Chapter 54

**Merianna**

I was pushed into a group that consisted of Thyrion, Raska and myself. The council found an area to set the trap in, and also handled the transportation of the charm from the forest by the village to the ruins of the old temple I was now gawking at.

“This place is surprisingly massive…” I breathed as I marveled at the few pieces of the structure that still stood.

“This place was so beautiful back in the day.” Raska sighed wistfully from my left.

“What on earth were you doing at a Temple?” Thyrion asked from behind us.

“I was given a bounty to take the corrupt priest’s head before he opened a Demon Gate in the underground chambers. It happened in my past life just before this one I believe. Oh what a day that was… the people were screaming, the priest was fighting, the floor exploded and all worked out well in the end. Before the fight though I had a lovely time being treated as a noble woman in the inner rooms while waiting to meet the priest, they had the most wonderful wine and the softest pillows.” I suspected that Thyrion and I were sharing the same thought at that moment. That Raska was innocently scary.

“So if we go over to the foundations, there will be a big hole in the ground? How big is it?” I asked curiously.

“There should be, when I saw it last, it was pretty big for a hole, not enough time has passed to have the earth erase it all yet. Apparently Ferina said that they planted the charm inside the hole. It will be hilarious to see the hunters suddenly run into an illusioned wall in the ground.” She chuckled and started wandering closer to the ruins.

Thyrion and I followed close by as all the other teams around us milled about, awaiting further instructions. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a lot of the unfamiliar witches I saw were from the council. Noch had raved not too long ago about how he didn’t trust the Council to properly organise, let alone take care of an ambush, yet it seemed that Councilor Ferina had a good handle on everything going on as far as I saw. It made me wonder what the other members of the council were like.

“Oh! It hasn’t changed much at all!” Raska’s surprised voice piped up from in front of me. We had reached the foundation of the temple and walked along the overgrown tiles which used to be a floor.

My jaw dropped when I came up next to Raska and glanced down at the hole she mentioned. “This is massive! It’s not a hole it’s a crater!” I exclaimed. Over the edge of the floor we stood on, the “hole” that Raska mentioned was indeed there, only the inside of the “chamber” looked like a devastated warzone that had a crater in the middle, which made it even bigger than it actually was.

“It’s not that bad. The thing that eventually killed the priest was the bomb that I got from Arasule to destroy the Demon Gate. Although, I must admit, I didn’t expect it to be as powerful as it was.” She reminisced while examining her past bounty’s results.

“Anything from Arasule is dangerous.” Thyrion commented with a rueful grin as he also examined the aftermath.

“Well, I can’t argue with that.” I muttered back.

A small rustling noise from the darkness of the hole caught my attention. Squinting, I leaned in a bit closer over the edge to see what it was. I didn’t see anything until a black mass suddenly came shooting out of the hole straight to me.

I screamed in surprise as it enveloped me quicker than I could react. I jerked as arms snuck around and secured me to a warm body. Before I could shock whoever had a hold of me, the darkness disappeared. “Oh how I missed this!” Squealed Junnie’s voice from over my head.

“WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE?!” I exploded and started writhing to get out of her grasp.

“I was lonely…” She sing-songed and proceeded to squeeze me even tighter.

“Let me goooo…” I wheezed helplessly.

“Nope! I haven’t seen your sweet little face in days! And you amuse me.” Raska and Thyrion gave me equally amused expressions as they tried not to laugh.

“What have you been doing lately? Ferina has been showing up at the Order without you, so I got curious.” Thyrion said curiously.

“I’ve been running errands here and there. Ferina has been a relentless slave driver! Sending me all over the place without having time to tell me what all the fuss was about. She just kept saying ‘do it’, then ran off to heaven knows where. Then after I came back to report to her she would listen then immediately send me off on another errand as she ran off to do something else.” Junnie muttered with a pout. “What is going on here anyway?” she asked while looking around at all the witches.

“You don’t know?” Raska asked in surprise.

“No, I just arrived now.” She confirmed while placing her chin on my head.

“We’re going to catch a bad wolf, skin it and cut its tail off to use for decoration.” I muttered sarcastically.

“You found a wolf kin?! Does he change on a full moon?! Have you seen him?! Apparently it’s very hard to catch even a glimpse of one so how did you do it?!” She asked enthusiastically as she shook me by the shoulders.

“She’s pulling your leg Junnie. There is no wolf kin involved here.” Raska laughed.

“Honestly?!” Junnie asked, then suddenly turned me around so she could look me in the eyes. I merely raised my eyebrow at her and refused to say anything. “Well shoot. That would have been the highlight of the century if that were the case.” She said unhappily, then resumed to pull me close again.

“It would have! But unfortunately it’s something much more mundane.” Raska smirked.

“Oh? Do share, I want to be in on the excitement as well!” Junnie said with a  jiggle as she twirled me around and hugged me close again. I decided to just imagine that she was Nelia and play the part of the rag doll until she was satisfied. I knew full well by now that escape was impossible, especially since I could feel that nullifying charm buzzing against me again. Where she had hidden it though… I didn’t dare ask.

“We are going to catch the hooded man. Our Merianna here came up with a brilliant plan that we are now putting into motion. They won’t see it coming!” Thyrion boasted with an evil smile that reminded me about how little I still knew about him.

At the mention of the hooded man I could feel Junnie stiffen behind me. Right now she didn’t feel soft and welcoming, she felt downright deadly as her arms around me suddenly felt like shackles. “Oh! That’s fantastic! Why didn’t Ferina tell me?! I want to have some fun too!” She whined and jiggled up and down. 

As quickly as her stiffness came, it was gone again. Was she that disappointed that she wasn’t told about it? Or was she that excited about the prospect of finally catching the hooded man?

“I haven’t had a good battle in ages! Raska, don’t you think it would be fun to-” Junnie’s sentence cut off as I heard a pat on her shoulder.

“Alright Junnie, you can let go of our little dear now and come along with me. I’ve got another job for you.” Councilor Ferina’s voice drifted over from behind her. I felt Junnie go as stiff as a board, after a second she slowly turned around to face Councilor Ferina.

“I can’t have a little break?” She asked with trepidation.

“No.” Councilor Ferina quipped and took hold of Junnie’s collar. “You know you are supposed to come directly to me after each task. You don’t have time to dawdle. We don’t have time to take breaks yet. You are late in reporting to me, and I don’t take lightly to tardiness. Now everyone if you would kindly excuse us.” My eyes just about bugged out of my sockets as Junnie quickly released me and got physically dragged away by Councilor Ferina. As she was being dragged away I could hear Junnie’s pleas for mercy growing more desperate by each drag over the rocky ground.

“I never expected Councilor Ferina to be that… dare I say, scary.” I muttered as I gawked at the spectacle. It was fascinating to see pitite Councilor Ferina dragging away the powerful Junnie who was a good foot taller than her. I had always thought her to be a completely gentle person like Nelia.

“Ferina is certainly a kind and fair witch, but she is also most formidable when crossed in the wrong way.” Raska commented as she chuckled after the pair.

“Remember the time one of her subordinates thought that it was okay to disregard a little chore she sent them on?” Thyrion asked Raska with a grin.

“That was a day that no witch in history would forget!” She cackled. I was curious about this little exchange, but before I could ask them about the story, Fog called for attention over the milling witches.

I jumped onto a nearby boulder as everyone’s attention turned to Fog’s direction. As much as I hated to admit it, everyone around me was too tall to see around so I had to rely on higher ground. I was stunned for a second as I saw Fog’s outfit. It was completely different from what he usually wore around the Order and practically vibrated with enchantments. It was odd to see such a strikingly blue colour embroidered on the dark leather he wore. He always tended to wear light or plain coloured clothes that never complimented his complexion or fae features, but this was dark and striking which made his white hair and light complexion strike out at you. The blue embroidery through the dyed leather made his eyes shine even more than they usually did.

“We know that the Hunters tend to turn up quite quickly after their initial contact with the covens. Everyone, take your positions and be prepared for the moment they open up that Gateway. Also be ready to run towards Nochtandiel if a fire message arrives about an attack on the coven themselves. Be prepared for anything, the enemy we face here is more than just the Hunters. Fall into position!” He commanded. I was surprised to see the witches from the Council scrambling over themselves to obey while the Order members calmly moved to their posts.

As Raska pulled me down and led me away towards our position at the right side of the hole, I couldn’t resist asking. “Why are those witches from the Council so eager to follow Fog’s command?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” She asked with surprise.

“If I knew, then I wouldn’t be asking. Please enlighten me.” I drolled.

Thyrion decided to answer my question instead. “Most of the lower members or combat witches of the Council have all been taught at the Order by Fog and the others. The Council even sometimes sends witches there for training before they can be integrated into the Council’s ranks. The Order after all is just about the only place for Training and Teaching in this realm, and the Council prefers well trained and educated witches over normal coven witches.”

“I never thought of the Order in that way. It’s just home to me.” I commented with a shrug as I mulled the information over in my mind.

“That is to be expected since you and Nelia are practically being raised there.” Raska commented as she then pulled me along to hunker behind a broken pillar’s base.

“Haven’t you ever wondered where the trainees go after their training is completed?” Asked Thyrion as he hunkered down next to me.

“The answer I got last time from Noch was that they were going to a place where not even a trickster could find something to laugh about.” I said as I tried to connect that answer to the trainees going to the council.

Both Raska and Thyrion choked and tried to cover their mouths before any sound escaped. I gave them a questioning look and hoped they would fill me in on the joke. Thyrion was the first one to recover.

“Noch once told me that they go to a place thinking that they’ll become heroes, but they’ll actually become mindless minions and enforcers for a bunch of prickly piles of shite who can’t be distinguished from a pile of Troll shite.” Thyrion wheezed and covered his mouth again. Raska on the other hand started squealing behind her hand and jerking uncontrollably.

“I will never see the trainees or the Council the same way ever again.” I muttered while trying to keep my own urge to laugh squashed down. I felt so sorry for all those happy faces I saw leave the Order after their final trials. They very well had the potential to become heroes or teachers themselves after surviving that hell, but instead they became Council minions. To say that I felt sorry for them was an understatement.



*******

**Noch**

“Please I beg you! Have mercy! I just gave you my report! I said I’m sorry!” Junnie’s voice wailed as I turned to see Ferina dragging her by the collar towards me.

“What is this commotion about?” I asked Ferina as she came to stand in front of me.

“Junnie went to spend time with Merianna instead of first coming straight to me with her report.” Ferina said flatly like that should explain everything, and unfortunately for Junnie, it did.

“And your reason for coming to me then?” I asked curiously.

“I’m keeping her away from the one thing she wants most right now, which is Merianna, and I want you to open a gateway to the Village where she shall stand watch in case of the attack happening there first.” Ferina said without missing a beat.

“But, but , but-” Junnie whined from the floor.

“Exactly.” Ferina confirmed Junnie’s unspoken reasoning. “I know how much you’d want to be in a good battle. If things go well and the battle happens here, you will miss out on it. If the attack happens at the Village first you will be our strongest fighter there and first in line. If that is the case, I will find a new way of punishing you when the battle is over.” she said while looming over her. I had forgotten how scary Ferina could be at times.

Junnie whimpered with big eyes. “No amount of begging or buttering me up will save you.” Ferina stated firmly and Junnie seemed to fall into silent despair.

Chuckling I walked to the moonstone anchor we had secured in the ground and poured my energy into it. The small pillar glowed and stretched my energy into a thin circular membrane until it was big enough for one person to travel through. Picturing the forest by the village clearly in my mind the energy then became denser and swirled in the middle, creating a small gateway. “You are welcome to shove her through when you’re ready.”

And that was exactly what Ferina did. She hauled a limp Junnie up by the collar, nearly choking her and kicked her right through the gateway. “Thank you Noch, that will be all.” She announced as she dusted her hands off on her breeches. 

“Only a pleasure Ferina. I’m sure that Merianna is especially grateful for it.” I chuckled. Then I caught myself as I noticed something different about her. “I have never seen you wearing breeches before, I thought you would die of embarrassment if you were ever to try them on.” I remarked as I closed the gateway with a pop.

“Oh!” She exclaimed and then nervously tugged on the sides of the loose fabric. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she frowned at me. “I was slightly embarrassed by the idea, but when I saw Merianna wearing them so proudly and saw how easily she moved in them, I thought that I might try them as well.” she mumbled.

I laughed at her and she slapped my shoulder sharply. “It’s not that funny!” She exclaimed.

“You do realise that Raska has been wearing breeches proudly for ages!”

“That’s Raska! She’s always been different!” 

“Arasule has also started wearing them more often lately, it seems like it might become a new trend among the women in the Order soon.” I snickered.

“Well it will be a good change.” She declared. “These breaches truly are much more comfortable to move around in. I’m actually surprised that I haven’t seriously thought of wearing them sooner.

I chuckled at her childlike pout. “With you being around all those geezers in the Council all the time, I’m sure that they play a big role in that.”

She gave a heavy sigh and struck up a pose that reminded me a lot of Councilor Jernok. “So unsightly. I can’t fathom why a woman would unfeminize herself in such a manor. How disgraceful!” she mocked in a deep tone and finished with a disgusted expression. “I think I would sadly agree with your statement Noch. That was quoted from the last time Jernok laid eyes on Raska by the by. I’m still mad at you that you didn’t take the Council’s seat when you could.”

I snorted and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. “And every time I lay eyes on the lot of you, it makes me all the more happy that I did NOT take the chance! After that crisis with Councilor Dermon in the past, I vowed not to get myself too involved in Council business.”

Ferina became more sombre after the mention of the previous Council Head. “It truly was a shame. I still can’t fathom how he could have changed so much in such a short time. I used to admire the way he seemed to solve problems even before they arose.”

“That old coot was most definitely someone to be admired, but there is no use in dwelling on the past. We should see what we can change now for the future.” I said as I heard Fog’s call for attention. As Fog gave instructions, I couldn’t help but remember the time when the previous Council Head had to be forcibly removed.

I was on good terms with the Council and Dermon back then, we even had friendly chats whenever we ran into each other during my bounties and his duties. I liked him well enough as a person, and he did his job well. His friendly demeanor was so much like Ferina’s, then somehow, it all started to change.

I could still remember the day the fire message reached me and I was called to the inner chambers of the Council. Ferina who didn’t have a seat back then, was kind enough to fill me in on the situation before I went into the chambers. 

Apparently Dermon had defected and was caught delving into taboo rituals behind everyone’s backs, and of course someone who broke the Council’s laws couldn’t lead the Council themselves. Apparently he raved about the only path to true peace being through ancient taboo rites that were sealed by corrupt witches of our generation. That the taboo label was placed over the rites and rituals in order to spread their own corruption and keep everyone ignorant.

The day started with a simple summons at the time, that turned into a succession offer. Even though I wasn’t personally a part of the Council, they still wanted me to succeed Dermon because of my connections to both them and the Order. Of course Jernok was against it from the beginning, but he wisely kept his outrageous comments to himself at the time while the other members deliberated.

After I refused to accept the seat, it obviously went to Jernok. My thoughts though, were too far away from their internal business as I kept wondering what could have made Dermon of all people break laws that he himself swore to uphold. What went through his mind at that time? Was he influenced? I had seen other witches go through radical changes through the ages, either because of their memories, outside influences, or because of changes in their ideals through profound events, and those that went from good to bad never had good outcomes.