Silver and Gold

Magpie Tale 144

Rina was miserable. She was miserable partly because she and Gold were riding through a thunderstorm. And she was worried sick about Silver, Gold’s sister. They were on a quest to save her life. Rina shivered and urged her horse forward. Up ahead through the dim light she could barely make out Gold’s back and her heart ached. He must be even more worried than she was.

“Gold,” she called out to him. “How much longer do you think?”

Gold’s tired voice came back to her, “Just keep going.”

Rina tried not to pay attention to the darkening sky. They had left the Bronze Salamander Inn that morning at a gallop. Now their horses were too worn out to do more than walk. The enchanted road they were traveling on was taking them far away indeed, and Rina wished it was one of those enchanted roads that made traveling faster. According to the instructions the fourth-order wizard had given Gervas, they would reach the witch’s hut soon. The day before the band been excited to reach the Bronze Salamander, although Gervas had complained that the prices had gone up now that it was a first-rate inn. But Rina suspected he was just as glad as the rest of the band to have clean sheets and a delicious first-rate meal. The band had been enjoying themselves until the fourth-order wizard showed up. Apparently on one of Silver’s first quests she had stolen a magic necklace from him and he wanted revenge.

Silver pointed out that the fourth-order wizard had stolen the necklace first and she had returned it to its proper owner. The fourth-order wizard didn’t care and he cursed her. He wanted to curse the rest of the band as well, but Finn Inman, the innkeeper, reminded him that only second and first order wizards could curse people with no connection to a feud and he would incur a hefty fee if cursed anyone else. Rina tried not to think about how Silver had looked, so still and pale on the floor of the Salamander’s great room. She had crouched over Silver, trying to revive her, while the rest of the band drew their swords and menaced the fourth-order wizard. Rina was surprised he had gotten away. She was also surprised that he had told them how to lift the curse.

If they could find the witch who lived at the end of the enchanted rode she would give them an elixir, if they traded her something for it. The wizard had also said that only Rina and Gold could go. Rina frowned. There was something about this quest that just didn’t ring right. But the wizard had said Silver would die in three days if they didn’t get the elixir, so there hadn’t been time to question what he had told them. Rina strained her eyes ahead. The rain was picking up and she could hear a roaring up ahead. “Gold, what’s that noise?”

“It’s the ocean we must be close.” There was new life in Gold’s voice, and Rina felt her own hope pick up. The wizard had said the witch’s hut was by the sea. Suddenly she saw a dark shape looming just beyond them.

“There it is!” They guided their horses into the meager shelter the hut gave from the squall. They dismounted and Gold pushed the door open. The inside of the hut was surprisingly dry. Bare wooden boards made up the floors and the walls and it was clean, and well lit. It was not at all what Rina had expected. Water dripped from their clocks, making puddles on the floor. The witch stood in the middle of the room wearing a red dress and a long black cape. Beside her stood Rina’s evil stepmother. Rina stiffened. This was not good.

“We’ve come for an elixir for my sister.” Gold said glaring at the witch.

The witch smiled. “Is that so? What will you give for it?”

“Anything.” Gold answered.

Rina groaned. No wonder the fourth-order wizard had wanted Gold to come. He was so concerned for his sister that he wasn’t thinking straight. Everyone knew not to offer anything as a price, and most certainly not to a witch. The witch’s smile grew wider. She snapped her fingers and Gold turned into a golden statue. Then she turned to Rina. “And what will give me for this elixir?”

Rina gulped, but before she could answer her stepmother spoke. “Sister, this ungrateful girl ought to make an unbreakable promise to come back home with me forever if she wants your elixir.”

The witch was her stepmother's sister? Rina’s eyes narrowed. “This was all your idea! You got that wizard to curse Silver to lure me here for the cure so that you could force me go with you. I won’t do it.”

Her stepmother shrugged. “Then this friend of yours dies.”

Rina glared at her stepmother. This couldn’t be. She had always thought it was her Stepmother’s sense of duty that made her try to raise her properly. But she had been sure that after she had run away twice her stepmother would give up and be content running her beloved estate. Rina wouldn’t go back with her stepmother. But even as she thought about marching out the door, Silver’s face, not pale as it had been when the wizard cursed her; but laughing and full of life danced before her. Rina wouldn’t let Silver die, even if she couldn’t be happy in a life of fancy dresses and running a castle. But I’ll tear up every dress Stepmother tries to make me wear.

Rina sighed. “Turn Gold back into himself and give me the elixir. Then I promise to come back with you.”

“Forever,” her stepmother prompted.

“Forever.” Rina agreed.

The witch snapped her fingers again. Gold shook himself and looked around. The witch pulled a small green bottle from her dress pocket and handed it to Rina. As their hands touched, violet light flashed. Rina took the vial and said, “I also promise to be as unladylike as possible. I will cut up every dress you try to make me wear. I will throw every corset into the fire, I will wear my swords, and destroy every single to-do list that you make and any other sort of mischief I can come up with.”

Her stepmother looked aghast. “You can’t do that.”

It was Rina’s turn to smile. “I just made an unbreakable promise to do so didn’t I?”

Her stepmother turned to the witch, who shrugged. Gold looked between them confused. Her stepmother turned back, “But that would destroy the estate.”

“You’re the one who cares about the estate. But if you’re so worried, you could let me out of the unbreakable promise and not force me to go back with you.”

The stepmother reluctantly nodded and the witch reached for the elixir. Rina held it out of her reach. “I’ll keep this, too. And you can promise not to try and force me to go back with you anymore.”

There was nothing else they could do. Rina’s stepmother wouldn’t let her estate be destroyed and Rina wouldn’t give up the elixir. The witch took Rina’s other hand and another flash of violet light filled the room. Rina was free. “Get out,” the witch hissed.

Gold and Rina were only too happy to comply. The enchanted road was much shorter on their return trip. Rina suspected the witch wanted to get rid of them faster and had re-enchanted the road to take them away quickly. The Bronze Salamander was a welcome sight and the band greeted them enthusiastically. They were hurried up the stairs to Silver’s room, where she laid listlessly on the bed. Within moments of receiving the elixir she opened her eyes, much to the band’s relief.

When Rina and Gold told their story, Gervas shook his head and asked Rina if she had any other people in her past who would try to make trouble. Rina didn’t know and Silver pointed out that most, if not all, of the band had made enemies during their adventures that they didn’t know about. In a few days Silver was well enough to complain loudly about being treated like an invalid. After two weeks she was begging to go on a quest, and the band promptly begged with her. Gervas laughed at them, but a few days later he came back to the Bronze Salamander with a quest to slay a dragon. With great excitement the band packed and rode out. Rina grinned from the top of her horse. Ahead of her Silver and Gold rode side by side making jokes and Gervas was at the front. Rina was perfectly content.


Check out The Bronze Salamander and To The Rescue for more magical adventures.