The White Witch of Glend'or

By Agnes Nemeth Bright

Annis and Enryk are teenagers who live on a small island in a hidden corner of the Pacific Ocean. They are in love, and everyone hopes that they will be married one day.

The island was accidentally discovered by sailors hundreds of years before Annis and Enryk were born. Although the sailors did continue their journey home as planned, some of them were unable to forget such a beautiful and unspoiled place. They returned, taking their families and plenty of supplies with them.

During the long period of peace, Glend'or has became more prosperous than the island's other kingdoms, Gregori'a and G'abari. Envious of the success, the king of G'abari attacks Glend'or. Enryk is mortally wounded in the ensuing battle.

Annis' suffering forces her Aunt Elisabeth, the White Witch of Gregori'a, into a very dangerous offer. Because Annis insists that she will never seek another relationship, Aunt Elisabeth suggests a way to reunite her with Enryk. If Annis becomes a witch, she will live longer than an ordinary human being and can wait for him. It is the firm belief of the island's white witches that someone who dies can reappear in human form. However, even a witch might die before the happy reunion could take place.

Annis convinces her aunt that she is ready to take this risk. She is also willing to live a life of service to the island's inhabitants, using her special powers and wisdom. So after a seven-year apprenticeship she becomes Nessa, the White Witch of Glend'or. Thus begins the busy life of a new witch, filled with hope of a happy ending.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Nov 6, 2005
• ISBN: 9781466920880

Agnes Nemeth Bright

Agnes Nemeth Bright is an award-winning short story writer and the author of The Beginner's Book of Grieving: A Guide for Women. She lives in Ottawa with her family.

Book preview

THE WHITE WITCH

OF GLEND’OR

A Fantasy for All Ages

AGNES NEMETH BRIGHT

© Copyright 2005 Agnes Nemeth Bright.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Note for Librarians: a cataloguing record for this book that includes Dewey Decimal Classification and US Library of Congress numbers is available from the Library and Archives of Canada. The complete cataloguing record can be obtained from their online database at:

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ISBN 1-4120-6132-6

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CONTENTS

PART I

Chapter One

Chapter Two

PART II

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

PART III

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

B2_WhiteWitch.pdf

PART I

Chapter One

THE STORY UNFOLDS

Once upon a time two families lived in the smallest little town of a smallest little country named Glend’or. One family had a daughter named Annis, the other a son named Enryk.

When the two children grew up and fell in love, it delighted both families. They’re very well suited to each other, said the girl’s parents. And they make an eye-catching pair, said the boy’s parents. Let’s hope they get married one day, said all four in unison. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins nodded in complete agreement.

Glend’or was part of a small island in an out-of-the way corner of the Pacific Ocean. The sailors who accidentally came upon it hundreds of years before the birth of Annis and Enryk, left for home as planned. But the picture of this beautiful and undisturbed place stayed with them. So some of the sailors returned with their families, carrying plenty of supplies.

By and by Glend’or became the most prosperous among the island’s three kingdoms. Nature and hard work assured all the necessities in this country where self-sufficiency was a way of life. The mountains supplied rocks for houses, and the tall trees provided the rest of the building material. Fallen branches were collected for cooking and heating. All clothes were made from natural fibres; paper was manufactured from worn-out clothing.

Sources of food were ample as well. The sea, the rivers, and the lakes teemed with all kinds of fish and edible creatures. The lush meadows supported horses, sheep, and milk-giving cows. Wheat, oats, and corn grew well in the rich flatlands.

Every spring the fruit trees looked like glorious white or pink balls; the warm summers helped garden vegetables grow in abundance. In the fullness of time apples, pears, apricots, peaches, plums, and berries gladdened the heart of the population.

Unfortunately, the better Glend’orians were doing, the more G’abarians resented what they saw as undeserved good luck. The best brains in G’abari were occupied with plans to take over the neighbour’s riches, instead of learning from the hardworking people of Glend’or.

This period of hidden hostility lasted until KayNeh King of G’abari thought up a good excuse to send an ultimatum to August King of Glend’or. A big storm had flattened a fence in the latter’s realm, and somehow a bold bull found his way to the grassy slopes of G’abari-on-the-Mesa. Two dozen cows followed the leader to the dismay of the G’abarian shepherds who wanted to keep the grass for their own herds. Taking the bull by the horn—so to speak—KayNeh declared this accidental invasion a calculated and hostile act.

At first King August was skeptical but soon realized the seriousness of the situation. A large army put up its tents just across the common border, not all that far from his capital. So while the two kings negotiated, the men of Glend’or were instructed to prepare for war.

Despite the general uneasiness, Annis kept up her old habit of visiting Enryk’s parents. She watched the battle dress taking shape under the skilful fingers of his mother and felt a dark premonition. Enryk himself was seldom at home anymore; he spent all waking hours practising with his lance and sword. And it seemed to Annis that he had totally lost interest in their romance.

Not that she could spare too much time to dwell on this. Women were in charge of healthcare on the island, and foremost of the healers was her Aunt Elisabeth the White Witch of Gregori’a. Under her supervision Annis redoubled her efforts to learn the latest healing techniques and become acquainted with the medicinal herbs from the mountains.

One fateful day the negotiations broke down. I regret to tell you, but this is war, declared King August. Although we Glend’orians are a peaceful people, the bully next door will learn how well we can stand up for ourselves! And he added after the cheers and the applause died down, All men proceed to the battlefield without delay.

Enryk buckled up his sword and mounted his faithful white horse. His father handed him the lance and the shield; his mother said, Return safely and soon. His relatives repeated the farewell, but when Enryk looked in her direction and waved, Annis just stood there, frozen in misery.

Rider and horse became smaller and smaller until they disappeared from sight. I don’t understand, sobbed Annis, her tear-stained face hidden on her mother’s shoulder. How could he leave me with such a cold goodbye?

*

The greatly outnumbered Glend’orians could do nothing more than keep the G’abarians from advancing too far into Glend’or. Luckily, darkness soon enveloped the battlefield, so no one could tell who was enemy and who was friend. The invaders had to retreat behind the forest that stretched along the dividing border. Only the distant campfires showed their continued presence.

The Glend’orians expected a decisive battle in the morning, but their scouts found the enemy camp empty! The G’abarians had crept away under cover of darkness and left behind the campfires as a ruse.

Cautious celebration changed into open triumph when a messenger brought the news that King KayNeh had changed his mind. Without apologies for starting a war, he had informed King August that such poor fighters were unworthy of G’abarian attention.

Now only the saddest tasks remained to be done in Glend’or. The women poured out from under the voluminous roof of the tent hospital with stretchers, bandages, herbal ointments, and iced camomile tea.

Annis was one of these women. Skirt and hair flying, the medicine pouch pounding against her hip, she rushed toward the riverbank. Enryk’s white horse stood there by a willow, quietly cropping the grass. The summer-rich branches hid Enryk himself; only one of his arms was visible. It extended toward the water he had not been able to reach.

Reeling from the terrible shock, Annis forced herself to shout, Healers, here, here! Please hurry!

Two women came running. They gently placed the inert body on their stretcher. The movement made him regain consciousness, and he opened his eyes. Seeing Annis by his side, he tried hard to speak.

Annis bent close to him and whispered, My darling, you must lie quietly. Conserve your strength. Later we’ll have plenty of time.

The two women lifted up the stretcher, and the caravan headed back to the tent hospital. Annis kept a confident expression on her face, even though Enryk’s strength was fast ebbing away. He himself seemed to know it. He asked the bearers to stop and said to Annis with a great effort, I’m sorry I pretended not to care about us. I thought it might be easier, in case…

Despite her misery, Annis could not help smiling. Your logic was a little weak, my dearest, she said, planting a kiss on his forehead.

Enryk tried to smile, too, as he reached for her hand. I must go now, my darling, he whispered. Don’t grieve for me. Promise you won’t stay alone too long?

I can’t promise you that, Annis replied. But then, I won’t ever be alone with you in my heart.

Chapter Two

PLANNING