by Jenny McKane
“Is this your real form?” asked Avalon, slowly.
The witch nodded. “Yes, it is the one I prefer,” she said. “Beauty can work as well as anything else. You would be surprised how many men will trust me and not try to harm me because of it. But then, that is something that you would be familiar with, Avalon. You are a beautiful woman. It is one of the reasons that Skyresh didn’t kill you when he first encountered you.”
“What is your name?” asked Avalon. “Or are you simply known as the Black Witch?”
The witch laughed. “I have a name, but you will never know it. No one does. You can call me the Black Witch, if you like. It is as good as anything.”
“How can you sleep at night?” whispered Avalon, staring at her with hatred. “Knowing that you cause such suffering? Knowing that you are the cause of all this?”
The witch laughed softly. “I am content,” she said, smiling. “Power is very seductive, Avalon. Once you sip from the cup, it becomes addictive. You have power within you. It is untrained, but it is there. You could work alongside me and feel your powers become so mighty you would rival the Goddess herself. I could teach you.”
Avalon laughed. “Become your apprentice in the dark magic?”
The witch nodded. “The offer is there,” she said slowly. “I will let you ponder it. Either you join forces with me, or I will kill you. It is that simple, really.”
She walked to the door and hummed softly. A large creature walked in. It looked like a cross between a wolf and a lion, with short white fur and black spots all over it. Its tongue lolled out of its mouth, making it look like it was laughing.
“This is Aberfa,” said the witch, smiling. “She will guard you. Make no mistake, Avalon. She can crush your skull with her mouth, and she will have no hesitation doing so if she thinks that is required. I have made her jaws strong for this purpose.” She reached down and petted the creature. “She and her kind will make excellent guards in Agnoria when the time comes.”
“And when exactly will that be?” Avalon held her breath.
The witch smiled. “I am not going to tell you my strategy,” she said. “Unless, of course, you decide to join me. Then, you will be privy to it all. But do not think that you can deceive me, Avalon. I will know if you are true in your heart. You cannot pretend to change sides. It must be genuine.”
Avalon was silent. The witch smiled, then turned to the creature.
“Aberfa, guard her,” she said, and then she walked out of the room.
The creature walked in and sat on its back legs, staring at Avalon. Its tongue still lolled out of its mouth, but its eyes were filled with a malevolent energy.
Avalon felt chills all over. She looked away quickly. What was she going to do?
***
The creature didn’t stop looking at her even for a moment. Avalon could see why the witch had said that it would make an excellent guard. It had definitely been created solely for that purpose.
Could she try to talk to it? Like she had with the rabbits?
“You must be tired,” she said, gazing at it. “You can lie down if you want. I am obviously going nowhere.”
The creature growled low in its throat and didn’t move. Its eyes bored into hers.
“I am going to lie down,” said Avalon. “I have journeyed a long way, and I am tired. Will you let me?”
The creature was silent. Avalon slowly lay down on the cold stone floor and closed her eyes.
What was she going to do? She could try to take out the amulet and be ready for when the witch next walked into the room, but the creature would not take its eyes off her, and she knew that if she made any movement towards her pocket, it would lunge. She believed the witch when she said that the creature would kill her.
She needed advice. She had to try to talk to the Goddess and the Mothers again. Would they be able to come to her, in this dark place, which was filled with the malevolent energy of the witch?
She had to try, at least. She took a deep breath and pictured the Goddess in her mind…
She was still in this room. The creature was watching her. But in the corner, she could see the shape of the Goddess materializing slowly. She didn’t look like she normally did; she wasn’t surrounded by an aura of light, like when Avalon had visualized her in the rabbits’ burrow. She was blue: her skin, her hair, and her robe. And she was crying. Soft blue tears slid down her face.
“Goddess of Light,” Avalon implored. “Why do you cry?”
“I cry for you, my queen,” the Goddess answered. “You are at the center of the black web, and the spider circles you slowly.”
“Can you help me?” Avalon implored.
The Goddess continued to cry softly. And then, she transformed into the young queen, the one with long brown hair, the same as Avalon. The one who wore the garb of a warrior and had blue patterns painted on her face. Her mother. The one who had given birth to her and had suckled her at her breast.
Avalon gasped. Her mother had never appeared alone before. She was so close, she could almost reach out and touch her. She wanted to bury her face into the lap of the woman and cry. She wanted the woman to touch her head tenderly and stroke her hair.
“I am sorry, Avalon,” the warrior queen whispered. “I wish that I was beside you, and we could fight together.”
“Mother, what should I do?” Avalon cried. “I am untrained. The witch’s power is mighty.”
“Yes,” the queen nodded. “But she has a weakness. She has hinted it to you, although she didn’t realize. She takes many forms and is known by many names, but what is her real one?”
Avalon stared at her mother. “I don’t understand.”
Her mother sighed. “There is power in names. If I had been able to name you, it would have given you so much more, but it was never revealed to me. What is the witch’s name? If you find out, you can use it against her.”
“But, how?” Avalon cried.
Her mother was fading now. Avalon reached out, as if she could keep her with her by force, but it was too late. The image was dissolving…
She opened her eyes to see the creature looming over her. It wasn’t happy. It growled, deep in its throat. Drops of saliva fell on her face, and she could smell its sour breath.
Turn around and walk away, she commanded with her mind.
The creature looked confused, but it did, walking back to the place where it had just sat. It stared at her. Avalon felt a stab of triumph. Just having visualized the Goddess and her mother, even for a moment, had given her power. It probably would not work when the witch was in the room, but she could use it now.
Tell me the name of your mistress, she commanded in her mind, staring at the creature.
The creature whimpered and put its paws over its eyes. Avalon almost felt sorry for it. She could feel the conflict raging within it. It did not want to talk to her at all.
I do not know her name, it said reluctantly. It whimpered again.
Avalon sighed. Of course. How would it? If there was power in the witch’s name, she would not reveal it to anyone, or anything. So, how could she discover it?
Tell me the room where she practices her magic, she commanded, staring at the creature. She held her breath, waiting for the reply.
She will kill me, the creature implored.
I will protect you, Avalon said. I will free you. If only you tell me where the room is.
The creature whimpered again. It is through the maze—to the right. You will know it by the black candle which burns forever at the center.
Avalon got up slowly. The creature growled but did not move.
It stared at her with its black eyes. Who are you? How are you able to do this to me?
Avalon sighed. I am your liberator, she said. I have come to free you from her shackles. All the animals, including the new creatures, will be saved. But you must stay still and let me go. I promise you that you will not be harmed.
The creature continued to stare at her. If only that wer
e possible, it said.
Avalon swallowed. Should she have promised the creature? She did not know if she could save it, but she had no choice.
She turned and walked swiftly in the direction the creature had said. Her sword was still lying where it had been thrown on the floor; the witch was so confident that the creature would guard her, she hadn’t even bothered to remove it.
Avalon picked it up and held it in front of her, and then she ran swiftly through the maze.
***
It became darker and colder. She shivered, but she did not stop.
The creature had not lied to her. Suddenly, the room stood before her. She saw the black candle at the center, flickering in the breeze. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with old books. Her eyes flicked back to the table, at the center, where the candle burned. A large book was open upon it.
She approached it swiftly. It was filled with spells but written in a language that she was unfamiliar with. She sighed in frustration. She could take down every one of these books, searching for the witch’s name, but if they were all written in a strange language, what use was it? Especially since she had so little time.
She knew that the witch would be returning soon. She would see that Avalon was missing, and that the creature had let her go. Avalon had no doubt that she would kill the creature, and she felt sad. She didn’t want that to happen. The creature had only spoken to her through magic, but she felt its conflict about its life. Could she liberate it, as she had promised?
And then, suddenly, she heard her. The witch. She was in the next room, and she was chanting.
Avalon crept to the door, putting her ear upon it. Yes. It was definitely the witch speaking. But the words were unfamiliar to her. They were repeated in a looping pattern, with one at the center of it.
Avalon listened carefully. And then, she crept back into the room.
What could she do? Frustration overwhelmed her. She started taking down books at random, flicking through them. They were old and musty. She suppressed the urge to cough. Nothing. They were all written in the same unknown script.
Suddenly, she saw movement in the corner of her eye. There was a creature, sitting in the shadows. It was so dark, she couldn’t make it out at first. And then she gasped.
It was one of the rabbits from the burrow where she had been ensnared. She recognized it by the stump of its tail. It blinked at her but said nothing.
She gazed at it. Why are you here?
The rabbit blinked twice and twitched its nose. You could have killed us, it said. You probably should have. And yet, you didn’t. Why?
Avalon sighed. Because there was no need, she replied. I understood that you were compelled to do what you did.
The rabbit blinked again. She wouldn’t have cared, it said. She would have killed us regardless.
I am not like her, Avalon said. I ask you again, why are you here?
The rabbit crept out of the shadows. It approached her, sniffing furiously.
What is your name? she asked, softly.
I am Mair, said the rabbit. And you are my queen. What is it that you seek in the witch’s room? Maybe I can help.
Avalon reached down and gently stroked the rabbit, overcome with emotion. It had travelled all this way to help her because she had let it and its friends live. She could not let it down. She realized, fully and completely, what had been told to her.
The animals were allies. They were friends. They had just forgotten, or – in the case of the new creatures – they had never known.
I don’t know if you can help me, she said slowly. But thank you for coming. I am seeking the witch’s true name, but I cannot find it. The language in the books is unfamiliar, and I don’t even know if she has written it down anyway. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The rabbit blinked. She will not write it down, it said. But she will say it. It lies at the center of her power. I think that you may have heard it, just now.
Avalon gasped. Could she remember the words that had been spoken in the chant? There had been one that had been repeated. Could it be the word that she was seeking?
Suddenly, the black candle flickered violently. Avalon turned around. She could sense that the witch was standing behind her, waiting.
***
Skyresh opened his eyes, staring at the sun. It was so close, he felt like he could reach out and touch it.
The great eagle slept atop its egg, its great wings enfolding it gently. Skyresh studied it. It was the color of burnt embers: dark, but with flecks of gold shining through it. The creature’s massive beak was the same color as the shell of its egg: pure gold, which dazzled when the sunlight fell on it.
It moved in its sleep, enfolding the egg tighter. Skyresh pondered this. Could it be the key to his escape from his high prison?
He had been watching the bird for days, trying to find its weaknesses. It seemed to have none. It was powerful, soaring through the skies. Its beak and claws were deadly; he knew that they could kill him instantly.
He had become so desperate that he had contemplated throwing himself from the nest, when the bird was away, foraging for food. He had even crept to the edge of it and had become almost entranced at the thought. He could picture himself clearly falling through the air. He knew that he would surely die if he did, but the thought of freedom from his prison was intoxicating.
Yes, if he threw himself over the edge, there was no chance that he would live. The nest was perched high with swirling mist enveloping it. There were only sharp rocks below him. And if not, the eagle would surely spy his descent and swoop down from somewhere and grab him, mid-flight. Returning him to the nest.
Often, he was alone with the egg, when the eagle was out foraging for food. It grew larger every day. Sometimes, it would shudder where it lay, as if the creature within was guarding him, as well.
The eagle was awakening. It stretched out its great wings, almost hitting him in the face. He had to duck to avoid it. It stared at him, with its sharp yellow eyes. There seemed to be nothing behind them: no compassion or awareness. It did not care what happened to him. It was only following orders.
Where was Avalon now? He closed his eyes in despair. Had Aysus led her into a trap like this one, or had he killed her outright? His guilt at failing her and the mission was almost overwhelming. He fought hard to keep it at bay. He knew that it did not serve him; there was no use ruminating over what had happened. He needed to find a way to escape, and hopefully, find her.
The great eagle stretched its wings higher, and then it ascended into the air. Skyresh watched it for a moment, spellbound. It was truly magnificent. If only if were on the right side – it would be a powerful ally. He remembered Aysus’s story of the Goddess, riding one. What would it be like, soaring through the air, atop such a powerful creature?
He knew that the bird would be gone for at least an hour. He could see it, now, far off in the distance. It could travel miles quickly. He had time to enact his plan.
He crawled over to the egg. He had no idea how long it would be before it hatched, but it didn’t appear that it would be happening any time soon. Could he fit it into his bag and carefully climb down with it?
He knew that he wouldn’t get far by the time the eagle returned. It would find him, but if he had its egg, he would perhaps be able to bargain with it. It wouldn’t dare kill him while he had it within his grasp; the bird would be killing it, too. He knew that the great eagle treasured its egg. He had watched it sit atop it tenderly. It would make soft noises in its throat.
The egg was the eagle’s only weakness. But how great was the love that it held for it? The question was: would it sacrifice the egg to keep him imprisoned? Was its loyalty to the dark magic greater than its love of its offspring?
He would just have to take the chance. There was no alternative.
He picked it up. It was heavier than he had thought it would be; it would weigh him down, making his descent slower. He carefully placed it in his bag an
d hoisted it onto his back. He almost staggered underneath the weight, and then he steadied himself. He took a deep breath then started climbing over the rim of the nest.
The descent was slow and treacherous. He kept slipping on the rocks and had to work hard to reclaim his footing. Sweat ran down his back like a river. His breathing was so ragged, he could barely keep himself from passing out. The air was thinner up so high, and he wasn’t used to it.
The path is hard, but you must keep going.
He stopped, staring around. Where had the voice come from? It wasn’t a voice that he recognized at all. It had been a woman. Was it the Goddess, telling him that she was by his side?
The thought bolstered him, and he tackled the descent with renewed energy. He could see the rocks getting closer towards the bottom now. It was only a little further until he would be able to reach the sand again.
He had made it. He glanced up for a moment. All that he could see was the mist swirling at the top. The nest was not visible.
He broke out into a run. He could feel the egg inside his bag jiggling roughly. Would the movement cause it to hatch prematurely? He slowed down a bit at the thought. The last thing that he needed was a newborn creature attacking him.
But as the thought entered his head, he knew it was all for nothing anyway.
A large shadow had fallen onto the sand in front of him.
Chapter Fifteen
Avalon turned around slowly. Her heart was beating so violently in her chest she felt it sounding in her ears like the drumbeat of war.
Mair, the sweet rabbit who had come to help her, had hidden herself under a table in the corner. Avalon could almost feel the animal trembling in terror. Did the witch know that the rabbit was there? She must avoid looking where it hid at all costs. She didn’t know if she could bear to see the witch kill it.
