Coven: a dark medieval paranormal romance (Witches of the Woods Book 2) (5 page)

Willow followed obediently behind me, raising her nostrils to take in the strange smells of this primordial corner of the woods. We walked for over the crest of a hill, and down a slope into a wide, lush valley. A stream ran down from the mountains, curling its way through the centre of the valley like a snake. It had not yet began to freeze over, but I could tell from the chill in the air it wasn’t far away. The water would be so cold it would burn the skin.

Clustered around the water’s edge were a series of tiny huts and structures – I counted twenty-two in all, quite a substantial settlement. Maerwynn had increased her numbers since I’d seen her last. Between the huts much of the undergrowth had been cleared, and stones brought from the riverbank to create terraced gardens and winding paths. Winter crops overflowed from the fertile beds, and wildflowers peeked between the gaps in the rocks. On a large, flat area beside the river, there were three fire pits, surrounded by wooden benches. Lanterns hung from the lower branches of the trees, to illuminate the paths when darkness fell. It was exactly as I remembered it, and yet, to see it again in all its splendour took my breath away.

“What is this place?” Ada whispered, as Maerwynn led us down a winding path toward the village.

“We call this the Haven,” replied Maerwynn. “It is the seat of our coven. The whole area is shrouded in protective spells, and I have sentries on duty to warn of any trespassers. That is how we discovered you so quickly. Here we are protected from the witch hunters, and we can work our magic in private. At least,” she glared at me. “We
could
.”

“I’m not stopping you.” I growled.

“Go with Brunhild, she has prepared some cabins for you.” Maerwynn commanded Ada and her aunts. She gestured to a girl around Ada’s age with pale skin and blonde hair hanging in waves over her large, rounded breasts. Her body was clad in scaled leather armour, and a cloak of doe skins wrapped around her thin shoulders. She nodded at Bernadine, but said nothing. “Not you, Witch Hunter.” Maerwynn’s hand pressed against my chest. “You remain with me. We need to talk.”

Ada gripped my arm hard, staring between Maerwynn and I with wide eyes. “Whatever you have to say to Ulrich, you can say to me.”

“This is not the time for hysterics, child,” Maerwynn said, her voice hard. “Leave us.”

Ada looked from Maerwynn to me, obviously worried.
As well she should be,
I thought to myself.
I am putting Ada in grave danger by trusting Maerwynn. But she’s in even worse danger if you do not.
“I’ll come to you in a moment,” I said to Ada. “Go with your aunts. It is safe, I promise.”

“You’ll be right behind me?” she asked.

“I promise,” I said. The second promise I’d made to her today, and I wasn’t entirely certain I’d be able to keep either of them.

Maerwynn waited until Ada’s back had disappeared down the winding path. She led me back into the shade of the trees, away from the main path down into the Haven. Shrouded by the twisted branches of an old oak, we were hidden from view. She instructed me to kneel on the ground.

“I’ll do no such thing.”

“You will if you don’t want to die of a mortified wound.” she snapped. “Now kneel, and pull off your tunic.”

I did as she instructed, ripping down the sleeve of my tunic to reveal my shoulder. With deft fingers, Maerwynn removed my sword belt, tossed my scabbard aside, and placed the leather strap of the belt between my teeth. She dug a knife from her own belt, and pushed the blade into the flame of a lantern hanging nearby to sterilize it. I sucked in my breath as she pressed the hot blade into my skin. Sharp pain stabbed at my shoulder. I bit down on the leather and flinched away.

“Don’t move,” Maerwynn snapped. She dug the knife in deeper. Sweat poured down my face.

After a few agonizing minutes of poking the knife around inside my shoulder, Maerwynn gripped the shaft with both hands and pulled it out. I gasped as the cold air rushed into the wound. But she wasn’t done yet. She jabbed the knife back in, searching for any barbs that had lodged in my skin.

“I have all the barbs,” she said, her voice emotionless. She dabbed at my shoulder with something cold. “This will close the wound.”

After a few moments, the pain became bearable. I reached up with my good arm and removed the leather from my mouth. “Thank you,” I said, the words tasting like poison on my lips. But I knew it was vital for Ada’s sake that I stay on Maerwynn’s good side.

Maerwynn came to sit in front of me, her eyes flashing with an old, familiar ire. “What is your game here, witch hunter? I will not delude myself you have returned out of affection for me. So your appearance puzzles me, for it is out of character for you to come to me for help. Your reputation has been well known to me these long years in isolation, and I am wary of your presence here. I do not like to be wary.” She tapped her fingers along the shaft of her bow.

“Which reputation?” I growled. “The one where I am a ruthless killer of witches, or the one where I set innocent women free again.”

Maerwynn merely smiled that hard smile of hers. I understood what she meant. To her mind, I was both of those men at once.

“I have heard rumours on the wind. You are being hunted yourself, Ulrich. There is a price on your head, enough gold coin to fill a king’s coffers. You bring great danger to my coven, and so from you I must now have the complete truth. I must know the full extent of what I am facing.”

“Ada’s village tried to burn her alive for witchcraft. I saved her. But the village Elder discovered that my … torture of Ada wasn’t entirely within the bounds of the law. He sent a letter to my father, who has put a price upon my head. Upon all of our heads, actually. I’ve brought them here to keep them safe, while I go after Damon.”

Maerwynn tipped her head to the side. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

“My father and Lord Benedict are organizing the first large scale, coordinated witch-hunt across all his territories. They have called every scharfrichter in the land to Rotstrom castle to receive their orders. I imagine it won’t be long until they start recruiting more witch hunters, to swell the numbers before they march out. They will go to every village, rounding up poor accused women on the grounds of heresy and gossip, and will pack them so tightly into the Lord’s dungeon his well will fill up with blood. They won’t leave a single stone unturned, a single corner of the forest unsearched. That’s why I need to keep Ada and her aunts here, where they are safe for now. If I can’t find a way to stop this witch hunt, Maerwynn, then
none
of us will be safe.”

As I spoke, I pressed my fingers against the cut across my palm. I decided not to tell Maerwynn about Clarissa and the oath and Ada’s family curse. The knowledge would be of no use to her, and it would give her something she may later use against me. I’d dealt with this woman before, and knew it better to hold some things back.

Maerwynn’s eyes flashed, but her jaw was set. She remained silent, thinking over what I had said. Finally, she spoke. “You understand I will require payment for my services. I do not make a habit of granting favours for witch hunters out of the kindness of my heart.”

“I told you, you can stop calling me that. I have left the profession forever. I am now Ulrich the outlaw, Ulrich the unlucky. Ulrich the nearly-free.”

“Nearly-free?”

“What man can call himself free while he is so hunted? I will never be able to rest until my father is dead, and I am free from his curse forever.”
And free from Clarissa’s bonds,
I thought to myself, rubbing my fingers along the scab on my palm.

“You love this girl, this Ada.” It wasn’t a question.

I nodded. Maerwynn’s hard eyes bore into me. I knew I had shocked her with that news. She knew me well, even after so many years. She did not think me capable of love.

“I haven’t heard word from you in six years,” Maerwynn said, her tone softening. “And you show up on my land with one of the most powerful witches I’ve ever encountered …”

“Who? Ada?”

She snorted. “Of course not. That mouse couldn’t hex a goat, let alone move a mountain or set the sky on fire. I’m talking about Bernadine. I have met her before, and her sisters. At one time they were part of one of the most powerful covens in the entire world. Bernadine was that coven’s high priestess, and a flame witch whose equal I’ve never seen. Where is the third sister, Ysmay?”

“I believe she is dead. Ada is her daughter.”

Maerwynn nodded, her brow wrinkling. “Your little mouse is Ysmay’s daughter? Perhaps she may yet grow to become a roaring lion. Now, let us discuss payment.”

“I have no money.”

Maerwynn laughed, her voice bitter. “Look around you, Ulrich. What use have we of coin here? Out here on the edges of the world, we must make our own fortunes, such as they are. Besides, if I wanted money, I’d just turn you in to your father and collect the reward. No, I want you to collect something for me from Lord Benedict.”

“What? Why do you require payment from me? I’m not doing this for myself, Maerwynn. I don’t expect anything from you. I do all this to keep these witches safe from men like my father, a cause I thought you’d wholeheartedly support.”

“You love her, Ulrich, and therefore your request is not entirely selfless. You are in my territory, and I have every right to demand payment for services rendered. You will collect this object and bring it to me when you return for Ada and her aunts.”

“What is the object?”

“When Benedict had my sister arrested for witchcraft and placed in his dungeon, he took an object from her.” The edge of Maerwynn’s mouth jerked at the mention of her sister. “It was a ring that has been in my family for centuries. The ring contains a large blood-red ruby. The band of the ring is like a snake’s body, coiled and ready to pounce. This ring is powerful, Ulrich. It is the sole means through which Lord Benedict keeps his enemies at bay, and continues to expand his territories. When you take it, you mustn’t touch it. This is very important.”

I snorted. “How am I to retrieve this ring without touching it?”

“You’re a clever man, Ulrich. You shall figure it out.” Maerwynn reached into her belt and pulled out a small leather pouch. From another pouch she pulled a single clear crystal and placed it inside. Then she pressed the pouch into my hand, her icy fingers grazing the cut in my palm. “Take this. Place the ring inside it. The crystal will keep its energy from affecting you. Do not let anyone else see or carry the ring. It has a very strong influence over weaker minds. It will corrupt a lesser man, as it has corrupted Lord Benedict. Not even your löwe will be immune.”

“And what about its influence on
you
?” I narrowed my eyes at her. “What do you intend to do with the ring once it is in your possession?”

“That is for me alone to know,” replied Maerwynn. “Do we have a deal?”

I sighed. I didn’t want to bring her this ring. It sounded like too much power for Maerwynn to wield. I knew her well enough to assume she fancied herself in Lord Benedict’s place, ruling over a great swath of land and dishing out justice as she saw fit. I didn’t like the glint in her eyes when she spoke of this ring.

But I had no choice, and I was going to kill Lord Benedict anyway. Surely, any evil Maerwynn wrought with that amount of power would be no worse than what Lord Benedict has done. At least if I did this for her, then Ada would be safe. “Very well. We have an accord, but you must swear on it.”

Maerwynn took a knife from her belt and cut a slit in her palm. Then she handed me the knife and I cut a line next to the scar from the oath I’d made to Clarissa. My skin burned as I dragged the blade across it. I felt uncomfortable with all these oaths, tying myself to promises I didn’t want to keep. But if it saved Ada’s life, then I had to do it.

We pressed our palms together while Maerwynn chanted the words to seal the oath. I made sure she declared that if I brought her the ring, then she would never be able to harm Ada. That done, Maerwynn escorted me into the circle of huts, nestled into the shelf of rock that marked the edges of an ancient sacred site. I knew further up the hillock was a circle of standing stones aligned with the stars, where Maerwynn and her coven practiced their rituals.

The day’s work was over, and everyone in the Haven came down to meet the new arrivals. Maerwynn’s fellow witches lined up along the edge of the river, theirs faces serene, their eyes penetrating. They looked like women of myths, great warriors with bared breasts and magical armour, powerful priestesses who could turn a man to stone with one glance. The few men that lived in the Haven stayed further back, the blood-red of the leather bonds they wore around their wrists, ankles and necks standing out against their naked skin. These men were servants to the coven, slaves who stayed because they loved to serve powerful women, or because they were too frightened to leave.

Maerwynn said a few words of welcome to the newcomers, explaining that although they hadn’t yet gone through a formal initiation ceremony, they were now considered part of the coven, and were to be treated as such. She had each of the women step forward and introduce herself before exchanging a kiss with Ada and her aunts. None of the men were introduced or invited to speak. Maerwynn did not say anything about what I’d told her of Lord Benedict’s scheme.

These introductions done, Maerwynn snapped her fingers, and ordered two of the women – a black-haired beauty named Ivy and a flaxen-haired teenaged girl named Ryia – to fetch some fresh clothing. After the clothes were brought Maerwynn explained that buckets of warm water and herbal salves had been placed in their cabins, should they wish to wash before the evening meal. Bernadine and Aubrey walked back up the path toward one of the largest cabins near Maerwynn’s own residence. Ada ran along to her small room near the lakeside. I tried to follow her, but Maerwynn grabbed my arm. She shook her head. “You know our customs, Ulrich. Men do not go indoors. You will leave your woman alone to wash in peace.”

Ada bathed quickly while I waited outside. She returned to me, dressed no longer in the ill-fitting clothes we’d stolen on the road, but a long, floaty dress made of soft linen that clung to every one of her gorgeous curves. The neckline dipped low in front, revealing the rise of Ada’s round, bouncing breasts. A fur cloak draped around her shoulder kept off the chill.