Weaver's Curse

On a blank day four days after the incident in Kestrel, the markings on the back of Isaan’s neck that Lace had pointed out began to burn mysteriously.

“Uh... man...?” Toby said.

“What?” Isaan asked.

“Those markings on your neck... They’re glowing.” Toby whispered.

"What?” Isaan said. “It’s weird, they suddenly started hurting, and now they’re glowing too?”

“Does it mean one of the people you’re bound to is in trouble?” Toby asked.

“I don’t know!” Isaan said. “Gah, it feels like it’s one fire!”

“Man, that is probably not a good sign.” Toby said.

“What do we do?!”

“About what?” Allie asked.

Toby quickly filled her in on the situation.

“Get Kaedwyn is what we do.” Allie said. “Wait right here.”

She raced off, towing Kaedwyn back with her a few moments later.

“Allie already filled me in,” Kaedwyn said, as Toby opened his mouth to speak.

She rested one warm hand on the back of his neck, and made a surprised noise.

“I can feel the heat from it,” she commented.

“Is one of them in danger?” Isaan asked anxiously.

“I don’t know,” Kaedwyn shrugged. “Does it really feel like it’s burning?”

“Yes! Like someone pressed a hot coal against my neck.”

“Did they burn themselves? Is that why it feels like that?” Toby asked.

What if they’re hurt?

“Toby, do us a favor and be quiet.” Allie said. “You’re stressing him out.”

“Sorry.” Toby said.

The heat abruptly faded from his neck, and Isaan sighed in relief.

“Huh. It went cool quickly.” Kaedwyn said.

“Do you think it means they’re okay? Whoever they are?” Allie asked.

“Hopefully.” Kaedwyn said.

What happened to them to make the mark burn like that? I don’t think it had anything to do with actual fire.

Emotion distress, maybe?

I hope they’re okay now.

“I wonder if we’ll stay in Amina long,” Allie said, changing the subject.

“I doubt it.” Toby said. “Aren’t we just dropping all the Loann Cardamom off with some lordling customer of Mr. Hexing’s that lives there?”

“Dill told me they’re old friends.” Kaedwyn said. “So this may be a multi-day stop.”

“I really wish we could just keep moving.” Isaan said.

“Me too.” Kaedwyn agreed. “We’ve got places to be.”

“Sometimes resting a bit isn’t a bad decision.” Allie said. “We’ll make it to the peaks in plenty of time.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Kaedwyn said. “But the anticipation is just so much. You know? Somehow, I’ve got a chance to live in peace for the first time in six years, and I don’t want it to go to waste.”

“No, I get it.” Allie said. “And I don’t blame you. Living in peace sounds great.”

It suddenly occurred to Isaan that he knew virtually nothing about Allie’s past other than she’d been born and raised in Reganne.

Although he wasn’t sure now was the best time to ask about it.

“You speak as if you haven’t been living peacefully,” Kaedwyn noted.

Allie laughed awkwardly. “Well... uh... it’s nothing drastic. I just haven’t always gotten to make choices for myself, I guess?”

I wonder what exactly that means.

Isaan had some vague idea that many parents where he was from had tried to control as much of their offspring’s lives as they could. Perhaps that was what she was implying.

Kaedwyn nodded.

Toby nodded too, a thoughtful look on his face.

They arrived in Amina a day later, and one of the wagons, driven by Hexing himself, broke away from the caravan and drove towards a mansion in the inner city, while the rest of them made camp outside the town. Hexing took a few of the older guards and Dill with them.

“Alright,” Allie said, hauling Kaedwyn to where he and Toby were lazing around. “I’m taking Kaedwyn into town to get a few things we’ll need to change her look. Either of you want to come?”

“We’ll both come.” Toby volunteered. “It might not be safe for the two of you to wander around a strange place by yourselves.”

“I know how to stab people just fine.” Kaedwyn snorted.

“It’d be better if you didn’t have to stab anyone and possibly get yourself thrown in the gaol-house.” Isaan agreed.

“Who says gaol instead of jail anymore?” Kaedwyn said, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Me, I guess.” Isaan shrugged.

“Enough squabbling, kids. Let’s go.” Allie said.

“Yes ma’am.” Kaedwyn said.

In the city, the first place Allie stopped at a peddler’s stall, where she purchased a small bottle of yellow dye and a bottle of henna dye.

Isaan wasn’t sure what those were for exactly.

Next, she bought a small spool of light green ribbon from a second stall. Kaedwyn eyed it suspiciously.

“Alright, let’s get a dress for you now!” Allie said. “You’ve got the right measurements for there to probably be a ready-made one that will fit.”

“Please don’t let it be an over-the-top one.” Isaan heard Kaedwyn whisper to herself.

Allie led them along to a tailor’s shop for peasant clothes.

“Hello!” the tailor said. “How may I help you?”

“Hi!” Allie said. “Do you have any dresses similar to what I’m wearing that will be easy to move around in, preferably made from a fabric that won’t stain or wrinkle easily?”

“Yes, I certainly do, miss! Are you looking for a dress for yourself?”

“No, it’s for my friend here,” Allie said, shoving Kaedwyn forward.

“We have a few ready made ones if you’d like to look at them,” the tailor offered.

“Yes please!” Allie said.

They hung back while Allie examined the outfits hung over the dress-maker dummies. She reached out and fingered the fabric of a few, shaking her head and frowning. She finally stopped on one in a rich brown color with a similar design to the one she was wearing.

“This one, I think.” Allie said. “Kaedwyn, come tell me what you think.”

“It seems alright, I guess?” Kaedwyn said.

“Would you let her try it on and see what adjustments need to be made?” Allie asked the tailor.

“Of course, miss.” The tailor said, ushering Kaedwyn behind a screen.

A few minutes later, the tailor reported that it would need to be hemmed a little, and adjusted at the waist.

“Thank you.” Allie said. “We’ll purchase it as is. Do you have a matching kerchief?”

“Yes, actually, I think so.” The tailor said, bustling over to a table, and rifling through a stack of fabrics. He returned with two kerchiefs in the same color as the dress.

“Thank you.” Allie said, dropping a few coins into the tailor’s hand. He parceled the kerchiefs and dress up for them, and they headed back to their camp.

“I’ll just hem it myself.” Allie said. “Who knows how long it’ll take him to do so.”

She turned to Kaedwyn, cracking a smile. “But before I get on that, we’ll get on the other part of your makeover.”