Chapter 226: Heila’s Resolve
The following morning, after a simple family-style breakfast of eggs and oat porridge, Jacques and Talauia retreated from Amahle’s cottage to leave her alone with Ashlynn and Heila.
"Now," the powerful witch said as she poured hot tea for her two young students, filling the room with a fragrance that was warm and slightly minty. "You’ve had the night to think on it. I’ve done told you that it’s plenty dangerous. Success is not guaranteed. Little Heila," she said, turning her attention to the diminutive horned woman.
"Jacques told me last night that the notion of you joining Ashlynn’s coven only came up because he tried to make you stay behind when it came time to enter the Briar," she said, her dark, sculpted brows lowering as her gaze took in a hint of penetrating sharpness.
"If all you want to do is stay close and serve Ashlynn, I will bend the rules for you and allow you to stay," she offered. "You do not need to join her coven just for this moment." While Amahle didn’t think that the diminutive woman would take such an offer, it was still an offer that had to be made. After all, Heila wasn’t the only one being tested.
"Even if you let me stay as just her lady-in-waiting," Heila said hesitantly. Once she began, however, a fire ignited in her eyes, blazing with determination. "I’d still choose to join her coven. Please, now that I have the chance, don’t take it away from me," she said, offering a seated bow from her place at the table.
"I’d like to hear your reason why, sugar," Amahle said. Her expression was still somber even though her words were light and friendly. As she watched, the pupils of one eye focused entirely on Heila, ready to catch the slightest tremble in her voice or shift in her eyes that might betray falsehood. The other eye focused on Ashlynn with just as much detail, ready to see how the future Mother of Trees would respond to this young applicant to join her coven.
"I can see the fire in your eyes," Amahle said flatly, withholding any praise that might normally accompany such words. "But fire isn’t enough to survive what will come. Tell me why you’ve made this decision despite the risks."
"Because once the sun comes up, Ashlynn is all alone," Heila said, giving Ashlynn a complicated look. She wasn’t sure that this was the sort of answer they wanted to here, but it felt true to her, she just hoped that would be enough for them.
"I think, I may have misunderstood Jacques," she continued. "Now that we’re here, he doesn’t seem as mysterious and cryptic in what he does. More... He seems awkward and like he has difficulty speaking his thoughts well."