Stupid stubborn Edeline.

Hamond had privately told Nela a while back about Edeline's reaction on seeing the rite for the first time, a warning of sorts. It had been in regards to Ronny, but she'd assumed it would apply here as well. So in the name of crossing two bridges together, Edeline could be left behind and make sure Jelinia stayed out of trouble. That would take all of Edeline's focus, so it would serve well to keep from being reminded of her single scarred ear.

But no, Edeline had to insist on all of them coming along and watching. She got nothing out of it, other than getting out of being stuck with Jelinia. Edeline didn't dislike Jelinia that much...did she? Nela was beginning to wonder.

Enough of that, she told herself. She had a job to do.

She looked down at the knife they had given her. Small and sharp. Kind of like her, now that Nela thought about it. Perfect for what they were needed for, while everyone overlooked them in favor of something bigger and flashier. At least, until the moment when they both proved their worth.

"Is there something wrong with the blade?" Ronny asked.

"No," Nela answered quickly. It was a fine knife, with no signs of rust. A good thing, since they were stuck without access to the usual herbs used for keeping the knife cuts clean. Her grandfather would probably be annoyed that she went ahead with it without those, but it was this or nothing.

She turned and made her way to the center of the clearing, near where Centurla and Astorel were waiting. It was actually larger than Nela had expected it to be, a good five hex paces from one side to the other. With how overgrown some of the forest had been on the way to Faehaven, the thin and sparse grass growing here told her that this probably wasn't natural. Not that Nela knew that much of the wilds, but this one fact she was sure of.

Emerging from behind her parents, Udeola had a hesitant look on her face. Too late for them to back out now though. It was time.

Centurla looked at her expectantly. Wait, Nela realized. Someone was supposed to give a speech acknowledging the history of the Elefae and how it all led to today, things like that. And in the absence of another elder...it fell to her.

Shit. Ronny was better at that than her by far, but he wouldn't know enough about the Elefae to speak on it. Nela concentrated, trying to recall how the previous ceremonies had gone. So many years and so much distance had passed between then and now, the memories were a vague blur.

Still, she had to try.

"Uh, you came here today for the First Ascension. Just as many came before you, all the way back...back to the beginning of the Elefae. One by one, they were all lifted up, following in the steps of the sages who swore the old oaths atop the Elefae Tor. Now, today, you will do the same with my help."

It wasn't great or all that inspiring, but it would have to do. Nela beckoned Udeola over, readying the knife. The girl moved over, looking Nela in the eye, searching for reassurance.

"It'll be fine," Nela said, reaching out with one hand to grasp the girl's right ear, feeling around to make sure of how she ought to pinch it together for the shaping.

Steady, Nela told herself as she made the cut. A quick slice on the upper ear, then holding the wound together with two fingers. Finally... "Panakeia logos." One final check to be sure, and there it was: the ear of the Elefae.

Now for the other one. The same cut, the same grip, the same spell. "Panakeia logos." And there. It was done, the rite complete. Udeola had undergone her First Ascension, and now stood there with two pointed ears.

"You look wonderful," Centurla told her daughter, smiling wider than Nela would have thought could fit on anyone's face.

"Alright, it's done." Astorel was instead serious, "Now, we should get back before anyone notices that-"

"Done already?" a hoarse voice asked, echoing through the clearing. "And only one child too. A shame, isn't it?"

Everyone spun, including Nela, to see the speaker leaning against a tree across the way. It was an aged woman in a ragged dress with long graying hair. Not an elf, Nela realized, as the woman pushed off the tree and walked out into the clearing. Just an old lady with...

...with only one arm. The woman's other sleeve floated empty in the breeze.

Nela shuddered, not wanting to even think what could have caused that kind of injury. Healers could do a lot, but a severed arm was beyond her. Of course, it probably wasn't a recent injury, so that made her doubly unable to help.

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"What are you doing here?" Astorel demanded, putting himself between his family members and the woman.

"So easily frightened," the woman said, clearly mocking. "Rather funny, since you're all so bold to try to pull off a sneaky First Ascension right under everyone's noses. I just had to come see it for myself, you know."

"Who are you?" Nela's annoyance was rising. This was supposed to be a ceremony for Udeola, not meant for some random woman to drag her arse from who knew where to come prying into.

"Oh, you don't recognize me? Young ones these day are such a disappointment." The woman sighed, then grinned slyly. "But I think he might."

She extended her arm to point at Hamond, who stood there...shaking? Completely terrified, actually. Edeline was holding one of his arms, trying to comfort him, but it wasn't having much effect. Shit, just who was this woman that left Hamond like that after just seeing her?

"You're the Witch of Wrath, aren't you?" Ronny said quietly.

Ronny would know. But that name...it seemed familiar, in some way, but Nela could not remember ever hearing it. It almost sounded like some big-name thaumaturge. There shouldn't be any this side of Hyarch, but with that knight who had that one spell, who knew? Not her, that much was sure.

"There we go. Not that hard to know who I am, is it?" The woman, whatever her actual name was - Nela wondered if it was some kind of big secret - laughed, long and loud and alone.

"Is there...there a point to any of this?" Centurla also looked afraid, but still spoke.

"You tell me. Is there a point to giving one single child a rite when so many children don't get it?"

"If it's that easy, you're blind." Astorel fired back. Nela considered if she ought to go put him under a sleep spell. If she was truly this Witch of Wrath, threatening her would be a terrible idea.

"Oh, I see alright." The look on the woman's face turned fierce. "I see two elves who helped their child, ignoring that any friends of their child would have to sit there and ask why they don't get the same. I also see a healer who, for whatever reason, forsook helping everyone who could be helped."

Nela's face burned. "You don't know anything!"

"I know cowards when I see them." Another smile, this one now without any humor or joy. "But that's the thing about cowards. Sometimes all they need is a little nudge to get things moving."

"And you think this counts as a nudge?" Ronny stepped forward. "I do not think your words will have the effect you want here."

"Is that so? I'll just have to speak up a little louder then." The Witch of Wrath took a deep breath. "Phonodynamis!"

Nela crouched, expecting some magic, a spell to come bursting down upon them all. Instead, there was nothing. The sun still shone, the grove still stood, everyone there still unharmed, if shaken. In the middle, the woman stood, still with a mirthless smile.

Then she opened her mouth.

"Everyone! The First Ascension rite is being held in this grove!"

The ground shook as the roaring amplified voice of the Witch of Wrath tore through the formerly peaceful air. Nela tumbled over and landed on one knee. She had felt that, in her bones, in her belly. Her ears stung from the sheer force of the words.

Astorel and Centurla huddled together with their daughter, in an attempt to shelter her. Edeline and Hamond had clung to each other, embracing tightly. Ronny, while the only one unbowed, was still wincing from the fury of the spell.

Seemingly unaffected by her own spell, the Witch of Wrath gave them all a wide smile. "That enough of a nudge for you?" she said, having apparently dismissed the spell. "I wonder if the men positioned up on the wall heard me."

Nela paled, snapping her head around to stare in that direction, even though the trees obscured the view. She had no doubt that anyone up there, or anyone near the other side of the walls of Kelshir, had also heard. So would every single person in Faehaven, elf or not.

"What have you done?" Astorel screamed, with rage that gave even Nela pause.

"I gave an announcement. What did you think that was?" The woman turned to Nela. "And you better get ready. You're going to have a busy day."

Nela froze, the implications hitting her. All those children who had been denied the First Ascension, now knowing of it, would want it. No one, not any of them, not even the elders who had forbidden the practice to begin with, would be in a position to deny them. And with whatever other healer there was in hiding...she, Nela, would have to handle it all.

Astorel broke away from his wife, fist clenched as he rushed forward.

"Gaia maceria!"

A wall of earth and roots rose in an instant, right between the Witch of Wrath and Astorel. The man only just managed to stop himself before he ran straight into it, before stumbling a step back. It loomed, taller than even Ronny.

It was only a hex paces wide, though. Edeline, already off to the side, took a few quick steps over to see on the other side. "She's gone already."

"That fast?" Ronny asked, staring bleakly at where the woman had been.

Nela was all that not surprised. Of course she had ran off and left them to deal with the mess she'd made. For all the talk of them being cowards, this Witch of Wrath was no better.

What an arse.

Astorel stood there, still gazing on the raised section of dirt and roots, chest heaving. Still angry, but with no one to direct it at.

"I'm sorry," Udeola said quietly, approaching her father.

"No," Centurla answered, sweeping her daughter into a hug. "None of us knew who that was, or that she would show up. It's not your fault."

Astorel turned, slumping slightly as he calmed down. "It'll be fine. We'll...we'll deal with it."

"No," Nela told them, "I'm the healer here. If they have a problem, they can talk to me." Unlike a certain someone, she wasn't going to throw a random family into the fire. Ronny might complain, but like she had said last night, this was her problem to solve.

"They're coming," Hamond said. He had been staring out into the forest, still a bit shaken.

It was time then. Old man, if only you could see this, Nela thought to herself as the first shapes of people - elves - made their way into the clearing. She could do this.

She hoped she could do this.