Every Witch Way but Wicked

by Barbra Annino

  Silence.

  “I have the journals. I can prove my claim. I will hand them over if required. The world should know of your father’s lack of honor.”

  Astonishment, shocked understanding and sorrow played through her, then finally acceptance and love. The myriad of emotions a twisted tornado as she sought to understand.

  “There is only question I need you to answer right now. Do you love me?”

  The answer wasn’t long in coming. When it did, it swept through her mind, the voice, so deep, so passionate, so very loving, it nearly brought her to her knees. “Yes. You have always been the half to my heart. I have been lost without you.”

  She closed her eyes briefly. “Then trust me, trust in us, regardless of the way this goes down.”

  *

  While the council adjourned to address her request, Riana sat crossed-legged on the large floor pillow in a private empty room and waited for their decision. She’d requested a different warrior, one of their own. A serious decision for them to make. And a request that wasn’t likely to be granted.

  That’s okay. She’d been trying to delay the challenge until after her Awakening. If it started before then, the challenge couldn’t go forth until it was over. By then her powers, her strength, would outdistance his.

  She knew it would be close.

  Ector was gambling on it. He’d never fight a fair fight. Bastard!

  She could only hope her Awakening would happen soon. Before the council decision would be best. Once a decision was made, the battle would follow immediately. There’d be no time for planning or preparation. Maybe it was better that way.

  “Riana?”

  Lifting her head, she looked for the owner of the voice.

  “It’s me.”

  She smiled. Who else could it be? Then she realized what the communication meant.

  “It’s time. The guards will be at your door within minutes.”

  “So soon?”

  “Yes. A decision has been made.”

  She gulped. “Am I allowed to know what it is?”

  “No.”

  And he wouldn’t go against the rules and tell her. She closed her eyes, praying for a triumphant resolution to this mess.

  Most people in her society were like Ector—greedy, grasping, a conquering people.

  Those in her House had been the same—until her mother’s death. With no one at the helm, isolated from the others, they’d changed. Alone, Riana had been forced to find her own way—a way that felt right for her—and so had those following her. She’d learned to infuse prayers with love, deep emotional energy, and had watched her powers grow.

  It had been a conscious choice to walk the path of a healer, not a warrior. As a negotiator, not a fighter. It didn’t mean she couldn’t or wouldn’t fight, because she could and indeed would. But she shouldn’t kill. Her healing abilities depended on her ability to stay in the light. Death walked in the darkness. To kill meant a part of her soul would always walk there too.

  A knock sounded on her door.

  It was time.

  Chapter Three

  Once back in the dark arena, Riana was escorted to the same large circle of light. She turned to face Bronan and the elders.

  “Riana, Daughter of the House of Sarlagon, we have made a decision – however, it is dependent on the answers to several questions.”

  Muscles tense, anticipation flowed through her veins, she inclined her head.

  “You have accepted the challenge and requested a change of warrior – for what reason?”

  Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I was checking the sincerity of Ector’s belief. Should he believe me to be his daughter then it only makes sense that I would fight one of my generation, and not my father. Ector has brought this challenge against me for felonious reasons just for a chance to take over my House. He has no basis for his lies.”

  “According to him, he has.” The oldest of the three men standing in front of her spoke, his long white beard almost reaching the floor.

  “If he has, then anyone can create lies in order to take over a House. I could say that his father was a Fellman. That would mean he was a descendant, and therefore not allowed to rule his House as Fellmans can no longer hold power. Who could say otherwise but himself? As who can say otherwise of the charge he has leveled against me – but me?” She managed to keep her voice level, her logic easy to follow.

  The murmur rose around her until it swelled to fill the space. She stayed focused on the elders standing in front of her.

  “Can you prove your birthright?”

  “In what way should I do this?” Tension coiled in her stomach. The timing was so close. She was almost there. Heat warmed the souls of her feet. “I have my mother’s journals. I gave you my birth papers.” She shrugged. “Of course, both could have been forged.”

  Elders bent heads together, whispers gaining in volume as they consulted with Bronan. Finally, they turned to face her. One of the other elders spoke. “You can demonstrate your mother’s skills by answering Ector’s challenge.”

  “I have already accepted his challenge.” She faced the elders, her chin firm. “I am not afraid of Ector. After this night, there will be no naysayers. There will also no longer be Ector, Warrior and Head of Huron House.”

  Obviously, her request that Bronan take his father’s place wasn’t being allowed. So be it. She’d be happy to trounce his father publicly. She bowed to the elders and turned to drop her robes.

  Silence. Then a long slow roar circled her as the audience caught a glimpse of her.

  Dressed in glowing midnight blue from ankle to wrist in a form fitting jahla, her chabbad overshirt came to mid-thigh. She removed the overshirt, dropping it onto her robe. In her jahla and sandals, she turned to face her opponent unarmed. Her people weren’t well-known. Few knew what they could do. Another advantage.

  Riana stepped forward. They had the circle of light in which to settle their dispute. She should probably kill him outright, except for her healing abilities … what then?

  Ector rose to meet her.

  She smiled and bowed slightly, keeping a wary eye on him. She raised one brow at the speed of his response. He was a warrior without honor and bore watching. “Do you Ector acknowledge my standing as the head of the House of Sarlagon?”

  Ector straightened, a sword in his hand. Fire raced along the edge of the blade. “No.” He laughed.

  She said nothing and waited. He lunged toward her, then danced back. Lunging and retreating, he danced around her in a wide circle. Flames sparked and danced around her. They never touched. “Come on, move.”

  “Why?” she asked in a reasonable voice.

  “Fight!” He lunged and would have slid through her side, but she stepped casually out of the way. The flames came up against her and sizzled before dampening down.

  “Stop it. Either fight or…”

  “Or what?” she taunted. “Die?” She avoided another thrust. “Only one of us will die this night, and that will be you.”

  He stopped and laughed so loud, she almost winced from the harshness of the sounds rolling from his throat. “How do you figure? I have the weapon. You stand in front of me defenseless.”

  Now it was her turn to laugh. “Defenseless?”

  The sword lunged and stabbed, she jumped clear, but he parried with quick slices that could have cut her in half had she been in the same place.

  “Enough!” She called forth water, her energy source. Healing waters flowed from her fingers. She let them drip to her feet. Then as if to dry her hands, she flicked her fingers toward him, water droplets sprayed over him, dripping down his legs to his feet.

  “That’s it? That’s all you can do?” He laughed, then jumped at her, determined to take her out. But every step he took, the water deepened, splashing over his feet.

  She remained dry several feet away as water swirled around his ankles. He struggled forward. With each step, the water crept higher to his knees and then mid-t
highs. He stopped and stared downward before assessing the puddle that stopped short at her feet. “This isn’t fighting. This is sorcery. Fight, damn you.”

  She stared at him in astonishment. “You challenge me—a Priestess. It is you who have always doubted what was before your eyes. You who saw only the riches to be had…any way you could. Did you never once consider the power of the House of Sarlagon?”

  “Of course I did. Why do you think I bedded her? The House was mine by right.”

  “The House of Sarlagon is ruled by those of birth, by right of power. In my case, the power of water. You and your kind are rulers by right of might—only. The House would never accept you. As you found out eighteen years ago, did you not?”

  “You are naught but a useless woman, like your mother before you. I’ll bring you to your knees.”

  “A useless woman you abused and left for dead when you realized you couldn’t keep what you tried to steal. Her powers were stronger than yours. But it wasn’t her powers alone. Our House has power. Combined power of past rulers and those that have yet to come.”

  “The whore lies!” he roared. Flames spouted from his shoulders and weapon. Fire balls blasted toward her only to fizzle and drop as soon as they came close to her.

  “With that, you will die this night. For the abuse my mother suffered at your hands, for the abuse you heaped on your own son’s head, and for all those followers and slaves who had no recourse but to suffer at your hands.”

  Again, murmurs rose in the stands at her accusations. Ector’s abuse was legendary. Bronan had shared little of the abuse he’d suffered. He had made it clear his choice to head into council was to get away from his own father. The House would never be big enough for the two of them.

  “You know nothing.” He panted, slogging through the water. Sweat rolled off his face, but for all his effort, he never gained a step toward her. “You use trickery and wiles to get your way. Do you think I didn’t know about you and my son? Do you think I’d have let him have such a wealthy House for himself? No. That House is mine. You are mine. With you as my slave, the House will be mine. You will all know it by the end of this day.”

  “Except my House is not a prize, my family is not a toy for you to abuse.”

  Something shifted inside her. A queasiness took over. Heat filled her toes. Her feet spluttered between heat of the Awakening and the water pooling at her feet as her powers failed. Panic took over. Her time had come. She’d be vulnerable to him. Dangerously so. Her sandal-encased feet glowed with internal blue fire from the change. Flames spit and hissed. Heat surged outward, glowing from her feet into her ankles, and up her calves.

  “Bronan, help!”

  Silence echoed in her mind. Bronan wasn’t listening. A horrible emptiness filled her mind. “Bronan, where are you?”

  No answer. Could he hear her?

  She caught sight of his father’s face, twisted with anticipation – he knew. She couldn’t let him win. Quickly, she gathered the power in her fingers, only to have them spit and sizzle against the glowing heat rapidly overtaking her body.

  Ector laughed, nasty mocking sounds that chilled her to the bone. “Do you think I’d let something so rich as tonight’s prize be left to chance? This is prime. You will be mine. I will have it all.”

  “And Bronan, is he part of this too?” Her body twisted with heat as the change crept through her very skin. She hadn’t expected this. The pain, the fire, the weakness. There’d been no teachings available. Little information to learn from.

  But Ector had known.

  “Him? Not likely. He’s too weak for this work.”

  Lightning shot through her, arching her back, exposing her chest and stomach to him.

  He reached out with his sword and with a battle cry, he plunged the sword through her body.

  She cried out as heat met ice, fire met water, and the agony of his sword thrust met the joy of her Awakening.

  “Father. Stop. You can’t take advantage of her in this state. We, the council, won’t allow it.” Bronan faced his father.

  “You already allowed it. She’s mine.” He cried out in triumph as he stabbed her again and again.

  Riana cried with each slice but with the chaos inside her body, her mind, she couldn’t tell what part of the agony was Ector’s doing and what was from the Awakening. Physical and spiritual warred for dominance. The steel entered but it was as if her body parted for it, then closed when it was withdrawn.

  Dozens of elders surrounded them. None were big enough to stop the large warrior and his flame sword. “We have stopped the challenge,” one cried out in protest.

  Ector ‘s maniacal laugh slashed through the air. “You may have, but I have not. You gave me the right. I will have this.”

  “You did not speak the truth about the challenge. You used lies and treachery to bring this challenge about.”

  “I used what I needed to use. I will win.” The sword entered her body once more. This time it sank just below her ribcage and surged upward. “Why has she not fallen?” Ector’s triumph twisted to frustrated fury. “Why has she not died?”

  “She cannot. The Awakening is on her. She cannot respond in any way. But neither can your blade kill her this way.” Bronan’s voice was dim, but she heard him nonetheless. Through the chaos swirling through her body, she could almost hear Ector’s threat.

  “Then I’ll chop off her head.” He raised his sword high above his head. “That will do it.”

  “No!” Cries poured from the crowd.

  Unable to control what went on around her or in her, Riana could only watch helplessly as Bronan tried to stop his father. She didn’t want to see what happened next, but the Gods weren’t so merciful. Instead, she saw Bronan lift his hand to stay his father’s hand. When he refused, lightning bolts shot from his palms, striking his father with enough force to send him stumbling back several steps.

  “You dare turn on your sire?”

  “I am one of the council. My role is to preserve the sanctity of the challenge.”

  “She is your whore, is she? Well, I’ll teach you to interfere. Just try to take what’s mine.”

  Riana shuddered. She needed to help Bronan. He couldn’t kill his sire. He’d be banned from council for such an act. The council was his life.

  “No, you are. My father cannot be allowed to hurt you. He’s already defied the sanctity of the council and must be punished.”

  Not quite what she wanted to hear, but she understood the love and caring in his voice. Then her body righted itself. From a backward arch hanging helpless in the air, she straightened before being gently lowered to the ground.

  “I’ll teach you to defy me.” Ector lifted his sword and, in his fury, plunged the blade into Bronan’s chest.

  No!

  Ector laughed. “Now I don’t have to worry about taking care of you later.” He faced Riana.

  She focused on Bronan. “Bronan, listen to me. I can help you. Hang on. Link into my mind and stay there. Do you hear me?”

  “I cannot. I am too weak.” His whisper slid out with the last of his energy.

  “You can. Now.” She switched to mind-speaking even as the power of the Awakening calmed down inside of her. “Bronan, speak to me.”

  “I’m here. Watch out for my father. He has even less honor than I’d suspected.” Bronan’s voice wove through her mind, hitching in pain, weakening toward the end.

  “He has none. Never did.” She straightened, feeling power surge through her body. Instead of blood, a hurricane whistled through her veins, cleansing, powerful – freeing.

  She turned to face Ector, waited until he look her in the eye, then she flicked water from her fingertips toward him again. Water slammed into his chest, picking him up off his feet and slamming him to the ground.

  “Remember me, Ector. The woman you stabbed several times in an attempt to finish off your nasty deceitful scheme. I didn’t die. I won’t die by your hand. Not now and not ever. I am the Priestess of Sarl
agon.” She opened her arms and shouted her identity to the council. “I have been cheated and lied to. The council has been lied to and deceived. Do I kill this traitor to our ways?” She flicked her fingers again; water slammed harder into Ector, wrapping around his chest. By raising her hand slowly upward, she lifted him off the ground to hang suspended, helpless in front of her. “Shall I spear him with his own sword? What do you wish me to do with him?”

  Council guards came running. She watched them, her eyes glowing with icy heat. “I have no wish to kill. As a healer at my level, it is not right. I need to heal Bronan, but can’t trust this liar.”

  The same elder that had spoken earlier stepped forward. “Mistress, he will be taken to the dungeons and locked there until the tide comes in. Should he survive the tide of this night, he will be left until the next and the next. In this way, the water will do the job for you.”

  She glared with hard eyes at the man who tortured her family. Then she tossed him casually off to one side. “So be it.” Guards rushed to secure Ector.

  *

  Riana dropped to the ground at Bronan’s side. He lived. She could feel him inside her mind. Not strong enough to speak, but there, pulsing away strongly, letting her know he lived.

  Placing her hand on his chest, she sighed gently, letting the mist from her lips bathe him with her energy, her warmth, her love. Her essence slipped down his throat to the damaged organs, filling him with the healing of her love. A powerful energy that cured everything it touched. Soothing warmth bathed him from the inside out.

  She knew with her new powers, she would reach across death’s door and drag him back to her.

  Using water to support him, she cradled his injured body in the healing waters of natural hot springs. Small waves churned beneath, around and over him, bathing and cleansing his wounds. As her energy surged through his body, slices slowly closed, stitching muscles to tendons, and tendons to bones. Color returned to his skin, his breathing easing as muscles loosened and strengthened.