Chapter 22 [Somewhere Else]

Aredian floated in darkness. Sensation registered not a trace across skin, fingertips, or toes. Dreamless sleep held him fast. Emotions and feelings held no sway either. Breath barely hissed through his mouth or lungs. Eye lids moved but managed nary a blink.

Sometime into Enforced Slumber, voices buzzed about. Eye lids managed to crack to slits. Chill reddened his skin. Shivers quivered his limbs and torso. Parch dried mouth and throat. Breaths deepened to a degree. His lips twitched. Nostrils sniffed.

Come on. It is time. Wake up, Aredian…Aredian….

Stimuli jarred him. Slap burned across his face. Icy water splashed across his face. Reality returned his senses. His eyes blurred back into focus. Chill dimpled his skin. Mists framed space's perimeter all around himself. Leather thongs bound his wrists and ankles. He narrowed his eyes. "Where…Where am I?" He pulled at the thongs. "Release me!"

Lunete walked over to him. She assessed him. "You seem none the worse for wear, Hunter." She narrowed her eyes. "We know you, Aredian. My mistress' husband watched your carnage years ago. Our Lady be praised. He stood with the others against you on Lady Elaine's behalf."

"Ywain?" Aredian hissed through clenched teeth. "I wish I'd killed him and that bastard lion!"

Lunete flicked an eyebrow. "Then my mistress would be most upset with you, Monsieur. At least Nimue left you alive. The triple goddess has plans for you, mon Ami. You should be happy. You will persecute a magic user."

Disbelief raised his eyebrow. Cough escaped his mouth. "You? You want me to capture a sorcerer? Wait. You are sorcerers. There has to be some catch. I cannot believe that you would surrender one of your own to me!" Previous spell's aftereffects cleared in his mind. Their intentions raised red flags for him. What is their angle? Familiarity linked their technique with his own. "You cannot deal with me. I have no one to betray, Witch!"

"Mmm….are you so certain? Believe what you wish. It will not matter in the end." A snide smirk crossed Nimue's face. "You will be so helpful. We will give you all of the proof! You just have to deal with a most ungrateful individual. One who asked for our help in the past. One who received the favor." Her feet whispered over stones underfoot. Her hand brushed across his chin. "One who could not deal with that favor's outcomes." Her eyes burned into his. "Most ungrateful."

"Ungrateful?" He spat at their feet. "Anyone despising you is worthy of my friendship!"

"Typical fool. How alike your ally and you are. You have no idea." Saccharin-Sweet smile taunted him. Nimue's hand slapped his right cheek. "Uther and I were friends once. Very good friends. He talks so grandly of opposing magic when he began his reign!" Snide guffaw punctuated her statement. "He wanted a son. Queen Igraine was barren. He pressed me to cast a spell. He got his son. The Cailleach took his wife. He could not deal with that. Uther banished me. That day, the Purge started. And then…he used a sword forged in the Great Dragon's breath! It mattered not that it was a magic sword. It is his prize now!" Chuckles spat back in his face. "You are a party to his tantrum. Now, Aredian, you are going to help us stop it."

Uther Pendragon will be your quarry, Aredian. A glowing woman in flowing white robes floated toward him. Emerald glint highlighted her eyes. Frown twisted her mouth. He has harmed enough of my children. Now, that will stop. I am the triple goddess. As you can see, I truly exist. You will now serve me.

"I would kill you! I'll never…!" His wrists pulled at the bonds several more times. "Uther would never use magic for such things! He'd kill anyone who desired such things!"

But he did request such matters from Nimue, Aredian. Pity. I had hoped to avoid extreme measures. I can see such matters are needed. Nimue, Lunete, can you please? The goddess motioned toward the clay pot.

"Of course, Lady." Nimue nodded to the goddess. She lifted the lid away from the pot. Inside, Beige serpent slithered about. Several smaller heads hissed from their common body. "Do you know what this is, Aredian? This is a fomorroh. It and you are going to get to know each other so well." Canary flashed through her eyes. Her blade sliced one head from the beast.

Another head sprouted back up from the severed neck. Heads hissed in unison at them. Anticipation flicked their tongues out.

"Hold him still, Sister. This will open his eyes." Nimue sauntered over toward him. She held up the still hissing head. She passed the snake's head right in front of his eyes. "Watch, you Worm. Look at it."

"You need me. You need my mind!" Assumption stiffened his resolve. Torture techniques held little stock with him. Still, Threat and Purpose dripped from her tone. Promise

"Stop with the games, Sister." Lunete grasped his head. She yanked his neck forward. "Do it!"

I agree, my Child. It is time. Emerald flashed brighter still in the goddess' eyes. Deliberation knitted her expression.

He strained against Lunete's grip. "I will kill you! You will…!"

"You will kill us?" Nimue circled around behind him. She placed Snake's head on his neck. Canary flashed in her eyes. She watched the snake slithered around his neck. Then, it melted into the skin, spine and his mind. "After this, you may try!"

Spasms shook him. His eyes bulged. Screams echoed throughout the chamber. Drool spilled from his mouth. His mind shut down. He slumped over. Only bound wrists held him in position.

Nimue sniffed. "I hear none of his threats or bluster, Sister."

Lunete rolled her eyes. Her fingers touched his neck's artery. "He survived." She turned back toward the goddess. "Milady?"

Untie Aredian. Set him in the meadow beneath Camelot. He can ride on his horse the rest of the way. The goddess walked over to him. He will do what I require.

The priestesses released him. Mists swallowed the trio sweeping them away from the chamber.

The goddess turned away from Torture's apparatus. She watched Camelot's and Nemeth's events through residual mists. Complex events wove together in Destiny's loom. Personalities shaped events through force of will.

A simple push could direct the flow. The way remained important….