She showed her claws. Birds’ claws on woman’s hands! Fiona shuddered.
В«Yes, IВ see, IВ see!В» Her brother brushed herВ off.
Fiona seemed toВ have lost her only protector. Orvel gave up. The newfound Queen ofВ Sultanit bent over Fiona again and tugged her hair painfully.
В«She is aВ redhead! All redheads are sorceresses. They must be tortured and burned.В»
Fiona did not have time toВ object, and no one would have listened toВ her. Ornella had already summoned the guards.
The guards here were empty-headed inВ the literal sense. It was as if they had been turned into sleepwalkers. They moved like machines.
В«Go toВ the bonfire!В» Ornella ordered. В«And go quickly!В»
«It’s not fair!» Fiona screamed. «I am not a witch! You are the witch!»
Ornella’s face grew icy as she stepped toward the troubled condemned woman. Only her anthracite eyes flashed furiously with anger. Now she’s going to attack!
В«My dear!В» Ornella lifted her lips toВ her ear as if toВ kiss her cheek. В«Never confuse witch and werewolf!В»
And a bird’s claws slid across her shoulder, marking her like a brand.
Fiona cried out inВ pain, not outrage. She was dragged up the stairs and down the luxurious corridor ofВ the castle, which appeared toВ lead through an intricate network ofВ galleries and balconies, all the way toВ the front door.
On the way she ran into Condor. He was handsome as the dawn and as angry as the devil himself.
В«What does it mean!В» He shouted inВ fury.
The guards and Ornella all fell to their knees. They were frightened of him, weren’t they? Are they afraid of him? Fiona held her breath. Maybe he could help her out. He didn’t like her at first sight. But she saw him, and her heart leapt at him like a bird in a cage.
How handsome he was! And how inaccessible! Ornella’s other brothers like her, and she is attracted to someone who doesn’t care about her.
В«It is just the execution ofВ the witch who has worn out the king with her black magic!В» Ornella commented.
В«Is it just one witch?В» Condor looked at Ornella as if he expected her toВ be dragged toВ the bonfire. В«Really, the greatest evil is letting aВ witch get so bad that she sits on the throne and runs the whole country.В»
В«Shut up!В» Ornella shushed him. В«Remember the arrangements!В»
Condor weighed his chances ofВ winning the debate and nodded silently. Fiona was dragged along.
The fire fairies were already flying over the square and spitting fire, forming aВ large bonfire. The executioner stood idle. And inВ such aВ witch land they still burn witches! Magic is everywhere.
What on earth possessed her toВ go up into the mountains and encounter an entire witch royal community? Curiosity is aВ nasty trait! It was curiosity that had led her toВ the bonfire, and toВ unrequited love. She tried toВ twist herself inВ the hands ofВ the guards so that she could get another look at Condor. She wished that the last thing she would see before she died was him, not the evil fire fairies.
В«Send for Rokuela, or go yourself!В» Condor whispered, addressing someone who was hovering outside the gallery windows.
Fiona did not have time to get a closer look. She was tied to a thick pole and literally thrown onto already burning piles of straw. Flames were about to rise to her ankles. The firefighters laughed merrily, a red-headed circle circling the square. For them, the execution was a feast. The flight of fiery bodies was like a dance or a monotone firework display. Sparks flew off in all directions. Someone in the crowd scolded angrily when a shower of sparks hit his family. Everyone came to see the witch’s execution, though it was late, and a storm was brewing on the sea beyond the square. Ornella herself watched from her high balcony. She had no shortage of regal grandeur. The people respected her and took off their hats in front of her. Women curtsied, hoping she would notice them. She really was the local leader.
With aВ wave ofВ her hand, the firewomen obediently rushed toВ fan the flames, crawled over piles ofВ straw, and dived for the pole toВ which the witch was tied.
Fiona felt her feet burn. She was on fire. Tongues ofВ flame licked at her shoes. The flames were biting. The Condor watched indifferently from the tower. At least he would be the very last thing she would ever see. His face is as beautiful as aВ mural ofВ an angel. Even more beautiful! And he himself is even more soulless than the cold celestial creatures. It is as if he were not looking at an execution, but at an empty square. He could at least put on aВ look ofВ sorrow as aВ courtesy.
Ornella wasn’t hiding her feelings. She was ready to applaud the fire fairies. They were so successful in burning one witch that they could ignite the whole square. If such a selfish woman ruled Sultanit, the country would turn to hell. It already was hell. Fiona cringed at the pain in her shoulder. Only a werewolf could have left such deep wounds that were now scarlet on her skin. Ornella had bird claws, after all! What if she really was a werewolf? Then it was a good thing her scratches were contagious. She wished she could turn into a bird and fly away from the fire now!
The flames licked at her feet. Suddenly it rained. Slanting streams began toВ put out the fire. The firebirds hissed inВ displeasure, but could not resist the downpour. They had toВ fly back toВ the castle. The wind from the sea carried the murmur ofВ the waves. Thunder and lightning heralded inclement weather, and aВ woman dressed inВ white flashed through the crowd. She looked like aВ sea ghost. Gray curls framed her young face. Heavy strands were held together byВ combs ofВ large seashells. Her cheekbones and forehead themselves also resembled the shape ofВ seashells. Her eyes sparkled like two magical sapphires.
It was she who was causing the rain, Fiona determined. Unknown how, but definitelyВ her!
The rope burst. Just inВ time! The hangman and the guards had just had toВ clear the square, which had been flooded byВ waves from the sea. There had never been such aВ flood. Though Fiona was free, she could not swim.
However, the white woman beckoned her. InВ the empty square she looked even more like aВ ghost.
В«Follow her!В» Voices whispered out ofВ the rain.
Fiona gasped. InВ the streams came the outlines ofВ figures. They were the ghosts ofВ the rain, so much is said. If she saw them, there would be disaster. Only Fiona was already inВ trouble. She had nothing toВ lose.
Ornella disappeared from the balcony. Probably didn’t want to get her hair wet. The firebrands hissed discontentedly at the spirits of rain, peering out of the castle windows-boys. Here they found worthy opponents. The rain spirits were no less mischievous. They danced around the walls and spat frozen water at the fire fairies. Some of the rain ghosts clung to Fiona.
В«Redhead, like fire,В» they howled. В«Fire must be put out.В»
They threw water onВ her.
В«Let her go!В» The white woman commanded as they tried toВ drown Fiona inВ the puddles.
The spirits obeyed.
В«Come on!В» The stranger held out her hand. She herself did not walk, but treaded on the water that flooded the square.
It was frightening to walk with her. She is surely a sorceress! But how else could she be saved? What if they send a chase after her from the king’s castle? She must run! But where could she run? There was only one way. She could throw herself into the waves. But the waves were rolling with something that looked like a shell or a fancy rook. Fiona was pulled into it by a stranger. As it turned out, the shell was able to move.
В«It was alive!В» shrieked Fiona.
«Don’t worry!» The stranger reassured her. «Anything is better than a fire.»
She might have been right about that, but Fiona didn’t want to drown either, nor did she want to fall into the clutches of the sea king. But it didn’t take long to worry. The shell swam for a while, and then crawled out of the waves and raced down the rain-soaked path. It glided even faster through the puddles than it did through the waves.
Fiona didn’t even dare ask the stranger where they were going.
Sea Witch
Barely had the Sultan’s castle disappeared from view as the white-haired woman sighed in relief. It was evident that her visit to the square had been difficult. Fiona eyed her companion suspiciously. It was as if she had been carried by the sea. The wagon of the great shell slid first through the rain, then through the shore waves, leaving a swirl of foam around it.
В«Thank you for bailing me out,В» Fiona murmured, though she feared the stranger was leading her into another trap.
«Thank my dislike of the Sultanit’s dynasty, not myself,» the companion straightened the folds of her white garment, which rustled like sea foam, and again it seemed that the slender woman was only part of the sea, like a nymph of waves or a naiad.
В«Who are you?В»
В«IВ am Rokuela.В»
Isn’t that the name Condor said when he sent for someone? But if she dislikes the whole Sultanit’s dynasty, why did she answer his call? Something doesn’t make sense.
«I’m Fiona.»
«I’ve already been informed of you. You’re the girl who attracted all the Sultanit’s princes at once.»
Rockwell’s white curls fluttered in the wind and resembled a whirlwind of snow. Her face was pleasant, but her cheekbones and forehead, shaped like fluted seashells, were a little alarming. She was probably a sea fairy. Only those could have such peculiarities.
While Fiona pondered, they reached the seashell cottage, erected on aВ tiny island. All the many hedges, fences and gates near it were made ofВ the bones ofВ sea creatures: fish, fairy morgen and even mermaids. Fiona gasped!
«Don’t be so embarrassed!» Rokuela helped her out of the shell, which was left swinging by the shore like a boat.
«This is the sea witch’s house!» Fiona was frightened.
«And I am the sea witch!» Rokuela pulled her forward. «Mostly they call me a sea-teller because I can tell fortunes, but that’s a nickname.»
«I won’t go to the witch’s house!» Fiona was seized by superstitious fear.
«What else can you do? If you hold out, you’ll fall into the claws of griffins. But I’m not going to force you anyway.»
Rokuela adjusted her flowing skirts and walked gracefully forward. What else could Fiona do but follow her. And it was scary to find shelter with a witch, and there was nowhere else to go. It’s scary to even look at the sky. What if Ornella sends griffins with steel claws after her? The scratches from the cave were still aching.
The rain continued toВ fall. Fiona discerned threads ofВ pearls inВ the streams, put her palm up and was surprised toВ catch not hail, but real pearls.
В«Throw them away at once!В» Rokuela demanded. В«The watermen will be furious if you do not. These pearls are only for their brides. The one who keeps them will be hauled toВ the bottom.В»
Fiona obediently unclenched her palm, tossing the pearls away. They did not fall, but dissolved into the rain.
Unusual blue birds with luxurious tails peeked out ofВ the waves and landed on aВ pile ofВ bones.
«They’re sea-birds, morrilla,» Rokuela explained. «They usually fly only in the open sea. If they land on a kingdom, it won’t be long before it sinks.»
В«IВ hope they fly toВ Sultanit!В» Fiona quipped, but the proud Morillas were not going there. Their feathers were gleaming with real blue precious stones. One ofВ those birds would be worth aВ chest full ofВ jewels. Fiona opened her mouth inВ wonder.
«Don’t you dare catch them! The Water King will be furious!» Rokuela warned her.
«I don’t!»
«It’s not beauty that makes them so useful, it’s their strength. They ward off the spirits of rain and wind, so one of them always flies with me.»
Rokuela walked toВ the lodge. Bridges ofВ skulls led toВ it on many sides, which made the house look like aВ huge spider, hanging over the sea on its own legs-bridges. On one side was aВ harmless bridge ofВ shells. It was less intimidating, so Fiona chose it. But here, too, she stumbled upon aВ mermaid skeleton stuck like an ornament inВ aВ railing ofВ shells.
«What’s the matter with you?» Rokuela wondered. «Have you never seen a live mermaid?»
«I’ve never even seen a dead one before,» Fiona mesmerized, running her finger over the mermaid’s bones and stabbing at the sharp incisions. There were no such notches on human ribs. She’d seen human skeletons in abandoned crypts and cemeteries. Morgen’s skeletons were very different from them. For example, the skull boxes, curled up to the shell-shaped ear area, were definitely those of a sea-dweller.
В«And IВ like toВ kill them or use them for magic,В» Rokuela boasted.
«Won’t the Sea King punish you for what you did to them?»
«The Sea King and I have a special arrangement! He doesn’t touch me, and I don’t touch him. But there was a time of war between me and him…»
The mermaid skeleton suddenly came toВ life and grinned. Fiona cried out. She had no idea that the hedge was alive. The skeletons it was made ofВ seemed dead.
В«So you enchanted the morgens and the mermaids?В»
В«They are only the ones who attacked me first.В»
В«IВ thought you killed them.В»
«You can’t kill them completely. They’re immortal.»
В«Are you?В»
Rokuela looked like an immortal creature. She may have looked young, but her gray hair and the ancient wisdom inВ her eyes made her seem like aВ very old woman.
«It’s a very touchy subject,» she brushed her cheekily aside. «You know you’re not supposed to ask a woman her age or her mortality.»
Surely there are many witches who want to be immortal, and that might offend them. Take Ornella, for example. Ask her if she’s mortal and you’ll get a harsh rebuke and a tantrum. Many arrogant women would like to consider them exclusively immortal fairies.
Inside the witch’s cottage was even more intimidating. Here were prepared potions of dubious ingredients, hung bundles of black herbs, in bottles instead of models of ships were sharpened rainbow and miniature storm. It’s magic! Fiona went to the window to touch a garland of dried starfish. Immediately a flock of aggressive rain spirits ogled at her from the shroud of rain. They hovered over the bridges. Each one was no bigger than a cat, but they had the fury of a lion. One spirit tried to grab hold of Fiona’s arm and douse her in salt water.
«Close all the windows!» Rokuela’s shrill command drew the shutters shut abruptly, but they shut on her command as if the house were a living organism over which the Sea Witch could have no control.
«And don’t look out, or the rain spirits will find a way to get in and tear you to pieces!»
В«But why is it?В» Fiona wondered. What had she done toВ them?
«You’re a redhead!» She pointed to her disheveled curls as if that explained everything.
«And you’re against redheads, too, like Ornella, because all redheads are witches, etc., etc.»
You’d think rain spirits weren’t witchy creatures themselves!
«It’s not about the legend of the red-haired punisher! The strands of your hair are like real fire in color. And the rain spirits hate anything fiery and are bent on destroying it.»
That’s right! She remembered how fiercely they attacked the fire spirits, and they were afraid of them. The rain spirits do have the power to defeat fire.
«And what is the tale of the red-haired punisher? I’ve never heard of such a thing!» Fiona looked at the fireplace, somehow full of water and covered by a glass screen. Inside it, as if it were an aquarium, some horrible sea creature languished. A veritable monster! In the various vials on the shelves were also imprisoned water creatures: jellyfish, stingrays, octopuses, and many unimaginable creatures whose names Fiona did not know. In one vial were shimmering real stars, as if Rokuela had managed to pull them down from the heavens.
Fiona tried toВ uncork the bottle, but the mistress ofВ the lodge stoppedВ her.
«Don’t dare!»
«What’s inside? Are they stars?»
