New Release: PLANTWISE

 

They talked long into the stormy winter nights. That spring, Arden traveled everywhere across Westerland, and when it was safe, crossed the borders to the farming and woodland communities of neighboring kingdoms, seeking the old stories and half-forgotten and only rumored bits of the most ancient magic. She visited huts and cottages where the hedgelores were kept by word of mouth and herb mistresses stored their memories in tiny living trees. She spent days digging through ancient libraries full of dusty scrolls and newly printed books, looking for stories and theories. Glynna had never encountered another green magic-wielder during her decades traveling the continent, and Arden didn’t dare cross the sea to another continent to seek out another plantwise with more knowledge and experience than Glynna. Until Yeshen heard their prayers and sent the Steward to talk with them, they could only work based on speculations.

Spring turned to summer and Arden was busy with her usual duties during the growing season. She sometimes wept in gratitude that she wasn’t so distracted with her new quest that she shorted Westerland. The harvest was doubly bountiful that year, and all her travels served to spread the blessing of her magic, even into neighboring kingdoms. Glynna just chuckled when they received news of that and reminded Arden that magic and Giftings needed to be shared, and grew more powerful with the sharing.

Still, despite the bounty she had brought to Westerland, Arden was relieved to settle down after the harvest. She talked to herb wives and lore masters and ancient grannies and gaffers sitting at the fires as winter howled around them and tried to reach down the chimneys.

When spring came again, so did the Steward.