Witch, Cat, and Cobb Page 4

  *~*~*

  Eventually Mel announced that we had better get moving before the shops closed. She stood, and waved her hands, and I ran to the mirror in the corner to see what I looked like.

  "Oh, I don't like it," I said, rubbing my face automatically to try to touch the stubble that now peppered my chin. "I mean, not that you didn't to do a good job or anything, it's just... I don't think I'd like to be a man."

  "And what I wouldn't give to be one," said Fen wistfully as we left.

  We went to at least five different shops. Mel stocked up on food, herbs, seeds, cloth and sewing supplies, and in the back of one clothing shop while no one was looking, she quickly removed her glamour and tried on a few different pointed hats in front of the mirror before deciding on a tall black one with a sparkling purple gauze.

  "But no one sees you in them," I said as we left and she shoved it deep into one of her bags. "What's the point?"

  "The point is that I like to wear them," she said. "Isn't that good enough?"

  "It's just—" I shrugged, "—I don't understand why you make yourself look like that in public. I've seen about twenty Saishen elves since we arrived in town, and no one's looked twice at them—Ow, Fen!" Fen had dug his claws deep into my shoulder and was looking at me with his ears back. "What?"

  "Yes, Fen, what is it?" said Mel. "Care to share something with us?"

  "Nothing," said Fen, sounding miserable.

  "Do you even feel bad for what you did?" said Mel as we rounded a corner into a dark alley. She waved the glamour away, looking annoyed, and I hurried to pull up my hood, knocking Fen off my shoulders in the process.

  "Do I feel bad?" he squawked as he hit the ground. "What about what you did to me? You think this is a fitting punishment?"

  "Maybe you two shouldn't yell," I suggested, glancing at the entrance to the alleyway, where we were visible to several people in the street.

  "I didn't even do it on purpose," said Mel, "but yes, I do. At least you can go out in public without constantly being worried about being recognised and dragged off—"

  "I'm a bloody cat!" yelled Fen. "You know, I really thought I had found someone else who understood. Who felt like I did, and then you go and do this to me!"

  "If you thought that, then why did you betray me? Why did you lie—?"

  "I was desperate! Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same!"

  "No, I wouldn't have! You're the bloody sneaking coward." Mel's face was livid, her purple eyes alight with anger. "You can stay a rotten cat for eternity, for all I care."

  Fen made a noise like choking, and I lunged for him, but it was too late. He had turned on his haunches and raced off down the street, knocking over a basket of waste as he did so.

  "What was that for?" I shouted, turning on Mel. I could feel tears in my eyes, even though I was more angry than sad. "How can you be so cruel to him?"

  "You don't understand," said Mel heavily. She waved her hand, and in an instant she was back to an old crone, her face impenetrable.

  "I should go after him," I said, looking back in the direction Fen had gone.

  "If you want to be caught and taken back to the castle," said Mel. "The glamour won't last more than a few feet."

  I seethed, wishing to be as far away from her as possible. "You're horrible."

  "You shouldn't make judgements without hearing the whole story," said Mel mildly, turning to head back down the alleyway.

  "But you won't tell me the whole story!" I said, rushing to catch up with her. "What did he do that made you so angry? Does it have to do with you hiding your face?"

  "Of course it does." Mel placed her hands in her sleeves and walked slowly with her head down. "I don't know." She sighed. "Wait until we get back to the room, and I shall try to explain then."

  I desperately hoped that when we got back to the room, Fen would be there waiting for us. Of course he wasn't. Mel waved the glamour away and went to sit heavily on the bed, with her head in her hands. Worried, I went to sit next to her.

  She sighed, and sat a little straighter, wiping her eyes. "I grew up here," she said finally. "In Witches' End. Yes, really." She smiled a little at the confused look on my face. "I showed signs of magical ability early, so the orphanage I was raised in apprenticed me to one of the witches here. Turned out she was one of the best witches in town, and she raised me wonderfully. But," she paused. "It's difficult to tell without giving away things that I'm not sure Fen would want me to tell you."

  "I thought you hated him though," I said, crossing my arms.

  "I do," she said. "But it's a matter of common courtesy. Suffice it to say, he offered me a deal that I thought would be mutually beneficial, only to run when he got what he wanted and leave me with the fallout. At least, he tried to run." She gave a small, sad smile. "I didn't mean to turn him into a cat, honestly," she said. "But I won't say that he didn't deserve what he got."

  "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't realise he was like that. I've known him for years, but... I suppose I've only known him as a human for a couple of days."

  "Don't be too hard on him," said Mel with a sigh. "He's young, and I think he did it out of fear and desperation. Maybe..." She paused, staring off into the distance for a long moment. "Maybe he's right, and I would have done the same in his position. I don't know."

  "I don't think you would have," said a voice from the window, and I looked to see Fen slouching in, looking sheepish. "Mel, I... I'm sorry for what I did. You're right that I should have told you, and I knew better. I was just a coward and desperate."

  "It's alright," sighed Mel. "I suppose you've served out your punishment, as have I."

  Fen jumped down to the floor and walked towards us tentatively, looking nervous. "Do you want to trade back then?" he asked.

  "Trade?" I looked between them.

  "Do you mind if I tell her?" asked Fen, and Mel shook her head. He jumped up onto the little table next to the bed and sat with his tail curled around his feet. "We traded bodies," he explained. "I was..." He paused, looking down at his feet. "I was the Saishen Princess who disappeared."

  "What?" I stared at him. "The one my father was supposed to marry?"

  "Well, yes," said Fen. "Why do you think I sympathised with you running away? I was set to marry the prince, but I didn't want to, and I didn't want to be a princess, or a woman at all. So I ran away to the city and happened upon Mel there."

  "I was living as a woman then," said Mel softly. "But no matter how I dressed or introduced myself, people still saw me as a man."

  "But there are plenty of male witches," I said. "Aren't there? Why did you want to be a woman?"

  Mel sighed, and looked down at her hands. "It goes deeper than that," she said. "It wasn't what I wanted, it's what I am. People just couldn't see it. So when Fen offered to trade bodies, I—I jumped at the opportunity."

  "But I was dishonest," said Fen. "I didn't tell her that I was the runaway princess, and that people would always be looking for me. They tracked us down to the swamp where we performed the spell—"

  "I saw them coming and panicked," said Mel. "My first thought was to turn into my animal form and run."

  "So it really was a mistake," said Fen, his voice quiet. "Of course I got the cat body, and ran like a coward. And you were stuck with the Saishen royal guard."

  "I got away," said Mel. "That's what matters. I stayed in the forest and only ever visited the city in a glamour."

  "It's not fair," said Fen. He jumped off the table and began pacing the worn hardwood floor. "I understand if you want to trade back. I'll return to Saishen, or I'll run, and you can find someone better to trade bodies with."

  "But I like this body," said Mel shortly. "That's partly why I didn't want to turn you human, because we'd have to switch bodies again first. I'm happy, even if the only person who can see me as me is... me."

  "I can see you," I said. "Mel." I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it tightly. "You don't have to be alone. I'll stay with
you."

  Fen coughed. "Shall I leave you two alone?"

  I hurriedly dropped Mel's hand. I thought I saw a bit of a blush colour her dark cheeks. "We'll do the spell tomorrow when we get back to the cottage," she said. "Then I suppose you'll be off?"

  Fen's tail burst into a thick brush with excitement. "Really? Yes! I shall buy a lute and travel the world as a bard!"

  "I didn't know you could play," I said.

  "I'll have to get back into practice."

  "I hope my old fingers are up to the task," said Mel. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I'm going to sleep. Today has been exhausting, and I have more bloody glamours to do tomorrow."

  *~*~*

  We set out early, having been woken by Fen nearly bouncing off the walls in excitement. I couldn't really blame him. There was a steady stream of traffic heading out of the city, and we weren't alone for the majority of our journey, which meant that Mel had to keep her glamour up constantly. At last the group of elves that had been journeying alongside us fell behind and we were able to sneak off the road and into the forest.

  Fen was relentless in his excitement. He ran ahead and found the break in the wall for us, and once we had passed through, climbed back up onto the already-heavy pack on my shoulders and spent the rest of the trip practising his singing.

  "Got to get used to my new voice," he explained after a particularly warbled rendition of a Saishen forest song. "I haven't even spoken for years, never mind sung."

  "It might be easier with human vocal chords," said Mel tactfully.

  The ground became mossier underfoot, and the trees crowded over us and began to drip with moss and witch's hair. Although I missed the city and the cedar trees, it felt strangely comforting to be returning to Mel's cottage in the clearing. We had made good time, and it was only just past midday when the cottage came into view, picturesque with the colourful flowers surrounding it, and a trail of sparkling purple smoke seeping lazily from the chimney. Mel had left a potion on to stew while we were away. That proved to be a mistake when, after removing the lock spell from the door, we entered the cottage to find the floor covered in a seeping purple gunk.

  "Oh, bloody sheep's balls," said Mel, and she slumped against the wall.

  "Ew," said Fen, digging his claws into my shoulder.

  "Oh dear," I said. "Well, I'll clean it up." I picked my way through the gunk to the table and set my pack down before returning to the front step to grab a shovel. I kicked Fen off my shoulder then and told him to go bother the Forestlings, then went back inside and shovelled a path to the bedroom while Mel watched, disconsolate.

  "I'll help you clean," she said weakly, and I tsked.

  "You're exhausted from the trip and those glamours," I said. "Come on, hurry to the bedroom before the path closes up."

  I followed her to the bedroom, and helped her inside, closing the door behind us to keep the gunk from seeping in. Inside, the bedroom was smaller than I'd imagined it'd be. Much smaller than the spare room that I was slowly clearing out and organising. It was simple, neat and tidy in a way that belied the rest of the house, with a plain bed by the window, and only a few trinkets and candles tucked away on the concave shelves. Mel crossed the room in a few steps and flopped face-first down on the bed.

  I was about to leave and get started on the clean-up when she raised a hand and patted the spot on the bed next to her. Tentatively, I went to sit beside her, and she sat up, pulling her hair up off her face in a rather undignified manner before flopping down onto her back.

  I followed suit.

  "I'm sorry," I said. "About what happened to you. I wish there was something I could do."

  "It's alright," she replied. "I am happy here. Especially..." She was silent for a moment, and then reached over and took my hand in hers. A shock coursed through me, and I felt suddenly short of breath. I'd held women's hands before, of course, and kissed them, and done all manner of things. But I'd never felt quite like I did when Mel took my hand. "I do hope you won't leave," said Mel. "Although I understand you may want to soon."

  "Well, I don't want to go back to the castle, that's for certain," I said. "They're absolutely determined to marry me to a man. I've told them that I only like women, and I mentioned that Saishen women marry each other all the time, but they won't have it." I sighed, a low burning anger now coursing through me in place of the excitement. "We used to get along so well, my mother and I. But this has caused everything to change. I'll run away to the other end of the world before I go back there and marry the prince."

  "You'll go with Fen, then?" said Mel sadly.

  "Well," I turned to look at her. Her eyes were glowing in the afternoon light, and her face seemed transparent now, worry and uncertainty clouding her expression. "No, not unless you want me to leave. I like it here. That is," I gave her hand a squeeze, "I like it here with you."

  "As my assistant?" She asked it lightly, but I could see the need for confirmation in her eyes.

  "No-o," I said. "Well, yes, I do like helping you out, but I also quite... like... you." I paused for a moment, and when her expression shifted to one of relief, I added, "Silly."

  I rolled closer and touched my lips to her nose briefly, causing her to giggle. Then, worried that I would spoil the moment otherwise, I sat up quickly, and announced that I needed to finish cleaning.

  *~*~*

  By the time I finished clearing all the goop off the floor, night had fallen, and the fairy-lights in the wood and garden had lit up, illuminating the cottage in a warm green glow. Mel emerged from her room and found a black cauldron that she assured me had not been used to make potions. She stoked the fire, and began to cook us a stew while I finished scraping the last of the potion out the door and into the strange hole of nothingness in the yard. The potion seemed to have dyed the once tan-coloured floor a grey-lilac colour permanently, but Mel assured me that she liked the colour.

  "It was supposed to be a protection spell anyway," she explained. "It's probably lucky."

  I went outside once more to call for Fen and left the door open so that he could come in. Then we sat down to eat.

  "It's good," I reassured Mel, who was staring down at her bowl worriedly.

  "I'm afraid my track record for successful stews is about the same as for potions," she said. "But with potions, it's more immediately noticeable when something's gone wrong." She scooped a small amount onto her spoon and eyed it warily, before testing it with her tongue. "Well, neither of us are frogs," she said finally, and proceeded to tuck in.

  "I found some cookbooks in the spare bedroom," I said. "I can try making something from one of those."

  "Oh yes, good idea," said Mel. "Most of the things in there belonged to Morwen. The witch who raised me," she explained when I looked at her curiously. "She died a few years ago. I wish I'd been able to stay in the city and take care of her."

  "I'm sorry." I reached out to take her hand, and she smiled at me.

  "Where's that damned cat, anyway?"

  "I don't know," I stood and went to the doorway. "Fen! Dinner! It almost certainly won't turn you into a frog!"

  "Strange," said Mel when I returned to the table with no sign of him. "He's never missed a meal."

  "I hope he's alright." Suddenly I didn't feel as hungry.

  "Probably just chasing a mouse," said Mel firmly.

  She went to bed shortly after, and I sat on the front porch, calling for Fen intermittently. I forced myself to think that he was probably just busy chasing something or sleeping in a tree, but I worried. Especially since he'd been so excited about finally getting his human body, it seemed strange that he would run off.

  Eventually I got up and wandered into the garden, but didn't see any sign of him. Besides a few of the plants that snapped and nipped at my heels, all was peaceful. I nearly tripped over one of the little people's property lines, and realised suddenly that they were nowhere in sight either.

  My heart sank into my gut. What if Fen had gotten into trouble with t
hem? What if...?

  I swallowed hard and raced back to the cottage, my gut still churning. I ran to the hallway, and knocked on Mel's door. I heard her swear from within, and a few minutes later she opened the door wearing the dark night robe I had first met her in.

  "I think Fen's in trouble," I said. "I can't find him anywhere, and there aren't any little people either. I'm worried they've done something to him!"

  Mel swore again and rushed past me to pull on her boots and grab the dark polished wand from the shelf next to the door. I followed her through the garden and out of the clearing, into the woods to the path lit by fairy-lights.

  "The last thing I told him was to go bother the Forestlings," I said. "What if they've hurt him?"

  "They don't even hurt each other," said Mel sharply. "I'm sure he's fine."

  "You don't know that!" I nearly shouted. "You just assumed that he'd be fine, even though they've been attacking him and sticking him with their swords for days—"

  "Shush," said Mel firmly, and I glared at her, anger simmering under my fear. "We should split up, cover more ground. You go left, I'll go right."

  I nodded and turned away, stomping through the underbrush with my arms clenched tight around myself. If something had happened to Fen, I didn't know if I could live with myself. I tried not to be angry at Mel; after all, she hadn't assumed that the Forestlings would hurt Fen, but it was difficult. My fear had me grasping for someone to be angry with, and Mel was the easiest target.

  I wandered away from the fairy lights, into the deeper underbrush, calling Fen's name as I went. I thought I saw a light ahead and followed it, turning around the side of the cabin, down to where the forest met the stream. There were definitely lights ahead, little twinkling ones, decorating a canopy of twigs that seemed to have naturally formed an archway over a miniature clearing just as the forest met the stream.

  "Mel!" I called, refusing to turn away from what I was seeing for fear that it would disappear. "Come here!"

  Under the archway, sat on little chairs folded out of leaves, were the little people. The Forestlings wore green mossy tunics and little brown boots, and the Seafolk were dressed in translucent gowns made of seaweed that trailed behind them and clung to their spindly green legs. In the middle of the gathering sat Fen, his face resting on the ground between the opposing groups. He was talking in a low voice, and I couldn't quite make out what he was saying, but I heard the words "treaty" and "misunderstanding."