Wind Rider 

Mattat Salmon

Lani Clovers is the best herbalist in all of Barons Dale (according to her), and Sonia Elixir was once the much loved Witch Of The Winds before she was exiled from her home city. Between the two, brewing a spell of only the strongest poisons in the Blue Forest should be easy, right?

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Wind Rider 

“Raspberry leaves, dried rose, cinnamon, chamomile..”  she murmured to herself, counting off the ingredients as she poured scoopfulls of each herb into a small cotton bag, before tying it shut with a blue ribbon and placing it on the smooth stone counter. “Here you go love, one Moonbag just for you.”

“Oh thank you so much Lani. I don’t know what I’d do without you!” The lady on the other side of the counter sighed gratefully, tucking her order into her tote bag and replacing it with a handful of silver coins. 

Lani chuckled and waved the woman off as she left through the shops’ old, forest green door. Once the woman was out of sight, Lani pulled out a tall wooden stool and sat down at her counter to start working on her next order for a customer she was expecting soon. 

She selected a number of jars, filled with dried herbs, from the set of shelves that took up the entirety of the wall behind her, before reaching into her pale yellow apron for her little red notebook of recipes to see if she’d forgotten anything. 

“Garlic, bay, cinnamon, lemon, ginger-” She stopped short as the cheerful tinkling of her doorbell rang out through the small shop, signalling the arrival of a visitor. 

“I’m afraid I only just started your order love, it might take a minute.” Lani confessed, laying her notebook open on the now covered grey counter as she turned her back to her guest to collect some missing flowers. 

“You have?” The newcomer’s voice was soft, silvery and somewhat surprised. Not the deep, earthy tone of her expected regular. Lani turned around in confusion to take a look at the speaker. 

At first glance she couldn’t be sure of the person’s gender, as they stood just inside the doorway, letting their gaze roam around the cluttered and colourful apothecary. 

They wore a button up blouse of crisp white linen, with billowy sleeves that appeared to be floating on an invisible breeze. Their tan dress trousers didn’t defy gravity, but did elongate their legs nicely. 

By then the person had noticed her staring and matched her gaze with an expectant expression on their sharp features. Their eyes were a beautiful golden brown that matched their hanging honey coloured crystal earrings, and it took Lani a second to remember that the stranger had asked a question.

“O-oh well no actually, I was expecting my regular, Rowan.” She finally replied sheepishly, lowering her gaze slightly in embarrassment.

“What can I get you?” She questioned, getting back to Rowan’s order as the stranger drifted closer to watch her. Their collection of  golden bangles clinking as they moved.

“Ah that’d make sense.” They chuckled, taking hold of the long, thick brown braid that hung over their shoulder and tossing it behind them. “Unless you’re a mind reader.” 

Lani raised a brow as she fastened Rowan’s order and set it aside.

“I’m afraid not, but I am Lani Clovers. The best herbalist in this forest.” She replied, her voice proud and sure as she cleared the counter once she was done. 

“So the rumours I’ve heard are true.” The stranger smiled slowly, clasping their pretty hands together and leaning over the counter so that their faces were only inches apart. 

The more they spoke, Lani decided that their voice and face were undoubtedly quite feminine. Still, she waited for them to properly introduce themselves. 

The stranger seemed to expect more of a reaction and stepped back when they didn’t get any. 

“Many know me as the Witch Of The Winds or the Wind Rider, but my name is Sonia Elixir and I have a large request to make.” The stranger announced, striking a rather grand pose that confirmed her sleeves really were floating around as they wished. 

Lani nodded and sat back down on her stool, readjusting her pale green bandana over her mass of tight brown curls. Although her customers usually consisted of the normal people from the nearby towns and villages that surrounded the forest of Barons Dale, it wasn’t unusual for workers of magic and spell casters to seek out herbalists for supplies.

“What might that be Ms.Elixir?” She questioned calmly, taking her notebook in her hands.

“Just Sonia please, and I’m afraid you won’t have a recipe for what I’m looking for.” Sonia warned, taking her own list out of her shirt and sending it to Lani on a swift breeze from her hand to the counter.

An impressed smile formed on Lanis lips as she put down her book and took a look at the sandy slip of paper. 

“Blue Bloods, East Weed, Rune?” She read aloud, looking back up at the woman with a frown. “These are all deadly poisonous.” 

“Precisely.” Sonia nodded with a smile, though she didn’t seem to find it funny. 

“I must collect a handful of each, brew them into a spell and present them to my father in order to be accepted back home.” She explained, a strange mixture of resentment and longing in her silvery voice. 

Lani bit her lip as her gaze returned to the paper in her hands. She didn’t know what Sonia meant by “accepted” though she guessed it held great significance. However if her father were to use this spell on anyone, they’d die a slow and excruciating death. She didn’t want to play any part in a potential murder.

“Of course you’d be paid handsomely for your service.” Sonia assured her, picking up on her hesitation. 

“What will the poison be used for exactly?” Lani demanded, crossing her arms and staring the witch in the eye.

“Just to disintegrate our trash, don’t worry.” Sonia replied quickly, recognising the woman’s concern.

“They just want to challenge me, remember.” She added, drifting over to the large stained windows by the shop’s entrance. “It was the most impossible task they could think of, it seems. Probably expect me to end up poisoning myself so I can’t bother them.”

“You do realise these can only be found in the Blue Forest right?” Lani pointed out, attempting to discourage the witch. 

“Yes. Barons Dale Forest, also known as The Blue Forest by night, and deadly if you don’t know what you’re doing.” Sonia nodded, eyeing Lani closely.  “I personally think Barons Dale sounds better though. The Blue Forest. Really doesn’t do the place justice does it?” 

“I have tried the journey myself once, but stumbled out with enough injuries to keep me away for nearly a year.” She confessed, her gaze hardening around a distant memory, before lighting up again when she turned to Lani with a grin. “You on the other hand are the best herbalist in this forest, or so you say.”

“Wait, why do your parents want you poisoned? How do you know they won’t use this spell on you once you give it to them?” Lani cut in, not being able to miss the pressing detail from earlier. 

“Ah. Well. I can’t quite tell you what I did do, but I can certainly tell you what I didn’t do.” Sonia offered, swapping her playful smirk for a serious smile. “As for my parents, they’d rather drink it themselves than deal with blood on their hands.”

Lani eyed the woman carefully, uncrossing her arms. “What didn’t you do then?”

Sonia perked up a little at that, before quickly collecting herself. 

From first impressions alone, Lani couldn’t believe the lively woman could be of much harm. Until she remembered what the sorceress had asked her for. 

“I can promise you that I never broke any official laws, or brought physical harm to anyone.” Sonia went on seriously, bringing a bangled hand to rest over her heart. “The reason my parents kicked me out was a purely personal one that I’m afraid I can not tell you.”

Lani stared hard at the witch for a good moment after that, mulling over her options. She could either refuse the request and risk the woman finding someone else to assist her, if she didn’t simply try again alone and get herself killed, or she could accept and give herself more time to decide if she could trust the witch with the dangerous plants. 

“Isn’t my help, you cheating though?” Lani eventually pointed out, mentally taking note of where they’d have to go to collect the dangerous plants. 

Sonia smirked and shrugged, “That was never specified so I think we’re good.” She replied, placing a small emerald green satchel on the counter. “Might this be enough?” 

Lani peeked inside and was taken back by the unmistakable glow of solid gold coins. She’d usually only charge a handful of silver!

“Don’t forget you’re working with a witch now Ms.Clovers,” Sonia hummed, coming back to lean on the counter. 

“If anything happens all blame is on me, I promise you’ll be unharmed.” She carried on in a more serious tone. “So, do we have a deal?”

And that’s how Lani Clovers ended up spending her evening in Barons Dale Forest, in her soft brown jumper and long green floral skirt, carrying a woven basket ready to be filled with poison. 

She’d delivered Rowans order to their doorstep before she left. Rowan didn’t live too far and Lani knew Sonia’s order will take at least the night to finish.

Barons Dale, the forest right behind the apothecary and the small town of Baron, was lush, green and welcoming during the day, but a completely different place at night. 

Wide knobbly trunks turn from rich browns to deep blues, delicate white flowers become an orange that glows in the dark, and all kinds of creatures came out to play.

Lani was no stranger to the never-ending forest of mystery, although she grew most of her plants in her large back garden. Then again, she’d never intentionally set out in search of something that could kill her. 

Nevertheless she’d come prepared with gloves, prunes and her trusted forest guide that told her all the places where evil herbs grew, and wild animals stuck to. 

Sonia asked many questions as they travelled, reminding Lani more of a curious child than a powerful sorceress. 

“Is that it?”

“What about this one?”

“I’m sure we’ve passed this tree before.”

Never before had Lani met someone so eager to help her out. Most of her other clients simply trusted she could complete the job herself. While the witch wasn’t of much help, her charming chatter made her good company nonetheless.

After an hour of searching, Lani finally stopped by a large yellow leafed shrub. 

“Ah, what’s this?” Sonia questioned, looking around for a more ominous looking flower. 

“Under this yew is the Rune we’re after.” Lani explained, lifting up the shrub with her foot to reveal the bright purple, flute shaped flowers of the deadly Rune. 

Sonia’s mouth formed an “o” as she admired the vibrant plant. “It looks lovely.” 

“Maybe, but if you inhale too much of its sour fragrance, your breathing will become rapid and painful for a good few minutes before you drop dead.” Lani informed her, as she tied a cloth around her nose and mouth, before snipping a few flowers and sealing them in a plastic bag. 

“That sounds less lovely.” Sonia chuckled, light and wispy.

“Do you collect these kinds of plants, often, Ms.Clovers? You seem awfully good at it.” Sonia commented curiously, eyeing Lani as she wiped the sap off her prunes. 

“Not exactly, in fact I used to visit nearby schools to teach the young ones exactly what to avoid when they play in the forest. During the day poisons like these look far more inviting you see.” Lani explained, not wanting the witch to get the wrong idea. “They’re quite easy to find when you do the exact opposite of what I taught them.”

She placed them in her basket and straightened up. “I figure we’ll find some Mercury Lilies next.”

“Permission to ask a personal question Mrs.Clovers?” Sonia asked slowly, watching on as Lani stopped to check a bog for the silver leaves of the Mercury Lilies on her list. 

“What is it?” Lani asked distractedly, most of her focus trained on not falling into the murky water as she leaned over the edge.

“What made you wish to forage at night?” Sonia questioned slowly, taking in the bog with a mixture of awe and fear. “I can’t imagine it’s exactly safe for you to go alone too often.”

“I wasn’t alone at first.” Lani shrugged, pulling away from the water’s edge after finding what she was looking for. “Rowan was with me the first few times, and even the most dangerous animals know to stay away from what I’m looking for.”

“I introduced them as my regular, but they’re also my closest and only friend.” She explained as she pulled on her gloves and reached into the water to snatch up a handful of silver lilies from just under the surface. “Is this enough?” 

“You only have one? Isn’t that lonely?” Sonia gasped, bright eyes wide as she looked from Lani to the flowers in her hand. “Yes, that should be fine.”

“Mhm, I think one’s enough. I’m too busy with my customers for much more, and I like my own company anyways.” Lani chuckled, bagging the lilies. “How many do you have?”

“Interesting.” Sonia murmured to herself, “I had a large following as the Wind Rider. Countless friends, fans and even admirers.” She sighed wistfully.

“I had no one after my parents exiled me. But I’m sure they’ll all come running back once I return.” She admitted reluctantly, giving herself a small shake of reassurance. 

Lani simply nodded before going back to searching for the next herb. Secretly she was growing more and more curious as to what Sonia had done to get thrown out. If it wasn’t illegal or aggressive, what could it be? 

“That sounds nice, what was it like having so many?” she asked, prompting the witch to talk about herself again to lift her mood. “I couldn’t even imagine.” 

“It was…” Sonia started excitedly, stopping to think before continuing. “Well, it was nice. Always someone to talk to or dance with. A little exhausting to be honest, but that’s just the price you pay to be loved by many.”

“Were you close with all of them?” Lani couldn’t help but wonder aloud, regretting it at once when she realised how silly a question it was. 

“No I wasn’t super close with any of them actually.” Sonia chuckled, playing around with a nearby dandelion. 

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Lani frowned, “Sorry for all the questions. Feel free to ask me anything you like.”

“Don’t be sorry, I tend to prefer low maintenance friendships anyways. Life is heavy enough without having deep conversations with everyone. I find light chats about stuff that doesn’t matter, quite comforting actually.” The witch explained, catching the edge of pity in Lani’s voice. 

Lani had always valued deep conversations over small talk when it came to connecting to people, but hearing Sonia, she figured she shouldn’t take her easy exchanges with customers for granted either. 

“How do you prefer to spend time with your one and only friend?” Sonia asked after a moment, glancing at Lani with a teasing glimmer in her honeyed eyes. 

“Oh um, Rowan and I like to meet up and stargaze after they’ve finished a book and want to talk about it.” Lani replied fondly, picturing her friend all piercings, fluffy hair, and passionate rambling. “I’m not a reader, but I do love listening to a story if someone is willing to share one.”

Sonia said nothing to this, only nodding to herself as Lani crouched down to harvest a handful of bright red daisies. “That sounds nice.”

The two carried on their search for the next few plants, and Sonia took Lani’s offer to heart. The witch became very much interested in Lani’s life and dreams, asking her one question after another. 

It wasn’t what Lani had expected, but she quite enjoyed answering the questions honestly and asking a few of her own in between. 

Sonia Elixir was very open about sharing small stories from her eventful life, until it came to the mention of her family or exile. 

Soon enough they only needed Blue Blood to complete their spell. 

“Blue Blood looks like a tiny blue flower with teardrop shaped petals.” Lani explained, as the wind picked up and the forest was bathed in the soft blue glow from the full moon. The strange light turning her walnut skin a deep purple and Sonia’s caramel a soft grey. “Thankfully they glow in the dark so we should be able to spot them easily enough.” 

“Ok then.” Sonia hummed, in a far more monotonous tone than Lani would have expected. Seeing how passionate and cheerful the witch had been throughout the journey, she imagined a much more joyful response to the end of their long quest. 

She opened her mouth to question it as they passed under a looming indigo tree, when she felt a sudden weight in her basket and peered down to find a forest fairy grabbing hold of their bag of rustroot and taking off! 

Lani quickly realised what was happening and reached to stop him, but she wasn’t fast enough and the fairy had disappeared in moments. 

“Wait Dew come back!” She called out, but by then it was too late. The boy with his pale blue locs and icy wings was nowhere to be seen.

Disappointed and frustrated, Lani turned to Sonia with a frown. “Now we’ll have to go back and dig up some more tomorrow.” She sighed angrily. “I’m so sorry.”

Sonia however didn’t seem too phased, she even looked excited again. “Worry not my dear, why don’t we just get them back?” She smiled, offering her arm to Lani as a gentleman might.

Confused, Lani stared at her for a second before taking her arm. Sonia made a grand sweeping motion with her free arm, then laid her hand over Lanis. 

“Alright, now all you do is jump on my mark and we’ll be on our way.” Sonia instructed, as the wind picked up drastically around them, rattling her bangles and whipping her braid around her neck.

Lani held her basket tightly against the wind and rolled her eyes. She really didn’t see how that would help, but she nodded nonetheless. 

A large cloud had drifted to cover the moon and their only light source shining from the variety of glowing plants, when Sonia counted down from three and the two jumped up on one.

To Lanis amazement, after making her weak jump she found herself being carried on a wind current a foot or so off the ground!

Only then did she remember that she was travelling with the great Wind Rider herself. Sonia was sitting comfortably as she led the current through the forest that now resembled the luminous deep sea. 

Even then, Lani was unsure that they’d find the tiny blue-haired fairy in the dark, but that didn’t matter as much when she had the cool, refreshing wind rush past her like waves. 

“There he is!” Sonia grinned under her breath, pointing ahead. Lani followed her gaze to the small purple glow pulsing from a miniature lantern a little way away. 

Sonia put her hand to her lips in a silent signal to stay quiet as they hopped off their current and snuck up on the unsuspecting thief. Then once they were close enough, Lani reached out and grabbed their packet of poison back, making the boy jump.

Lani didn’t give him time to do anything but laugh as she grabbed Sonia and ran away.

Once they were a few yards away, the two stopped to catch their breath. 

“That was amazing!” Lani exclaimed cheerfully, packing the packet away safely and staring at the witch with a new air of awe and respect. “I haven’t had such fun in my life! We were almost flying!”

Sonia smiled and even looked a little embarrassed at the praise. 

“Dew you said his name was right? Do you know each other?” She panted, looking back in the direction they’d run from. 

“Ah yes, he thinks we’re friends for some reason. And one of his favourite games seems to be stealing from me so I can chase him. Which is easier said than done even in daylight!“ Lani groaned, rolling her eyes as Sonia started laughing.

“Hey aren’t those Blue Bloods?” The witch pointed out, looking down at a patch of glowing blue flowers by her feet before Lani could get angry at her for laughing. 

Indeed they were and Lani couldn’t help but give her a round of applause, before crouching down to harvest some. “They sure are oh Wind Rider, it seems we have everything you need.”

Later that night in the apothecary, Lani watched Sonia ground all the dangerous herbs up with a pastel and mortar. She’d let the witch use her work counter where they sat together by candlelight. 

The spell required them to work through the night to carefully process every poisonous plant without hurting themselves. Lani helped out more than she expected to, seeing as herbs weren’t Sonia’s strong point. 

As the sun finally began the rise again, the pair sealed up the single vial of the thick purple liquid they’d concocted. Rich and syrupy like cough medicine. 

“You know.. I expected it to at least glow or something.” Lani chuckled, fighting the drowsiness that threatened to sweep her off her sore feet and leave her asleep on the dusty wooden floor. 

Sonia chuckled and pocketed the vile before turning to Lani and taking both the woman’s hands in hers. 

“I’m truly sorry to have kept you up like this, but I haven’t had fun like today since I left home.” She confessed softly, causing Lani to smile back and squeeze her hands briefly. 

“Don’t worry about it love, I hope they let you in.” Lani replied, releasing her hands and placing them in her apron pockets. 

“Me too.. And when they do, I promise I’ll come back to visit!” Sonia promised, wiping her hands on a cloth as she backed away towards the door. “Maybe even just to take you on another ride, or get your friend to tell me a story.” 

Lani grinned and nodded, waving fondly as the witch bid her a final goodbye and disappeared. She had a lot of questions about the strange woman, and was almost as excited to see her again as she was to get to bed.

THE END

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I hope you enjoyed this short story of friendship. 

Comments rating the story from 5 are greatly appreciated!

~The Charmer