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Tales of Nightshade: Curse of Job (Part Four)

Posted by LediaR on March 2, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Humor, Ledia Runnels, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Wizard. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Crystal Ball

(Photo found at this site: http://tinyurl.com/bwq2857al-ball/)

Tendrils of moonlight filtered through the window as one silver finger rested upon the crystal ball.  Brunda smiled as an explosion of color began to form within the orb.  The two sorceresses leaned in unison to watch the rainbow eruption.

Then within her mind, Druzelle began to hear the same words over and over,  “Scared, Hurt, My Head Is Hurt, Brunda-Druzelle, Brunda-Druzelle, Help!”

“I hear her!”  Druzelle exclaimed.  Brunda smiled wryly while the multi-colors within the crystal ball merged to form the golden haired child.  Luena was seated on horseback, surrounded by several men, including the Earl of Campbell, and closely guarded by Yulricka.

“I recognize that stretch of road!”  Druzelle clapped her hands.

“Yes, as do I,” Brunda nodded.  “I will meet you there, Sister.”  She tossed the words over her shoulder as she took up her broom and leapt through the doorway, airborne.

“Yes!”  Druzelle affirmed.

The direction the party traveled led to a wayside inn of unsavory reputation.  Towards this place, Brunda aimed her broom.  She came to a stop and dismounted only moments before the ill-fated band arrived.  With hatred glazed eyes, the old witch stood directly in the middle of the road, waiting.  Within moments, Druzelle joined her.

In order to create as much chaos as possible, the rotund Druzelle decided to conjure an illusion that she and Brunda were giant ogresses, equipped with battle-axes and spiked clubs.  She chuckled to herself as she wove the spell.  “Brunda will hate it and it will not fool Yulricka, but what fun to watch the mortal curs scatter like leaves in the wind.”

When Brunda realized what Druzelle was up to, she started to protest vehemently.  But then the irony of it became very clear and Brunda allowed the glamour.

The first ones to see them reacted just as Druzelle had hoped.  Dropping their weapons, the men bolted for the woods, screaming and shouting at the horror they had beheld.

Then Yulricka saw.  “It is not what you think.” the traitor jeered.  “There are no hulks blocking our way.  Just a pair of enfeebled old women trying to frighten us with their carnival act.”

Wild rage consumed Brunda.  “That is the last straw!”  she thundered.  Reaching within her cloak, she drew out a pouch of crushed herbs.  With a wave of her hand, she began to weave an incantation.

But when she looked up to release the final words, she saw that Yulricka had suddenly vanished.  “Where is she; where did that mangy hag fly off too?”

Brunda felt a tap against her shoulder and the sound of Druzelle clearing her throat.  “I did it, sister. We cannot have our consciences burdened with the killing of another, even though it be a traitorous witch. I am sorry if I have angered you, but I put her into the black abyss.  It will take her a few years to figure a way out.”

“You hope.” Scowled Brunda. Then she turned her attention toward the Earl.

Even without his magician consort, the man sat upon his horse as arrogant as ever. “Well,” he blustered. “Do you intend on sending me to the abyss as well? I would like to know how you would explain my disappearance to the town’s folk.”

Brunda’s smile was brutal. “I explain myself to no one, Campbell.  And no, I do not intend to send you to the abyss; that would be all too nice a punishment for the likes of you.”

Then her smile was gone. In its place, Brunda’s face became a cyclone of revenge. “I let you go without punishment once before, but this time you have gone too far.”

A wild look came into Druzelle’s eyes as she desperately tried to draw Brunda’s attention toward herself.  “Let me be, Sister!”  Brunda thundered.

Then she turned back to the insolent Earl.  “I curse you with the Plagues of Job.  Job was a Godly man and passed the tests, but let us see how well, one such as you, will fair.”

The ground beneath their feet began to rumble as the sorceress raised her hands.  A flux of greenish oozed dripped from Brunda’s fingertips before turning into lightning and striking the air surrounding the Earl. He lowered his head and raised his arms to shield his face.

Brunda was wild with laughter as an emerald vapor enveloped Campbell, who began to cough and choke, but not one of his men dared reach out to assist him. Soon, the foul, green cloud consumed him.

Brunda dusted her hands, picked up her broom and walked over to where Druzelle had joined Luena. The little girl looked shaken, but she smiled at her friends.

Brunda lifted Luena from the horse and placed her on the broom beside Mandrake.  Before climbing aboard herself, Brunda turned back to survey her handiwork.

The green mist had finally evaporated and the Earl could be seen still astride his horse.  With childish curiosity, Luena turned back to see, but quickly averted her eyes.  For the once arrogant Earl sat slumped over in his saddle, his entire body, or at least what showed beyond his clothing, was covered with seeping raw boils.

Through his agony the Earl vowed, “This is not over, witch!”

Brunda merely smiled as she climbed aboard her broom. “Only because you are a fool.”

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Tales of Nightshade: Curse of Job (Part Three)

Posted by LediaR on February 28, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Ledia Runnels, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Witch Hunter. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Full Moon

(Photo found at this site: http://www.stargazing.net/david/moon/moonrise20050917.html)

Druzelle stood in the garden outside the Earl of Campbell’s manor house.  With a swish of her hand, she became the image of Sarah, the Earl’s housekeeper.  Quietly, she made her way into the dwelling.

As Druzelle passed through a hallway, she happened by a rather dusty cupboard.  “Tsk, Tsk what an untidy maidservant you are, Sarah, dear,” she remarked while running a genteel finger through the grime.

Dusting her hands together, Druzelle found herself heading down still another passageway.  Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks as a chill swept up her spine.  Just inside one of the rooms sat the traitorous witch, Yulricka.

Druzelle quickly stepped from view.  “What is she doing here with one who hangs witches?”  Druzelle stood perfectly still, not wanting to continue past the room.  Yulricka was a malcontent in the witch community and possessed a strong telepathic power, though that is about all the witchcraft she did posses; Druzelle feared the other might have the cognizance to see through her disguise.

With quick side steps, Druzelle turned to head down an adjacent passageway.  Then she spied something on the floor.  Reaching down, Druzelle drew up a miniature silver locket.  Crushing the fragile necklace against her chest, she whispered.  “Surely this is the same one that Luena always wears.”

Quickly, Druzelle ducked down the other passage that led to the larder.  There, she surmised would surely be servants from which she could hear the manor tattle and perhaps find out something concerning Luena.

Druzelle stood outside the manor house once again.  “Ignorant peasants!” she howled.  “All they can talk about is how high the bread has risen and if snow will come early to the fields.  Not a one of them has any good gossiping skills.  They are, undoubtedly, the most boring bunch of old crones I have ever seen.  Humph!”  In a flash, the rotund witch vacated the premises.

Druzelle laid the tiny necklace in Brunda’s outstretched hand.  Casting another temporal displacement spell, the two watched the vision of Yulricka jerking the locket from Luena’s neck and tossing it to the floor.  The scene faded as the little girl and her assailant moved away from the necklace.

Brunda’s eyes narrowed to slits.  “I’ll see that witch become jackal tidbits!”

Eagerly, Druzelle put in. “At least now we know who was responsible for Luena’s capture.”

“Yes we do,” Brunda continued to speak in low, sinister intonations. “When I get my hands on that…” Without finishing her words, Brunda strode across to her work table, where sat her sleeping crystal ball.  “I have been trying to find Luena within its depths all day.  It must be Yulricka’s doing that no image of the child can be found.”

Druzelle began to wring her hands ruefully.  “What shall we do now?  How do we avert Yulricka’s magic?”

“I’m not afraid of that traitorous bag o’bones!”  Brunda thundered.  “Once the moon’s golden fingers touch Luena, she will be able to tell us where she is.  We must not underestimate the child’s power, Druzelle!”  Then Brunda chuckled to herself.  “Yes, Yulricka will wish that she had never tangled with us.”

(Continued…  https://creativemusingsoflediar.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/tales-of-nightshade-curse-of-job-part-four/)

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Tales of Nightshade: Curse of Job (Part Two)

Posted by LediaR on February 28, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Humor, Ledia Runnels, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Witch. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Mortar and PestleAt first, the images came slowly; then they swept the atmosphere in a broad panorama.  Brunda gazed upon the ephemeral portrayal of Luena’s capture; a consuming fury blazed within her as the scenes played to their conclusion.  She cast the spell several times more to see if she could make out who the men were, but each time the images came through much too vaguely.

“The savages!”  Brunda tore at the air.  Then she turned to Mandrake.  “Though it irks me to have to admit it, I need Druzelle’s assistance in this.  With her talent,” Brunda almost choked on the words. “For making people believe she is what she is not, perhaps Druzelle can go into that cursed village and find out what has become of the child.”  Mandrake meowed loudly and in a wink was gone to carry Brunda’s message.

Druzelle listened carefully to Mandrake while tears of rage filled her blue eyes.  Then, in a twinkling of an eye, she vanished from the forest and appeared behind one of the village shops, wearing the guise of the village gardener.  She maintained that the townsfolk were always eager to accommodate the talented botanist.

Unfortunately, the information Druzelle acquired had nothing to do with the whereabouts of Luena.  Which persons needed their lawns cultivated or rose gardens pruned.  Druzelle heard more than enough about that!  A few people looked askew at the ‘old man’ when asked about Luena’s family.  Since Luena’s mother had been charged with witchcraft, the subject was taboo.

Standing at the edge of town, Druzelle quickly changed back to her true self and teleported to the edge of Brunda’s land.  She found the other sorceress still standing beside the spot where Luena had disappeared.

Since sending Mandrake on his errand, Brunda had been reasoning out the curious business of Luena’s capture.  It had finally occurred to her to look in the direction of the Earl of Campbell.  Though Brunda had thwarted his previous plans to seize her land, the Earl was still a thorn in her side and would be so as long as he lived.

Druzelle related her failure to obtain any valuable information. Then Brunda explained her idea concerning the Earl.

“I can see where you would get that idea, Sister, dear,” Druzelle nodded.  “The Earl is a terrible brute and from what I gathered in the town, he is the main force behind most of the witchcraft accusations.  He is not only devious and cruel, but a truly uncivilized rat!”

“Yes, he is one of those who can never get enough of the riches of this world.”  Brunda added.  “He won’t be content until he owns most of the land within one hundred miles of here.  Greedy, greedy fool!”

“But why would he want Luena?”  Druzelle wondered.  “He has already claimed the Pierce land for his own.  The way you describe this morning’s happenings, it sounds as if he was deliberately searching for the little girl.”

“Of course he was, you silly ninny!”  Brunda snapped.  “With Luena alive to claim the land, he could not have a clear title to it.”

Druzelle’s cerulean eyes widened.  “Brunda, do you think it could have anything to do with his grudge against you?  Those men were looking near `your’ land, after all.”

The black depths of Brunda’s eyes became a blazing inferno.  When she finally spoke, her voice came forth soft, but deadly.  “Yes, of course, you could be right.  Though he is a cur, he is not entirely stupid.  The old scoundrel must have been watching these fields and Luena simply got caught in between.”  Brunda stroked her chin.  “Ah yes, it all makes perfect sense now.”

(Continued… https://creativemusingsoflediar.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/tales-of-nightshade-curse-of-job-part-three/)

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Tales of Nightshade: Curse of Job (Part One)

Posted by LediaR on February 26, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Witch. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Basket of Herbs

(Photo found at this site:<http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2011/02/corgyncombe-herbary.html&gt;)

It was one of those crystal mornings.  A crisp, cool breeze fell against Luena’s face and rustled her golden hair as the sky above her shone so blue that it hurt her eyes.  She knew she should not be wasting time daydreaming; Brunda would not approve.  But the day was so glorious; Luena just could not help herself.

Her basket of herbs was not half full, a touch of contrition squeezed at her heart, but that was soon forgotten when the sound of a bird drew her attention.  She found herself following the small cardinal as it flitted from tree branch to tree branch, her task of gathering herbs for the week’s lessons totally forgotten.

A patch of clover spread out in the field before Luena.  She stopped in her pursuit and knelt beside the pungent herbs and reached out to caress the diminutive pink blossoms that grew among them.

A sudden pandemonium broke the tranquillity of the morning causing Luena’s small head to rise.  Within moments, she was surrounded by a band of horsemen.  Before she could give a cry of alarm, one of the hulking brutes reached down and clasped his dirty hand across her mouth.

Hot tears sprang to Luena’s eyes and instinctively, she sank her teeth into the meaty palm.  With his free hand, the man delivered the child a stinging slap across the face.  Luena crumpled, her small body racked with sobs…

Brunda peered out the window.  This was the third time in a week that Luena had been late completing her chores.  “Why did I ever believe I had the patience to apprentice such a young child, or anyone for that matter?”  The old witch said to Mandrake, who dozed lazily on a wooden chair.  He turned a yellow-green eye in Brunda’s direction, dampened one paw and began stroking his ears.  He paused in mid-stroke to perk up his ears, as if he heard something; then he went back to washing.

“Better go and check on her.  It is getting late and we need to start work on her lessons before the day is gone.”  The old sorceress seized her broom and was out the door with Mandrake close behind.

Brunda flew across the meadow, searching for signs of the little girl.  She soon spied Luena’s gathering basket in a crushed bed of clover and swerved toward it.  Landing her broom, Brunda noticed that the basket lay beyond the invisible wall that hid her land from outsiders.

“Now where has that child gotten to?  Luena!”  The old woman cried in vexation.  She shot a glance toward Mandrake. “Haven’t I told her time and time again not to go beyond the protective barrier?” Steadying herself, Brunda stretched forth her hands, reciting a temporal displacement spell, and waited.

(Continued… https://creativemusingsoflediar.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/tales-of-nightshade-curse-of-job-part-two/)

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Tales of Nightshade: Daughter of the Silvery Moon (Part Five)

Posted by LediaR on February 25, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Ledia Runnels, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Witch. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

Lightning Bug

(Photo found at this site: http://tinyurl.com/aeocfqm)

Then with each succeeding night, as the moon amplified Brunda and Mandrake brought the child back from the land of the lost.  Until the eve of the full moon, when Luena agreed to accompany Brunda and help her to pick herbs.

Luena stood in the moonlight watching Brunda dig up a root with her bare hands and wrap it with coarse clothe.  A cloudless sky gave the moon full reign and as its silvery fingers brushed against them, the golden haired child began to feel a familiar cold heat envelope her.  Gazing at her hands, she saw a silvery cloud covering them.  Then from the depths of the mist, silver lightening race up her arms.

Luena looked up to see Brunda staring at her.  “My, my, lightening bug, what is this all about?” The old woman queried.

Luena shrugged.

Next day, Druzelle appeared.  Upon seeing her sister, Brunda blurted out, “Did you know that Luena was the witch and not her mother?”

Druzelle smiled.  “Well, yes, I did.  Didn’t I tell you before I left?”

“No, no, somehow you forgot that bit of information,” Brunda invoked.  “Might have made it a bit easier to deal with, if you had!”

A worried look crossed Druzelle’s face.  “Nothing has happened to Luena?”

“Girl almost starved herself, but no, she’s fine.”  Brunda huffed.  Then quickly changed the subject.  “I’ve been reading all night to find out more about this power Luena has.”

“Yes, she does posses a rare form of magic,”  Druzelle mused.  Brunda nodded her head and Druzelle eagerly continued,  “So please tell what it is that you have found.”

“This little witch has natural magic,” Brunda recanted. “She doesn’t need herbs, magic spells, toads or spiders; only her own essence and the power of the moon’s light.  I’ve also found that she can read minds as long as she is touching that sliver necklace around her neck; so there’s no use in your trying to keep secrets from her anymore!  I don’t know if she has any other talismans that enhance her magic, but silver and moonlight are definitely strong ones for her.

Brunda’s eyes became two slits.  “One thing for sure, Luena’s power is such that it must be carefully cultivated.  She must be allowed to grow naturally into whatever she is meant to be.  She is young and vulnerable and we must keep her secret from others who might want to exploit her, perhaps for great evil.”

Luena sat in the corner with Mandrake lying happily upon her lap.  ‘Vulnerable’, she mulled the word over in her mind.  I wonder what that means?

(Continued… https://creativemusingsoflediar.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/tales-of-nightshade-curse-of-job-part-one/)

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Tales of Nightshade: Daughter of the Silvery Moon (Part Four)

Posted by LediaR on February 24, 2013
Posted in: Creative Writing, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Magic, Magic Book, Novella Excerpt, Witch. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Apothecary Bottles

(Photo found at this site: http://tinyurl.com/afm58yu)

Nightfall was close at hand.  After hours of watching the silent girl, whose eyes stared vacantly before her, Mandrake the cat jumped onto the work table.

At first, Luena did not acknowledge the cat’s presence; she was off in the land of Nod, quietly anesthetized.  Decidedly, Mandrake attempted to jump onto the little girl’s narrow lap.  But each subsequent leap ended with him sliding precariously toward the sod floor.  Finally, after the fourth try at this ludicrous game, Luena reached out dimpled arms and caught the feline in an absent embrace.

The coolness of the cat’s sleek, furry body brought the child’s conscious mind back to Brunda’s cottage.  Nestling her face deep within the fragrant, black fur, Luena didn’t feel quite so hopeless. She held Mandrake too tightly, but though his throat was in his mouth, a weak `mew’ was the only protest he made.

Then after what seemed like an eternity, Luena let her arms slacken slightly and with one free hand, began to stroke Mandrake’s silky coat.  A contented purr rumbled forth.

Meanwhile, Brunda sorted through herbs that she had picked the day before.  Some would be hung from the ceiling to dry while others would be pickled in vinegar or alcohol for later use.  Once Luena heard the herbalist mutter beneath her breath, “Children, got no use or time for them.”

Brunda held up an empty jar.  A beam of moonlight glistened off the glass as she shined it once again.  “This will be fine for that batch of medicinal verbena,” she said aloud and selected another jar that dripped with wet and dotted translucent soap bubbles.

The second jar proved to be more slippery that Brunda had anticipated for her fingers suddenly lost contact with its surface and it went plummeting toward the floor.  After an unsuccessful attempt at catching it, Brunda braced herself for the sound of shattering glass and the mess that would ensure…

When the crash did not come, Brunda glanced downward and saw to her amazement that the jar hovered half an inch or so above the sod floor.  She reached down to touch the jar and it drop undamaged onto the ground with a soft plop.

Straightway, Brunda snatched up the jar and turned to find Mandrake.  It had been years, maybe centuries, since he had been a full-fledged warlock, but he still liked to play tricks every once in while.  When she spied him resting luxuriously in Luena’s lap, the old woman clicked her tongue and shook her head.   The child sat patting Mandrake while the `silly old thing’ loved it.

Then Brunda let one of her rare smiles flit across her face.  “Thank you old fellow.  Times being what they are, I do not relish having to go into that town for replacements.” and she nodded toward the glass receptacles.

Luena ‘felt’ the cat’s reply.  “Sorry old girl, wasn’t me.”  Then he wrapped his sleek body around Luena’s neck and meowed loudly.

Brunda stared in wonder at the mass of blonde curls that cascaded down the back of the wooden chair.  “No!” was all that she could say.

It seemed ludicrous.  Brunda walked over to Luena and peered curiously at the child.  Luena did not return the look. Her melancholy eyes transfixed, staring, it seemed, at nothing in particular.  Brunda’s gaze followed Luena’s until it came to rest upon her own work table.  There she found a most unexpected thing.  For just above the table’s wooden surface, several of her round-bottomed flasks swirling and shimmering in a queer, beautiful dance as the light of the silvery moon glistened within.

Glancing back at the little girl, Brunda watched as Luena’s left index finger danced like a conductor’s rod while her right hand continued to stroke Mandrake.  “My, my”, Brunda mused.

Abruptly, the receptacles ceased their cavorting as Luena froze in place.  Then just as suddenly, the little girl reached for the porridge spoon and began eating ravenously.

Brunda turned to the stove and drew up a warm bowl of soup.  Then with a brusque motion, she snatched the congealed porridge from in front of the child and replaced it with the fresh one.  Luena hardly noticed the switch; both were food and she was so very hungry!

Brunda scratched her chin.  “Seems I’ve found the true ‘Pierce’ witch.  Always knew those idiots couldn’t tell a real witch from an ordinary person.”

(Continued… https://creativemusingsoflediar.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/tales-of-nightshade-daughter-of-the-silvery-moon-part-five/)

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