The Black Witch

by Jenny McKane

  “What do these creatures look like?” Avalon whispered.

  “All different.” Mother Oda stared down at the table. “Some are designed to swim. Some to fly in the air. And others to run across the land. These creatures are not ready to be used – yet. The magic is still unstable, and they are trying to strengthen it.” She paused. “But make no mistake. They will do it. And then, all the rebellions in the world will mean nothing. If these creatures are brought to Agnoria, they will be a far more effective army than any men.”

  Avalon felt her heart beating wildly. “What can we do?”

  Mother Oda sighed. “Up until now, I would have said very little,” she said. “I have thought of going to The Tower myself and trying to break the spells, but I would be defeated in an instant. They use the power of The Black Witch, and she is formidable. She can only be matched by someone with powers equal to her own.” She stared at Avalon. “The powers of a queen. A descendent of the Anasta warriors.”

  Skyresh stared at Avalon. “I knew it. I always knew you were special. A Storyteller appeared to me in camp and shared a story. He told me that you were the baby, who had been taken.”

  Avalon paled. “You saw what happened?”

  Skyresh nodded. “An old queen was trying to weave a protection spell over the realm. She had the youngest queen with her. But they stopped her before she could complete it, and they killed her. The owl of another queen bore witness to it.”

  Mother Oda gasped. “Yes, I have seen the owl in my dream. He hovers over a river and is distressed. The other parts of the story were not revealed to me.”

  “You are a queen?” Everard was staring at Avalon, frowning. “And all of you have cobbled this knowledge together from dreams and visions?”

  Skyresh’s eyes narrowed. “You are not a believer, we know that, but could you please show some respect to the Mother?”

  Everard stiffened. “I am not showing disrespect. I just don’t think that Avalon should be told she is a queen of some sort on such flimsy evidence.”

  Mother Oda smiled gently. “Everard, I understand,” she said. “Your mind is still trained in the rational, logical mode of the Jarle. You cannot see what is beyond the physical. Perhaps when you see that they use magic – a very powerful magic – you will start to believe.”

  Everard frowned. “All this nonsense of animals that talk and strange creatures! I understood that they were folktales…and now, you want me to believe that it is all real? I know that the Jarle oppress the Stromel. I have seen it every day of my life…but that does not mean they use magic.”

  Avalon sighed. “Everard, it was very hard for me to accept, as well. I am not going to push you. I just hope that you can keep an open mind and not discount things because they do not fit into what you believe.”

  Skyresh rolled his eyes. “There is no point,” he said crisply. “I accept that you are a queen, Avalon. I know now that is the reason that I kept you alive; I sensed it, somehow. And my vision was strong. Perhaps Everard will discover things for himself.” He turned to Mother Oda. “Mother, please continue. You want us to go to The Tower and somehow destroy the spells that enslave the animals and have created these new creatures?”

  Mother Oda nodded. “It would achieve two things. Firstly, the animals would be free, and we could start to bond with them all again. They would become our allies and work with us against the Jarle. Secondly, if we destroy the spells that have created these new creatures, then we take away a powerful weapon from them.”

  Avalon took a deep breath. “And you say that it must be me to do this? That I have the power? Mother, I have only just realized that I am a queen. I have no idea how to use magic or break spells.”

  Mother Oda gazed at her tenderly. “I know. It is all new and overwhelming. To train you properly would take months, and I am afraid that we do not have the time. The Jarle will unleash these new creatures very soon. The spells need to be broken now.”

  Skyresh nodded, his eyes glittering. “Then we must go there,” he said. “I feel a sense of purpose now. I did not want to while away the time, in exile, waiting until it is safe to return.” He turned to Avalon. “Your destiny is coming, queen. I feel it in my bones.”

  Avalon frowned. She was a trained warrior; she came from a long line of women warriors. It was in her blood to fight. But magic…that was different. She did not know how it worked in the slightest. How was she supposed to battle against this Black Witch, who was supposedly the most powerful practitioner of it?

  “I feel your concerns,” said Mother Oda, turning to her. “I will give you an amulet of great power. I will give you a spell to use against her when you get there. But, Avalon, most of this will be instinctive. The power will come to you as you need to use it.”

  Everard bristled. “You are sending her to her death.”

  Skyresh’s eyes flashed. “I thought you didn’t believe in magic? Avalon is a trained warrior, and she is a queen. Her powers will be revealed to her.” He turned to Avalon. “I will accompany you and keep you safe. I will stand at your side, and I will fight next to you. I pledge this to you.”

  Avalon smiled at him. “Thank you, Skyresh. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

  She could sense Everard glowering. “Of course, I will come with you, too. You know that. I was only saying that I think it a suicide mission, but I will do everything to aid you, if you are determined to do it.”

  “Avalon?” Mother Oda stared at her. “Are you willing?”

  Avalon took a deep breath. Was she? Fear overwhelmed her. She knew how to fight with swords and arrows. She knew how to engage in combat. She knew how to use subterfuge. But she had never fought against magic before.

  “I am willing,” she said slowly. She had no choice. She must do this; she was a queen, and queens had to be brave and make sacrifices. It was what her mother—and her grandmother—would have wanted. All the queens that had come before her. If she died in the attempt, then it would be an honorable death. Better than sitting here, feeling useless.

  “I will go with you in spirit,” said Mother Oda, gently. “If you close your eyes and wish hard enough, I will appear for guidance. It is the same with the Goddess, Avalon. We will be with you. I am very proud of you, and I know that your family would be, as well.”

  Avalon felt tears spring into her eyes. She blinked them away quickly.

  Now was not the time to cry. That time was past. Now, it was time to gather courage and strength. It was time to go into battle.

  ***

  Skyresh stared down at the map, which was laid out on the table. The Outlying Zone was vast, much larger than he had imagined.

  Mother Oda was pointing at features on the paper. “You see, here is the Safe Zone, where you are now.” She circled it carefully. “But you need to travel through the Outer Limits to get to The Interior.” She trailed her hand over the paper, showing them the way.

  “Tell me about the Outer Limits,” said Skyresh, staring at the map. “What will we encounter there?”

  Mother Oda sighed. “It is desert,” she said. “Endless sand. You must be prepared for it. People have died trying to cross it.”

  Skyresh nodded. “It will be challenging.”

  “It is not only that,” continued Mother. “The new creatures that they have created roam within it. They are predators and loyal to the Jarle. I do not know what they are, so I cannot tell you how to combat them. You will have to discover that for yourselves.”

  Everard frowned, staring at the map. “We have to traverse a desert and be on the lookout for creatures of unknown ability and power?” He shook his head. “We will be lucky to get through it.”

  Mother Oda gazed at him. “Yes, it is going to be difficult.” She looked back down at the map. “Once you have gotten through the Outer Limits, you will reach The Interior. The landscape will start to change. It is mostly rocks.” She swept a hand over the map to indicate where she meant.

  Avalon’s eyes traversed the map.
“And where is this Tower in The Interior?”

  Mother Oda circled something. “You need to get to this large rock formation called the Sand Tundra. From the top, you will see The Tower and know where you need to go.”

  Skyresh nodded. “Yes, I see the path that we must take.” He turned and stared at Avalon. “I think that we should head off at first light tomorrow. How many days should it take us to get there, Mother?”

  “All going well, you should get there within a week,” Mother Oda replied. “You will be travelling on foot; there is no other way. There are patrols – not many, but they do occur. And, of course, you need to be constantly on the lookout for the creatures, which could assail you at any time.”

  She carefully folded the map. “Who wants to oversee navigation?”

  “I will,” said Skyresh, taking the map. “I am used to it. I have had to navigate many times before.”

  Everard gazed at him. “I was top of the class in navigation actually.”

  The two men stared at each other.

  “Enough,” said Avalon, snatching the map out of Skyresh’s hands. “I will navigate, and that is the end of it. You both don’t want to challenge a queen, do you?”

  Skyresh grinned. “Never. I would not want to be on the receiving end when your powers awaken.”

  They smiled at each other. Everard turned and walked out of the room. Avalon moved to go after him, but Mother Oda stopped her with a hand on her arm.

  “Leave him,” she said. “He needs to be alone and think things through. This is hard for him. I sense the conflict raging inside.”

  Avalon nodded. “If you think it best,” she said. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Mother Oda smiled. “There is nothing to do,” she said. “He just needs to work things out himself.” She turned to Skyresh. “And you need to start working with him, Skyresh. I know that you are disdainful of him because he does not believe. You think that he is not trustworthy. However, if you give someone a chance, they can show what they are made of.”

  Skyresh sighed. “I am trying, Mother,” he said. “But I have never met anyone as arrogant and stubborn as him. Even when he sees the truth, he still denies it. I do not think that he will stand and fight for us when the time comes.”

  “How can you say that?” said Avalon, her eyes widening. “You fought alongside him to rescue me from the camp. He has left his whole life behind, everything that he valued.”

  Skyresh gazed at her, pinning her with his blue eyes. “We know why he is here, Avalon, and it is not because he believes in the rebellion, or desires to stop whatever is happening in The Tower.”

  Avalon blushed. She looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say.

  Skyresh stared at her. Did she feel the same way about Everard Varr, as he obviously felt about her? The thought filled him with fury. Avalon deserved so much better than him. Everard had been a guardian—and would always be a guardian at heart. Whereas while Avalon had started life as a Jarle, she was a queen, a natural born ruler of their people.

  Skyresh studied her. Something had changed in her bearing and manner. It was subtle, but it was there. She was proud of her heritage and sought to claim it. A woman like her should not be saddled with a man such as Everard Varr.

  Could he claim her as his own? Skyresh imagined her by his side forever. The thought made him feel warm all over. She was a beautiful woman, and he had always felt the connection that shimmered between them, like a fine mist. But could he play the role of consort to a queen?

  He had always been the leader to his people. While he had not sought that role and did not seek their adulation, the role had felt natural to him.

  As he gazed at her, staring down at the floor, he simply did not know, and it hardly mattered for now. They had more important things to do. They had a new mission, which they must not fail—not if the Stromel could ever hope to be liberated from their oppressors.

  ***

  Avalon knelt in front of the Goddess. Smoke from the burning incense filled the air.

  She had managed to slip away from everyone. They were heading off at daybreak, and she wanted to come back here—one last time—to this sacred place where the Goddess lived.

  She stared at the serene statue. The Goddess had her hands outstretched towards her, the palms jutting forward slightly. What would she say to Avalon if she could talk? What advice would she give her about how to handle what was ahead of her?

  Avalon closed her eyes tightly. She could do this. Even though she had little knowledge and was untrained as an Anasta warrior, she was capable. Her hands rested on the amulet that Mother Oda had given her earlier. The old woman had told her that it contained great power, but that power should only be invoked at the right moment. Avalon had to choose that moment carefully.

  How would she know? She had never battled with magic before. It was the same with the spell. Mother Oda had taken her to a basement room, which contained a few old books. Mother had selected one, taking it down from the shelf. Then she had opened the book, flicking the pages until she came to the one that she wanted.

  “It is a reversal spell,” the old woman had said, squinting at the page. “You must chant it after you have slain the Black Witch. It will not work if she is still alive. The spell should undo everything that the Jarle have done to the animals.”

  Avalon had frowned. “But how shall I defeat the Black Witch? With the amulet alone?”

  Mother Oda nodded. “Only you can decide at the time, Avalon. As I have said, a lot of it is instinct. The powers will come to you if you meditate on the image of the Goddess as you travel. It should unlock the potential that is resting in your heart and mind.” She studied Avalon’s face. “Remember—always—who you are. You have the power, but you must believe in yourself.”

  Avalon nodded slowly. She thought she understood.

  “My dear one, none of this is perfect,” Mother Oda sighed. “If things had been the way they should be, you would have been trained from an infant in the magic. You would have been inducted into the spells, and you would have been initiated as an Anasta warrior, but we must work with what we have.”

  Avalon had stared down at the page, memorizing the old words of the spell. A lot of them were unfamiliar to her. Mother Oda explained that the language was archaic; these spells were old and had been born in the very mists of the beginning of time.

  “Most have been lost,” Mother Oda whispered, a pained expression on her face. “The Jarle burned all of the books they could find. I was only able to carry a few with me when I escaped, but these are the most important ones.”

  When she was satisfied that she knew the spell, Avalon had closed the book. She stared at it in wonder. Her family would have known these spells, those strong women, who had ruled down the centuries. She could almost feel their hands resting on top of her own.

  “The connection is building,” Mother Oda whispered. “I feel the presence of other Anasta warriors in the room alongside you. This bodes well, Avalon. You will not be alone.”

  Avalon had turned to the old woman. “Mother, was I taken on purpose? Did the man who claimed to be my father know that I was a queen, and so he sought to control me?”

  Mother Oda shook her head. “I cannot say. One part of me thinks that if that man had truly known who you were, he would have killed you outright, as they killed all the other queens, but then again, perhaps he knew and was curious. It is in the nature of these people to oppress and control.”

  Avalon had smiled sadly. Even though she had never gotten along with the people who had claimed to be her parents and had resisted their attempts to change her, a part of her was regretful. They were the only parents she had ever known, and she had loved them.

  Avalon thought of them again, as she opened her eyes and stared at the statue. They were lost to her now. She would never see them again, nor would they claim her. She was the enemy now.

  She stood up. It was time to leave and rest for the night. Tomorrow, the journ
ey would begin.

  She bowed to the Goddess, and with a sigh, walked out of the temple.

  Chapter Five

  The first rays of the sun were just beginning to climb over the hill. The sky was filled with orange and pink, running together like paint. The air still held the chill of the night. Avalon wrapped the cloak tighter around herself.

  She turned to Mother Oda, who was standing there, watching them. Teitur was by her side. His yellow eyes rested on Avalon. He let out a small yelp.

  Mother Oda smiled. “He is farewelling you,” she said. “He wishes you a safe and successful journey.” She bent down, softly stroking the head of the wolf. “I did think of letting him travel with you. He would have been a good sentry, but you have not yet learned how to talk to the animals, Avalon, and Teitur is bonded to me so completely, he would pine if he was away.”

  Avalon reached down and stroked the animal’s head. He gazed up at her, his tongue lolling out of his head. Yes, it would have been good to have him at their side. Perhaps, one day, she would have a wolf companion of her own. The thought filled her with delight.

  Skyresh walked up to Mother, gazing at her. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he suddenly knelt before her, his right hand resting over his heart.

  “You do not have to kneel before me, Skyresh,” said Mother Oda, gently. “I am not a queen.”

  Skyresh gazed up at her. “No, but you are a wise Mother of great power. I do not know if we are going to meet again, but I wanted to thank you. Staying here with you and seeing how harmoniously you live with your wolf and the Goddess has made me realize how it would have been…in the old days of the realm.” He took a deep breath. “And how it must be again.”

  Mother Oda rested a hand on his head. “You have passion, Skyresh,” she said. “You are a great leader for your people. You will be a part of returning the old ways to the realm. Your destiny commands it.” She paused. “Just remember. Your instincts are good. Trust them.”