A knocking on the door interrupted them. Natalie hid in the next room before Gordon asked the man to enter. She left a gap open to hear what is being said. “The crowd is slowly assembling at the gate. Should I give the order, my king?”

  Chapter 27

  Lithia and Alice jumped onto a roof that overlooked the street to the castle. More than five hundred people rallied outside the castle walls. For Lithia, the Naguals are likely the ones who intimidated these people to stand at the gate.

  They prepared the smoke balls both carried in bags. The balls were nearly as big as a human head, saturated with holes and a fuse hanging out of it. Having torches would give away their position, so simple flints were given to them.

  The crowd shouted in anger, demanding the release of their people. Lithia saw how Ronan stood on top of the tall wall as he overlooked the protestors. Most of the protestors had swords, axes, self-made spears, knives, bows and arrows. She could not imagine them breaking through the solid metal grid that has been lowered, where prior it was left open deliberately as ordered by Gordon. A decision, she saw as pathetic.

  Soon, more witches stood on the roofs and signalled that they were ready. Lithia took a ball out and held it in front of Ashley. Lithia glimpsed over to Alice, who stood close to Ronan. Too close for her liking. Upset about the fact Alice was chosen by the king to protect Ronan and the men behind the wall but understood why, as Alice was the fastest at deflecting incoming projectiles.

  Ashley waved her hand in front of her eyes and Lithia, mystified, looked at her.

  “Don’t worry about Alice. She may be in love, but you know she will protect him,” said Ashley.

  “I know. But I’m a bit worried he may give in to her. I can’t believe I'm jealous at this moment.”

  “You don’t need to worry. Ronan and I had a small chat while you were investigating Gerder. He made it very clear that he will stick with you, regardless of how much he likes Alice. He even told me what you will get for your birthday. It will be big. Alice doesn’t know about it.”

  Lithia felt relieved to hear these words from Ashley. She remembered Ronan mentioned he had something special for her birthday. She sighed and drifted into thoughts of how Ronan and she met and the time they spent together after they had defeated Noran. Her thoughts were crushed when Ashley prodded her. She looked up and apologized.

  Ronan disappeared behind the battlements but she knew that he gave the signal to the men to get ready. She could picture how the men used their shields to create an impenetrable cover around them like a turtle. Just as she saw during their preparation when she checked upon Ronan.

  The crowd became impatient and began to throw rocks and fired arrows at Ronan and the guards. Alice quickly deflected most of the projectiles but a few of the guards still got hit who were too slow to hide behind the battlements. Some of the arrows were fired deliberately over them as if they knew that a small army was hidden behind the wall. Lithia could hear how the arrows hit the shields, if any got hit, she could not tell. Ronan didn't seem to worry as he checked upon them and gave the signal to attack. A signal that was for the witches to throw the balls.

  The witches immediately ignited the balls and threw them into the crowd. They quickly dashed to the roofs of the buildings behind. Lithia and Ashley turned back and saw several arrows flying where they stood earlier.

  She rushed back after no more arrows were fired, to see if the smoke had any effect. Ashley followed. Other witches returned as well and lied on their stomachs to avoid detection. The smoke quickly spread out, and the people tried to escape. But it was too crowded and clashed into each other. Few dared to grab the balls and flung it away but not very far as the smoke affected their eyes.

  As anticipated, some tried to extinguish them with water and the smoke exploded into a big cloud, spread rapidly around. The smoke eventually reached up to the roofs, but to Lithia it smelled like a spring morning, while the humans below were coughing heavily that she thought they may cough their lungs out and scoop their eyes out.

  Ashley tapped her to point out they needed to move. They jumped from roof to roof until they reached the end of the protestors. Few of the other witches were already there and threw the balls down. Ashley and Lithia did not hesitate and threw two as well. She was surprised at how well it all worked out. While most did escape through the side roads and passages, the majority were caught in the smoke and were defenseless as they lay on the floor, coughing heavily, most likely wishing they would have never come.

  Lithia could hear the gates being opened and dashed quickly back with Ashley to investigate. Some smoke remained, but it didn’t appear to affect the shielded guards as they moved out. She was impressed by how they moved slowly but steadily forward, holding their shields together that only swords and spears poked between them. Alice was in the lead. Lithia could sense Ronan behind the shields. Soon, several protesters attacked. She felt tempted to throw a ball at them but stopped as it would affect the guards, so she and Ashley jumped down to support.

  The protesters hammered with their swords and axes but the formation held. Spears and swords poked between the shields, successfully impaled the attackers. They screamed in pain, as they held their wounds, while others died immediately. Lithia and Ashley did not hesitate to kill any that attacked them. Alice elegantly moved among the protesters, inflicted mostly cuts to their legs.

  Several protesters realized they had no chance, dropped their weapons and ran away. The shield formation was opened up and Lithia was happy to see Ronan. She smiled warmly at him and he did the same.

  The ground was covered with blood, vomit, dead bodies and people who moaned and coughed. Several staggered carefully as they tried to avoid stepping on the bodies. They rubbed their eyes as tears shed down their cheeks.

  In small groups, the guards spread out and tied up as many as they could. Then they dragged them back to the castle.

  “Make sure you stick close to each other. Do not wander too far off or get intimidated if some runaway, implying to be scared of you. Hold your ground as they may try to lead you to a trap,” barked Ronan.

  The guards acknowledged him and continued at a steady pace.

  “Well, looks like these smoke balls worked really well,” said Ashley cheerfully.

  “It did,” said Ronan, “I thought it would affect me once it reached up there. The archers and others began to cough, but I was fine. It tasted like early mornings to me but also as if you burn green leaves in a fire.”

  Ashley and Lithia were in awe.

  “I think he is becoming more and more like us,” said Alice proudly. Lithia ignored her and focused on Ronan how he scanned his surroundings and occasionally at her.

  “Well, done,” he complimented them, “check around the buildings. Anyone hiding should be captured. If a group is there, don’t bother capturing all of them. One will be sufficient.

  “Alice, you continue to stay with us. Something tells me that some may try to fire arrows or throw rocks.”

  Lithia brows raised when she heard him say that. She was confused about what Ashley told her earlier after she feared that he would give in to Alice. All of a sudden, he wanted Alice to protect him instead of her. She could deflect any arrows and rocks at a smaller scale, now that the protesters were separated and chased by witches and guards.

  “Why her?” asked Lithia with a tone of jealousy.

  Ashley grabbed her hand and tried to force her away but Lithia stood her ground, waiting for him to respond.

  Ronan, however, appeared to be amused by her behaviour and smiled as he approached her. “Oh, Lithia. You got the wrong impression. I know I can trust you but since we are grouped up like this, may as well continue.”

  Lithia knew that Alice would protect him as she would. She asked herself if she was overreacting and apologized for doubting him.

  She hugged him, followed by a kiss. He playfully slapped her butt and wished her luck. She saw how Alice followed him as he grabbed a sobbing protester off the ground.

  Lithia and Ashley didn’t have to go far to find a few protesters that coward in an alley. They looked up as the witches walked towards them. Their eyes were blood red and they didn’t recognize them as they tried to focus who was coming while they blinked rapidly.

  Lithia was about to grab one as her vision became blurry and could make out Ashley as she asked if she was alright.

  Chapter 28

  Natalie sighed, not thrilled about the inevitable deaths but she had to accept them as she spectated the outcome from a window from the castle. Many have been captured and are held in the dungeons for interrogation, while the leaders were being executed.

  Unexpectedly, her husband came to see her.

  “Just seeing how you are holding up,” he said as he peaked his head through the door.

  Natalie wanted to lie but she could not hide her true expression. “I hope this was worth it.”

  “We will find out. We have captured a lot of people and the witches have been a tremendous help not only apprehending these haters but also using the smoke to subdue the majority of them. And who knows how many of our men they have saved.”

  He hugged her while she cried on his chest. Then she looked him in the eyes and he smiled warmly at her.

  “When Lithia and her friends aren’t busy, I like to see them. Ronan as well,” she said.

  “I will let them know. Lithia and Ashley are still in the city, trying to find and capture more protesters and hopefully Naguals. But it appears they were not in the city as none of the witches reported about them. Not even sensing them. Looks like this woman didn’t lie when she said that two people came in who convinced her how bad witches are.”

  “I’m asking myself why you are executing these people if they were forced to believe that witches are evil?”

  “We only execute the ones that have been positively identified as leaders. Many of them do not even hide it as they express themselves how much they hate us. But the ones that are not leaders, will be released.”

  “That's good to hear.”

  She kissed him and told him to attend his duties. At that moment, Ashley stormed in. “Lithia is being captured again.”

  Ronan and Alice were asked to come immediately. Ashley explained what had happened. “We were about to apprehend some people in an alley as Lithia suddenly jerked around and stabbed me in the leg. Nearly separating it too,” she pointed to her blood-soaked pants and the huge cut, revealing half her leg, “Then she slaughtered these people and dashed off. She must have been hit again, but I didn’t sense any Naguals.”

  Ronan’s face darkened and walked swiftly out of the room. Ashley followed and grabbed his arm. He snapped at her. “Either a Nagual was controlling a human and you couldn't sense him or they found a way to control her at will. I knew that escaping Gerder was too easy.”

  “You would have no idea where she is. It could be a trap for all we know,” said Ashley.

  “Obviously but from the looks of it, she was being targeted as no other witch is missing. So she is alive and they want to get a response. Well, they got it.” Ronan dashed off again after he freed himself from her grip. Alice ran after him.

  “Ronan? Wait,” said Ashley, “I know how you want to offer her marriage on her birthday but please be reasonable about it. Let's come up with a plan first before you wander blindly around. You may have part of our abilities but she can kill you in an instant. If not even the Naguals.”

  Ronan froze but did not look back. Natalie was surprised but also touched that he wanted to marry Lithia. She noticed that Alice was even more surprised as she looked confused at Ronan and at Ashley.

  “That’s why I’m fucking pissed. Do the Naguals want a war? They fucking got it now.”

  Alice dropped her head and starred bluntly on the floor. Natalie looked at Gordon, who seemed to be surprised too.

  Ashley dashed after Ronan and blocked his path. Natalie could only imagine how mad he must be. Ashley dared to lay a hand on his chest. Ronan did nothing as if he would have come to his senses. His shoulders sank and Natalie moved quickly as she lifted her skirt high enough without her feet getting hooked on it. She laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. She spoke softly. “Ronan. Listen to Ashley. You are no good to her if you die.”

  He looked at her, brows deep between his eyes in anger that she could not tell if he is angry about Lithia being taken or her laying a hand on him.

  “Alice?” said Ronan as he tried to get her attention. “Alice?” he said louder.

  Alice shrugged and gazed with wide-open eyes at him.

  “What did these Naguals say again when you overheard them? That they wanted to kill me but failed?”

  Alice stammered before she answered, “yes, but that’s it. If I’m not mistaken, they know about your relationship with her. Everything is unclear about what happened afterwards.”

  “Why would they want to kill you? I’m the one who houses the witches and gives them contracts,” said Gordon.

  “Personal grudge I guess. But then, every witch has killed their kind,” responded Natalie.

  “This is not getting us anywhere,” snarled Ronan between his teeth, “Lithia is out there, being controlled by them and who knows how much harm they will do to her and most likely to everyone else. If you two want to join me, that’s fine. I will not hesitate to go by myself.”

  He pushed himself past Ashley and descended the stairs. Alice followed him. Ashley looked at Gordon and Natalie, who stood there silently. Natalie didn’t know what to say. She could not blame Ronan for wanting to go after her but was worried he may be over his head to face a foe who was stronger than him.

  The fact that Gordon didn’t protest or said anything surprised her. As if he knew trying to stop Ronan is futile.

  Ashley dashed after Ronan and Alice.

  Chapter 29

  It surprised Ashley to see Ronan go to the training yard. He picked up helmets, practice swords, anything he could get his hands on and flung them away. Then he drew his sword and slashed and kicked the practice dummies. Grunting with every hit and later yelled in anger.

  Alice wanted to approach him but Ashley held her back and shook her head. She remembered that if Ronan was enraged, it’s best to let him be, as he would only get more agitated if someone tried to hold him back or even comfort him.

  The memory clawed back when he was outraged with Claire as she never trusted him. Several years ago, few witches questioned his loyalty since he used to be a hunter. He took it pretty well as he did not blame them and was glad for Lithia standing up to him to prove he has switched sides a long time ago. But they began harassing him, calling him names and demanded he should leave. They even threatened to kill him. Understandably he lost it and yelled at them in anger. Even Lithia snapped and pointed out their ignorance. Ashley violently threw them out of the city and threatened them they should never return and harm him or Lithia. Since then, neither Ronan nor Lithia had been harassed.

  Alice and Ashley continued watching Ronan how he flipped over tables, the swords that lay on them clattering to the floor. Dummies were shattered or sliced. Practice swords lay all over the ground. Broken spears stuck on wooden poles or lay on the ground. Tables broken in half or tipped over. The yard looked as if a heavy storm had passed through.

  Ronan reached his limits as he panted heavily, and sunk to his knees. Ashley saw this as an opening to approach him.

  “I know what you are thinking,” he said as she kneed in front of him, “I’m a royal guard. I should be able to keep a cool head. Well, I’m not perfect.”

  “It’s very rare I’ve seen you like this. Knowing you, it’s not the fact that Lithia’s been taken that upsets you.”

  “You are right,” he responded in between breaths, “I have no idea where she may be. If she is even alive. Then I have her who is in love with me, a bunch of haters who don’t have a fucking clue they were manipulated by the Naguals. So yes, everything is fucking great.”

  “Believe or not, but I don’t think they will kill her. If so, they would have done it already in Gerder. No, they want to use her to make us more despicable than ever. Levra was just the beginning. That’s why I think they let us go so easily. They must have known that if they have killed us, more witches would have come to investigate. Once we were gone, they must have cleaned out the cellar and disappeared.”

  “Makes sense. Gerder was a test. Still, no idea why Lithia and I are their targets and who knows if we will ever get the answer to that. Yes, these Naguals had to think of something to get rid of your kind. Levra housing witches made you a bigger and easier target, now that I think of it. Who knew that they would have used these fish to control beings?”

  Ashley stood up and stretched her hand out. He grabbed it and she lifted him back on his feet. Alice came closer, head down, shoulders shrugged together.

  “Am I still allowed to come along?” she asked with a subtle tone.

  Ashley looked at Ronan, knew that this question was directed at him after he complained about Alice’s feelings towards him.

  “Alright, let me make it clear to you; I do not hate you. I can’t help that you have feelings towards me but you have shown loyalty in these years we have been together. It’s not like you have thrown yourself at me and pushed Lithia away. So of course, you come along. You two I can trust. I most likely will need your help, anyway.

  “Good, now that’s out of the way, let’s get Lithia back.”

  Chapter 30

  Lithia slowly opened her eyes and carefully rose. Her surroundings spun around and she vomited. After she coughed and spat out the remains, she scanned her surroundings. She noticed that she sat on fresh hay and was chained to a wall by her ankle. Her armour and weapons were laid on a table several meters away from her. The soothing sound of dripping water revealed that she was in a cave. She gasped as she saw decaying bodies all over the cave. Quickly Lithia realized that the bodies were witches and Walkers from five years ago. The same cave Noran chained her up, expecting her to give birth, while he sliced her friends open to find their healing ability. Forced to listen to their agonizing screams. The same cave after Ronan led her into a trap and revealed he was a hunter.

 

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