Trial in Darkness

By Renee Hewett

The Nightshade Guild: Chapter Four - The year the creator of magic tested them.

Sunny and Bo have been together for decades of their near-immortal lives, but always managed to keep their personal and professional lives separate. That is, until Bo ended up back in time with Sunny, and the world as they knew it was permanently altered by his absence.

Though the Time Scythe was restored and time set back to right, a few things slipped through the cracks; one of those a result of Bo being away from his station. When the creator of magic points out to Sunny that this is a failure on her part as a Nightshade guild, she’s given a chance to prove herself.

One trial to right the wrongs. Just one chance to save the world, remain a member of the Nightshade Guild, and keep her magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celtic Hearts Press
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9781949575866

Book preview

Chapter

One

The tiny plaintiff continued to squeal angrily, expressing the indignities it felt it had experienced.

I concentrated on the turnip-looking creature, using my magic to decipher the grievance as the one spoke for the horde of them who’d gathered at my home to voice their complaints.

I understand the destruction that was caused to your home, I replied. But I do have to ask, did you consider entertaining Ray in another location, or did you reject their offer of friendship outright, which resulted in Ray wandering into your village to look for company?

The turnip—not actually a turnip, but a tree spirit called a Kodama—turned its roundish white body on its little brown legs to confer with the others, their simple brown arms weaving together to create a private huddle.

The Kodama’s next round of squeaks was interrupted by Ray, my tree creature familiar, who emerged from my house to protest with their own whorls and meeps, gesturing with their twig-like arms.

The Kodama all backed up at the sight of Ray. At a bit smaller than toddler-sized, Ray was little compared to humans, but they towered over the Kodama, which was the issue at the source of much of the current fuss. Ray had attempted to make friends with the local group, and ended up crushing their houses and inadvertently injuring some of their kind when they tried to play.

I told you to stay inside, I warned Ray. The Kodama need to be able to speak without feeling threatened.

Ray projected their thoughts into my mind: If they can be heard, so can I.

I sighed and turned back to the Kodama. I kept my voice level while speaking over the competing sounds of the complainants and defendant. Ray was only hoping that you’d be interested in friendship, I tried to explain. The resulting havoc was accidental. Not at all intentional.

The leader’s next statement roughly translated to calling Ray uncivilized and a menace to society—and pointed blame at me for letting Ray run rampant in the woods.

I knew it would fall on deaf ears if I tried to explain that Ray wasn’t so different than they were. Ray had once been a forest spirit, not anything more than a simple orb of light that lived in the woods with them. That orb likely flitted in and out of any little Kodama villages once upon a time, and Ray didn’t realize they couldn’t do that anymore. They were still adjusting to having a physical body.

Instead of pointing that out, I took a breath. I understand what you’re saying. Please, allow me to return with you and put things right.

The leader turned to their people once again to discuss. After a moment of squeaks between them, the leader finally turned back to inform me that my offer was accepted, on the condition that I promised to keep Ray away.

Whoooorrlll! Ray protested. Projecting into my mind, Ray informed me, I want to help rebuild.

I’m sorry, Ray, but you need to go inside and stay there, I said gently. Your body is big and clumsy, and you’ve made the Kodama afraid of you.

Ray’s eyes shone with tears but before any fell they ran inside, slamming the door behind them.

I sighed. I’d need to figure out a way to help Ray with their struggle, but for now, it was time to rebuild a little turnip village.

I went into the woods, following the group. Their village was well hidden and out of the way, telling me that Ray had clearly gone on quite a hunt to find the Kodama.

Fortunately, my magic allowed me to rebuild the village and mend the injured. In addition, I placed a perimeter ward around the area, blocking Ray from entry. Though I knew it was for the best, it saddened me to have to put wards up against poor Ray. My little familiar meant no harm and only wanted friends, but even so, I had a responsibility to the supernatural community to keep them safe.

I informed the Kodama leader once it was complete, and again apologized. Then I started back toward my home.

The Alaska woods were beautiful this time of year. Lush and dotted with wildflowers here and there. And then my eye caught something yellow. I loved yellow, it went with my name—Sunny, which I’d chosen to adopt after having spent quite an amount of time in some dark days.

I bent down to look at the lone daffodil, but instead of feeling joy at the bright beautiful flower, something tugged at me. It felt wrong for this flower to be alone. Daffodils grew in groups, this seemed to be almost a symbol of misfortune and loneliness for it to have lost all its cluster mates.

The raven that cawed and landed in front of me didn’t help matters. It looked at me with its beady eyes as though giving me a warning.

I couldn’t help but connect the two, believing it was a symbol of bad. My thoughts immediately went to my long-term paramour, Bo. I’d hardly heard from him lately, and I’d begun to worry. Since we’d returned from our travel back in time and to the future, Bo had gone back to work. He was at his post, guarding a portal to protect the Earth from unwanted visitors. However, he’d seemed busier than usual lately, which meant he had less time to talk to me or text me. I worried about what that meant, considering his job usually consisted of sitting around while the portals remained inactive—at least, that’s what he’d always told me. He’d said his troops didn’t do much, just waited there to ward off any attempts of entry. The fact that he wasn’t talking or texting much meant that he was being kept occupied, which I felt wasn’t good. But I’d yet to get an explanation from him.

Hey, whatcha doing? The voice came from my brother, not the raven.

I pointed at the bird that still stared at me. Aren’t ravens bad omens? Symbols of death and disaster?

They’re birds that live in this area and are quite common, Tynan reminded.