Spellbound Alliance by Goodness Woke
Witchcraft was a common belief in the Kingdom of Delmore. Something both feared and revered - responsible for various recent misfortunes and calamities.
When Gabriel, seasoned warrior and witch hunter of the famed Nightshade brotherhood, decides to investigate, he realizes the threat is more than he can handle on his own. Forced to confide in an unlikely ally, a mage by the name of Althea, they have no choice but to confront the dark magic and unravel a sinister plot for power and control.
The key to the kingdom's future, and that of the magical world, lies with them.
A path ran straight as a plumb line through the woods of Belwych, a village nestled in the land of Delmore. In the midst of this verdant haven, a squirrel leaped from a heavily canopied tree and into the fading, green rows of the shrubs lining the path.
The sound of the wind whistled through the leaves on the trees, and the smell of the wet soil filled the air. And though barely visible in the sky, the sun spread its rays on the treetops, leaving the canopy with dark shadows on the path between the woods.
Two men on horses galloped their way past in a rather hasty manner. One carried a drawstring bag with a scroll sticking out, whilst the other had a sheathed sword dangling beside his horse. From their distinguished dressings alone, it was easy to deduce that one was a mere messenger and the other a warrior. The horse continued through the lane, only neighing with resistance when the warrior charged it to move faster.
But then he stopped the horse, for he knew that something was awry. The atmosphere grew cold, and a sense of foreboding settled upon them.
“Halt!” the warrior ordered.
The messenger’s horse stopped abruptly, but he did not dismount. There was something unusual about the way the trees moved that froze him in place. The warrior could sense something strange, and his instincts were never wrong. But senses and instincts, most times, were not enough to avoid brewing evil. The warrior peered into the darkness of the woods, trying to detect any signs of movement, but there was nothing. Everywhere was still except the trees that waved and a dark shadow that lurked around.
They never learn.
They were about to discover that there was more to these shadows than what meets the eye.
“Oi! Let us not tarry any longer! The sun doth almost set!” cried the messenger in an irritated tone. He balanced on his horse, wondering why his companion dawdled, his brows furrowed in vexation.
The horses neighed again, and at that moment, the warrior confirmed his feeling. He hurried down from his horse and took hold of the sword which hung by his side.
The wind grew intense, and the atmosphere grew even colder. The men braced themselves, unsure of their next step; stay and fight, or mount their steeds and flee. There was no time to decide. The shadow closed in. They felt it on their skin—ice-cold.
“Show thyself, coward! Fight me like a man with courage!” The warrior charged into the woods, his boot digging into the damp silt of the earth, his heart pounding in his chest.
There was no response. And then suddenly, everything stilled once more. There was no whistling wind, and a deafening silence befell the atmosphere. The path became more visible. The sun crept out again. It appeared the threat had finally departed.
The warrior sheathed his sword, perplexed, but quickly hopped back onto his horse. If there was a meaning to this, he would find out. He was sure of it. He made to move his horse, but it, unfortunately, stood still.
It happened in a flash. Darkness covered the area, and the leaves and shrubs on the path sprang from the soil. The dark layer of matter rushed toward them, and in an instant, the horse fell to the ground alongside the men. Blood spilled onto the soil—blood from full decapitation. Their heads rolled on the earth, now covered with dead leaves and sand. Their eyes were still alive. A hooded figure within the rising fog stood before the head of the warrior. Then it walked to the scroll and stood before it.
Delmore needs to learn.