Page 30 of The Noldrin Witch

“Who cares,” another said, pulling Morgaine into a hug. “What matters is what it gets you.”

Elise’s senses sharpened at once. Thankfully, no one came to verify the authenticity of her own assets. The women, after their inspection of Morgaine, seemed to remember she existed and turned to her with approving smiles.

“And who’s this beauty?” the one with the patch asked.

Morgaine laughed. “Dear Mirel, where are my manners?”

Elise stepped to her side as Morgaine gathered herself, drawing a breath as if to present a debutante.

“This is Elise. She’s my new apprentice.”

There was a collective murmur, and more witches drifted in to meet the newest member of the trade.

“Don’t worry,” Morgaine said. “She’s nothing like Francella.”

Elise’s ears pricked. She didn’t know who Francella was, but judging by the reaction, the woman had left a poor impression. A small stir of unease rose in her chest. She was determined to do better than any past pupils Morgaine had taken. She was here, and she was ready to learn as much as she could…or at least as much as her better judgment would allow.

The witch with the patch leaned closer to Elise as if inspecting a horse for sale. She even had the delicacy to give a firm pinch to her cheeks.

“You’re pretty, but I can tell you’ve lived far too bound by propriety,” she grumbled. “You need to loosen up.”

“Leave her alone,” Morgaine said. “She likes it that way. I’ve already begun my work on her.”

Another witch raised a brow and smiled. “Good. You need to give yourself to the world, my dear. It’s the only real magic there is.”

“What do you mean?” Elise asked.

“I mean, you are in the right place, darling. My name is Isadore, and I can tell you have what it takes to become one of us. I’m the closest to an oracle you’ll see. I’ve seen the past, the present, and with a bit of the right wine, even the future.”

“Again with that?” a witch with red hair cut in.

The redhead witch looked at Elise with soft eyes and took her arm. “Don’t let her frighten you. We’ve been around far too long. We founded this coven, but the only future Isadore has seen is the one that ends in a man’s bed.”

“That was during the unrest,” Isadore retorted. “Everyone was on their own. It was each against the other. What was I supposed to do? It’s the necessary elixir for a witch’s full awakening.”

“If you say so.”

Isadore shrugged. “It was the only way I could unleash my full power.”

Everyone, Morgaine included, began to laugh. Elise stood there, mildly amused by the talk. She was just scandalized enough to keep listening, and just interested enough not to leave. Perhaps she was still too pious for all this. It was true she was bound by fewer rules of morality than a regular God-fearing soul, but it seemed she still had some way to go before acquiring a proper witch’s mindset.

Elise was deep in thought when the fire before them swelled and then parted with a violent roar. Sparks flew, and everyone stepped back. Then, as if the curtain to Hell had been thrown open, two figures appeared amid a rush of steam.

“Ladies, ladies,” a man’s voice called.

The figures came into view as the vapors spread. They were two men dressed in black, each wearing a hooded cloak, and as soon as one of them took it off, Elise could tell the man was of high standing. His smirk never left his lips, and his face was the sort that could pass for a piece of art. Even if the strapping fellow could have been Elise’s father, she could tell that a specimen of that sort would have no trouble securing the interest of maids of any age.

Mirel was the first to greet the newcomer. “Devon, you devil.”

Elise gasped. It hadn’t occurred to her until now that by taking up witchcraft as her trade, she might be apprenticing on the less reputable side of her faith.

“Morgaine,” the man hummed, his gaze lingering in open appreciation of her dress. “You look…delicious.”

“You may look, not taste,” Morgaine replied, her eyes fixed on his.

Devon chuckled as his companion came to his side. The mysterious man remained covered, but Elise could tell his eyes were on her.

Devon must have noticed the attention on Elise, for he walked toward her and bowed.