Chapter 42: Chapter Sixteen: The Testament of the lovely Sister Marionette

“We need to make this fast,” I yelled at the bounty hunter as he stooped behind a rock.

“Don’t get your holy panties in a twist sister, I’m squeezing a log here!” he so rudely called back.

I scoffed, turning my back to my tactless acquaintance, and looked out into the seemingly endless wasteland. The red clay earth looked as if it had been brazened by a mighty flame, one that consumed all manor of life leaving the land so barren. The sun just barely cast its light through the hideous vortex of malice in the sky. It was as if the sky were made of glass, a stained window that had been cracked, enveloping all of Haven, not in a comforting shield, but in a prison, a cage with no escape.

“They could be anywhere in this hellscape,” Rafa sounded exasperated. 

“We’ll find them,” the inquisitor spoke from behind, catching me off guard.

“I didn’t say anything,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“Your gaze says enough,” Seta approached, “it is truly a wretched sight,” she looked out to the same horrid land as I, “a calamity with which we hold the witches accountable.” I knew well of what she spoke. A day so bleak, so devastating that none could forget, as the legends say, the advent of Malice. Though it happened far too long ago for any to have seen it, the teachings of the church made it clear, the world was made barren by the sins of the Witch Queen. The Inquisitor marched forward, “come, we must not delay any longer.”

“What of the hired help?” I asked.

“He will have to make his own way,” she pressed on without another word and I followed. Achak came running, shouting for us to wait. We three sought what little signs we could, hoping it would lead us to the missing animals. 

“I’ve got nothin,” Achak said, scanning the ground, “not a single damn track in this ‘ole fuckin wasteland.”

“I thought tracking was your specialty,” the Inquisitor chided him.

“Chasing criminals ain’t quite the same as farm animals,” he laughed, “an Ael is predictable, they ‘ave patterns and logic,” he explained, “these damn asses got nothin but fear and instinct!”

“So you are useless to us,” I spoke bluntly.

“Ay, see how useless I am when a bloody bandit or that pirate shows up,” he objected.

“Should either problem arise, I assure you that your service will be redundant in the presence of the church’s own security.”

“Pretty cocky now, aintcha nun?” He growled, “We’ll see how well you precious church folk do when shit hits the fan.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t make enemies with the bounty hunter dear,” Rafa whispered to me, “he may be the only one who could help if the inquisitors found reason to turn on us.”

“I have broken no law,” I said.

“I didn’t say you did,” Achak looked at me with a blank stare.

I simply shook my head and moved along.

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“There,” Seta threw her arm out, stopping our approach.

“I don’t see, what are you talking about?” Achak strained his eyes, scanning the surroundings.

“The outcropping, down in the canyon,” she pointed towards a small fissure, no wider than my own shoulders, far in the distance. The earth looked like it had been split open, as if a giant had forced their shovel into the ground and left without ever digging further. And just as the inquisitor had said, two small creatures seemed to be caught on a platform between the two shelves of earth, unsure of how to move on. 

“Well how the hell did they get there?” Achak asked.

“An error in judgment made in fright,” Seta said, cautiously continuing forward.

Moving closer it became more clear what had occurred, based on the rubble near the donkeys, it was surmisable that they had attempted to jump to the higher cliff side only to have the ground give way beneath them. 

“The question now is how to get them down?” I said as we arrived at the fissure.

“You’re a witch ain’t ya? Just use your magic,” the bounty hunter suggested.

“I know two spells, one using lightning to guide my bullets, the other generates an electric current in my hand. So which one do you propose I use to aid us in this situation?”

“That’s it? Ha some witch,” he scoffed.

“How well can you jump Achak?” Seta asked.

“What?” The man looked at her bewildered, “you can’t actually be suggestin that I just leap three times my height?”

“No,” she shook her head, grabbing him by the belt of his loincloth, “I intend for you to jump down with the donkeys.” With a single fluid motion she heaved the massive man into the air, sending him flying to the platform above. The donkeys belted in fright and began to stamp their feet at him. “Grab them now!” She ordered.

“Damn crazy bitch,” he grumbled as he wrestled with the rampaging animals. “Stay still ya ornery bastards,” Achak wrapped his arms around their waists and leaped back down, landing with a massive thud. 

“That worked surprisingly well,” I stepped forward and took hold of the donkey’s reins. 

“The hell was that about?” Achak whined. 

“We were in need of a way, you are fine, what is the problem?” Seta grabbed the other donkey’s reign and began leading it back.

“Hey nun,” he called Marionette, “if she can do that to me, what do you think she can do to you?”

I ignored his cryptic words and followed the inquisitor, leading the other donkey.

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