Amber - 16 (Patreon)

After Trix came the other apprentice's inductions, with a vote occurring for each as to whether they would be accepted or denied on this day. There was no sudden Blink Fox interrupt to single them out and skip it, with Tricks squatting on my feet and being adorable rather than interfering. Heather came immediately after me, and though the vote was marginally in her favour of allowing her to take Richard as her apprentice...

It wasn't enough. Too many abstained from the vote, ensuring the result wasn't a true majority. Despite a fair amount of hesitation and glances towards the fox who so clearly favoured me they didn't vote in Heather's favour.

Heather looked ready to cry as she withdrew Richard from the circle, the arguments against her suitability to raise a boy and accusations of what she would use him for becoming painfully personal. Richard himself looked little better as he trembled with anger and glared at the ones who had orchestrated this protest.

The mother who brought forth her thirteen-year-old daughter was accepted easily enough, following the renewal of precedent I had set, which meant the idea that summer was for boys alone had clearly been shattered. Not that that reduced my anger towards Meredith at all. Even if she didn't look happy and didn't seem satisfied with the hurt she caused, that was no balm for what she'd done to my friend and student.

It had just been a bridge too far, too soon, for the gathering to accept a woman teaching a boy as well. Perhaps if it had been during winter, when the Speaker of Ravens and Old Grims' had more influence, it would have been successful. But too many of the men thought a woman would turn a boy soft.

One had even offered to take him on in Heather's place, to take on his teaching, but that had only incensed Richard further. The man had voted against it and would have needed Richard to leave home. Utterly unacceptable.

As the last boy, the eldest, was drawn away by his father the fire started to dim. Not dying, not yet, but cooling. The foxes and ravens departed and left us to our own business, the ritual done with.

"Though we welcome our new kin to the fold, we are not yet done." The Fox Speaker said, "There are the festivities of the coming days to look forward to, as those apart for much of the year are given chance to mingle once more." He lifted the fox mask and rested it atop his head. "But first, we must speak of the danger and calamity that threatens us."

Celestine lifted her mask off. "The first is simple, and the one we must face soon enough. This year has been unkind to the harvest and the fields wither and die, the people will starve if left unaided." She raised her hand, cutting off a protest. "To some, this may seem of little concern. We tend to ourselves, we will not starve, what reason do we have to fear famine?"

"The hungry will not act kindly to those that have plenty when they lack it," I said, speaking up confidently. "How many will accuse us of ruining their fields to save our own? How many will curse  us and seek revenge for wrongs we have not committed?"

"And what does that matter?" The man standing beside Meredith said, "It changes nothing. It rains too much, they blame us. It rains too little, they blame us. It is a story as old as time." He glowered at me, crossing his arms over his chest as Meredith and her coterie nodded. "We will survive as we always do; in hiding and out of their grasp."

Heather glowered at him. "What then for those of us who are not hidden, who do as we ought and help our people?" She looked to her mother. "I was taught, as my mother was taught, as I teach," She hissed, "that it is our duty, our responsibility, to aid those who look to us. To use our magic, our knowledge, to better our people."

"All well and good for some," Ethel said, a frown on her face, "to up sticks and run when it gets bad. I've got kids, three of 'em, and a home I worked hard to make. A lad who's willing to look past the kids I conceived here and helps look after them, unlike some," She shot a glare at a man in the audience. "They turn on us, I lose all I've got. What I worked half my life for."

There was a murmur of agreement from a fair number of us, that being run off our land was not a pleasant experience. There was always someone who knew who they were.

The more hermeted, or transient, however, were of a different opinion.

I wondered how Mama would have leaned, as a wandering Witch, if she was here and wouldn't support me without a second thought?

"There is another solution, one offered to us from without," Celestine said plainly, disrupting the talk and drawing attention to herself.

"Speaker or not, you can't order us to do anything." Meredith said, folding her arms under her chest and staring disapprovingly at Celestine. "You took up the mask today. And you think to order us to perform some solution?"

"Hear hear!"

"I ain't helping no bloom' light worshippers."

"My sister has a farm, she'll need someone to–"

"What about our cousins? Best hear 'em. I ain't gonna ignore family."

"Well, my family call me a heretic. Fuck 'em."

"If I have to see that tens of thousands are fed by myself, whether or not all of you agree, I'm going to do it anyway." I said, matching Meredith's with my own. Too many of them were arguing selfishly, forgetting what the very reason we existed was.

"You are correct, Meredith, that we cannot order you to act beyond this place." Aderic said, his lips shifted into half a frown as he looked at the dissenters. Most of them quietened as he spoke, but there was still a murmur of discontent. "However, just as we are not rulers, it is not an order. Our duty is to Speak, and when we Speak you shall listen. We all stand here on the acquiescence of Talloren, only granted shelter at the behest of the Ravens and Foxes, and if a course of action is decided upon, given their blessing, and the majority agree..." He trailed off.

"Then those who disagree can be banished, never to return." Celestine said flatly. "It was done when the Crowskin overstepped her bounds. It can be done again." As Celestine stared at them, one of Meredith's followers shifted away from her by a single step. "Banishment is not something to be considered lightly, but after much discussion, this is the course we have decided upon."

"And don't think I disapr–" Old Grims doubled over, coughing. We all waited a moment for her to stop, to speak up again. She didn't.

I hesitated a moment, wondering if anyone else would act, and regretted it as I was still the first to move to her side. To hold her up and ease the coughs wracking her body with magic; but she was old, so very old, far older than she looked. Her heart beat weekly and her lungs were half shrivelled, and worse one was full of fluid that was the source of her coughing.

Something that wasn't easy to fix. Something that, without significant attention and physical intervention I didn't think I could permanently fix.

She glared at me. "Save your–"

"Not today," I snapped at her, cutting off her protest as I strengthened her breathing and forced as strong a convulsion as I could to expel some of the fluid from her lungs. For all the old woman was as irritating as she was helpful, I wasn't going to let her die. "You don't die today."

Even though I managed to force her to expel some of the fluid it wasn't enough, her breathing was still weak and that was with my reinforcement. Without my constant effort, the symptoms and problems would just reoccur, days, weeks, doubtfully months and certainly not a year before she was back to coughing up her lungs again. I couldn't fix her, I couldn't fix old age so simply.

Old Grims glowered at me again, then grimaced. "Fine." She spat, standing up straight and making her back click loudly. "Not today, you needy brat." She huffed as she rolled her shoulders. "Suppose I've got young'uns to help others to put in their place.

Abruptly she shrugged me off. "Don't do it again." She hissed, low enough that only I could hear.

I nodded. She could die on her own terms in her own time. Just not today when it would disrupt so much else.

Her cane tapped on the ground as she glared at the various members of the circle in turn, even those that let out a sigh of relief at her recovery.

"I don't disagree with Celestine." Old Grims waved her cane at Celestine. "Spoke plenty on what she plans. With both of them. If I didn't agree I wouldn't've given her the title. Wouldn't have made her Speaker." She huffed. "Half of it's just going back to the old old ways anyway. More traditional than our traditions."

"All because of a brat." Meredith spat, her eyes fixed on me.

I bit back the first words that came to mind, though I still scowled at her. "Age is not a measure of wisdom." I said, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. "Experience is. And, I speak truly when I say I have experienced more of our world than most." I opened my eyes again, this time with an Astral shine behind them; little more than a parlour trick but one that startled those who were looking well enough. "Seen more of the world."

Beneath our feet, in the embers of the fire, I could feel the remnants of the ritual that gave the apprentices their visions, the link through which each and every one of us had added magic to fuel it.

It would be so simple to show them Dalaran's fall, the nightmare etched into my memory. Something I couldn't forget even if I tried. Something that would show them the sheer level of destruction and ruin that awaited us in the coming years.

But it wouldn't matter, would it? Not here. They didn't care about Dalaran, they didn't have the power to save it – I didn't think anyone did anymore.

No, showing them that wouldn't mean anything. Nor would any of the countless memories of the Scourge or the Undead that I could choose from; they wouldn't seem real, distorted fragments seen through the lens of a game a lifetime ago weren't what I needed to convince them.

Instead, I raised my hand, showing my time in a chapel filled with twinkling lights as I spoke with a Paladin of the Silver Hand,  the feeling of Protection he exuded with every fibre of his being and how he held no ill will towards us.

How he heaped praise on me for my healing work, even going so far as to ask how to give honour to our gods so that he could thank them for what I did.

I showed them my time with Lorna and Darius, the shelters I erected for the refugees, the clear thanks he offered,  and his soldiers that bowed their heads respectfully to me.

And, most of all, I showed them Gilneas from above. From the skies above atop a gryphon looking down on the world, the winter snows covering so much of the country, and the sleeping realm of the Blackwald with the towering majesty of Tal'Doren at its heart. The smoking factories of the capital lying on the very edge of the horizon, the countless villages that were scattered across the Ember Hills we flew over.

The welcome thanks of townsfolk who knew my name, who knew what I was, and held so little fear.

Slowly the vision faded, some gasped for breath as I had pushed it beyond their limits. I felt exhausted, the fraying link of the ritual snapping as I pulled away.

"This doesn't mean I am so arrogant or foolish to say that I, and I alone, know best. There are those older, wiser, and more experienced than I am. But I say that these people, our people, are worthy of being helped." I stood straight as they looked at me. "And, that we no longer need to hide. The nobles know of us, the church knows of us, and yet they do not hunt us down. In fact, both Lord Crowley and Sir Magroth came to my aid when I was threatened. There will always be those that speak badly of us, but the legacy of the Inquisition is long over. Now, more than ever, is an opportunity to regain what we lost so long ago."

There wasn't silence as I finished speaking, but I was struggling to hide the effort it had taken from me to achieve what I did. There were surely better ways than hijacking a ritual and, effectively, running it in reverse.

For one, I hadn't meant to give the ritual to Tal'Doren, nor attract so much of the forest's attention in doing so.

It wasn't something I couldn't bear, but it did demand my attention in turn. Denying me the chance to try and catch the whispers running back and forth; to was focused enough, curious enough, that I could scarcely hear at all. The shifting leaves and creaking of branches a question asked that I couldn't answer.

Slowly it retreated and I breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Aderic caught my eye, noticing I was paying attention again and grinned. "I think," He said with a chuckle, "That you stole my speech."

Looking at the amused old man I felt my cheeks warm slightly. "I'm not sorry." I said, repressing my embarrassment. It was rather a spur-of-the-moment thing, though I hadn't really been part of the planning for their speeches just what needed to be done...

He let loose a loud bark. "No! No, more honest coming from the one who set it all in motion. Yes, more honest indeed." He eyed me carefully. "A question, if you would, before I explain the plan to our fellows?"

Other than those most furious in their whispers, most of those amongst us paused and went quiet, wondering what he would ask.

"Go ahead."

"Are your lessons open for old blokes like me? I'd like to learn what you just did. Make my life much easier when it comes to teaching my successor."

"Ain't that right!" Old Grims laughed, slapping me on the back. "You've been holding stuff back."

"Ah," I looked at the Speaker, the eagerness on his face to simply learn, and nodded. "All my secrets, everything I know, is on offer... Every secret that dies..." I shook my head. "Is a tragedy. However, I may have hijacked the ritual to achieve this and it wouldn't be so simple at another time. To an individual is more doable than to a crowd."

He hummed and nodded. "Still, it was," He paused, searching for a word. "Remarkable. Oh, to see the world from so high above!" He laughed happily. "Yes, indeed. I will take you up on those lessons. Trade a secret or two of my own, perhaps.

"However, it is time to return to the matter at hand." He said, turning back to the assembled Witches. "If we are to become part of our homeland properly once again, we must organise more formally. Alone and scattered, existing solely by ourselves like that of the Church of Dawn, the Royal Alchemical Society, or even the Mason's Guild, will see us fall prey to all that has availed itself upon us in the past."

"And to earn our place at the table, as equal to the Priests, the Alchemists, the Tinkers, the Mages, and even the Nobles in some ways, we must show our use." Celestine said as I returned to my spot beside Trix and Vivi. "This drought, this famine, is a danger, yes. But also opportunity. At no other time can we show our value, our strength, more than now. To make ourselves indispensable is to make ourselves untouchable."

"The effort will require many of us, and spread far and wide. But it can be done." Aderic said, nodding his head. "Those who have not the skills needed can be taught. I will do so myself, if necessary." He smiled, looking my way. "I'm sure others will help as well."

"Vivianne Mistmantle, our guest under ancient right, represents the Lord who offered to aid us in this. Who offers protection while we show our worth." Celestine said, gesturing for Vivi to come forward.

My friend did, and I smiled at her and squeezed her hand for luck as she went.

She began the explanation alongside Celestine of what had been discussed with Darius, of the soldiers who would provide escort and protection from those who might, foolishly, seek to do us harm. The permission he had gained from many a lord for us to work in their lands, the compensation on offer for our efforts.

There were many questions and enquiries as to specific parts of the plan and how they would work. Some were made in good faith, seeking a better understanding, but many more came from a place of discontent. Little more than attempts to make us out as mad.

One woman baulked at the thought of working and being guarded by a noble's soldiers and took her leave entirely. Janice, who had otherwise been interested in my lessons, didn't leave but argued the plan fiercely. Decrying any thought of trusting the nobility.

In the end, nothing would be finished today. After a few hours of discussion, Celestine called it to an end, to allow for the preparations for this evening to begin and allow people to take the time to consider by themselves. There would be more opportunities to talk and discuss the plan in the coming days, to ensure everyone knew what was to be done, but for now all that would happen is retreading the same ground.

-oOoOo-

After the long discussion ended I retreated away for a while, wanting a chance to decompress, and found myself sitting against one of Tal'Doren's roots with Tricks nestled into my lap as I watched my fellow witches bustling about. There was a fair amount to be done before the Mingling this evening, Joseline had already set up a large cast iron cauldron she'd gotten from somewhere and started brewing up a batch of the... fun tea for those who would want it.

Not far away someone was making a batch of preventatives, for obvious reasons, and I was honestly curious where they got the cauldrons from. While a couple of them were small, the one Joseline was using was big enough for me to bathe in!

I was well aware people on Azeroth were just generally stronger, and those who put the effort in pushed it to somewhat absurd degrees at times if there was any magic involved at all, but it was still an absurd thing to drag into a forest. Maybe they just left it here between the years? But there weren't any permanent structures that close and it would easily rust up. I might not know much about alchemy but I did know rust would very quickly ruin a potion or even a tea.

Vivi looked my way from where she was helping close off some private spaces with sheets and I waved at her, telling her I was fine again. She kept checking up on me after I'd wandered off but...

She seemed like she was getting involved in this part, and I'd even seen her talking to Joseline for a while. I wasn't sure what to think, really. If she wanted to, it wasn't like I had any right to stop her, and it was an opportunity for her to buck her mother, but... it didn't really sit right with me. Neither the idea of using a mind-altering substance to get in the mood nor hooking up with someone I barely knew.

Adrian wouldn't be the worst, with how easy on the eyes he was and he wasn't a bad person... but a few days wasn't enough. Not even vaguely enough.

There were a couple of others that I found attractive but I knew them even less. The only people I really knew well enough were my family, students, and friends, not that Heather had eyes for girls at all and Vivi...

Well, I knew she looked amazing but... I didn't know. She never really joined in with Lorna when she teased me, and she never talked about being interested in anyone. At least I knew Lorna liked boys, what with her crush on the prince.

The wind shifted slightly and I glanced to the side, seeing Aderic heading towards me. Celestine was off with the kids right now, she'd helped tuck Trix in with how tired she was and since she was happily married she wasn't about to take part. Automatically put on 'keep the children away from the orgy' duty.

Even if I didn't take part in that, I might try out the party a little. There'd be dancing and that could be fun, one of my favourite parts of my etiquette lessons with Lorna was when we were made to dance.

Wasn't something I'd ever done before but it was really quite nice.

"So, Gwyneth," Aderic said from right beside me, having made no sound in his approach and kept just barely out of what my vision should've been, "What's the story with the little one?"

I casually turned to him while still stroking Tricks. "Hello, Speaker," I said, nodding my head. "I met Tricks here last winter, she was caught up in a spider's web and was struggling to not get eaten with her illusions."

"I see." Aderic said, crouching down and scratching her ears lightly. "Blink Foxes are quite rare, I've only met two before. Neither were so young. I'm not sure who is more lucky, you or little Tricks." Tricks whined appreciatively as he said her name; she seemed to pick up on it remarkably quickly. "But it is good you saved her, and fortunate for your apprentice as well. None, not even I, could refuse her induction with one of the spirits offering their favour."

Frowning I found Meredith amongst the preparing witches and glared at her. The bitch. "Would I really have lost?"

"You're young. Younger than Heather, and though you are exceptionally able... many would consider that a mark against you." He hummed as my frown grew deeper. "Samantha speaks highly of you and I understand why now. There is someone you will meet in three days, the debt may have been paid but they still wish to meet with you." He gave Tricks one last scratch before he stood up.

"Who?"

Aderic shook his head with a smile on his face. "You will find out in time. Good day, Gwyneth, Tricks." He said with a bow to the fox in my lap before walking off.

As he left a few others saw an opportunity to approach, curious about my lessons and whether I'd resume them, or to ask questions about the magic I showed off. I'd already told Aderic after I'd done it that it was on offer, but I suppose not everyone heard.

Some of them were brave enough to try and reach for Tricks, but unlike Aderic she shied away from them. Whining or growling faintly if she didn't just shift to hide behind me; for all her earlier bravado she still wasn't completely comfortable with people. Even Heather, when she arrived, wasn't able to touch her.

"Really?" She said, pouting at Tricks sadly as the fox shrank away from her and hid under the root I was sat against. "Okay..."

"Sorry, Heather," I said as I sipped at the sweet honey tea Janice had offered me as my voice started to go hoarse earlier. "I'm surprised she let people this close for so long, really."

"Not even her friends, huh?" Janice said, trying to catch another glimpse of the Blink Fox.

"It makes sense, you're all birds!" Daniel joked, jabbing his thumb at his disappointingly clothed chest. "Us men are the foxes!"

I snorted. "What, are you saying I'm a man?" I puffed out my chest a little, though I immediately felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment as I drew attention to it.

"Ah, no!" Daniel backpedalled, waving his hands furiously. "Why, I would never insinuate that! You're far too lovely to be a man like us, your plumage is divine."

My cheeks warmed at the compliment. Twit went after my hair, and I did love my hair. I ran a hand through my hair and wrapped a few strands around my finger as I smiled. "I'm glad you noticed," I said, "I put a lot of effort into it." I waited a moment. "And magic. The magic helps a lot. Flying is murder on long hair, you wouldn't believe what it's like up there."

Heather laughed. "It is! It took hours to stop mine from sticking up all over the place after Lorna let me ride with her." I was glad she'd gotten over her feat of it, or at least enough to talk about it. She'd sworn off it the moment she touched the ground after begging Lorna for a go. "Not the worst part, but one of the longest lasting."

"You were wobbly for days," I teased, "Couldn't walk straight at all, miss 'sea legs'."

She pouted at me and I giggled.

Daniel pulled a bottle out of a bag. "Well, if we're going to be telling stories and playing games before tonight we should spice things up a little."

I tilted my head at it and wrinkled my nose. I wasn't much of a fan of cider. "What, like truth or dare? Or spin the bottle."

"What're those?" Vivi asked, making me jump as she'd managed to creep up behind me. I looked up at her to see her dangling off of Tal'Doren's root, her crimson hair falling around her curious face like a bright halo.

She was gorgeous up there, but the bloody breeze betrayed me! It could've warned me she was sneaking up on me!

"Hah! You can be surprised!" Rachel chortled as she pointed at me.

"Vivi cheats," I grumbled, though I was smiling anyway. "Truth or Dare's exactly what it sounds like, and kind of part of spin the bottle." I grabbed the bottle off of Daniel and put it down on the ground, which was just barely flat enough to let me spin it. "Spin it, whoever it points at gets to choose a truth or a dare. You can switch if you don't like it... but you have to drink if you do. Or just drink to dodge."

I think that was right, not that the rules for that kind of thing were terribly strict. A twister mat would be hilariously fun considering how much more flexible I was in this life. Not Vivi levels, sometimes it felt like she didn't have bones. I'd prefer board or card games, but they'd never been a priority for me to make or acquire.

"Sounds like fun." Daniel grinned rakishly, clearly liking the idea.

"Ehh... kinda sketchy." Janice hedged, looking at the bottle askance. It had landed pointing to her.

"I dare you to name three things to be banned from the list of allowed dares," I said snarkily, rolling my eyes at her as I picked the bottle back up. "Always make rules for stuff like this. Things everyone agrees with. And you can just walk away if you don't like it." Not that many people would, I knew the power of peer pressure.

Rarely worked on me, but I knew it.

Janice took a moment to mull it over. "Anything sexual. And... nothing dangerous, or that might anger Talloren."

"Reasonable." I passed the bottle to her. Daniel looked a little put-out, but that kind of fun was meant for later. "Your spin."

Around it went for a while, more bottles being fetched so we'd have something to drink from that wasn't the bottle being spun. Along the way, I got hit and got the stupid truth of 'what's your biggest secret' which I, obviously, passed on. Vivi looked at me knowingly while I gagged on the cider but even if she was half right... I put my reincarnation above knowing the future. I'd actually told people the latter.

I quickly downed my mug of tea to wash out the horrid taste of the beer – why people drank the stuff I didn't get, alcohol could actually taste nice, cherry brandy being delicious proved that – and the dare to kiss someone was easy enough.

Kissing Vivi on the cheek wasn't cheating, no matter what they said. And she blushed beautifully.