The reason behind Talitha’s journey was currently nestled in the pocket underneath her skirt. It was a small envelope, which had the words Attn: The Witch Edelweiss written in an elaborate script across the front. The letter contained within read:

A message from Castle Dir, to the witch Edelweiss

Please forgive the brevity of this letter. It was sent with great haste.

We desperately need the aid of a witch. A strange darkness has settled over the castle, and despite our attempts to rid ourselves of it—prayers, rituals, incenses—it won’t leave. Of course, we are reluctant to turn to witchcraft, but we fear this may be our only choice. We have run out of options.

Edelweiss, your reputation precedes you. Stories of your work in the Elvish Provinces have even reached the kingdom of Dir. Please help us in our time of need. We understand the risk you take in coming to the castle, and you will be compensated accordingly.

The king will leave the castle on the first of March to negotiate a treaty with the Elvish council in Lenne. Come then, in secret, and ask for Sister Olga.

Blessings be upon you.

The witch Edelweiss was Talitha’s elusive teacher, and when the letter had arrived at the coven, they had entrusted it to Talitha assuming that she would pass it along. That was a mistake. Now, Talitha found herself overdressed in a strange land, accompanied only by two teenaged monster Hunters. Jori and Phoenix’s loud quips took up the silence while she sat and stroked Finley’s fur nervously.

I suppose I could have worse company, she thought to herself, after all, if they can kill a monster, they can protect me from anything else. Hopefully.

Winter was turning to spring in the kingdom of Dir. Small piles of snow interrupted the damp, wilted grass which lined the road leading up to the magnificent gates of Vitelle, Dir’s capitol city. Talitha stuck her head out of the carriage window and looked south. In the distance, the path disappeared into the dense, twisted forests she called home. She turned back towards the city, and far past it in the deep north, she could just barely make out the mountains where hu’s and dwarves lived side by side, reluctantly.

“Now, remember,” Jori began, pulling Talitha out of her thoughts, “The current punishment for witchcraft in Dir is exile.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Talitha said. “You’ve said countless times that the witches were banished from the city. We came here knowing that.”

“Yeah, because I wanted to make sure you didn’t mysteriously disappear.”

“We’ll be fine, especially with the three of us here. I’m sure of it. Besides,” Talitha put a finger up, “if we are caught, we’ll just be banished from Dir; and it’s not as if we’re planning on coming back ever again.” 

“But what if they decide to give us a different punishment? The king can make laws and then change his mind at any time, if you anger him.”

“I won’t anger him, then,” Talitha insisted. “I’ll only use magic when I truly need it, and I won’t cause any disturbance at all. And that brings up my second point—” She held up another finger, “With the king away from the castle, it won’t even be possible for him to change his mind. See? I'm sure we are in much less danger than you think. If we were, do you think I would’ve come?” 

Possibly, Jori thought, though he refrained from commenting aloud. He glanced at Phoenix, perhaps looking for his opinion on the matter, but he simply shrugged. “I guess I’m not scared yet.”

Jori sighed, accepting that he was officially outnumbered. By now, it was far too late to protest anyway.

The carriage crossed the threshold, and the party made their way into the city.

Back home in Lenne, the roads had been beaten into place over generations by hundreds of feet, but here, they were paved with stone. The horse’s hooves clattered loudly against them as they reached the castle at last. Townsfolk were milling about the streets, which were lined with townhomes and shops, trying to finish their errands before the city settled into slumber for the evening.

When Talitha stepped out onto the street, their bustling slowed. All around her, she heard the hissing sound of whispers; gossip about the noble-looking Elvish woman who had suddenly appeared in front of them. The hu’s had all heard rumors about the mystical abilities of the elves, but they rarely made the effort to approach them. Instead, they viewed them at a distance with an air of ignorance and exotism. The elves, at least from the perspective of the average hu, were at the same time both wild beings with heathen beliefs and practices, and delicate, beautiful creatures who quietly traversed this world harboring an ancient and forbidden knowledge.

Phoenix was quickly growing tired of their stares. “All these people are acting like they’ve never seen an elf before,” he complained.

“Maybe they haven’t,” suggested Jori. “It must be a surprise for a hu to see an elf’s height for the first time.”

Most elves stood at least a head taller than any hu-man or hu-woman, so it could very well be.

“Well then, why don’t you face the street, Jori?” Phoenix chuckled. “Perhaps they’d be more comfortable seeing an elf their own size!”

Jori laughed, a bitter sarcasm in his voice; it was well known that he held a deep insecurity about his short stature.

At that moment, a guard announced the Chancellor’s arrival, and the party turned to look through the bars of the gate. A balding, middle-aged Diric man wearing fine clothes was shuffling down the steps.

“It’s about time, isn’t it?” Jori muttered. It had taken so long that the three elves had resigned to sitting on the ground, tired of standing and waiting. He stood up from where he’d been crouching in the dirt and patted the dust from his knees. The guards unlocked the gate, and it swung open with a groan, allowing the nobleman to get his first disgruntled look at the elves who had disrupted his evening.

“Duchess Franziska von Katz has betrothed her son, Leif, to Lady Talitha Moss—” Jori began to announce.

“Yes, yes, I’ve been told,” the Chancellor interrupted. “We cannot honor the betrothal without the king, and he is away on business.”

Jori was unsure how to respond, alarmed by his harsh tone.

“Now I have no doubt that this is another one of the Duchess’s schemes,” Dunn continued, “But believe it or not, we all have greater issues than pleasing her every time she grovels on our doorstep.”

While the Chancellor was still speaking, the gate creaked open once more, and group of religious Sisters joined them. The oldest one of them seemed to be in charge. Like a cobra, the outline of her headpiece commanded attention from everyone around her. 

“Sister Olga,” Dunn greeted her, “These elves claim you arranged to perform a wedding ceremony between Lord Von Katz and…” forgetting her name, he waved his hand at Talitha and came up with, “This… lady.”

“I don’t recall any such arrangement,” Olga said.

“But Sister, I received it in your own hand.” Talitha handed Olga the letter that she had written to Madame Weiss. After glancing at it, she quickly folded it and tucked it underneath her bodice. “I stand corrected,” she said, “It's been some time since the Duchess sent word, and I'd forgotten.” 

The Chancellor’s face twisted into a scowl. “It’s not like you to make such a foolish mistake, Sister.”

“I suppose I was distracted by the prince’s coming-of-age service.”

“Well, now what are we going to do? We have a bridal party here, and no king to approve the ceremony!”

“I don’t know. But, they’ve had a long journey. I'll take them to the convent to rest, and you can consult with the prince about what to do.”

"Sister," Dunn sounded aggravated, "I really think that's only going to complicate things."

"Well unfortunately, he is in charge, regardless of our opinion," Olga said.

The Chancellor knew this was true, though he clearly wasn't happy about it, and it seemed he was still suspicious about the entire affair. In the end, he had to agree that it was the best option in the moment. It would soon be dark, and it certainly wouldn’t look good to turn the elves away if the betrothal was indeed legitimate.

“They may stay one night,” the Chancellor said, “And I’m sure the prince will agree.”

That may not be enough time, Talitha worried to herself.

Finally in agreement, Sister Olga beckoned them towards the chapel, which stood on the far side of the castle grounds. “Come, then. I’d like to have a word with you.”