Spellbound Chapter 10.

Chapter Ten.

 

Bone Setting.

 

Sophie continued to be careful not to let her aunt see her using magic for chores. From the knowing grins she got from Uncle William, she suspected he knew perfectly well what she was doing.

Her favourite job was watching the goats. She liked finding a sunny spot among the wildflowers and keeping an eye on them. It was less pleasant in the rain, when the goats huddled under bushes and complained loudly.

A few days after her quarrel with Aunt Meg, the goats were unusually skittish.

“I think something’s been in the valley,” said Uncle William. “Maybe a mountain lion. We’ll have to look for it and chase it off. Meanwhile, keep a sharp lookout.”

Sophie opened the pen and let the goats out. They milled around the house before wandering up the river. The big billy goat didn’t stop at his usual feeding place; instead he marched right up the valley toward the cave where the stream emerged.

Sophie followed. She had never gone that far, Aunt Meg always said the wraiths lived there. But the billy goat seemed unconcerned, and there was no sign of a mountain lion. He put his head down and began to eat.

Sophie sat and watched him. A movement at the cave mouth caught her eye. The billy looked up but didn’t seem bothered, so she stayed where she was.

A voice drifted out of the cave, soft, gentle, but speaking strange words. It spoke again, more urgently. Sophie stood, puzzled. She still couldn’t see anyone in the darkness.

She concentrated on the sounds.

“Witch person,” the voice said. “Please help.”

Sophie gasped. She understood it now.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I not harm witch person,” said the voice. “Wraiths not harm anyone. Need help from witch person.”

Curiosity overcame fear. Sophie stepped closer. “How do you know I’m a witch?”

“Wraiths smell magic,” said the voice. “You use magic. Need magic.”

“What magic?”

“Wraith child clumsy. Slipped on boulder. Hurt leg badly. Witch mend leg.”

Sophie hesitated. “I’ve never tried that kind of magic, but I’ll do my best. Where is the child?”

“Child inside cave. Wraiths not like sunlight. You come in. Wraiths not harm anyone.”

Sophie entered the cave. “I can’t see,” she said. “I need light.”

“You make little light,” said the wraith. “Just enough.”

Sophie thought, and the cave brightened. “Is that too much?”

“Can stand for short time,” said the wraith. “Child over there.”

Against the wall lay a small dark figure. It whimpered and pulled away as she approached.  The child was shaped like a person, but its edges seemed to blur into the shadows.

“Lie still,” said Sophie gently. “I won’t hurt you.”

The child’s leg was bent at a strange angle. She turned to the adult. “It’s broken. I’ve never set a bone before, but I’ll try. I need straight pieces of wood and cloth.”

“I get,” said the adult, disappearing into the darkness.

Sophie knelt beside the child. “I’m going to send you to sleep,” she said. “You won’t feel pain.” She pointed a finger and concentrated. The child’s head drooped; its eyes closed.

The adult returned with wood and cloth. “Is he asleep?”

Sophie nodded. “We have to straighten the leg and bind it so it can heal.”

The wraith child slept soundly while she worked. Sophie stroked the broken part of the leg and imagined it whole again.

“I don’t know if that will help,” she said. “You’ll have to wait and see. He’ll wake soon — take him home while he’s still asleep.”

“Thank you,” said the adult. “Wraiths always be your friend. You need help, you come to cave and call. We come, even brave light.”

Sophie remembered the light she had made and quickly extinguished it. The wraith picked up the child and vanished into the dark.

Outside, the billy goat was still eating.

“Come on,” she said. “Back to your ladies.” She shooed him down the valley until he rejoined the nannies.

She sat and thought over what she had done. “That’s a better use of magic than destroying things in anger,” she said.

When the goats had finished grazing, she drove them into their shed and shut the door. “We don’t want any nasty mountain lions getting in.”

“Certainly don’t,” said Aunt Meg behind her. “Since you’ve been such a good girl, I wondered if you’d like to come to market with me tomorrow. We’ve more cheese than usual thanks to your help, and William’s smoked a lot of fish. You can help me sell them — and have a wander round the stalls. I think I can spare a little money for you to buy something.”

“Yes, please!” said Sophie. “That sounds lovely.”

They walked back to the house.

“So,” said Aunt Meg, “anything interesting today? I doubt you saw the mountain lion. William and the men are always talking about it, but I’ve never seen one. I think it’s just an excuse to go hunting.”

Sophie giggled. “No, I just followed the billy up to the end of the valley. He didn’t seem worried about anything eating him.”

Aunt Meg frowned. “That’s where the wraiths live. We try not to disturb them. When we first came here, we tried exploring the cave. Very odd, after a few paces you can’t go any further.”

Sophie shook her head. “I didn’t upset anyone.”

She decided not to mention the wraith child or the magic. She really wanted to go to town.

“Good,” said Aunt Meg. “Now let’s see to your uncle’s supper. He’ll be hungry after chasing that mountain lion.”

“Imaginary mountain lion,” giggled Sophie.

“Exactly,” said her aunt.