The first sign of dawn colored the horizon, the light reflecting off the glass bottles of tonic on Ealhwyn's medicinal shelf. The light broke Della out of her half slumber. She had drifted into a half awake reality, the images of her vision twisting themselves into demons and shadowy figures with no faces.
Both Merlin and Ealhwyn were still asleep. Merlin had fallen asleep with his head on the table again, reminiscent of the day before. Della's gaze drifted over to her aunt. She succumbed to her exhaustion from helping Nerienda deliver her child, her head resting in the crook of her arm. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered her vision, seeing the new mother lifeless on the ground. She choked back a sob, hating herself for seeing such horrors that she could not prevent.
The sound broke …show more content…
"Those two attacked me yesterday. Merlin showed them mercy…."
Ealhwyn squeezed her hand in reply.
The leader continued. "Is this the man you saw in the woods yesterday?"
"Yes Randel, sir," the taller one said. "But there's another."
The leader—Randel—smiled and Della's breath caught. Ealhwyn's grip tightened. She had not foreseen this.
Randel turned back to the crowd. "It appears there's another sorcerer among you, according to my friends here."
Della felt confusion sweep the crowd. They all knew already who the mysterious sorcerer was—but they also knew she was the one out in the woods with Merlin.
Ealhwyn had been right: nothing would ever be the same from this day forth. Her secret would be known, but would it save the village from destruction?
She let go of her aunt's hand and walked up to stand next to Merlin. A gasp went through the crowd collectively. He looked down at her, sadness in his eyes. "I'm guessing you didn't see this coming," he said quietly.
She shook her head. "No. I didn't." Her years of hiding her true nature, gone in an instant.
Voices of the villagers called out behind her.
"Della?"
"Is it true? Are they
Both Merlin and Ealhwyn were still asleep. Merlin had fallen asleep with his head on the table again, reminiscent of the day before. Della's gaze drifted over to her aunt. She succumbed to her exhaustion from helping Nerienda deliver her child, her head resting in the crook of her arm. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered her vision, seeing the new mother lifeless on the ground. She choked back a sob, hating herself for seeing such horrors that she could not prevent.
The sound broke …show more content…
"Those two attacked me yesterday. Merlin showed them mercy…."
Ealhwyn squeezed her hand in reply.
The leader continued. "Is this the man you saw in the woods yesterday?"
"Yes Randel, sir," the taller one said. "But there's another."
The leader—Randel—smiled and Della's breath caught. Ealhwyn's grip tightened. She had not foreseen this.
Randel turned back to the crowd. "It appears there's another sorcerer among you, according to my friends here."
Della felt confusion sweep the crowd. They all knew already who the mysterious sorcerer was—but they also knew she was the one out in the woods with Merlin.
Ealhwyn had been right: nothing would ever be the same from this day forth. Her secret would be known, but would it save the village from destruction?
She let go of her aunt's hand and walked up to stand next to Merlin. A gasp went through the crowd collectively. He looked down at her, sadness in his eyes. "I'm guessing you didn't see this coming," he said quietly.
She shook her head. "No. I didn't." Her years of hiding her true nature, gone in an instant.
Voices of the villagers called out behind her.
"Della?"
"Is it true? Are they