Worth His Weight

20251214

Written for Luna Asli Kolcu’s “Myths of Winter - Week 2” event.

Another failed casting?
“I don’t understand.” I sit back on my heels and rake my hair out of my face so I can better examine the charred, coagulated mess left in the dish. Certainly not salt. “Why isn’t it working?”
“We’re the ones asking that.” The seeming unofficial spokesman for the other hedgewitches folds his arms and glowers. “What’re you playing at?”
“Nothing!” I point to the jar I’ve been filling, which by now has enough salt to buy a mansion. “I showed you the spell! It’s worked every time. I don’t know what…”
“Hm.” Another hedgewitch, the oldest, coughs. “I think, perhaps, the spell only works with your blood.”
“Ohh.” I sag. But only for a moment; there’s far too much at stake to waste time feeling foolish. I dust off my hands and declare “Then, if you give me samples of your blood, I’ll work night and day to refine the spell!”
“Hmmm. I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“It is!” I scoff, leaping to my feet. “We need everyone to be able to make salt to break the stranglehold those brutes have on society! Once this spell works properly, their blood-soaked mines will be worthless and nobody need struggle or grovel simply to preserve food! I’m sure it won’t take much to get it to recognise blood, rather than my blood. All you need to do is spare me a vial or so each, and I’ll-”
Something bursts against the back of my head, fizzing and burning. I drop to the floor as blackness clouds my vision.
“Careful, now. We need him healthy.”
Their voices sound miles away.
“Tsk. I told you I know what I’m doing.”
What is…? Why are they…?
“Now, the question is how long we can keep him alive.”
“Long enough to make all of us rich as kings.”
That… are they truly…?
Tears, helpless and hot and salty, burn my lips.
You fools. We could have changed everything.

Prompt was “In the mountain kingdoms, salt is more valuable than gold. Wars have been fought over salt mines. Treaties signed in salt. You’ve just discovered your blood can produce it.”