“I can put one to yours again,” the priestess hissed.
“You assaulted his guards, his court mage. He signed warrants for your arrest. Your crimes demand execution. I have his writ empowering me.”
“To come kill me?” Chaun demanded. “I saved your life, Bebhinn. Those brigands would have killed you if I hadn’t befuddled them with my song.”
“I repaid you,” I said, but it didn’t feel enough. One little trunk that could hold as much space as possible.
He shook his head.
“I…I…” Tears fell down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe how greedy I was. I wanted that bounty so much. I could live the rest of my life in comfort. No more traveling poor amusing villagers with simple tricks and giving them fortunes. I could settle down and forget…
The pain ached my heart. I would never see my twin sister again.
“I’m sorry, Chaun.” Tears fell down my cheeks. “I… I just… It was…” What good excuse was there? “You were criminals. I…I probably wasn’t going to hurt you, Chaun.”
“But the rest of us?” Angela demanded. “You would have killed us. Even though we stole from the Doge to slay the Dragon Dominari. We just wanted the piece of the High King’s sword. We’re reforging it. And then we’ll slay the most dangerous dragon in the world. That’s worth the Doge loosing a few baubles and being embarrassed.”
I closed my jaws, flinching from all their hard gazes. They were going to kill me.
“Too dangerous to let go,” Thrak growled. “We should just get it over with.”
I flinched, staring at Chaun, begging him. “P-Please. I…I…”
“There’s nothing she can say or do that would convince me she won’t try again,” Minx said, anger in her voice.
“No, she deserves a second chance,” Xera objected. “Angela, you can’t just kill her. We captured her. She surrendered.”
“There’s a way,” Chaun said. “Though why I should save your life again, Bebhinn…?”
Hope surged. More tears fell as I stared at Chaun.
“How?” Faoril asked. “Her magic is formidable. She’s a twinborn witch of the Tuathan. Fairy blood is in her veins.”
I blinked at that.
“I can hypnotize her,” Chaun said, moving closer. “But only if she is willing.”
“I’ll be willing,” I quickly said. “I’m sorry. I am. I thought you were criminals and… I was just trying to support myself. And…” Their glares were all angry. I shut my mouth.
“And she won’t be a problem?” Angela asked.
Chaun shook his head. “No.”
“Do it.”
Chaun cupped my tear-stained cheeks. I stared into his violet eyes as he sang. It was wordless and enchanting. The words spilled around me. My mind’s focus sharpened on Chaun’s eyes, on his words. I could feel them pouring into my mind, serenading me. A part of me wanted to rebel, to throw them out, but I grit my teeth.
I did not fight as…
I blinked, shaking my head. No one was where they should be. Only a heartbeat had passed. Right? The rest stood up from the fire, giving Chaun questioning looks. He let out a weary sigh and stepped back. Confusion gripped me.
“How long?” I asked.
“An hour,” Minx said. “Soooo long.”
“Well?” Angela asked.
“She won’t hurt us,” Chaun said. “She can’t.”
I opened my mouth to say something and realized… I didn’t want to hurt any of them. Just the idea twisted my stomach and made me break out in a cold sweat. It was horrifying even to contemplate it. Only a terrible person would hurt these wonderful people.
“I won’t,” I said. “You’re all so important and special.”
“Then go,” Angela said. “You’re free, witch.”
The magic holding me released. I summoned my spirits and let them carry me away. I needed to find a new life. Bounty hunting was just too dangerous, too hard. I almost killed people that were special, important.
Thank the gods they defeated me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aurora Xandra
“I think that’s it,” Faoril said as the foreboding, stone ruin reared out of the forest, its walls made of dark stone. Vibrant green vines with wide, spade-like leaves crawled up the walls, breaking apart the stone. Purple blushed the center of the leaves, matching the shade of the flowers dotting the foliage. They contrasted with the dark, weather-pitted stone something so alive against something so dead. “Drakin Castle.”
Minx snorted. “You think? Of course it is. Look at the place.”
I swallowed, shivering at it. We had finally found it. Eight days of traveling deeper and deeper into the woods since the werewolf attack and we had arrived. A shiver ran through me. I wanted to turn into a bird and fly away.
But Chaun and the others would need me.
He took my hand, giving it a squeeze as Xera and Minx ghosted ahead to scout the ruins. The final piece of the sword was inside. Angela drew her sword and Faoril downed a vial of cum. Thrak stretched his back before unlimbering his ax.
“Wonder what horrors have been breeding in there,” Minx muttered.
I nodded my head in agreement.
To be continued…