In amongst the silent trees, only the soft chuckle of a confident voice echoed from beneath the lone shack in the middle of the forest. A dark, female shape rose up from the altar before the Thief Witch and a crystal ball sprung to life, showing the moving image of a young woman with deep blonde hair, pale green eyes, and wandering a nearby village alone.
“Go on then,” the confident voice said to the female, humanoid creature. “Bring her to me.”
“Mmmph!” a chorus of voices said from behind the source of the voice, the woman in red, Aurora. Three other young women laid within three wooden cages, each tied with strong rope and gagged with thick cloths. Aurora smiled to herself as she eyed the empty fourth cage.
“One more. Then we’ll really be onto something. Right, my reaper?”
The female, humanoid creature hissed in response to its creator, and disappeared into the shadows. “Yes. Go on and reap another one for the collection. Maybe then I can perfect the spell.”
With the other three women still mewling away into their gags and struggling against their unyielding bonds, Aurora took in a deep breath and sat down in a wooden chair, leaning back and awaiting the return of her reaper with the final captive to help perfect the spell and complete her experiment. Then there would be nothing to stop her. Only the Guild could give her trouble now.
Within minutes, her reaper reappeared with a squirming, tied up captive slung over its shoulder, setting it inside the last empty cage. Aurora stood from her chair and picked up an old, leather bound book from the altar in front of her. She waited for the creature to finish binding the young woman and lock the cage. When it was done, the reaper disappeared again.
“Good. Now, let’s see...”
Aurora flipped through the old book she had stolen from the Captain of the Guard in Onellia, where a dangerous coven of witches once roamed, and found the passage she sought.
“Within is where you will find, relinquish the secrets of this one’s mind!”
Suddenly, all of the girl’s frightened thoughts appeared in Aurora’s head and she sifted through them, hoping to hear what she was looking for. Quiet whispers began to make their way through the noise and Aurora listened closely.
“Within four minds to affirm, a noble maid for each seasonal term. Four who are there do you wish to bind, then you will subdue the power of the mind. For each season, one noble maid. Find the four and let your mind be your blade.”
Aurora let the girl’s thoughts drift away from her mind and smiled a wicked smile. “Four seasons, eh? Well, I think I’ve got that covered. Noble maids...” Aurora chuckled to herself. “Princesses. They will help me complete my spell. Oh, that is just wonderful. Let’s see... Winter. Luna, the lady of Ice. Spring... Mirelle, the woman of the Earth. Summer... Meryn, the lady of the Sun. And Autumn... Elyn. For the red of the leaves. Elyn.... Elyn...”
Aurora lost herself for a moment when she thought of the lovely princess of Sixellia and how she longed to feel her touch. Ever since that time in the last world, her home, in Weston, Aurora had just wanted to stay with Elyn forever. But... that would have to wait. For now, she would need the Reaper to collect Elyn, tie her up, and get her to the shack. The spell had to be completed. It was the only way she could best Jhana. She had to do it.
The crystal ball jumped to life again and Luna’s face appeared in it as she walked the halls of the Royal Palace of the kingdom of Fivellin.
“Reaper.... you know what you must do. Go now. Get me those princesses.”
The female, humanoid creature appeared again, hissed once, and then faded into the shadows. Aurora’s wicked smile broadened. She knew the Guild would not see this one coming.
...
Luna couldn’t help but admire her kingdom’s banner. It did fit her very well, after all. She would never have imagined having her own Sigil back in Ikaatan. Back home she was just an outcast, an ‘illegal’ mage and the ‘weird moon girl.’ But here, in Esterlin, she governed a kingdom as its princess and admired the sigil created in her name: The White Bear. Indeed, huge white bears did roam the wintry, northern kingdom of Fivellin. Their strength had become something of a symbol for the kingdom and, as many believed, its princess.
The light blue banner flapped in the wind, proudly displaying the snarling head of the white bear in its centre. Luna took in a breath and sighed, thinking back on how remarkably her life had improved since joining up with Artema. Sure they got captured and tied up a lot but Luna maybe even started to find that part a little fun, what with the games she got up to with Mirelle. And without Artema, the old Order, the Agency, and now the Guild, Luna would never have met her fiance. Topping all of that off was the fact that she was now the princess of a proud and noble kingdom. She could never have dreamed of such a life.
“Winter...” a hissing voice suddenly whispered in her ear.
“Wha-mmmph!” A wad of cloth was forced into her open mouth by a shadowy hand while another cloth was tied on over it. Luna was not a weak woman but she could not fight the force of the feminine, humanoid shape behind her that pulled her arms behind her back and quickly tied her up at the wrists and elbows.
“Mmmmph! Nmmm!”
Luna was then hoisted up onto the thing’s shoulder and it quickly tied her legs at the ankles and knees before springing away through the window of Luna’s bed chambers. It fell noiselessly to the ground, its captive in tow, and stalked off at speed to the south and the great, enchanted forests of Central Esterlin, the neutral lands.
Its people owing allegiance to no crown, a treaty had been signed by all seven kingdoms long before the seven princesses that agreed the neutral lands were safe ground for all and were never to be encroached upon. So that meant she had no power there.
Luna struggled against her tight bonds but the strange shadow being knew how to tie someone up and she simply couldn’t escape, nor could she break the thing’s grasp. After a few minutes of travelling, Luna knew that she was now headed deep into the woods and the witch Aurora. For what purpose, she did not know but Luna suspected she would find out very quickly.
...
Seated properly, back straight, upon her silver throne, Princess Mirelle was as bubbly as ever. Though she did exude a regal aura and earned high respect among her court and her subjects.
“I come to you, Your Noblest Grace, to request the aid of Fort Quatran,” a young man said, bowing low before the monarch of the small kingdom.
“With what do you require aid, good sir?” Mirelle asked in as regal a voice as she could summon. Her tone remained friendly and she smiled warmly at the nervous young man standing on her throne room’s green carpet.
“Our dear Princess Taria does not know I have come, Your Grace. But she is a proud and stubborn ruler, great in her way, but she refuses aid even from her closest allies. Still, I came to you, Princess Mirelle, in hopes that you might find your way to helping our princess beat back the scourge of brigands that plague Trivalia.”
Mirelle nodded, still smiling sweetly, and paused for a moment to digest the young man’s words.
“You are among her court, I presume?” Mirelle asked.
“I am naught but a servant to the chancellor, my lady. And she had suggested our dear Princess to accept aid numerous times. Even after the last two times our fair princess was taken from us, dearest Lady Taria still refuses aid and battles the brigands herself. We fear losing her, Your Grace.”
“That is understandable,” Mirelle said. “But I cannot force a dear friend like Taria to accept aid she has not asked for. And our resources are limited. You know we are a small kingdom, good sir, and we have spared everything we have to protect our little city. It is only just enough to keep the brigands of Trivalia at bay and it soon may not be enough. We send aid where we can but we cannot spare anything more. I am sorry.”
“Princess Mirelle, I implore you to reconsider. Please. Princess Taria’s life could be at stake. We are ill-equipped and our princess will not raise taxes on her subjects to better our resources. She is a kind and just ruler, as are you, but she cannot fight these brigands alone. Our soldiers are overwhelmed. All we can do is request aid and I know you, being so nearby, are very vulnerable but the brigand threat concerns all of Esterlin. Not just Trivalia.”
Mirelle let out a sigh. “You are brave to seek out aid for your princess of your own accord. For your kindness I will dispatch my best soldier to battle against Trivalia’s brigands. Let your chancellor know that Captain Vera of the Quatran Guard will be in the capital before the week is out.”
The young man bowed repeatedly, clasping his hands together. “Oh thank you, kind princess. Even a single soldier will be an immense help to us. I am certain the chancellor and the princess will ensure she is well looked after.”
“I may recall her from time to time, you understand. My kingdom has its needs as well,” Mirelle said. “But if Taria needs protection then I shall help provide it. You may go if you wish. And please give Taria my love.”
“I will, Your Grace. Thank you a thousand times! Neither I nor Trivalia will forget this kindness.”
“I am certain you won’t. Go in peace, good sir.”
The young man kept his head bowed low and left the throne room, where Mirelle and her aforementioned captain, Vera, remained alone.
Vera was a rather short woman but stout, thickly built, and strong as an ox. She had short, black hair and piercing grey eyes, though the left one had a long scar running above and beneath it. Adorned in Fort Quatran’s traditional Green Steel armour, the captain strode slowly toward the throne and its green-haired princess.
“You didn’t tell him that I’ve already been to Trivalia seven times battling those damn brigands.”
“I couldn’t break his heart, Vera. He was so earnest and clearly cares deeply about Taria. And you know better than anyone that we really can’t spare anyone else.”
“Do you think the chancellor will tell him?” Vera asked.
“If she has a heart, no. And you have been a help so far, haven’t you? So I didn’t lie to him. But I couldn’t just send him away with nothing. Not after he came all this way.”
Vera shrugged. “You’re too kind for your own good, Princess. But I think you did the wise thing. So when should I be off to Trivalia?”
“Well, last I heard, Taria had a lead on the hideout to that giant woman who kidnapped her and she’s headed out there tomorrow so I would like you there by tonight to keep her safe.”
Vera nodded. “It will be done, my lady.”
“Good. Thank you, Vera. If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone with my thoughts for awhile.”
“As you will,” Vera said, bowing once to the princess before striding away and leaving Mirelle alone in her throne room.
The princess of For Quatran took a moment to look at her small kingdom’s sigil. It was a simple image of lush, green tree woven into earthy brown fabric. Mirelle still couldn’t believe that they had all become princesses in this new world. How could they have possibly even dreamed of such a thing? From serving royalty and helping protect the old Queen of Ikaatan, to obeying the orders of a corrupt bureaucrat, they could not have travelled farther than becoming seven reigning monarchs in a strange and magical land. And to have the people create a sigil for her... it was all just surreal.
Mirelle’s thoughts were distracted when she noticed movement from the centre of the room and a human shape rose up from the shadows. It had a very feminine form and seemed to stare right through her.
“Spring...” Mirelle heard a voice hiss.
“Spring? What... are you?”
The thing didn’t answer her and instead moved faster than Mirelle could see and quickly had the princess on the ground on her stomach.
“Ver-mmmph!” Mirelle tried calling for her captain but the Reaper clamped a hand with a tight wad of cloth over her mouth, showing the cloth inside. Another cloth was used to tie on behind her head and tightly cover her mouth. “Mmmph!” Mirelle cried as the Reaper quickly crossed her wrists and tied them behind her back.
Another coil of rope went around Mirelle’s arms just above the elbows and then, when her ankles were tied, the creature picked her up and slung her over its shoulder. It leapt out a nearby window before anyone in the castle fortress even knew their princess was gone.
Now with its second captive, the Reaper headed off to the woods and was already focussing in on its third. It was only a matter of time before they four of them would be Aurora’s tied up and gagged prisoners.
...
She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips when she saw the sorry state of the man who approached her throne. Princess Meryn would have given him absolute hell if she didn’t know that Artema had done so already. Prince Jonas stopped a few feet from the steps up to her golden throne. The pain in his shoulder had not gone away, she could see it in his eyes, and he also walked with a slight limp now. She would have to ask him about that.
“Didn’t expect to see you today. Or for several days. I thought you were supposed to be resting,” Meryn said.
“I am,” Jonas replied. “I just needed to talk to you one on one.”
“Well, here we are,” Meryn said. “But before you spit it out, what happened to your leg?”
“Would you believe that I’ve just got bad knees?” Jonas said with a shrug.
Meryn said nothing, simply raising an eyebrow. Jonas continued. “It’s related to what I need to talk to you about. How’s that?”
Meryn sighed. “What happened?”
“Pirates,” Jonas said. “I may have taken my ship and my crew out after I heard about Nara the Blade.”
The mention of the name stirred no reaction from the stoic princess of the Seven Islands but she knew it well. Nara was a very successful pirate, plundering the waters all around the islands. The part that Meryn was worried about, however, was Nara’s obsession with the Holy Sunlight and the Princess. Indeed, since the woman was obsessed with both of her personas, the pirate known as The Blade became an issue that was front of mind. After doing some digging, Meryn found out that someone, she wasn’t sure who, had put a bounty on the Holy Sunlight and whoever could capture her would be handsomely rewarded. As well, Nara was gathering together stronger and stronger forces on her ship so the Island Navy would have to respond and perhaps even draw out Meryn’s ship itself so she could kidnap and ransom the princess. And with her crew growing every day, Nara was beginning to become a very real threat.
“Go on then,” Meryn said.
Jonas took in a sharp breath, still trying to ignore the screaming pain in his shoulder, and finally spit out the words. “She knows.”
Meryn nodded. “I see. How did you find that out?”
“A fight with one of her men. Might have come out a little worse for wear.”
“That’s not resting, Jonas.”
Jonas shrugged. “But I did find out that Nara the Blade knows who the Holy Sunlight is. That is important to you, yes?”
“Yes, I suppose it is. But you really shouldn’t have done that.”
“Can you do me a favour and... not tell Artema? She, um, kind of really scares me now,” Jonas said. “And I’m not sure I want to trigger that anger... spell... thing that she does.”
“I won’t tell her if you head right upstairs to my guest chambers and get yourself healed right now,” Meryn said. “And I will tell her if you refuse.”
Jonas nodded. “All right. Thanks. Any particular reason you’re being so... kind to me?”
Meryn raised an eyebrow again. “Celia vouches for you. And Artema. And Lanala. And Mirelle. Also, you’ve had my back. It’s only right that I have yours. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know it’s just... you’ve never trusted me before.”
“Well you gave me a reason. Are you suggesting I’m wrong?”
Jonas could almost feel himself crumble under Meryn’s stern gaze but he kept a calm outward appearance. It seemed Artema was not the only member of the Guild who intimidated Jonas. “No. I guess things have just not been going my way and it seems too good to be true.”
“Well it isn’t. Now get upstairs and get some rest before I make you.”
Jonas said nothing more, leaving Meryn alone in her golden throne room once again. She hated the garish extravagance of the place but it wasn’t her design. Previous monarchs had built the room and bathed it in gold. Meryn did her best to dampen it a bit by putting up some dark curtains to cover some the ridiculous golden adornments but it was still a garish room and an obscene display of wealth that openly mocked the poor and the downtrodden.
That was why her work as the Holy Sunlight was vital. She gave back to the people as much as she could to overcome the arrogance of her predecessors. And it seemed she had succeeded in earning some respect as they had created a banner and a sigil just for her on the Seven Islands. Adorning the black banner, golden thread had been woven into a howling wolf to reflect the princess’ ferocious nature. The best part of it all was that the people of the city had made it for her. The banner was not her court’s idea but the people she ruled so loved her and revered her they had created the sigil of the Golden Wolf in her honour. Now it was the symbol of the Seven Islands and even the sails of her royal navy carried the symbol wherever they went.
Her reflective thoughts were scattered suddenly when a tall, feminine shape appeared right in front of her and piercing red eyes looked deep into her very soul.
“What?”
Meryn had no time to react or reach for her sword when the Reaper grabbed hold of her with inhuman strength and forced her arms behind her back, quickly binding her wrists with strong rope. Before she could cry out, the Reaper pulled a thick cloth between her teeth and tied it on tightly behind her head. Another cloth went on over her mouth and nose before a long coil of rope was wound around Meryn’s arms to immobilize them.
“Mmmph! Mmmrggh! Mmmp mmmph!” Meryn protested but she couldn’t fight the otherworldly strength of the Reaper.
Three more ropes wrapped around Meryn’s ankles and below and above her knees to render her helpless. Struggling hard, Meryn was picked up off the ground and slung over the shoulder of the Reaper, carried silently out the window of the throne room.
With its third captive in hand, the Reaper was already starting to focus on its final target...
...
Elyn giggled slightly, the cloth gagging her muffling her voice somewhat. The princess was alone in the room with her captain of the guard and the woman known as the Guardian of the Guild. But Celia seemed to be losing patience with the princess of Sixellia.
“Listen, those brigands are going to be knocking on our door soon enough. You need to take this seriously.”
“Mmm hmmm,” Elyn said, rolling her eyes.
She had only agreed to meet and discuss Celia’s report on criminal activity if she was allowed to be tied to her chair at the meeting table. And if she was alone with Celia, who always indulged in her bondage games. Celia had to admire, the princess looked good in the tight ropes that framed her breasts and kept her arms pinned to her sides. The ropes also wound all the way around the chair and tied to Elyn’s wrists, which were also tied together behind the back of the chair. Her legs were bound individually at the ankles to each of the chair’s legs and her knees were tied together. A thick cloth had been stuffed in her mouth and another covered it and was tied on tightly behind her head.
Though she tried to be serious, Celia herself wanted to be tied to her chair and tightly gagged. But she was unlike Elyn in that she focussed on business before pleasure and so didn’t indulge in the bondage game for now.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Elyn. It was your idea to report my findings every month and this is the day we do it. And we need to crack down on the Trivalian brigands encroaching on our territory.”
Elyn chuckled, shifting in her bonds. “Thmm tmmk cmmr mmf mmmt,” Elyn said.
They spent enough time around each other wearing gags that Celia was able to understand what Elyn said.
“That’s what I’m trying to do! I’ll take care of it but we need to plan this out!”
“Ymmr thmm strmmtmmgmmpht,” Elyn said.
“Yes. I’m the strategist. And you’re the one with the authority and who I need to run the strategy by. You’re a smart woman, Elyn. And I need to know what you think we should do.”
“Gmmt rmmd mmf thmmm,” Elyn said.
Celia sighed. “It’s not that simple. We can’t just make them go away. We have to fight back. But we can’t do it directly. Our soldiers don’t have the skill or the numbers to fight back even a small clan of those Trivalian brutes. We need to be smart about this.”
“Thmm dmm mmt,” Elyn said, her eyes smiling.
Celia sighed and rubbed her temples. “Now I think I understand Artema’s pain,” she said.
Elyn giggled again, squirming against her tight bonds. “Rlmmphx, Cllmmm. Lmmtph gmmt ymm tmmd mmp. Wmmll dmml wmmph thmmph lmmtmmr,”
Celia let out another long breath and stood from the table. “No. As much as I’d love to, I’ve still got planning to do. On my own. I’ll come back when you’re ready. And you better be ready!”
“Mm wmmll,” Elyn said, giggling again.
“And you’re going to speak to me without a gag in your mouth!”
Elyn rolled her eyes again. “Mmmkmmm....”
“For now... just try not to enjoy yourself too much.”
Elyn simply giggled one final time before Celia left the room to let the princess struggle. After a few minutes, Elyn watched the shadows from the window jump to life and a humanoid creature appeared there. She knew right away that it was trouble and, bound and gagged as she was, she was helpless to stop it. But the danger now only increased her excitement.
“Mmmmph!” she said.
“Autumn...” a voice hissed at her before slowly approaching her and lifting her chair up off the ground, effortlessly carrying it out the window it had just appeared beside. With Celia out of the room and presumably gone for a short while, there would be no one to witness the princess’ capture. Still tightly tied to her chair, Elyn was headed off to the forest and the Thief Witch’s shack. With its final target acquired for its creator, Aurora’s spell could finally begin.
...
Lanala had pictured things going better than this in her head. She was currently tightly hogtied on the floor of a wooden cage inside the basement of Aurora’s hut. The rope started at her wrists, binding them behind her back and attaching to the strong rope around her ankles. The remaining rope kept her knees together and pinned her arms to her sides, framing her chest. A quick, knotted cleave gag had been stuffed in her mouth to keep her silent and it was tightly tied on behind her head.
“Mmmph!” she said, glaring at her captor, Aurora. The Thief Witch had easily caught her and her creature, the Reaper, gagged her before she could unleash a powerful spell on the witch.
She had arrived to rescue her friends when she received an urgent message from Jonas who said Meryn had gone missing. Lanala could only assume that Jonas had sent pigeons out to her and Artema but, since they were taking care of business in their own kingdoms, they hadn’t been in the same place at the same time. Dosette was also closer to Central Esterlin than Onellia so Lanala would arrive first to Aurora’s shack.
She did indeed arrive first but now she could only squirm and writhe on the floor while her four Guild allies stood tightly trussed to poles surrounding a circle of candles. Aurora stood in the centre, book in hand, and kept her eyes closed. She said nothing and seemed as though she was waiting for something.
All of the princesses representing the four seasons struggled against their restraints in earnest, save for Elyn who still rather enjoyed the whole experience. But none of them were making any progress toward freedom. Each woman had been tightly bound with coils of rope around their arms from their shoulders to their elbows and another coil attaching them to the wooden poles. Further rope bound each woman’s wrists behind the pole and even more coils were used to bind their legs together at the ankles and knees, also attaching them to the poles.
Each of them had also been gagged with cloths between their teeth but then ornate, silken clothes covered the four women’s mouths and noses. Luna’s was icy blue, with a darker blue floral pattern. Mirelle’s was dark green with a brown floral pattern, Meryn’s was golden yellow with a black floral pattern and finally Elyn’s was red and covered with a gold floral pattern.
It seemed the gags were also part of the seasons ritual for Aurora’s spell but she hadn’t told them why she was holding them. Nor had she told them why four other young women were still tied up in four other wooden cages surrounding them. Aurora seemed focussed on something else and nothing could shake it. Even Elyn barely got a sidelong glance as the Thief Witch waited in the centre of the circle of candles.
She finally opened her eyes when she heard a loud crack from the top of the cellar stairs as the door was kicked open. Lanala knew then what Aurora had to be planning. It was all a trap for Artema!
“You’re really asking for it this time, Aurora!” Artema’s strong voice echoed down the stairs.
“Nmmm! Stmmmmp! Mmmptph mmm trmmmp! MMMMPPH!” The cleave gag was effective enough in Lanala’s mouth that her wife couldn’t hear her muffled warning. Aurora opened the old book in her hand and began reciting the spell, drawing in a sort of power from the four tied up women surrounding her. None of them felt any pain, nor even felt tired, but they each seemed to be feeding into whatever ritual Aurora was performing.
“With nature’s power all shall cower! Give me the mind of the strongest aligned! The power of rage for the war I shall wage! When four are one then my will shall be done! Now the seasons will show the end of my foe!”
Aurora smiled as she turned around and saw Artema reach the bottom of the stairs, oblivious to what was happening.
“What the hell is this?” Artema asked.
On the fly, Aurora came up with the words she needed to finally complete the spell. “Give the heart raw the great strength of Artema!” Aurora said, slamming the book shut and raising her hands to the ceiling. With a swirl of wind and glowing, arcane energy Lanala watched in horror as Artema froze in place.
“Mmmph!” all of the bound women said in unison. Meryn had been struggling the entire time and she could just about reach a knot to untie her wrists but it was proving to be just out of reach. One more pull and she would be free but... it might be too late.
The mighty warrior princess started taking in deep, heaving breaths. She delivered a kick to Aurora’s cauldron nearby and the heavy, cast iron thing crashed into the stone wall across the room, embedding itself in the stone brick. A large dent appeared in its side and Aurora smiled wide at the result.
“You’re mine,” she said, looking the wrathful eyes of the Guild’s leader. They were no longer green. Now they had gone a deep red, much like the Reaper. Aurora’s spell had worked brilliantly and now Artema and the Reaper were one; a superhuman being of pure rage. Worse still, Aurora had full control over the raging warrior’s spirit and Artema’s mind. With such a weapon then she would surely be unstoppable.
Aurora chuckled and met Elyn’s eyes for a moment. “I’ve done it,” she said with a smile.
Elyn was no longer concerned with her fun bondage predicament. What she had just witnessed was very serious indeed and it was no longer fun. But she knew she was lousy at escaping. Meryn, on the other hand...
Aurora hadn’t kept her eyes on the princess of the Seven Islands and she had managed to work free of her bonds and crept silently to Lanala’s cage, cutting it open and then cutting her free of her bonds.
“You’ve got to stop this,” Meryn said at a whisper. “None of us has the power to reverse this insanity. But you do.”
“But I don’t know what to do,” Lanala said.
“Think of something. We can’t let this stand.”
She stood up straight and suddenly a calm, tempting voice spoke inside Lanala’s mind. Let yourself go. I mean it. Let yourself really go. None of them truly know what you are capable of. No more limits, Lanala.
“No,” she said to herself. “I can do this and maintain control. I have to.”
By letting the voice tempt her, however, Lanala felt a surge of power within her very being and had never felt better in her life. Even better, she wouldn’t need the ridiculous long, rhyming spells that this world required. With a simple thought and a spoken word, Lanala could do just about anything.
“Artema,” Aurora said. “These are your enemies. I am your mistress. You will do as I command.”
Artema’s posture stiffened and she glared at the women of her Guild. The rage overtook her and she drew her sword and started to charge directly at Meryn.
“Lanala, hurry up!”
“Stop,” an echo-y voice, much like Lanala’s, said into the air. Artema once again froze in place.
“What’s going on?” Aurora asked.
Lanala fought hard to resist just how good all of her power felt and kept the presence of mind to feel bad for what she was about to do. “Chain her.”
From out of the ground, heavy steel chains burst through the floor and wrapped themselves around Artema’s arms and legs and chained her wrists behind her back. A metal plated panel, with soft leather on one side, pressed itself tight to Artema’s jaw and locked in place around her mouth in a firm steel gag.
Standing in place, the mighty warrior princess could not break the arcane chains Lanala had summoned even in her state of rage.
“MMMMPH! MMMRRGGH!” Artema growled, thrashing and writhing against her steel bonds.
Lanala felt bad for doing it but it was the only way to keep her raging wife in check for the time being. But the regret caused the incredible power to dissipate from Lanala, though she could still feel it coursing through her just beneath the surface.
While Lanala focussed on trying to think of a spell to release Artema’s mind, Aurora didn’t waste any time. She knew things were not going her way and so flipped open her book again and quickly found another spell.
“Damn it,” she cursed to herself. “From the land stretching far and wide, grant me somewhere to hide!”
In a flash and a puff of smoke, Aurora was gone before any of them could grab her. But Artema was still wrestling with the Reaper in her mind and Aurora’s spell so the focus remained on her as she writhed against her chains.
“Artema... come back to me...” Lanala said, closing her eyes and reaching out with her mind. “Fight that which is corrupt, the power within I will disrupt.”
Holding her hands out in front of her, Lanala let the energy come up from the very roots beneath her and focussed all of her energy on Artema, still standing there and struggling wildly against her chains. It took a lot for Lanala to fight off the Reaper, and Artema’s warrior spirit, but she was winning the battle.
Artema’s red eyes became green again, though the rage still took her and she struggled hard, chains rattling, and growling and snarling into the steel gag. Lanala battled on, reaching out to Artema’s mind and speaking within it using the last of her energy.
It’s me, darling. Lanala. I love you.
The name of her wife made Artema collapse to the floor, though she was still conscious, but now feeling very weak. Lanala fell with her on the other side of the room, passing out from the exhaustion of the powerful spell.
“Wow...” Meryn said, unable to find any words for what had just happened. She freed the other three and rushed to check on Lanala.
“She’s out,” Meryn said. “We need to get her home.”
“Mmmpphh....” Artema said, sighing into her gag.
Elyn knelt down to meet Artema’s eyes. “So are you with us again?” she asked.
Artema nodded weakly, blinking and trying very hard not to fall asleep.
“So, should we free you now?”
“Nmm...” Artema said, slowly shaking her head. She was worried that she had not yet passed out when Lanala used to word to knock her out of the warrior’s spirit energy. She feared the rage may still be boiling inside her somewhere.
Elyn reached out with her mind to ask what Artema was worried about.
Might... not be... over it. It was even tiring for her to think. Best... keep me in chains until I... pass out.
“We’ll get you home, fearless leader. Don’t you worry,” Elyn said softly. “Let’s haul her out of here,” Elyn said to the other two standing with her.
Meryn picked up Lanala and, because she was so tall, Meryn had bit of a hard time with her at first but she was more than strong enough to bear her weight.
“We’ll have to get that book from Aurora,” Meryn said. “No way we’re letting her do something like this again.”
“Let’s just focus on getting back to the fort,” Elyn said. “We’ve got more important things to worry about right now.”
Meryn nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go. And get a healing spell ready, in case they’re hurt. Without Lanala, you’re our best healer right now.”
“Right,” Elyn said. “Let’s move.”
It had been a close call this time but, thanks to Meryn’s escape, they narrowly avoided a very dire situation indeed. Despite Aurora getting away, this had been a hard won victory for the Guild. With their leader back under control, all of them safe and sound and even some innocent young women rescued from the clutches of the Thief Witch, it had been a good day for them. But every one of the Princess Guild knew that their battle with the witches was far from over. If anything, things would only escalate from here. All they could do was fight back. And that was what they intended to do.