Strange Alchemy Part 2

The walls pressed in, undulating in and out as Ginnifer secreted Emma through the narrow streets of Ragusa. A strange metallic smell permeated the air, and through Ginnifer’s cloak Emma could see the lamps lining narrow cobblestoned streets. The sun had set, and even in her makeshift seat she began to shiver. 

“Ugh, can you PLEASE contain yourself! We’re nearly to my guild, then the Maven can help you.” Emma could feel the cold saccharine voice  rumbling through the sternum pressed against her back. 

Emma craned her neck, watching as the world jostled about her. Ginnifers modest décolletage was doing it’s best, but Emma still tried to shimmy deeper into the loose corset. “This is so embarrassing…” She whispered, as Ginnifer ascended a staircase. She was thrown into one breast as an arm as thick as an oak lifted a once dainty hand to slam the knocker on an otherwise nondescript door. 

The tiny woman could hear someone plod across loose timber as they approached the door, as it scraped open she clamped her hands on her ears and whimpered until the door locked into place again. By that time, Ginnifer had begun to jog through the dim hall moving deeper into the structure. 

From her perch, Emma watched as her friend turned steed timidly knocked on an inner door. Despite the heavy cloak Ginnifer wore, Emma could feel her begin to shiver. There was some strange movement inside. It sounded like multiple people moving about. Ginnifer took two broad steps away from the door, pausing on the edge of a deep emerald rug. A moment later, the door swung open. 

Silhouetted in the portal was the figure of a lovely woman, wearing a garment not dissimilar from the one Emma was clutched within. Ginnifer shifted, her chest pulsed as she swallowed hard. Emma elbowed the broad firm patch of skin in the center of the giantess’ chest. “Good Evening Maven, I apologize for intruding.”

The figure was ill defined, hidden as it was by the brilliant light of the candles and fire within. It shifted and beckoned for Ginnifer to enter the sanctum within. As her mount stepped within, Emma felt a different kind of chill.

“Madame Iva, my travel companion, Lord Watson’s daughter cast a curious hex, and needs your help.” Emma bit the middle joint of her index finger, giggling despite herself. 

‘Even Ginny can be serious.’ She mused. 

“I see. I was unaware Lord Watson’s daughter was educated in our craft.” Came a voice, it was lovely, somewhere between Contralto and Mezzo. To the diminished woman it sounded deeper than it probably should have, but more importantly was an odd accent. Certainly not indigenous to the kingdom.

Ginnifer swallowed again. “She… is not, Maven. While collecting mushrooms she read my spellbook. That error was mine, I should have kept my pack attended.” 

“Indeed. And what became of your companion?” Emma could hear Ginnifer’s heartbeat skip, and the blood seemed to be draining down towards the comparatively titanic feet far below. Two shadows merged in front of her cloak, blocking out Emma’s vision. She was suddenly bathed in light as the cloak was wrenched open. Her eye’s ached as she clenched and squinted to adjust to the light. “A rather unorthodox method of transport. Could you not have carried her in a cage or simply in your pack?” 

“I considered it, Maven, however Lady Watson is… easily affected by the climate now. This seemed the best way to keep her warm.”

The woman reached out, seizing Emma by her shoulders, pulling her free and lifting her up to get a better look at the diminished aristocrat. “Particularly potent. Did you collect the ingredients she used?”

Before Ginnifer could respond, the Maven turned and carried her guest into an adjoining study. Gently depositing her on a table, she scrutinized the tiny figure. The night air washed over Emma with more force than the snow’s of the Veldt, and she began violently trembling. 

The woman quickly slid a candle across the tabletop, bringing it incredibly close to the doll sized woman. The flame licked the air, and Emma edged closer to the melting wax, trying to absorb the dancing flames warmth. “Umm. Yes, Maven, she used water, Venomshroom, her own hair and some shale from Caspians Folly.”

Ginnifer joined her by the table, stooping forward. “I apologize for my error, can you fix my friend?” Emma’s eyes darted between the two giant women, subconsciously edging behind the dwindling wax pillar. 

“Possibly, are you sure it was shale and not pyrite?” The taller woman asked, her eyes scrutinizing every small portion of Emma’s tiny frame. Ginnifer nodded, the brim of her hat nearly obscuring Emma’s view of her eyes. 

“As sure as I can be, ma’am, I took a portion of the debris Lady Watson used.” Emma watched as a few strands of green hair shifted as Ginnifer punctuated her comment with a deep sigh. 

She opened her mouth to retort, when the Maven scooped her up again. Taking care to avoid the candle flame, she dropped Emma into a broad shallow bowl. To her surprise, the bowl began to shift, descending a bit. The Maven produced an ornate goblet and placed it in an identical bowl near to the one Emma stood within. “You’re weighing me like a loaf of bread!?” She squeaked, stamping her boots into the broad copper basin. 

“Hmm, impressive. She’s retained a fair amount of herself.” She said softly, leaning down and into the tiny woman trapped on the scale. “Molly dear, you really should take a look at this.” 

“Coming!” Emma’s back went straight, the voice was refined, familiar. She rested her hands on her hips as the voice’s owner came into view. There, to her horror, stood the Lady Cork in an elegant crimson gown and an intricate updo. “Oh my, is that an animated doll?”

Emma’s face burned as she looked to Ginnifer for aid, the witch’s expression wasn’t hard to parse. The doll sized woman saw resignation, irritation on the once bubbly woman’s face. “No sweetie, one of my students friends cursed herself. This is an actual shrunken woman.”