Mary slowly strolled along the lane, swinging her basket. The sun shone on the cobbled path, giving it a golden glow. All in all, it was a glorious day.
“Oh, what a pest,” came a voice, puncturing the stillness of the morning.
Mary rounded the bend to the bridge. A woman stood in a blue witch’s gown, her long dark purple hair flowing over her shoulders. She patted her pockets. “Of all the frosty things to lose,” she said. Then went to the cart that was behind her, and began to ruffle through a container of stones. She gave an exasperated sigh, and thrust the container shut.
Mary stared at her with large, excited eyes. A real, live witch! Mary had been fascinated by magic since she was a little girl, ever since Mr Miller had set off magical fireworks during one of his famous bonfire nights.
Mary slowly walked towards the little path that led down to the river, all the while her eyes were glued on the witch.
The woman began to jump up and down, staring around her. Her glasses flew off her face, but she managed to grab them before they were half way to the ground. She leant against her cart. “I desperately need an assistant,” she said.
Mary brightened, and half turned towards her. A witch’s assistant! She needed a job, and it would be a dream beyond a dream to work for a witch. Mary took half a step towards her, then faltered, as she stared at the complete stranger. There was no telling what sort of person this witch was.
Mary redirected her step back to the river, and hurried down. Tucked under the bridge, she put down her basket. “What am I going to do about money?” she asked herself. It was very kind of the Millers to let her have the flat about their barn, but she couldn’t stay there forever.
A glint of something round in the water caught her eye. “Water seeds!” she said, remembering why she’d come. They would make a fine addition to Miller’s garden.
She took off her stockings, tied up her dress and then splashed her feet in the water. A must before hunting for water seeds.
After a few seconds, a creaking rang out, and the water in front of her froze. Mary leapt backwards. It vanished as soon as it had come. Mary stared unblinking at the now still and calm water. Then turned towards the witch, but she was already on her way.
Mary waded into the water, searching the bed of the river as she went. A creaking began, and the water around her legs froze, so she was trapped. She tried unsuccessfully to move. “What was I thinking, wandering into water that’s magically freezing itself.” Mary fell, her arms flailing, onto the ice, which promptly vanished. She fell with a splash into the water.
“It serves me right, for being so silly,” she said, then laughed.
A sparkling stone, glistened next to her foot, she grabbed it, to discover it was a silver stone. “I bet you’re what that witch was looking for,” she said, turning it over, and sure enough there was a symbol engraved into it. A witch’s mark. “I recognise that mark,” it was someone Mr Miller purchased from. A kinder, more eccentric women he claimed he’d never met. Mary ran out the river, splashing water all around her as she went, grabbed her basket and ran as quickly as her legs would carry her.
“Wait!” she yelled.
The witch stopped, and glanced around. Her eyes fell on Mary. “Good day to you,” she said with a bright smile. “Can I offer you a weather stone, or…”
“No,” said Mary, panting as she came to a stop in front of her. “No. I found this,” she said, brandishing the stone. “Is it yours?”
The witch glanced at the stone in her hand. A bright smile spread across her face, making it shine with warmth. “You treasure,” said the woman, taking, and giving her a swift hug, before kissing the stone. “How can I ever thank you?”
“Let me be your assistant,” the words were out her mouth before she could think.
The witch beamed. “What a marvellous idea,” she said. “I desperately need an assistant.” She turned to her donkey. “What do you say Oswald?” she asked it.
The donkey stared at them, then turned away.
“He didn’t try to bite you, so we’ll call that his approval,” said the witch. “What about your family?”
“I don’t have a family,” said Mary quickly, she’d been orphaned at five. “At least not in the legal sense, if you need it for your documents. I’m a ward to the Miller family, unofficially.”
“You’re the little sprout they took in,” she glanced her up and down. “Not much a sprout any more are you, more of a blooming, vibrant plant.”
Mary blushed. “I don’t know about that.”
“Yes, I think we’ll get along nicely,” declared the witch. “Hop on,” she said, jumping onto the cart, and patting the empty spot next to her.
Mary leapt up next to her, staring wide eyed at all the boxes, and containers packed into the cart. Weather stones, time whips, spiral blockers and hundreds more. Mary thought her heart might burst in her chest from the joy.
“We’ll stop by the Miller’s and tell them everything. I don’t want to be accused of spiriting you away without a bye, nor leave. Then we’ll pack your things up and be off.”
“To where?” Mary asked.
“Where ever the winds of adventure lead us,” said the witch’s, dramatically waving her arms through the air.
Mary laughed. “Which direction is the wind of adventure blowing today,” she asked.
The witch deflated and said, “Which ever direction that stubborn donkey chooses to take us. He has a nose for adventure and magical mischief. Wasn’t it fortunate I lost that stone. It just goes to show, you never know what’s going to transpire to change your life for the better.”