“That is indeed strange behavior for guild heads at a council meeting,” Benjim said thoughtfully. “You might expect that sort of thing from deckhands in a squabble, but the guild heads have always been upright and respectable.”
“That’s not the worst of it,” Luxarn leaned close and lowered his voice to a loud whisper, “there have been dead bodies showing up in the river, and in the fisherman’s nets.
You know what a superstitious lot the fishermen are. Dead bodies in their nets are a very bad omen.
I hear that some of the fishermen are talking of not even going out again until something is done about it. I suppose that’s just talk right now. They do still have to make a living after all.”
Benjim exchanged a worried glance with Nicoldani.
Luxarn lowered his voice even further and glanced around to make sure no one else was close enough to hear, before continuing. “There’s talk that the Blood Witch is free, and maybe it’s her work, the dead bodies and all.”
“What do you think?” Benjim asked Luxarn cautiously.
“Don’t really know what to think,” Luxarn said with a perplexed look. “Things have been very unsettling and getting worse by the day. Don’t want to believe the witch is free. But something is going on and it isn’t right. I was born here and lived my whole life in Yilavo City. I’ve never seen things like this before.”
Benjim studied Luxarn for a long moment before finally asking, “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”
Luxarn looked a little taken aback at the suggestion, but after a moment took them to a private sitting room where they could talk without being disturbed or overheard. Luxarn had one of the serving girls fetch them a pitcher of water and glasses, then gave her strict instructions to not let anyone into the room. After closing the door behind him, Luxarn took a seat at the long table with the others. The innkeeper wore a wary look as he asked. “What is this really about Benjim? We have been friends for a long time. Is there something going on that you know about?”
Jak was uneasy about this whole thing. He didn’t know this man or whether he could be trusted completely. He had thought he could trust Mortikus until the little man held them captive and tried to sell them as food to the Vashi. He would just have to rely on Benjim’s judgment, since the old man had obviously known the innkeeper for quite some time.
“What if I told you the Blood Witch has been freed?” Benjim said somberly.
Luxarn let out a raucous laugh. “Is this some kind of joke? Are you trying to pull one over on me old friend?”
“I am deadly serious,” Benjim said with a flat look, “I would never jest about something this important. The witch was freed from her prison over a month ago. There was an attack on Gethseena which killed the priests of Ashteri, thereby severing the wards that held her captive and allowing the witch to break free.”
When Luxarn realized that Benjim was not kidding him, his face went pale and he stared in disbelief.
“That is not the whole of it,” Benjim continued staring intently at Luxarn, “not only is she free, but she is here in Yilavo City….at this very moment.”
The innkeeper’s face went even paler and he opened and closed his mouth several times but no words would come out. He reached for the pitcher of water with an unsteady hand and poured a glass, gulping it down carelessly and slopping some down the front of his shirt. After a moment he regained a little of his composure and said, “You mean to tell me the witch….. The Blood Witch is free, and in the city? Now? In my city? Here?”
“Unfortunately yes, she is” Benjim responded gravely. “We have been following her down from the north trying to catch up with her. We followed her here to Yilavo City. We know she is here.”
“How......Here.....Wh----What are we supposed to do against the Blood Witch?” Luxarn said as he slumped heavily back in his chair. “And why in heaven’s name are you following her? I would be running in the opposite direction.”
Benjim raised an eyebrow and shook his head before answering, “Fortunately for us, and the world, over the many, many years the witch was imprisoned, she has dwindled in power and is now only a pale reflection of the witch who dominated the world so long ago. She is nowhere near as strong as she once was. We should be able to stop or even destroy her. She has not obtained her Staff of Power yet. This I know for certain. But we must find her quickly and deal with her now, while we still can before it is too late.”
“But………The Blood Witch....... how can we stand against her?” Luxarn said as his head and shoulders slumped dejectedly.
“We can, and we will,” Benjim said confidently, “we have no other choice. We must do it.
But alas, we have lost much time. I fear since she has been here for more than a month, that she most certainly has gathered followers in that amount of time.
It is fair to say that she is behind much of the unrest and disturbances in the city. Most assuredly, she is responsible for the dead bodies turning up in the nets.
If she has gained too many followers or too much influence, it may come down to an all out pitched battle to root her out and capture her,” Benjim explained, seeming a little weary himself.
“Battle?” The innkeeper’s eyes went wide and his eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Here in the city? Do you really think she is capable of getting that many followers in that amount of time?
“The witch has never had a very difficult time finding those fanatical enough to follow her. Yilavo City is no different. I’m sure she has gained a following in the time she has been here, quite possibly people in positions of some power and influence. Since much of the time those are the ones who’s hearts are most receptive to the evil and its promises of power.”
I haven’t heard anything about that in the city, other than just the rumors and the dead bodi…….” Luxarn trailed off and his mouth gaped open when the realization came over him.
“Can’t we go to the City Watch or the Magistrate and tell them of this?” The innkeeper asked hopefully. “Can’t they deal with it more effectively?”
“No!” Benjim said emphatically. “We cannot risk that before we know the full extent of the witch’s influence here. If she has people in positions of power then all it would serve to do, is to get us arrested, or worse.”
Silence stretched for several moments as everyone at the table contemplated the options. “Do you know people you can trust completely?” Benjim asked the innkeeper after several moments.
“Yes, certainly I know many people I can trust,” Luxarn said with a frown. “Why? What is it that you are suggesting?”
“If you were to discretely start bringing those people into your confidence. You can tell them of the events that have unfolded, then it might be possible to gain enough support to oppose the witch even if she has obtained many followers. But only choose people you trust with your life. If things go badly, it may be your life, so choose wisely,” Benjim cautioned.
“Once we have gathered enough support, then even if she has influential people in her employ we will stand a better chance against her. Prepare the people to stand at a moments ready. They will need to be able to act without much forewarning. But we must act as quickly as possible. We cannot afford to let the witch continue unchecked.”
Luxarn agreed that he would start spreading the word, discretely of course. Jak and Nicoldani were going to start searching in the city to try and find where the witch was located. They knew it was an extremely slim chance that they would just stumble upon her in this way. But perhaps they might be able to learn something of value that could help lead them to her.
Benjim was going to see if he could learn how far the witch had spread her influence in the city, and who might be supporting her.
Gin wanted to go along and help with the searching, but the others agreed that it would be safer for her if she stayed at the inn. Luxarn set Mistress Inirae, the kindly woman who had showed them their rooms the night before to watch over Gin while the others were out in th
e city. Gin was not happy about being left behind, but Inirae was a pleasant woman and soon had Gin laughing and forgetting all about it.
The three set out to search in opposite directions. They decided they could be more productive, and they could cover more ground if they split up. Jak gave the best description he could of Brigette to the other two men so they would recognize who they were looking for if they saw her. He still didn’t want to admit that Brigette was the Blood Witch, but he figured if they found one they would hopefully find the other as well.
In either case, it didn’t really matter, because it was Brigette that Jak sought. He didn’t really care about the witch, and didn’t really want to find her. He just wanted to find Brigette safe and unharmed. After that, then he didn’t care what the others did about the witch.
Jak spent all day walking the streets, back and forth and up and down, with no luck. He enjoyed it however since he was able to explore the big new city with all its wondrous sights. As it turned out, it was actually kind of fun for him.
When the end of the day came, he returned back to the Sailors Delight Inn to see if the other two men had better luck than he was having. His stomach was grumbling from lack of food and his feet were sore from walking the cobblestone streets all day. After a full day of searching, it seemed the two older men had no luck either in their plight. They ate their evening meal in relative silence, and afterwards retired to their beds for the night.
The following morning when Jak came down for breakfast, the common room was all a buzz. The urgent news on everyone’s tongue was that the Magistrate had died during the night. There were rumors running rampant in the city of foul play, but according to the official word, Magistrate Jaren had died naturally in his sleep.
Some of the people were not convinced however, and were sure the Magistrate had been murdered. There were many angry people who wanted someone to do something about it to bring the guilty party to justice. The only problem was that no one knew exactly who might have done it, or if in fact anyone had actually murdered the magistrate.
Other’s still maintained that the magistrate had in fact died naturally in his sleep. Needless to say, the city was beginning to heat up over the issue and it seemed inevitable that before long it would be boiling.
That day they continued combing the streets for clues or some sort of information. However, Jak had to turn in early from this day of searching since the tensions in the city had risen to dangerous levels because of the death of the magistrate. Many of the people on the streets were angry, with either the City Watch, or the guild heads, Jak wasn’t really sure which.
Several times he saw angry groups of people arguing vehemently with each other, and in some cases the altercations were even escalating into all out brawls. All the disturbances and unrest made him decide to make his way back to the inn before he accidentally got caught up in one of the frays.
He was hurrying back towards the part of town where the Sailor’s Delight Inn was located, when he rounded a corner and nearly knocked a woman down. Stepping back hastily, Jak began to apologize to the woman whom he almost bowled over when the words froze on his tongue.
A very familiar face framed in flame red hair glared back at him in anger. Abruptly recognition dawned in the woman’s eyes, which quickly turned to surprise and uncertainty. Then suddenly she darted forward, “Jak, it is you!” Brigette said as she flung her arms around his neck and pulled him close.
“Brigette? Is it really you? Are you alright? What happened to you? I was so worried. I thought you might be….dead. Where have you been? Why are you here?” Jak had so many questions they all poured out in a rush.
“I’m fine now that you are here Jak. I missed you so much,” Brigette said as she continued to hold him closely. Jak found that his own arms were around Brigette’s waist squeezing her tightly against him. She felt so good in his arms that he didn’t ever want to let her go. It had been so long since he had seen her, it seemed like forever. He was overjoyed that he had found her safe at last.
“How did you get here?” he asked.
Brigette pulled back slightly but kept her hands on his shoulders. Jak reluctantly let her pull away that much, but he already missed the feel of her body against his.
“It was horrible!” She said, “I woke up in the cave and you weren’t there. I looked, but couldn’t find you anywhere, and I didn’t know what had happened. Then I saw a horrible creature that looked almost like an old shriveled woman coming out of the cave. I ran and ran to get away from her and hide. I thought she might have killed you.
After a time, when I thought she had gone, I went back to Elsdon. But everyone there was dead. I didn’t know what else to do. I was afraid she would come for me too. So I ran until there was nowhere left to run. I ended up here.”
“I thought she had killed you,” Jak said softly. “I couldn’t find you anywhere. The Blood Witch killed everyone in Elsdon except Gin and me. I thought she had killed you too. We’ve been hunting her this whole time. I wanted to kill her for what she did to you and our families.”
Fierce anger flashed in Brigette’s eyes for just an instant, before her doe eyed innocent look returned.
“I’m so glad I found you Brigette. I missed you so much.”
She pulled herself against him once again and laid her head against his chest. Jak wished they could just stay here like this forever. It felt so right and comforting, and it was the first time since that night that he had felt anything close to comfort and peace.
But right then he heard a commotion just down the street. He looked to see an angry mob moving quickly up the street right towards where he and Brigette were standing. Not knowing who they were or what their intentions were, Jak didn’t want to get caught up in the middle of it.
“Come with me Jak,” Brigette said with a pleading anxious look in her eyes. She was glancing between him and the angry mob advancing towards them down the street.
“We have rooms at an inn,” Jak said in a rush, “come with me. We can keep you safe.” He took a few steps across the street before he realized Brigette had not followed him and now the crowd was getting very close.
“No Jak, come with me. Please!” her voice sounded pleading but the look in her eyes was one of impatience and rising anger. Why was she angry with him? He was trying to help her and get her to safety. Nevertheless, she continued to back away towards the other side of the street. Suddenly, with a last angry glare at him, she turned and darted around a corner in the opposite direction.
Jak started after Brigette but it was too late, the crowd overtook him and he was caught up in the mob of people flowing down the street. He was jostled, elbowed, and nearly knocked to the ground before he finally made it clear of the crowd. He received angry shouts from the crowd for his trouble, but thankfully, no one was turning to confront him or follow.
The mobbing people had carried him quite a ways down the street before he could get clear of them. Hurrying back to where he last saw Brigette, he looked around frantically but could not find her anywhere. After searching for a time without any luck, he finally reluctantly gave up. Brigette seemed to have just disappeared.
From a distance, Jak saw several more groups of people, along with patrols of the City Watch. The members of the City Watch were trying to break up the assembled groups and were using clubs to aid them. Jak did not want to be mistaken for one of them, or caught up in one of the crowds again. It was well past time to be back so he grudgingly gave up his search and turned to run all the way back to the inn. The only comforting thought was at least he knew Brigette was alive now. It was just a matter of puzzling out why she had run off and would not come with him.
When Jak finally made it back and entered the common room at the Sailor’s Delight, his friends were nowhere to be found. He saw Luxarn across the room and started to approach him, thinking the man might have seen them or know where they were. When the innkeeper saw Jak, alarm crossed the man’s face and he hastily scanned the room.
“Were you followed?” he asked, still glancing all around the room nervously.
“Followed? No. Why would I be followed?” Jak asked in confusion.
“Come with me,” Luxarn turned quickly and herded Jak through the kitchen to a back storeroom. The innkeeper glanced around again to see if anyone else was looking, before pulling on a row of shelves, which opened to reveal a hidden door. Opening the hidden door the innkeeper ordered Jak down a dark staircase. Luxarn did not follow; instead he closed the door behind Jak.
Panic struck Jak, thinking he was being taken captive again, before he heard low familiar voices coming from below. Descending the rest of the way down the staircase, he found Benjim, Nicoldani, and Gin seated around a small table in the cellar below the inn.
“What's going on?” he asked. “Why are you all down here? Why is the innkeeper acting so strangely?”
“It seems things are worse, in a way than we previously thought,” Benjim answered somberly.
“But I am glad to see you are safe. We feared you might have been captured or worse.”
“Captured by who, the mobs on the street? Jak asked, still not knowing what was happening.
“No, by the City Watch,” Benjim said gravely, “as it turns out the witch is nearly in control of the entire city. She has control over at least a part, if not all of the City Watch, including the captain. The Watch is looking for us, or rather you in particular.
Luxarn told me that the Watch came while we were out, asking questions about us. The descriptions they have match us without a doubt. We are a rather conspicuous traveling party and it is certain they want to find us. That means the witch knows we are here in the City, and if that is not bad enough, she is the new magistrate, of sorts,” Benjim paused to let all the news sink in.
“However, in our favor, many of the people of the city are not taking it lying down. Many believe that she is the one who had Magistrate Jaren murdered. They do not know she is the Blood Witch, however. But they are rising up in rebellion against her to oppose her becoming the new Magistrate. Better if they do not find out just yet that she is the witch as well. Many will be too frightened of her to stay the course if they knew the truth. But the good news is that at least we know where she is now.”
The Blood Witch (The Blood Reign Chronicles Book 1) Page 34