Promise of a Sorceress

by G S Santos

  "I have not touched you in my life, much less my horse."

  "I remember you! You came that day! And now you say you have nothing to do? Neither are we idiots!"

  "I am Édoard Siwelzac, son of Galiam Siwelzac and heir to Siwelzac County. But I'm not a torturer nor a mobster!"

  "What are you talking about, you idiot?" Kaunas lifted up his father's sword, which shone by the fire. The two guards responded by unsheathing, but Édoard lifted his left arm and they held their weapons. "Beware of challenging people, Varunas!"

  "What do you expect after what you have done to us?"

  Kaunas had never felt this way. Part of it was the alcohol in his veins, but he was willing to give it all, to die if necessary. He cared nothing, neither Adelphine nor the servants, he only wanted his revenge.

  But dying was not worth it.

  Édoard stepped forward in front of Kaunas. He remembered the day his father died, and swallowed.

  Édoard looked at him from above, his face serious under the flaming torch.

  "I understand you, Varunas, but I come to bargain." He turned and looked at the two guards. "Algridas, Bogdan, leave me a few minutes. I'll talk to this man."

  The two riders stood motionless, as if they had not heard his words.

  "What are you waiting for?" Édoard snapped at them.

  "We have orders, sir."

  "I am Siwelzac! You obey my orders!" He stepped forward on the horse and looked at one of the soldiers face to face. "Who do you think you are?"

  "We cannot leave him alone, sir," the soldier replied.

  "A few minutes!"

  "Sir," said the other. "We have express orders not to leave him alone with you and to listen to everything he says."

  Édoard looked at them. "All right."

  "What do you want, Siwelzac?" Kaunas crossed his arms and frowned at him without hiding a hint of rage.

  "First," he looked into his eyes, "my father has a message for you. You have no permission to plant wheat."

  "What does that have to do with anything? It is my land and I sow what I want."

  "Are you planning to sell it? We have our wheat producers and this is not within the production plan."

  "What's the point of that?" If there is more wheat, it is better for you. Is it not? Besides, if we sold it, all the tribute would be for you."

  "That's what my father says."

  "Does it make any sense?"

  "These are my father's orders. Remember that you are his vassals."

  "And what do you want us to do?"

  "You had to ask permission before planting..."

  "It's absurd! Since when do I need permission to plant what I want for myself, for my people? And since when can they tell us what to do and what not to do?"

  "You are in vassalage. You must obey your master. In this case, he is my father, so please, for the nobility of his house in the past, obey your master."

  Kaunas frowned.

  "Besides." He changed the subject, but it still sounded as if he spoke reluctantly. "You were not allowed to hire staff, especially if they had a debt. That…according to my father, implies that they have savings somewhere and are paying even though they have not paid their debt. I remind you that the price you must pay in a month could have started in smaller payments."

  "This is what you see here: the wall, the labor, the materials, and the grain. It is not coming from me, nor my sister, nor my father's savings. It is the help of a traveler. He is helping us."

  "Who is it?"

  "Don’t you know? He is a gentleman close to the king. He lives in Wodania... His name is Edelwulf Van Preussen."

  "I do not know him."

  "If necessary, I will appeal to the king. And with this, we intend to pay both the debt and the taxes. That way we are all satisfied. This is the only thing we can do, we will pay the quotas in time... But you must let us build and feed these workers. Be reasonable, please."

  Édoard took a deep breath and looked at Kaunas. "Yes. All right, but know that King Jogälion knows the situation well and approves of my father's actions."

  "Because they're based on lies! We did not get a penny out of that ship! Understand that he got lost!"

  Édoard looked confused. "But you could not justify its loss."

  "That's right, you can ask the customs!"

  "Do not make things harder, please. You already agreed to pay. On the rest, on the workers and the source of all this, I will speak with my father."

  Kaunas bit his lip and nodded.

  "There's something else. My father stated that if they do not comply with this within the next few months, he has the legal power to take the castle, which is now under his jurisdiction, as property."

  "What?" Kaunas took a step forward, his fists clenched. "That's outrageous! This castle has been standing for generations, it is the legacy of my ancestors. You cannot take it from us!"

  "I'm sure my father will give you some accommodation and work..."

  "I do not think you know your father."

  "Believe me, I know him well," he sighed. "And I know how it is, but understand that I want to do my best to change things."

  Suddenly the two soldiers looked at each other in shock. Édoard seemed to hesitate. He swallowed and cleared his throat.

  "I, Édoard Siwelzac... I promise we will not harm you or your house...and I will not allow you or your sister to be hurt. But the cards are already on the table. Fulfill your promise. I'll talk to my father and explain your situation."

  The bodyguards seemed to be about to fall from their horses. They looked at each other and shook their heads.

  "Good." He looked at the two bodyguards and seemed to hide eye contact. "We will."

  The horses snorted, he turned and galloped off. One of the riders followed, but the other looked at Kaunas and smiled, spurred the horse, and raised two hands.

  "Do not think we're going to be merciful." He laughed and rode in the dark of night.

  Kaunas coughed and lay back on the grass. He looked at the workers around him, their faces cold. He feared that they would leave him alone. But how could he blame them? He stood up again.

  "Comrades." He addressed them with a word he had never used. "It's up to you. Van Preussen is your master, and he pays you; with me, you have no responsibility, but I ask you, please, do as you will... Tell me if you go or if you stay."

  Tome took a step forward. His blond beard glowed beside the flames. "I have not come from the deepest South to flee. Van Preussen trusted you, and I trust him. I will be loyal to him, and to you, Kaunas, Duke of Varunas."

  "I'm not a duke..."

  "Justice calls, and calls for it to be who it must be again. I know what you've been through, I know how these men have played dirty, and showed who is lacking in honor. It is clear for all to see, and I'm proud to rebuild this land for you."

  "Well... Thank you." Kaunas smiled like a fool.

  "Yes." Another of the workers, Dobron of Katovic, raised the shovel in his hand. "Hail the Duke of Varunas! Down with Siwelzac, the usurper!"

  "Save the Marquis of Varunas!" they all repeated.

  Kaunas felt pure energy flow through his veins. He held up his sword. So that was the desire for justice that had filled Adelphine's head. He felt he was willing to fight, but the situation was hard. He wish Édoard could help.

  "What a strange fellow," he heard Wil's voice behind him. “Those Siwelzac are freaks."

  "Do you think he was not sincere?"

  "Well, I do not know. And if he is, I do not think we'll see him again."

  "He's the heir..."

  "Well, it seems to me that Siwelzac's men have it short." He was sweating.

  "He's not a bad guy... But if he wanted to behave like a nobleman, he would not have let me have three horses on me while I was unarmed on this bridge."

  "Well... that's it. You have to train more."

  Chapter XIX:

  The glow

  Adelphine took a deep breath, when a wet,
painful, cold air struck her face. She sat on the floor, squeezed her coat to her arms, and shivered. Magzas was no longer at her side, though she had left her there. She remembered... She was going to meet her after sunset. But that morning, she felt she needed Tristan. Maybe she'd gotten too angry, while Tristan had never acted like a real jerk, even if he'd lent himself to the guilty jokes of the guards.

  She peered out of the tent, and the dense fog blurred her vision. Beyond, there were leaves red like flames, stained with the passing of autumn. She strolled through the camp, passed by his tent, and peeked through, but Tristan wasn’t there.

  "Looking for someone?" She heard his voice behind her back and smiled to herself.

  Tristan was sitting on a rock at the edge of the camp. He held a gray stone the size of a fish and waved it against a long knife. His brown hair looked darker, and his bright blue eyes contrasted against his pale skin. Paler than usual.

  "Tristan? Are you feeling better?" she said as she sat next to him. She stretched out her hand to hold his. It was warm.

  He smiled. "I feel worse when I'm lying down."

  "You do not look so good."

  "Don’t worry about that."

  She sighed. "Are you going hunting today?" Adelphine asked.

  "If I see something. For now, do you want to come and look for mushrooms?" Tristan said, not taking his eyes off the knife. "We can hunt any bug that walks around. I look forward to a good stew with mushroom sauce. Doesn’t just hearing it make you hungry?"

  "Mushrooms? Do they grow in this season?"

  "There are autumn mushrooms, and lichens. So we make the sauce I told you about..."

  "Oh, and you were not the man who survives with lichens in the woods?"

  "There's nothing like mushrooms and cheese sauce. And a man who has traveled knows food."

  "If you say so."

  "Come on." Tristan leaned on one leg and rose to his feet with a sigh.

  "Have you ever been here?" Adelphine asked.

  "A couple of times."

  Adelphine stood up. On the other side of the carriage, Klaus and the old Wilthers set up a kind of tripod, with a long pole at the top.

  "Tristan..."

  Tristan turned to look at him, his eyes penetrating and his pupils dilated.

  Adelphine sighed. She looked at him and felt a warmth inside her. "Thank you for saving me."

  "Do not mention it," Tristan said, not looking at her, advancing through the shadows.

  Suddenly, Adelphine remembered that she had pending business.

  "Oh! Wait a moment, Tristan. I must return to the camp. I will get back to you, okay?"

  "What is it?" He raised an eyebrow.

  "I have to talk to Magzas."

  "With Magzas? Wait..." Adelphine felt his hand rest on her shoulder. She turned, eyes wide. Tristan's eyes fixed on her, big and blue like the summer sky. Sweet and dangerous. "Be careful," he said.

  His eyes were too beautiful. She felt a warmth inside her body, and her heart pounded sweetly. Adelphine felt she was losing control. She looked at Tristan's chiseled lips.

  He seemed to understand her desire and approached until she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. Adelphine closed her eyes. Their lips touched softly, humid and tender.

  She was speechless. Their hands were clasped together, warm like a furnace amid the winter. Their lips touched again, this time, tightly, and she felt her love blossom like a flower. Then, it stopped.

  Tristan looked at her from above, his forehead pressed lightly against hers.

  "I have to go," she said, standing up, releasing her hand, and rushing to the forest.

  Why had she stopped? Was she afraid? Was it dangerous? She sighed, dazzled. That had been the best day of her life. It seemed that Tristan had spoken to her mind. She would go back to him, and get the rest.

  Adelphine sighed. She ran back to the camp where there was another campfire and the Varganians boiled roots. Wilthers and Klaus had disappeared.

  "Magzas?" she said, tucking her head into the tent. But the blanket where she had lay down was empty. Adelphine straightened her body, fearing that Magzas would not have expected her. She glanced around, and when she did not find her, she ran into the forest where she had seen her for the last time.

  "Magzas!" she shouted. Her echo rang through the wide, red valley. She walked to the thick forest of pine while a strong wind blew, sending chills up her spine and a rain of dry leaves.

  Where had that woman gone? Maybe it would be best to go back to Tristan. She yearned for another kiss. She slowed down her pace and dashed through the evergreen trees, with the passage between them becoming as narrow as a bird's nest.

  "Tristan! Magzas?"

  Where had those two gone? No, she did not want to go back to the tent. The wind blew again, rocked the leaves, and ripped them off as if undressing them. Then she found a stone wall that doubled in size, with small bushes springing up from its side, above which the forest stretched further.

  Suddenly she heard something crawling behind her, not fast as a wild boar, but slow as a preying wolf.

  She turned slowly, and what she saw made her scream and step back.

  From the ground stared a pale figure, crouching as if a predator, its shape vaguely female, but dreary and lifeless, white hair scattered on the floor and ribs ripping through her bony body.

  Adelphine took another step back, ready to run, but that creature lunged at her quickly. Adelphine covered her head and felt its bony hands grasp her neck and squeeze, sinking thick nails into her skin. The skin peeled, and she felt blood come out. Her throat croaked. She was losing air.

  She clenched her teeth and raised her hands to push the creature. It was as cold as ice.

  She wanted to call Tristan, but her cries were cut with her throat pressed. She fought for air and knocked. "M-a-gzas...!"

  Adelphine suddenly thrust her hip to the side. She rolled on the ground, and the creature fell to the ground in front of her. Adelphine jumped onto the rocks in front of her and began to climb through the bushes and rocks.

  The creature jumped and grabbed Adelphine's ankle again. She turned and kicked the creature in the face. It released her for a moment.

  "Help!" she shouted with all her strength. Adelphine managed to climb up the stone wall and leaped toward it. She kept climbing uphill. She looked back as the creature was reaching for her again. She knew she could not run. Adelphine's heart was pounding. "Tristan! Magzas!"

  Adelphine rushed uphill, her body tired and gasping for air. Then, she encountered the long skirts of a woman, and she looked up. The sun was shining, wrapping the figure, but she could see she had long and dark hair. It was Magzas.

  "Help me, my friend!" Adelphine shouted.

  Magzas stepped forward. She held out her right hand, palm open. The creature jumped up toward them and stopped halfway, as if struck by a wall.

  Adelphine wrapped her arms around Magzas' legs. She trembled, wishing to know how to defend herself.

  "Stay calm." Magzas's voice was soft as wool. "And close your eyes."

  The creature moaned and gnashed its teeth, its skin cracked to dust, which spilled over the earth and was scattered by the wind.

  Adelphine gasped, her heart still throbbing a thousand beats an hour. She looked at Magzas, who grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet.

  "What was that?" Adelphine hugged her, panting like a dog.

  "A spirit of fear," Magzas said.

  "How lucky I found you." Adelphine held her tightly in her arms. "I thank you so much... You saved me."

  "Do not worry, I'm glad you found me. I have something to show you."

  "I was looking for you. Tell me, is it not coming again? Are they not coming anymore? Please tell me," Adelphine said.

  "Do not worry about it. Don’t panic. We can face them together."

  Adelphine sighed.

  Magzas narrowed her eyes. "I have to show you something."

  "Yes." Adelphine smiled. "What is it
?"

  "I heard a shining."

  "A shining?" What's that? Isn’t a shining something that is seen and not heard?" Adelphine raised an eyebrow.

  "Sometimes you feel like you have to go somewhere. Or you end up in that place for some reason. And when that happens, you usually meet them." She pointed to where the creature had dissolved. “You are chased by spirits who do not want you to discover the secret."

  Adelphine sighed.

  "That's what I wanted to talk to you about, too." Magzas said. "There's something I must tell someone... And I cannot help but trust you."

  Adelphine felt that Magzas could always understand her. Even before she spoke. She seemed to read her mind.

  "Don’t you read your mind by chance?" said Adelphine.

  Magzas laughed. "I wish," she said.

  "Good." Adelpine cleared her throat. "Here it goes: I have no power, nor talent."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I... I'm here because someone did me a favor. I do not know if it was a favor. But I wanted to be part of the expedition as it was. The truth is... I've never found a treasure in my life. I have never spoken with a spirit. I've never done anything magical, really. But I’ve tried."

  She stared at the floor.

  Magzas shook her head. "I do not know what you're talking about,"

  "Seriously." Adelphine sighed as if defeated. "I do not have an inch of magic in me. I tried, but I'm no good at it. Instead...you...you do have magic, my friend."

  "You know that?" Magzas smiled. "Forget it. You do not have to worry about that. I'll take care of it. Your secret is safe with me. In addition, this will thrill you. This is truly magical."

  Adelphine raised both eyebrows.

  "This is the glow," she said, guiding her toward a ravine. She leaned back and slowly descended.

  Adelphine carefully followed her through the piles of stones. Below was another clearing, stones covered with lichens and dying ferns. A dark cave stood, small and mysterious.

  "Here it is," Magzas whispered. "I want you to be the first to see it... I did not go in there. Not yet. It will be for you."

  "Me?" Adelphine opened her eyes wide.

  "Trust me." Magzas winked at her.

  Adelphine swallowed, knelt, and entered the small cave. A dry, cold darkness enveloped her. As she crawled forward, her surroundings seemed to shine in a glittering, blue glow. Adelphine stopped in the middle of the cave and pinched herself. She let out a moan. It was happening. It was not a dream. It was not an illusion. There it was, what she had been called for, that she felt she could never achieve.