"A witch's power is drawn from the elements of the world," Ashlynn explained as Ollie held the waterskin. "I brought the water in that skin from the Briar, the home of the Mother of Thorns and a place where many cypress trees grow," she explained. "That water has nourished cypress trees for hundreds of years, and now it will nourish you during your transformation."
"I thought that the Briar was far away," Ollie said, suddenly holding the waterskin far more gingerly, as if the waterskin were filled with precious, expensive wine. "You brought water all the way from there, just to use for me now?"
"It froze in the High Pass," Heila added with a slight smile. "And it broke the jug it was in. But Lady Ashlynn saved it and made sure she didn't lose a drop."
