Welcome, you’ve stumbled into The Tori Story Series. If this is your first visit to this realm you might want to catch up.

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Tori stared at the woodpile and scratched her head. Lost. She knew she was supposed to be doing something but couldn’t for the life of her remember what it was. Her thoughts a muddled mess. 

Truth be told, she was completely distracted, unable to un-see her son Rowan fading in and out of the Void. Had it all been a dream? Was Rowan still alive? Why didn’t the Peddler leave her there? It was so peaceful she could have stayed there with her son forever.

The Peddler, however, didn’t leave her and now she was here still, staring blankly at the pile of logs.

Which was quite dangerous honestly. For you see, Unidentified Flying Objects were bound to launch through the air at various intervals during the day.

When the King ordered his servants to see to her needs, they did comply. It’s just that their execution of the order was completely outrageous. Dangerous. One could even say life threatening. The entire palace staff was terrified to go anywhere near Tori, and so they simply hurled various and sundry objects into the courtyard. Sometimes they threw logs, sometimes tools, knives, small tables, and a bedpan even. There was really no rhyme or reason to it. Almost as if they were anticipating what might be needed instead of simply asking. 

“Oh yes, this might help. Toss it!”

In addition to being dangerous it was annoying. Causing more harm than good. Like the time Tori needed a large bowl to prepare one of her tinctures. Yes, they brought the bowl. In fact, it sailed right past Tori barely missing her head and shattered against the column that stood several feet behind her. Ceramic shards flew every which way across the courtyard. 

Worse yet, was when they tossed in her meals. Once, I kid you not, they threw soup.

“How in the world am I supposed to eat this?” Tori yelled at the faint echo of retreating footsteps, whilst pulling bits of potato and carrots out of her hair.

So far luck had been on her side though when it came to UFO’s. For the most part, she steered clear of the doorways, and of course the wooden clogs were a dead give away, giving her ample time to clear the area and take cover.

Perhaps though at this particular time, had they thrown anything she surely would have been hit because she was so lost in her thoughts she failed to hear an entire line of guards approach. She simply continued to stare blankly at the woodpile while the guards filed through the east entrance and into the courtyard. 

“Lady Witch” The King’s voice startled her.

Tori jumped, her reverie broken. Suddenly a flood of realization washed over her, the king, the palace, the prince, the cure, all of it— she was here to save Ben. 

Tori stalled momentarily, not wanting to face the King just yet. She brushed the hair out of her eyes, shocked to discover her cheeks were soaked with tears. Hurriedly, she wiped her eyes and at the same time began gathering a few logs. Logs that she needed for the still. Logs she should have collected hours ago. 

Finally she turned and spoke. “John” the word came out a croak. Her voice unfamiliar even to her. 

The guards drew their swords together in unison. A perfectly choreographed dance almost as if they had rehearsed the entire thing right before they entered. 

Startled at the guards reaction, Tori shifted space to protect herself. At the same time she realized her mistake. “I mean, Your Majesty.” Tori corrected. She meant no disrespect really. Still, she felt the formalities of the palace a bit pretentious, and was unable to hide the sarcasm that oozed out of her mouth and collected on her chin. She made a show of wiping it off and then slung it towards the guards. They recoiled. 

What on earth could be going through their minds? Tori wondered. Did they really believe she had the power to fling invisible nothings at them and do them harm? 

The guards hesitantly returned their swords to their sheaths but kept their hands on the butt of their weapons. The eerie muted silence was overwhelming. None could quite comprehend what had just occurred.

Fear and unease hung in the air between them like thick dark fog, causing great confusion. Especially to Tori. What match was she against an army or guards? What on earth were they so afraid of?

The thing is, Tori had never witnessed herself shifting space. To her she simply moved licketty-split from here to there. To those witnessing, however, she appeared to disappear from here and reappear over there. The movement was just entirely too swift for the human eye to process. Surely, a great work of evil and a demonic type of trickery. 

“Well then,” The King mumbled to himself, his voice shaky and unsure. He cleared his throat in an effort to regain his composure. “Have you any good news?” He asked, turning to the guard on his right, unwilling to look Tori directly in the eyes. Not after what just happened.

The guard simply shrugged, confused.

King John turned to face Tori, an uncomfortable, forced smile plastered on his face. Then added rather sheepishly, “Hannah would like to know.” As if that made all the difference in the world. 

“If Hannah would like to know, then Hannah should come ask herself.” Tori answered. Her intention was to sound as innocent as was possible, but she fell short. She did manage to return his crooked smile but again could not hide her contempt. Knowing full well the King had banned Hannah from visiting her after Ben was born, she wanted his actions to sting.

It was the severed friendship that hurt Tori the most. She had been able to tolerate living in Andor before, when Hannah made her weekly visits. But without her only friend the last couple of years had been unbearable. Emotions threatened to overtake Tori again, and so in an effort to hide her tears she turned her back to the King to tend to the fire. 

The guards gasped.

“Leave!” The King bellowed. His command echoed throughout the yard.
Immediately, Tori turned to protest, she meant no disrespect. Oh, the formalities of the court! It wasn’t like there was a manual, she hadn’t had any training, and she was forever forgetting the rules. Tori was fully prepared to apologize, grovel even but realized the King was addressing the guards. Not her. She quickly turned back to the fire while the guards filed out one by one. 

“Lady Witch.” The King’s menacing voice cut through the sticky, stale air like a knife. “It would serve you well not to defy me in front of my guards otherwise you might end up in the gallows or worse yet…” he paused for effect. “Burned at the stake.” 

Tori turned to face the King. “I have a name. It’s Tori, not Lady Witch. When you learn to address me by my rightful name I will address you by yours. Understood?” She paused then added. “John.” Allowing the name to hang there like a foul smelling carcass.

The King scoffed. “Tori,” he whispered through gritted teeth. “It does my sovereignty no good to make deals with the likes of you.” 

Tori… Not Lady Witch. The King had for the first time offered a truce and called her by name. This was not lost on Tori.

“Your Majesty.” Tori began, her voice softening. “I have no good news. The healing oils I am trying to make are just not getting the job done. If you would allow me to take the boy to my cabin, it—” 

“Never. I will not—“ King John began.

“But Sir,” Tori interrupted. “The fresh air would do him good. The mold—”

“Enough! Your petty superstitions hold no sway over me. The boy stays in the castle along with you, under my watchful eye. And for your sake Tori, pray you find a cure. If he dies at your hand I will see to it that it costs you your life.”

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