37. Dark Consequences

“My Child,” a wizened old woman in the hut looked at the young woman in front of her. She spoke in the vernacular; her voice was soft yet firm.

She had seen desperation like this before. Many people knew that the dark arts had consequences, and many believed they were ready for those consequences.

This one was no different. Sighing the old woman continued speaking, “What you ask for, I can give you the tools to implement. However, if you do it wrong, you will lose this man forever. You must…” the old woman’s voice faded away as Ritah’s attention was called to the commotion just out of her office.

She raised her head from the sheaf of papers that she had stopped reading several minutes ago. She scowled; this was an office and not a playground. She buzzed her PA to tell her that the commotion had to end.

Her PA did not pick up. She scowled, again. She stood and walked out of her office.