Daoine

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4   Chapter 5  

Sacrifice

    “Are you sure he’s a chosen one?” whispered dubious Hemlock.
    “Yes, take faith in my authority for once!” replied Elm.
    A faint grumbling came from Hemlock’s direction.
    “Shush,” demanded Alder.
    ;After a moment of silence Hemlock interrupted, “Why did all three of us have to come again? It’s such an easy job!”
    “For the last time, shush,” reprimanded Alder.
    Three brown clan, seaweed green haired witches dispersed themselves amongst the shrubbery lining the trail. In deep concentration, they wove a web of magic with their minds that stretched from one side of the path to the other.
    At that moment their prey, a tall and lanky thirteen year old boy entered their line of sight. He drew nearer until he marched straight into the trap. The invisible net they had created snared the boy’s mind as well as his body. It was impossible for him to resist. With his mind under extensive strain he lost his balance and slumped onto the gravel walkway. The witches stepped out from behind the bushes, looking simply like eccentrically dressed women.
    Alder grabbed his arms, Hemlock his legs and with Elm leading the way, the boy was towed off amongst the conifer tree trunks. The descending darkness masked their departure.

    As a budding young Forest Witch, Willow was to participate in the approaching ceremony. Along with all the other witches of the clan, she headed towards the clearing into which the most recent chosen boy was to be brought. The throng of green-haired females all clad in brown, hide dresses flooded the surrounding area. The witches who had kidnapped him would open up his mind to all the other witches in the clearing. The energy of his youth would fuel the witches’ powers for two years.
    Unlike the majority of her kind, Willow detested seeing humans in pain, especially ones her age. She consented to go only so she would be able to use her supernatural abilities.
    “They’re here!” murmured Willow’s friend Juniper in her ear.
    “I hate this ceremony. There must be some other way!” commented Willow.
    “Why do you always disagree with the elders’ ways?” Juniper asked. Juniper was partial to those ways.
    “I just think they’re being awfully cruel,” replied Willow.
    “Get over it,” suggested Juniper.
    In the middle of the forest opening the thirteen year old boy was being strapped to a wooden chair with magical bindings. In several moments the ceremony would begin.
    “Witches of age gather round. This boy has a strong, fresh mind. His strength with be a source of power for us. Before beginning, we must decide who will escort this child back to his home. Do we have any volunteers?” screeched Elm.
    “Yes ma’am, I will.” burst out Willow, surprising herself.
    “No, no Willow, you’re too young,” denied Elm.
    “Have you any other volunteers?” argued Willow stubbornly.
    After no one else raised their hand, the elder reluctantly agreed. “You must take him back once this is all done. His house is just at the edge of the wood. Let the ceremony begin!”
    With that, Elm reached down and touched all of her finger tips to the boys head. If the boy had had control of himself he would have screamed. The power of his mind was exposed to all those in the area. To the boy it was like have hundreds of leeches attacking his mind as each individual drew away portions of his vigor. Willow cringed at the torment he was feeling but remained to replenish her power.
    For five long minutes everything stayed frozen in place. All at once, the power in the air vanished as Elm removed her fingers. Witches started filing out so fast in was almost a disappearing act. The bindings and the wooden chair were removed so the boy tumbled to the forest floor. He curled himself up in to the fatal position and remained there whimpering.
    Willow was left alone in the clearing with the boy. She was suddenly nervous. She had never talked to a human before, only seen one. She gathered a small amount of courage and stepped towards the boy. As she approached he didn’t even shift. She crouched down so he could see her properly. The boy tilted his head to look at her. He stretched out his arms and hugged her as he would hug his mother. Willow instantly took pity on him.
    In her most soothing voice, Willow introduced herself and asked him to follow her. He released her from his hug, took her hand and with effort, stood. His name, Eric, was all he managed to say before he started moaning and trembling as he relived his so recent experience.
    Willow acknowledged that she was empowered to ease her companion’s suffering, since she could not heal him. She shifted through her repertoire of spells until she found one capable of accomplishing her plans. It would deplete all the energy she had gained that evening, seeing as it was a difficult spell she had yet to master. Two years without power was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
    On the fringe of the forest, in view of Eric’s house, she stopped.
    With some coaxing, Willow convinced Eric to lie down with his stomach on the ground and close his eyes. She placed her hand on his head and was swamped with his recollections. She saw flickers of him acing tests, joking with friends and sharing meals with his parents. She called to her a spell of forgetfulness that withdrew all his memories about witches and his experience in the forest. After a few seconds she lifted her hand, feeling completely drained. All the tension had left Eric’s body. His mind was in peace.
    “Eric, you may go home now, good-bye,” Willow bid farewell.
    Eric flipped over and looked straight at her. His bewilderment over his situation was evident in his eyes “Good-bye ……. Willow.”
    Her exhaustion overwhelmed her before she could wonder how he remembered her name.