The Witch's Tower by Tamara Grantham (top novels .txt) 📕

this beast was of average height. Its silvery gray fur sheathed its sleek body. An empty socket replaced one of its eyes. It was also missing a paw, and it limped toward us, keeping its front left stump tucked protectively under its chest.

The wolf circled the clearing, keeping its one eye focused on us. Raj and I didn’t move. I couldn’t imagine battling the beast. It was already wounded so badly that killing it seemed like a spiteful thing to do.

When the wolf reached the edge of the firelight, it stopped, then whined. Raj and I exchanged glances. I took a step toward the wolf.

“Careful,” Raj said.

“It’s okay. I don’t think he’ll hurt us.”

“But it could be a spirit of some sort. You never know in a place like this.”

I carefully stretched my hand toward the wolf, allowing it to sniff my fingers.

“There,” I said soothingly. “You’re not so bad, are you?” I turned to Raj. “He’s all right. I think he’s a friend.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m—”

Light blinded me. The wolf’s coat shimmered as if it were on fire.

“Gothel, get back!”

I stumbled away from the wolf as its shape changed. Fur morphed to skin and clothing. Wiry gray hair and a beard grew from the humanlike head. A dwarf man lay where the wolf had been. He wore a patch over one eye, and a wooden peg replaced his left leg.

Coughing racked the small man’s body as he lay huddled on the ground. Raj approached him, gripping his sword, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Who are you?” Raj demanded.

The dwarf cursed, his voice gravelly, growling, almost wolf-like.

“Put down your sword,” I said to Raj. “He won’t hurt us.”

“The witch is right,” the dwarf said.

“How can I be sure? He’s a creature of magic, isn’t he?” He waved his sword at the dwarf. “Who are you?” he demanded.

The dwarf snarled, his wrinkled face scrunched, making him look menacing.

I stepped between the two. “We don’t mean you any harm,” I said.

“Tell that to the big guy,” the dwarf growled.

I glanced at Raj. “Put your sword down, all right? I can handle this.”

Raj looked as if he wanted to argue, but he backed away, sat by the fire, and placed his sword on the ground. I turned back to the dwarf.

“Who are you?” I asked gently.

The dwarf stood tall and straightened his wrinkled tunic. Dried splotches of mud covered his shirt and breeches, and dirt caked his one boot. His good eye focused on me, the whites tinted yellow, looking wolfish.

“I am a cursed man, as you may have noticed. A witch changed me years ago. Took my eye and my foot, too. And if that wasn’t enough, she took my name.”

“What do you mean?”

“Stole it from me. My own name. Took it.”

“You don’t know your name?”

He shook his head.

“What are you doing in these woods?” I asked.

“Watching. Waiting.”

“Waiting for what?”

“Another witch. And it looks like I’ve found one.”

“Do not harm her,” Raj called.

“I’ve no intention of harming the one who will restore me.”

“You want me to restore you?” I asked.

The dwarf nodded.

“How?” I asked.

He shrugged, then limped to our fire and sat. “That’s for you to figure out.”

I followed him to the fire where he stretched his gnarled fingers toward the flames. Raj winced as he sat up, and I decided I couldn’t be distracted by a shape-changing wolf any longer.

I found my pack near my sleeping pallet and brought it to where Raj sat. I fumbled through my bag’s contents, looking for a bottle of cleaning ointment, a needle and thread, a small pair of scissors, and a satchel of healing herbs. As I searched, the dwarf cleared his throat.

“Fendelick. Nurburton. No. Bustlewort. No, no, no.”

“What are you going on about?” Raj asked.

“My name!” he called back. “My name, my name!”

Raj and I traded glances. I gently unbuckled the metal plate from Raj’s shoulder. He winced as I lifted it off. Blood soaked his shirt, and I cut away the fabric until I could pull it apart. Gaping holes tore through his flesh. The raw, iron-rich scent of blood filled the air. My stomach soured, but I pushed aside my queasiness and focused on wiping the skin clean.

“Have you anything to eat?” the dwarf asked.

“Not right now,” I said. “Sorry, I’m a bit busy.”

“Ah well, I thought I would try.”

“How long are you staying here?” Raj asked, trying to keep a straight face as I cleaned one of the wounds.

“As long as it takes. When your witch cures me, I shall be on my merry way.” He laughed, an awkward giggling that made him wheeze and start coughing.

“How did you know she was a witch?”

“Been following you since you entered the forest. That hair gave her away. No one’s got hair that color unless there’s magic in their veins. I knew she must’ve been a witch. So, I decided she’d be the one to heal me.” He burped, loud and low, then pounded his chest with his fist. “I’m a might gassy. You’ll have to pardon me.”

“Heal him soon,” Raj whispered through clenched teeth.

“I don’t know how,” I whispered back.

“You don’t?”

“No idea.”

Raj sighed. “I don’t trust him.”

Reluctantly, I had to agree with Raj. He hadn’t harmed us, but there was definitely something off about the dwarf.

“Ouch,” Raj said as I poked the wound with my cloth.

“I know. I’m sorry, but it needs to be cleaned.”

He nodded, breathing deeply. I didn’t envy him having to go through this, but there was nothing to be done about it. When I finished cleaning, I inspected the gashes. Blood no longer seeped free.

“I think you’ll be okay. The wounds didn’t puncture your life vein. But I will have to stitch the flesh back together.”

I grabbed up my needle and thread. The metal gleamed in the dim firelight as I held it up for him to see.

“This will hurt,” I said.

He only nodded, gritting his teeth as I began stitching his flesh back together.

“Oi, if that’s how you’re to heal me, then I want no part of it.” The dwarf laughed again, amused by his own words. “I’m only joking, of course. I can’t stand another day without me eye or leg—and losing me name was the worst. The worst. Have you ever lost your name? You’d know if you had. It sits in the back of your mind, taunting you always, like a fly waiting to be swatted, buzzing, buzzing, buzzing, but never to be caught. Nivelbrick, Jundlewort… No. No. No.”

“You doing okay?” I asked Raj, who held completely still as he focused on the flames.

A slight nod of his head was the only answer he gave.

“Almost done,” I said.

I tied off the last knot, then wrapped his shoulder in a roll of clean fabric that I got from my pack.

“That’s it,” I said, smiling. “I’m done.”

He inspected his shoulder, running his fingers gently over the rolled fabric.

“Be careful before fighting with wolves next time,” I said.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” His voice was soft, low, and caused heat to rise to my cheeks. I quickly glanced away, busying myself with putting my healing supplies back in my pack.

The dwarf yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “If you two don’t mind, I think I’ll switch back. It’s easier to sleep when I don’t have to worry about what I’m called. Easier as a wolf, you see.”

“Very well,” I said.

Raj sat up, scrutinizing the dwarf with narrowed eyes. “You should know that we’re on a dangerous quest to the Ice Mountains in the northern lands. We’re preparing to meet two awfully mean witches who can kill you with a mere glance. Tagging along with us could very well lead to your death. Plus, not to cause offense, but we can’t afford to be slowed down. If you can’t keep pace with us, I’ll kindly ask you to find another witch who’s not busy trying to save our lands from a maniacal, murderous sorcerer.”

“No need to be concerned. I’m quick on my three feet when I’m a wolf, sure enough. You’ll not even notice I’m here. Plus, you might be interested to know that I can lead you out of this forest.”

Raj sat up. “You can?”

“Yes, yes. You’ll see. I’ll get you out of these woods in no time at all.”

“How?” I asked. “We wandered through the woods all day and only went in circles.”

“Ah, my lady, for something like this, you just need to know the right person.” He gave me a sly grin, as if he knew something I didn’t. “Now, if you’ll please