Our sequel to
The Valley
is taking shape.

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"Caryn's New World, Medea's Revenge"

The long deep howl of a nearby wolf resonated through the forest’s barren trees as the last breath of life escaped the General’s lungs; the invincible predator had become the prey. Seconds after the knight’s sword fell from his lifeless hand, its glow dimmed, became softer, darker, until it disappeared into the blackness of the forest floor. Still shaking from that fierce battle, Caryn grasped its ivory handle and stood up unaware that she had avenged the coldblooded murder of a knight and his family.

As she tried to catch her breath, a glint appeared on the sword’s tip, then a glow. She gasped at the energy building in the enchanted weapon. Brighter and brighter it became, whiter and whiter. It traveled up the blade to her hand then, up her arm, across her shoulders and down to the dagger she had wielded so well. It was mesmerizing; sword in her left hand, dagger in her right, both weapons and her upper body emitting a blinding light that forced the surrounding soldiers to back away and cover their eyes.

She nervously sheathed the dagger and held the sword with both trembling hands then, it began vibrating, humming, becoming louder and louder until it erupted into white hot flashes of blinding light that spewed out like lightening in all directions. Thunder deafened the soldiers as spikes of energy bounced from branch to branch, jumping and dancing, moving upward and spreading across the entire woodland like the tentacles of a ferocious storm.

In the next few moments, black greasy ground became fertile soil and brittle dead branches sprouted into healthy young sprigs as the crackling and humming of this electrical tempest slammed into each rock, stump and bush. It spread out like a shock wave from a powerful explosion, gaining intensity, lighting everything in its path and then, moved upward to sear away the thick black clouds. Suddenly there was light… life-giving sunlight! It burned through the blackness and bathed everything in the long overdue warmth of day, and time itself, frozen at the stroke of midnight centuries ago by the words of a mere teacher, resumed its incessant march forward.

Until Caryn’s victory lifted that spell, the targets of Bixby’s chants had been no more than ghosts, mere apparitions of their former selves, unable to live or grow old or die. But, they did feel the pain of imprisonment of loneliness and of despair and once they realized life had returned, they whooped, hollered and ran throughout the fresh green foliage and sparkling streams to celebrate their long awaited release.

The excitement and laughter quickly spread throughout the army but, there was one among them who remained quiet. She was strangely beautiful, a tall young woman with raven hair and a lean powerful physique standing silently near a large tree watching the men and wondering what would follow. She too had been released from Bixby’s spell but was not so quick to celebrate or, be convinced that all had returned to its former state.

A very long time ago, she was widely known as Medea, a cunning sorceress who exercised mystical powers at will. But those powers, things of thought, of gesture, of chant, had had no effect during that dark imprisonment. She had been just another helpless soul trapped for centuries in Blackthorn Forest. Night had now given way to day and life had returned, but something was different. She could sense it. All was not as it once was.

“Some woman has killed the General and freed us!” yelled one of the nearby men.

“Killed the General…? Impossible!” was the cynical reply. “Many have tried…. Impossible!”

“The darkness has gone, green leaves have returned. It must be true,” yelled a third.

“Who could do such a thing?” asked another.

“A woman, a queen, she has taken his sword and he lies dead. We have a new ruler!”

The platoon’s leader was still unconvinced. “Impossible!” he yelled. “Come with me. We’ll see the truth of this astonishing feat for ourselves.”

Soldiers ran down the hill to see what they could not believe had happened but the woman, Medea, remained, wondering when, or if, her long lost powers would return.

She waited until everyone was out of sight, looked at the ground, focused on a small rock, held out a hand and commanded, “Stone… Here!” But nothing happened. She tried again. “Stone… HERE!” Still, nothing; her face went red with exasperation. “STONE… HERE! But, no amount of screaming would make the object fly to her hand.

A sinister angry expression flushed across her face as she forced deep breaths through her nostrils. The air was warm, sweet and clean, but her powers were non-existent.  She walked uphill to a clearing, put her hands on her hips and surveyed a complete circle. The landscape looked just as it had before Bixby’s spell had turned it into a dark black death. “Who could do such a thing, she wondered. What kind of being has such power?”

Then, like a servant hailing the sun, her head tilted back, her arms stretched upward and she began chanting, “Return me my powers… Return me my powers… Return me my powers…!”
The sunlight felt warm but nothing more. She tried again. “Return me my powers…. Return me my…” but still, there was no effect.
She focused all the harder and tried a third time but no amount of chanting would bring back her ability to wreak whatever havoc her evil mind might conjure. Finally, she dropped to her knees in utter frustration.

I’ve been stripped of all power…, no better than a mere mortal…! How can this be? I am Medea, the most powerful sorceress of all time. Who could have done this… who is responsible for this purgatory?

Her hands shook in anger as she inhaled a deep breath, stood up and started back down the hill toward the army. Suddenly, fear struck her. Without my powers, I have no control over those disgusting men. And in this daylight, I can no longer fool them. I’m vulnerable.

She felt like screaming but instead, gritted her teeth, turned and hurried up over the hill, away from the men, to disappear into the dense forest. In an angry huff, she crashed through the trees unaware that two stable boys were watching and listening.

“She has no power!” said one.

“Shush,” said the other to quiet his friend. “She’s coming this way. Stay hidden!”

They crawled deeper into the brush as Medea approached verbalizing her frustration with incoherent angry words. Suddenly she stopped, nearly stepping on one of the boys’ partially hidden feet. “Hmm…” she growled looking around without noticing the two trembling bodies hidden just inches away. “To the west…, and then south…, I’ll search for answers there.”

The lads held their breath as Medea stomped away complaining in a loud angry tone. “A queen…? They said it was a woman…, not a king, not even a man! Impossible…, I don’t believe it! –– Ouch!” she yelped when a branch sprang back against her face. “Clear my way!” she yelled with an angry gesture that once worked as she wished but the physical world did not yield. Her magic was gone.

She pushed forward, over underbrush, around brambles and through low hanging branches but travel was very slow and every few minutes, she would try another spell. “Move!” she ordered pointing at the bushes in her path ––“Open my way!” –– but still, nothing happened and she had to force her way through like every other mortal.

Each step made her frustration and anger grow. Every branch that slapped her face escalated her desire for retribution. She had had centuries to plan her retaliation and now that the spell was gone, she focused on revenge.

Hours of difficult walking passed till she came upon a sparsely traveled dirt road. Umm…, she thought while examining it for carriage wheel tracks or footprints. It’s been some time since anyone passed here but it must lead to a village or town of some sort. Peasants…, villagers and farmers…, trusting rural idiots they’ll be. That shall be my sanctuary.

With a wipe of her brow, she began a fast pace down the road and by late afternoon, came upon a small rural town. People were busily going to and fro and appeared to be as she suspected: ordinary commoners, shopkeepers, farmers, blacksmiths and tradesmen. She walked toward the main street slowly watching the residents and forming her plan.

I can use such people she thought. They seem to have no idea who I am, or… they’re too stupid to notice my arrival. Excellent! This will be my hiding place for awhile.

Continue to Chapter Two