a weakness for without it, you are truly free. And then you can work on other higher goals.’
Both Tirsa and Artride felt angered and wanted to argue with the woman, but it was Artride that stood.
‘Such as what? Indulge in yourself, your power, gold and glory, here all alone with abducted people to serve you? I’ve never met a more selfish person in my entire life! What good can magic do if not to serve others?’
‘Did you come here to judge me or to get something from me?’ she reminded Artride with narrowed eyes.
Yes, they had to be careful what they said.
‘I’m sorry,’ Artride said honestly. ‘I just do not get it. With your power … well why don’t I just shut up?’
‘Very wise.’ And she took another slow sip of her wine in thought.
Artride sat down again.
‘It looks like you are indeed worthy of your title; there is no doubt about that. You want to defend your kingdom, end the people’s suffering, take control of your own life and theirs. You’ve got what it takes to be a queen.’
Artride’s face lit up.
‘But of course that’s not why you’re here and I can’t be bothered with titles.’
‘But why did the journey have to be so difficult? It looked like you wanted to stop us, why?’ Tirsa asked. Sempervirens smiled slyly.
‘The easy way is never the fun way. And I had a splendid time watching you. Do you know you are the first humans who ever made it this far in seeking my home? Do you know what that means?’
‘No, what?’ Artride shook her head curiously.
‘That you are the first people to see me in my element, my world!’ and she started laughing madly.
The queen sighed. ‘And what about them?’ she pointed at the Woodchildren.
‘They aren’t humans as you must know! They feel more, know more …’ and she smiled at them with understanding; sharing something they only knew.
And are harder to control; the harder the challenge the better for you … she thought. They are worthy too.
‘And they serve me well, very well.’
‘I see,’ Artride said, ignoring the sexual hint. ‘So it is true you dislike humans and you really don’t want them here. But we made it, despite your traps. Now what?’
‘Ah, rest my dears, rest first and then we’ll talk.’
Artride sighed, ignoring her. ‘Both of us could have died.’
‘Ah, but you always had a choice to turn back. I haven’t invited you. You knew the risks when you entered my domain and you accepted them. Free will, remember?’
‘But you knew we couldn’t, so you had all the power and have been playing with us.’
‘Don’t you ever forget that.’
‘So, since I’m worthy of being a queen, and we’ve passed all your tests, may we have our reward?’ Artride hissed angrily.
‘After your hard journey and its very entertaining elements, I’d say you do deserve something.’
It felt good to hear that, but still they felt used and hurt. Artride tried not to think about that anymore or that someone could actually extract pleasure from hurting others. It was too far removed from her own standards.
‘But I do not give away spells that easily of course.’
Tirsa sighed. I knew it wasn’t over.
‘And this is a very special and a very powerful one; ancient and powerful. In fact from my own days amongst mortals.’
‘But … would you be able to lift the curse on the Law Book of Ceartas? she daringly asked, knowing the sorceress could die the instant she heard it.
Sempervirens gave Artride another disdainful look. ‘Of course I can, the counter spell however, is for you to find.’
‘What, how?’ Artride incredulously asked.
‘You are saying it already exists within your cave?’ Tirsa added questionably.
‘Right, ladies, enough talking, let me escort you to your chambers.’
‘After all we’ve been through you want us to find our ‘reward’ ourselves?’ Artride asked.
‘If you do not agree you can refuse naturally, I shan’t force you. However, you must understand I cannot let you go, now that you have seen me. I know you can keep a secret, but still … if more people come to try my tests, however difficult, but fun for me … well no. But if you hear what I have to offer you, you will have no desire to return.’
‘We’ll be just like your other slaves,’ Tirsa guessed.
Sempervirens looked angry at her, but regained her calm composure fast.
‘Like them, you’ll have everything you desire; every imaginable wish I can fulfill.’
‘Illusions and captivity,’ Artride commented.
‘No, not entirely. What I have to offer you, is the ultimate prize for your efforts. My slaves can only dream about that.’
‘And all that for us, humans?’ Artride asked incredulously.
‘You do not believe me. Like I said, you are no ordinary humans, but capable of many things.’
Artride suddenly remembered what the Windchild Kasching had warned them of; either they could try to understand this woman or end up like her. Not much choice there. So, Sempervirens admired their courage and strength? Well, she would if no one ever made it this far. And now she wouldn’t let them leave? But if they chose to look for the spell, she would?
Somehow they both doubted she would ever let them leave with their gained knowledge.
‘So, if we find the counter spell, you will let us go, even with all we know?’ Artride asked.
‘If you choose so, yes, but I doubt you will by then. Why would you want to go back to all that darkness out there if I can offer you light and clarity?’
I don’t trust her, Tirsa pondered. She loves herself too much to give anything to another person, earned or not. What will she get out of this?
‘Alright, one last test to find the spell. The gods know how much we need it. On one condition: it is going to be a safe test. I do not want any more dangers; no monsters, no thunderstorms, snow, rain or ice, no guards, no riddles, heat and swamps, breaking bridges, prison cells and nightmares,’ Artride said.
Sempervirens smiled, content with herself.
‘Honey, you’ll be as safe as a baby in its mother’s womb.’
Artride blushed at that, and waited with hungry eyes for their instructions.
‘Seek, seek and thy will find!’ And she laughed. ‘It worked before!’
Silence.
‘That’s it?’ Tirsa asked confused. ‘We’ve seen how big it is in here, where on Talamh are we going to look? It’s a maze!’
‘I shall guide you in the right direction; after that it’s up to you. I keep all my ancient spells in a secret chamber and it’s up to you to find it. It’s not impossible. It can be done, especially by the likes of you.’
‘A chamber. We shall find it. How long do you give us?’ Artride asked.
‘All the time you need.’ And she spread her arms wide; making the golden snake on her arms move slowly. Both women understood the hidden sneer.
‘So you’d better go, it is that way. I’ll be watching you,’ she almost sang.
They looked in the direction of a green curtain. Towards the part of the cave they hadn’t been yet.
‘We’re already used to that,’ Artride said.
‘I still think it’s not fair,’ Tirsa said to her queen.
‘Is life ever fair?’ Sempervirens asked.
Tirsa turned around to face the sorceress. ‘Life isn’t good or bad; so fair is not the right word if we’re talking about life. We people make things happen! The way we treat others, the smiles we give, the joy we bring, but a
lso the hurt. We do either positive or negative things. But everything we do has an effect in the world, however small. I know now that we are responsible for our own actions and if we’ve messed up, we should clean up after ourselves. Make it better, fix it. People should help instead of torment each other.’
Artride looked proudly at her friend and Sempervirens glanced with her dark eyes at her. A smile painted her face as she nodded in agreement.
‘Right, and remember … I’m helping you,’ she said.
Are you really? Tirsa thought and grabbed the veils, Sempervirens had ripped off them, from the floor.
~ ~ ~
Covering themselves behind the green curtain with their make-do dresses, they found brown-grey walls again; the cave for what it really was. Perhaps Sempervirens had no business in this part. She wouldn’t if she never had any use for spells herself; all she had to do was snap her pretty fingers it seemed. But why she did have spells stored was another question. She did mention they were ancient; so that could mean at one point at the start of her ‘career’ she did use them.
‘I hate her for putting us through this again,’ Tirsa mentioned softly.
‘I don’t care. All I want is to get this spell and go home,’ Artride wearily pointed out.
There were ancient wall paintings in black and red; some lovely, but others scary. They tried not to stare at the images; for the pictures became more and more alarming, with all sorts of monsters and frightening looking people.
Unexpected, they walked into a closed wall.
‘I didn’t see that coming!’ Artride announced upset, having taken the full blow, rubbing her painful knees and hands.
‘Me neither. I could have sworn it was going further. You ok?’ the other woman said rubbing her sore shoulder.
‘Wait, maybe we do have to look at the disturbing paintings. I mean, nothing in this cave seems to be here without a reason. She even said so herself,’ Artride stated, which made Tirsa wonder too. ‘I guess so, since there is no other way, but back …’
And they examined the pictures further; especially the ones on the closed wall in front of them. Perhaps it was a doorway? All they had to do was search for the key.
‘They are hideous!’ Tirsa said. ‘I don’t understand what all these monsters have to do with the beauty of the rest of the cave.’
‘Maybe that’s the clue,’ Artride said. ‘For everything in nature there is a counterpart; light and dark, day and night, spring and autumn, and so on. There has to be a balance. Kasching said she has been working against nature, but even she cannot completely outwit it. It seems to me for her magic to work, she has been hiding her own demons and monsters in the form of these pictures on these walls. Once drawn she is rid of them perhaps? A way of therapy. I bet she never comes in this part. So she won’t have to look at it and deal with them. This must be her darkness; maybe even her past or something.’
‘Hmm, you could be right. Something terrible must have happened to her. Just look at the shape and size of these terrible beings. They all seem to shoot fire from their eyes, now why is that?’ and she touched the shapes lightly, wondering. They were almost like the huge red demon from before who could not fight his own inner demons.
‘Eyes … fire,’ Artride said looking thoughtful. ‘I bet these are people from her past you know; bad people, staring at her with red fire in their eyes … Anger or lust, perhaps both.’ And she remembered with dread and fear the nightmares she had had in her prison.
The walls seemed redder too as they illuminated an angry sort of deep crimson.
‘I don’t like this,’ Tirsa announced, shattered.
The light grew and dimmed, and grew and dimmed again; almost like a heartbeat and with it a deep low beat coming closer and vanishing, coming closer and vanishing.
Artride started pushing the solid wall with the paintings. No movement, no change.
‘I do not see any target for these beasts.’ she said, following the flames with her fingers, and just as she had said that, a huge ball of fire came flying out from behind towards them. Just in time they managed to jump aside as the fire crashed and burned into the wall with a loud booming sound. With a roar like thunder the wall collapsed and fell into pieces of broken stone, crumbling to the floor.
‘You got your target, now let’s go,’ Tirsa said alarmed as they jumped over the rocks and continued on their way.
Behind the opened crushed wall were more paintings, on either side of the walls of the passage; demons and angels this time, and prettier and so a little less frightening. There was also a huge marvellous angel with dark skin. His wings were closed and his face serene, but he looked a little sad as well.
‘He is beautiful.’ And Artride touched the cold stone to caress his face. Suddenly Tirsa pushed her to the wall saying, ‘Don’t Artride! Last time a fireball barely missed you!’ and both stumbled against the wall with the dark angel. And as they did the wall gave way too; slowly but steadily the wall moved inside!
Accompanied by a low stone-on-stone sound it had only opened a little, so after exchanging an understanding determined look they pushed it further open.
A cold shudder ran down Tirsa’s spine when they entered a big room with shelves all the way up to the ceiling, littered with books. Other than that the room contained round tables bearing unknown items.
Was this the chamber where Sempervirens held her spells? Looking at the books both women seemed to think the same as they at once walked over to the bookshelves. Artride began searching low while Tirsa stepped on the ladder leaning against the shelves to examine the higher placed books. Thumb-leafing through the first book; Tirsa noticed it was all in the old tongue, which she only understood a few words and phrases of. Looking at Artride she knew she was facing the same problem.
‘How are we going to find out which line refers to a spell, not to mention our wanted counter spell?’
Tirsa’s mouth thinned and her forehead wrinkled in thought. ‘I know a few words.’
Artride smiled at her feeling a little guilty; for she surely had wanted it to sound uplifting, but obviously had failed in accomplishing that. Tirsa must have her breaking point too.
‘Alright, that’s a start. I will get the books and take a first look. We should make a pile of ‘possible spell books’ and a pile of ‘definitely not’. I give them to you for further examination. If you come across any indication of a spell, put it on the ‘possible spell book’ pile.’
They swapped places and started their search. Almost every book Artride gave her she then had to throw on the ‘definitely not’ pile. She roughly leafed through them and happened to notice that most of them were history and story books. Books about the Silent Folk were rare and if it weren’t for their lack of time Tirsa would want to read them, or even take one with her if she was allowed. The thought crossed her mind that if she stayed with Sempervirens she could read them all, and Sempervirens probably would give her eternal life so she would never have to worry again about lack of time or having more important things to do. That thought shocked her and she was horrified to discover this selfish trade in herself. Never, during their journey, had she had such a disturbing, selfish thought. What was she thinking! Was she getting egocentric? Maybe she was just enchanted by the self-indulged sorceress and her great power that she began to think like her.
Maybe she could come back after her task was over and her brother saved …
Stop thinking like that!
‘Something wrong?’ Artride asked, worried about the absent-minded look on her partner’s face.
Tirsa shook her shoulders to get rid of her disturbing thoughts. ‘No, not at all.’ And she glanced at the remaining books on the shelves and at the small pile of ‘possible spell books’ which she had to examine further afterwards.
‘I just don’t happen to come across many spell books.’
‘Well, we only need one,’ and she gave her another book with a hopeful expression.
She is so good. It is lik
e she is dedicated to friendliness. After all the things Sempervirens put us through and did to us, to her … But she remembered Artride had only one goal in mind; their task and she would not risk anything anymore to lose it now they had come so far. She would even endure humiliation.
Hours later the pile of spell books had grown to eight thick books and the shelves were empty now. The floor was scattered with the rest of the useless books, for the many piles had fallen over and the women sat on top of them to rest a bit while Tirsa was examining the eight books. They had the look of spell books because they had long strange sentences, with lots of space between the lines.
‘A cree … a cree a cooshla ma cree,’ Tirsa read.
‘What does that mean, Tirsa?’
‘My heart, my heart, my wounded heart,’ she translated.
‘It doesn’t sound like a spell, but then again what does? O, you wicked being change into a bug?’ Artride joked, but her face was screwed up ready to cry, not to laugh.
‘Perhaps. The Silent Folk never told me about spells and we only have those clichés of sentences you just mentioned out of the stories we know; but what is true? This here sounds more like poetry to me.’ And she read on.
‘Hmm, definitely poetry, beautiful mind you.’
‘Really? I would love to hear some, but no, we have little time. Now what about this one?’
Tirsa tried the next book, but after several pages she came to the conclusion it was a cooking book; for names of vegetables and ingredients were written on the pages.
‘No ingredients to create a spell?’ Artride tried.
‘These are normal herbs and vegetables, no secret ingredients and mixing them like this would create nothing magical.’
‘But what is magic exactly, Tirsa? I mean, how do you define magic?’
Tirsa stared at her for a moment, trying to read her intentions, but they were pure as ever.
‘Well, magic is something special. To alter something in such a way that is different from anything else; it is change. To change the very element of something or someone into something else. And in order to do so, you need a very trained mind or a gifted mind like yours; who was born with the healing gift which is magic as well.’ And she looked down at her hands, looking away from Artride’s face and revealing body. ‘And perhaps certain magical items are required; ingredients and a certain combination of words? But it’s the person who does magic, or the intention so to speak, that matters. The Silent Folk divide magic in intentions; doing positive helpful things or tricky fun things to cause someone trouble; but never pain or lasting damage. I guess when magic falls into the wrong hands, like that of ill-minded humans, magic turns into bad or even selfish intentions.’
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