The Stregona

Author's note: I am sorry this took so long!! I promise I will get better at updating. The struggles of being a perfectionist :/ I hope you enjoy this chapter - yoshi

****

"My Lady?" Anette asked. Ginevra woke up from her day dream to see Anette carrying a jug of water and a large empty bowl. As Anette leaned over to pour the water from the jug, her necklace fell out from under her dress. Ginevra's eyes narrowed at seeing the amulet.

"Anette, where did you get that necklace?"

Anette instantly flushed, scurrying to tuck it back into her dress.

"It's a talisman. I can recognize it," Ginevra told her. "Don't worry, I'm not one of those who condemn the use of energy."

"Yes, it's just that I know not all nobles take kindly to the wielders of energy…"Anette faded off.

Ginevra knew of the age-old struggle between the nobility and those who belonged in the hierarchy of sorcery. The nobility respected and looked up to the enchanters, the most wielders of energy, but as for the lower tiers, they sneered at them with contempt inside their drawing rooms. They constantly enlisted the help of the stregonas and mages, and yet resented the high prices they were charged and the nonchalant way the mages behaved towards the nobles. In short, the nobility did not have power over the wielders of magic as they did over the common people and that aggravated them. The nobility resented them, yet they needed them.

***

The engraved wooden door of the library was already slightly ajar as Ginevra approached it. She pushed it open to create just enough space to allow her to slip in. The room was built in such a way that there was a short corridor from the first door to a sort of second-doorway that opened into the greater library. A thick velvet curtain in the Maldoni blue hung across the second doorway. It was in the space between the two doorways that Boni stood.

"Ginevra," he half whispered her name as he laid a gentle hand on her arm, taking her in with his warm, green eyes.

"Boni?" She looked up at him, surprised. "You're also here?" She adjusted her tone to match his half-whisper. In the library, she could hear other voices speaking.

"Yes, I know about the curse. As the family doctor." He looked away, gazing off into a dark corner. "The nature of the curse is such that anyone working closely with the duke must come to know of it."

"Then, Luca and Nicco…"

Just then, Luca's voice came in from the library.

Boni's eyes flew to meet hers. "Yes, they also know."

"Then, do you know what the curse is?"

Before Boni could answer, Luca's voice came in from the main room of the library.

A silence descended in the library. "Taren, give the girl some time. But I'm happy to escort her." This remark was followed by footsteps which were obviously coming in their direction.

Boni turned to Ginevra, his voice taking on a grave tone that matched the expression in his eyes. "Sometimes, it is preferable to not know. Ignorance is a far better thing than to be tortured by a truth you would scarcely allow yourself to believe."

Then, without losing another moment, Boni straightened up, raising his voice. "Actually, I enjoyed that privilege," he said, just as the thick velvet curtain was pulled aside and Luca appeared in the second doorframe leading into the library.

Ginevra squinted as the bright white light streamed into the dark corridor.

"Playing hide and seek are we?" Luca teased, flashing Ginevra a roguish grin as she came forward and passed him. Boni lowered his voice behind her. "The Stregona may not have the power of a mage or an enchantress, but she does work with energy. She still needs your consent in order to be able to perform the transfer."

Ginevra silently nodded in acknowledgment and continued towards the center of the room. Boni and Luca stayed behind and moments later the click of the lock indicated they had left the room.

Taren was sitting at the wooden desk which stood adjacent to the door, wearing his typical scowl. In a large armchair, across from the desk, sat a tiny leathery-skinned woman dressed in dark-colored robes, her feet dangling from the plush chair.

Ginevra's chest tightened.

This woman's presence… Why do I have the feeling that she could snap her fingers and command me like a puppet if she so wished?

The door behind them shut, leaving Ginevra alone with Taren and the Stregona.

The Stregona, who had been taking Ginevra in since she had entered, spoke with a scratchy voice.

"So, you are the young lady. The carrier of the curse"

"Yes, Signora, that would be me, Ginevra." Ginevra bowed in reverence to the small woman.

"Let me take a good look at you." The Stregona snapped her fingers and all the curtains in the library parted to let the sun in. With another snap, Ginevra felt herself pulled forward towards the Stregona as if by an invisible force.

Ginevra, who was now standing in front of the desk, bowed in reverence again to the small woman who was now directly in front of her.

"Ginevra, you don't know the terms of the curse I take it? Theoretically, only the person who cast the spell would know."

"My grandmother is not alive anymore…"

"Tch. Well, there is one thing we can do. You inherited the curse after your grandmother's death, but I can still see it's energy lingering around you. It's as if your own body is repelling it. We'll have to recast this curse."

"Inherited? Recast the curse? I thought I only had to break this curse…"Ginevra started before she could hold her tongue.

"A curse is a form of energy, an extension of whoever cast it. Energy cannot be lost, only transferred. When your grandmother passed, it immediately clung to you. You inherited ownership of the curse.

"The curse's energy should have transferred to you directly, but your body's own energy seems to be repelling it from fully entering. It's in limbo, without an owner. That's dangerous in itself, but as long as it remains so, you cannot fully control it either. The curse holds too much energy for me to remove, but I can help to transfer the rest of the remaining energy to you."

Ginevra glanced at Taren. If he were hearing this for the first time, his expression did not betray it.

"The curse has a vow of silence. Would transferring this energy allow me to know what the curse is?" Ginevra asked.

The Stregona smiled, as if the additional condition added another layer of complexity to an already interesting puzzle game. "A vow of silence…that does add another layer of complexity. In time you may, but not immediately. Most importantly, transferring the curse would allow you to find the terms which must be met to break the curse."

"And there's more than one term that must be met?"

"The Stregona looks up at Ginevra with innocent child-like wide eyes, her eyes shaped into an oval.

"That's right. As clear as witch's brew. What did you expect inheriting a curse from the most powerful enchantress in Deceris?" She folded her hands in her lap. "Well then, do I have your consent?"

Ginevra turned towards Taren. "I have a proposal. If I help you break this curse – then there is something I ask for in return."

Taren raised his brow, waiting for her to continue.

"You said you married me for the sole reason of breaking this curse. Then, once this curse is broken, there'll be no more reason for us to be together."

Taren raised a brow. "You are asking for a divorce?"

"Only that I may return to the capital and live my life as I choose. And that you will continue to support the Scaraveggi financially and keep your vow to protect them."

Even away from the Maldoni estate, as Taren's official wife, I would still be under the protection of the powerful name. Taren would keep his promise to keep my family safe, and I, in turn, could return to the capital, free to do as I wanted. It's not uncommon for married aristocracy to take up lovers…men and women alike. It's better than a loveless marriage.

Taren's eyes were cloudy and unreadable, like a dark lake. He leaned back in his chair, satisfied, fingers interlocked.

I didn't expect her to offer such an ideal proposition.

"Very well. I concede to that request."

Ginevra turns towards the Stregona. "Yes, I give my consent."

The Stregona's face softened and she lay a leathery, bony hand against Ginevra's right cheek caressingly. "So be it."

She hopped off her chair. "The ritual will be officiated tomorrow," she said behind her. Taren stood and bowed in deference to her. He made a sign to follow her to the door, but she stopped him. "No need. Dear Luca will accompany me." Ginevra's mouth almost dried at the Stregona's tone towards Taren, and his obvious deference to her. Wielders of energy truly did have a different hierarchy of power they answered to.

After the Stregona had left, a heaviness fell over the library. Ginevra locked eyes with Taren, coming forward to his desk, planting her hands in front of her and leaning forward over the polished mahogany.

"It is only expected that powerful families have their own secrets, and the Maldoni are no exception. Everyone in this household has their role, and I understand mine."

"I will find the terms for this contract. And I will break this curse. And I will return home and continue to live my life with the Maldoni protection."

Taren's eyes glimmered and he held out a hand. Ginevra extended her arm to meet his, expecting a handshake. However, instead of grasping it, Taren brought it up to his lips and gently kissed it.

"As you say, My Lady." He looked entirely unperturbed, confident and self-assured as ever.

Ginevra whirled around and stalked out of the room.

Cold-hearted man. I will break this curse and leave this place behind for good. Taren's past and what he does after he breaks the curse is his business. He can do whatever he wants with himself.