The Witch's Apprentice: Chapter 17
A Whisper of A Garden
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In Chapter 16, Sarah woke up in Dreamwater Depths after successfully curing Bás Báta’s cracked tooth. After taking some time to recover, she and Lix were escorted through the breathtaking underwater city of the Fae. When we left them, they were standing outside the grand doors to the queen’s throne room.
Now, let’s get back to the story to see what happens next.
Chapter 17: A Whisper of A Garden
The throne room was unlike anything Sarah had ever seen. The high ceilings arched like the inside of a cathedral, made from a blend of coral and pearlescent stone that seemed to shift in color as she moved. Light filtered through stained glass panels that stretched along the walls, casting vibrant patterns on the polished floor. As she walked toward the queen, who was sitting on a dais of glowing crystal, Sarah had the distinct feeling that the air itself was alive with magic.
The queen’s gaze fixed on Sarah, steady and sharp. Time seemed to slow, each second dragging longer than the last. The air felt heavy, clinging to her skin and refusing to move. Even small sounds—her own breath, the faint rustle of fabric—seemed louder in the stillness. Lix stirred in the pocket under her dress, his tiny claws brushing against the fabric as he shifted nervously. A scaly nose poked out for a brief moment before vanishing again with a soft chirp. Sarah’s fingers twitched at her sides, but she took a breath, then steadied herself, and stepped forward.
“Sarah,” the queen said, her voice smooth but strong. “You have done a great service in healing Bás Báta’s shattered tooth. His pain was no small burden on my realm.”
Relief and nervousness twisted in Sarah’s chest under the queen’s steady gaze. She rubbed the fabric of her skirt between her fingers, searching for something to anchor herself.
“I’m glad I could help,” she said, her voice smaller than she intended.
The queen inclined her head slightly, then continued. “You came seeking knowledge of Yolonda, the witch of High Rannoc. What I know is this: Yolonda was last seen in the Gardens of Ynn, high in the Rannoc Ranges. She was working on a project, though what it was, I cannot say. The gardens are vast and dangerous, but deep within them lies the Tower of Thalnor, built by a wizard long ago.”
“Do you think her disappearance has something to do with the tower?” Sarah asked, frowning.
For a moment, the queen’s expression softened, though her guarded demeanor remained. “What draws mortals to such places often defies reason. If Yolonda ventured there, then whatever you seek may be found within its walls. But tread carefully. The tower has stood for ages, and its secrets are not easily claimed.”
Sarah’s throat felt dry, and she swallowed to clear it, though it didn’t help much. “Is there anything else you can tell me about the Gardens of Ynn?”
The queen’s lips curved slightly, but her eyes remained distant. “I’ve given all the help I can, child,” she said, her voice quiet and heavy. She looked at Sarah for a moment before turning away. With a small motion of her hand, she gestured to the servant nearby. “See that the guards escort her and her pet safely to the surface.”
At her words, Sarah could feel Lix turning in her pocket, but apparently he’d decided to stay hidden. As they left the throne room and the grand double doors closed behind them, he poked out his head, muttering under his breath, “Pet? I am no pet! I’m a dragon, thank you very much! A noble, majestic dragon! She should be bowing to me!”
Sarah suppressed a laugh, grateful for his familiar grumbling. “Well, noble dragon,” she teased, “let’s get back to the surface before you start demanding a throne of your own.”
When Sarah and Lix finally reached High Rannoc, it was already getting dark. The sky was gray, and the wind carried the promise of a storm. As she flew over the village, she glanced at the cottage that had become her home but decided to head to the Frog and King instead. She needed answers about that garden. Hopefully, Karmora knew something about it.
Inside, a few regulars sat scattered at the tables, talking in low voices. The hearth crackled, its warmth pushing back the chill that seeped in through the walls. Shadows flickered across the wooden beams, and the shutters rattled faintly in the gusts outside.
Karmora looked up from a glass she was polishing and smiled when she saw Sarah. “Come in and close the door. It is bitter cold outside tonight.” For a moment, she disappeared into the kitchen, but then returned with a bowl of fruit.
“For your little friend,” Karmora said with a grin, placing the fruit on the table nearest the hearth.
Lix didn’t waste a second, darting from Sarah’s shoulder to the bowl and grabbing a pear with both claws. He chattered something that sounded like thanks before settling on the edge of the bar to gnaw on his prize.
“And you look like someone who could use something hot,” Karmora added, turning her attention back to Sarah. She ladled a steaming cup of tea from the kettle hanging over the fire and slid a plate of bread and stew onto the bar. “You look half-frozen. Sit down, eat something. Whatever you’re here for can wait until you’ve warmed up.”
Sarah smiled gratefully and sank into the chair nearest the hearth, letting the fire’s warmth seep into her chilled bones. She wrapped her hands around the mug, savoring the heat and the faint scent of chamomile. It was a simple meal, but it smelled delicious, and it was exactly what she needed after flying back from the loch.
Karmora leaned on the bar, watching her with a raised eyebrow. “So,” she said after a moment, “what brings you out on a night like this?”
Sarah hesitated, glancing at Lix, who was happily crunching away at his pear. She took a sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through her, before setting the mug down with a soft clink. “I need to ask you about the Gardens of Ynn,” she said finally, her voice low but steady.
Karmora set her tankard down with a thud. “The Gardens of Ynn, eh?” she said, her voice low. “Haven’t heard anyone talk about that in a long time.”
Karmora leaned on the bar, watching her with a raised eyebrow. “So,” she said after a moment, “what brings you out on a night like this?”
Sarah hesitated, glancing at Lix, who was happily crunching away at his pear. She took a sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through her before setting the mug down with a soft clink. “I need to ask you about the Gardens of Ynn,” she said finally, her voice low but steady.
Karmora set her tankard down with a thud. “The Gardens of Ynn, eh?” she said, her voice low. “Haven’t heard anyone talk about that in a long time.”
Her gaze flicked to Henry, then back to Sarah. She leaned forward, elbows on the table, her face half-lit by the fire. “Years ago, adventurers used to come through here, all eager for whatever treasures they thought were hidden in that cursed place. Riches, rare magic—you name it. And some of them did come back, pockets full of coin. But most?” She shrugged. “Most never made it out.”
“And the ones who did?” Sarah asked quietly.
“They weren’t the same,” Karmora said, her eyes distant. “Jumpy, broken. They’d mutter about paths that moved when you weren’t looking and voices whispering things that didn’t make sense—promises, threats. And the air...” She trailed off, staring into the fire for a moment. “They said it felt... alive. Like it was watching.”
Lix tilted his head. “What kind of voices?”
Karmora waved him off. “How should I know? The ones who came back weren’t exactly chatty. And the ones who were... well, they didn’t make much sense.”
Henry cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “My uncle knew a guy who went in,” he said. “Came back saying there were thorns growing in his head, trying to push through his eyes.”
Lix stopped mid-bite, his wings twitching. “That’s... not good.”
“No, it’s not,” Henry said. “The poor man dropped dead before morning.”
“They call it the Idea of Thorns,” Karmora said, standing up from the table. “Some kind of madness that got loose in there a long time ago. Twisted the place into what it is now.”
Sarah frowned. “What is it now?”
“It’s not just a garden,” Karmora said, her tone sharp. “It’s alive, in its own way. The deeper you go, the less sense it makes. Paths loop back. Landmarks move. And if you’re not careful, it doesn’t let you leave.”
Lix put down his pear. “Alive like a forest? Or alive like it’s thinking?”
“Thinking,” Karmora said. “And waiting. You think you’ve seen strange? The Gardens of Ynn will make you question everything you think you know.”
Karmora leaned back, her sharp eyes fixed on Sarah over the rim of her glass as she took another slow sip of ale. She set the glass down with a thud, her expression both curious and cautious. “Now tell me, girl, why you’re asking about the Gardens of Ynn. Let me guess—the queen of the Fae put you up to it?”
Sarah looked at him, then at Henry and Karmora. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but at least she wouldn’t have to face it alone.
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