#Lore24 – Entry #129 – Muckenmyre Month #8 – Ashleyra the Witch of the Swamp
From the journal of Takara, Slave Inquisitor of the Stellae Illustris.
In my mess of thoughts concerning my future that night, as dawn approached, I became aware of a subtle shift in the air outside. From my window, in the faint light of the lanterns hanging along the Span, I could see that not a soul moved at this hour, and that a fog was coming in, spreading rapidly from the north, from the depths of the Muckenmyre itself. I knew immediately that this was not natural, could feel the magic in the air as the gray enveloped the town. Immediately on alert, I eased silently from my bed to peer more closely at the gathering fog. To my surprise, I heard movement in the house; the mayor was already awake, and in moments, he stepped lightly through the front room and out the door, dressed for the day, it seemed, and headed toward the Span.
Curious by virtue of my inquisitor’s nature, immediately suspicious of a plot of some kind, I waited until the mayor had neared the Span and slipped out of my window, my bare feet silent upon the slightly muddy stones. Keeping low and using the fog to my advantage, I hurried to follow the mayor, easily tracking his path. Spotting the watch towers as I cleared the row of houses, I could see the night watch still in place, none of them seemingly aware that the fog wasn’t natural, none more alert of a possible attack.
As I came upon the Span, I saw movement upon the river, a single flatboat coming down the side closer to the far end of the Span. The fog had obscured it to some extent, but I could make out a single figure upon it, wearing an earthy-colored cloak that obscured their features. As they neared a small dock, I saw something else move over the bundles and bags that filled the boat, a reddish-colored muskrat, running excitedly back and forth. I likewise spotted the mayor and three others coming down the steps, lanterns in hand, two assistants from the general store, and the woman I recognized as the town’s herbalist, though I had yet to introduce myself to her.
I continued silently and quickly through the fog-shrouded street along the Span, picking up snippets of conversation, thought he fog had a muffling effect, and I could make out nothing of what was said. As I rounded the far end of the Span and came up behind some crates that were stacked near the platform at the top of the stairs leading from the dock, I could finally hear the mayor and the herbalist speaking softly, an unfamiliar, female voice answering. It seemed they were discussing trade of some kind. I peered around the crates, watching as the assistants unloaded the flatboat, though my eyes were drawn to the newcomer. Curiously I could not see her face, even in the lantern light, though I saw the faint, reddish glow coming from her eyes, the tips of curling horns poking from her hood, and the gentle swaying of a pointed tail around her legs. A mazoku, the first I had seen since my arrival in Grimbridge.
As the last of the cargo was removed from the boat, I noticed the muskrat again, having climbed atop some of the bags that had been brought onto the docks, its eyes suddenly focusing upon me, its head cocking curiously to one side. A heartbeat later the conversation had stopped, and I felt the mazoku’s eyes fall upon me, and then she called out to me.
“Fear not, newcomer; I was aware of your arrival from the moment you first came to these shores. If you come with no ill-intent, then please, join us, for I would quite like to meet one who has survived such an ordeal, one from the far Empire.”
My fur bristled at having been spotted; I knew then that the muskrat was not natural, and would momentarily discover it was a familiar, and the stranger was known as Ashleyr, the Witch of the Muckenmyre. I did not hesitate once I had been spotted, for I sensed no danger, and made my way down the steps. I bowed in deferential greeting, and silent apology, to those gathered here, aware that the assistants had began loading other bags and crates upon the boat. The mayor made introductions, to the herbalist, an older half-elven woman named Cardiane, and even to the muskrat, Thornton, who was now nibbling on some sweet treat he’d gotten from somewhere.
Ashleyr extended her hand, and once I had taken it, she held to it with remarkable strength, for she was shorter and lighter of build than me, turning it so that she could see my slave brand. Without need of being told, I showed her the one on my other forearm; she took a few moments to examine them, running her fingers over them, seemingly tracing their lines, then nodded and thanked me; I had steeled myself, though, my training preparing me to resist any magic that may be placed upon me, though none came.
I still could not make out the details of her face but for her faintly glowing eyes, even this close.
She told me that she came to town at least once every couple of months, trading mostly herbs, potions, and other rare materials from the depths of the swamp in return for things she needed, though preferred early-morning visits, when fewer eyes would be upon her, for not everyone took well to her kind, especially not a witch such as she. I inquired as to whether she was associated with the Witches of the Ways, for I had encountered them in my homeland. I could hear her smile as she spoke, confirming that she was, though she was far more aloof than her sisters, for her home was the heart of the swamp itself, and the place of power that stood there. I did not inquire further about this, for it did not seem to be my place to do so.
Our conversation was short, ending once her boat had been filled. She expressed a desire to speak with me at some length in the future but did not wish to linger longer than necessary. She announced that I was welcome in the swamp, but that I should not take that to mean I should not be wary of its many dangers. She then bid farewell to the mayor, the herbalist, and myself and made her way back upon the flatboat, her familiar hurrying to follow. As she departed back up the slow-moving river, the fog followed her, disappearing as suddenly as it had come.
Offering another apology to the mayor for my actions, though I caught myself before I suggested he punish me, for I knew by now that he would tolerate no such talk, I instead offered my help in carrying the goods Ashleyr had brought as my way of making amends. This he seemed to accept without complaint, and so I made myself useful. I am no stranger to hard labor, so carrying these bundles and boxes was no trouble, and I daresay that I was better at it than even his store workers. If nothing else, it was a gauge of how well I had recovered, and thankfully, it seemed, I was very nearly fully healed.
As we returned to his home for another hour or two of sleep before the day’s work began, I expressed my interest in finding some kind of work within the town, as a way to repay the hospitality they had shown me, and to start earning my way properly, given that I was no longer anyone’s property. Saying such a thing still felt entirely wrong, and internally I was feeling as though I had willfully committed some great act of betrayal to my Emperor, but what choice did I have? Surely his kindness had its limits, and I would not be wise to overstay my welcome so far from home.