When Wendy got back to the old cloister she was sputtering and spitting wishing the awful taste would stop. Even though it let her stroll through the storm like it was a warm, windy autumn day,
IT WASN'T WORTH IT!
After entering and barring the door, she looked at the snowdrift she'd brought in with her.
With a brief sigh she fetched a bucket from an old wash room and scooped up some snow. Returning to her bedroom, she sat it by the fireplace while she started a new fire. after it was crackling with no danger of going out, she opened the flue just a bit to let the smoke out. She then shed all her clothing and retreated to the cold end of the room waiting for the pill to wear off. Wendy shook the dust off the furthest beds quilt, and then layed on it.
Letting her mind wander she remembered her Holiness Isabella instructing them all about the true nature of witches. Normal people with a power from the heavens. If anyone felt strange feelings inside, or unusual things were to happen they should come inform her immediately and not be afraid. Especially now during the months of demons. The witches could help save the world. What qualified as an unusual happening? Her Holiness seemed to imply you would know very quickly if something was different.
******************
Lissa wrung her hands nervously as she stood outside the door of her Holiness's office. The storm hadn't let up at all and she was terrified for poor Wendy. After what seemed like an eternity a guard opened the door.
"Her Holiness Isabella will see you now."
He said opening the door and moving aside to let her pass. Isabella sat behind the great desk in this the office of the cloister. It once belonged to the head priest in charge of operations. now a map of the old and new cities was pasted to the wall and several papers were neatly stacked on one side of the Desk the other side had a single glass and an unopened bottle of wine.
Lissa could swear she saw Isabella glare at the gaurd for a moment before he closed the door... with him on the outside of the room.
"Whats the matter Lissa?" She said turning a softer gaze to Lissa.
"I ... um... I... " Lissa stammered barely able to speak.
"Are you worried about your friend Gretchen?" Isabella said, "The city guard from the west gate have informed me that she is quite alright. She was seen at a pub and the owner gave her a cold expelling pill." Isabella comforted. "She'll be fine for the next 12 hours."
"NO! NO! that's not it!" Lissa began to break into tears. "I .. I'm a witch.."
Isabella started with shock and quickly moved to her side from behind the desk comforting her.
"It's all right. There's nothing to fear. Do you know your ability?" she added nervously.
"Yes.. I.. I can see the future." Lissa stammered.
**************
Wendy woke in a cold sweat.. cold? Finally... If She'd known the pill would've lasted so long, she would have just walked home to the western cloister.
Hopping off the bed she rushed over to the warm side of the room and took a wash rag from her bag. Wiping herself down she took careful note that her fingers and toes were still ok, then with a brief check to see if her chest had grown any, she sighed again and put her garments back on.
Terribly thirsty she drank several cups of the now warm water in the bucket. She also refilled the drinking vessel in her backpack. Once her thirst was sated she started chewing at some dried meat and fruit.
Wendy was almost finished when she paused and listened.. there was no storm sound. It was probably two in the morning. Finishing the fruit she packed up her bags and prepared to set out.
splashing the remaining water on the fire she tightly put on her shawl.
As soon as Wendy had unbolted the door and stepped into the courtyard she found 3 feet of snow everywhere. glancing over she saw a large lump on the other side of the courtyard. The frozen corpse completely hidden by the snow, would probably not be seen again till the spring thaw.
The thin grey clouds seemed even thinner then usual. The moons' light shone down illuminating the streets brightly. Slogging through the snow, she set off towards home.The lack of wind made it far easier, but the deep snow made it harder. At least it was powder that wouldn't resist her march as much.
After an hour or two she saw a guard walking down a street. He seemed to be startled when he saw her marching along , and called out to her
"HALT! Who Goes There!"
"It's just me.... Wendy." she stopped and answered.
"Oh isn't it late...er... Early for you to be about? he asked visibly relaxing.
"I just came from the west side, It'll take me another couple hours to get home to the cloister."
Wendy said.
"Why don't you let me escort you to the guard house, we could send you there on a wagon and reduce your time?" The guard suggested.
"Well that would be nice Thank you!" Wendy said doing a quick bow.
"Alright this way then." he said continuing on his way down the wider path between stone buildings.
She quickly caught up and began to walk alongside him.
"Did the city guard have any trouble in the storm yesterday? Wendy asked.
"Not at all." he shook his head "Though we got blown around a bit no one was in danger of freezing with the cold pills."
Wendy Immediately shuddered. "HOW can you STAND those horrible pills?"
The guard chuckled, "Its not so bad once you.. ok I admit you can't get used to it."
"But there is no other way to be completely warm in the freezing cold."
The two of them continued down the street and made a turn on a path that had less snow.
To the left they heard a sound like something very large falling into the snow.
Wendy and the guard stopped moving and stared between the two stone buildings.
There stood What looked like a 12 foot tall giant, with four spears in a pack on its back. its head was covered with a massive skull with two tubes like organs going from the sides of the skull to its pack. It's body covered with poorly tied together animal skins. They were both petrified in its glowing red gaze.
It swiftly raised an arm, grabbing a spear, then that same arm seemed to swell up like it would explode before Hurling the spear with deafening force. The guard standing next to Wendy shot backwards to become impaled in the chest to the stone wall. The swollen arm had shrunken to become a dried up appendage. Wendy looked at the guard who's life had been snuffed out before her and collapsed to her knees. Looking back at the giant she saw him slowly striding towards her.
"NO! NOOO!" She screamed at the top of her lungs but it paid no heed.
With another step it reached its undamaged left arm towards her, hand spread like it was about to pick a tomato.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" She screamed beyond terrified!
The snow beneath her became yellow as she held out her hands to stop the massive hand preparing to envelop her. Her chest burned within her and everything blurred in her sight. Just as suddenly the giant seemed to become a weightless rag doll flinging backwards and embedding into the stone side of a building. Hyperventilating she stared in pure shock at the giant stuck in the side of the stone like some bizarre bas-relief. There were no cracks in the stone, the giant had neatly become part of the wall.
She struggled to her feet, unaware of the dampness on her cheeks and her legs, and ran. Tripping, getting up and running again, trying to get as far away from this place as she could possibly go.
*********************
"The future?" Isabella said in disbelief. "Are you sure?" In her mind she wondered if this was just a child's prank.
"Yes, The future.. Wendy is in great danger! and... and she's a witch too! Lissa urged.
Isabella did a double take "Yes Wendy is a witch but why is she in danger?" she shook her head, not understanding.
"She's going to be attacked by demons!" Lissa spit out.
Isabella's brow furrowed. It is definitely true that Wendy is fighting the demons in Neverwinter but why would she be exposed to danger...
"Can you prove your ability to me?" Isabella said taking a different approach. She wished Sylvia was here or even... Nightingale to prove this girl wasn't out of her head.
"Can I hold something of yours?" Lissa said recovering a little bit.
Isabella grabbed the bottle of chaos drink she'd left on the desk.
"Here will this work?" she said
"Yes! please wait a moment." taking the bottle she closed her eyes and held it tightly to her chest.
after a moment she looked up. "You will drink this drink tomorrow morning at 8 am."
Isabella stared at her doubtfully, she was saving that chaos drink for a really bad day. She sighed thinking it could just be a child's game.
"Ok then. go to bed and tomorrow we'll ... figure out how to protect Wendy from the demons. Okay?"
Lissa nodded seriously and handed her back the bottle. She did a curtsy and said,
"Thank you your Holiness." then she turned and quietly left the room.
Isabella returned to the desk and stared at the bottle before replacing it onto the corner of the desk. She looked at the timepiece on the wall it was 8:30 pm. 'So in twelve hours?'
she shook her head again, the future is too uncertain to predict. I will definitely not drink this in the morning.
********
At 7:55 am the next morning Isabella had nearly forgotten the prediction of Lissa. She was carefully reviewing some paperwork dealing with distributing supplies during the winter to different businesses that seemed promising.
When she heard the sound of voices in the hall.
"YOUR HOLINESS!!! YOUR HOLINESS!!!
Isabella looked up and prepared for the voices to burst into her office. The door flung open and three Old city guards fell into the doorway, while the more experienced garrison member leaped over them, to land in front of her desk quickly straightening and saluting before reporting.
"Your Holiness, A demon has been found embedded in a solid granite wall near the south gate!!!"
Her heart jumped into her throat, and she snatched the bottle from the corner of the table. The Demons... here? Why? How? Can we even fight them? her heart was racing and the cup was almost to her lips when she heard a click. Isabella looked at the clock. It was exactly 8 o'clock.