Queen Maisy & the Hunters

By Robert Collins

Maisy, the Witch Queen of Hatham, now deals with the duties of both a ruler and a mother. A young man seeks her help as a Witch. The “Outlaw Dukedoms” seek her help as Queen. She must also cope with the schemes of the ruling family of the Kingdom of Farrengir.

Maisy uses her wits, her magic, and her compassion to balance these many duties as she remains “The Witch Queen.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Collins
• Release date: Feb 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463800133

Robert Collins

Two people with different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities met at a European and Balkan music and dance ensemble named Koroyar and their lives became intertwined, combining their gifts to continue exploring life as an avenue of creative expression. Robert Collins has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and has been an educator in the Los Angeles area for thirty years. He studied writing with Joan Oppenheimer in San Diego, with Cork Millner privately, and also in the Santa Barbara Writer's Conferences. Elizabeth Herrera Sabido, at the age of sixteen years, began working as a secretary at the Secretaria de Industria y Comercio in Mexico City where she was born, then she was an educator for twenty-six years, and a teacher of international dance for The Los Angeles Unified School District. She has also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is a Reiki Master Teacher. Attracted by the Unknown, the Forces of the Universe, and the human psyche, during their lives they have studied several different philosophies. Elizabeth has been involved with various religions, Asian studies, and Gnosticism with SamaelAun Weor, and Robert has explored spiritual healing practices in Mexico, and studied with Carlos Castaneda's Cleargreen and Tensegrity. Elizabeth and Robert start their day at four-thirty in the morning. They enjoy playing volleyball and tennis, and in the afternoons play music, alternating between seven different instruments each. Their philosophy of Personal Evolution has led them to explore over 110 countries between the two of them such as Japan, Nepal, Egypt, Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Philippines, Turkey,Russia, etc.

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QUEEN MAISY & THE HUNTERS

The Witch Queen, Book 3

by

Robert Collins

Ebook Edition

Copyright © 2020 by Robert Collins

License Notes, eBook edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

Master Corbin, son of Duke Percival of Arraroc, Your Majesty, Captain Samuel announced.

The young man in question bowed to Queen Maisy. He was a tall fellow with dark hair that hung wild. This made him appear to be exactly who he was announced as, the son of one of the Dukes of an Outlaw Dukedom. But there was something about his hair that seemed wilder than most of the men from the Outlaw Dukedoms she’d seen. It seemed more unkempt, more matted with sweat, and dirtier than it ought to be.

There was also something careless in his general appearance that matched his mad hair. His shirt and leggings, while in fair shape, were dusty from travel. His boots were scuffed but not with age. He face appeared stern, as though he was ashamed of something.

Is he bothered by where he’s from, she wondered, or is there something more that troubles him?

Welcome to Hatham Castle, Master Corbin, Maisy told him. Have you come in the name of your father to offer best wishes?

Best wishes for what, Your Majesty? he replied.

The Royal Reception Room echoed with modest laughter.

Maisy raised her right hand. Now, now, good folk of Hatham Castle. We must not take such delight in an innocent question. She faced Corbin again. That was an innocent question, yes?

He opened his mouth before answering. Yes, Your Majesty?

You haven’t heard the good news?

I suppose not, Your Majesty.

Then I shall tell you, so you might tell your father. She held out her right hand. Her husband, Prince Tomaso, clasped the hand. We are expecting our first child.

The official announcement several days before had been a cause for celebration in the castle and around Hatham Town. Everyone was happy that the Witch Queen was pregnant and, if all went well, Queen Maisy the First would have an heir. Kind words were flowing in from around the kingdom, and were now coming from Hatham’s neighbors as well.

As for herself, Maisy felt a mix of emotions rise up once again. She was excited to be a mother. She was excited that Tomaso was happy and excited to be a father. Yet the fact that she had a child growing within her was starting to make her eat more. That bothered her; she never liked the image of a noble man or woman feasting on fine food while their subjects did not. Not that my subjects are starving, she would remind herself. Few in Hatham are doing that poorly. But the unflattering image never went away.

Neither would the odd sensations that would swamp her go away. She had the morning sickness followed by hunger. She was starting to gain weight, which meant the child was starting to grow, but that sometimes felt like a mixed blessing. Fear of pregnancy and childbirth crept into her mind. Those would be dismissed by the assurance that everyone around her, including the Fairy Queen, would take care of her, but then sneak back into her head at random moments.

It’s almost too much to keep up with, she mused more than once.

Master Corbin, when he heard her news, smiled and bowed his head. It almost seemed to her that if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Congratulations, Your Majesty. I shall certainly tell Father. Have you heard from Duke Stewart?

No. I imagine word has only just reached Lilldale.

The mention of Duke Stewart and his domain struck something inside Maisy’s mind. Master Corbin, your home and the domain of Duke Stewart are among the Outlaw Dukedoms, yes?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I hear an accent in your voice. It’s not the accent I heard when I would speak with Duke Stewart.

That is so, Your Majesty. Some of our ancestors came from Hatham and lands north, while others came from Farrengir. That is where many of us in Arraroc came from.

Came from? Then you aren’t the native folk of those lands?

We are, Your Majesty. There was a time, long ago, when the Kings of Farrengir ruled out domains. The ballads, tales, and family stories tell of folk from the north coming south to escape the battles between Hatham and Sufflack. Others tell of men being hired from the north to protect us from Farrengir, and deciding to stay.

I see. I would like to know more about that sometime, Master Corbin. For now, since you say you didn’t come about my happy news, what has brought you here on this pleasant autumn day?

Nothing pleasant, Your Majesty. As quickly as it had lifted, it looked to Maisy as if the burden fell back down on her young guest.

Do tell.

Something strange has happened to me, Your Majesty. Father dispatched me here to Hatham in the hope that the Witch Queen will aid me.

Maisy sat back. You’re in need of magical help?

Perhaps, Your Majesty.

Why?

Just over a month ago, Your Majesty, I was in the woods near the border between Lilldale and Arraroc, hunting.

You’re not your father’s heir?

Indeed I am, Your Majesty. It’s tradition for all the sons of the Dukes of Arraroc to know how to hunt, and to do so. It is said to make us strong.

I see. Go on.

Yes, Your Majesty. While I was out, I encountered a wolf. Usually it is enough to fire an arrow or a bolt at a wolf to drive it off. But this beast, when I fired at it, charged at me with wild fury.

Had you interrupted a kill?

No, Your Majesty. It was alone, and seemed to be howling. But there was more to it than perhaps being hungry or wounded.

Oh?

Yes, Your Majesty. The wolf had a glow to his eyes. It was red, like fire.

That sounds most unnatural. What happened?

The beast charged and bit me on the arm, Your Majesty. I drove my knife into the beast’s head and killed it. I had started to look at my wound, and consider washing and wrapping it, when I suddenly swooned.

Swooned?

Yes, Your Majesty, like a woman fainting at the sight of blood.

Maisy raised an eyebrow. That’s not something you should say to me, Master Corbin.

He bowed his head. Yes, forgive me, Your Majesty.

Forgiven. Go on.

It was strange, Your Majesty. I awoke to find I was almost naked, with my clothes in tatters. Even my leather armor was in pieces. I made my way back to the village I had left from, only to find that I hadn’t been gone two days, but three. I had been out a whole day, Your Majesty.

And you have no memory of that day?

Not at first, Your Majesty. Once I was clothed and on the road back at the castle, I began to think as if I had killed and eaten a rabbit or two.

Think what?

That I had eaten rabbits.

You mean, you thought you had hunted rabbits?

No, Your Majesty. I have a vague memory of eating them, but not of pursuing them or shooting them. He frowned and appeared to hesitate to say more.

Your are in the presence of me, Master Corbin. Nothing you may say will bring you dishonor or laughter. We are becoming more and more familiar with the unusual.

He nodded. Yes, Your Majesty. I almost think that I consumed these rabbits as wolf or wildcat might.

I see. What of your arm?

Healed, Your Majesty.

In one day?

Yes, Your Majesty. There were only a few scars. Even they have healed.

What happened when you returned home?

I told Father what happened to me. He gave me our swiftest horse, and bid me to seek you out, Your Majesty.

I see. If please, stand still for a moment. I’m going to cast a spell upon you.

Magic to help me, Your Majesty?

No. I want to see if there’s magic about your body. This is for me to see.

As you please, Your Majesty.

Thank you.

Maisy had learned early in her studies the spell needed to see magic around another living thing. She had read, in the book given to her by the Fairy Queen, that the spell was used by Witches in two ways. One was to make certain that, if another woman claimed to be a Witch, the Witch casting the spell would know if the claim was true. All Witches had an aura about them, a glow usually of white that marked them to their fellow Witches. Even without casting the spell, a Witch might see the aura if she concentrated or otherwise had a sense of the magic around the other woman.

The second way the spell was used was to see magic cast upon another living thing. This was the more common of the two uses. It allowed a Witch to see if someone had ingested food or drink that had a spell cast upon it. A Witch could see if someone had been charmed, or cursed, by another Witch’s spell. The aura would be a color which would suggest the type of spell affecting the subject of the Witch’s casting.

I might not see what’s happened to him, but I should get a sense of what magic might be on him. Assuming that magic is what afflicts him.

She raised her hands, palms facing him, and began to cast the spell. The aura appeared in her vision around him almost immediately. She gulped; the aura was black. Surrounding him was a fog black as the night. She closed her eyes to dismiss the spell. It took a moment or two for the fog to fade from her sight.

What you see, Your Majesty? he asked.

She let out a deep breath. Dark magic.

She heard Karen, her friend and the Mistress of the Castle, and Kevin, the Royal Steward, let out clear and distinct gasps. She looked at each of them, more to see that they weren’t too frightened than to reassure them.

How bad is it, Your Majesty? Kevin asked.

Nothing like what we saw last year, she replied.

Your Majesty? Corbin asked.

She turned back to him. Master Kevin, my Royal Steward, was a young man living in one of my dukedoms. He believed that a Fairy man had kidnapped his sister. That was not what had happened to her. She had been taken over by dark magic.

Dark magic, Your Majesty?

Yes. Magic, at least what we Witches use, is a force of light. It has come down to us from the Fairy Folk. Their magic is also light. But magic is also a natural force. Like the river that floods, magic can become dangerous. If it becomes twisted, so I’ve been told, it turns dark. It becomes a thing called ‘dark magic.’ From what else I’ve been told, it can be a small corruption, or it can grow into a malevolent entity. That is how it took over the sister of Master Kevin.

That’s what’s happened to me, Your Majesty?

I don’t believe so, Master Corbin. What I saw around you is more a fog of darkness. The wolf that bit you might have been harmed or twisted by dark magic. It biting you, it may have transferred that dark magic to you.

Can you help me?

I cannot. I could attempt to drive out the dark magic, but I’m not certain if that would be good for you.

Why not? Maisy could hear the fear in Corbin’s voice overtaking him.

You have been touched by dark magic, Master Corbin, that I can tell. What I cannot tell is what sort of spell has been cast upon you. You’re standing here, so it’s not some sort of magical poison, or the opposite of a healing spell. You have your wits about you, so it’s not some sort of madness. You’re not on fire, or a block of ice, or were turned to stone. I can see you’ve been touched, but by what I don’t know.

What’s to be done?

I will contact the Fairy Queen of these parts. I will tell her what you’ve told me, and what my casting revealed. I will ask for her help.

What can she do, Your Majesty?

She should be able, at the very least, to say what spell is affecting you. Her magic is far more powerful than mine, or of any mortal Witch. She might be able to remove the spell.

I see. Does the dark magic make me dangerous, Your Majesty?

Have you felt any desire to commit crimes while you’ve traveled here?

No, Your Majesty.

Have you felt bloodlust, or rage, or maddening fear?

No.

Then I would say you are not dangerous. But, I won’t let you remain in town. If something is to happen, I’d like it to be here.

In the castle, Your Majesty?

Yes.

Is that wise, Your Majesty? Kevin asked.

She turned to him with the mildest expression she could manage. Would you rather something happen in town, away from the Royal Guard, and requiring me to race out of the castle?

He shook his head.

She turned back to Corbin. You will remain here until I’ve had word from the Fairy Queen. I’ll have your room guarded, for everyone’s safety.

Corbin bowed. Yes, Your Majesty.

She turned to Karen. Mistress of the Castle, would you see to our guest?

Karen curtsied. Certainly, Your Majesty. She stepped off the platform that the throne sat upon. She nodded once to Corbin, and he followed her out of the room.

Royal Steward, I take it there is another meeting for this morning?

Yes, Your Majesty, Kevin answered. He looked to the room’s double doors. Soldiers, allow in Master Leonce.

One of the soldiers bowed and stepped through the open doors. He spoke a name then came back into the room. Two men entered an instant later. One of the men was Captain Samuel, one of the officers in the Royal Guard who Maisy thought had become something less than a friend but more than a mere officer serving her.

The man next to him was Leonce, the Ambassador from Farrengir. Leonce was about a decade older than Maisy, tall and thin, with fair hair and brown eyes. He was always dressed in the finest cloak, shirt, and leggings, always seeming to reflect whatever was in style back in the kingdom he called home. The light in his eyes and the way he smiled made Maisy wonder if he was amused to be in Hatham, or amused to represent His Majesty, King Luther the Fifth to the peasant girl who became Queen.

Leonce bowed in his usual grand style. An honor and a pleasure, Your Majesty, he said in his strongly-accented voice.

Ambassador, Maisy replied. What brings you here this fine morning?

Late yesterday I was told by messenger that His Majesty, King Luther, will be sending you a gift along with his formal good wishes on your pregnancy, Your Majesty.

A gift and formal good wishes. I’m flattered.

Of course, Your Majesty.

Some body part of his younger son wouldn’t happen to be the gift, would it?

Leonce frowned. That is most unfair, Your Majesty. His Majesty and His Highness have apologized repeatedly for the offense His Highness gave you.

Apologies, Ambassador, were not sufficient. Not in the least!

When Prince Damien and the first Ambassador from Farrengir had come to Hatham a few years before, it was supposed to be to court Maisy, recently recognized and given the title Princess by her uncle the King. However, the two men also brought with them three young women from Farrengir. Said women were peasant girls, had been taken against their will, and were forced to be amusement for the men. Maisy learned of this from a brother of a friend. She freed the women and brought them before her uncle. The King forced the Prince and the Ambassador out of the kingdom and demanded that King Luther of Farrengir punish them.

The men’s punishment amounted to a reprimand. Her uncle was annoyed by that, but Maisy was furious. Since then she wanted as little to do with Farrengir as possible. She freely admitted to Karen that she kept raising the crime to Leonce to signal her continuing anger. She couldn’t completely break with the larger and more influential kingdom, but every time Leonce came to her on business, she’d add a small prayer before bed asking for just such a chance.

Leonce bowed to her. As you say, Your Majesty.

Maisy huffed out a breath. You may assure His Majesty that I will accept the gift in the spirit it is given.

Most kind, Your Majesty.

Is that all you wished to say, Ambassador?

No, Your Majesty. His Majesty did not send a messenger just to say that a gift was arriving for you. His Majesty also commanded me to ask about your relations with Entirroc.

Entirroc was the Farrengir name for the region known as The Sharp Hills of Entirock, the land where the Outlaw Dukedoms sat.

One of the matters that Maisy learned about once she came to Hatham to claim her inheritance was that of the Outlaw Dukedoms. They were called that in Hatham because they tended to subsist on raiding their neighbors, including both kingdoms. The raids were usually focused on horses and cattle, but sometimes merchants were robbed and folk in the kingdoms cheated out of coins. The view in Hatham Castle of the Outlaw Dukedoms was that they were an annoyance but no grave threat.

One of the Dukes under Maisy chose to see them as both a more serious threat and an opportunity. An escape from the Duke’s jail ended up unravelling the Duke’s schemes. Because Duke Stewart had helped in exposing the truth, Maisy made peace with him. She hoped that this would one day lead to peace with all the Outlaw Dukedoms and put an end to their raids on Hatham.

Maisy shrugged to Leonce. I am on good terms with Duke Stewart of Lilldale, Ambassador, as you well know. The young man I just spoke with is the son of the Duke of Arraroc. He has a problem with magic. If I can help him, I hope that will put me on better terms with his father and his domain. Why does His Majesty ask?

Leonce pressed his lips together. His Majesty continues to suffer trouble from Entirroc, Your Majesty.

What sort of trouble?

This summer has seen a few raids on horse farms in the dukedoms on the border, Your Majesty.

More than usual?

No, Your Majesty, but His Majesty is not a young man. He feels that a settlement of the problem would be another fine legacy to pass on to his son.

Does King Luther wish me to help with a negotiation?

Leonce shook his head. His Majesty is not certain more talk would do much good.

Maisy leaned forward. I have a treaty with one of those dukedoms, Ambassador. I’m not going to break the treaty by going to war with them.

Leonce smiled. Of course not, Your Majesty. What His Majesty wishes to know is if you might be willing to request pledges of loyalty from these renegade lands.

A pledge of loyalty?

Yes, Your Majesty. A request that these renegades submit to a higher authority.

King Luther, you mean?

Or yourself, Your Majesty, or both. Or if they want to make one of their own King, they may do so. As long as their new King pledges to end the raids and make peace with their neighbors.

I would still think that diplomacy would be wiser than making requests, Ambassador.

His Majesty believes that Your Majesty was fortunate when it came to Lilldale. His Majesty is not so certain God would smile upon Your Majesty, or His Majesty, a second time. His Majesty would like the trouble resolved. Will Your Majesty offer the assistance of Hatham?

Maisy let out a deep breath. "I’ll tell you what, Ambassador. It’s