Witch in the Green

By Shem Weaver

The world is being bombarded by ferocious hurricanes and floods. The seasons are upside down. Age old species are becoming extinct. An evil sorceress, Astarta, is stealing the life force of the earth for its power giving properties.
Keeva, Luke and Moth enter an enchanted world and embark on a Quest to try to overcome Astarta and restore the world to its natural rhythm. The odds are stacked against the three young humans and their elfin friends, and time is running out before the world is destroyed completely…
Inspired by ‘The Hobbit’ the ending to this atmospheric novel, set in Lancashire, proves to be as dramatic as it is unexpected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626751583

Book preview

9781626751583

CHAPTER 1 THE HARRASH

The air was silent and heavy on Wolf-Fang Fell. A black cloud descended from the sky. A low rumble trembled along the horizon and a flash of light slashed the air.

‘Again,’ muttered a local farmer, ‘another thunderstorm, again!’ Pulling his jacket closer he hastened home before the deluge began.

Used to this storm-packed summer the people of the valley barely noticed the gathering sense of gloom. Blanketed from the wilderness outside in their warm houses, they carried on with their work, their games, their eating and their other important domestic concerns.

At the highest top of the fells, the wind raging around her, a woman waited. Her face was implacable and beautiful; with its finely chiselled features and eyes as blue and hard as Arctic ice. Her auburn hair swirled manically around her face. Despite the frenzy, the woman stood still and determined. Her eyes fixed on the writhing clouds overhead. She was waiting for something.

The gale grew in intensity and it seemed as if only some superhuman force was securing the woman to the flat rock at the summit of the fell. Suddenly, in a furious explosion of temper, the sky hurled bolts of lightning at her feet. Still she did not flinch. Her only slight change being a glimmer of a smile as the temper of the storm increased.

The wind punched and screamed at her and still she remained unmoved. And then, as if responding to some invisible sign the woman stepped forward and raised her arms upward, in a gesture of supplication to the sky. Suddenly, with an ear-splitting crash the clouds smashed open to reveal a gaping orange hole; out of this hole, spewed, what appeared to be, a black cloud which funnelled down toward the earth. The crashing grew louder.

As the cloud nearer it revealed itself to be made up of a mass of dark jostling specks, like a plague of cockroaches escaping from a box. The specks grew larger and larger; growing alarmingly in size as they came closer. They were no longer insect-like specks but beasts; hordes of them.

The beasts resembled horses: an unstoppable cavalcade of mounted, black, unearthly horses; snorting and frothing as they madly jostled each other to reach the woman. Their red eyes gleamed murderously in the gloom. They were almost twice the size of normal horses: their bulky frames bloated like bulls with iron-hard, sinewy muscle. Their monstrous hooves pounded the leaden atmosphere and the reverberations shook the earth; the woman’s eyes widened in triumph.

More dreadful though, were the riders of these ominous beasts. Semi-giants with twisted faces and looking barely human: some had tiny heads topping their huge bodies; some had parts of their faces missing or had skewered features; some had huge, cavernous holes instead of noses and some faces were practically blank, with seemingly few features at all: they looked the most chilling of all. Many of the riders were covered in thick hair which, in some cases, coated their faces.

And still they came: a seemingly never-ending army until at last, the final few thundered out of the sky. The whole of the Fell and its environs was covered with the fiends; wildly stamping and crushing their hooves against the ground, as if the demonic evil in them could not be contained or stilled. The riders kept their distance from the woman, but one rider spurred his screeching horse forward. The dramatic silence which ensued showed that he was obviously the leader. In contrast to the others he was handsome. His features were even and his hair long and tied away from his face. One cheek was marked with some mysterious tattoo - some ancient symbol or rune. Despite his obvious good looks the creature exhaled an enormous sense of menace. His beautifully shaped dark eyes were penetrating but empty. As if he could see all but give nothing.

‘Harrash, great and unconquerable army of the Universe: I greet you!’ The woman cried.

‘I am Tidor! Leader of the Harrash! Do you have what we have come for, Astarta?’ His voice was quiet, granite-hard, but authoritative as if he were used to his presence commanding the respect of silence whenever he spoke.

‘I have been waiting and I honour you, Tidor and your mighty warriors,’ Astarta tried to smile winningly at Tidor, but he continued to merely stare back at her - all emotion stripped from his eyes.

‘What do you have for us?’ he asked mechanically. Astarta produced a small phial from a concealed pocket in her robe. An almost imperceptible frown now crossed his forehead. ‘I was expecting more!’

‘But my Lord, this is Gaia: the energy and essence of the earth. I have only taken a tiny amount of Gaia from the earth but it has still upset the equilibrium of this planet. You may have noticed the increase in floods and storms here on earth. This is because of I have taken some of this Gaia; I knew it would be of great use to you in your trading enterprises. It is well known how the Harrash, as well as being one of the greatest armies in the universe is also the greatest of merchant enterprises too.’

‘What are your terms, Astarta? He demanded.

‘As before,’ Astarta replied.

‘If you are incapable of obtaining more Gaia for us the terms will be reduced.’

Tidor kicked his horse forward before Astarta could utter another word and grabbed the phial from her hand, ‘A larger supply next time!’ he commanded ungraciously.

‘It has taken all my wit and skill to obtain this for you. I intend to get more and then you shall be summoned again, at once.’

Tidor looked hard at Astarta, disliking the word ‘summoned’. Astarta continued, ‘I have laid out a great banquet for my lord and his great army, the Harrash. Would it please you to stay awhile?’ Once again she smiled at him.

‘Should you obtain more of this for me,’ Tidor held out the phial, ‘I shall be pleased to return and partake of your hospitality. We have, however, business elsewhere.’ His eyes looked above and beyond her to the distant horizon.

‘And does my lord have what I require?’ Astarta asked hurriedly.

Tidor returned his gaze contemptuously to her and reached into a breast pocket to retrieve a small object wrapped in a piece of cloth. He handed it to Astarta and she greedily unwrapped it. In it was a small topaz-coloured crystal. It was semi-translucent and at its centre swirled a mysterious liquid. Astarta cradled it lovingly in her hands. She held it before her and it began to exude a strange, yellow light. Awestruck, she murmured, ‘At last! The Elixir of Dodona. How did you come by this? It is the most precious substance in the Universe. The sacred planet of Kredos is guarded by one hundred thousand Daemona; and this is from its very heart. I can tell. Look at its light.’ She tore her eyes away from it and gazed at Tidor in amazement and respect.’

Tidor gazed blankly at her. He was unwilling to engage in conversation with her; it was clear that he would not divulge any of the despicable acts which had finally allowed him access to the Elixir of Dodona, ‘Our business is concluded, for now, Astarta. Perhaps we shall do business again one day.’

A grimace briefly crossed Tidor’s lips and he raised his arm as his horse reared. His warriors shook their reins to urge their horses forward and upward and the dreadful thunder and crashing of hooves recommenced as the terrible army thundered its way back through the swirling black clouds; their bleak but striking leader riding furiously at its helm.

Within minutes the sky was clear – just a dull, sobbing grey. All was quiet. Nothing remained to mark the previous uproar except some flattened grass and heather and a few battered trees; the branches of which hung dismally in the drizzle.

A putrid stench hung in the air but Astarta did not notice any of this. With eyes still on the clouds above she muttered, ‘Beware Tidor, you will come to respect and fear me one day and your mighty army will be at ‘my’ command.’

CHAPTER 2 LOST

With it being Midsummer Night’s Eve, it was hardly dark at all. The sky was a dusky, violet shade and the moon shone like newly minted silver in the sky. She could understand the allure which had drawn Luke and Moth. She heard a crunch of twigs underfoot and saw Luke emerge from a nearby cluster of trees.

‘I’ve lost Moth,’ he smiled ruefully and spoke as casually as if they’d lost her in the garden. ‘I was watching the badgers and she just wandered off.’

‘I’ll come and help you to look for her,’ offered Keeva. ‘Where did you last see her?’

‘You needn’t worry. She knows her way around the forest. She’ll come back when she wants. Go back to the tent and sleep if you want, Keeva. It’s past one o clock.’

Moth, Luke’s twin sister, liked to wander in the wild. She did not go out of her way to communicate with people, but she loved animals – especially creatures of the forest. Moth and Luke lived in a cottage in the heavily wooded Bowland Valley, with their mother, Tania. This gave Moth the chance to be outdoors as much as she wanted. As for Luke, he was an expert in local plant and wildlife.

‘Honestly,’ repeated Luke, ‘she’ll be fine. You might as well go back.’

Keeva looked at Luke curiously. She felt as if he really did not want her to accompany him further into the forest. She shrugged off the thought. Of course he didn’t mind her being around. He’d invited her camping hadn’t he? Besides, Tania, their mum was fast asleep and snoring in the tent. Keeva just knew she was too wide awake to be able to go back to sleep if she returned to the tent now.

‘I’ll come with you. I don’t feel sleepy anymore,’ said Keeva. Luke looked at her strangely and then shrugged his shoulders. All of a sudden he stopped and listened intently. Picking up on his cue, Keeva stood stock still too. She could hear the distant hoot of an owl far away. But she noticed Luke was still listening intently, as if he could actually hear something else. Then she heard something too: the sweet notes of Moth’s flute were seeping from the distant trees in the direction of Bowland Fell. After a few moments of concentrated listening, Keeva began to walk towards the sound of Moth’s flute. She felt Luke’s hesitation but then heard his steps catch up with hers.

Despite the fact that they were drawing more closely into the heart of the forest, it was actually becoming lighter. Perhaps it was just her eyes becoming accustomed to the dark, thought Keeva, as she stumbled along after him. Nevertheless, the air seemed to hold a strange light and the great trees glowed emerald against the sky.

Luke stopped again to get his bearings. The sound of Moth’s flute was louder now and Keeva could hear something else…singing: light voices which harmonized wonderfully with the flute. She caught her foot on a bramble thicket and scratched herself as she pulled herself free. Luke was gazing intently in front of him. He was wearing such an absorbed expression that Keeva wondered if he had actually forgotten she was there.

‘I’m sure these things are alive,’ she muttered as she unloosened herself from another briar.

‘Ssshh!’ he responded sharply. They had entered a thicket on the edge of a glade. Luke brushed away a thick, heavily leaved branch that was hanging down in front of them. A smile of joy lit his features as he gazed at the scene in front of him. Keeva tore her gaze away from his features and glanced into the clearing. And then her world stopped.

CHAPTER 3 THE ENCH

She shook her head, closed her eyes and then opened them and gazed into the clearing again. But the explosion of sights and sounds that had first met her eyes and ears were still there. It was as if a door had suddenly opened onto a party and the music, laughter and chatter radiated toward her like heat from a fire. The glade was filled with the strangest group of people that she had ever seen in her life.

The clearing was filled with about sixty or seventy people, none of whom were higher than Keeva; some were considerably smaller. Yet many of them were older, as Keeva could see from their more weathered features. There must have been over a hundred of these folk in the glade. They were having some kind of celebration.

Moth was sat at the edge of the clearing; merrily playing her flute. She was surrounded by several people who were all singing or accompanying her on some strange, roughly hewn, wooden instruments. It sounded incredible, almost mesmeric; especially when one of the singers picked up an acorn-shaped drum and began to beat slowly upon it.

In the middle of the clearing was a distinguished looking couple who were surrounded by a group of people talking animatedly to them. They were dressed grandly, in clothes which were unlike any Keeva had seen before. The woman wore a dress of pure gold and the man was enveloped in a cloak of green and silver. Both were extraordinarily good-looking; the woman was beautiful, with huge emerald eyes and corn coloured hair piled elegantly upon her head. She seemed to glow and shimmer each time she moved.

Some of the groups of people looked vastly different to the others. One group of men was dressed in tunics of brown fur with long hoods. Huge gold swords hung at their sides and they looked watchful and stern. Keeva thought she saw one of them glance quickly in her and Luke’s direction but just as he glanced away again. His confident bearing and the fact that his sword was heavily encrusted with precious stones made Keeva think he might be the leader of his group of grim looking men.

One set of individuals seemed larger than the other inhabitants of the glade. All were dressed in garish clothes of mismatched colours. They seemed quite aggressive, talking and arguing loudly with one another. Their coarse features seemed to be set in permanent scowls.

Next to the grand couple were several individuals who seemed identical. All wore blueish green tunics which shimmered as they moved, like scales of a fish. Their long, dank tresses hung down the backs of their tall lithe frames and they had narrow pallid faces with huge moonlike eyes; the colour of river-stones.

They were stood near a group dressed entirely in white. Even their faces were white as if their faces had never encountered sunshine. She had never seen such strange groups of people in all her life.

Keeva became aware of Luke’s intense gaze upon her. She turned to look at him in amazement.

‘You can see them,’ he murmured. It wasn’t a question but more of a simple statement.

‘Of course I can see them!’ she snapped, unsure why he had said such a thing. ‘Why wouldn’t I see them?’ She did not wait for his answer, ‘They’re clearly not from around here - travelling folk perhaps; obviously in some kind of fancy dress.’

Luke tore his gaze from hers and with a half-smile peered into the glade once again. Keeva also turned to watch in barely disguised amazement. At least they had found Moth, who was sitting their quite happily amongst her new friends. The whole thing was just too bizarre. Was she dreaming

All of a sudden, the young man with the drum gave a loud bang upon it. The music suddenly stopped leaving unfinished notes to haunt the air. All movement stopped too. It was as if everyone became breathing statues. The only sound Keeva could hear was the sound of her own heart beating loudly and quickly.

All eyes turned toward the distinguished couple who wore grave expressions.

The man gripped a large wooden staff, shiny with age and covered in carving. His face was handsome but severe. The drawn lines around his mouth indicated that he rarely smiled although his large emerald eyes emitted warmth and humour. A strange face, Keeva thought, with its pointed nose and chin.

The woman held up her hand to speak:

‘My friends, once again the world is another year older and again we are gathered here to celebrate its beauty and regeneration.’ The warmth from her shy smile seemed to light the glade and Keeva noticed that everybody was absorbed by her presence. ‘Obyyron and myself,’ the man in the cape stood next to her, raised his hand slightly in greeting, ‘would like to thank you, once again, for all your efforts in tending our world; our greatest possession.’ she nodded at some of the differing groups.

‘I know that you will pass on my thanks to our friends who will be having their own celebrations in their own lands…or waters,’ she gave a particular nod toward the group of tall, willowy, pale-faced people who gleamed in the moonlight as if they had just stepped out of water.

‘Whatever could she mean’, thought Keeva? How did these people tend the land and water of the earth? She waited with great interest to hear what the woman had to say next.

‘In recent years, however,’ continued the woman, her voice soft but commanding, ‘we know that the world has been ailing. Disease has already claimed some of our most established and enduring plants; others are only just managing to survive.’

At this point, ripples of assenting murmurs and sad sighs permeated through the crowd. The woman raised her hand and once again the group fell silent.

‘Thunderstorms and gales have been increasing across our world and of course floods, which have caused great devastation to other earth dwellers. In short, our problems worsen as we speak!’ Again, sounds of anguish filled the glade. Then the woman’s companion stepped forward:

‘My friends,’ he began, ‘Sylvana and I have worse news: it unfortunately concerns our revered Green Guardian who has resided here in the very forest since before the time of The Ancients. He is weakening.’

One of the strange, little people, a man shorter than the rest but rather stout looking, stepped forward, ‘How weak is the Guardian?’ he demanded in an angry tone.

‘My dear Toadflax, he is sickening by the day and no remedy can be found to aid him. If something cannot be done soon…’ the man’s voice wavered.

‘The earth may die. For the Guardian has always watched over all growing things in the world!’ exclaimed Toadflax with an equal mix of aggression and fear in his voice. The glade erupted into a panicked shouting. Toadflax shouted at the others for quiet and eventually most of the shouting died down, although some angry muttering could still be heard.

‘How could this happen, Obyrron?’ demanded Toadflax. ‘The Guardian is supposed to be invincible. Only the most unnatural sorcery could be the cause of such an outrage.’

Obyrron made as if to speak but Sylvana interrupted him, ‘This has happened before, at an earlier time in our history. Some of the Gaia, the very essence and spirit of the earth, was taken and it caused The Guardian to ail. The Guardian’s power comes from the Gaia; as you know his roots descend down into the very heart of the earth itself, to draw upon the Gaia at source. When the Gaia is interfered with, it can cause massive disruption in the natural harmony of life on this earth. We have reason to believe that the Gaia is, once again, being stolen.’

To Keeva, Sylvana’s words sounded incredible. Who was the Green Guardian? What exactly was this Gaia that Sylvana kept referring to? She rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Surely she was dreaming. Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by something sharp jabbing her in the back. She spun around to find herself face to face with the sharp eyed and grim little man who had been looking in their direction a little while before. He was prodding her with his golden sword: ‘We have an intruder!’ shouted the man and all eyes in the glade turned in their direction.

CHAPTER 4 THE INTRUDERS

‘Who is your friend, Luke? Surely you must know that we must be made aware of all…visitors.’ The man’s voice was clipped and angry and his eyes glinted at Luke dangerously.

Keeva stared at Luke in disbelief, ‘Luke, what’s going on! Do you know these people?’ she stammered. Luke did not look at her but had turned a deep shape of crimson.

‘I’m sorry Stron! I didn’t intend to bring ‘my friend’ (he said the last two words with emphasis). It just happened. She is camping with us. I thought she would be asleep.’ His voice tailed away in embarrassment. ‘Honestly, she really is our friend and… (he added) she can see you!’ Keeva couldn’t believe her ears. What on earth did Luke mean?

‘Of course I can see them,’ she spluttered looking at him as if he were mad. Stron’s eyes continued to glint angrily at her and Keeva found herself forced to look away under the ferocity of his gaze. By now, all of Stron’s men had surrounded them. Keeva was beginning to feel quite frightened as she felt the level of hostility intensify.

‘Stron, bring them forward!’ commanded Obyrron, who had stepped forward to see what was causing the commotion. As if working as one, Stron’s men hustled Keeva and Luke into the middle of the clearing until they were standing before Sylvana and Obyrron. Obyrron paused as he looked sternly from Luke to Keeva,

‘Explain yourselves!’ he snapped. All trace of warmth had vanished from his face. Keeva felt herself chill as he looked at her icily. His handsome brow was knitted in anger. Obyrron glanced back at Luke, ‘You, and Moth have been accepted as our friends, so why were you skulking in the shadows with someone of whom we have no knowledge. I do not understand.’

‘I’m sorry Obyrron. I wouldn’t allow anyone to come here if I thought they would you cause harm but Keeva is our friend.’ The crowd of onlookers began to murmur uneasily. ‘I wasn’t expecting Keeva to come here with me. She did not even know about you. I was going to introduce her properly to you…’

‘You should have asked permission first before bringing anyone to us!’ barked Stron.

‘And then when we arrived we seem to have come at in important moment and I didn’t want to disturb you,’ Luke hung his head, in shame, at his error.

‘This is what comes of being friendly to humans. None of them are to be trusted!’ shouted the man known as Toadflax. A small group of men near to him also began to shout out similarly unfriendly remarks. Several other men however, stepped toward Luke and a tall good-looking youth with intelligent, berry-black eyes politely raised his hand for permission to speak. With a glare from Obyrron the crowd fell quiet.

‘What is it you wish to say, Crowberry?’ Crowberry gave a brief smile at Obyrron for allowing him to speak. He cleared his throat and addressed the crowd:

‘Luke has always been a true friend of ours. Toadflax’s comments are unfair. Humans share our world too and it is unfair and unrealistic of him to continue with his animosity toward Luke and Moth in this way. I cannot allow him to speak of my friends…our friends… in such a way.’ The young man reddened. He was clearly unused to addressing a crowd. Despite this, he seemed to command the respect of the crowd and all were listening to him. Keeva noted with interest that a small group near to Crowberry were nodding encouragement at him.

‘Humans have not always been our friends!’ shouted out a young man, who had white hair, standing next to Toadflax. ‘In fact if all humans are to be trusted why do we take such pains to keep