You Are Too Young; Book I; Mountain Witch Trilogy

By Luiza Dobrzyńska

A story about love, friendship, loneliness and extremely difficult but mature decisions that teenage Edith has to make. The supernatural abilities that Mother Nature gave her sometimes make life and contact with peers difficult. However, it turns out that they can also be very helpful. An excellent place for dreamers who would like to break away from reality.

 

This book should appeal not only to the generation brought up on J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter", but also to younger and older audiences. What immediately catches the eye: familiarity, the atmosphere of the countryside, the smell of the forest, in short, everything that fans of Sapkowski's prose write about.

 

You can see changes in the main character, a girl from the big city can cope in the countryside, yes! Even at the new school she shows up with class. We have magic, fantastic creatures and even the mysterious beings. In a word, in "Mountain Witch" by Luiza Dobrzyńska, we will find everything we love in good literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royal Hawaiian Press
• Release date: Dec 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223134947

Book preview

You Are TOO Young

You Are TOO Young

Book I

Mountain Witch Trilogy

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by Luiza Dobrzyńska

YOU ARE TOO YOUNG

MOUNTAIN WITCH TRILOGY

Book I

by Luiza Dobrzynska

All material contained herein is

Copyright © Luiza Dobrzynska 2024 All rights reserved.

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Translated and published in English with permission.

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Paperback ISBN:  979-8-9892919-9-1

ePub ISBN: 979-8-2231349-4-7

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Written by Luiza Dobrzynska

Published by Royal Hawaiian Press

Cover art by Tyrone Roshantha

Translated by Rafal Stachowsky

Publishing Assistance: Dorota Reszke

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Version Number 1.00

Table of contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Life can be full of surprises. And it is never fair. It acts according to its own plans, without looking at what people expect. You can find this out at any time, especially when you think that everything is under control and nothing will be able to surprise you.

Chapter I

On the day Edi arrived in Mała Świerkowa, a cold mizzle was drizzling, and the sky was covered with grey clouds. This was a definite improvement, since it had been pouring terribly for a week and the country roads had turned into soggy puddles. In the city it wouldn't have mattered so much...

Edi wrinkled her nose as she got off the suburban bus. Why can't Aunt Janina and her brother live in Kraków? After all, it's only a stone's throw, and they're not poor at all. They could move to the city, so why do they insist on living in the sunken countryside? The resentment felt toward them grew. The girl pulled two suitcases from the luggage compartment, threw a heavy bag over her shoulder and looked around. The bus stop was in an open field. Nearby the forest began, all around were green wet meadows. Far away, almost on the very horizon, one could see farm buildings. Whose? Heaven knows.

Barely two weeks ago, Edi learned that as a result of a plane crash she had become an orphan. It was a terrible accident, a nightmare, the whole of Poland was buzzing about it, conspiracy theories were multiplying with alarming speed, but no one really knew what had happened. The only certainty was the death of the entire crew and all the passengers on the diplomatic flight. Edi did not think about the causes of the crash. She cried a little into her pillow, though less than expected. She knew her parents too little to really feel sorry for them - her father was an ambassador, her mother his assistant, and both were constantly on foreign missions or traveling. A child was not in their plans and they didn't know how to make a real family. Since their only child turned six, she spent more and more time alone or with her Ukrainian housekeeper, Tamara Suchotina, who was a nanny, cook and cleaner at the same time. As Gwerski's friends and neighbors used to say with a wry smile:

The child is disturbing to the respected Sir and Madam. They left the poor thing to the mercy of this simpleton, who probably mistreats her in secret.

Fortunately, this was not true. Tamara, although she was indeed a simple, uneducated woman from the Ukrainian countryside, had a good heart and innate intelligence. She could not replace her charge's parents, but she at least tried to make the girl suffer her situation as little as possible. Anyway, she became warmly attached to her, taking care of her from infancy. Jadwiga Gwerska showed no maternal instinct. Sometimes she took the girl in her arms, rocked her for a while, sometimes she even fed her with a bottle, but these were rare moments. Little Edytka was taken care of by Tamara during the day and at night. She sympathized with her deeply, because all the riches of the Gwerskis could not replace the love and care of the parents for the child. Edi grew up being virtually no one's child. In the private schools she attended, she was envied for her freedom, her allowance, the fact that she had her own servant. Yes, she didn't lack money, she had important parents and almost complete freedom, but it didn't occur to anyone that she was also very lonely. She never knew how to make any kind of normal friendship, nothing more than simple camaraderie. As she transformed from a child to a youngster, she was increasingly said to be weird. Slowly she stopped putting on clothes other than black, and wearing jewelry other than gloomy ornaments of surgical steel. Her parents, on those rare occasions when they hosted her at home, paid little attention to this.

Just the normal odd ways of a rebellious teenager, they said, shrugging indulgently. They sometimes asked about academic performance and whether their daughter needed anything. The odd ways didn't bother them. They had state business on their minds and didn't want to waste time on a dumb chit, who fortunately caused little trouble. She didn't smoke, she didn't drink beer surreptitiously, she didn't steal from stores for the sport, she studied well, and boys didn't interest her at all. You could say, the perfect daughter.

Now they were both dead. Edi's only family now was her aunt Janina and uncle Fred. They had a beautiful, ancient surname of Batory, lived near Kraków in a comfortable house, had no financial problems, and so the family court decided that they would become the legal guardians of the orphaned teenager. A weeping Tamara packed her charge's belongings, some of which were sent by courier, and the handy little things the girl had with her - favorite books, clothes, a laptop, some DVDs. Also, a small box that the housekeeper stuck in her at the last minute. A farewell gift. Edi gave Tamara in return a gold medal from her grandmother as a souvenir, by which time the woman had already burst into tears.

"God bless and keep you, my rebionek," she sobbed, and pushed the girl onto the train. Edi stood in the corridor and waved her hand from the window until the silhouette of the housekeeper disappeared from her sight.

She knew that they would probably never see each other again. The life she knew was left far behind her. Everything would be different now. She was not frightened by the changes, she was neither fearful nor particularly sentimental, but the thought of living with people she had never seen in her life made her resentful. She didn't know much about them, only that they existed. Just some relatives, who so far had not contacted Edi's parents, had not even written. All the girl knew about them was that her aunt was a veterinarian and her brother ran the village reading room. They lived quietly and separated themselves from the family, as if they wanted nothing to do with them. How will they welcome her? And more importantly, what are they like?

Janina and Fred... Edi didn't know any Fred so far, maybe only Fred Flinstone... And then there was Fred from Scooby Doo. It was probably an abbreviation, but from what name? Alfred? Fryderyk? Anyway, less about names. Whatever they were, unknown relatives immediately aroused an irrational dislike in the girl. The girl had never even seen pictures of them, she had only heard that they were much older than her mother. She created in her mind an image of an old maid with a bun and a gray-haired, stooped man with a beard, just like Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert from the Anne of Green Gables. If they also resembled them in character, things would probably be easier. She herself had nothing of Anne Shirley in her.

The mirror showed her tall, even too tall, cloudy figure with sleek dark hair and eyes the color of light beer. She did not like her reflection. She thought she was ugly, and indeed she did not stand out in beauty among her peers. She had a boyish figure, protruding cheekbones and eyebrows grown together over her nose. For some time, she had been styling her clothing as representatives of the Goth subculture. In fact, she had nothing in common with it except her appearance. She did not fraternize with any group. She was always rather a loner, and her appearance and cold demeanor did not encourage her colleagues to seek her friendship. On the other hand, this was not a bad thing - it made going to a completely new place not so difficult for her.

Having got off the State Motor Transport and shuffled her luggage to the side of the road, Edi looked around. There wasn't a single figure around according to her imagination, so she started looking at all the elderly people. There weren't many of them, and they were all hurrying to go about their business, paying no attention to the grimly dressed girl crisscrossing from foot to foot on the muddy road. Edi looked around helplessly, a little angry and a little frightened by the whole situation. She had neither her aunt's address nor any idea what to do now. To make matters worse, it was raining harder and harder and a penetrating wind began to blow.

Finally, a steel-black Ford Passat approached the bus stop. Sitting in it, an elegant woman, looking about twenty-five years old, lowered the car window and waved to Edi.

Edyta Gwerska? she called out. I'm your aunt and I came to pick you up. Get in. The girl grabbed her suitcases and ran to the car, splashing muddy puddles.

Aunt Janina? she made sure. The smiling lady did not look at all like the aunt she had imagined earlier, nor like the village vet. Nor would she have recognized her as older than her mother in any way. She had an oval face, smooth and delicate, delightfully outlined lips, a slightly aquiline nose and elongated eyes under wide, knit eyebrows. They were the ones that most strongly emphasized her resemblance to the tragically deceased Jadwiga Gwerska - after all, Edi had the same. The young woman's beauty was enhanced by her beautifully styled page hairstyle - shoulder-length hair, with the ends curled inward - careful makeup and elegant clothes as if from a fashion magazine.

Her sports car also looked like new and certainly did not match the cow doctor.

Yes, dear, it's me, she replied, unlocking the door. Put your bags in the back seat. Sorry for the delay, but I had to get cleaned up. I was delivering two cows this morning, and it's a really dirty job.

Edi looked at her, trying to imagine the beaming beauty model at the cows. The disbelief painted on her face was all too evident and aunt Janina laughed, pressing the clutch:

I know, you can't see it in me, but I'm very strong, stronger than you think. Anyway, if you want to guess someone's profession, don't look at their face or clothes, but at their hands. She raised her right hand, muscular, rough, with short nails. Several scars were visible on the top, the underside was covered with thickened skin. Indeed, it was the hand of someone who works physically.

We have already partially decorated your room, continued the aunt. You have your stuff there, the couriers delivered it yesterday. As for the wallpaper, curtains and such various things, think about it and then tell us. Everything can be changed. For the time being, you have a place to sleep, you can plug in your computer, and we set the TV ourselves in such a corner where you can see everything best. We did not unpack the cardboard boxes, you will do it yourself and decide for yourself where you want to put, hang... Or even throw away.

All right, Auntie.

I think you'll like it here. The surrounding is nice, the people are friendly. We have already arranged a school for you in Kraków, a public middle school, but one of the best. Of course, you won't be driven away by a chauffeur in a beautiful limousine, but you will go in a regular bus, but I think you will get used to it too. I'm sorry that you were left alone and your life will change quite a bit because of this, but you just need to learn how to take care of yourself.

That's what Edi knew. Tamara had already prepared her for the change in lifestyle, for the fact that she would no longer have servants or bodyguards guarding the house or lots of money for her own needs.

That last one bothered her the least. She had never had high requirements, and the thought that she would have to reduce them was not so frightening to her.

It suddenly occurred to her that this aunt, who she was seeing for the first time, was behaving far too casually. She didn't even mention that she was sorry for the relatives who died in the disaster described by all the mass media. There was no trace of sympathy in her voice for her orphaned cousin. She was friendly, but in a sort of careless, almost indifferent way. A more sensitive girl would have been mortally offended by this, but Edi was just somehow... interested. Her previous dislike melted away without a trace, she only wondered how old aunt Janina really was. She looked very young...

Here is our house! called out cheerfully the doctor, braking gently in front of the wide driveway. Do you like it?

It is beautiful. Just like in the old pictures.

Isn't it? Come on, dear. We'll go to the living room and discuss the rules of coexistence right away, it's better for everyone. You will know what to stick to.

The house resembled a rather old-fashioned manor house. It was surrounded by a somewhat neglected garden, in which, in addition to flowers, there were tall trees, partially covering the building, and various shrubs. The walls were covered with ivy with small, dark green leaves. The fence surrounding the entire area was partly stone and partly wrought iron, twisted in fancy patterns.

Aunt Janina moved the car into the garage, then returned. Edi waited for her, looking around and automatically clutching the handle of her suitcase. She liked the place, though she wondered in her spirit if there might be some vermin in a house like this. She had always been disgusted by insects and would rather not find cockroaches in the sink or bedbugs in the bedding in the morning.

The aunt opened the carved door, letting her cousin inside. Inside, the house was kept clean and more modern than one might deduce from its exterior. Straight down a short hallway one entered a large kitchen to the left and a spacious living room to the right, furnished sparingly and with good taste. Edi immediately looked into it.

She cast a glance around the closets standing in the corners, the dresser, the leather sofa, the glass table and the plasma TV. Lying on the windowsill, a large black cat bared its toothy muzzle and meowed at the sight of the stranger. Then it jumped down, stretched its back and stood on the floor, watching the girl with golden eyes. While doing so, it waved its fluffy tail hesitantly, as if wondering: to approach or not.

This is Popo, said the aunt. I hope you like animals.

I've never had one, but I think I like them.

That's good, because in this house all creatures big and small are sacred. Remember this. Popo will be shy at first until he gets to know you better, but be calm, he's not aggressive. I'll also introduce you to Crook-nose right away.

She clapped her hands. On one of the cabinets something moved, something large and brown. Round, big eyes flashed and a hoarse squeak of Khaaa! rang out.

Owl! exclaimed Edi with delight. A real owl, like in Harry Potter, only it's not white!

Aunt Janina laughed. Crook-nose shifted from paw to paw, ruffled his feathers and closed his eyes again.

It's actually not an ordinary owl, dear, but an eagle-owl. Two years ago, I took him away from the village rascals and cured him. He can't return to the wild because his left wing hasn't fully recovered. He would have died of starvation or at someone's hand.

Oh, nasty peasants! Did you pack a punch, Auntie?

No, but I assure you that I did not treat them with elaborate politeness. I don't think that the urge to torment an animal will ever come over them again. By the way: not all peasants are so bad. As everywhere, there are good and bad people. You'll soon find that out for yourself. For now, sit down.

Edi sat down on one of the old-fashioned chairs. She noticed that there was a bowl of cookies and a jug of juice on the table - strange, somehow, she hadn't seen them before. The cookies looked very tasty. They smelled of caramel and orange peel. She helped herself on the sly.

Eat, eat, they are for you, aunt Janina sat down opposite and poured juice into glasses. I will put all cards on the table. You know very well that Fred and I are your only family now, so it was decided that you will live with us. We have nothing against it, under certain conditions. So, listen, Edytka...

Edi.

What?

Edi. I can't stand my name, it's so... old-fashioned. Ever since I learned to speak properly, I've always wanted to be called Edi.

All right, then, listen. There are rules in this house. Don't make such a face, they are not very strict, but they are subject to discussion.

Yes, Auntie, muttered the girl.

Your room is on the first floor. In the same corridor there is a ladder leading to the attic. You'd better not go up there, because bats usually sleep under the rafters. Do not scare them, because they are very sensitive animals and something bad could happen to them.

I'm not afraid of bats.

But they are afraid of people, and fear is not good for them. First of all, they are under strict protection in Poland, and secondly, it's better that none of them bite you, because it will end with rabies shots. Next: no noises. I marked on your stereo system to what level you are allowed to set the voice. This is not to keep you down somehow. It's just that in this house no one disturbs others and you will be no exception. You can listen to music as much as you want and when you want, just don't overdo the decibels. The same goes for television. We won't control how long you watch or what you watch, nor will we check your computer. In this house, no one sticks their nose into other people's business. You can go where you want and when you want, although I would prefer to know approximately when you will be back if you are invited somewhere. Of course, you are allowed to bring your friends here, this part of the house is open. In the second part, which I will show you later, is my laboratory and animal hospital. Even you are not allowed to enter there unless with me, much less bring friends to this wing. Dangerous substances are found there, as I make some medicines with my own hands.

Of course, Auntie, I understand.

You will clean your room yourself. We don't have servants here. As for meals... we don't have the custom of family dinners or the like here. You'll have to learn to cook, though not from one day to the next, of course. For now, I'll cook your food, and you'll reheat for yourself when you get hungry. I'm often away from home, and Fred sometimes doesn't even stay here overnight. Now he's not here yet either, he's a real gadabout.

It was the first time Janina mentioned her brother and Edi felt a surge of curiosity. She hadn't seen her uncle yet. Her aunt turned out to be completely different from her imagination, did he look different too?

What kind of name is Fred?

Short for Manfred. We have Austrian roots. Austrian and Hungarian. You'll meet him in the evening, he closes the reading room at seven o'clock and comes in at least to take a bath and change his clothes. Then he can disappear for hours... Well, I have told you more or less everything that is important. Now I'll take you to your room so you can get settled. I'll also show you where the kitchen and refrigerator are. If you're hungry, you can eat whatever you want. If you want to buy something for yourself... oh, that's right. You will be given allowance. If you spend money on food, I'll pay you back. We'll buy clothes together for now, but I'm not going to impose my style, we'll buy what you want yourself.

Edi nodded her head. Her aunt's conditions seemed to her quite reasonable and not very onerous. The news that she would have basically full freedom was auspicious for her, much better than she had expected. Her aunt resembled neither Marilla Cuthbert in appearance nor character, and it was clear that from the beginning she had no intention of embarrassing her young relative with too much oversight. This was very much in Edi's favor. Janina hesitated and, after a short thought, said a little more:

Don't think that I'm ignoring the matter of your parents' death. Your mother was my sister. But you must know that something that has already happened cannot be reversed, and you have to live on. And let's not talk about it again..

A winding wooden staircase led to the first floor, creaking amusingly with each step. The room intended for the young Warsaw girl was located at the very end of the corridor, there was even a freshly nailed nameplate with her name on its door. It was quite large, covered with wallpaper pretending to be a brick wall. A greenish glass chandelier hung from the ceiling, an old-fashioned dark wood closet stood in one corner, a bed with curtains stood against the wall opposite the window. Under the window a desk. The wall between the bed and the closet was occupied by a glazed bookcase with a mass of shelves and drawers. Looking around, Edi also saw her TV, stereo system and laptop. Under the desk and on top of it stood cardboard boxes sealed with tape.

Is there internet here? she asked.

It is. We have a Cyfra Plus set and Fred bought the service for you when he found out you were coming. He also took a multi-room, so that you won't be dependent on us to pick up the programs. If the wallpaper doesn't suit you, we'll change it... Fred sometimes has crazy ideas.

No, it's fine. I like it.

Somehow the brick wallpaper struck Edi's taste. Similarly, she liked the whole strange room, which was a mix of different styles and epochs. Her aunt patted her on the shoulder and went, so she could look at everything in peace and think about where best to place her belongings. However, she quickly stopped thinking about unpacking the boxes. It was only here that she realized how much her life had changed and that she would really never see her parents again. They weren't very close to her, it's true, but she was used to the thought of having them. Now they were gone and never would be. A sad constatation.

She felt a sudden fatigue. After all, she had been driving all night and hadn't slept a wink, and hadn't slept much before either. Yielding to an impulse, she pushed aside the curtain and lay down on the old-fashioned wide bed. She wasn't aware of having been asleep.

Waking up for a moment, she did not know where she was. There was darkness all around, with the moon peeking through the window. Only after a while did the girl remember everything and sat up on the bed, stretching. It was comfortable, if a bit hard, and the old-fashioned muslin curtains gave a nice shade. She had been given a large and nice room by her aunt and uncle, she had everything she needed here, and her aunt seemed like a nice person. Nevertheless, Edi felt a growing sadness, which now, in the darkness of the night, she couldn't cope with. She missed Warsaw unexpectedly badly, her old school, Tamara, even her rarely seen parents. After all, she loved them in her own way, though she never felt important to them. She struggled with herself for some time, until she finally gave in and burst out crying. She sobbed desperately, hoping that the tears would somehow wash the bitterness from her heart and that no one would hear her. She didn't want to be comforted - she never liked it. Even as a child, she preferred to bite her lip and hide somewhere with her pain, whether it was caused by a scuffed knee or an unfair grade at school. Here, in an upstairs room, she could feel safe.

However, not really. The door opened suddenly and someone rushed in. The girl jumped up and pushed back the curtain over the bed, wiping her tears hastily with her other hand. The muslin wrapped around her arm and left ankle; she tugged it angrily. The light came on, throwing sparks from the chandelier's chiseled pendants. Edi was ready to explain to her aunt