The city of outlaws: Ash Lake: Summer of the Red Moon

Zedd reached the city at dawn. He had been keeping his eyes on the witch for more than a month. He needed her powers to set his grand plan in motion. If it weren’t for Alistair’s request, he wouldn’t approach her so soon. ‘Her magic will make him easier to capture. I only need to convince her to let go of her stupid pride. I guess there’s no need in delaying the matter any further.’

Zedd was standing in front of Osimir’s Rest, the largest inn in the city of outlaws. The lobby was beautifully decorated with wooden carvings of laughing mermaids, dancing around a trident wielding man. ‘Osimir, God of the sea: Do you really exist, I wonder?’ he thought as he advanced towards the receptionist.

“Welcome to Osimir’s rest, how can I help you today?” a fair young girl asked. Her melodious voice showed her dedication to her job. To Zedd, it was an indication of something else.

“You seem so happy to live and work in such a desolate place. This inn, among all others, doesn’t seem to be touched by thievery or raids. How so?” he asked.

The receptionist smiled, revealing her perfectly aligned teeth. “This Inn is under lord Dismas’s protection. No one would dare attack us, unless they want to suffer the consequences.”

Zedd smiled back to the lady behind the counter. He wore brown trousers with black leather knee-high boots. On top, Zedd wore a boiled leather chest piece with a metallic spaulder harnessed to his left shoulder. He didn’t wear a helmet. He’d left his head exposed, perhaps as a warning to any who’d think of attacking him. After the events in the outskirts of Sendra, Zedd couldn’t allow any more delays.

“What would be the consequences one must suffer if, say.” Zedd leaned towards the receptionist then continued. “He were to destroy your lord Dismas’s Inn?” His last question came as a whisper. He was still smiling. Coupled with his strange black eyes, the man was frightening.

The receptionist, frozen in place, couldn’t take her eyes off Zedd’s. “Guards will be alerted. Then the offender will be punished accordingly. Certain death awaits every offender.”

“Good to know,” Zedd commented, his wicked smile still drawn on his face. “When you look at a man like me, what comes to your mind?”

The receptionist was at a loss for words. Zedd didn’t look like much at first. When he had just entered the inn, he looked like an ordinary traveller. He wore a cheap set of armor. He was of average built, but taller than most. What scared the others away was perhaps what glued the receptionist in place. His irises were pitch back. Where normal humans would have circular pupils, Zedd’s had a golden rectangular shape. Looking at him was akin to looking an otherworldly demon in the eye.

“I don’t know what to say sir,” the receptionist finally answered.

“I’m visiting a friend. She took your biggest room,” Zedd said after a long fit of laughter.

“Ah Miss Haart, I’ll notify her of your presence. Who should I say is visiting?” The receptionist’s hands were heavily shaking at that point. She didn’t know who or what she was dealing with.

“Mr Cornwall, she’ll know who it is.”

“Please have a seat in our lobby. She’ll be with you shortly.”

“Can someone tend to my horse? She’s restless, so ask them to be nice to her.”

“Yes sir. Would you like anything to drink?”

“Just bring me the News Co. I’ll read it while waiting for Miss Haart to arrive.”

The receptionist rang a bell and summoned two brutes. “Jake, please escort our guest to the lobby. Jim, tend to his horse. See that she’s well fed.”

Zedd threw a Silver Krown at the lady and thanked her before following Jake. “How are things at the Aurunn Empire?” he asked.

“Tis bad sir. There’s talk of invading the west.” The young brute answered.

***

In the meantime, the receptionist, called Ada, went looking for Ms. Haart. A knock at the door and a woman’s voice was heard: “Come in.” The receptionist got in and briefly told her guest of the situation. “Are you sure he said he was Mr. Cornwall?”

“Yes my lady, I’m certain.”

“From your description, this man doesn’t fit his profile at all. It doesn’t sound like one of Al’s men either. Tell him to come to me. If he gets any crazy ideas, I’ll deal with him personally.”

“He sure looks like the man in the news,” the receptionist said.

“That’s why it’s better to bring him here. I have enough materials here to trap and him and deliver him to Dismas.”

“As you say my lady, but remember my master’s words. If this inn comes to harm during your stay-“

“I know what your lord’s words were. Now, bring that man here.”

The receptionist bowed then excused herself from the witch’s spacious room.

‘A stranger comes to visit me, and today, of all days! Perhaps the gods truly exist. They’re probably laughing at me now.’

***

Zedd sat down on a comfortable sofa then started reading the news. ‘That witch will walk right into my trap. Curiosity is indeed deadly. Now let’s see what the resistance is up to.’ The young man took the newspaper. What he found on the news though, delighted him. ‘A Devil with black eyes huh?! That’s bound to create some inconveniences for me in the future.’

He then started reading about the new power that has recently challenged the strongest empire in the four continents. He was in a good mood. The news of his latest slaughter were beautifully portrayed by the NewsCo writers. “The Aurunn demon has reached Kozag”, another title said. ‘News sure travel fast, at this rate, Al won’t be too happy to see me.’

“Emperor Avourel inaugurates the Gates of Mercy,” the next article title said. That title alone darkened Zedd’s mood. ‘He’s opened the gate already. Not much time before he discovers the Pathway,’ he thought as he read the news article.

He wasn’t allowed to give it much thought though, as the receptionist had already come back.

“Mr Cornwall, Miss Haart would like to see you in her chambers,” she announced.

“Very well, lead the way. Ask the bell boy to bring us some drinks. A strong spirit would be preferable.” Zedd put the newspaper aside and followed the fair lady. His mood had suddenly changed. ‘Don’t get emotional you bastard!’ he mentally scolded himself. He hated witches, especially the cunning type. But he needed that one. There was no room for emotion in war.

On the second floor of Osimirs’ Rest, there was a room that occupied the entire left side of the building. Where four rooms would usually be stacked next to each other, one room had been rearranged to fit the whole space. The one occupied by the Purple Witch had all commodities: a private study, a meeting lounge and a private bathroom attached to the bedchambers. Zedd was shown to the meeting lounge.

“Miss Haart will be with you shortly,” the receptionist said before leaving the room. Zedd thanked her with a smile and a nod before turning his observing eyes towards the study.

“You can come out now, she’s gone,” he said after the fair young lady closed the door.

From the study she came out, smelling of jasmine and honeysuckle. She stood by the door, observing the mysterious man who borrowed the name Cornwall. She wore a velvet olive green robe. A necklace with a fist sized purple jewel hung on her neck. “You’re not Cornwall, what do you want?” she asked.

The scent of her perfume invaded Zedd’s nostrils. He took a deep breath, let the perfume’s sweet aroma tickle his senses. Zedd then looked at the witch, his strange eyes fixating hers. “Why don’t you have a seat? Or would you rather wait for our drinks to arrive?”

“I thought I asked you who you were. What do you want from me?” she asked again. Her face was stern, yet her heart was shaken. She clenched her fists as doubt started sprouting.

“Your little trick won’t work on me. Please, have a seat,” Zedd asked once more. “We have many things to talk about.”

The witch bit hard on her lips. Her Acuity never failed her until that day. Her Charming spells wouldn’t activate. That day, ever since she woke up, the witch couldn’t muster any spiritual energy. “You’re not Cornwall,” she said.

“And you’re not Miss Haart either,” Zedd quickly replied. His smile started irritating the witch. “Sit.” Black Eyes tapped the armchair near him. “Let’s talk, I don’t like repeating myself.” This time, Zedd’s tone brooked no argument.

Faux Miss Haart hesitated at the study door. She couldn’t trust her mysterious visitor. Her magic seemed to be powerless against him. Zedd looked at the petrified witch. He let out a sigh then said.

“You’ve been hiding here, not using your magic in fear of being found out. What you didn’t realize,” Zedd paused a moment, stood and approached the witch, “Is that you couldn’t use magic since dawn. Please don’t struggle. I mean you no harm.”

“What are you?” she asked, struggling to conjure up some semblance of magical energy.

“I’m your divine blessing,” he answered, smiled, then went on, “or your worst nightmare. You have an important choice to make today. You can’t use your magic, and I know you’re a sloppy fighter. I won’t harm you unless you choose to resist.”

“A fancy way of telling me I don’t have a choice in what’s about to happen,” the witch bitterly said.

“Confusion fills your mind my lady. Do you wish to know how I managed to seal your magic?”

Miss Haart nodded.

“What do you know of Aetherbane?”

“That I need to be either shot with it or drink something infused with it.”

“And yet, you have your ways of detecting the strange substance in food and drinks. What do the southerners say about Aetherbane?” Zedd started walking around the lounge, inspecting the numerous artifacts the witch had placed to embellish the plain room.

“What does a legend have to do with my sealed powers?”

“Everything my dear lady, everything,” Zedd said in an enthusiastic manner.

“Please enlighten me,” the witch asked.

“Perhaps another day, our drinks have arrived.”

Shortly after, Jake knocked. He put two glasses of the strongest spirit they had on the coffee table. Zedd paid the young man and dismissed him.

“Should we get to business? Please sit, I won’t bite,” the young man said with a mischievous smile.

Zedd sat on the armchair then pointed his finger at the lady who hadn’t moved from the study door. A gentle flick was enough to pull the witch next to her unexpected guest.

“I understand your wariness, but if I wanted you dead I wouldn’t go through so much trouble of showing my face to everyone.”

The witch, bound by invisible threads, sat on the sofa next to Zedd. The more she struggled, the tighter the threads became. The stranger’s rectangular pupils stared at her.

“What do you want from me?” she asked, frustrated.

“I admire your strength of character and skills lady. I’m here to discuss a delicate subject. I’d rather have you converse with me without these restraints. I hope you’ll be compliant. I’d hate to resort to more,” he paused and squinted at the witch, “brutish manners.”

Miss Haart weakly nodded. The binds weakened her. It felt like they were draining the life out of her.

“What do you want from me?” she asked after the threads loosened.

“The eye you stole from my friends. I need it back.”

“What if I’ve already sold it?”

“I would’ve known, like I know it’s in your bosom right now.”

“I went through a lot of trouble to get that damned star from Garland’s watchful eyes.”

“I’m not an unreasonable man. I have something for you, something far better than a dead dragon’s eye.”

“When I sell this star, I’ll be rich enough to buy an island with servants. What can top that?” the witch asked with a smirk on her face.

“Freedom my lady,” Zedd answered with great enthusiasm. His expression quickly changed to one of anger when he spoke again. “The empire is on our doors. I hear they have ships with wings. Crossing the ocean won’t be so hard if they can fly over that stubborn snake. Where would you run when the empire comes knocking? Arsalan? I don’t think you want to go back there.”

“You!” the witch suddenly got up, infuriated at Zedd’s last words. “How do you know about Arsalan?”

“Sit down!” Zedd retorted in a calm but imposing manner. “I’m offering you a lifetime opportunity here.” The young man flicked his fingers again and the witch was forcefully brought back on the chair. “Now, let’s get to important matters.” Zedd was back to his enthusiastic self.

The Purple Witch, one of the strongest witches in the western continent was subdued with a simple finger flick. Never in her life has she felt so humiliated. “What do you want from me?” she asked for the umpteenth time, frustrated.

“First, I’d kindly advise you to use a different tone with me. Your life belongs to me now. I can extinguish it as easily as I subdued you.

“Second, I want that eye. My friends asked me to get it back to them as soon as possible, and I’m planning to deliver on my promise.

“Then there’s the matter of the rebellious Purple Witch. Despite the power you have, you use it to find a shortcut to an easier life. I call that laziness at its best.”

The witch glared at Zedd in silence, afraid to utter another word to the devil in her presence.

“The empire has the Church’s support. They’ll be upon us soon. Viraldo has gone to negotiate a peace treaty that would save Yanoku. In two years, there will be no place left to hide. You know the emperor’s opinion of magic users, don’t you?”

“I know all of this already. The eye was to allow me to live two luxurious years before it all crumbles.” The witch finally regained her speech.

“How about fighting back?” Zedd asked.

“Hah! How are we to fight the Empire and the Church?”

“I have an army, and I plan on increasing its size considerably.”

“You plan to fight the empire? You’re crazy.”

“Look at me and tell me what you see. Do you see a sane person?” Zedd leaned towards the helpless witch, looked her in the eyes, smiled then continued. “Yes I am crazy. But I have a purpose and ways to fulfill it. Fight with me, and you’ll live a life with no regrets.”

“How is my power useful to you? I can’t hope to fight against the empire’s wizards and automata?”

“I’ll show you how to draw your power from the Primordial Lake.”

Faux Miss Haart’s pupils grew larger. The notion of drawing power from that ancient place was unfathomable.

“No one has ever been able to draw power from that ancient place,” she mocked. “The strongest Wizards in history could only summon Aeons to fight by their side. On top of it all, they could only summon them for a short period of time.”

“The Church can easily do that, even the emperor has that power.”

“Listen sir,”

“Call me Zedd,” he interrupted.

“Listen Zedd,” The witch spoke again, “I’m but a simple witch. Why do you want to drag me into this?”

“You stole from the Three Headed Dragon. No one has ever tried such stupid endeavor, not even those filthy Rats. You underestimate your powers witch. I have a plan, and that plan involves wizards and witches. I can easily offer the same to others.

“You can either give me the eye then leave this place empty handed, or you can have power beyond your wildest dreams. What will you choose?”

“Can I take my time to consider the offer?”

The question seemed to irritate Zedd. His brows furrowed and the invisible threads around the witch tightened, causing her to moan in pain.

“I don’t like your attitude witch,” he said. His voice was an angry hiss. “You have until noon today. After which I’ll leave to Yanoku. If you’re still willing, come with me. You’ll be my guest of honor. No one will dare touch a hair on your body. If not, then I wish you a painless death when the emperor invades. Now, hand over that stone.”

The witch reached into her bosom and took out a round blue stone. Zedd pocketed the item, thanked the woman then left.

“I’ll be at the inn’s tavern until noon. Come see me if you’re willing to change this world.”