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THE JOURNEY IS SLOW to Ginata’s little cottage. I should have asked for a coach, but I didn’t want anyone spying on me. This happy, love-filled castle has quickly turned into a castle of plots and intrigues.
I don’t feel safe. My teacher thinks I am right to speak to Ginata about taking over my role. He has seen my end as well. We laughed and hugged and cried a little bit, but then I felt at ease. Death is welcome to me.
Once I have sorted out the people I will leave behind.
The way to the village is a trek and I smile that it might be what finishes me off. There is no rush, though, so I pace myself and hope I live past the hour.
I do live. Just about, and as I see Ginata’s cottage, front door open, I am pleased. I did not want to die on the side of the road like an old horse. And yet I also know it will not be that easy.
Ginata will make a good addition to the castle, young but learned, and clever and bright. She will make a change from this withered old crone, that’s for sure. She will give Everleigh good counsel, and they will both be starting a new chapter together. They will learn to trust each other and work together as they go. The timing is good.
I open her gate and shuffle down her path. I knock the door jamb. She is sitting on a chair, looking worse than I have ever seen her.
Ginata is a different kind of white witch to me. I was tormented by my life and my gift. I tried to escape it and I battled against it. Ginata felt her powers as a little girl, and as she does with life itself, she did with her gift; she embraced it. It made her happy and in turn it made other people happy.
She is quick and fiery and funny. She looks well and keeps her home well. The men of the castle will enjoy having her near; she’s very pretty and has a coquettish manner which men find endearing. She will turn many heads, with her long jet-black hair and bright green eyes.
This death draught has taken its toll on her though and it is evident in the look of her cottage as well as herself. She turns to look at me and I can only describe it like this: she dissolved. Her body collapsed, her face crumpled. Her composure and easy manner were gone, replaced with a torment that was as easy to see as the sky on a clear day.
“Halfreda.” Her voice is quiet, flat and unhappy. I am sorry now that I put this on her. But then the other option – saying no to the cloaked man – was not really an option. He would have killed her if she tried to stand her ground against him. And that would have left her in a far worse state than she is in today.
I sit next to her and take her hand, I try to transfer my calm to her. It’s hard; she is blocking me. I throw some herbs from my basket on to her fire, and the sparks bring some much-needed life to the room. The smell is sweet and I hope that the fragrance will perk Ginata up.
“Ginata. You had to do it.”
She nods and looks up at me, skin clammy and pale, eyes wretched. “I know. I am selfish. I didn’t want to die.”
“It’s not your time to die.” I try to be firm with her, to help shake her out of this turmoil.
“He came to take the draught. I was pleased. I needed it out of here. It had turned the cottage evil. He was pleased with me.”
“Good. Your actions have kept you safe. He could not know that I was on to him. It would have made him angry. His plan would have changed and I wouldn’t have been able to prepare for it.”
“I am a helper to him, now. He sees me as an ally. He has told me that he will need me again. Halfreda. What have I done?”
I curse under my breath; this I didn’t see coming. Another sign that the end of my life is nigh. I am not as sharp as I was. Of course this corrupt prince would want an ally; and what better one than Ginata? Young, beautiful and with powers and poultices that will help him in his bloody future. I was stupid not to see it.
“Ginata, the time has come for me to go. I need to tell you all that I know and we can plan. You will not be his puppet; I won’t allow it. You will take my place in the castle and help shape a wonderful future. The castle is changing; the future is a new era. History will be shaped. You can be part of it.”
She shakes her head. “I have done a terrible thing, Halfreda, and if I go on, I will be forced to do more and more terrible things. I am going to leave. Go away.”
I shake my head and take hold of her. “Ginata. No. That is not your future. You have always known that you would take my place; that is your future. It is time to take it. Go forwards.”
Ginata shakes her head again. I stand up, slowly, brew some tea and settle down to tell her everything I know. About Everleigh, the prophecy, the prince who has turned. I must tell her everything, I have to put her in place before I die. It is time.
And when I go back to the castle I will visit with the King. I will not tell him about his son, it would break his heart and there is no need to, but I will tell him about Everleigh. She will be pleased that he knows and he is a wise man himself, he will know to keep it a secret, but it will help her to have him to talk to. When Everleigh is pronounced Queen on Saturday, with Archer there to protect her, all will be well.
I also want to tell him about me. I have been with him his whole life. I was there when he was born, all through his childhood, until his sister died and her sacrifice made him King. He has been a good King and a good friend. I am closer to him than I was to his father, and I will miss him.
He won’t find it strange that I know my end is coming, I know so much, I see so much. I am hoping he will feel sorrow and miss me, but that is purely a selfish want. For the sake of the future of the castle, Ginata will be a good replacement for me. She is young enough to be better than me in time.
Time is on her side, if not mine.