Chapter Thirty-Three

Another month passed. They hadn’t been squabbling as much, but things remained tense. Arianna’s disturbing dreams had gotten worse and more frequent. She dreaded going to bed. She’d usually lie awake till Darius was asleep, then go to the settee or window seat, sometimes spending the night there.

Today, Arianna was in her healing chamber sending out a powerful protection spell when Darius came in the cabin.

“Arianna?” he called, coughing and moving his arms before him. “What in the bloody hell’s all this smoke?”

“I’m burning sage.”

“It isn’t usually burned so thick I can’t see my hand before my face.”

“It’s meant to protect the cabin and those inside.”

He stood at the door.

“Come in,” she said, but he remained.

“We need to speak. Apparently Charlotte’s mightily perturbed at you.”

“Isn’t Charlotte always perturbed at me?”

“Christ, Arianna, you cut Rachel’s hair?”

“Oh, for God’s sake! You’d think I scalped her!”

“That’s not amusing!” he said.

“I cut one lock.” She held up a tiny blonde curl.

“You’ve also cut Kathleen’s bairns’ hair, even wee Daniel?”

“Kathleen agreed to it,” Arianna said staring at him, not understanding his objection. “I told her it was for a protection spell.”

“Do you think it’s wise tellin’ people you’re doin’ spells?”

She didn’t reply.

“What’s goin’ on, Arianna? I know the dreams leave you sleep-deprived, but you’ve barely stepped outside. You adore bein’ out in nature.”

“You don’t want me in the forest.”

“You could go to your sanctuary if you take Wolf.”

“I don’t wish to be there,” Arianna admitted. Since the night she’d seen Alcott and sensed evil, she’d mostly stayed away. “I prefer being here only with you.”

“Apparently so, else you wouldn’t have created a mountain of snow to keep us confined.”

“Again, I’m regretful that was such a hardship,” she said.

“With the snow nearly gone, Smythe’s witch-hunter could be travelin’ about. Governor Phips has yet to declare witch trials unlawful. If Charles Mendenhall arrives here, it won’t be only you he scrutinizes but perhaps anyone with ties to you.”

“I’m working on spells that ensure my presence is veiled from Charles Mendenhall.”

“Alcott’s soldiers will surely be patrolling again, too. Arianna, you can’t give anyone anything they could report as suspicious. You must be discreet with your magic.”

“You once told me I could employ my magic as I liked in this cabin.”

“You weren’t in our cabin when you were speakin’ of spells and cuttin’ bairns’ hair.”

“I’ll keep clear of everyone lest I do anything to implicate them,” she said in a wounded tone.

“I’m worried, Arianna.”

She sighed. In her displeasure the items in the chamber began to shake. Some rose in the air.

“I just want to keep you safe. I’m your guardian, my wee witch,” he said stepping in and taking her in his arms. He looked down, then jumped back.

“Jesus, what’s that?”

“It’s a skull.”

“I know bloody well it’s a skull, but why is it here?”

“I found it by the river. I believe he was a shaman. I want to ensure his spirit assists with protection spells. I hope to ward off the nefarious presence I’ve sensed.”

As he held her, he turned her wrist over.

“What are these?”

“They’re nothing,” she said pulling away.

“There are several deep slices on your wrist, Arianna!”

“My blood is necessary in protection spells.”

“If anyone saw this chamber they could rightly accuse you of witchcraft. Christ, Arianna, the blood, the skull, the hair and the chanting…speaking of beasts and demons.”

His voice was sterner; she sighed and looked away.

“Is this Amy’s brooch?” he asked, picking it up.

“Aye. I found it with her possessions. You said I could take what I’d like. It’s for a locating spell. I believe Amy’s still alive.”

“She’s been gone for years, Arianna, and I don’t approve of this,” he said gesturing to the chamber.

“I’ll place a lock on this door if it’ll make you less peevish,” she flippantly said.

“I’ll lock the damn chamber if you don’t stop actin’ so outlandish.”

“You said I could do magic in the cabin,” she repeated.

“I didn’t suspect you’d be delving in dark magic.”

“How could protection and locating spells be considered dark magic?”

Arianna went to the window, opened the shutters, inhaled deeply and whispered to herself.

“What’s that language? It sounds Gaelic, but different somehow.”

“It’s apparently a faery dialect.”

“What are you repeating?”

“Nil-ifreann-tine. It translates to No Hellfire. It’s meant to calm me,” she said. “No Hellfire. Mama used to tightly hold me and have me repeat it till I felt calmer. I think that’s why I disliked being restrained even before I was introduced to the Puritans’ pillory.”

“You made that decree burst into flames back in Wyndham Village. Have you created fire before?”

She nodded. “If you want the whole truth, I started the fire that killed my grandparents. I was only wee and very frightened. When I saw him strike her, I angrily created fire but then couldn’t control it. That’s why I fight to keep my temper from surfacing.”

“I’m sorry you experienced that, Arianna,” he said, his tone softer.

“I don’t want you to be displeased with me.”

“I’m just increasingly concerned.”

“This is who I am, Darius. You knew I was a witch when you insisted on taking me as your wife. Although admittedly, you weren’t aware I could torch the settlement when I’m in a temper. Now you’re regretful?”

“I’m not. You twist my words and mistake my meaning. It seems we can’t even talk anymore.”

Their eyes locked and he came to hold her. She laid her head upon his chest, regretful they’d quarreled, yet again.

“It’ll be good to get out more, walking and riding horses as we once did. Today, I’m going to my shop to…”

“To?” she asked.

“To work on cradles for the Schmidts and Sarah and Michael.”

“I’m clearly aware several women here are pregnant. Besides, I don’t know that it’s even favorable for me to carry a bairn. I wouldn’t wish to pass on these outlandish abilities.”

He looked at her with seriousness again.

“Arianna, tell me you’re not using herbs to ensure you don’t carry a bairn.”

“I wouldn’t, certainly not without discussing it with you.”

“But you’re aware of such herbs?”

“I’m a healer, Darius. I know of herbs that allegedly prevent conception and others used to rid a woman of a child conceived. Neither are certain or without risk and no, I haven’t taken either. Why would you ask that?”

“Bessie said you might be. Ethan told Samuel that Charlotte believes you’re ingesting the herbs because you wouldn’t want to carry a child and risk altering your shapely form.”

Arianna furiously scowled and several potions were wildly tossed his way, but fell short of hitting him. They crashed to the floor and smashed open.

“Arianna!” he chastised.

“Be bloody grateful you’re immune to my magic, Darius Wyndham,” she said picking up the nearest potion bottle and throwing it at him. He jumped clear, but it shattered. She angrily threw more as he dodged them. The smell of pungent potions was strong in the chamber.

“You want me to be done with magic and potions, so be it!” In her temper, she tossed every single bottle and shattered them hard on the floor.

“Christ, Arianna.”

“Now you’re taking heed of what Charlotte—that wanton, troublemaking bitch—thinks?” She pointed at the door. “Leave this chamber at once! Go work on the cradles before you need to create a coffin.”

“That might be a bit tricky if I’m dead,” he jested, took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’ll see you later, Arianna.”