Two Witches
James's dear teen friend Savera begs the powerful Griselda BlackClawe to show mercy to James, to find her witchy sister possesses none.
Two Witches
A Heaven & Earth tale
By LonelyRider
Savera dismounted her enormous viper, which she and the 3 crones training her used as a riding mount.
"Good girl, thank you, here, girl." Savera whispered, patting the huge fearsome snake, she fed her a huge egg and the snake tipped back her mighty head and gulped it down, her black tongue hissing, she coiled up and waited as Savera approached the cavern, looking with sadness at the bird skull dreamcatcher; she'd come to Griselda BlackClawe's lair.
"Ahhh...so many females, of late. Strange. Hmmm," Griselda sniffed the air, looking at her paw, a huge claw extending from her index toe, "A young witch, a sister in spirit. Well, well. What business could you possibly have with me, young lady?" Griselda asked almost in a mocking tone, as she herself was relatively young.
"Greetings, sister. I know you don't barter with women, I was just...well...it's asking a lot, I know. I have this friend, he gave you his greatest treasure, I was hoping I could trade you something of equal value, I brought gifts, but these are simply precursors, you see." Savera explained apologetically, she laid out 3 beautiful items on an ornate cloth. "From the magical pink sea near my home, this giant pearl, enchanted by my three teachers and myself. A fine seeing item, your most witchy lady. A gorgeous bronze necklace, from the smiths in the black mountains, it is said it can focus your magic power. Finally, this herbal potion, to keep your skin and fur young and beautiful forever." Savera said humbly, pushing forward the 3 shining items. Griselda traced an enormous deadly claw under the young harpy's fair chin, and she gasped; but Griselda didn't attack, her vow to never harm a woman firm in her mind.
"A friend, you say, young witch? What is the nature of your magic power?" Griselda asked, circling the young lady slowly, James' wings and horns looking grand on her mighty feral body, but they'd been transformed from angel wings to bat wings, a golden halo to fierce horns.
"Oh yes, I'll show you." Savera nodded nervously, she closed her eyes and her thorn magic sprouted from the ground, many large vines bearing sharp thorns, she wrapped them around the dead tree by Griselda's lair and they bloomed, bearing huge beautiful fragrant red roses. Savera gasped; that had been the finest spell she'd ever cast with her magic.
"Ahh...floral magic. Earth magic. How very quaint. Listen....girl. If you ever want to learn real power, not just the restrained version of witchcraft those old nags are teaching you, come back and see me. I could teach you how to pull a man's still beating heart from his chest."
Savera bowed her head, closing her eyes, sad but respectful before the powerful witch. Griselda spoke a tongue Savera didn't recognize and conjured an image in the giant pearl Savera had brought, Savera gasped, turning her head and blushing hotly, feeling shy. An image appeared of a daydream she'd had many times, of Savera in James' burly arms, kissing and stroking him, their wings around each other. Griselda grinned, her feline fangs glistening.
"Ahh...it would seem you already have ripped a man's heart from his chest, little one. I sense your feelings aren't one sided....how very romantic." Griselda mocked, touching her chest and sighing dramatically, Savera sagged shyly, unable to look at the mighty taunting witch. "I must say though," Griselda circled Savera again, slowly, extending James' wings from her body and then folding them back up, "This....James LightningSword must be quite the man. You're the second female who's come up here trying to barter with me for the return of his," Griselda grasped her hands together, spreading 'her' wings wide dramatically, "Beautiful wings! Like you said, young witch; I don't barter with women. My offer stands to take you....oh...how delightful," Griselda chuckled cruelly, literally spreading James' wing over Savera, holding her in it, "Under my wing." Griselda finished, smiling in an almost deranged way. Savera gasped, a sob escaping her.
"Oh...I can feel him! Oh, James!" Savera reacted without thinking, trying to caress the wings of her friend, Griselda withdrew it, shaking her finger in a no gesture.
"Uh uh, uh, now." Griselda chortled evilly.
"Keep the gifts, my sister, I wish you well. I have to go, excuse me." Savera managed to get out, she burst into tears and ran to her riding viper, hopping on and leaving quickly. Griselda threw back her feline head and laughed, pulling the enchanted gifts closer to herself greedily.
"What a fine week this has been." She thought out loud. She eyed her tree looking beautiful wrapped in Savera's thorny rose-bearing vines, swaying in the wind. "Mr LightningSword." Griselda mused out loud, pleased with her good fortune. She let go of the rich curtains shrouding her cave and went back inside, pulling her gifts to her with a mighty clawed hand.