Page 27 of The Fated and the Damned
My eyes snapped to hers. “Surely she wouldn’t risk drawing their attention? If the wards fall, the humans will rally. That’s problematic for everyone.”
“She wants the witches persecuted. For us to be hunted just as her followers were after her death. It won’t matter if the humans discover her cult, she will destroy them without hesitation.”
“There’s also the matter of the other things residing in the woods,” András added. “The corruption has spread nearly as far as the outer reaches. If left unchecked, those monsters will have free reign.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, looking between them. “The creatures are unable to travel beyond the forest’s edge.”
“Yes, but only while the wards are in place,” Kitarni replied. “The power in the spells hiding us from human sight ensures no one can get in without the magical signature required. But in the same way, the wards are responsible for keeping things from gettingout. Right now, they are all that stand between those monsters escaping and wreaking havoc on the world.”
The weight of what she was saying crashed down on me. “You’re telling me Sylvie alone has the power to destroy them?”
Kitarni nodded, her face grim. “A few months ago, I would have said no, but now that the banya has been proved false and Sylvie is alive ...” She sighed. “Mama used to tell stories about our ancestors and the creation of the first wards. Once upon a time, after Sylvie’s demise and when the first banya was honourable and good, the coven worked beside her to construct the initial charms to protect us from the eyes of humankind. It took a village to harness strength enough to manage such a taxing task. Since then, every banya over the generations has been charged with maintaining them—monitoring their strength and injecting magic when required. Even your mother must have kept up with the ritual ... until she became a cultist and began practicing dark magic.”
“Yaga was responsible for them?” I asked, blinking. “That makes sense. She could lead Sylvie right to them.”
“Sylvie was powerful before her death, but since her return …” Kitarni scrubbed her face tiredly. “She’s not a witch anymore. Not mortal. To be honest, I don’t know the limits of her magic.”
“Which is why you’re so determined to go to the Under World.” I sighed, reaching out to stroke her arm.
“Pardon?” András said, baffled. “Did I miss something integral here? You want to go to hell?”
Kitarni winced. “Well I’m not thrilled by the idea, but I suspect the crown is hidden there, so … yes?”
He blinked, staring at her in shock. Ah shit. I braced myself for the fallout. Three. Two. One.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“András,” I said quietly, raising a hand. “If Kitarni is correct, it might be the only way to defeat Sylvie.”
His glare turned on me. “You’re siding with her on this? Did you get hit too hard in the head while you had your little angry sex war?”
“I know it’s not ideal,” Kitarni said calmly, “but if she can dispel the magic of those wards, we won’t just have to worry about Sylvie’s army, but a host of cross-bearing men armed with pitchforks and torches. The creatures will escape and kill anything in their path. Thousands will die, András.”
Silence filled the chamber. András hung his head, picking at some invisible lint on his clothes, and Kitarni blew out a breath, pacing with her hands on her head.
“How many scouts are on patrol?” I asked my friend.
He looked up at me, his face souring. “Not enough.”
“Then we take a unit now, kill any cultists lurking near the borders, and set up a guard around the perimeter. It won’t hold long, but we might be able to buy some time at the very least.”
Kitarni nodded. “I’ll have Erika send some witches to assist. Your soldiers could use some magical aid.”
“And you?” I asked gently. She’d normally be the first to dive headlong into battle, but she seemed preoccupied with her thoughts, a permanent frown creasing her brow. “The coven must prepare. This new information demands care and I must convey it delicately, so we don’t cause a panic. I need to get our affairs in order.”
Pride washed through me as I looked over my betrothed. She was a born leader. If anyone could put this village to rights, it was her. “What are you going to tell them?”
She cocked her head, a small smile gracing her lips. One that meant mischief. “Everything. It’s time for a coven meeting, and I’m going to lay all the cards on the table. Sylvie thinks she can outsmart us, but she’s not the only one with a few tricks up her sleeve. I have a plan.”
I grinned, striding over and kissing her deeply. “Of course you do. Give em’ hell, Freckles.”
“You too. Be safe.”
I’d barely left the room before I heard the crinkling of paper and the thud of items being rifled through. Oh yes, she was up to something, and I hoped by all the gods that it would be enough, because we’d need nothing short of a miracle to save us.
The smell of spoiled eggs and rotting carcass permeated the air as I stalked through the Sötét Erdo with Lukasz and a small group of soldiers. Everywhere we looked, a black, viscous substance oozed from branches and pooled beneath our boots. Any remaining plant matter had either shrivelled up and died or the tendrils had curled into themselves, trying to hide from the corruption.
It worsened every day, leaking closer and closer to civilisation. Soon, it would be upon the village and, not long after that, consuming the golden glow and vibrant purples of the fields surrounding Mistvellen.
