Weaver's Curse

When the stranger had wandered into The Sleeping Sow and announced to her that she was looking for a Malachite, Sedine had nearly decided to lure her out back and shank her.

Despite the obvious hazard of the troops of feral hogs, Yester was one of the only three places that Sedine had felt safe in during the past year and a half. She’d actually been enjoying her serving job. And she didn’t plan to let anyone ruin that.

But then the stranger had saved her own life by adding that she was a friend of Nigel’s. And now Sedine was helping her.

She fell asleep instantly as soon as she crawled into bed, as she intended to. What she didn’t plan on doing was immediately have her dream hijacked.

Sedine found herself standing on the balcony of Malachite Hall, her old home. Her cousin, Darren stood beside her.

She quickly reached a hand up to her hair, and found it was long and still blonde, like it had been when she had fled.

Good. He won’t be looking for my disguise.

“I really appreciate you butting your way into my private delusions,” Sedine said, rolling her eyes. “And you don’t even have to say it. Let me guess: ‘Sedine, please come home, I promise you are in no danger’?”

“If you’ve got the monologue memorized, then will you please just return?” Darren said.

“Hm. No.” Sedine said.

“Look, we never intended you any actual harm,” Darren pleaded.

“A knife to the throat is a knife to the throat.” Sedine said. “It’s easy to say no harm was intended when you weren’t the one that was attacked and hunting like a fox. Now would you stop contacting me? I’ve got shit to do.”

“I see you haven’t gotten any less vulgar,” Darren sniffed.

“I got worse on purpose.” Sedine said, spitting at his feet. “You won’t want me back. Now buh-bye.”

She forcefully shifted out of the dream and woke up, gasping. Vassa, her room-mate, who had yet to fall asleep, gave her a concerned look.

“Are you alright?” she whispered.

“Yeah.” Sedine assured her. She rolled over and went back to sleep, this time visiting the person she intended to.

The dream she shared with the weavers was hazy, unlike the dream she’d just left. Moe specifically, the weaver. There was only one, and Sedine could barely make out what she looked like. Her form kept blurring and reforming.

It finally settled on a pretty woman the bore a faint resemblance to Indeara.

“Who?” the woman gasped.

“A friend. Probably.” Sedine said. “Someone’s asked me to help her find you. Her name’s Indeara. I don’t think she means you harm.”

“In... dear...” the woman said. “Y... yes. We are... friends?”

“Where are you?” Sedine asked.

Whoever this woman was, it seemed like she hadn’t spoken to anyone in years.

“Mountains. The... uh... Constellation! Yes, Constellation Mountains!”

She suddenly blurred into an elderly woman.

“See you soon, then.” Sedine said.

Constellation Mountains... It looks like she’s much older than what the dream showed me initially... They’re probably called something else now.

I’ll ask Cadence.

She pictured the Mistress of Blackhall, and she found herself standing in Blackhall Academy’s library. Cadence Asher sat in one of the armchairs, reading.

Cadence glanced up, saw Sedine, and threw her book aside.

“Sedine!” she cried, throwing her arms around her “How have you been?”

“Good, actually.” Sedine said. “How’s Aurora been?”

“She misses you.” Cadence said.

“Tell her I miss her too.” Sedine said, thinking fondly of the other Mistress Asher, Cadence’s wife.

“I will.” Cadence said, smiling. “What brings you here?”

“I’ve got a quest.”

“Is that safe?” Cadence asked.

“I’ve still got your pendant, in case of emergency.” Sedine said. “Have you ever heard of a place called the Constellation Mountains?”

“I was actually just reading about that earlier today!” Cadence said, surprised. “They’re called Jethro’s Peaks now.”

“Ew, why would they rename them to that?” Sedine grimaced.

“You’re ignoring the more important fact, Sedine.” Cadence said. “Which is that Jethro’s Peaks are located in Zircon.”

“Oh!” Sedine said. “Well... that’s not ideal. I don’t suppose a certain group has let up on their search for me?”

“They’re less persistent than they were a few months ago,” Cadence said, sighing. “But your face is still plastered everywhere. And you know that pendent has limited use...”

“Yeah, I know.” Sedine said. “Hm... I actually think I know of a way to deal with them... Or at least a few of them. If I can just get Salazar and Fayen to look elsewhere, I think I can avoid the other two.”

“If you’re sure...” Cadence said. “Just remember, all it takes is one of these visits to contact Aurora or me if you run into trouble. I’d be more comfortable if my brother were in the country, but he’s still in Reganne and plans to be there for at least two more months.”

“Don’t worry too much Cadence,” Sedine assured her. “I’m an expert at disguise.”

“That you are,” Cadence said.

“Anyway, goodbye.” Sedine said. “I’ve got to get some actual sleep before it’s time for me to get up.”

“Goodbye.” Cadence said.

Sedine sank into an actual sleep, dark and dreamless.

She told Indeara to wait for her, and went to find the tavern owner, Bill.

“It’s time for me to move on,” she told him.

“Already?” Bill said.

“Mhm. Thanks for letting me work here.”

He looked around, then asked. “Do you think you could take Vassa with you? I’d do anything to get that damned pig of hers out of here.”

He gestured to Pinky, who was slurping up a mixture of spoiled milk and stale bread in the corner.

“Only if she’s willing,” Sedine said, smiling. “I’m not kidnapping your niece.”

Vassa was smart, knew how to play dumb, and a hard worker. Sedine certainly wouldn’t mind having her along.

“Vassa!” Bill called.

Vassa scurried over, her black braid swinging.

“You’ve been bothering me about travelling for ages, do you want to leave with Sedine?” Bill asked.

“Can I?” Vassa asked, her eyes going wide.

“As long as you take that damned, uh... I mean Pinky, with you.” Bill said.

“When do we leave?” Vassa asked Sedine.

“Sometime this morning, hopefully.” Sedine said.

“Okay! I’ve got to go grab Pinky’s sweater and my cloak! Be right back!” Vassa said, dashing off.

So that’s what that was; I thought she was knitting a tarp.

“Here’s your pay.” Bill said, tossing her a purse full of coins. He tossed her a second pouch. “And that’s Vassa’s. Give it to her.”

They said their goodbyes, and Sedine went to sit with Indeara.

“We’ve got someone else joining us,” Sedine said. “Two someones if we’re counting the pig.”

“...why are we bringing a pig?”

“I was asked to. And who knows, maybe she’ll be useful.”

Vassa came pounding back down the stairs.

“That’s our other party member,” Sedine said, pointing to her.

She knelt down to talk to Pinky; by the look of it, she was trying to convince the hog to wriggle into the sweater.

Vassa tugged the sweater onto Pinky, and the two came trotting over.

“Who’s this, Sedna?” Vassa asked.

“This is Indeara, she’s travelling with us. Indeara, meet Vassa.” Sedine said.

“Good to meet you!” Vassa said, giving Indeara’s hand an enthusiastic shake.

“Likewise.” Indeara said.

“And I am Pinky.” Pinky announced, snuffling at Indeara’s boots. Indeara looked like she was suppressing a whimper.

Sedine led them out of the inn.

“Alright, I found out the location of the weavers last night. Well, weaver. There’s only one left. She’s in the Constellation Mountains.”

“The what?” Vassa said. “And Sedna, I’m pretty sure that’s not an actual place.”

“It’s called Jethro’s Peaks now.”

“Ugh why would they downgrade the name like that?” Vassa said, wrinkling her nose. “And you have yet to explain to me about this weaver thing.”

“C’mon. We’ll explain on the way.” Sedine said.