“The covens have been at odds the last few centuries. The Overlord achieved his purpose; we are scattered and ineffective.”
Astrid said nothing, knowing Meruse was right. Benedict sighed, impatient.
“If the plan is to simply wander through the woods—”
A fireball slammed into the tree behind him, missing him by inches. We took to the air immediately in instinct, circling around as the witches dove for cover. Another fireball burst through the trees, and Benedict and Kieran leapt after its source.
“Shift back,” Astrid urged me, and I saw the sense in it even if my instincts screamed in defiance. I dropped to the ground next to the witches as a human, my daggers twirling in my hands. Three figures wreathed in flames sprung down from the trees, fiery demons with no recognizable form. I threw my dagger anyway, and one of them fell. Astrid thrust her hands out and the fire was squelched, leaving three gasping, writhing female figures on the ground. I hurriedly pulled my dagger free of the first, noticing that I had only gotten her in the shoulder. It wouldn’t be fatal if she took care of it.
“Air bitch—” One of them mouthed, as the lack of air stole her voice. Meruse was there a moment later, seaweed whips flying as they snaked around the three women and bound them tightly.
“A sea witch?! What madness is this?” Meruse rolled her eyes as Kieran and Benedict returned, dropping two more unconscious figures next to the others.
“Farran!” One cried, flinging her body over the other.
“Oh for crying out loud, she’s just unconscious,” Meruse sneered, and we all sheathed our weapons.
“Are you fire witches?” I began, glaring at Meruse to back off. All five women had flaming red hair, with eyes as red as Kieran’s scales. With a glare at Meruse they lit her whip on fire, and Meruse squawked and dropped it. Astrid looked bored as she vanished the air again, and the fire witches growled. The unconscious one moaned, and then slowly sat up with the help of one of her sisters.
“We would like to speak with you,” I continued, pretending nothing was amiss. The one in the middle looked ready to fight back, then balked as she truly looked at me. I looked down, cursing at the white scales. It seemed my instincts couldn’t hold my draken form back while fighting.
“A female draken?”
I smacked my head lightly as the others visibly had to restrain themselves from laughing.
“Yes, and the drakens along with the other covens plan to make a stand against the Overlord and take back Dorea. Are you in?”
Meruse and Benedict’s jaws dropped, incredulous.
“Wren! You can’t just go around announcing—”
“We’re in.”
The fire witches answered as one, ending any argument. I turned back to Meruse, grinning.
“That was easy.”
Meruse threw her hands in the air and walked away. Astrid smiled, and launched into immediate negotiations. We learned several things: there were around one hundred fire witches who survived and continued to live in small groups across Dorea. Some had moved south, fleeing towards Aldur.
“I am Farran, and these are my hearth sisters. If we split up to find the small bands, we have a good chance of uniting the coven once more. When do you plan to strike?”
Astrid threw an anxious glance to Benedict, who only raised an eyebrow.
“I see,” Farran murmured, unimpressed.
“The air and earth covens have gathered on Lyoness, but it is heavily watched by the hordes. I don’t recommend you go there.” Astrid shot a look to Benedict, who nodded.
“Where then?” Farran asked. Our group fell silent, unsure.
“Cantrada,” Kieran answered, his eyes lighting with fervor. Meruse whipped around so fast, her dreadlocked hair nearly smacked me in the face.
“Are you out of your mind? That is a demon stronghold—”
“Ruled by vampyres ready to turn or flee according to you and filled to the brim with humans. Thousands of allies are already gathered in one spot!”
“Slaves arenot allies,” I protested, needing him to understand. Meruse hurried to back me up.
“If the Overlord finds out he could send his forces to the city and ransack it. Then what?”
Kieran’s brow furrowed, unsure what to say. Benedict shifted, his voice rumbling deep within his chest.
“Then we will ensure he doesn’t find out.”
We all grinned, except for Meruse who rolled her eyes. Astrid and Farran looked at her expectantly.
“Fine. You will have our support. If we can find my missing witches.”
I couldn’t help but feel hope swell in my chest as three of the five witch covens were represented in front of me. Had it truly been a millennium since they were together? This moment had to mean something, a promise of a better tomorrow.
“There is one more issue before the alliance is settled,” Astrid added, her voice taking a serious tone.
“The witchling Luci.”
Farran’s face paled, and the other fire witches immediately looked away.
“How do you know that name?” Farran whispered.
“I think you know,” Astrid flung back, and I stepped in between them, putting a hand across Astrid’s chest. “How could you abandon her like that? She is a child! Your witchling!”
Kieran grabbed Astrid and pinned her arms at the same moment Benedict did the same to Farran. Farran’s skin erupted in flames and Benedict yelled, dropping her.“
Please tell me she is not with you.” Farran looked terrified, her expression halting any attempts to fight from Astrid. Kieran let her go and she straightened her robe hissing at him. The fire witch’s tone was the only thing that quelled the rage in Astrid’s face.
“Why?” She asked warily, her hands still raised in the air.
Farran glanced back at the other fire witches, whose horrified expressions mirrored her own.
“That child is no witch; she is a demon half-breed.”
There had nearly been another fight after that revelation, Astrid screeching
