Foreboding, p.1
Foreboding, page 1
part #2 of The Black Eyed Witch Series
FOREBODING
A BLACK EYED WITCH NOVEL
Rowan Staeffler
Copyright © 31.05.2020 Rowan Staeffler
Copyright and Disclaimer
Copyright © Rowan Staeffler 2020. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Cover art designed by Jaka Prawira.
In loving memory to Raffaella Fischer (20.10.1985- 12.11.2019), a dear friend of mine in Switzerland, who tragically lost her life.
You will be missed.
Chapter 1
Ronan panted heavily as he ran through the woods. He carried his sheathed sword, to keep it from being caught on the branches and bushes he ran past. The arrows whistled over his head from the men chasing him.
His legs started to ache, his breathing became heavy and his vision a blur. When his legs could carry him no further, he collapsed, knees hitting the ground, sealing his fate as the mob closed in.
“We finally got the witch-lover,” shouted one of them.
Five men surrounded Ronan as he looked up, heavily panting. Sweat ran down his face soaking his tunic.
Sweat glistening on the men’s faces, descending down their necks. A man slung his bow over his shoulder, resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
“For a royal guard, I honestly expected you to fight us. But I guess screwing around with a witch has made you soft,” The bearded man spat, glaring at Ronan in pure disgust.
The man stood in front of Ronan’s broad form lifting the sword over his head. As the sword came down Ronan flinched, but only blood splashed on his face. Guards gasped and screamed, the bearded man stared at his amputated arms laying on the ground.
“Thanks, Lithia. Could you not have just killed him instead?” asked Ronan, head slightly tilted forward, glaring at her. His blood-soaked brows narrowed.
The men looked around frantically, swords, and bows ready, the bearded man continued to scream, watching his blood gushing out of the stumps.
Ronan drew his sword and quickly killed the nearest man, throwing a dagger into the other bowman's face. The remaining two fell back with fear in their eyes as they saw their friends dead on the ground. Ronan approached one and slit his throat. The other crawled backward a terrified shriek escaped his lips, and his eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of his skull as Ronan's large figure loomed over him, stony expression on his face.
The man hit his head against something solid, turned around, and found himself staring at Lithia’s legs.
The man screamed when his eyes met her black ones. Ronan grinned, thinking of how he had met her for the first time, after a couple in the village tried to terrify everyone by claiming that a witch was about to kill them all. Turned out Lithia was only helping them after she defeated a hideous creature he had failed to kill.
Lithia split the man from his head down to his chest with her sword. She looked at Ronan, whose face was covered in blood and smiled.
“I’m glad to see this amuses you,” he said.
“Sorry,” she said sarcastically.
Ronan wiped the blood off his face and spat out some that had gotten in his mouth. Lithia crossed her arms as she waited for him.
“Aren't we forgetting someone?” she asked with a smirk.
Ronan looked at her and glanced around.
“Ah, shit. I didn’t think that asshole would run away. Where is Alice anyway?”
“She just killed him and is now coming back.”
“You pushed yourself a bit hard this time. Did you want them far enough into the woods so that no one could hear them scream?” Alice, a beautiful looking witch, asked when she finally joined them. “That and also to give us enough time to flee before anyone sees us.”
“I take it that Lithia has something to do with that?” smirked Alice.
“I guess so. Lately I feel like I recover faster than usual. Since Lithia started to feed me her slime.”
“I do sense some of Lithia in you, but then, you two are very close,” grinned Alice.
Lithia and Ronan looked at each other and smiled.
Suddenly, Alice and Lithia snapped their heads in the same direction.
“Yeah, I think we better leave before half the town gets here,” stated Ronan.
“How do you know that is what we heard?” asked Lithia.
“Why else would you look in the town’s direction?”
Lithia whistled for their horses, they saddled up and disappeared into the woods.
Ronan washed the blood off his unshaven face at a calm river. The stream turned red once the blood hit the water. The birds sang as the hot breeze caressed his face, and the smell of mushrooms wafted into his nose.
“These people are getting tenacious of late. Good thing we completed our contract before they came,” said Alice while waiting for Ronan to finish.
Alice’s hair was in a ponytail and her armour was worn out but still in good condition.
Lithia’s armour showed clear signs of past fights, she hoped that her and Ronan’s new armour will be ready soon.
“Well, we can’t expect everyone to like witches, but I was certainly surprised that they would go as far as killing me for being with you,” said Ronan as he took his armour and tunic off, dipping it in the river. The blood slowly rinsed away as he scrubbed the sleeves together.
“You took it pretty well. I know this was not your first time facing these haters but are they usually that hostile?” asked Alice.
“Ronan and I knew he wouldn’t be seen as favourable by many humans. Usually I am their target but this was the first time they went after him in particular. I will not let him out of my sight again while fighting a monster,” stated Lithia.
“Don’t tell me you are surprised, Lithia? They know your kind are stronger, so they go after someone who is at their level.” Ronan carefully laid the soaked tunic on a big rock.
“Yes, but you are a royal guard. They should know that death awaits them if they try to harm you,” explained Lithia.
“And death they got. Now that I think about it, I can recall back in Catala that some guys tried to kill me as well,” stated Ronan.
Lithia and Alice looked at him surprised.
“You never mentioned this to me. Did you?” asked Lithia as she tilted her head.
“No, I did not,” continued Ronan. “I saw no need to tell you as they were just pathetic guys who called themselves...what was it again? Something about ‘clean’? Anyway, they saw me with her and thought it was against human nature to be meddling with witches.”
Ronan walked to his horse, opened the saddlebag and pulled out a clean, folded black tunic. It smelled like the saddle, but he did not care as long as it didn’t smell of blood.
“We should head back to Levra. I think Alice would love to be together with Ashley again,” said Ronan as he smiled at her.
“Yes, please. Hearing you two almost every night makes me want to grab any human off the streets,” stated Alice with a sly half-smile.
Lithia and Ronan blushed.
“Sorry, Alice. We’ll try to be louder… I mean quieter,” remarked Ronan with a cocked smile.
Chapter 2
Ashley, an Euran witch with curly hair, and a slim face cheered when she saw Alice. She kissed her passionately at the castle entrance, breathing loudly as their tongues entangled. Alice's eyes were wide open as she kept her arms stiff. King Gordon, Ronan, Lithia and a few other knights and witches looked amused.
Ashley and Alice have been together for nearly as long as Ronan and Lithia. After defeating the malevolent king, Noran, in the woods, they’ve returned back to Terom to cleanse any remaining creatures underneath the castle he had created before destroying the city and leaving it to ashes.
Noran violently took over the throne of Terom to continue with his gruesome experiments on splicing creatures together and on himself.
An army from Levra was already there to put a stop to Noran and his experiments when Ronan, Lithia, Ashley and Thali, who left them after Levra became the new capital. Alice was among them and Ashley must have fallen in love with her on the spot. It always surprised Ronan and Lithia how a calm and pragmatic person would like to be together with Ashley, who is energetic and cheerful. It was one of these unusual relationships but it appeared to be working well for them.
“I missed you,” grinned Ashley once they stopped kissing.
“I can tell,” responded Alice, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. They turned to the king.
“I take it that your contract was a success?” Gordon looked at Lithia.
“That, and a group of haters as well who tried to kill Ronan,” she replied.
The king's smile darkened.
“Again?” said Gordon. “They are becoming more vicious. I can understand that not everyone will like your kind but killing a royal guard for being with you?”
“They were in our way,” responded Lithia.
The king shook his head and waved for them to follow. They followed without objections.
In the five years, after Levra was declared to be the capital of Ausran, Gordon housed over a hundred witches within the castle and used it as a base of operation. A handful of witches left as they would rather be on the move, while others sought sanctuary or steady contracts.
A huge hall became the control center. Witches and knights wandered around, orders given, strategies planned and contracts being issued to any available witch. Some witches are being escorts for noble people or transportation of valuable stock.
Protests by a few residents about the king's decision occurred at first, inclining that he made Levra a bigger target for anyone who disliked witches. It improved the city financially as they could lower the taxes for the citizens. This kept them silent about the huge amount of witches. A method Gordon was not too proud of as it indicated intimidation but it kept the peace.
Most of the time, they send out two witches to one contract, three or more, depending on the monster or amount of monsters they have to face. Never, is a witch allowed to go by herself. For some contracts, a royal guard comes along to create an illusion to some frightened people that the witches are observed.
Ronan was the exception to be assigned permanently to Lithia due to their relationship and the experience he collected about the monsters he faced with her.
“I have some good news for you two,” said the king to Lithia and Ronan, raising a finger, “both of your new armour are finished. These witches have outdone themselves by creating a much lighter armour in the last few years. It still maintains the strength to withstand swords, spears and even giant snake bites. If you should get slammed by them and of course Ingens. However, for you Ronan, you will still die if an Ingen should slam you, but it gives the witches a better chance of survival.”
“Well, we can’t make it too hard for these creatures,” remarked Ronan with a half-cocked smile.
The cuirass armours were placed proudly on the two manikins. Completely in black with the owl insignia pressed in the chest. A mix of leather and metal created more strength than the usual leather witches used to wear. They discovered that the Blackrock, is not only effective against monsters but integrated with metal and leather, it makes the substance much lighter and more resilient.
Both armours had a spaulder that covered part of their arms. The left spaulder had an imprint of an owl's head. Each side of the cuneate layered tasset belt nearly reached down to the knees. The gloves felt like simple leather but were told that they could withstand cuts but will hurt if they should get hit by a sword.
Lithia was handed two lower-arm covers with hidden blades.
Ronan and Lithia both examined the armour as they took them off the manikins. The smoothness impressed them. They could not tell if it was the leather or some fabric they had attached at the inside.
Ronan was glad he finally got a new armour. As he had to wear the armour which was specifically made for him in Terom before. Gordon had offered him a new armour five years ago, but Ronan refused it as the armour was heavy and reducing his mobility. The armour from Terom was lighter and could withstand more damage than regular armour.
“How many have been made?” asked Lithia.
“Only two,” answered the king.
“This means it takes a very long time to make?” responded Ronan.
“Over three years. The blackrock they add into it takes a long time to be completely saturated with the leather and metal but the result is worth it,” replied the king proudly.
A witch approached them, carrying two swords in her hands. Both were long, double-edged swords. Without a word, she handed them over.
“Ah, yes, I almost forgot. They also got a minor upgrade,” said the king.
The witch returned to her post. Ronan pulled it out of its sheath, surprised not only by its lack of weight but how the blade was completely black. He looked confused at the king who smiled upon him. Lithia could not tell the difference besides not being scimitar in shape.
“Yes, Ronan. You have been gifted with a sword just like them,” said the king.
“What about mine?” asked Lithia.
The king smiled and motioned to follow him to the training grounds outside. Witches, guards, and knights were practising with each other or on dummies.
A witch handed over a glove for the right hand. Lithia looked questionably at it. She took off her glove from her hand and inserted her hand in the new one. She noticed a shiny reflection at the palm.
“Now throw the sword at the practice dummy,” instructed the king.
Lithia threw her sword and hit her target. The sword stuck out as the pommel wobbled frantically.
“Now rub your yours hands together until the sword starts to come at you. Pommel first that is. Then stretch your hand out.”
Lithia was staggered by that sentence. He gestured to her to follow his instructions. She kept a close eye on the sword as she started to rub her hands slowly together. The sword began to move slowly out of the dummy. She continued rubbing her hands as the sword finally flew back at her. She quickly stretched her hand out and the pommel flew right into her hand.
Ronan and Lithia looked amazed at what had occurred.
“What the fuck happened?” asked Lithia. She held the sword away from her.
“Magnetic,” said the witch who gave Lithia the glove, “it creates a charge when you rub the metal in that glove together with your normal leather glove. The more you rub, the stronger it becomes, therefore allowing your sword to be returned to you if you should ever lose it in battle. And no, you don’t have to worry about other metallic objects coming at you. The pommel is fitted with a metal only suitable for your glove. This is the only one we have made so far. Consider yourself honoured.”
“You will provide us with a result of how it does in battle. If effective, we will make more. Otherwise, we have to find a way to improve it or cease production completely,” said Gordon.
“Well, give us another contract and we will find out,” said Ronan.
“Nothing urgent for you two at the moment. Besides, you two need to rest and wash up. You reek a bit. That’s an order,” said the king with a warm smile.
Lithia moaned delightfully as she slowly moved her hips on Ronan in the tub in their bathing room. The water splashed gently against the tub's wall as they stared into each other’s eyes. Ronan breathed quietly as his hands wandered over her back, feeling her warm, tender skin.
He was close on reaching his climax, beginning to breathe louder as Lithia maintained her slow rhythm. He grunted loudly and Lithia pressed her mouth over his to suppress his groaning when he finally ejaculated. She finally stopped and sank her head on his shoulder as he pressed her body on his, feeling her wet but warm skin. He felt her hot breath down his neck. They kissed for a while, resting their foreheads together when they finished.
“Gordon was right,” she said. “We needed to relax.”
“I know I feel more relaxed now. You are so delightful with a blade when shaving me,” he responded.
She chuckled at the remark and gently removed herself from him and stepped out of the tub. She grabbed a towel and dried herself off. Ronan too stepped out and dried himself off. After getting dressed, Ronan walked to the table to look at Lithia’s glove. He could see the fine pieces of metal carefully woven within the fabric, allowing the hand for full mobility.
“I’m eager to try it out how well it really works. I better get some training; otherwise I will slice myself in half,” said Lithia when she saw Ronan’s interest in the glove.
“May be a good idea. I also should get a better feeling of my sword as the weight is different compared to my old one. I shall hang it up over the fireplace. As it’s a reminder,” said Ronan.
They had a big room that was located halfway up the castle. Several dark-green painted wardrobes and beautiful landscape imageries along the wall. A dark red carpet with decorative images lay in the centre of the room. A glass door that led out to a large balcony, with a magnificent view of the city and the mountains far at the horizon.
A big table with two chairs was placed in a corner and two comfortable couches facing the fireplace.
The wooden bed frame had owls carved into it. They had basic fabric for bed linens than silk. Silk felt discomforting to them, as they sleep majority of the time outdoors or at inns when on contracts.
They grabbed their new weapons and descended to the practice range. Few knights and witches greeted them on the way and they greeted back to them. The range was not as busy as earlier when they entered.
