Weaver's Curse

Kaedwyn parted with the Basil and the other members of the road-crew a few days later, and travelled in the direction of the Zircon border. Perhaps it was finally time for her to return home, to Selah, the kingdom that lay beyond Zircon.

Unfortunately, Loann and Reganne had not proved safe.

She planned on joining a caravan as soon as she reached Zircon. Hopefully, coworkers would keep her from getting snatched again. It would probably also help that her hair beads and distinctive coppery curls were now bundled up under a scarf, just like any other peasant woman’s.

Kaedwyn hesitantly decided to pay the village of Abesta a visit. A farmer allowed her to hitch a ride on his cart, and she did her best to make it look as if she were friendly with him. As long as any onlookers didn’t look to closely, she and him could pass as father and daughter or niece and uncle.

She couldn’t believe her luck when she saw a caravan of spice merchants stopped in Abesta.

“Thanks for the ride, mister.” She called to the farmer as she hopped off his cart.

“Be careful, kid!” the farmer returned.

She smiled, and headed towards the caravan.

“Got any open positions?” she called to an attractive blond boy that was tending to the horses.

“You’d have to ask Mr. Hexing,” the boy said pleasantly. “He’s the one with the feathered hat over there.”

“Thanks.” Kaedwyn said.

“I’m told you’re the one I need to ask about being hired,” she said to the so-called Mr. Hexing.

“That would be me.” He agreed, looking up from the ledgers he was studying. “What can you do?”

“Cooking, cleaning, arithmetic...” Kaedwyn said. “Most things, actually. I’m quite versatile.”

“Allie!” Hexing called to a cute girl around Kaedwyn’s age that wore her hair in twin braids. “Beth quit this morning, didn’t she?”

“Yes, sir.” Allie answered.

“Well then you’re in luck, miss.” Mr. Hexing said. “We just so happen to be in need of a new maid.”

“Thank you, sir.” Kaedwyn said.

“I am Mr. Hexing. And you are?”

“Kaedwyn Telare-ess.”

Hopefully giving out my actual name won’t cause me any problems.

“Allie can show you around.” Hexing said, waving her off.

“Hi!” Allie said.

“Uh. Hello.” Kaedwyn said.

“So feel welcome to just follow me around until you figure out where everything is,” Allie said in a rush. “It probably won’t take you long, because this caravan isn’t that big.”

Ugh it looks like she’s the energetic type.

“Did you get hired?” the blond boy from earlier asked, falling into step beside them.

“Yep.” Kaedwyn said.

“Welcome to the team.” He said, grinning.

He’s sort of handsome. A little too puppyish.

Objectively, Allie was the cuter of the pair. But totally not Kaedwyn’s type personality-wise.

“Kaedwyn, meet our other friends, Dill and Isaan.” Allie said, introducing her to a pair of young men that carried swords.

Dill was stocky and tan-skinned, and by the look of his sweaty face, had just gotten done practicing with the sword. Isaan was pale with dark hair, and a pretty face for a man. He sat on a barrel, sharpening a knife.

“Hi Kaedwyn.” Dill said.

“Hi.” Isaan echoed, glancing up at her.

Looking at him straight on, a sense of unease fell over Kaedwyn.

She wasn’t a witch, but she’d grown up in a community of them. She had enough practice to tell that there was something off about this boy.

What is it...oh. Oh. That is not good.

I’ll ask him about it in private.

“Where are you from?” the blond asked. “Kaedwyn doesn’t sound like a Reganne name.”

“Not even going to introduce yourself before starting the interrogation?” Kaedwyn said, raising an eyebrow.

He flushed slightly. “Toby. I’m Toby.”

“Selah, right?” Isaan asked suddenly, looking back up at her.

“...yes.” Kaedwyn said.

“I thought it sounded like a Selah name...” he muttered. His face to on a look that was a mixture of confusion and concern.

This guy is creeping me out. Just a little bit.

“Have you been to Selah?” Allie asked Isaan.

“I don’t know. Maybe?” Isaan said, frowning.

Isaan. It is a Selah name, I think. A Telare name, specifically.

Kaedwyn had been away from home for so long that she had difficulty remembering what many of the words in the Telare language meant, and which words and names were specific to the language.

It’s an archaic name, I’m pretty sure, Kaedwyn thought. Weird that his parents picked that for him.

“Your name is Telare in origin,” Kaedwyn said. “It’d be weird if you’d never been to Selah.”

“Telare?” Dill said.

“It’s a region in Selah.” Allie informed him. “They have their own specific language and it’s even been argued that they’re a separate kingdom.”

So she does know some things, Kaedwyn thought, giving the girl a glance. Although I find it weird that a citizen of Reganne knows anything about Telare, considering we’re barely talked about in our kingdom.

“Oh are you Telare?” Allie asked, turning to Kaedwyn.

“I spent part of my childhood there, yes.” Kaedwyn said. “And you are correct.”

Allie looked pleased with herself.

“My name is Telare in origin? Really?” Isaan said, perking up.

“Yes.” Kaedwyn said. “It’s an old name that’s been out of use for ages in Telare. About the Reganne equivalent of naming your child Obadiah.”

“Are you alright with telling me more about Telare later?” Isaan said.

“Toby, I just remembered that Hexing asked us to check those crates of cinnamon.” Dill said suddenly. “Coming, Allie?”

“Hm? Oh, yes!”

The three hurried off.

“I never heard Hexing tell them to do that...” Isaan said.

They’re clearly trying to give us some privacy, Kaedwyn thought, sighing internally.

She sat down on the barrel next to Isaan. “So, are you aware that you are cursed?”

“I guessed as much.” Isaan said. “How did you know? Are you a witch?”

“I’m not a witch.” Kaedwyn said. “But I grew up around enough that I know a curse when I see one. Who cursed you?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Isaan said.

“How do you not know something like that? Do you just piss off enough people that it could be anyone?”

“It’s not like that.” Isaan protested. “The curse is amnesia. Some days, I wake up and there’s just nothing. Other days, I remember little snatches. I couldn’t tell you what, because today is one of the blank days, but...”

“Oh... That’s... quite the curse.” Kaedwyn said. “Have you tried writing down the things you remember on good days?”

“Not yet. I’ve been travelling nonstop since I woke up.”

“Woke up?”

“Yeah. This all started when I woke up in the swamps of Loann a few months back.” Isaan explained. “The sword and my clothes were the only thing I had on me.”

“This just keeps getting weirder.” Kaedwyn commented.

“I know, right?” Isaan said. “You said my name was a Telare one?”

“Yeah,” Kaedwyn said. “A really old one.”

“Then perhaps I am Telare.” He said.

“Maybe.” Kaedwyn said. “Tell you what: I’m actually heading back there myself. I plan on parting with the caravan as close to the Zircon/Selah border as I can get. You’re welcome to come with me.”

“Even if you don’t find any clues about yourself there, you might be able to find someone who can remove your curse.” Kaedwyn continued. “So. Are you in?”