Earth Laced 2098

The Tide of Ingrid

   The Tide of Ingrid

by Terrence uriah erickson

The harvest moon shone dutifully overhead lighting up the Alder trees with a yellowish red tint. The fire blazed and crackled, sending up little fireflies of green light. Ingrid's covenant of six witches joined hands.

Ingrid's bold voice declared, "We of the Erickson Sax Covenant call upon you, the ghosts of gentleness, the martyrs of magic and the enigmatic mages of mastery, bless this circle."

The flames roared like a lion. The wind swept through the trees with small whispers of life.

Ingrid's familiar, Stormy, a silver cat, sniffed the air approvingly as she sat snuggly on her master's shoulder. She had been Ingrid's faithful familiar for nine years. Guiding Ingrid was a full time job and one of utmost importance.

In the magical hierarchy, Ingrid of Norway was a blessed high Priestess of the mystical arts of Witchcraft.

The Elders watched her carefully, diligently and unwavering. There was big plans for her future.

Ingrid continued, "Blessed be this night, the courage of the light, the gilded eye is open wide, blessed be the path of life."

The five other Witches repeated the cantation in unison. "Blessed be the path of life."

A figureless shadow entity appeared above the fire.

"Ingrid of Norway, heed my words." The voice was spoken as if it were coming through the tall, ominous Alders. "Lady Cherylizae has declared war on the forces of good. If she succeeds, the Sun will bleed red and the sky will weep demon tears endlessly."

Ingrid's blue eyes shimmered with brave intensity.

"We will stop her."

Ingrids covenant nodded solemnly in agreeance.

"Peace be with you all."

The spirit guide was gone, sending the fire into a hot sizzle of dancing blue sparks.

_____

The High Priestess, Ingrid of Norway was fifty-one in human years. She was thirty two thousand years old in the spirit world. Ingrid was known across the lands and over the seas. Her miracles were well known and very sought after. She pledged her soul to the Light of Love, a mystic order of the highest degree, responsible for most of the good and righteousness available on Earth. Ingrid's beautiful figure, long sparkling locks of blonde hair, and pure intentions were world renown. Prince after Prince fought for the rights to her heart. So far, she was undecided.

Her best friend, Dalemead, was the enchanting, disciplined Warlock of the Fearing Tribe of Dutch. Ingrid knew she would need to enlist Dalemead's assistance against Lady Cherylizae.

Ingrid packed her bag full of charms, potions, elixirs and food for the journey. She would be meeting the rest of her covenant outside of the village at midnight to began the trek.

She grabbed a handful of Ceemee dust and whisked it onto the ground. "Show me Dalemead of Dutch." The dust shimmered into a dull fog. Through the fog she peered apon Dalemead.

His red robe flapped violently against the wind of the badlands. He must be out hunting, Ingrid assumed.

"Where are you Dalemead?"

Dalemead plunged his sword into the carnivorous beast that laid bleeding by his feet. 'One less demon, a little less evil' was his motto.

"I'm forty miles north of Norway. I believe you have a matter of high regard for me my Queen."

Ingrid explained the situation promptly and Dalemead considered the proposition. He would probably die, they all would most likely die, attempting to defeat Lady Cherlizae. Even so, he agreed to the terms by making a blood pact with the Light of Love. He would meet up with the Erickson Sax covenant in two weeks times at the base of Cherylizae's high castle.

Ingrid's familiar, Stormy led the way. The pressure was mounting. nineteen days of treacherous journey loomed over the group of witches.

Gretel was the newest member of the coven and she was very well rehearsed in the ways of Witchcraft.

"Do for me now, do for me then, clear for my way, the way in which love."Gretel twisted her fingers in the air like a scrying stone. A protective aura grew from the mossy ground, encompassing the Witches in an energy shield as they trekked forward. Ingrid smiled at her. "Good idea young Gretel." The group marched on.

On the fourteenth day they met up with Dalemead at the Gifting Rock of Analousa, at the base of Lady Cherylizae's three hundred acre property.

"Alas, you've made it." Dalemead greeted the women, taking Ingrid into a strong embrace. In her ear he whispered. "Word is, you have a 'dirty' Witch with you. The oracle foretold of a betrayal that could cripple our efforts."

Ingrid winced. "How could that be?"

Bonnie'ma, Geana, Tieana and Marciousa were all original members of the Erickson Sax Coven. Tiena and Geana were sisters and grew up together with Ingrid.

Gretel was conjured magically into Ingrid's coven about three years ago. The Elder's did not infer why they had chosen to do so. Infact, to Ingrid, the Elders were suspiciously quiet on the subject. Bonnie'ma had objected the most concerning Gretel's arrival. Bonnie'ma was sensitive spiritually to what most Witches couldn't sense. She felt an evil force inside Gretel. All of her objections were futile though for the Elder's had spoken.

"Be weary my dear Witches." Dalemead held out his large gloved palms to the tired and restless coven as he spoke beckonly. "History is malleable. We can provail." He squeezed his fists triumphantly.

Ingrid nodded and began to speak. Everyone listened with their ears and hearts. When Ingrid spoke, people listened. The words were like the edge of a sharp blade. They cut into you.

"The winter rain may sob uncontrollably, the Sun may even bleed out. The Flowers may spread plague through their spores and breath may be choked by the clouds." Her voice carried as if being flown by an eagle. "But we may consoul the weeping mistress of the sky. We may pull the dagger from the Sun's stomach and bandage the wound. We may pollinate the ground with love before the seeds become infected." Ingrid's cape thrashed dramatically in the cold wind. "We can pry loose the hands that strangle the neck of humanity. Blessed all those in favor."

The next two days were spent resting. Dalemead prepared their meals and supplied their fire.

Marciousa was growing increasingly paranoid of Gretel in the last two weeks. She chose to speak very little since the journey and now sat on a flaky stone, watching Gretel preparing a seduction spell.

"What's the spell for?" Marciousa shot out to Gretel, glancing at her Disapprovingly.

"For Cherylizae's minions." Gretel shot back flatly.

The two stared at each other.

Ingrid watched from her post at the edge of camp.

Who was the trader? She wondered incessantly. Her first choice would be Gretel, but then again, that was too obvious to be it.

Ingrid spent most of her time to last two days observing her familiar. In Stormy's behavior held the answer to her question. So far there were no tell "tail" signs.

__

Word spread across the magical community with the speed of a Unicorn in heat. Ingrid, The High Priestess of Norway was on her way to Oblivion's Castle. Oblivion was the evil spirit that resided over Cherilizae's Fortress. He and Lady Cherylizae were days away from opening a hole to the Underworld. Ingrid the Brave was the only Witch to accept the Summons from the Elders. Sixty three of all the other High Priestesses had declined in fear. Who could blame them, Every living creature on all three plains of existence feared Oblivion. Whispers passed through the Golden City of Ingrid's Courage. Blessed be Ingrid of Norway.

___

The ambush on Ingrid and the others happened as all but Geana were asleep. Hordes of fanged Falcons blanketed the skyline, crashing down in a wave of darkness.

"Ingrid!" Geana screamed as she bolt up pulling three copper tokens from the sleeve of her robe. Geana juggled the tokens in her hands like dice as she whispered an incantation.

Ingrid and her team unraveled from their sleeps, already instinctively alert.

Geana hucked the tokens into the sky and shouted "Alesme!"The copper pieces burst forth like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. The energy web engulfed their camp, intertwining to create a strong barrier from the diving birds of prey.

The Falcons slammed into the net, spilling down like a bucket of nails. Their fierce bodies disintegrated in the thousands. The tidal wave of birds continued for minutes, crashing down aggressively on Ingrid and the rest of them. Some of the Falcons were breaking through the barrier and attacking, their sharp fangs and even sharper talons scratching and biting.

Geana fell to her knees as the rampage wore on. She sacrificed herself to save her only family. Ingrid knew the instant she saw Geana retrieve out the third token that Geana would die. The enchanted tokens she used to erect the shield contained in them Geana's mind, soul, and lastly, her body.

Geana dropped face first in the dirt.

Tieana watched as she fell in horror. A falcon clawed over head, nearly puncturing Tiena. This was a beastly ambush. The flock had finally stopped flanking the shield but five falcons remained inside, in a barrage of feathers.

Tiena was knocked onto her butt, her arms held up, protecting her face.

Tiena screamed "Stop!"

Her bosom heaved up and down in large powerful breaths.

The Falcons froze in mid air, as did Dalemead. It was deathly silent.

The covet all looked to Ingrid.

Ingrid the Brave exclaimed "Enoge-B!"

In unison the Witches followed "Be GONE!"

A powerful mist of Star light engulfed them, sending the Falcons back to hell.

Later on they held a sacred funeral pyre rights service for Geana.

Ingrid of Norway led the prayer.

"Birth of bright light, love as a garden, you grew to the ages, please pray from above us." Tears ran down Ingrid's cheek as she spoke. "Sister of Wicca, family of fortune, smile down upon you, for none to abolish."

They didn't have long to mourn, as danger was looming,

Ingrid led the march to Hell's front door. Literally.

The Castle was ghostly. It stuck out from the splintering canyons like Ogre claws. It was a sprawling land mark like a dirty strain on the face of the Earth.

The Entrance at the foot of the canyon was locked. It was even guarded against their Witchcraft. They couldn't penetrate the fortress.

Suddenly Bonnie'ma turned.

"Oblivion will overthrow the Elders." She was speaking directly to Ingrid. "Only that of Demon blood may enter the Castle. That is the key."

The trader.

_seconds later_

Ingrid the Brave wiped Bonnie'ma's blood onto the monstrous door.

"That should do." Ingrid said, grinning.

"That was very hardcore my Queen." Dalemead eye's were full of stars.

"Bless you my dear."

The door slowly creaked open ominously.

Lady Cherylizae sat in her giant Queen throne lavishly. There were tubes and wires inserted into every orifice of her body.

Ingrid remembered her far different than this pathetic vessel for evil.

"I know what this is." Ingrid said trailing off. She raised her hand in the air and clenched her fist, sending all the tubes and wires in Cherilizae splattering violenently out of her. Lady Cherylizae was dead.

Dalemead looked at Ingrid puzzled. "What do you mean my Queen?"

"This is a vision."

Ingrid of Norway woke up.

"Quick Gretel, I have a prophecy."