47 Nim

"Old lady, you can sleep here," Sana said, pointing an ornate oak door, "And strange man, you can sleep here," she finished looking at the door directly opposite Nim's across the stone corridor.

"You can call me Nim, dear," she said to the young witch. Sana just shrugged. Gareth, who looked more relieved than he had in weeks, wasted no time in entering his chambers swiftly. Nim could tell the boy was tired both from travel and the emotional stress of being pursued.

The older woman did the same, opening the door slowly. Her room was modest, she was sure, by Astrophel's standards, but to her, the area was lavish beyond reason. A large four-post bed commanded the center of the spacious living space, covered in a sumptuous spread of pillows and soft blankets. A wardrobe that must be centuries old stood against one wall as a fire crackled merrily in the hearth.

Nim lifted the hem of her travel-stained brown skirt and made her way to the cushioned armchair in front of the fireplace. Resting her weary feet on a patterned footstool, she noticed the girl was still loitering in the hall, trying not to look directly her way. Sana must not get visitors often, and Nim could only imagine what kind of madness someone could be driven to only having Astrophel to converse with.

"Well come in then," she said to Sana, motioning with a wrinkled hand for the girl to enter and take a seat in the open armchair opposite her.

Sana ambled in, attempting to appear disinterested, flopping down in her seat. Nim thought she would wait and let the girl speak first, but it was apparent Sana was well accustomed to long pauses in conversation and remained content staring at the fire.

Nim studied the girl's youthful features for a long moment. Even clad in men's clothing, she was quite pretty in an unconventional way. Sana's amber-colored curls framed a freckled face, but her green eyes held sharp cunning wisdom beyond her years.

"How old are you, girl?" Nim asked.

"You know it's rude to ask a witch her age, right?" Sana snapped without shifting her gaze from the fire in front of her.

"Just as rude as talking back to your elders, I presume." Nim retorted with a wry grin.

Sana laughed softly to herself before turning to a more serious tone, "I am one hundred and ninety-seven years old." Sana said quietly. The girl turned and must have seen the look of surprise on Nim's face because she continued with another ambivalent shrug, "Time passes differently here at Agremonth. I grew up and then, just, stopped."

"I see that, How did you come to live at Agremonth?" Nim said, trying to keep the awe from her voice. If she were completely honest, there was a hint of resentment there too.

Sana turned back to stare into the burning embers, "I came here when I was just a girl, maybe seven or eight years old, with nothing. My father died just after I was born, and when the plague took my mother, there was no one left to care for me. Astrophel knew what I was long before the testers came to our town and let me in. I think for a time he forgot I was even here," she said with another soft laugh. "I ate the food in the kitchen, and the serving women helped raise me but I couldn't leave because I was never sent to the Academy. If anyone found out we'd all be on the chopping block,"

Nim could tell Sana had waited a very long time to tell someone this story and decided to only nod at the girl's words, letting her get it all out. Best to let her say her fill, Nim thought sullenly. The rain continued to patter at the window as Sana continued,

"When I was fourteen, he had me sign the contract, mostly to keep nosy maids and passing soldier's from becoming suspicious. I had never learned how to use magic like other witches, so when I finally could, I had a lot of catching up to do. I read every book I could find in the library, and Astrophel helped when he could but he's a vampire, there was little he could tell me besides what he knew of our history. His magic is much different from mine."

"Not to mention the vampire takes eons to speak," Nim mumbled under her breath.

"You do get used to it after a while," Sana said with a smile. Nim now knew why the girl spoke as she did to the vampire. Astrophel was not her Lord. The man was more a father to her or, at the very least, a fondly thought of ancient uncle. The affection in Sana's tone told Nim all she needed to know.

"I could help you, you know, with your magic. Reading is one way to learn, but I find it often helps to have someone teach you." Nim told her, a note of sadness hung in her voice and she made her offer to the girl.

Sana's eyes lit up considerably, and the young witch turned to her green eyes to meet Nim's, "You would do that?" she asked.

"Yes, well, it seems I will be here for a time before I can resume the search for Caroline. You remind me of her." Nim said sweetly. It was true, the girl's fiery spirit and untraditional upbringing were so similar to Caroline's that Nim could feel herself softening toward the girl considerably.

"That's great!" Sana said excitedly, "then I have something to show you." Sana said, getting up from the chair.

Nim was in no mood to move once again. Her joints were still aching from the rain and laborious journey and she had just shifted into some semblance of a comfortable position. "All in good time," she said with a chuckle, "First, let me ask you about the Assembly."

Sana's eyes narrowed considerably, and the girl quickly returned to her annoyed demeanor, "What do you know of the Assembly?" she hissed.

This time Nim laughed out loud, her crone's cackle echoed out into the corridor, "What do I know of it? Girl, I started it!"