SWNOVELS Chapter 39
The journey north had been arduous, each step bringing Lyra and Fenris closer to the heart of the cosmic tree. The addition of Stormhowl’s pack had bolstered their numbers, but it also meant more mouths to feed and more personalities to manage. As they crested a steep hill, the dense forest finally gave way to a sprawling valley below.
Lyra’s breath caught in her throat. There, nestled against the base of a towering mountain, stood the familiar spires of her former home – the Mistwood Coven. The sight brought a flood of memories, both bitter and sweet.
Fenris sensed her tension, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Are you ready for this?” he asked softly.
Lyra nodded, squaring her shoulders. “As ready as I’ll ever be. We need their help if we’re going to have any chance of preventing the cataclysm.”
Stormhowl padded up beside them, his silver-flecked muzzle twitching as he scented the air. “There’s powerful magic at work here,” he growled. “Old magic, but… twisted somehow.”
“The coven has always drawn power from the ley lines that converge beneath the mountain,” Lyra explained. “But you’re right, something feels off.”
As they made their way down into the valley, Lyra couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease. The usual hum of magical energy that surrounded the coven felt muted, discordant. Even the air seemed heavier, as if weighed down by some unseen force.
They were met at the gates by a small delegation of witches, led by a tall woman with steel-gray hair and piercing green eyes. Lyra recognized her immediately – Elara, the coven’s second-in-command.
“Lyra,” Elara said, her voice cool and controlled. “This is… unexpected.”
Lyra stepped forward, chin held high. “Hello, Elara. We come seeking the coven’s aid in a matter of great importance.”
Elara’s gaze swept over their eclectic group – Lyra, Fenris, and the pack of massive wolves. Her eyebrow arched slightly. “I see you’ve been busy since your… departure. Come, the High Priestess will want to speak with you.”
As they were led through the familiar courtyards and hallways of the coven, Lyra felt the weight of curious stares from her former sisters. Whispers followed in their wake, a mix of surprise, suspicion, and in some cases, barely concealed hostility.
They were brought to the High Priestess’s chambers, a circular room dominated by a massive scrying pool. The water’s surface shimmered with ethereal light, images flickering too quickly to make out.
High Priestess Morrigan stood with her back to them, her long silver hair cascading down her back. When she turned, Lyra was struck by how much older she looked, as if years had passed in the span of months.
“Lyra, my wayward daughter,” Morrigan said, her voice a mix of warmth and weariness. “You’ve returned to us at last.”
Lyra bowed her head respectfully. “High Priestess. I wish it were under better circumstances.”
Morrigan’s gaze sharpened. “Yes, I imagine you do. The threads of fate have been in chaos of late. Even our most skilled seers struggle to make sense of the visions.”
Fenris stepped forward, his presence a steadying force at Lyra’s side. “That’s why we’ve come. The cosmic tree is in danger. Reality itself teeters on the brink of collapse.”
For the next hour, Lyra and Fenris took turns explaining everything they had learned on their journey. They spoke of the artifacts, the visions granted by the Pool of Echoes, and the looming threat of cosmic unraveling. Morrigan and Elara listened intently, their expressions growing more grave with each passing moment.
When they finished, a heavy silence fell over the chamber. Morrigan moved to the scrying pool, her fingers trailing through the shimmering water. “What you speak of aligns with our own observations,” she said slowly. “The ley lines grow erratic, the barriers between worlds thin. We’ve felt the tremors of something vast and terrible stirring.”
Lyra felt a surge of hope. “Then you’ll help us? The artifacts we carry are powerful, but they’re not enough on their own. We need the coven’s knowledge, its connection to the old magics.”
Morrigan turned back to face them, her expression unreadable. “What you ask is no small thing, Lyra. To commit our resources, to risk everything on this cosmic gamble…”
“With respect, High Priestess,” Fenris interjected, “we don’t have the luxury of caution. Every moment we delay brings us closer to catastrophe.”
Elara’s eyes narrowed. “And we’re to take the word of an outsider? A wolf-shifter with no ties to our ways?”
Lyra bristled at the dismissive tone. “Fenris has proven himself a hundred times over. He’s as much a part of this as I am.”
Morrigan held up a hand, silencing the brewing argument. “Peace. These are weighty matters that cannot be decided in haste. We will convene the full council to discuss your proposal. In the meantime, you and your… companions are welcome to rest and recuperate.”
It wasn’t the immediate alliance Lyra had hoped for, but it was a start. As they were led to guest quarters, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong within the coven. The usual buzz of magical energy felt muted, almost sickly.
That night, as Lyra tossed and turned on her old bed, unable to find rest, a soft knock came at her door. She opened it to find Fenris, his expression troubled.
“Can’t sleep either?” she asked, ushering him inside.