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“Dry,” says Mother. “Unsuccessful. The king is sending me back again with another earth witch. She does not have as much power, of course, but the help could be useful.”
“I see,” I say, though my heart beats wildly at the thought of being able to go to the vampire castle in peace. “How long do you think you’ll be gone this time?”
Mother hums irritably. “I do not know. The king is worried about the cracks in the land. He thinks if we can seal up the smaller ones, he can fill the larger one. Or something of the sort. I lost interest in his spiel and cannot remember exactly what he said.”
“When will you leave?”
“In a few days. Our food supply is low here, and I will restock before leaving.” She eyes me in my dress, which fits the same as it always has. “Although, perhaps only vegetables will suffice while I’m gone. Have you avoided baking?”
“Yes, Mother.” She can do what she wants, but deep down, I know as soon as I’m at Raúl’s, I am able to eat whatever I want that is healthy and filling. I smile to myself. Except for the dessert, that is. Why she makes a fuss is beyond me, anyway. It is not like anyone is looking at me besides her. At least, to her knowledge.
“I did bring this for you,” Mother says. She disappears to her room for a second, and returns carrying a medium-sized pot. She sets it on the table and opens the lid, peering inside. “This is filled with rice and beans.”
I peer inside. The food is mixed, filling it to the top.
“It must be separated,” she says, “before we can cook it.”
“You want me to do it?” I say. I try to keep the incredulity out of my tone, but a note of it passes through.
Mother raises an eyebrow and folds her arms. “Is that a problem?”
“No, Mother.” I pause. “It seems like it will take a long time.”
She stares at me with a lip curled up. “What else do you have to do?”
My shoulders drop. “Nothing, Mother.”
“Exactly. I’m off to the market. Let down your hair.”
Obeying, I walk to the window and throw my hair out, watching as she disappears on the portal stone. Determination rips through me. I will learn to use that portal. I will no longer be bound to this miserable tower with sorrow seeped into the walls, holding me hostage.
“Nava, how far can you watch someone?”
You mean the witch? Nava chuckles. She has unknown travelers in her bag.
I grin. Perfect. “Please tell me when she’s on her way. We have work to do.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Once I am sure Mother is well and gone, I march straight up to her quarters. The mirror remains on her desk, and I pick it up, staring into the glass. Taking a deep breath, I grasp a braid.
“Where is Dreselda?”
The mirror clouds over. A house appears, small and wooden, next to a giant tree. “Nava, do you see this?”
Yes.
“Are the spiders able to find it?”
Yes.
The image fades, and I set it down on the dresser in its exact spot. Gritting my teeth, I venture further inside, and go up the stairs to Mother’s workroom.
The smell of burned hair taints the air, mixed with copper and bitter herbs, and I gag. I pinch my nose and I walk to the bookcase. Quickly, I locate the grimoire, the same one I had used before.
“Time for some tests.” I scan the spells listed at the beginning until I find the one I’m looking for. A healing spell, one to cure ailments of the skin.
The ingredients required are similar to those Mother uses to make the salve, meaning they are already in the kitchen. I grab a paper from a stack nearby, and a quill, to copy everything down. I could take the book downstairs, but I didn’t want to risk Mother coming home with it out of her room. The consequences would be… undesirable.
