The Black Witch

by Jenny McKane

  Avalon clung to the eagle’s neck, huddling next to Skyresh. Hansa was secured to her back.

  And then, they were ascending into the air. Avalon could feel the wind whistling around her. How was it possible that she wouldn’t fall? She clung tighter, staring at Skyresh in fear.

  Skyresh turned to her. His hair was blowing in the wind, and his blue eyes were gleaming with excitement.

  “Don’t think about it,” he yelled over the wind. “Just be in the moment. Enjoy it.”

  They ascended higher. Avalon could see the red sands of the desert unspooling below her in unending undulating patterns. She caught her breath. It was so beautiful!

  She felt like they were climbing to the stars. The sensation was unlike anything that she had ever experienced in her life.

  She turned her head back to check on Hansa. The poor wolf had her paws over her face, hiding her eyes. Avalon wished that she could reassure her, but it simply wasn’t possible. She was too far away from her.

  She turned her head to the left, watching the baby eagle soaring alongside them. How could this be happening? She knew that she would remember this all her life. That it would imprint on her memory like a tattoo. Even if she rode the skies again, she could never hope to re-capture this moment.

  She knew, now, how the Goddess must have felt when she rode the skies. How powerful, as if the whole world was waiting to be revealed.

  And then she saw it below them. The Safe Zone.

  The deserts had slowly changed to woodlands, and now green pastures were below them. She saw the exotic flowers, which were a feature of the Safe Zone, blooming profusely, and then she spotted the little house.

  Her heart flipped in relief. She felt tears spring into her eyes. She let them flow freely. The wind dried them as soon as they ran down her face.

  They descended onto the plain just in front of the house.

  Skyresh turned to her. “Well, what did you think of that?”

  Avalon shook her head. “It was the most incredible experience of my life,” she whispered. “I felt like I was going to melt into the very sky!”

  They got down slowly. She walked to untie Hansa, who still had her paws over her eyes.

  It’s alright, dear friend, Avalon said to her, smiling. We have arrived. You are safe.

  The wolf took one paw away, staring at her with her yellow eyes. She started whining. Avalon laughed, burying her head into the wolf’s soft fur. Then she turned to the great eagle.

  Thank you, she said. You will be forever in my heart for what you have done for us.

  The eagle gazed at her, flapping her wings.

  “Thank the Goddess!”

  Avalon turned around. Mother Oda was standing there, smiling at them. Avalon rushed to her, embracing the old woman tightly.

  The old woman gently stroked Avalon’s hair. “You are safe, my queen,” she whispered. “You are here. And you have defeated the Black Witch. I am so proud of you.”

  Avalon put her head into the woman’s shoulder. “It was so hard, Mother,” she whispered. “I couldn’t have done it without my friends, but the spell that you gave me didn’t work. I have not liberated the animals.”

  Mother Oda stepped back, gazing into Avalon’s eyes. “The spell was never foolproof,” she said slowly. “But it was all that we had. You still have the amulet?”

  Avalon nodded. “It helped,” she said.

  “Good,” said the Mother. “You will need it again. I do not want to tax you after all that you have been through, but we must act quickly for Everard’s sake.”

  Avalon gasped. “Where is he? Has he improved?”

  Mother Oda shook her head. “No, Avalon. He has slipped into unconsciousness, and I am afraid that death is near. It was the reason why I compelled the eagle to pick you up and get you here quickly.”

  “No,” whispered Avalon, tears streaming down her face.

  “I think that we can reverse the spell,” said the old woman. “But I needed you here to do it with me. I do not have the power by myself.”

  “Can I see him?” Avalon was so distressed, she could barely talk.

  “Come,” said Mother Oda. “Quickly. And then we have to act.”

  ***

  Avalon stood over the bed in the room in the little house.

  Everard had been made comfortable. Mother Oda had given him a draught for his pain. Avalon stared down at the man, who had given up so much for her. His long, white hair spread over the pillow, and his deeply wrinkled face was serene, but she could see that his breath came in short, small gasps. His eyelids flickered slightly over his closed eyes.

  She picked up his withered hand and squeezed it.

  “Hold on, Everard,” she whispered. “I am here. We are going to save you.”

  Mother Oda had come in and stood next to Avalon, gazing down at the figure in the bed.

  “He can hear you,” said the old woman. “I can feel it, but he is drifting towards the other side. It is luring him. We must act now, or he will leave us.”

  Avalon nodded. “What must we do?”

  “We are going to the temple,” said Mother Oda. “Together, we will chant to reverse the spell. You must hold the amulet as we do it, and then I have a potion that must be given to him straight away.”

  Avalon took a deep breath. She squeezed Everard’s hand then dropped it.

  The two women held each other’s hands, as they walked from the room.

  ***

  The temple was just as she remembered it. The statue of the Goddess stood in the center, gazing down at them. The sweet scent of sandalwood filled the space.

  They had left the others to recover in the house. Skyresh was preparing food for them all. Hansa and Teitur had sniffed around each other and were now lying side by side in front of the fireplace. They were firm friends already. Aberfa was lying in another room, almost recovered from her injury. The creature had yelped softly when Avalon had looked in on her on the way to the temple.

  Avalon had not had time to speak with the creature, but Aberfa had understood.

  And now, they were here. They knelt side by side on the cushions, directly in front of the Goddess.

  “It is a simple chant,” said Mother Oda. “You will pick it up after the first time I say it. Join in with me. I want you to raise the amulet as we speak it.”

  “Will it work?” Avalon whispered. She didn’t think that she could bear it if Everard died.

  The old woman sighed. “In the old days, we used this chant to reverse spells,” she said. “They usually worked, but not alone. We always needed another to chant. It is why I could not do it without you beside me.”

  Avalon nodded. “The collective power of the Anasta, side by side.”

  “Yes,” said Mother Oda. “We tried it, of course, when the dark army invaded the realm, but it was not strong enough to defeat that magic. However, I have hope that it will work for this. The Black Witch used a simple spell on him.” She gazed at Avalon. “It is all we have, Avalon. Let us begin.”

  Mother Oda started to chant.

  Avalon raised the amulet into the air and closed her eyes. She listened to the chant, and then she started to say it with the Mother.

  She did not know how much time had passed. She felt herself start to sway, as the words washed over her again and again.

  She could see light, burning through her eyelids. The Goddess was coming. Her fingertips started to tingle, where they touched the amulet.

  And then, it was as if it were on fire. Pain spread through Avalon’s fingers, but she did not lower the amulet nor did she stop chanting. She started to picture Everard, as he had been. Tall and handsome. He gazed on her with his dark eyes, and she could see his sword gleaming by his side.

  “Do not give up,” she whispered to him. “Come back to us, Everard.”

  He smiled at her, seeming to grow like a tree in front of her. He filled the room. Behind him, she could see her young mother, clutching her sword. Her grandmother came, as wel
l. She gazed lovingly at Avalon…

  She opened her eyes, slowly. Her knees felt weak on the cushion. The amulet was glowing. Mother Oda was no longer beside her.

  Was it done?

  The amulet stopped glowing. She lowered it, stumbling to her feet. Where was Mother Oda?

  She bowed quickly before the statue then quickly left the temple. She had to get to Everard. She only prayed that it wasn’t too late and that he hadn’t breathed his last.

  ***

  Mother Oda was in the room, bending over Everard. She was holding a glass to his lips and was forcing him to drink.

  The old man didn’t open his eyes but swallowed the draught automatically.

  Mother Oda slowly lowered his head onto the pillow. She turned to Avalon, a tired smile on her face.

  “We must wait now,” she said. “We have done all that we can. His fate is in the Goddess’s hands now.”

  Avalon sat on the other side of the bed and picked up Everard’s hand. It was still as wrinkled as before. She tried not to let dismay overwhelm her. Mother Oda was right.

  There was nothing more that they could do for him now.

  ***

  Avalon opened her eyes slowly.

  She must have fallen asleep by Everard’s side. She could see that soft early morning light had entered through the window. Had she slept through the rest of the day, and then the entire night?

  She was still clutching Everard’s hand. She picked it up, gazing at it. It was different. The wrinkles had smoothed out.

  Her eyes flew to his face. It had worked! The hair that spread out on the pillow was now the dark, rich shade that it had once been. His face was unlined. His breathing had regulated, and some color had come into his cheeks. But his eyes were still closed.

  Avalon cried out, rising to her feet. She bent over him, whispering to him.

  “Everard,” she said. “You are better! You are young again! Open your eyes and see that what I speak is the truth.”

  His eyelids fluttered, but they didn’t open.

  Mother Oda suddenly appeared beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

  “Give it time, Avalon,” she said, gently. “The reversal of the spell is working. He is regenerating slowly. He will open his eyes when he is ready.”

  Avalon turned to the old woman. Her eyes were filled with tears.

  “Mother Oda,” she said wearily. “Thank you.” She bowed her head, overcome with emotion.

  The Mother put her arm around her. “Come, Avalon,” she said. “We will leave him. You have stayed with him for a long time, and he has felt your strength and love, but you need to look after yourself, as well. We will have some breakfast, and then we will return.”

  ***

  Skyresh was already up and sipping a drink on a cushion in the main room. He had started the fire, and it warmed the space so well that Avalon felt like curling up and going to sleep, again.

  “How is he?” he said, fixing Avalon with his intense blue gaze.

  Avalon sighed. “The reversal worked, Skyresh,” she smiled. “He is becoming himself again, but he is still asleep.”

  Mother Oda walked to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. “He will wake, do not worry.”

  Avalon sank into the cushion next to Skyresh. He reached out, stroking her arm gently.

  “I am so pleased,” he said, staring at her. “I didn’t think that it was possible, but I should have known. Your powers are becoming so strong, Avalon.”

  Avalon smiled. “I couldn’t have done it by myself,” she said. “I needed Mother Oda by my side and her guidance.”

  Mother Oda hands suspended over the food she was preparing. She gazed at Avalon.

  “That is not true, Avalon,” she said. “I told you that you needed me by your side, but you didn’t. You could have done it by yourself. You are a great queen. You need to trust your powers.”

  Avalon frowned. “But I did not know the chant,” she said. “Nor did I have the recipe for the draught that you gave him. I couldn’t have done it without you, Mother Oda.”

  “All of that is just book learning,” said Mother Oda, bringing the food over to them. “Once you have that knowledge, nothing can stop you. You will not need anyone by your side.”

  Skyresh gazed at her, a little sadly. Avalon knew what he was thinking. He wanted to be by her side, but he felt that he was not needed. She turned to him and squeezed his hand, not knowing what to say.

  “Eat,” said Mother Oda. “Get your strength back. Working the magic takes its toll, Avalon. That is why you fell so deeply asleep at Everard’s side for so long.”

  Avalon did what she was told. She could feel strength returning to her with every mouthful. She closed her eyes, sipping the drink Mother Oda had prepared.

  The curtains to the door parted, and the wolves walked in. Teitur walked to the fireplace and lay down in front of it. Hansa came up to her, resting her head in her lap. Avalon petted the soft fur gently.

  “I am so glad that you have found your wolf companion,” said Mother Oda, gazing at them fondly. “She is beautiful, Avalon, and I can feel her devotion to you.”

  Avalon kept stroking the wolf’s head. “She has been fierce,” she said. “She has saved me, many times. I could not have done any of this without her.”

  “And you have the loyalty of the creature who lies upstairs,” said the Mother. “Tell me how that happened.”

  “I spoke to Aberfa,” said Avalon. “She was guarding me in The Tower, but she listened to me. I promised her that I would liberate her from the Black Witch, and she believed me.”

  Mother Oda pondered this. “Skyresh has told me that another creature helped you, too.”

  “Yes,” said Avalon. “Mair, the rabbit, whose burrow I was imprisoned in. She came to me at The Tower, and she put the amulet in my hand when I was dying from the Black Witch’s magic.”

  Mother Oda frowned. “Avalon, I think we have our answer.”

  Avalon’s hand suspended over the wolf’s head. “What do you mean, Mother?”

  Mother Oda got up slowly. “It is not a spell,” she said. “You have the power to liberate the animals, just by speaking to all of them. Your power is that great.”

  Avalon frowned. “I don’t understand,” she said. “How can I speak to all the animals? Hansa, Aberfa, and Mair were different. They were right in front of me.”

  “Have you meditated on it with the Goddess?” Mother Oda stared at her.

  “Yes,” Avalon replied. “She told me that I have the power, but I need to listen to what the animals are saying.”

  Mother Oda smiled. “And what have they told you?”

  Avalon thought deeply. She remembered her last meeting with Mair. The creature had told her that she would have her loyalty forever. Hansa and Aberfa had been telling her the same thing repeatedly.

  “Yes,” said Mother Oda, her smile deepening. “They are sworn to you. Now, you need to reach out to all the animals with the Goddess’s guidance. After breakfast, we shall return to the temple.”

  Skyresh stared at the Mother. “Are you saying that you think Avalon can liberate the animals, just through calling to them?”

  “That is exactly what I am saying,” said Mother Oda. “The Black Witch is defeated. She cannot counteract Avalon’s power anymore, but we must act quickly. The Jarle have been amassing an army in the Outlying Zone. They will establish another sorcerer in The Tower soon. We have a window of opportunity before that happens.”

  ***

  Avalon and Skyresh walked into the room where Everard lay.

  “I cannot believe it,” Skyresh whispered, gazing down at the man. “He is young again.”

  Avalon smiled. “Yes. I can’t believe it either.”

  They stared down at him, not speaking. Avalon watched his eyelids flutter, and then he opened his eyes.

  “Avalon?” he whispered, gazing at her.

  She flew to his side. “Oh, Everard! You are awake! And you are well and young
again.”

  He slowly lifted a hand, to his face. “I am young?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. She turned and picked up a mirror that was lying on the bedside table. She held it in front of him. “See for yourself.”

  He stared at his reflection, his dark eyes widening. “I am exactly as I once was. How did it happen?”

  “Mother Oda knew a reversal chant,” she said, smiling. “We did it together in the temple. I promised that you would be yourself again, Everard.”

  He gazed at her, his dark eyes shining. “I should have believed you,” he whispered. “My darling Avalon, is there anything you can’t do?”

  Avalon heard Skyresh sigh deeply, behind her. He turned and started walking out of the room. She turned her head to call out to him, but he had already gone.

  She knew he was troubled; he felt that he was intruding on them. She knew what was in his heart and that he longed to tell her, but how could they ever be together? Everard had returned from near death, and he needed her. He loved her, just the same as Skyresh did.

  It was just not meant to be, was it? And besides, she needed to put it out of her head again.

  “Everard,” she whispered. “There is something else that I have to do, now that I know you are well. There is no time to delay.”

  ***

  Mother Oda had prepared the temple for her.

  Fresh incense wafted through the air, and the candles had been lit, casting a warm glow over the space.

  “What do I do?” said Avalon, turning to the old woman.

  Mother Oda smiled. “You will know,” she said. “I cannot tell you. You must trust your power, Avalon. I believe in you.” She turned and walked away.

  Avalon sank down onto the cushion in front of the statue and closed her eyes.

  Goddess of Light, she beseeched. You tell me that I have the power. I believe you. Will you show it to me?

  The room started to melt away. The Goddess rose up in front of her. She was smiling.

  Then, her mother stepped into the space. She looked like she had been running. Her sword was raised in front of her. Avalon could see the blue tattoos on her neck.

  “These are the marks of the Anasta,” she said. “The powerful women. You are one of us.”

  Her grandmother stepped into the light. “My precious one,” she whispered. “We are with you.”