Bloody Bargain

Chapter 135

It wasn’t difficult to find the spirits' glade. Though it wasn’t as easy to get to as it had been when Marlow was making a path forward. Likewise, the place stood out not simply because of a hum of mana in the air, but how lush the grass, plants, and trees were around and in it. The place was fit to make the rest of the forest look rather shabby by comparison.

Erica took it in and recalled Elim explaining his ability, Mage Eyes. She’d always wondered why she could see things others didn’t, but hadn’t thought it was anything so grand. Really she’d never found a use for it and never expected to.

“Do you have your dagger?” Erica asked. She had one, but she’d sharpened her granddaughter’s the prior night before they put the fire out. She wanted as sharp a blade as could be managed for what she planned.

Bess nodded, patting her apron pocket. She took the small knife out and handed it to Erica when her grandmother held out her hand. It was sheathed and properly tied shut with a few twisting loops of the cord.

“That’s my good girl,” Erica said proudly. Elim had given Bess the knife and it was as precious to the girl as her dolly. Possibly a bit more given how she’d thought to take it when she woke rather than the doll.

“Now, mark what I do well. It might not always work but knowing how to deal with spirits may come in useful to you one day,” Erica added. Bess nodded and they walked into the glade hand in hand.

Like a buzzing of bees the spirits quickly made their presence known, but didn’t actually show themselves. They seemed to be nothing more than a humming pressure, though Erica could see a faint glow in the air.

“Trespass not,” a multitude of soft voices declared.

“I’ve come seeking shelter for my granddaughter, blood of my blood,” Erica replied. That got an irritated lilt to the humming.

“Why should we oblige you?” the chorus demanded.

“I offer a secret in return,” Erica replied calmly. She’d been groomed to be a Lady until she was eighteen, but she’d lived every day since as a village woman. Village women didn’t get by without wisdom.

“What secret?” the chorus asked.

“Will you promise to protect my granddaughter if it pleases you?” Erica asked, sidestepping the trap. If she’d spoken before getting it they’d have owed her nothing.

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“...Yes,” the chorus replied. It was softer than before, as if some of its speakers had dropped out.

“Earth and water, they are two, yet in me, they are one,” Erica said softly.

“That cannot be,” the chorus replied, this time stronger than before.

“Protect this child until the coming dawn, and I will prove it,” Erica said flatly. They’d already promised, but it was always good to double down on things like that.

A tunnel opened into the heart of a thorn thicket. The spirits would protect Bess, but it was nice to see a green fortress of barbs an inch long between her and anyone with ill intent regardless.

“We will! Now prove it!” The voices demanded.

Erica took Bess’s knife and cut a shallow line on her arm. Enough to bleed freely, but not deep or long enough to need stitching. She hadn’t brought her sewing kit.

A pop-up appeared informing Erica she’d been injured and a potion had been issued. She could feel the weight of it in her apron pocket. The magic that granted them apparently considerate enough to take the fact one hand was full and the other closed into account.

“Taste it and know I speak the truth,” Erica said resolutely.

There was a fluttering in the air, like the beating of small wings. The blood on her arm smeared as the spirits tasted it. It was a ticklish feeling, like a hundred little kisses. When the last of them had their fill her arm was clean and the wound closed as if it had never been.

“It is true, you are true,” they whispered in confused awe.

Erica cleaned Bess’s knife on the back side of her own apron. She handed it back while the child looked at her with big eyes. It was definitely a first. Though things had been strange for some time since Elim had made his deal with 42, Bess hadn’t been privy to most of that.

“Go on now, the spirits will protect you,” Erica said, relieved things had gone well. Spirits that had more to do with people were harder to impress.

“You come too,” Bess replied sternly, holding out her hand.

Erica shook her head, taking off her cloak. She put it around Bess’s shoulders as she knelt down to take the girl's hands.

“I’ve things to do dearest, but I won’t be far and I’ll come back for you by dawn at the latest,” Erica assured her. Bess frowned at that, but after a moment nodded, expression solemn.

“Promise?” Bess asked.

“Promise,” Erica replied, equally solemn.

Reassured, Bess pulled the cloak tight and took off into the tunnel. Erica watched her go, the greenery shifting closed behind her and hiding her quite well.

Erica could have asked to be protected too, but knew the spirits were more helpful to children than adults by all accounts. They asked lighter prices and were kinder in their dealings with them. It was better all around that she simply looked after herself.

Stepping out of the glade proper, Erica moved around its edge, looking for her own hiding spot. She was also filling her pockets with any good-sized stones she happened to see, of which there were plenty. Small, but relatively heavy, they’d likely fly well.

In the end, Erica settled on a stand of trees with thick brush surrounding them. It would offer cover and make her difficult to see if anyone actually managed to track her so far.