Chapter 232: Making the Decision
After spending several hours reviewing possibilities and talking with Amahle, Ashlynn found herself at a crossroads of two very different choices, each one landing at the top of the pile for very different reasons.
"I strongly considered the Red Cedar for her because both Cedar Witches in the records were able to develop shapeshifting powers," Ashlynn said. "I thought it might be useful to help Heila travel with me through human lands, but while it’s useful, and it would help meet her desire to stay close to me wherever I go..."
"Little Heila is poorly suited to the powers of a shapeshifter," Amahle agreed. "She is not a spy, nor is she a trickster or assassin. Shapeshifting is a solution to the problem of human hatred, but you won’t live among humans as long as you’re bound to a vampire."
"If there was someone in my coven like Marcell, perhaps they’ll be suited to become the next Cedar Witch," Ashlynn said, finally setting the page firmly aside. "The Cedar tree is so dominant in the Vale of Mists, I think I should look for someone who can bear its seed, but that person isn’t Heila."
"Oh?" Amahle asked, raising a sculpted brow at Ashlynn and looking carefully at her expression when she set the page with the Cedar tree on it aside. "You’ve yet to welcome the first member of your coven and you’re already starting to plan for the next ones?"
"I am. I have to," Ashlynn said, turning to look at Amahle. "Tell me something, big sister. You’re very close and familiar with Jacques and Talauia. Were they people who meant something to you before they joined your coven, or were they more distant at first?"
"Ask what you’re really asking," Amahle said, poking Ashlynn gently with the tip of a spider-like limb. "I know you consider this roundabout way of asking questions to be polite, darlin’, but its just the two of us here, no one else to overhear your doubts and worries. Come out and ask what you mean directly."
"In that case," Ashlynn said, taking a deep breath. "Is it wrong of me to think that, one day, maybe even one day soon, I’ll need to recruit people into my coven for their skills rather than because of their relationship with me? Because, one way or another, I will claim Owain Lothian’s life, and there will be a war between the Lothians and the Vale of Mists. Maybe even a larger war if the humans ever launch another Crusade."
"Mistress Nyrielle once took in forty-seven progeny in order to retake the Vale of Mists from the Lothians," Ashlynn said, her eyes looking pained as she thought of what Nyrielle had looked like when she talked about losing those progeny. "I don’t intend to raise an army of witches, but I feel like I need to find at least a few people who can join me in the fight."