Your support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)Witches are viewed with suspicion in other parts of the world, but within the kingdom of Asteria they are a common sight. One even serves the royal family. Her workshop occupies one of the castleâ??s many towers, where she and her apprentice brew potions and divine the future.
It all started with a bottle of newt eyes.
Carelessly reaching up while reading a book, the bottle slipped from Tianaâ??s fingers and shattered on the workroomâ??s stone floor. With a gasp of dismay the apprentice witch dropped to her hands and knees, seeking the small, slimy orbs. A few eluded her, but something far more interesting did not. Hidden in the narrow space between two bookshelves was a lever, nestled into the curved stone wall.
Ever curious, the apprentice pulled it, and the bookcase slid aside to reveal a hidden space. It was little more than a closet but the treasures within made her catch her breath in awe. Row upon row of bottles, all neatly labeled, containing rare dried herbs or shriveled parts from some fantastic creature. A spare broom and a velvet lined cloak. Books and tomes from faraway times and places. Unable to contain herself, Tiana excitedly grabbed the largest book, leafing through the yellowed pages. As she suspected, it was her mentorâ??s recipe book.
Tiana had been an apprentice for a month and already she was tired of the experience. She was a prodigy, everyone said so, and despite being only nineteen she had served as the head witch of her village. But after arriving at the castle she had been given only the simplest of tasks. Making elixirs that would make oneâ??s hair grow lusciously shiny, or a draught to cure fevers. She was capable of so much more and she was going to prove it!
Turning to the final and most difficult recipe, she grinned as she read the title. A love potion? The perfect thing to add some spice to the restrained atmosphere of the castle, where nothing exciting ever seemed to happen. She began going through the list of ingredients and before long a frothy, glowing pink liquid churned within the cauldron.
Only the last three ingredients needed to be added. â??Tooth of dragonâ?¦ eye of basiliskâ?¦ essence of virgin. Wait, essence of virgin?â?
Tiana slumped against a table, perplexed. Such a thing could not be stored, she knew. Either a lock of hair or a drop of blood from a virgin would suffice, but it had to be gathered fresh. But, who in the castle was a virgin of marriageable age? Surely not the servants, she had heard them often enough at night. Nor the knights, all were married. Even the princessâ??s handmaiden- oh! Of course, she realized. There was probably only one qualified virgin within the castle, and it had to be the one person who sighed atop balconies, waiting for a prince to rescue her from her boring existence.
Stepping outside the workroom, she waved to one of the servants. â??Thomas, I need a favor,â? she said. â??Could you please find the princess and ask her to come to the tower? Iâ??m working on a recipe and need her help, if she asks why.â?
As the older man shuffled off, Tiana turned to the full length mirror and examined herself critically. Not that she was too concerned about her appearance, but she wanted to make sure no stray bits of something were stuck to her clothes. One of the hazards of witchcraft, that.
People said she didnâ??t resemble the witches out of stories, the old crones shrouded all in black. Gentle curls of blonde hair framed her pretty face. Her eyes were the blue-green of the sea. Her figure was curvaceous enough to make some of the ladies in waiting jealous, her legs long and slender. She did usually wear a black dress, but in her case it was trimmed with white lace and ribbons and fitted at the bodice. The final touch was a perky, pointed black hat.
Satisfied, she returned to stirring the cauldron. Only one ingredient remained, and with any luck it was already on the way.
It all started with a bottle of newt eyes.
Carelessly reaching up while reading a book, the bottle slipped from Tianaâ??s fingers and shattered on the workroomâ??s stone floor. With a gasp of dismay the apprentice witch dropped to her hands and knees, seeking the small, slimy orbs. A few eluded her, but something far more interesting did not. Hidden in the narrow space between two bookshelves was a lever, nestled into the curved stone wall.
Ever curious, the apprentice pulled it, and the bookcase slid aside to reveal a hidden space. It was little more than a closet but the treasures within made her catch her breath in awe. Row upon row of bottles, all neatly labeled, containing rare dried herbs or shriveled parts from some fantastic creature. A spare broom and a velvet lined cloak. Books and tomes from faraway times and places. Unable to contain herself, Tiana excitedly grabbed the largest book, leafing through the yellowed pages. As she suspected, it was her mentorâ??s recipe book.
Tiana had been an apprentice for a month and already she was tired of the experience. She was a prodigy, everyone said so, and despite being only nineteen she had served as the head witch of her village. But after arriving at the castle she had been given only the simplest of tasks. Making elixirs that would make oneâ??s hair grow lusciously shiny, or a draught to cure fevers. She was capable of so much more and she was going to prove it!
Turning to the final and most difficult recipe, she grinned as she read the title. A love potion? The perfect thing to add some spice to the restrained atmosphere of the castle, where nothing exciting ever seemed to happen. She began going through the list of ingredients and before long a frothy, glowing pink liquid churned within the cauldron.
Only the last three ingredients needed to be added. â??Tooth of dragonâ?¦ eye of basiliskâ?¦ essence of virgin. Wait, essence of virgin?â?
Tiana slumped against a table, perplexed. Such a thing could not be stored, she knew. Either a lock of hair or a drop of blood from a virgin would suffice, but it had to be gathered fresh. But, who in the castle was a virgin of marriageable age? Surely not the servants, she had heard them often enough at night. Nor the knights, all were married. Even the princessâ??s handmaiden- oh! Of course, she realized. There was probably only one qualified virgin within the castle, and it had to be the one person who sighed atop balconies, waiting for a prince to rescue her from her boring existence.
Stepping outside the workroom, she waved to one of the servants. â??Thomas, I need a favor,â? she said. â??Could you please find the princess and ask her to come to the tower? Iâ??m working on a recipe and need her help, if she asks why.â?
As the older man shuffled off, Tiana turned to the full length mirror and examined herself critically. Not that she was too concerned about her appearance, but she wanted to make sure no stray bits of something were stuck to her clothes. One of the hazards of witchcraft, that.
People said she didnâ??t resemble the witches out of stories, the old crones shrouded all in black. Gentle curls of blonde hair framed her pretty face. Her eyes were the blue-green of the sea. Her figure was curvaceous enough to make some of the ladies in waiting jealous, her legs long and slender. She did usually wear a black dress, but in her case it was trimmed with white lace and ribbons and fitted at the bodice. The final touch was a perky, pointed black hat.
Satisfied, she returned to stirring the cauldron. Only one ingredient remained, and with any luck it was already on the way.
