IV


Once the Cross was securely wrapped to transported the four people made their way back up the treacherous steps. Brother Cade held the Cross close and the Monsignor led the way up with the torch.

Once at the top of the stars the three companions readied themselves to leave. Brother Cade had few possessions he needed and Emma went down to the kitchen to collect a few provisions -- bread, cheese, and a few sweet meats that would last for a while. Alyssia was studying her maps, trying to plan out the best route of travel to find the next artifact on the list.
  
Suddenly, the Monsignor fell to his knees and began screaming. He clutched his head, hands over his ears as if trying to drown out some unbearable noise.

“Sir? Sir please…” Ally was at his side in an instant. “What’s wrong? What can I do?”

Monks came running at the sound at their leader in pain and Emmalee was in their ranks. But Brother Cade held the younger girl back, keeping her away from the growing circle around the Monsignor.

The man tried to catch his breath and began to push back the pain that had infiltrated his body. “There’s pain and death,” he breathed out between clenched teeth. “There is death in the ranks of our brothers to the west…”

“Brothers to the west?” Ally questioned. “The House of the Setting Sun?”

“They were attacked,” the Monsignor told her. “Their leader… he used his last bit of strength to send me… give us this message….”

“What message?” one of the monks pressed.

“The Healing Stone they guard has been taken,” the man said sadly. “I saw her take it… A brown skinned witch attacked them and took the stone.”

“And they didn’t fight back?” Emma asked. “Are they not trained in self defense?”

“Basic self defense, yes,” Brother Cade replied. “But that is the extent of our physical training. We train our minds to ascend and overcome. We do not use physical force to subdue others. Nor do we study magic.”

“Is this witch a minion of Thorsteinsson?” Ally asked.

“I do not know,” the Monsignor said. “But no one has tried to steal any of the artifacts before now so it is possible.”

“Did your brother… Did he give you anything that might help us identify this particular witch?” Ally asked hesitantly.

The Monsignor slowly got to his feet. “She looked like a swamp witch and if she had power to breach the mental shields of The House she must be powerful.”

Emma shifted from foot to foot. “Stronger then Ally?”

“Emma, you know that dark magic and light magic can’t be compared,” Ally said. “They are conflicting forces and yet a part of each other. I won’t know who has more power until I find this witch.”

“And find her we must,” Brother Cade said.

***

Alyssia led the way into the swamp and the other two followed. They had left quickly and rode almost nonstop for most of they day. Emma was falling asleep in her saddle and Ally had to force he eyes open. Brother Cade had suggested taking a break so that the girls could sleep, but Ally had insisted they pressed on.

She feared making camp for any given length of time. For one, they had the Cross in their possession. And second, Brother Cade would not be a strong enough guard for a night time camp, let alone a day time one. There was a third reason as well, but Ally didn’t want to frighten Emmalee is her suspicions were correct.

The mage suspected that their group was being followed, tracked despite some cleaver ploys on her part to hide their trail. Not wanting to leave a psychic scent, Ally had implemented some non magical tactics, like accidentally misreading the map so that they traveled in circles. And, whenever she could, she insisted the three try to make their horses tread in each other’s foot prints.

If either of the other two had caught on they hadn’t voiced their opinions on the matter. Ally knew that Emma had been taught to never question her superiors in a critical situation and that Brother Cade considered her in charge of the mission, so those were the logical reasons she was able to keep up the façade.

But now they were in the swamp and tired, not a good combination at all. Emma had done a little research during the quick breaks on some of the witches that were listed in the tome that Master Gwydion had given Alyssia.

There was one old and powerful witch, named Hazina, who was know to live in the swamp lands, more towards the western side of the kingdom. Her specialty was alchemy magic and crystal manipulation.

Ally knew that any spell she could cast to protect them would draw their  stalker closer but if this witch killed innocent monks in cold blood… There was the option of letting Emma cast the spell but if she wasn’t strong enough to hold back the witch it could be disaster.

“I have to cast a spell,” Ally said. “Until I know the strength of the witch we’re dealing with I can’t afford to take chances.”

“Which spell?” Emma asked. “Full or partial protection?”

“I’m afraid I have to draw out the ritual and cast a full protection spell,” Ally told her. “I just hope I can concentrate enough to do it.”

Moving quickly and with practiced expertise Ally pulled things from her horse’s saddlebags. Some she handed to Emma and others she laid in the grass. Emma took the four white candles and set them in a loose circle so that each were in one of the four quadrants.  Ally moved around the circle laying down other things in each space: a sacred rock in the north, a dove’s feather in the east, a red candle in the south, and a bowl filled with fresh water from her canteen in the west.

Emma gestured for Brother Cade to stand with her and the horses back away from the circle so that Ally could concentrate. Using a simple spell Ally created a flicker of fire and lit the red candle. Then, starting in the north, she moved clockwise and lit the four other candles.

Then the mage unsheathed her dagger. Raising it to the sky she began to speak. “Mother goddess, hear my call. I invoke your name and your will to close this circle. I cast it with my own blood, a willing sacrifice to you.”

Pricking her finger, Ally allowed her blood to drip onto the ground. She began walking the inner perimeter of the circle again, drawing its border more clearly. But she never got to close it fully.

A woman’s shriek split the air and a wave of green mist hit Brother Cade in the chest. Emma cried out as the monk toppled over, howling in pain. Ally looked up in time to see a dark skinned woman with wild brown eyes fly at her.

Ally was knocked to the ground as the second woman wrestled the mage into a submissive position. Ally fought back but the witch was physically stronger, her grip aided by the magic pouring off of her.

She dug her nails into Ally’s cheeks, forcing the mage to look into her face. “Little Mage you have failed.” Hazina hissed out. “Your circle was not cast and now I will give the Master two artifacts instead of one.”

Ally fought to get one of her hands free and conjured the fire as quickly as she could. Hazina screamed as the glowing embers were rubbed into her face. Ally wrenched herself free and turned to see Brother Cade -- lifeless on the ground. But where was Emmalee? Ally looked to the failed circle and saw Emma holding her lost dagger.

The young apprentice stood in the north quadrant of the circle, bleeding from the palm, shaking, and breathing heavily. A faint circle pulsed around her -- the aura that only appeared when a circle was correctly cast.

“My will is yours, my goddess,” she called out, her voice finally audible to the others.

The sound of hoof beats were suddenly filling the area, growing louder as they got
closer. Hazina began to laugh from her place on the ground. Emma and Ally both looked up, fear evident in their gazes.

“Cast the protection charm,” Ally yelled.

“It is too late,” Hazina cackled. “He comes. The master comes and he will destroy you.”