The Red Witch

Chapter 12

Karin shuddered from cold as the sun went down and tried to curl up in a ball. After the initial torture of being taken back to the farm, Hamish and Thackery had decided it was best to kill her elsewhere. The landscape told her they had now left the valley. They had taken her South to a large river that she remembered crossing once as a child. She had tried to run away but her father had caught up with her and dragged her back. Now she was there to die it seemed. But Karin wasn’t one to give up. As her brothers drank and ate by the fire, Karin found herself a small slice of flint and for a few hours now, she had been slowly cutting away at her bonds. She made no attempt to escape as she knew they were much faster than she was. They would simply end her life sooner. As she worked away with the flint, she listened to her brothers laughing and enjoying themselves, boasting about the gold they were to be paid and how they would own the farm outright and never again have to pay Ferrydean his lease price. And though they never mentioned their benefactor by name, Karin knew it was Judith.

The night drew in and both Thackery and Hamish were soon snoring from their drinking. Karin waited until she knew they were both out cold before she made the final cut with the flint. The rope fell away and she quickly pulled the rag from her mouth again. She sighed with relief before quickly cutting away the rope around her ankles and she got to her feet as fast as she could. Every fibre of her said to run and keep running but her own rage stopped her. Instead, she advanced on her brothers as they slept, the sharp flint cutting into her hand from holding it so tightly. As she reached them, she looked at the flint, deciding it wasn’t enough. She dropped it and picked up a large stone instead. Her blood smeared over it as she found the sharpest point on it and held it ready to strike. She stood over Thackery, the rock in her hand and she carefully knelt by his head. “This is for letting your brother piss on me.” She whispered and raised the rock high, holding it firm in both hands. Thackery sniffed up and opened his eyes to see the rock come down. Karin’s aim was true and the rock smashed his skull, spraying her with his blood. She lifted it quickly and struck again.

Waking from the commotion, Hamish sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes, “Thackery, what are you….” His vision cleared and he shuffled back on his blanket. He grabbed his dagger quickly and staggered to his feet. “You b***h!” He yelled.

“Yes I am.” Karin replied darkly as she lifted the stone on her dead brother and picked up his dagger. She advanced, making him back up. “And soon, you’ll be nothing more than a bloody mess like Thackery.”

“Shut up!” Hamish shouted, holding his dagger up. “You just shut up!”

“I curse you Brother, to an eternity of hellfire and brimstone.” She continued. “Pray the Devil is more merciful than I am.” She dropped her head and squared her shoulders, taking a deep breath. Then, with an almighty scream, she launched the rock at him and lunged at him at the same time.

The fight was vicious and brutal and Hamish caused her serious injury but Karin refused to give in. She kept on and on at him, lunging and swinging the dagger until she finally found purchase in his gut. She shoved the blade hilt deep into his flesh as he drove his own into her side. So filled with rage, Karin barely felt anything. The pair stopped for a moment, regarding each other. Hamish’s eyes filled with true fear. Karin’s pale green eyes reflected only his own. He finally realised he was done for. He reached out to grab Karin by the hair but she pulled her head away and pulled the dagger upward, opening his gut from navel to rib. Blood spewed from his mouth as he dropped to his knees. It was only then Karin realised she had been run through also. Slowly, she pulled the dagger out and held it over Hamish. She curled her fingers around it slowly and then plunged it into the side of his neck. “Give my regards to our father.” She told him quietly as he fell away, leaving the bloodied dagger still in her hand. She slowly staggered back, keeping the dagger and she began to walk away.

Karin had walked for maybe two miles before her injuries became too much to tolerate. At the side of the road, she dropped to her knees and looked up at the night sky. The moon shone brightly and she smiled up at it. “So beautiful.” She sighed gently. She let her shoulders drop right down and she sat back on her knees, the dagger dropping to the ground. A single tear slid down her cheek, leaving a pale streak in the blood on her skin and she took one last deep breath. As she let it go again, she tumbled onto her side and became still.

“Karin.” Karin groaned softly and turned her head, feeling something soft and warm beneath her. “Karin. My sweet child.” Karin opened her eyes and blinked a few times in the bright light around her. It took a moment for her to realise that she wasn’t in pain anymore and she was warm and dry. She was sat on a pale fur blanket and surrounded by white mist. Just in view, she saw another sat at a weaving frame. “Do not be afraid my love.” The other said softly. “You are safe here.”

“Am I dead?” Karin asked carefully as she eyed the person. It was a woman and she had long reddish-brown hair braided carefully down her back.

“No.” The woman replied. “Not yet.”

“Where am I?” Karin asked, “And who are you?”

“You are between life and death Karin. You know this place as the Ether.” The woman said warmly as she stopped her weaving and turned on the stool. Her face was still somewhat obscured but somehow, it was clear who the woman was.

“Mother?”

“I am what you think her to be.” She said, “A phantom to keep you company while you decide which path to take.”

“Which path to take?” Karin asked as she got off the bed.

“Yes.” The woman replied smoothly. “Are you willing to die on the road, or are you willing to wake and fight a little longer?”

“I don’t want to die!” Karin said quickly. The mist around them began to darken and Karin looked around frightened. “I don’t want to die!” She shouted. The darkness deepened and the woman and her weaving frame disappeared. Karin found herself utterly alone. “Please!” She shouted, “I don’t want to die! I want to wake up!”

“Then wake.” Came the woman’s voice. It came from everywhere and engulfed her.

“Karin! Karin, wake up! Don’t you dare die on me now!” Greyson shook her firmly as he cradled her on his knees. “Karin!” A fluttering of life crossed her eyes and he cried in relief. “Thank the Lord!” He sighed and carefully lifted her up into his arms. He moved to his horse and carefully turned the giant beast about. “Help me out here Brock.” He said to the beast and it shook its head at him before getting down on its front knees. He carefully put Karin across its back and let her fall forward to rest on a whimpering Bane. He then mounted behind them both and the horse stood tall again. “Home!” He demanded. “Quickly now!” And he kicked the beast sharply in the ribs. It bolted for home.

Karin was barely aware of anything going on around her but something told her she was safe again and she was alive. She smelled burning wood and candle wax and when she turned her head, she felt soft cotton under her head and warm blankets around her. And then she felt something wet on her hand and opened her eyes to find Bane licking her hand tenderly and whining at her. “Gods be praised!” Betty yelped as she quickly came to the bed and smiled down at Karin. “My sweet child!” She sighed, “For a moment there, we thought we’d lost you.”

“How…?” Karin stammered quietly and then gripped her side as new pain washed over her.

“Easy, my love, easy now.” Betty cooed and then helped Karin sit up a little. She adjusted the pillows and then carefully stuffed more down her sides for support. “You’ve had quite the adventure.”

“I’ve been to hell and back, you mean.” Karin grunted as Betty handed her a cup of warm milk. She sipped it lightly before pushing it away. “How did I get back home?”

“Lord Greyson found you in the road.” Betty explained. “Well, he found that blasted wolverine first and he led the lord right to you.” On cue, Bane lifted his head and whimpered softly. Karin spotted a bandage around his left back flank and he limped as he edged closer. He wanted in the bed with Karin. Betty gave him a cross look but he continued to whimper and she eventually gave in and smiled at him. “Ok, you stupid thing.” She said, “Just be careful.” The massive beast instantly jumped up and settled again beside Karin, licking her hand softly.

“My brothers.” Karin began, “I …..” She began to cry softly and Bane whimpered again, licking her cheek this time.

“Lord Greyson has seen to those beasts.” Betty told her quickly. “Don’t you worry about them anymore.”

“I killed them!” Karin sobbed.

“It was them or you.” Betty told her firmly. “And don’t you ever regret it, you hear? They got what they deserved and I admire you for taking them on.”

“What about Judith?” Karin asked nervously.

“What about her?” Betty asked, her brow wrinkling.

“She paid them.” Karin told her quietly. “Judith paid my brothers to murder me.”

“I figured as much.” Betty said darkly as she started rearranging the blankets and tucking in the corners. “And she calls you a witch? You should have seen the look on her face when Greyson returned with you. It was like she’d been struck by lightning. Master Ferrydean is with her now. She won’t get away with it, I promise you.”

“I want to see her.” Karin said, “I want to look in her eyes as I tell her I know everything.”

“You will have your chance, my love, trust me.” Betty said, “But for now, you need to rest.”

“I’ve rested enough.” Karin protested.

“You will not leave this bed.” Betty said firmly and then looked to Bane. “You make sure she stays put.” She told him firmly, “Or no more scraps for you, understand?” Bane offered a small growl and settled his head across Karin’s legs. “Good boy.” She gave Karin a pointed look and then promptly left. Karin groaned softly and let her head fall back on the pillows.