Shifting her weight for the umpteenth time on the rough wooden chair and making a mental note to offer to sand the surface for the witch after she fixed it so Daezin would be back with her family, Daezin stared as Temis Kanderos shuffled around her small cottage throwing herbs and other... things... into a black, iron cauldron suspended over the hearth fire.
Daezin's fingers twitched. Her heart raced. Finally, she would be able to fully be a part of her family. Finally, her brother would talk to her again, be her best friend, her hero. This witch, this Temis Kanderos, would work her magic and fix the single thing about her that made everything else in her life wrong and painful. Magic fixed problems and Temis had magic in spades.
Temis stirred the cauldron with hands that possessed oversized knuckles and tattoos on their backs that swirled color in mesmerizing ebbs and flows. While she worked, a slight jingle accompanied her every move as bits and bobs that dangled from her draperies swayed with her movements.
A rancid odor filled the room, either from the cauldron or the witch, Daezin wasn’t sure which.
“The potion is almost ready, my dear.” Temis limped closer and thrust a wrinkled claw into Daezin’s face, nails caked in some sort of dark green powder, an acrid stench stinging Daezin’s nose. “It is time for your payment.” Temis’s voice, which had cracked several times earlier in their conversation, held firm during her request for remuneration.
“Of course.” Daezin reached into her belt pouch and closed her fingers around the coins she’d saved and scrounged up for this venture. This last-ditch hope for her future making her desperate. “You said that this would work. This potion would remove the gods-touched mark on my wrist. It will make me just like everyone else?”
“Yes, yes. I said as much earlier. Pay attention child. Magic like this is rare, but fortunately I have traveled the seven kingdoms and met several wise men and women with experience in such matters. This potion will work. You drink it now and by the dawn of the next full moon, you’ll be mark free. I promise.” Temis waggled her fingers again.
Daezin eagerly placed the coins into the witch’s hand. Then watched as the witch ladled the dark green concoction into a small glass vial, tapped a cork into the top, and then held it to the slice of light that came in through the grimy window. The witch nodded to herself, satisfied with the color or the smell or whatever her magical senses told her about the potion.
With great ceremony and a grave expression, Temis presented the vial to Daezin. “Drink up.”
Daezin reached gingerly for the vial, nearly dropping it when trembling fingers failed to firmly grasp the fragile container full of magic that would change her life. Using her other hand to help steady her grasp, Daezin worked the cork out of the top of the small bottle.
“I wouldn’t smell it if I were you. Magic is rarely pleasant to the senses.”
Daezin aborted her attempt to bring it to her nose for a sniff.
“Best drink it down all at once. It won’t taste pleasant either.”
Daezin nodded, gulped, and crossed her fingers. Then, firmly grasping the bottle, she tilted it and poured the contents down her throat, changing her life forever.
