The Blood Witch (The Blood Reign Chronicles Book 1) (33 page)

This was getting more interesting by the minute. Mistress Issanya, the seamstress, stood before Allysix, hands on her hips, wearing that same pinched face disapproving look as before. Allysix was more than a little curious now, but wanted to let it play out on their terms, at least for the time being.

They waited several moments in silence, with the seamstress studying Allysix carefully through stern eyes and pursed lips. The single candle that Mistress Issanya was holding was the only source of light in the room, and it was casting dancing shadows on the walls.

After a time, Allysix could hear the footsteps of several people coming down the stairs, then the door swung open and twelve women filed through. Each of them was holding a single candle, walking ceremoniously as they entered, and took up positions in a circle around the room, with Allysix in the center. Allysix noticed for the first time that there actually was a circle scribed on the floor, with a thirteen pointed star inside. She stood at the center of the star, with each woman standing at a point. Other runes and symbols decorated various parts of the star and circle.

Allysix had to laugh to herself.
What was this? Did these women think they were witches? Did they actually believe that these symbols and runes had some special meaning or power?
Allysix had known of others who had believed in such things, although she had never seen this particular design. Besides, Allysix knew that it wasn’t pictures and symbols that gave power. In any case, that wasn’t important now. What was important was that Allysix had found her women, and was almost excited at the prospect. They were more organized than the men of the Black Brotherhood. Not to mention that they obviously had been able to keep their existence secret and maintained positions in the city proper, instead of being exiled to the Carp District. Things were definitely looking up.

Allysix could even sense that a few of these women actually had abilities in the dark magic. Mistress Issanya in particular was the strongest, and fairly strong at that. But a few others had the ability as well, although to a lesser degree.

Evidently, the assembled women knew for themselves that not all their numbers were practiced in the dark arts. The four that could actually do something had been placed opposite on the circle from each other. Mistress Issanya was directly in front, with another directly behind Allysix, one to her left and the other to her right. They appeared to be weaving some sort of binding spell. Allysix supposed that its intention was to hold whatever was inside the circle from being able to escape. The spell might actually work, just not on Allysix.

Apparently, Allysix had not kept the look of pleasure at finding the women from her face, since she was smiling satisfactorily.

“Do you find this amusing, girl?” Mistress Issanya said in a stern angry tone. “You obviously do not know who you are facing.”

Allysix decided at that moment that she liked these women. She did not want to kill any of them, since they were much too valuable to waste. Besides, the death of one of these prominent women would not go unnoticed and it would bring unwanted attention. Allysix did not want to force them as she had with Maggas. She wanted the women to voluntarily and wholeheartedly accept her of their own accord as the Blood Witch, without any coercion from her. The women were already on the brink, whether they knew it yet or not, and were ripe for the picking. They just needed a little……encouragement, a slight nudge in the right direction.

“And who is it that I am facing?” Allysix asked calmly. Her tone and demeanor caused anger to rise in many of the assembled faces, since she did not show any fear or subjugation.

“We are the Circle of One,” the women intoned in practiced unison.

The Circle of One?
Allysix was very pleased by that, considering she was the
One
. The circle didn’t see it that way……at least not yet…but they would very soon.

“Who are you and what are you doing in Yilavo City?” Mistress Issanya demanded. But without allowing Allysix to answer, she continued, “We have been watching you since shortly after you entered the city. We know you have been…associating with Maggas and his cronies. Fools, all of them, and Maggas a particularly dangerous fool, what do you want with them? Why are you asking dangerous questions around the city?” The barrage from the seamstress continued.

So they had been watching her all this time? They obviously knew about Maggas, but did they also know that Allysix was in charge now? They apparently thought she was at least somewhat dangerous, otherwise they would not have gone through this elaborate production just for her. Perhaps they thought she was simply in collusion with Maggas, and posed a threat to their circle.

Abruptly, Allysix realized that Issanya had stopped talking and was now glaring at her impatiently, expecting answers. Allysix stood there silent a moment longer, then announced in a commanding voice, “You ask who I am, I will tell you plainly. I am Allysix, I am the
One
they call the Blood Witch. I have lived for centuries on end, and I am free once again, and now call you into my service.”

There was a sharp intake of breath and scandalized looks exchanged between the women in the circle. “Blasphemer,” Issanya screeched. “To blaspheme the name of the Great Mistress is death.” Allysix felt the seamstress strike out as she spoke. Allysix couldn’t really tell what the seamstress intended, but the woman seemed to be lashing out with all her might. Perhaps Issanya was attempting to carry out the death sentence right then and there, however the black magic just rolled over Allysix and was absorbed by her.

The disbelief and shocked on Mistress Issanya’s face was shared by the other three women in the circle with the talent. Evidently, they knew what Issanya had just attempted, or perhaps had participated in it. They exchanged troubled looks with one another, but the other women in the circle seemed unaware of what had just taken place. They still wore looks of anger, awaiting the certain doom of this blasphemous woman standing before them in the binding circle.

Allysix was finished with this charade, so she freed her bound hands with ease before strolling forward to stand in front of Mistress Issanya. This time, the confounded, stunned looks were shared by all the women in the circle. After all, the circle was supposed to protect them from whatever they held bound inside.

Many of the women began to back away in fear, before a stern look from Mistress Issanya made them return to their posts, but they returned hesitantly. Many stood trembling, and some were even on the verge of tears, but they at least held their ground. Thoughts had to be racing in their heads.
Who was this woman who defied their power and broke the binding circle? Could it actually be the Blood Witch?
Allysix could see the questions clearly in their eyes.

Allysix smiled warmly at the seamstress before continuing. “As I was saying, I
am
Allysix. All of you have nothing to fear, my faithful followers,” she said, spreading her hands wide to encompass everyone in a gracious gesture. “I can see that you have done well in keeping the faith, and I will reward you greatly for you devotion and service.”

There was confusion and awe clearly visible on Issanya’s face, as well as on the faces of the other women in the Circle when they heard Allysix’s revelation. But these women were not near as hard headed as the men had been. Even if Issanya didn’t believe Allysix was who she said she was, at least the seamstress had the intelligence to realize that she was powerless against the woman who had just broken the binding circle. The seamstress could recognize the power and the potential threat that stood before her, even if she wasn’t completely convinced of her identity.

Issanya stood there for several moments, thoughts racing behind her eyes. It was clear that she had never experience this kind of thing before. Her magic had never failed her and she was struggling to come to grips with it. Allysix could see the question in the woman’s eyes.
“Could it really be? Was this really the Blood Witch that she had given her soul to serve?”

Allysix moved her face closer to Issanya so the woman could clearly see her blood red eyes. Then she smiled warmly, but in a way as to expose her two sharp fang-like teeth.

Confusion gradually gave way to understanding, and finally hopes and ambition won out, as Issanya slowly knelt and kissed Allysix feet, while saying, “I am yours Great Mistress. We
have
remained faithful awaiting your return.” As Issanya turned her face up, Allysix noticed tears streaming down the woman’s face. Perhaps Issanya really did believe now. This was much better than the force and fear she had used on the men, because this devotion was complete.

Once Allysix commanded the seamstress to stand, Issanya’s place was quickly taken by another of the women in the Circle. Allysix waited patiently as each of the twelve other women in turn followed Issanya’s lead by kissing Allysix’s feet, all the while pronouncing the oaths of devotion and loyalty. When they were finally finished with the formalities, Allysix commanded them all to rise and stand before her. Remaining in this smelly basement was beginning to grate on Allysix’s nerves and she wanted to get out of here.

“Isn’t there somewhere we can go that is a little more…….comfortable, so we can sit and talk? We do have much to discuss,” Allysix said, addressing Issanya.

“Yes, certainly,” Issanya replied, her eyes beaming, “we can go…to my home. I can prepare some tea and……and whatever you wish, Great Mistress.”

“That will be fine,” Allysix intoned with a warm smile, “however, I’m sure your house would be hard pressed to accommodate everyone here. For the time being, just the four of you come,” she motioned to the four that had held the binding, the ones that could actually wield the black magic. “We will have more than ample time for everyone else later.”

The ones that had not been chosen wore looks of deep sadness and disappointment on their faces, but they acquiesced to Allysix’s wishes and retired reluctantly to their own homes for the night.

Allysix remained at Issanya’s home well into the night and discussed many things. As it turned out, Issanya was a great source of knowledge of the city, and what went on here, including the undercurrents in the guilds, and between them and the Magistrate. The other three women were just as insightful in their own ways and had their own talents as well. Gilda, for instance was a baker, and in charge of food service to the council meetings. Kavarina was the head of the innkeeper’s guild, and owned the finest inn in the city. It seemed she would provide accommodations for Allysix, at no charge of course. Elisanor and Larysian were prominent women in the community whose services would be most useful.

It was a pleasure to Allysix that she had found women to support her cause. As she already knew, they could be much more useful than men. Sure, if you needed to fight a war, or a strong arm for menial tasks, then men could be useful. But these women were prominent and well thought of in the city, and had been able to keep their…….allegiance, a secret all this time. They had much more influence and power than the men she had recruited.

Allysix told the women of her situation with Maggas and his followers. The women were not happy at all, but as she suspected, they had soon laid plans and strategies to use the men in the most useful of ways. It was a refreshing change for Allysix after dealing with Maggas and his mindless fanatics.

It was almost morning when Allysix finally left Issanya’s house and made her way back to the Carp District, and to the Black Brotherhood headquarters. Maggas was awake already, even at this early hour, so Allysix told him she wanted to meet with him and Baalnar. It took some time for Maggas to wake Baalnar and get him to the meeting room. After the two were gathered into a private room, Allysix announced, “I have found women in the city that are sympathetic to our cause.”

Distaste flashed briefly across Maggas’ face before he realized it, and schooled his expression. The look on Baalnar’s face was more of anticipation and………satisfaction, almost likes a wolf that had spied its next meal.

“These women are influential and quite resourceful, as you can imagine. They hold positions of authority and influence
inside
the city,” she waited for that tidbit to sink into the men’s thick skulls. “You will be cooperating with them, since they are extremely enterprising and can aid us greatly in our mutual cause,” she said flatly.

Allysix didn’t like either of these men’s attitudes towards women. Maggas seemed to despise women to a certain degree, except Allysix of course. To Maggas, Allysix was the only woman he needed, and no other had any use.

Baalnar on the other hand, was somewhat arrogant, and thought all women fancied him. He took pride in thinking he could make any woman swoon for him with his looks and cleverness. Both of the men’s attitudes were rather irritating to Allysix.

“I have just come from a meeting with these women, and we have devised a plan which you will help carry out,” Allysix announced impatiently. “And you
will
cooperate fully with them.”

“Of course, Great Mistress,” in concert, came the reply from the two men. At least they were not fool enough to question her.

“We need a few men to carry out some special tasks as part of our plan. Do we have any……clever men among our disciples? Any who have half a brain, and can be at least somewhat tactful and discrete?” Allysix asked contemptuously.