The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Chapter 16

The Realization

Helga and Salazar spent the next moon preparing for the children. Unsure how many they would have for lessons, they readied to fill the school as they pored over the lists of names that Issa had sent to them with elves. They made lists of children that may attend, and those that would not, as well as much longer lists of those not heard from, of families not found.

They kept lists of those they still sought, and occasionally a name would come from Issa to cross off the list. Often the names were of witches taken by non-magical men, burnt or cast into the water until she drowned. They crossed entire families off the rolls of those in Iberia, and heard Issa's gentle sobs when she came to tell Salazar the news of the old clan and the families sent south.

Helga sat and stared at the rune that symbolized Gurth's name, sent to her by Issa. She lowered her head to the tabletop and began to cry, remembering the digging of caches to hide treasures, and the fact that she did not tell her of her prophesied end. Rowena turned away, leaving her to cry alone, no longer able to offer comfort and hope. She could no longer cry over the names. There had been too many that she knew to shed tears for those she did not.

Helga and Rowena wrote each name of those gone on fine parchment and once each week they would walk to the lake and burn the small offerings as evidence of their passing, and plead with the gods to accept just the names on tear-soaked slips of paper since no body could be found. Rowena would kneel in the mud and bury the ashes, wondering how to release the souls with no body to put in the clan's mound, and with no one to sing the death songs on Winters Eve. She feared their souls would be forever trapped in this realm, never guided to the next.

The days of the prophesy came like any other. The sky was clear and cloudless, allowing the cold to settle on the valley floor. Rowena sat by the window, nursing Helena in the high north tower, looking out at the pass, waiting for some sign, while Erwin paced behind her, nervously awaiting something that he did not want to come. Outside, Salazar paced and watched the pass for any sign of Gryffin.

Salazar worried that he and Erwin alone could not defend the witches if there were an attack. When he was tired of pacing he would sit on the ground, occasionally glancing back, waiting for Rowena or Helga to call out to him, to tell him something had happened. To tell him some message had been gained, or another vision seen. If this was the day that their world would end, it was surprisingly like any other.

Helga stayed in the kitchen, soothing the elves and storing away food in preparation for a great famine she kept insisting would follow any large-scale war. She felt the heavy air that had settled over the school grounds and wanted to cry and rage in anger. She cooked large meals for the others, making sure each had their favourite, and jumped at the slightest sound. She wrung her hands and looked to the door, waiting for Rowena or Erwin to bring her bad news.

"Erwin?" Rowena stood, looking at the pass, squinting and leaning forward on the window ledge. "Someone is coming. More than one, I think."

"Has anyone else been here before? While I was gone?"

"Only Issa. Could it be Gryffin?"

"There are too many and he would not bring others here." He started to run from the room and then stopped and went back to her, lowering down on one knee. "If something happens..."

"Salazar gave us the potion, Helga and I, we both carry a vial, and I have enough for Helena. She will be with me," she said evenly, pulling Helena closer.

"Rowena, I love you, remember that above all else." He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her forward, kissing her softly, and then released her to kiss Helena's head.

He stood and looked at them, not wanting to think of what may come. Turning quickly, he left them alone to go to the pass with Salazar.

They had talked of what happened to witches caught by warriors who took the spoils of war as payment for their fight. He and Salazar had agreed that Helga and Rowena would each carry a fast-acting poison to save them the pain and humiliation they would find in the hands of the soldiers who pretended to take sport of the witches for a god they served. Knowing that they would be killed and discarded as Lara had been, they convinced them easily, far more easily then they had thought possible, to carry their own way out of the horrors.

Erwin ran, saying a prayer to the old gods. This time it was a simple prayer. No longer caring if this world survived, or if he lived, he prayed only for her and the child to not meet their end in the hands of the pagans from the east.

They started to the pass, holding their wands loosely, ready to duel, with the goblin blades strapped to their legs. They saw a small group standing at the top of the slope, four wizards sheltering the women who sat on the ground behind them.

"Morgan sends his greeting," the tallest shouted down. "Gryffin sent us. We are to say that Morgan is well."

"Morgan? You know Morgan?"

"No, the one that calls himself Godric Gryffindor said to tell Erwin that he is well."

"What news have you?"

"Dorostolon has fallen, and the cities this way to the crossing. The gods are dead." The wizard held his head high and ignored the quiet sobbing behind him. "The city laid under siege for three moons. We were all told to come here in a prophesy."

"Dorostolon has fallen?" Salazar asked, dropping his arm that held the wand.

"The House of Vajik has turned to the new god. All across the world we have been driven out with the pagans that lived there."

"They took first the babies, and threw them to the river." A young witch looked up from the ground, her eyes swollen and red from crying. "Then they took the old people."

"They killed many, not only the witches but non-magical men that tried to stop them, and women who waded in the river to save the babes."

"The library was burnt and the elders taken away."

"The southern clans are hiding, or gone."

"The king in the north will destroy all there as well, his troops are marching again."

Erwin heard everyone talking and sunk to one knee. He lowered his head and prayed in silence, feeling hot tears well in his eyes. He looked up to see Salazar looking at him, white and ashen.

"How far does this go, this war?" Salazar asked.

"From the warm waters south of Rome to the cold of the north and from the great mountains to here. It is everywhere. There is nothing of us left."

Salazar walked around the small group looking at the state of their dress. Their robes were torn and bloodied, their bodies lean and thin. The men stood tall, moving closer to the witches behind them who sat on the ground with downcast eyes. One witch carried a swaddling shawl in her hands and sat twisting the fabric. Squatting down next to her, Salazar put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his.

"Witch, where is your child?"

"Gone, they threw him in as an offering to some god. Not the new god and not one of ours." She gasped and cried out her pain. "No god would ask that. No god would take my baby. Why would a god want my baby?"

"Is your husband here?"

She lowered her head and sobbed, unable to answer his question, as if the saying of it would make it true.

Salazar stood and walked back to the wizards. "Where are the rest?"

"We come alone," the tallest answered. "There was no time to organize, nor time to put a plan in action."

"Marcus, Temin and their witches," he said, nodding to the two wizards that went back to help their wives up. "I am Hanson and this Milt."

"The others?" Erwin asked, seeing nine more witches still sitting on the ground.

"We found them on the way and let them join us." Hanson looked back at them and then looked at Erwin sadly. "They have nothing left. It is the same all over."

"They are all married. Have they no..."

"It is all gone," Hanson repeated and looked at Salazar. "This Godric, he is from here?"

"Yes, he was gone to check on others from our clans." Salazar looked at Erwin and raised his eyebrow. He waited until he saw Erwin nod. "Come, eat and bathe. You are welcome here."

Hanson stepped forward and signalled for Erwin and Salazar to come closer.

"I and my companions have been together for three months. However, before that we were unknown to one another. Things have happened along the way that leads me to question them." He spoke softly, looking back at the others. "We will give an oath not to disclose this place to others if that is your wish."

Erwin thought of the idea and paced a short way turning back and observing the small group from a distance. The wizards' robes were of different cuts. The witches all wore head coverings, but only three were the same. He saw Salazar walking toward him and stood still to hear what the other wizard had to say.

"So, he does not trust someone in the group. Fine time to tell us." Salazar cut to the quick of it. "I have already granted them entry when he offered the oath, so I must believe him."

"Which one?" Erwin looked over the wizards and then his eyes went to those still on the ground. "You can read them, Salazar. I think this is one time your talents may prove more than useful."

"The wizards are truthful, I have already seen into them and their witches as well." He looked back to the group still on the ground.

Salazar pointed to a small turn in the path and told Hanson to take the other wizards and their witches to wait. He and Erwin pulled out their swords and approached the huddled witches who sat nervously waiting.

One close to the back looked up when she heard them approach. She came to her feet and walked to the front, standing before the others.

"You come with a sword? My, what bravery you show." She spat on the ground and lifted her chin to sneer at them. "Do you think we came all this way to give ourselves to the likes of you? If we are unwelcome here we will leave, but leave these witches alone."

"We mean you no harm, and do not plan on using you." Salazar smirked at her spirit.

He waved Erwin to her as he bent down and took up the chin of the same witch he had spoken to before and held the swaddling shawl. Tipping up her chin again, he whispered a simple incantation and was in her mind. He was at once in the middle of carnage he would never have imagined possible. He saw the bodies floating in a river, its bank running red. He heard laughter, and smelled the same as he had at the village of Godric, the salt and copper of the blood. A hand grabbed the witch and shoved her, and the baby she clutched in her arms, against a wall. The man stepped back, putting his body between hers and the crowd.

He heard the shouts and her protector's yells, and saw his blood pouring on the stone walk. He felt her struggle to hold onto the shawl and felt the closed fist that had hit her stomach. He heard her pleas, and the baby's cries, and watched as the men held her while others pried open her still-closed arms.

He came out of her mind quickly. He looked into her eyes and then reached up and removed the covering of her bridal cap and with a wave of his hand and a soft incantation, he removed that as well. He ripped the cloth and tied it around her arm as a sign of mourning and respect.

"You are safe here, Retta. Go with the others," Salazar said kindly. "You do your husband no honour to deny his death. He died a warrior defending his family in battle. Speak his name often and he will be remembered."

He went to the second and had to struggle to bring her head to his. Twice she tried to crawl away and twice he gabbed her and hauled her back roughly, pulling her across the ground.

"Please, sir. I do not want to see it again. Please." She pulled away a third time and vomited on to the ground.

He pulled her up harshly, and only had to start the spell when her memories flew at him in swirls and colours blending in with memories of screaming children, clotted blood and the journey over the past several days. He saw the mayhem and felt her despair before he pushed her back roughly when her hand connected with his face.

"You will do as you are told while you are here." He snarled at her and looked at the scratches she had left on his hand.

"Salazar, perhaps there is a better..." Erwin began.

"No, we finish." Salazar's face was hard and stern, his jaw clenched. "Your name, witch?"

"Manga of the ..."

"Manga it is." Salazar rubbed his cheek looked at her again. "Manga Strong, it should be. Join the rest, we will talk later."

He reached up and pulled off her covering and cap. Then, with a scowl at her ruse, he pointed her up the path.

He stood and looked down at the five remaining and the one still on her feet. In a few short strides, he was to her, grabbing her jaw and holding her face to his. He laid his forehead against hers and saw the fight though her eyes.

It was her sword that arced and fell, and her wand that threw curses that hit their mark. He felt her fear and marvelled at her bravery when her sword fell, cleaving a man nearly in two. He saw the blow to her head that brought her down and felt their hands as they discovered her wand as they pushed her to the ground, ripping off her clothing with dirty, blood-stained hands.

"NO!" she screamed, pushing him away, severing the contact and stepping back, panting for air. "You have no right, you bastard. You saw what you needed, you need no more."

She stood looking back at him, her chin high, fear and her magic rolling off her in waves she fought to control. She started to tremble as her eyes filled with tears and turning from him, she began to walk away.

"Salazar?" Erwin said.

"She stays. She may take off her cap as well."

Erwin hurried to catch up to her and, taking her by the elbow, led her back to the small group waiting on the path.

Salazar turned to the next witch, reached out and grabbed her head, pulling her face towards him and gaining her mind. He sought a way into her memories but each time he turned, he found a wall. He tried to scale over the wall and again found the same resistance. With his forehead still against hers, and his breathing unchanged, his sword slowly slipped into her body until the hilt hit her stomach and the blade pierced her through.

He slowly stood up, pulling out his sword as he did, and watched as she looked back at him in surprise. Her eyes were large, her mouth open as she held her hands over the growing wet spot on her robes. She brought her bloodied hands to her face, turning them over to see the sticky redness that coated both sides. Then, closing her eyes, she merely lay down on the ground to move no more.

"My gods," Erwin's voice came out in a whisper. "Salazar..."

"Get rid of her body," he said sternly as he turned to those left.

"Please sir, take me next and leave my sister. We were together. You can see her in my memory. Please, don't make her watch him die again," a girl too young to have seen so much begged. "Please don't kill her, sir, she has done nothing wrong. Really, she is good, don't hurt her please."

"This bridal veil you wear, is there a husband that goes with it?" Salazar raised an eyebrow at her.

"No, sir, I am but thirteen. My sister's husband thought it best." She had gotten on both knees and now begged him with both hands clasped together. "He said it would help to hide my face. I do not mean disrespect, please, sir, please, my sister has lost so much. "

"Go with the others, take off the veil and join them." Salazar looked to the group that was growing larger on the turn of the path. "Take your sister as well. If you are lying to me, you will both taste the sword."

The next chin he uplifted belonged on the face of an elderly witch. She was pale and barely able to hold up her head.

"Witch?" Salazar said, somewhat kinder seeing her age. "You know what I must do?"

"Yes," she said. "I will make it easy for you."

She reached up and touched his forehead, beginning the transfer herself. He was in her mind so easily it was as if he had stepped into a different room. She was standing before him, holding out her hand, which he took and allowed her to lead him to a widow that had glass that appeared to be made of smoke. She waved her hand and allowed some of the smoke to clear, to let him glimpse the horrors but not be immersed in them. Then, waving her hand again and calling back the smoke, they were once again sitting at the pass.

"Someday you may want to visit again and see all that was done." She smiled at him. "I did not mean to meet a clansman so far from home. Although I must say, your side of the tribe has been away long if that is the best you can do in entering minds."

Salazar looked to the two left on the ground and the matching trim on the robes. "Since they have your trust and appear to be of your clan, perhaps you can check for me?"

"Do you not trust my granddaughters?"

Salazar stood and offered his hand to the older witch. He waved the two younger ones over to help their grandmother to her feet and then scowled.

"What are their ages? Are you also hiding maidens under there?"

"My granddaughters are not yet claimed. However, it is safer these days to wear the veil." She shook her head as each girl took one arm to help her on her way. "Too many men and wizards use war as an excuse to defile young women. With the veil and averted eyes, sometimes youth may hide. The ones that practiced the dark ways sought the unsoiled witches and the babes first."

"We will allow you in the valley only until arrangements can be made." Erwin spoke loud enough for those on the path to hear as well. "After you have rested we will talk. For now, come and be at home."

"The witch," Milt said, "we did not know which one it was. Twice our supplies were ruined, food lost in a stream or fresh water spilt to slow us down."

"I will add wards to the pass." Salazar looked back at the witch that still lay on the ground. "She is not of the soldiers but I could not see what she was hiding."

They dug a shallow grave and laid the body in it not bothering with payers or rituals. She was not of their people, and had some reason to cause harm. Salazar spat on her grave and cast a spell to ward the grave to the land, preventing her soul from finding peace and damning the ground, making any dwelling built over it cursed and unsuitable for life.

Erwin and Salazar led the fourteen to the school. Both realized that this was the prophesy, for these were the fourteen to change the world.