Chapter 1

It was a dark and stormy night ... no really it was, just perfect for tonight; Walpurgis Eve(April 30) would never be the same again. What was different was this was not only the religious festival for bonfires and dancing, rather ten major covens were meeting tonight, eve of May Day (April 30) in Brocken Germany for a Witches Sabbath. (FYI not unusual since one night 10,000 showed up another time) Coincidentally that same night was to see a man appear. He was not some kind of male witch, rather a Celt(Kelt from Britain); a man, an armoured knight(Cataphract) recently in the employ of the Romans in Gaul(France).

He rode a war horse, with two more following, all pure white, all heavily adorned in plate. Six mules, carrying more armour and supplies(No OBI here folks) flowed behind with four very large dogs of some sort(Mastiffs), followed and aft of his train. The Romans had paid him well for his services. He took those dogs with him when he left; they had come to his aid after the 30 or so heavy horse(Cataphracts and knights) had charged and broken the line. Something expected from shock troops; of course the barrages laid down by the 12,000 archers had helped keep things in check though.

It was a long trip East, a lonely one too, he had the dogs but that meant taking more mules and food with him; not a bad trade-off.

She was late! Late again as always. It seemed pointless to proceed now, her coven would be furious with her. Then again, perhaps others might be late too, handsome others even. Just thinking that thought made her wet with her thoughts. Glenda was a young witch, newly minted; less than 30 years old and this was her second festival. The first where more than one coven converged. Her thoughts returned to her being late. Should she push on or camp for the night? She would camp, it was near dusk and the smell of rain was in the air; that made up her mind.

The spell made a nice, warming fire. Now if there was only some real food to cook rather than just nuts and berries from last Fall, now that would be wonderful.

Rolf too could smell rain in the air. He had been heading East for nearly three weeks now with few sign of towns save the path he was on plus sparse farms from which to add supplies. Up ahead he first heard the sounds of running water, a brook or perhaps a stream to replenish his drink and water the animals. About ten minutes after he saw the bright flash(Glenda’s fire spell) and the flickering light of a flame; he heard many more sounds, he was not the only one to see the light of a flame. He hobbled his retinue near the path, donned a plate chest piece and gantlets from the mules and with two cocked crossbows in hand(A lance or spear were worthless in this brush) along with his mace, long sword and two dirks, slowly and carefully moved forward until he spotted something.

No horses but the signs of a cold(no Fire) camp off in the trees to the right. Up ahead the light grew brighter. The shadows of several bodies were apparent now. He crept closer, crossbows at the ready. It was not easy moving in armour, not like on the horse, but he continued on.

What he saw almost made him weep. Three grown men on their knees bawling like babies. Two more looking dazed and slowly backing away. It was almost a shame to just gut them, however, that was the rules they seemed to be playing and with a girl no less. Not exactly cricket. Both were easily dispatched. Rolf rested an kept watch to see the rest of the show the girl was putting on.

She seemed to be intensely casting spell after spell. One was an Illusion spell; the three began flaying at each other as if each was in flames. Next was cold, freezing cold that had the three turning various shades of blue.

“Good show Milady now finish them off with a strangulation spell. Show them no mercy for none would have been given you.”

Glenda looked down at her feet. “I know not that spell good knight for this is my first battle.”

“If you wish, try to imagine a rope around each neck. Take your time and slowly draw the noose tight, then tighter until all life leaves them. Do this one at a time. When you have finished you now have a new spell to protect yourself with.”

It took her a few tries but by the last one she could do it blindfolded.