CHAPTER 40
We passed the time with small talk, trying to keep things light. We knew if things were to go wrong now; we would all die. Tales were told of homelands and kin, and we all prayed we would see them again.
The sky darkened, and we stood, and moved to the centre of the peak, to be ready for the final part of our plan. My friends fanned out in a slight semi circle, and I stood in the centre and about six foot forward.
We didn’t have long to wait, coming up to meet us was Dagdar riding on a huge stag, and two further stags slightly behind him. Once in front of us, he dismounted, and the stags changed shape into three very large Humanoids. He looked around the group and then his eyes rested on me.
‘So this is the infamous Intercessor. You are hardly worthy of my axe, but I will kill you in the name of my Queen. When I have done this, the rest of you may go free, but make sure you tell all of what happened here tonight, and spread the word that any who dare defy the Queen will have the same fate. Come forward Intercessor, if you dare.’ He laughed as he said it, and I was terrified.
I pulled myself together and moved forward, silently praying to the Royalty to hurry up. Dagdar stepped forward, raised his axe and shouted. ‘In the name of the Queen, Cailleach Bheur!’ I had failed, I was about to die. I thought of my parents, and how I would never see them again; I hadn’t even said goodbye. I thought of my friends, those here, and those at the cottage, what would become of them. I waited for the drop of the axe, but it didn’t come. I opened my eyes and saw a golden light surrounding us.
I looked up to see the nine Kings and Queens descending in a circle around Dagdar and myself. Everyone but me, seemed hypnotised, and didn’t move a muscle. The three Humanoids had, however, changed back into stags, but still stood absolutely still. Once on the ground, the Royalty joined hands and began a chant in unison.
By Basilisk and Bloodstone, by Garlic in the fields,
By the Poppies and what they yield,
Invisibly we make our shield,
To detect the and deflect thee.
By Dragons blood and Salamanders,
By horses when their hooves strike sparks,
By the Dragon breathing flames from the Book of Life.
We erase thy name, we cut the cords and unlock the chains,
We sever all the ties, by which thee were bound,
And with impenetrable walls, we surround,
Against the power and its source.
We banish thee forever from him,
And any harm from thee to him,
Doubles back and tables turned, thou shall by thyself be burned.
By the power of three times three,
We banish thee, we banish thee, we banish thee,
and He is set free, so mote it be.
Dagdar lowered the axe, and fell to the ground weeping. The spell had been removed, but the memories of all he had done in the name of Cailleach Bheur had not. As he lay on the ground, we heard an angry scream fill the air, it was undoubtedly the Witch, she had not wanted to miss the proceedings, and had seen, instead, her greatest advantage being taken away from her. We caught sight of her riding away, as fast as the wind, on the grey mare she now rode.