From The Author: Times like these don't get any better. I really want to say prepare; I worked super hard on this first chapter; as you will know I'm BIG on history, I spent my entire week…staying up late reading about everything on The Crusaders, and I mean everything! I really love Nicolas Cage, in any movie, so once I saw 'Season of the Witch' I fell in love. With him, the plot line, pure brilliance. Now this part is really important, if you seen the movie great! Now, this story is taking place where the demon wasn't sucked from Anna. Or "The Girl…Witch?" So the city is still assuming she's still a witch. I'll be blunt, I cried when Nicolas Cage died :D so in this story, he [Behmen] and Felson are alive.
Unfortunately, I don't own anything of 'SOTW' only my imagination that captured this idea as I was day dreaming. Now, I tried to word my 'words' back then, but if it's to dull or to 2011 day wording please tell me and I'll try to fix it. Along with the Latin, I had help from a site. So if it isn't great sorry.
Thank you for the reviews on my other story, they really made me feel welcome on the site. And before I forget, this story will have a lot of well…gore, sexual immortality and some abuse….oh and sex. FYI, it's not all to the extreme…I can't write pure smut, or anything really to hard core, but I'ma try!
Season Of The Witch
T'was the year of 1235 A.D, the black plague, loomed all over west Europe. Killing in death to dust. The Crusaders had begun and army to take back Jerusalem, the land of all holy who dirtier than Muslims roamed. Who am I to tell in the place of the holy, of judging words been said? Any woman of 17 would say her peace, but I am to reform my silences. In all my years of being, the most holy thing I would ever call is the purity of my Mother; Parolee. She was known as the most beautiful woman known in my eyes. Men, saw no more then cloth ghosted over skin. I was not born when she met my Father, Reputim. A well balanced black smith that obeyed the laws of the book and worked like a well-man…if a 'man' is what you'd call him.
Shortly after I turned 17, the plague had come amuck, killing her dry. But I didn't fear in the lost I could have been. She had taught me so much, loathing without tears, fighting for my tongue, learning to ride steeds. She did what 'girls' were not allowed. I learned to defend myself, toss the bow, grip a fist! But of course, I did learn the home: cleaning, cooking and one of the most held hand deed's was wounds. Tending, and clearing. And t'where would my Father come in with this? He loathed me just as I him. He became no more than the drunk, the one of a dreamer, that it until Mother passed.
I was only known as this proud girl, with deep-set green eyes that are like two clumps of moss. Fine, straight, brown-colored hair that is worn in a style that reminds you of a flowing cape. Shaped with a wasp-waisted build. Skin pale. A widow peek forehead and a thin-lined nose; partly the distance to smile. I knew that I had become something bigger, and only this I was sure of is to set off to knew lands.
"Siera," a loud bang followed by heavily thuderest footsteps hollowed out into the stable. I placed an apple into the horses mouth and turned to see my Father in view.
"Move lazy girl!" I stammered out of his drunken way and watched him tassel the horse that filled with rage as Father pulled on its strapped rope. "Your hurting her!" I pushed him to the side and slid into the stable cell. Calming and cooing, "pacis exsisto etiam." Peace be still. The horse nayed and relaxed her prance. I kissed its nose turned to see Father red furry holting his arms crossed. My arm was gripped and was pushed out of the cell, out of the stable on to the open court yard. I fell open into the sound of muddy waste. I sheepishly looked at him, raging. But the sounds of laugher echoed my ears.
"Vestri nunquam iens futurus quisquam, vos bardus puella don't vos audio lemma? Patefacio vestri legs quod subsisto risus fossor, vestri pectus pectoris mos nunquam exsisto repletus!" He screamed at me, Your never going to be anything, you stupid girl don't you listen to them? Open your legs and stop the laughter fool, your heart will never be filled. I stood up running back into the stable locking eyes with the horse and unlashed it from its cell, clicking the sounds of hoofs running out into the court yard. I heard his screams, their laughter. But the voice in my heart kept forward. I rushed into the forest, pushing the creature to go faster until a long side stream came to view.
"Drink now." I commanded it, flowing my fingers through the long brown hair of the horse. I didn't even swallow on the grimaced thought that Father might follow, he couldn't even jump his on hoof onto the back of a horse. I tighten the lash around the bark of a tree and followed the stream up. It grew longer, fuller. It was widen all the way to the length of a yard. A small falling cliff rose with heavier water streaming down. I stepped into the rippling water and fell to my knees. I washed and scrubbed the waste off. I rolled around until I was soaked. I felt my cheeks boil in the red fear that loomed over my chest. The time was far gone had I spent a hour into the water.
I rode back till the air filled my clothes and dried them clearingly. It was sunset glistening over the mountains. I watched as the light fell into darkness as I pulled the horse into the cell. I looked attentively for my Father which was no where to be found. I opened the door into kitchen and there laid my Father in a child ball crying. I felt no pity just annoyance.
"My daughter, come here." He opened his arms for me to crawl into, so I did. "I've seen the vision of your Mother!" He cried into my chest. I let sip a small gasp and faced his watery red eyes, "what did she say?" I was curious now.
"She said…to tell you," He seemed scared, almost like it was a ghost scaring the skin off his bone. "City of Angles…only there will you find what you been searching for…" I stared blankly into his small grey eyes, whose orbs blacken wide. "Father, you are not sick?"
He gripped the hem of my dress, "to God I promise."
Before the twilight peered over the peeks, I had made a restless night to pack and journey myself. I had packed up the horse from the ride the day ago and headed out before Father awoke. I clicked for her to move out, she nayed loud. Sounds of plates being shattered had fallen. "Where do you think you are going?"
I turned eyeing my Father stepping towards me, "City of Angles." I quipped. He laughed like a roaring lion. "Without me your not." He gripped my head jerking it back, ripping it hard. I winced in pain and smacked him across the face. He fell back and charged again. I turned around so he missed, pinning him against the barn wall. "you're the devil!" He cried out as I released him.
"No. I'm worse." I spat. I turned to hop on but the fool began crying. "Don't leave me! Your all I got Siera!" He grabbed my leg holding on to it. I sighed and pushed him off, "you need no one but the drink." I turned to hop on but the view became black, I felt the sharpest pain sleaze through my head. I began feeling dizzy, I looked down at my Father holding a wooden board. I tired to stand but the vision blurred. So I closed my eyes and slept.
I awoke to loud chants, murmuring whispers and clocking of hoofs. I stat up and looked at down at the horse I sat on. I turned to see my Father, dressed in attiring clothes, waving and smiling. The horse next to me road a tall man, dressed the same. I did not know who he was, "the beauty awakes!" The people cry out. I look to see my Father pulling up into a tall foyer like entrance. People surround us, some sick, some old, weary. The horse stops as so does the other, the man is no older than my Father. The man comes holding his palm out, I take it a hop down.
"Welcome to City of Angles." He murmurs in my ear. We step up into the open loft and head deeper inside. The walls are hung with time, smelling of wine fills my nose. Prostitutes linger all over, some clothed. This discuses me, I yank off of the man and flip my hood of my cloak up. I follow my Father whose smiling at each young girl.
"Brave ones, welcome to my city." A man sitting on a throne in a leaved gold crown. My Father steps forward kneeing, same with the other as I stand in the back, "rise sons." He calls out. My Father hands him a golden bow, with red lace wrapped around.
"Ah, I've been searching for something like this," his old boney hand extends for it, "I am Cardinal D'Ambroise, you may stay as long as you like." I see the gold bow and realized Mother had given it to me. My heart filled with rage, I couldn't stop my self, "you will not take that. Its hands belong not to you." I stepped forward just feeling my Fathers shocked face. "You will not talk to-" but my Father was cut off.
"Girl. Such bad manors, go back to the bed." He laughed, so did everyone around, "You fear I speak the truth, Cardinal D'Ambroise ." I challenged. His brown moved up and he stood, "prove it, shoot this bow and if you speak the truth you may keep it. If not, you will meet me in my bed later." A few others 'oood' in laughter, whistled and what not, but I didn't fear. I looked at him apathetically and rose further to take the bow, "you must hit the three rings, perfectly to the core." He said aloud. I took the arrow and arched my elbow to the middle. I studied the circle, and let go, releasing, hitting it three times. I hit with all three arrows, "this is your child Reputim?" He called from me to him. My Father looked at me hesitantly then nodded, "she is different, did you train her?"
But I didn't keep my mouth shut, "no, my Mother did. Would a drunk teach a lamb to bow? You all fret." I felt my mouth being slapped, I felt the taste of blood cover my mouth.
"You are a little mouth, you will show respect to me." He yelled angered then his change of tone raped the room, "Reputim, is this a virgin?" I felt my chest grow heavy, and my own blood boiled. Mother, I thought, keep me strong. "Yes. No man had the will to touch her." He laughed, the men in cloth laughed, the prostitutes laughed, they called names, "take my hand before God." Cardinal D'Ambroise ordered helping me up. "You will be a queen treated in gold, I wouldn't have to worry about you, you can curl your fist," He chuckled and sat back down into his thrown.
"I loath you." I glared into his eyes which flurried into his, "you don't have a choice." Men in fighting armor appeared steadying there hands over their sword.
"Siera." My Father yelled over my shoulder, I turned and looked through him, seeing a bright white light out of view, I turned back and swallowed my tongue, "7 days before the sunset." Cardinal D'Ambroise smiled and took my hand in his, "you will have your answer by then." He let go, and clapped, "Mirrous take her to a room, afar from mine. And her Father to the south." Mirrous nodded and I followed him clenching my bow.
"You must be brave." Mirrous turned to say, smiling slightly. "What is brave?" I questioned, "fearing the lion when it roars back, is not. Killing it with words is." He looked shocked by my response and opened the door for me, "Thank you, Mirrous…" I looked around and saw things so much nicer than I could ever dream of seeing. "Anything else?"
"Yes." I kept my back to him, "where may I find a horse stable…"
It was cloudy, as the sun was hidden by grey pallets of cotton. I'd pulled over my hood as my cloak flowed behind me, I'd left with 300 coins and marked towards the horses. I saw my Father along with his friend who I learned was Markus, who was with Cardinal D'Ambroise and two other men who striked me as knights. One fairly good looking, shoulder length hair like blonde. And the other strongly build with almost white hair. My Father spotted me and of course I could see the drunk snake in his eye.
"Siera, my daughter come to papa!" I scoffed and walked up to him, I'd faced the blonde one who looked at me with no emotion. I felt my knees go a little week but looked passed him onto the stable. "My betrothed is looking for a pony?" Cardinal D'Ambroise slurred his words.
"This is the little mouth, what say you girl?" The one with whitish hair spoke up, "now Felson we do not know her reason." Cardinal D'Ambroise mocked. I rolled my eyes and looked at only two horses in the stable. One a beautiful reddish brown, and black. "Sorry my dear girl but the best horse has been bought off." I keyed him sharply, "but there are two."
"Yes. But you see that black one." I looked where he pointed, "its wild, needing putting down." I bit down on my lip, "how much." He looked shocked then smirked, "I'll give it to you free, if you can get on it without falling." I looked at the thing, it was ruthless, but somewhere I knew it needed a rider. Someone to tell it to go, feeling the wind in your face. The wooden door was opened for me by a peasant man I smiled for him in thanks. The horse was naying and wining. Kicking its hoofs off the ground, I walked over to it nervous, "Exsisto etiam puer." I murmured just for him to hear, be still boy. I touched its nose letting him feel that no harm was to be done, it didn't move but wine, I hopped on and leaned into his ear, "veho me, vos es pango, nos mos veho in Olympus." Ride with me, you are the fastest, we will ride into heaven. It lifted up onto two legs and shook a little bit, laughter flowed from my Fathers lips.
"Vado, vos es aquila, nox noctis veho!" I said aloud; "Go, you are the eagle, the night rider!" It nayed loud, "girl you wouldn't be able to contain it! Are best men couldn't!" Cardinal D'Ambroise yelled out, "Aeton, is your name now." I murmured into his ear, "is means swift as an eagle." I looked up at my Father and smirked hoping he'd want to smack me. I clicked my boot on its side and Aeton took off. The gate was just barely opening, "Jump." I yelled out and it did. We jumped over the gate and out into the open court yard.
"Open the gate!" I screamed hearing after my Father, "after her! Stop her!" I was on a full pursuit. "Get Her!" Cardinal D'Ambroise yelled as I rode pass the people. Slowly the gate was pushing open, I was almost out, I turned back to see my Father along with the other two, Felson and the other one I wasn't sure of was catching up. I pulled out my bow and fastly grabbed the arrow aiming for a bucket of water a woman was caring. I hit it as it fell spilling water blocking the view of my Father. But that didn't stop the other two. The big door that led my freedom closed and I pulled Aeton back and stopped panting as I was right next to the door.
I clicked again and Aeton headed back to the stables. Followed by the other two, I road up next to my Father who looked displeased, "the horse is mine." I spoke up, "your best men couldn't tame it?" I laughed, and what was even funnier Aeton laughed as well. "Girl. You proved me wrong, he's yours." Cardinal D'Ambroise began, "but try to escape and you will be killed." I didn't look up but murmured something inaudible for is old ears. "Behmen," I looked up realizing it was the blonde who before caught up when I tried to escape. He was fast, and something warned me to keep an eye open for this one. Behmen.
"My dear, if it's a ride you wish say your peace before leaving." Cardinal D'Ambroise said taking his nasty boney finger to remove my hood. "Behmen, Felson take the lady for a ride." My Father along with Markus followed the brute. I scoffed turning Aeton around then slowly followed behind.
"How does a girl like you shoot a bow at lease 2 miles away?" Felson asked turning back to face me as if it were impossible to do.
"How does a boy shoot a bow 2 miles away." I quipped back. But all he did was chuckle, "I like her." They opened the gates and I saw my freedom; the white light Mother was luring me to.
"Do not pass the two stones." The one called Behmen spoke. I turned to him flipped my hood up and smirked, "and if I do?"
"You come back." Felson joined in. "And I really don't want to chase some girl around." I gritted my teeth, "my name is Siera. Learn it, boy." I clicked and took off riding out into the field, this was my only chance. "Aeton veho! Run Run! Nos ago vel intereo!" I spoke in Latin Aeton ride! Run, Run! We live or die! I felt the wind blow back my hood freeing my long hair to travel into the wind. I felt something I hadn't in a while, my Mother. I looked passed the hill leaning upwards and gulped, "now!" I shouted heading for the two stones pushing forward.
"Aeton faster!" I cried out. God, these guy's were so fast. I kept going turning at slanted angles to make it harder for the catch.
"I'm not going back there." I turned around and shot an arrow at the front hoof of Felson horse. I stopped back and only Behmen was riding up, fast. The long hill way was coming up to a stop, as a long drop was overview. I was pulled off Aeton, I hit the ground rolling as I beaked to get free. "No!" I cried out. Behmen who I knew was strong, out of my will had taken me down. "Do not make me go back…I can not." I pleaded. I searched his eyes and I saw nothing but black orbs. "I'll die before I enter," I struggled to break free.
"You will not be harmed, I will promise you this." He replied. He stood up and grabbed Aeton pulling him and his own horse back the way. I felt my body being yanked up and on to something. I turned to see Felson behind me as we rode off back to the city. "Shouldn't have run." He stated obviously.
From The Author: Well, what did you think? Like it? Yes, No? Maybe? Please leave reviews! I'm going to work on the second chapter really soon. And for any confusion, [Siera is Sierra, I removed one of the R's] I really hope you'll enjoy this story, I'm having so much fun writing it! Even if I get no review's I'm going to try to finish it. But review's really make me want to write more, cause then people care what you write, you know? :]
OH! Just right now, I'm not an horse obsession, they are in the time period. And the name Aeton, is from a sight so I don't own it, but the meaning which I loved; means swift as an eagle, which Siera call's Aeton in the beginning. And Cardinal D'Ambroise in the movie is dying from the black plague, but in my story, he isn't. Lastly, I listened to the entire Score from the movie, so it's on youtube(1) under the channel "KaraokeLife" listen to it, it was just amazing to write with!
And lastly, I apologize for any error's. I tried to pre-read, but I'm sure I'll find something. So if your interest in being like a 'pre-reader…or beta…is what they call it please let me know!'
-A