fell, but managed to keep his balance. Straightening to full height, he dusted his brown leather trousers and a green woolen cloak pinned at the right shoulder with a copper brooch with three lunar phases on it.
Then he hurried over to the lynx, which was still bound by the collar. To Selene’s surprise, the young man practically mimicked her gesture, twirling his wrist with a wide leather bracelet on it. A wooden double-edged spear with copper tips appeared in his hand. With a flourish, he cut the chain, and the collar opened, freeing the unfortunate animal.
The lynx rubbed against its owner’s legs with a loud purr and sat down next to him, looking at Selene curiously.
“There you go, Sylva,” the mage cooed, then turned and looked back at the scene of his failed death. “There’s no worse punishment for a druid.”
Suddenly, a young woman landed on the ground like a hawk from the sky, sending up a swirl of dried leaves. Her lean, wiry figure was clad in green patterns that resembled bare branches, covering her bare skin from shoulders to wrists. A vertical scar ran across her left eye. Selene and her new acquaintance raised their weapons with alacrity. However, the druid who recognized the woman immediately lowered his spear. Selene, on the other hand, kept her daggers carefully ready. The stranger’s swamp-green eyes, devoid of pupils and flickering like will-o’-the-wisps, glittered menacingly across the clearing where her people lay unconscious.
As the witch made a threatening move toward Selene, she was stopped by her son, who exclaimed, “Mom, stop! She helped me!”
Selene knew that witches endowed with immortality could acquire not only a youthful appearance, but also a state of mature wisdom or venerable old age. This depended on which phase of their life cycle their age was fixed by their Triune Goddess. Still, she couldn’t help but be surprised to find a blood relationship between a mother and son who seemed to be about the same age. The witch studied Selene with an appraising gaze and, after making sure that there was no threat, calmed down. The green eyes dimmed, pupils appearing in them, floating out like the dark pool. Selene lowered the weapon, twirled her wrists again, and it disappeared. Approaching her son, the woman took his face in her hands and kissed him on the forehead.
“Thank the Dark Mother, you’re safe!” she exclaimed, squeezing him in her arms. “I ran as fast as I could!”
“It’s all right, my savior arrived in time,” the druid said, gesturing at Selene.
“The gods sent you!” the woman turned to her. “Thank you, Daughter of the Desert.”
Selene couldn’t think of anything to say, just nodded at her in embarrassment.
“Son, you can’t stay here,” the witch said, her eyes filling with tears. “I managed to talk my sister into sparing your life, but you know Devona, she’s not easy. You have a geis5 placed on you – instead of dying, you will be banished, you will no longer be able to be part of our coven. And no other,” her voice broke, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
The young man looked confused and sad, but quickly regained his composure and forced a smile.
He wiped a tear from his mother’s cheek with his thumb.
“And why did you have to save that fae?” asked the sad mother.
“You know me, I couldn’t do anything else,” the guy smiled gently.
“You’ve always had a kind heart. Take care of him,” the woman said, and hugged her son tightly.
Selene, who became an unwitting witness to the family drama, became uncomfortable, and she decided to quietly leave. She was already deep in the forest and walking along the path when she heard the sound of quick footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw a young mage hurrying towards her. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
The druid caught up with her and stood with his hands on his knees to catch his breath. His heart was pounding. His lynx appeared on a nearby tree branch.
“What else do you want?” Selene asked irritably.
“I still haven’t thanked you for saving me,” he said, panting.
“A simple ‘thank you’ is enough,” the girl replied, and turned to continue on her way. To her annoyance, however, he followed her.
“I’m Frey,” the mage said.
“Selene,” she said reluctantly.
She didn’t really want to reveal her name, and she’d already left enough traces here.
“Where are you going?” Frey asked curiously.
“What’s it to you?”
“You heard I’m an outcast now, so we’re in the same boat.”
Selene stopped, already beginning to regret saving his life.
“Look, if you’re going to come after me, you shouldn’t. I’m not the most reliable travel companion. I’m a wanderer, just like you,” she tried to dissuade him, but he was adamant.
“So much the better. I’ve always wanted to see the world,” he said cheerfully.
“You’re too optimistic for an outcast,” Selene said grimly.
She had heard from the Heka6 priests in her homeland that witches who left their coven for any reason were considered outcasts and despised by other witches. After all, when you go your own way and don’t look back at anyone, you become impossible to control.
“One door closes, another opens,” Frey said, smiling.
Selene rolled her eyes again and shook her head. They walked in silence for a while, until Selene realized that she didn’t know the way.
And then a thought occurred to her, “You really can help me, you know. Take me to the nearest settlement, or I’ll change my mind and eat you.”
Frey stared at her for a moment, then smiled.
“Just promise not to kill anyone.”
“I won’t promise anything about you,” Selene said, a slight smile on her lips.
“We’ll definitely get along,” the druid said, grinning broadly.
“I doubt it,” Selene muttered, realizing that for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t alone.
Chapter 4
When Selene returned to the palace, the sun had already set. She walked through corridors decorated with gold sconces, huge paintings, and other works of art. Her footsteps echoed off the marble floor. All the way there, she wondered why she had been summoned to the Prince’s presence so urgently. As she approached the tall double doors, she nodded to two guards in strict black suits, who let her inside.
Once in the large and luxurious hall, decorated with dark marble and wood, lit by many candles, Selene bowed her head respectfully as she greeted the man sitting on the dais in a high carved chair. His scarlet eyes strained over the lines of paper,
In Celtic mythology, it is a taboo prohibition, the violation of which entails death on the night of Samhain.
Ancient Egyptian god of magic.
