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

“Soon enough,” Raj answered. “We’ll leave in the morning as soon as possible. I trust you’ve enjoyed your stay here?”

“I have,” Drekken chimed in. “It’s important for me to learn of all types of music and instruments. What a wonderful land you have here! The music is unlike anything I’ve heard before.”

The dwarf crossed his arms. “It grates on my nerves.”

“You’re welcome to leave at any time,” Raj said. “You’ve no need to hang around here. Our journey will only grow more dangerous as we leave this land to travel through the northern wastes.”

“Nay. I’ll not leave while this curse is still plaguing me. Your witch must cure me.”

Raj and I traded glances. “There’s a chance that may never happen,” I said. “The witch who did this to you stole your name for good reason. She knows if you can’t remember it, no one will have the power to reverse the spell. I don’t know how you expect me to help you.”

“Because I will remember my name. That’s how. Once I do, I expect you to fix this curse.” He turned and walked away, his wooden leg tapping the cobblestones as he went.

My shoulders slumped. He expected the impossible.

“Well,” Drekken said with a swig from his flask. “I should leave as well. I want to know more about the instruments here. Plus, I may have spotted a comely lass or two.” He winked. “If you’ll excuse me.” He walked away, slinging his lute’s strap over his shoulder, humming a tune as he walked.

Raj grunted. “He’s nothing but trouble.”

“I agree. But you have to admit, his lute comes in handy.”

“Yes, there is that.”

Raj led me to what appeared to be a bench, but as I studied the large block of chipped stone, I realized it must’ve been part of a building. As we sat, I noticed the crowd had thinned, and only a few people danced near the fire. The music drifted—softer now—and its melody lulled me. I’d never been to a more perfect place.

“Gothel,” Raj said, “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I feel I need to admit something to you.”

“Admit what?”

He took my hands in his, and the intensity in his dark eyes caused me to catch my breath. “I’m falling in love with you.”

A gasp escaped my mouth. “What?”

“I know this is horrible timing. There’s a chance we’ll never survive this quest. The high sorcerer’s squadrons are trying to kill us. We don’t have a certain future, especially if one were to believe in foretellings. But I can’t keep my feelings inside any longer. I want you to know how I feel about you.”

His confession shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I’d suspected it for some time, yet shock overrode my senses. I didn’t know what to say. I’d never been put in such a situation before. My pounding heart felt as if it would break through my chest. But I knew I had to be honest with him. The dwarf’s words came back to me, and I knew I may never get another chance.

“Raj, I feel the same way.”

“You do?”

I nodded. He smiled—that brilliant expression that stole my breath. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt happier, here in this place, where my worries seemed so far away. The fire crackled as Raj pushed a strand of hair out of my face. He leaned closer and pressed a kiss to my lips. My heart swelled. He tasted of peppermint, and the scent of wild curry and masculine spice enveloped me.

When he pulled away, I forgot to breathe. He squeezed my hand. “Will you wait for me? I’ve got to speak to my mother, and I’m already late. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Yes, of course.” I realized then that I would always wait for him. No matter where he went or how far away he was, I would always wait for him. He gave me another quick kiss, then stood and walked away.

I sat on the bench and tried to breathe. I could hardly make sense of how I felt. Surely these sorts of feelings couldn’t be normal. They were too overpowering, too all-encompassing. Was this what love felt like?

I pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling the heat radiating from my skin. Raj had admitted he loved me, and I’d admitted the same. Was it wrong to feel so happy? My own mother had lost her husband after only a few years of marriage. What if the same happened to me?

But I was overthinking this as usual. He’d admitted he loved me, not that he wanted to marry me, and that was a big difference.

I stood and wandered to the fire where only a few people lingered. They cast curious glances my way, but I dodged them as I walked by, stopping as I reached the outskirts of the city. I didn’t go far, as the city wasn’t much more than a village. Standing on a hill overlooking the desert, a dry breeze rushed past, stirring my hair.

Orange light flickered from campfires scattered about the desert, giving a little illumination to the darkness. We’d come so far. We’d secured a piece of the radish and were on our way to the northern lands. I was so ready for this quest to be over and Rapunzel to be free of her tower—and for our world to be free from the high sorcerer, but nagging worries plagued me, and I wasn’t sure what would happen once we confronted the high sorcerer. He’d killed so many people. What would stop him from killing us?

Heavy footsteps came from behind me. I turned around. Raj trudged toward me, his shoulders slumped, his face downcast.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

He shook his head as he stood at my side. In his hand, I noticed he clutched something.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I…”

“Raj, what’s the matter?”

He opened his hand to show me a dagger. The blade was curved oddly, in a serpentine shape, and red jewels glinted from the golden handle.

“This was my father’s,” he said, then looked up at me. Sadness shone in his eyes. “He’s dead.”

“Dead?”

He only nodded.

“What happened?”

“Killed by a sand demon a month ago. They already cremated his body and placed it in the hall of our ancestors. I didn’t get a chance to pay my last respects.”

I didn’t know what to say. What could I say to someone who just lost their father?

“They want me to take his place,” Raj said, his voice detached.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing for now, but eventually, I’ll have to return and take my place as the king. I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He nodded but didn’t move from where he stood. “I just can’t believe it. He was fine when I saw him last. I never thought it would happen. I always felt as if he would live forever.” He breathed heavily, running his hand through his hair.

I hated to see him so upset. But what could I do to help him? I felt so completely useless.

“I should go. I need to make sure my mother is well. Will you be able to find Anahita’s tent on your own?”

“Yes, that’s no problem.”

“Good.” He took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Thank you for understanding.”

“Of course.”

He gave me a sad smile, then turned and walked away, his footsteps shifting in the sand until the sound disappeared. My heart broke for him. I turned and walked toward the city of tents, my thoughts on Raj—on the sadness I’d seen in his eyes.

I had few memories of my father, and I didn’t remember his death. I had little to compare it to, but I knew the pain must’ve been overwhelming.

Wandering through the tents, I spotted Anahita’s at the end of the row. When I entered, the room was empty except for my cot. Sitting on it, I pondered the evening I’d spent with Raj, and the extent of emotions that went with it. He’d confessed his love to me, and I’d done the same, but the evening had ended on a sad note. Would his father’s death affect our journey to claim the shears? I hoped it didn’t.

I rested my chin in my hands, wishing I could be with Raj now, but feeling helpless as to how to help him. Perhaps spending time with his family would help. Tomorrow, we would have to travel to the northern lands. I hoped he still wanted to go. What if he decided to stay here?

Rubbing my eyes, I knew I needed some rest before tomorrow’s journey began. I removed the headpiece from my hair, and the jewelry around my ankle, then placed them on the pallet in front of me. An oil lamp burned on a bedside table, and the jewels reflected under the light of the flickering flame, sparkling with the deep color of turquoise blue.

I took the jewels in my hand, weighing heavier than they appeared, and ran my thumb over the facets warmed by my skin. I could never imagine owning such things. Holding them reverently, I stood, then carried them away from my pallet. Shelves with healing potions sat on the opposite side of the tent, and I placed them on an empty ledge. I reached out to touch them one last time, but hesitated, instead deciding to step away.

When I returned to my pallet, I sat without glancing at the shelf.

They weren’t mine. They never had been. No matter how much I might’ve wished otherwise, nothing in these lands belonged to me.