Chapter 35: Chapter Fourteen: The Testament of Shana MacArthur

The priest passed his sentence, not that anyone had expected otherwise, and stepped to the side. Delun stretched his shoulders, cracked his knuckles, and grabbed hold of the chain around the witch’s neck. 

“Hold brother, do not be too hasty,” the priest stopped him, “we have an honored guest, who proposed a more entertaining execution for this occasion.” 

Delun stared at him, dumbfounded, as the priest motioned for a contingent standing by the sidelines. 

“General Radbury was so kind as to grace us with his presence,” he said as a highly decorated officer stood beside them.

“Yes, it has been too long since I’ve witnessed an execution, besides this was my mother’s town, how could I not take the opportunity to visit,” the general said with a smile. 

“Uh, general sir, been a while,” Delun’s voice cracked slightly, “what, what method is the good priest talking about sir?”

“Delun, so you’re the executioner? Weren’t you on duty to guard Minister Bosk? Well anyhow that doesn’t matter, I think you’ll enjoy this boy,” he said with a laugh, “not all sins are equal would you not agree?” he said, waiting for Delun’s nod, “then should they not all be punished in proper measure?”

“And, um how sir, do you plan to punish this girl?” the sheriff stammered. 

“She is guilty of making water with witchcraft, wouldn’t it be ironic if she died by water?” he gave a nasty, prideful grin as he marveled at his own cleverness. 

“You don’t mean?” Delun’s didn’t even finish his question before the generals’ men brought a cistern of water onto the podium. Delun looked to Radbury, then to the cistern, and back to the general, “drowning sir?”

“Yes of course drowning, you nit!” he laughed and slapped the quivering man on his back, “just hold her head under until she stops wriggling.” 

Delun gulped, and slowly stepped forward, reluctantly dragging the witch along. He looked in the small pool, his face reflecting as the water rippled slightly. Lifting the girl up so her face would rise above the pool, he gripped the back of her head. Delun gazed out into the crowd, who cheered in anticipation, and gave a pleading look that I knew said ‘what do I do now?’

“Come now boy, hurry up and be done with it,” the priest urged.

He was petrified, his eyes darting around desperately to see the others, begging them to come up with a plan. 

“Oh for Goddess sake I’ll do it myself!” the general stomped over, and shoved the witch’s head into the water. 

She thrashed her body, water splashing violently as she tried to escape, Delun still motionless, watching the poor witch suffer. 

Suddenly the general stopped, as a loud noise proceeded the sight of a burst of wind pierced his shoulder. He looked and saw a small chunk of his shoulder, complete with his shoulder pad, blown off and spurting blood. Immediately his soldiers, as well as some local authorities swarmed the podium, their weapons drawn.

“What are you waiting for? Shoot them!” He demanded, yowling in pain.

“We don’t know where the bullet came from, sir,” one soldier responded. 

“Then shoot them all, let the Goddess take her own!” he screamed. 

With a moment’s hesitation they stood there, rifles pointed on the crowd. The air was silent, and an intense feeling burned in the people. The first soldier began to take fire, and panic ensued. The remaining soldiers fired into the crowd, as the people began to scatter. I stood still, allowing the chaos of fleeing townspeople to swirl around me, while I desperately looked to find my companions. 

Meanwhile the General barked at Delun, “hurry up you cowardice bastard, finish the job!” 

Unsure of what to do, Delun stood there, still holding the witches chain. He gritted his teeth, then shouted out, “Josiah, throw the damn bomb already!” 

A moment later a round object went flying towards the podium from the crowd, the soldiers seeing it, attempted to fire it out of the sky, only to aid in its successful detonation. The thick cloud of smoke billowed out, covering the podium in its blinding mist. 

“Shit, where’s Reli though,” I cursed, then threw myself into the fray. My body ached, my head felt as if it would burst as I forced myself into the smoke. I managed to knock out a soldier with the hilt of my revolver as I made my way to Delun. 

“Why aren’t you moving dumb ass?” I said pushing him to the side.

“I froze up, it happens,” he whined, “why aren’t you clearing us a path?” 

“No magic genius!” 

“Then use your gun!” he screamed.

“I don’t have real bullets,” I tried to grab the chain around the witch’s neck, but felt it burn my hands.

“What do you mean you don’t have real bullets? Then why even have a gun?” Delun took hold of the chains again.

“It’s an Arcana, you know, a focus,”

“No I do not know what the hell a focus is!” he argued.

“It helps me visualize the magic,” I answered.

A soldier heard us arguing and struck me with the butt of his rifle. I turned to him as he attempted to strike with his bayonet, but Delun sliced into his stomach with a sword. 

“Bout time you do something useful,” I wrestled the rifle from the dying soldier’s hands, and aimed at the nearest enemy’s back. I pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. 

“You have to prime it, their guns are outdated,” Delun told me, cutting into another soldier.

“What? How the hell do I do that?” I asked, frantically looking the gun over. 

“The lever over the trigger, you have to cock it!” he answered, blocking another foe's strike.

I pulled the lever forward and then back, and squeezed the trigger again, the bullet missing its target.

“I thought you knew how to use a gun!” Delun pushed the soldier back, and stabbed him in the gut.

“Again, magic, I haven’t fired a real gun since I was ten,” I stressed.

“What was that like thirty years ago?” he narrowly avoided a bayonet’s thrust, and kicked the attacker back.

“Ten, don’t make me shoot you!” 

“Hah like you can,” he teased, striking a soldier with his pommel. 

I cocked the gun again, and fired, crippling a man’s leg, “Told you I could do it!” I said cocking to fire the coup de grace. 

“Lucky shot,” Delun pushed another body off his sword, “we need to get out of here, this fog isn’t going to last forever.” 

I fired another bullet, cleaning the path forward, “this way,” I directed him down a side alley. 

“We’re going east, how will Josiah and Reli know where to look for us.”

“Who? The girls know where to meet, they’ll be fine,” I insisted, as the two of us lead the captured witch.

We ran through meandering streets, avoiding the many frightened townsfolk still running for their lives, coming out to a back alley. From there Delun guided us to a safe house, where Reli and Josie were waiting. 

Immediately on entering the door, Josie punched Delun hard in the jaw, “How dare you use that name!” she spat, “and also, what the hell was that?”

Rubbing his sore chin Delun laughed, “we succeeded though.”

“Miz Shana, I’m so grateful to see you’re alright,” Reli rushed to hug me.

“Hey of course I am, going to take more than some grubby soldiers to stop me,” I said, cockily. 

“I know you’re having a moment, but can someone get these damn things off me?” the witch interrupted. 

“Of course!” Josie crouched down and began to remove her shackles from her neck, wrists, and ankles. 

“Thank you,” She stood up and stretched, before grabbing her shoulder, “feels better without that ante-eros bull shit, but damn it still hurts.” She looked around at the present group, her face twisted in a puzzled expression combined with a wince of pain, “so who the hell are you lot anyway?”

“We’re from the Angel Kiss Manor, Lady Karakahl has sent us to rescue you,” Reli answered.

She looked even more confused, and gestured at Delun, “He’s from the brothel too?”

“No he’s from the church,” Josie answered, “and we are more than just a brothel.”

“I see,” she said, covering her exposed body with her arms, “so then next question is can one of y’all get me some clothes?”

Josie quickly grabbed a poncho and pants that had been stored in a chest, as well as some bandages and a bottle, “first we should see to your wounds.” She began cleaning and dressing the injured witch’s arms and legs. 

“You know I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves,” Reli said, “I’m Reli and this,”

“And I’m not interested,” the witch cut her off, “look I appreciate you all helping me out, but the last thing I need is to get caught up with more witches.”

“Seems to me that’s your only option for survival,” Delun said coldly, “unless you would have rather been drowned.” 

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“Is that some sort of threat?” She stood up as Josie was wrapping her leg in bandages, “You think I’m afraid of some two-bit Sheriff and a gang of prostitute witches?”

“I’d be careful what you say witch, this two-bit sheriff just saved your ass!” 

“Knock it off,” I stepped between the two, “I don’t know what your problem is, but maybe you should try and show a little appreciation for us risking our asses for you.”

“Thanks,” she flashed an insincere smile,  “now if you don’t mind, I’m going to take those clothes and leave,” She said, scowling. 

“It wouldn’t be wise,” Josie argued, “there’s a search party combing the streets, it’s a miracle any of us made it here in one piece.”

The ungrateful witch sat down with a groan, “What the hell these church people care so much for anyways,” she whined. 

“You pissed them off, so they want to make an example of you,” Delun said, crossing his arms. 

“All I did was give out free water, what the hell is wrong with that?”

“Free water?” Reli asked.

“Water costs a fortune out here, people dying of thirst because they can’t pay the fee,” she explained, “bastards got a monopoly on it, makes me sick!”

“That’s how it is in the outer circles, even the second circle has its problems,” I shrugged. 

“I’m finished with the bandages, you should be able to dress now,” Josie handed her a duster jacket, a cropped shirt and a pair of pants. 

“Thanks, sorry about before,” she said pulling her arm through the jacket sleeves, “names Naomi,” her tone did a 180. 

“I’m Josie, the angry one is Delun, and the older woman is Shana,” Josie introduced everyone. 

“Excuse me!” I yelled, “I’m twenty-two damn it!” 

“So all y’all witches really decided to come save me?” Naomi asked, her skepticism displayed clearly on her face.

“Not entirely of our own accord,” Josie answered, “Lady Karakahl sent us.”

“Lady Karakahl wanted you to save me?” She snorted, “correct me if I’m wrong, but she’s that witch who runs y’alls whorehouse right?”

“Don’t worry, she’s not after you for your ass,” I said snidely, “she’s forming a witch’s coven with the successors.”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” She asked. 

We explained the situation to the best of our abilities, while Delun kept an ear out at the door. 

“So she thinks Bara is one of the Witch Queen’s former familiars, and that we’re destined to come together?” she concluded.

“Not so much as destined, but she definitely wants us all in her coven,” Reli said, “I can’t be positive, though I feel she is planning something.”

“You don’t say,” Naomi shrugged, “honestly what’s in it for me? If she gets my power, what do I get in return?”

“You mean other than living another day?” I hissed, “whatever your greedy ass can ask for.” The hypocrisy is not lost on me now, and a tinge of shame welled in me.

“Oh my greedy ass can ask for a lot,” she stood directly in front of me, the two of us scowling at each other, “women who runs the most popular whorehouse in the fourth ring aught be able to share some of that wealth, I don’t think that’s too much to ask for putting my head back in danger now is it?”

“Ask and you will receive, I can assure you that,” I growled, our eyes still locked.

“Fine, I will,” she sat back down.

“Oh fuck!” Delun suddenly shouted while he stood by the door.

“What the hell, did you see something?” I drew my revolver and ran beside him. 

His eyes were wide with shock, and he began to repeatedly curse, “I’m dead, oh shit I’m dead.”

“Get a hold of yourself, what are you blathering on about?” I placed my hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly.

 “I’m dead, I’m dead,” the man continued, repeating hysterically.

“Calm down, it’s not that bad,” I attempted to sedate his nerves.

“Yes it is, General Radbury himself now knows I’ve helped a witch escape,” he exclaimed, “I’ll be excommunicated, or worse branded a heretic and hung!”

“That is really bad,” Reli agreed, “but maybe Lady Karakahl will allow you to stay in the manor?”

“I can’t pay if I’m excommunicated, or worse dead!”

“She’ll put ya to work,” I said smugly.

“You don’t get it, I’ve been giving her information in exchange for her services,” he stressed, “no more insider church info and I can kiss that arrangement, and my life, good bye!”

“Sleeping with Lady Kara hardly qualifies as a necessity for life,” Josie stated.

“I wasn’t sleeping with her,” he said rolling back his sleeve, “she was saving me from this!” His arm was burned, no not burned, it was marred by a dark mist.

“Oh hell no,” Naomi said, stepping back, “I’m not getting anywhere near that.”

“What is that?” I asked, examining the swirling vortex that consumed his flesh.

“It’s Maliceblight,” Reli answered, “you’re lucky it’s only your arm.”

“It’s only like this because of Karakahl,” Delun explained, “she’s been using her magic to slow the spread and ease the pain.” He pulled his sleeve back over his arm, wincing as the cloth covered the mutated flesh.

“So that’s why you visit so often, and here I thought you were in love with the Mistress,” Josie attempted to joke.

“Not my type,” Delun said, “no, I came to her because I was told she can ease suffering, it’s worked so far, but if she stops helping me then I’m sure you know what happens next.”

“From malice comes suffering, and from suffering comes malice,” Reli said.

“What’s that?” I asked, thoroughly lost. 

“It’s a passage by Saint Ada, about the birth of the Malefic,” Delun said, “it’s the fate of those corrupted by the Malice.”

“That’s how Malefic are born?” I was shocked, yeah laugh at my ignorance, I’m a little dense, I get it.

“Girl, you didn’t know that, and you’re like what thirty seven?” Naomi guessed.

“Twenty seven,” I corrected, closer to the truth than my usual lies, “and no I really didn’t know, okay?”

“Wonder what it’s like living a sheltered life like yours,” Naomi said.

“You wanna run that by me again,” I gripped her by the collar of her shirt, “you don’t know anything about me.”

“You want to get your hands off me now, or are we about to make this acquaintanceship brief?” She stared me down.

“Could you two go a minute without going at each others throats,” Delun said, “I’d rather not spend my last days on Eforde watching you two cat fight.”

“I’m sure Lady Karakahl will help you Mr. Delun,” Reli said, “I’m sure she values Ael life over her own personal gain.”

“Ha, that’s it, I didn’t even think of it before,” Delun’s panic turned to hysterical laughter. 

“What the hell are you on about now?” I groaned, turning back to the crazed man.

“I’m privy to some info about the biggest score ever!” he said, his face breaking into a mangled grin, “something the church wants to protect at all costs.”

“Oh, and just what could be so valuable then?” I asked, “they got some kinda lost technology or something?”

He shook his head, “I don’t know exactly, all I know is it's gonna be coming through Haven on an express train.” 

“Okay but what is it?” Josie rolled her eyes.

“They say it’s a weapon like no other, one so powerful the High Priestess alone can destroy it.”

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