Chapter 10: The Chariot
“Take over the world?” Emily mouthed, eyes wide.
What the heck was she talking about?
“You want to take over the world?” Emily repeated, knitting her eyebrows.
“Of course!” Greta laughed, “Who doesn’t dream of world domination?”
“Look,” Greta said with a serious expression, “You want to get home and I can get you there. All I require is a little help.”
Emily frowned, “How can I trust you?”
“What? You doubt me?” Greta gasped, feigning horror.
Emily’s frown deepened.
“Okay fine. We’ll sign a magical contract,” Greta submitted, summoning a scroll and a quill from thin air.
“The terms are pretty simple. I’ll get you home and all you have to do is convince the other witches across the continent to join my army. If at any point one of us betrays the other, we’ll die.”
Emily hesitated, “How am I supposed to get the other witches to follow you?”
Surprise appeared in Greta’s eyes, “Can’t you make them fall in love with you or command them?”
“I guess so,” Emily said warily, not wanting to divulge the secret of her powers.
“Then it’s settled,” Greta smiled, clapping her hands, “Sign here.”
The contract and quill gently drifted into Emily’s hands. She looked over the contract with extreme care, making sure there was nothing that could be used against her.
After confirming that the contract was sound, she signed it.
Greta grinned widely and reached out her hand, “Now we’re partners!”
Emily reluctantly shook her hand, “So it would seem.”
“As you read, the time limit is indefinite, so there’s no rush. However, it should go without saying that the sooner you complete the deal, the sooner you get to return to your world,” Greta explained.
Emily nodded in understanding, “How many witches are there and where can I find them?”
“Yurat told you there were ten continents right? There’s a witch on each of them. You’ve already found me so there are nine more to go.”
“Why are all the witches spread out?” Emily wondered aloud.
“It’s an unspoken rule. We’re a territorial bunch. Every once in a while a new witch pops up. We usually kill them quickly,” Greta grinned ferally.
“You would have killed me?” Emily asked warily.
“I was going to, but you’re too interesting to let die,” Greta laughed lightheartedly.
A question popped up into Emily’s mind.
“You aren’t afraid of me?” she asked Greta.
“Why would I be afraid?” Greta asked blankly.
“I could force you to obey my orders,” Emily said provocatively.
Greta waved her hand dismissively, “I have my own secrets. I’m not too worried.”
Emily’s heart thumped. Greta’s confidence made her worried. She would have to be extremely careful of the witch.
Greta opened her mouth, “Before we go, there’s something we should take care of first.”
“What would that be?” Emily asked curiously.
“King Antillus,” Greta spat, the words laced with venom, “He’s tried to kill us both in the past. We should repay the favor.”
Emily was curious about the relationship between Antillus and Greta but didn’t say anything.
“How far away are we?” Emily asked.
“A few months if we travel on foot,” Greta frowned.
“Can’t you teleport?” Emily asked, thinking back to Yurat’s display.
Greta shook her head, “I don’t specialize in space magic. Nature magic is what I’m best at.”
“Anyways,” Greta continued, “We can leave in a couple days, I’m sure you’re tired from travelling. Get some rest.”
Emily obeyed and made herself comfortable in the witch’s abode.
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The following days Emily drew The Two of Pentacles, The Six of Swords, and The Nine of Wands. On the fourth day she drew THE CHARIOT.
“Well that was convenient,” Emily thought, staring at the structure in front of her.
A carriage materialized in front of her. Four horses and a phantom coachman stood on standby.
“You’re just a bundle of tricks, aren’t you?” Greta laughed, “How long with this last?”
“One day,” Emily admitted.
“Well that’s not much use then,” Greta rolled her eyes
“But I guess we might as well take advantage of it while we can. Ready to go?”
Emily nodded. Soon afterwards, she and Greta climbed on the carriage.
“To Antoire Castle,” Emily told the coachman.
At her command, the coach lurched, transforming into a streak of light.
With speed surpassing imagination, the carriage sped through the marshlands, leaving Greta’s temple far behind.
Inside of the carriage sat Greta with her mouth agape.
“Holy cinders!” she gasped in surprise.
She looked at Emily with a gaze containing admiration.
“At this rate we’ll finish half of our travel time in one day!”
Emily was surprised too, although she didn’t show it. The carriage was must faster than she had originally anticipated.
The power of the tarot cards was incredible.
“Can you summon it again when it stops?” Greta asked in excitement, “We’d be able to conquer the world in no time!”
Emily shook her head. She couldn’t. At least she didn’t think she could. She had yet to draw the same card twice.
“Shame,” Greta sighed, “This beats walking though. We’ll stop and get some horses when we get to a town.”
They spent the day in leisure. Although the carriage was moving at speeds beyond their imagination, the cabin experienced no disturbances. Traveling was smooth the entire time.
Greta was taking a nap when the carriage began to slow down.
She opened an eyelid, “Done already?”
With a stretch, she opened up the carriage door and exited. Emily followed closely behind.
After they exited, the construct disappeared with a poof.
Greta gazed around with a finger on her lip. After a minute she pulled out her wand and stuck it into the soil.
“We’re two days away from the nearest town.”
“I hope you don’t mind walking a bit,” she smiled.
“Not at all,” Emily shook her head. She had experience plenty of hardships in the past. A little bit of walking would be nothing to her.
As the two girls walked, Greta began asking Emily questions about her home world.
“What’s your family like?”
Emily clenched her fists.
“My father is a wealthy merchant,” Emily said, using terms Greta would understand, “My mother is a healer. I have no siblings.
“That’s all?” Greta asked when she realized Emily wasn’t continuing.
“What more is there to say?” Emily frowned.
“What are their personalities like? What do they do for fun?” Greta probed.
“My father is obsessed with money. My mother is obsessed with the dead. They work too much to have fun.”
“That can’t be all. C’mon,” Greta asked, poking Emily with her fingertip.
“Enough!” Emily growled, “They aren’t worth talking about.”
“Sorry, sorry. I won’t ask again,” Greta said with a placating gesture.
However, Emily didn’t see Greta’s smile.