Swords of Deception: Sword of Deception, #1

By Rowan Staeffler

Three years of imprisonment has Ellemar dangling on brink of insanity. She's thought of nothing but revenge, but the unauthorized use of her powers is what got her into this mess.

 

Circumstances are looking up, though. Seems the Council of Witches have realized they have a common enemy. The very same Celeana who left Ellemar for dead slaughtered everyone aboard a royal ship, and has been a fugitive for several years.

The Council sees a golden opportunity in vengeful Ellemar, enticing her with freedom in exchange for tracking down the elusive Celeana.

 

How could she possibly say no? Her fantasy of retribution is within her grasp, and she'll walk free at the end of it. It's all she's wanted over these long, dark years. The council is even willing to bend their precious rules about murder.

 

But right away, things aren't adding up. Clues that Celeana's horrific act might have been justified lead Ellemar down a disturbing path, leaving her wondering if she's chasing the wrong enemy. This is way more than she signed up for, but turning a blind eye gets harder the more she finds, confronting her with an impossible choice.

 

Collect her freedom, or save the kingdom?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rowan Staeffler
• Release date: Jul 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201788247

Rowan Staeffler

Originally born in Australia, I moved to Switzerland when I was 5 years old. After 14 years completing school and an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner, I moved back to Australia. Eventually I moved to Hong Kong for 3 years and got married there. My wife and I moved to Australia. We currently live in Darwin. Already as a kid I wondered if there can  different kind of witches who do not fly on a broom, have a pointy hat and a crooked nose. Now I like to share my different perspective.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Ellemar Vancel cocked her head, then responded with a sceptical tone. You mean the Council of Witches is allowing me to leave the city? The wooden floor in her shabby room creaked when she stepped forward.

For three years, the Council of Witches had held Ellemar captive in the city of Tannaly, which had a dense population of nearly seven thousand. By now, she was close to insanity. The witches observed her every move she made, by having some shadowy figures lurking about and thanks to Ason, who works for the Council, who told her so. While she was allowed to roam freely in the city, she was not allowed to set foot outside due to her violation of the rules she broke three years ago by practicing unsupervised her powers. A harsh punishment Ellemar and even Ason, weren’t sure why they would restrict her to the city only for so long.

Ason responded calmly with a warm smile as he folded his hands over his stomach. Exactly. The Council is recommending that you undertake this mission, which means that you can leave the city. They even requested that I come and get you, so I didn’t have to hide from your stalkers for a change. Whatever the Council is thinking, I think you should use this chance to finally get out of here, even if it is only for the duration of the mission. Who knows, maybe this will lead to your permanent freedom. You may even be able to work in some drawing and painting.

Ason waved his hands around Ellemar’s small, bland room. A foul stench permeated the air — rotten food and urine, both human and animal, that littered the streets of her neighborhood. It was equipped with the basics of a simple wardrobe, an uncomfortable bed, an old chair and a rigid table that Ellemar expected to fall apart at any moment. She tugged a curl of her shoulder-length, brown hair behind her ear, relaxed her shoulders and took his hand.

Does this mean we can finally be together? With no Council dogs lurking about or the Council constantly coming by my place? She gave him a hopeful smile. She was aching to be with him openly. They had to keep their relationship a secret from the Witches’ Council as she wasn’t permitted on befriending anyone. However, since he was promoted to captain, he was away from Tannaly most of the time. Ason was sent to investigate cases such as homicide or disappearances of humans and witches. He didn’t spend as much time in Tannaly, his abode was the castle. 

You will be traveling on King Andreus’ ship. You know? The young king of Kambro? Who runs this very land? He grinned shily at her.

She glared into his small black-filled pupiled eyes, while he stared into her small red-filled pupiled eyes. She knew too well who he was.

Then it hit her. He said you. Her smile disappeared and her heart hammered against her chest pounding. Wait a minute. Just me? No. I’m not going without you.

Ason smiled and gently stroked his thumb across her cheek. He leaned in and gave her a kiss. Then convince the king that I should come with you.

You bet I will. Only us two. No one else.

Well, the king and his small army and servants of course. It’s a huge ship. You will see.

Ellemar looked around her room. I guess it’s worth a shot, Ason. After three years, I really could use some fresh air. You know how much I hate this city. I want to be in the country, away from the awful smell and the Council, and work on my paintings. And be with you, of course. I can see it now. Me painting and you working on that book you want to write. She sighed, lost in thought.

Good, and you will. Just for the time being, you will be at sea.

Ellemar cocked her head and raised a brow. What exactly is this mission anyway? You still haven’t told me.

Ason chuckled as if he enjoyed teasing her. He let go of her hand and picked up her black coat.

Come with me and you will find out. The king wants to tell you himself.

The king personally wants to see me? How would he know about me? I have never met him. All I know is that he is very young and his mother rules this land until he was old enough. Her eyes widened.

I have mentioned you. In hope to get you out of the city.

Oh, thank you but you still know I want to be with you. Ellemar stared at him from the corner of her eyes, uncertain why Ason couldn’t just tell her himself what the mission was all about. She never liked that he worked for the Council, but he had been nothing but supportive of her by giving her some money and being her mental guide. Without him, she would have lost her mind.

She pulled her coat on and looked at herself in the mirror. Tucking her curled hair behind her ears again, she cocked her head and looked for any smudges on her narrow face and straight nose. Then she adjusted her clothes so they hung properly on her slim body. Satisfied with her appearance, she glanced at Ason as he ran his fingers through his short black hair. She found him cute with his round head and straight nose. Thankfully she was only half a head shorter than him. If he was any taller than one hundred ninety centimeters, she would have to stand on her toes to kiss him.

Ason held the door open for her. She looked back at her small room, wishing it was the last time she would ever set foot in it again. She didn’t have much besides a few changes of clothes. All her personal possessions had been confiscated by the Council. What she missed most was her drawing and painting materials.

I need to get out of here. 

They stepped onto a mud-filled street. Filthy, down-trodden workers from carpenters, blacksmiths and construction, trudged by, staring at Ason. Seeing a high ranked witch was not very common in this part of the city. The stench made Ason’s nose wrinkle, but Ellemar was already used to it. She always felt sad when she walked outside. While she lived in this neighbourhood, she tried to maintain her appearance as best she could. She made sure to keep clean and tidy, regardless of whether she went out or not. But, if it weren’t for Ason giving her new clothes, she would be wearing the same clothes day after day.

Ellemar wanted to hold his hand as they walked down the street, but she knew she was still being watched by the Council dogs. Even though the Council told Ason to come, she knew their people were still lurking about somewhere. 

Four shady-looking human men moved in their direction. She rolled her eyes and grunted in frustration. Ason noticed them as well and put his hand offensively on the pommel of his sword. The men continued to walk in their direction, eyes fixated on Ellemar as if Ason wasn’t next to her. Ellemar wished she had a weapon, but this was not the first time she had fought off armed men.

You think having a witch bodyguard will help you? asked the unshaven man. His breath reeked of beer, and his clothes didn’t smell any better.

Fuck you, snapped Ellemar as she took a defensive stance.

Oh, you may have beaten me and my friend up a few days ago. He pointed to the man next to him with a dark-blue bruise on his face. But we brought more friends this time. And we are going to take our time with you. Did I mention I have always liked brunettes? His leer crept from ear to ear.

Ason looked behind him and back at the men. I advise you to stand aside. The Council expects her immediately. Any delay will be reported to them and you know the penalties for such disobedience. Five years imprisonment.

Ellemar knew he was bluffing about the Council, but she also knew he would take them on.

The man scoffed and looked back at his friends, who laughed. You think they scare us? And you are not even allowed to kill anyone. Some soldiers you are to protect this land.

Ason smiled at them and looked at Ellemar. What have you done to them?

She shrugged. They thought I was a hooker.

I see. Well gentlemen, he smiled at them, as beautiful as she is, she is not what you think. Now, as I said before, she is expected by the Council. And since I’m a captain, different rules apply to me. He shot Ellemar a conspiratorial smile.

You asked for it, growled the man and pulled out a dagger from his belt. In one motion, Ason pulled out his sword and swatted the dagger to the ground. The man looked at his empty but unharmed hand, clearly shocked.

What are you standing around for? Fuck them up, he barked at his friends.

As one, they pulled daggers out and swarmed at Ason and Ellemar, who skillfully dodged their attacks by leaning far back or stepping aside. She twisted her attacker’s arm and kneed him in the face. His nose cracked as he landed on the floor. He screamed and covered his face with his hands, his blood gushing between his fingers. Her second attacker let out a yell, raised his dagger high in the air and rushed toward her. She stood still and waited for him to get closer. When he struck, she deflected with her left arm and upper-cut him in the chin with her right. Teeth fell to the ground as he spat blood out of his mouth.

She grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the dagger with both hands and bent it back until she heard bones crack. He let out a gurgling cry and more blood bubbled from his mouth. Ellemar grabbed his dagger and impaled it in his left shoulder. She looked over at Ason, who was sheathing his sword. Behind him, two men were groaning and rolling on the ground, holding their blood-soaked upper legs.

You are doing really well. I’m glad our training paid off, Ason said with a slight nod. He pointed at the two she defeated. The man who held his broken nose stood up; his shirt was covered in blood. He took one look at Ason and Ellemar and turned and ran away. Ellemar’s other attacker whimpered as he tried to pull the dagger from his shoulder, and those Ason fought continued writhing on the ground. The people walking by in the street ignored the whole scene. They knew that interfering with witches is punishable with imprisonment.

I only want to kill one person. Celeana Maar. These ale-drenched swines are not worth it. Can we go now?

Chapter 2

The Witch’s Council was housed in the castle at the center of Tannaly, which was the seat of security for the Kingdom of Kambro. Since the witches were in charge of security, both the castle and the city itself had a larger than normal population of witches. Tannaly was a big city of over seven thousand residents but it was a little under half the size of the kingdom’s capital, Galaphina. 

The castle, never looked to her as the seat of power for the Council of Witches. It was just a cube-shaped fortress with a paucity of windows. The immense wall surrounding it was composed of large rocks and metal. Sharp blades jutting from the top of the wall were there to slice or impale anyone who dared climb over. The courtyard inside the wall was bare. No horticulture, statue or flag could be seen. It was like colour itself has been sucked out of this place.

The atmosphere inside the castle was just as she recalled: brisk, dark and dismal. There were no tapestries or paintings, and low-burning lanterns lent little light to the area. How I would love to burn this place down to the ground—with the Council inside.

The spacious chamber she entered had a single huge glass window and was presumably the liveliest part of the castle as she never saw the rest of it. A graceful man, possibly in his early twenties, with short curly chestnut hair, stood to the right of a group of five seated individuals, the Witch's Council. This must be the king. To her surprise, he wore a plain white tunic with black trousers instead of the traditional velvet robe she’d been expecting him to wear.

The king and the Council shared the responsibility for running the kingdom. The king was responsible for the general governing of the daily lives of the citizens. He ensured that people were clothed, fed, healthy, and educated. He oversaw trade and commerce. The Witch's Council was created centuries ago. It was formed after the king turned to a group of witches to save the kingdom which was being decimated by attacks from creatures controlled by hostile rulers of other kingdoms.

The Witch’s Council was composed of two elderly female and three elderly male witches. They wore clean brown