《The BLOODLANDS》 The BLOODLANDS The Bloodland is over a thousand miles across and over eight hundred miles wide nestle between dwarven kingdoms in the mountains to the west and an ocean that borders to the east full of pirates and rogue city-states. The mighty elven forest borders it to the north that the same forest sometimes flows into the Bloodlands much to the chagrin of the elves in those parts. Far to the south, the humans have settled the land having to try pushing their way north into the territory itself only to be destroyed or left to fend for themselves. Thousands of kingdoms have risen and fell yearly in the land. It is governed by the strong and destroyed by the greed and pride of the few. The Bloodlands was formed from the blood of the gods during their battle for supremacy. This war of the gods happens upon this world thousands of years ago. In its aftermath creatures of horrors have risen within its borders. The elves of the Black Forest speak nothing about the war among the gods too afraid to bring their gaze upon them. The dwarves only whisper deep in their mountain homes about how the gods in their jealousy made war among themselves. A war that left dozens of gods, and hundreds of demigods dead or wounded, where whole civilizations were crushed beneath their feet. The Three Gods, Forpel, Hector, and Grimal were the winners of the war. No one knew if they were the ones that started it or if they were the ones that finished it. Of the Three Goddess that battle the Three are Lorna, Delti, and Neesa whom all fled into the night, and their followers were hunted and slaughter.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Many thought peace would come now that the gods no longer fought. Somehow the land always calls out to those that seek to spill blood. Until the gods have made peace, it would be easier than to say the sun will shine at night for peace to come to the Bloodlands. The Temple of the Three seeks to keep the peace by hunting down and destroy those that worship other gods. Witches were burned, and those witches that could heal became slaves. The humans have turned their back upon the other races blaming them for the destruction of the Bloodlands. If only they knew. All things start with one act of kindness. A slave that heals with what little power she has to keep one soul from departing this world or maybe it was an act of foolishness because she fears to be alone, only the gods can judge if they were looking down upon them. When the gods can forgive and mend. When a soul departs, and another takes its place. When the weak no longer sweat or bleed. When the blood no longer flows upon the fertile soil. When it starts with but one act of kindness. When the land no longer wept blood. The land will no longer need blood. Book one, Chapter one - Finding a Healer. Delti¡¯s tears fell upon the lands while holding her dead beloved in her arms for three months. From that year forth, the rains came and flooded the land reminding all of her loss for three months. The Book of Delti Morning of the Day of Haste in the Month of Seed. Rainy, Dark, and Storming, Cool air. Winds Strong from the North. The rain is whipping around the men as they trudge through the mud that clings to everything. The men were nervous as they lead their frighten horses through the storm that battle around them, the air was filled with lights and noises as if the gods were doing battle. The mid-day seem like dusk from the dense storm cloud that keeps broiling in from the sea blocking the sun. Swearing and cursing could be heard between the thunder and the frighten horses neighing as the men pull on the tack of their horses trying to pull a cover wagon through the muck and mud. Its wheels digging deep into the mud as the team of four draft horses labor at pulling the wagon out of the soupy mud. Several more men were helping to push the wagon whenever the horses strain as the wheels bog down. The fear and sweat of the horses only make the situation even more dangerous every time the lightning flashes, and the thunder rumble around them. A large figure stumbles down from the wagon falling into the mud and staggers as he races forward yelling into the storm. ¡°Captain! He is getting worse! We need to find shelter soon, or he is not going to make it!¡± the heavyset man yelled. Fryer Roberts tries to wipe off the foul-smelling mud off his hands and face even bending over to use the water in a puddle to wash his hands trying not to fall over as a large gust of wind almost tips him forward. The Fryer straighten up frowning at the tall man before him, a mercenary, to say the least, shocking that such a man would escort the young lord. His eyes narrow to take in the grizzle appearance of the mercenary captain that stood a good six feet tall wearing black stain leather and a leather broad brim hat. On the man, right hip is a rapier and a dagger strap to the outside of his right knee-high boot. It was the golden griffin embroider into the rain soak cape that spoke of the mercenary man band, The Golden Griffin famous for doing the impossible. For the Duke to afford such a man only spoke volumes on the seriousness of the situation. Still does not mean he likes it one bit to have such a man do what the Temple own guards could have done cheaper! Captain Hendrick wipe the blowing rain from his face as he turns and stares down at the mud cover portly man standing before him. The fryer was assigned to be the boy''s tutor and caretaker, and he looks to be at least fifty winters, the balding man is plump and seems to be soft and prissy. Fryer Roberts has been nothing but a pain in his ass since they got stuck with the duty to guard the young lordling in exile from the capital. Tipping his head forward as the rain fell from his wide-brim hat, he spat on the ground in front of the Fryer Roberts. The balding man with pocket mark skin shows disgust as he stares up at him. ¡°Scouts said there are some huts ahead,¡± nodding ahead of them. ¡°About a few minutes up the road, I sent word to the headmaster of the village to find us a healer. If you have nothing else to say then get back there and watch over the young lord and stop nagging me.¡± turning away with irritant grimace on his bearded face and tugging his horse''s rein to get it to follow him, leaving the fryer standing open mouth in the rain until lightning lite up the day followed by a thunderous crash. The fryer screech then whimpers as he slips and slides while running back to the wagon struggling to climb back inside as the horses rear in fright. As the rest of the men were trying to calm down their beasts from the thunder, Captain Hendrick look over at his friend as he steps up next to him. ¡°Shouldn''t poke the bear, you know how much those gods-fearing uptights like to throw the heathen into their dungeons,¡± Jason says as he pushed back his leather hat as he stared at his captain. ¡°I care nothing for their holy asses if he was to one day happen to fall and break his neck. I will be sure to say a few words over his grave. That bastard not even a damn healer but some spoil rich class fryer that tied himself to the lordling to get access to his gold. I swore an oath to his uncle I would watch over his nephew, if the boy dies, it will be all of our heads.¡± David seethe.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Seeing movement in the rain ahead, ¡°The scout is back.¡± Nodding forward as a man riding a horse appears out of the mist moving toward them. The scout reins in as the horse slid a little in the mud. ¡°Captain, the headmaster said there is a witch''s hut to the south of us about halfway toward the village.¡± The lanky scout tried to wipe the rain that was blowing into his face. ¡°He also said that the old hag is good at healing the body for a price. Her name is Rebekah.¡± Lightning struck a tree nearby as her name was spoken. Once again the horses rear in panic as the thunderous explosion of sound roll over them. The men try to control their mounts as some of the horses break away from their riders that was trying to lead them.Those that escape ran off into the storm with the men chasing after them cussing. ¡°Haychet get that wagon to the healer! Now!¡± Hearing a roar of a Horror to the south and the panic scream of a horse. Yelling again at the driver of the wagon.¡°Haychet! Go!¡± ¡°Leroy, you and Jimmy, guard the horses,¡± tossing his reins to the scout. ¡°The rest of you get your blades out and follow me!¡± Hendrick shouts out over the roar and the whipping of the wind. It took them a few minutes to find the down horse as it gave out its final scream of pain before being cut off. They find a horror hunch over the carcass of the horse tearing into its throat as the rain mats everything in a stinky smell of iron and rot. The Horror is slightly larger than man-size with several long tentacles for its arms. With two large red glowing eyes glaring at them as it was bent over the horse with its tentacles grip around the horse''s neck as it mouth grinds into the horse as it drinks its the blood. Grayson and Thomas fire their crossbows, both bolts slam into the neck of the beast, causing it to roar in pain. It raises itself onto its several large tentacles. Hendrick mutters under his breath as his sword began to glow then burst into flames. Leaping forward plunging the sword deep into its belly as his men move around him, yelling and stabbing at the beast to confuse it. Clorar got slam by a backhand from one of the tentacles that sent him flying into the rain. The creature gave off a roar that causes some of them to pause as a fear ripple through them. Hendrick rips up with his sword splitting open the Horror''s stomach. The stench as the ichor and blood pour out of its guts. The smell nearly made a few of the men gag. Hendrick slip on the entrails barely being miss by a swipe of the beast claws. Thomas steps up and slams his hammer into the side of Horror''s head the beast tentacles around its mouth move forward and snags Thomas'' arm pulling it into its mouth, ripping into the meat as he screams. Hendrick pulls the blade out and slams it into the back of the skull piercing it brain causing it to drop pulling Thomas to the ground. Getting Thomas trapped arm out of the Horror''s mouth took a few moments, after putting a tourniquet on his arm to keeping him from bleeding out. Looking over the wound seeing that a lot of lower part of the arm was torn into, the only thing that saves him from losing the whole limb was the man''s leather arm guard. Captain Hendrick shout out, ¡°Get the horses.¡± Staring down at the Horror as it smokes then burst into flames as it ashes blows away into the rain, Bending over and patting Thomas on the cheek, ¡°Don''t give up your job as a bowman, you suck using a sword.¡± Hendrick laugh. ¡°We get you to the healer soon, Grayson! Help Thomas onto his horse and get him to the healer hut!¡± He points at four of his men, ¡°gut the horse and drag it to the village save some of the meat for us. Give the rest to the village and meet me back at the hut later. Clorar how you are feeling?¡± ¡°Bang-up sir, I think it bruises my ribs.¡± Clorar groan holding onto his chest. ¡°Someone help him onto my horse since he lost his. When you all done, meet me at the Witch''s Huts, oh and hurry up never know if there is another horror around.¡± Hendrick took the reins from one of his men as they look around them nervous and lead the horse and the wounded man away down the road. Captain Hendrick slosh through the inferno black mud that caked everything, it gave off a death stench that he has been breathing in since they cross into these curses lands, glancing back at the rider holding onto the saddle of the horse. In the three months since they started with fifty men and six wagons, only eleven men and women are left and one wagon. The trip was to take a month to travel, but the heavy winter and the thawing made the roads muddy and full of ruts, bandits took twenty-three of his men, eleven died from illness and five deserted. None of them understand why we were here. He still wondering if the deal he made was worth it. Book one, Chapter Two - Prison. Horrors appear during the war with the gods, and no one knows how they breed or how they seem to appear out of nowhere. There are many different types of Horror, and that each type is different than the next, some might have horns. Others walk on two or more legs, and some have tentacles, but all of them cannot stand the sunlight. The only thing that is known about the Horrors is that they kill everything they find, drinking the blood of their victims. Fire, black iron, holy magic, and totems seem to hold the creatures at bay. The thing about Horrors is that they hate each other, just as much as the rest of the world. It is not rare to find two Horrors battling over a kill or territory. Only a unique Horror will once in a while gather together a group of Horrors that could wreak havoc upon the land. Thanks to the Gods that the Horrors can not leave The Bloodlands. Book of Horror by Kenshaw Blackfist Four Months Ago. Haygar Prison, Cell 39-B Late morning of the Day of Silence in the Month of Death. Sunny. Cold air. Winds are light from the Northwest. ¡°Captain David Hendrick?¡± A male voice floated through the cell door as he lay on the floor face down groaning from the beating he took earlier by the Watchmen, the local prison guards or more like thugs. Rolling over onto his back and croaking out, ¡°Yeah.¡± groaning again from breathing in, using his tongue to feel for the tooth that was missing. Wincing again as he breathes in knowing he either has some bruised ribs or cracks a few ribs. The rattling of keys sounded as the lock click open and the door squeals from the rust on the hinges. Groaning from the noise that screams through his brain, David sat up, staring at the doorway through the right eye that wasn''t as swollen as the left one which was completely shut. A small nondescript bald man in the robes of a fryer walk in and stare down at him. ¡°Captain Hendrick, you and your men are to stand trial for damages to a tavern, public brawling, and putting five guardsmen into the Healing Ward. I have here warrants for your arrest.¡± holding a scroll up. ¡°It would seem that you and three-members of your mercenary band are wanted for the murder of Lord Frank Carson in the village of Lundenard. I read the report you wrote that you and your gang took down a bandit group outside of the village. It also states that you and three of your mercenary found the Lord was found dead on the north road leading out of the village. The interesting part is the bandits were all killed on the south road just south of the village. You care to elaborate?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. David narrowed his one eye, ¡°I go by my report.¡± spitting blood on the floor next to him. Crouching down, ¡°I know Lord Carson was leading the bandits. I also know that you killed him with your rapier after you unseated him from his horse and that he refused to surrender. I know you then got off your horse and offer for him to surrender again. You gave this boy two chances to surrender. It doesn''t seem to be your fault that he attacks you and you plunge your sword through his chest.¡± ¡°But,¡± pausing as he looks through the scroll. ¡°Baron James Carson wants your head and any other men or women with you. What I didn''t understand is why you stage a robbery by the bandits?¡± Taking a deep, shaky breath, ¡°I did not want the Barons''s family to be mar by their son''s action. I killed the boy and will confess that to the Baron if you release all my people. Sir Dobson, Duke Wallerson''s Spymaster.¡± Sir Dobson had a flicker of surprise cross his face, ¡°What gave me away?" ¡°Too much information, we all would have been escorted to the gallows then read the death warrants. And I have seen you at a few functions, as a guardsman, a Mayor, even a rich merchant. What you need Spymaster? I do assume you need something?¡± Wincing as he touches his eye. ¡°I rarely get surprised. Not many people would notice me.¡± Chuckling, ¡°it is my job to notice things.¡± David shakes his head. ¡°I have a job for you. A young lordling is being sent to the Bloodlands to take over a holding there. The boy must arrive alive and survive for five years. You keep him alive for the next five years in return I make this all go away,¡± waving around him. ¡°So you have evidence of Lord Carson death?¡± ponder for a moment. ¡°A witness that I intercepted, he was trying to sell information about the death of the young lord.¡± Mulling over the information, David then nodded, ¡°You have your man, I need all my men release, and I will do it.¡± ¡°There is one small problem. The informer is one of your mercenaries. He was trying to sell the information to one of my informants, that is how I found out.¡± David slowly stood up, testing his balance, ¡°so what going to happen to witness?¡± watching Dobson as the man steps out of the cell nodding to someone. Turning back to David, he nodded toward the window as the sound of the gallows'' trapdoor open and a body drop. Book One, Chapter Three -The Hut. Witches are the servants to the three Hags Goddesses for they are evil incarnate. If a witch is found use holy water and invoking the Three will harm them, it is best to gag and tie up a witch and burn her as soon as you can before you or anyone fall under their spell. Any young woman that influenced must be gagged and tied and return to the Temple of the Three to be reeducated and redeem in the eyes of the Gods. Book of the Three. Present-day in the Witch''s hut. The crack of thunder shook him out of his thoughts, seeing that the wagon had stopped ahead of him. Ahead of the wagon was a typical round twig and mud hut about the size of two wagons side by side with a sod roof cover with herbs and grasses beneath a dead tree. Next to it is an old pole stable. A flock of ravens sat in the tree staring down at them. David drops the reins of the horse next to the wagon seeing the Fryer and a young woman in robes staring at him as he walks passed. He walks up to the hut to knock on the stick weave door only to have it open slowly. An old woman''s voice croaks out through the door, ¡°Bring the boy in, I been waiting for you.¡± David can feel terror gripping at his heart for a moment before straightening up and waving to the men to get the boy. The fear of the Witch is far less than the fear of losing the boy. Fryer Roberts tried blocking the wagon from his men when that horse dung of a man learn we were outside of a witch''s hut. He was screaming out words from the Book of the Three, threatening them with excommunication if they touch one finger to the lord. That the boy''s spiritual health belongs to him, it took Captain Hendrick less than a minute to toss the Fryer out the wagon and into the mud as he orders the frighten men into carrying the boy into the hut. Captain Hendrick turn back into the wagon, seeing the young Sister of the temple looking up at him as she crouch next to the boy mopping his sweaty face with a damp rag. ¡°Girl. Am I going to have to toss you out into the mud too?¡± He growls at her as she shakes her head no. He then saw that her wrist was bloody with red welts from being tie-up for a long time. Stepping up into the wagon, he pulls back the covering on her arms, seeing her wince in pain from pulling the sleeve back. He then pulls down on the robe revealing her back and neck seeing the lash welts and scars both old and new. Growling under his breath as several of his men pull aside the cover and lower the unconscious boy down to the others. Turning to her, ¡°your coming with me.¡± seeing her not moving as he climbs down, kicking the Fryer back into the mud hearing the man swearing. ¡°Now, woman! I have little patience!¡± He shouted into the wagon, startling the woman. Turning to the rest of the men, ¡°Keep him out of the hut!¡± pointing at the Fryer as he snaps at them while the woman climbs down. He grabs the Sister by the arms as she yelps in pain as he guided her in the downpour into the hut. He then pushes the young girl onto the floor to the right after stepping inside and waving the two men back out the door after they place the boy on the table. The lordling was looking like a skeleton with pasty white skin stretch over it. His face looks more like a death mask than a living person. The plague that killed ten of his men seems to take its time with the boy.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The door slam shut behind him making him jump as he grabs for his sword only to turn back to the boy, and finding the old Witch crone wearing rags, passing her hands over the boy''s face and on down his body. Moving back up and laying her age lined head on his chest to hear the boy''s heart with her eyes shut. After a few moments, he leans forward as her eyes open blazing white. Starling him, she stood up and hobbled over to him, looking him over, she turns and stops next to the girl. The Witch turns her head back to him with so much speed that he almost didn''t see her doing it. The girl screams until the old woman touches a finger between her eyes, and she fainted to the floor. ¡°Captain Hendrick, the boy will be gone soon if not for this girls'' powers he would have died days ago.¡± Bending down turning the scrawling girl face right to left, pulling her robe apart, revealing a burn of an iron brand on her shoulder as of property of the temple. The temple branded those that have powers ending up serving the temple as little more than slaves only putting the title of Sisters upon them. She spat on the brands and mutters, ¡°We are nothing but cattle for the Three, to be use and abuse then killed when we no longer of use to them. I am surprised that they allow this one to be let loose I can feel great power in her.¡± she tsk. ¡°The boy?¡± David growl at her. ¡°He be dead soon, I could try to keep him from leaving but his will to live is gone, Someone, he loved had died.¡± she coons arching an eye toward him. ¡°Nay, a girl that he fell in love with him, was promised to his older cousin, the Duke''s son. They were married the day we left on order of the Duke.¡± David said. ¡°Tragic story as old as time,¡± She cackle, ¡°I can try to keep him, but a heart that is broken as his may not draw him back, but it may draw another soul good or bad. The choice is yours but know this there is a price.¡± She cackles again in laughter at the man as his hand drops to his pommel of his sword. ¡°How desperate are you about keeping this boy alive?¡± open one eye wide surveying him as if searching his soul and finding her answer. Waving her hand at him as he about to say something, ¡°I shall come to you for a favor one day in the future, you will drop what you''re doing to fulfill it without question and with great haste. Do you agree? Eh?¡± Laying crystals on the boy body as the breathing seems to still. Pulling a bowl out and a small knife, she steps past the man to the girl slice her finger letting some blood flow into the bowl. She turns and stares at him. Knowing that the boy''s life is tied to him and his men and their families live, he nodded. He jumps as he felt pain to his hand, looking down, seeing blood flowing into a bowl from a cut on his hand. ¡°Your path is now bound to this boy. The blood of a warrior and the blood of a healer now mix in his veins. What befalls him so too will it fall upon you so mote it be.¡± She spat into the bowl he stared at the steam rising from the blood-red liquid that was only a few drops of blood just moments ago. The old crone started chanting as the wind outside began to rattle the door. ¡°Captain! You have to see this!¡± One of the men holler as the door slam open, pulling himself to the door and peering out seeing the storm clouds circling above them and the huts, he steps out staring up into the clear sky through the vortex of the storm. A massive twister swirl around as the sky above grew brighter and brighter. The sound of the Fryer praying and crying while huddling under the wagon. The cursing and shouting of his men trying to keep the animals under control while fear etches on their faces. Turning back and staring at the body of the boy as it lifts a few fingers width off the table, he rushes back in to hold the body down as the door once again slam shut. The sound of chanting from both the Witch and the girl now fill the air as he glances at the young girl now standing naked with her body glowing pure white with only the whites of her eyes showing. An unearth voice chant with from the girl. Dragging his eyes back to the boy, he sees a soul lift from the body as another fell into it, as the room turns blinding white. Three unearthly female voices spoke, ¡°A Soul for a soul, Blood for blood, the price is paid, so mote it be!¡± Book one, Chapter Four - The Hag The Three Hags Goddesses of Kal''la are Lorna, Delti, and Neesa. The Hag of the Woods is Lorna for she considers herself the protector of the forest and all creatures that inhabit them. Delti is the Hag of the Sea, and the Bringer of Rain is the most unforgiving of all three goddesses for the death of her husband Hasa The Land Bringer. Neesa is the most fear of all the Hags she is Death and the Rider of Nightmare. The Hags are contained within The Bloodlands by the Three, and no one knows why the Three did not kill them for only the gods know what is in the mind of a god. The Hags of the Bloodlands by Fryer Tharis Earth some time ago. Henry Walker Walbash was a boring middle-aged, overweight librarian that had several degrees under his belt. Never one to have travel far from home but always living his life through the books that he had read in the library since he was a child. Through his mind, he had traveled the world and crossing both time and space. As he grew older, he began to adsorb all the books he could find, which made him a boon for researchers to seek him out. They would pick his brain on what books to find for their research papers or books. His degrees in history of Europe and Asia during middle ages allow him to teach at the university nearby which would enable him access to rare books that delighted him to no end. He always had the chance to go to some of the historical sites around the world but still the fear of traveling kept him at home. Until the day all the fast food and lack of exercise fail him. It took its toll, a toll he paid with his life halfway between the library and the university that he was so proud to have been a teacher. He died from a massive heart attack alone on the sidewalk surrounded by strangers. At the age of fifty-four, Henry Walker Walbash was taking the final journey that we all must take one day. Now. Awaken to the blinding light at first he thought he was in a hospital only to see an old woman with gray unwashed stringy hair staring down at him one eye white and one eye red before it turns white too. Her face is wrinkle and covers with age spots and her breath, oh god it could kill a maggot. The stench of her and the place assaulted his nostril, causing him to feel nauseous. The fact that he could not move other than his eyes terrified him more than anything. The thought of a possible stroke that may have put him in a nursing home or mental ward may explain why he could not move, and the hallucination of this woman. Patting him on the right cheek, ¡°Your not dreaming or crazy yet, sweety!¡± she laughs actually no she crackles like one of Shakespeare''s hags. ¡°You have died on whatever world you were from and was drawn here because there was a need for you. You get a second chance that very few ever get, so make good use of it! The boy''s body that you inhabit died of the plague, he refuses to come back to this body because he lost the girl of his dreams to a cousin. Foolish boy.¡± Hocking up spit and spitting on the floor. His limited to only gazing at the ceiling, seeing only dirt, grass and sticks on the roof, thinking that it reminds him of images of thatch and sod roof in the early middle ages. Feeling a sting on his face as the woman slaps him again, ¡°Focus boy, I''m imparting the wisdom that might keep you and those around you alive. You are in a young lordling body exile hundreds of miles into the Bloodlands, a place that is full of robber barons, brigand, horrors, and death. You can learn more of that later if you live. I will be putting you into a deep sleep so that you will dream of this boy''s life and his troubles and joys. Learn from it, and if you have to just pretend that you have memory loss due to surviving the plague. For if the Temple of the Three ever finds out that you are not the true soul within this body. They will burn you and all those around you at the stake. Remember that boy! Your life and those around you depend on you being alive."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "I check your aura, didn''t want to bring something dark and evil across.¡± Spitting on the floor again, ¡°Innocent and virgin! You going to need to grow up boy, you will have people lives in your hands, and your innocent, sweetness is going to get people killed! You are so sweet and innocent. Ha! I give you three month to live at least. Goddesses know why they wanted you to be summoned to this body. Sleep now when you awake, you will be able to understand the languages this body know and his memories what little use it gave him. He sure doesn''t need them now!¡± she cackles as his eyes close. Rebekah turns and stares at the sleeping captain and the young girl on the floor. Shaking her head in wonder of the Goddesses choices of champions they chose for their cause in this land, Like so many times before it will go down in failure. She shakes her head, hoping that this batch would be the one. But she thought as she turns back to the boy, this one has knowledge that could give the goddesses the edge they needed. The girl is untrained in the arts of healing, although limited by the branding the Temple of the Three gave her, she still kept the boy alive. Now the captain is a pleasant surprise never batted an eye over her being a witch. Staring at him, she touches his forehead sensing haunting dreams of those he killed and of those under him that would never return, always seeking something or someone to follow, never realizing that those that follow him would die again for him. A good man to guard the lad''s back may be the goddess might have picked them right for once. Her eyes narrow as she turned toward the noises of that yowling that the fryer is making. If she were allowed to, she would kill the bastard but alas she can not at least by her hands looking over at the boy. Best to go about getting everyone put to rest until morning, she has way too much to do before the sun rises in the morn. A new witch to teach, memories to wipe, and maybe if she has time a fat fryer to harass in his dreams, it been a long time since she rode a nightmare. Book one, Chapter Five - Morning After Most of the population can not read or write, math is one of the few things everyone learns, but most could not count very high. Height is usually by the width of a human hand which can vary depending on a person. Distance is measured by the foot length of a village elder, or it can be base upon the highest-ranking person in the area like a mayor, or a lord. A rod or pole is used to measure a distance, which is about five and a half yards or sixteen and a half feet. A chain is four poles. A mile is three hundred and twenty poles. A furlong is forty rods long and one chain wide, which is the area of an acre of land. Most lengths are measured by the stride of a man or how long the distance is by walking. Most will tell you it will take as long as a mark or two to travel to so and so place. A mark is about how long a candle burns per hour. Book of all Things Morning of Day of Everlast in the Month of Seed Sunny, Cool air. Winds Breezy from the Southwest The sound of birds awoken him, David stood up looking puzzled at finding himself outside the hut next to the wagon. Staring around, he spotted the old hut that seems to be in ruins, its roof long since fell in many years ago. No sign of pigs was in the grass clog pen with only its fallen fence laying around on the ground all rotted through. The pole barn long since been a heap of rotting wood long ago. The old Fryer could be heard walking up from below with where the sound of a spring gurgling from the ground could be heard. ¡°Captain! Look like we don''t need the healer after all. The boy fever has ended sometimes in the night. I told you some leeches and blooding to rid the boy of its evil toxin is all that is needed.¡± He smiles while walking up to him, ¡°I am glad the nonsense of having a witch to heal the boy was nothing but a rumor. Now we can get on with getting this boy to his land so that he may claim all that he deserves!¡± David''s hands were clenching as he turns back to the wagon and seeing the girl standing by the wagon with her eyes wide with surprise as she stares at her wrist where there use to be scars. Seeing David staring at her wrist, she looks scared before covering them up, before the Fryer could know that they were healed. Apparently, the witch alters some of the men minds to forget about what happened last night. She could have done the same with him and the girl. Staring down at his right hand where the witch cut his hand for blood, seeing no cut or scar. Maybe he dreams all this, and the boy recovers on his own. Well, first he needs to see if the boy is well and not taking the words of a rambling of a fool. David strolls over and looks into the wagon seeing the boy sleeping but was looking more healthy, and some color seems to have returned to his face. Hearing a noise next to him, he turn and look down at the young woman that was looking nervous, waiting for him to move so she can climb back into the wagon to care for the boy. He was staring into her bright blue eye, and the hood of the robe was off her head revealing a shaven head her skin is pale white with a few freckles across her small nose. She twists her head around, trying to find the Fryer. ¡°She heals everyone, except for the fryer.¡± She whispers before pulling herself up into the wagon. He grabs her hand, stopping her from climbing into the back of the wagon. David leans closer to her as the smell the herbs, sweat and weeks of travel upon her. He is thinking about how bad he must smell after not bathing the last month. Shaking his head to clear the thought of smells from his mind, he stares at her tries to guess her age, thinking that it had to be between sixteen to eighteen winters.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Last night was not a dream?¡± Whispering to her. ¡°No, my lord. She has a message for you. ''Beware of the Fryer''.¡± hearing the noise of someone coming she pulled herself up into the wagon as one of the men walk around the corner of the wagon. ¡°Captain! I see you are up.¡± his friend said while munching on some meat, holding another piece of meat on a sharpened stick that he was handing toward him. ¡°Thanks, Jason, I see you been cooking, I''m surprised it not charbroil.¡± taking a bite of the horse meat. Shaking his head no, ¡°Didn''t cook it, I figure the girl did. Everyone was sleeping, and no one seems to know who was on guard duty. Surprise you didn''t hear me yelling at all of the men sleeping. No tracks of anything into the camp other than that strange totem and the abandoned farm not much is here. There is a small spring that been dam up down that away I got some of the men cleaning up their gear and themselves.¡± ¡°Rotate the men and keep an eye out. I want you to stand guard over our Sister.¡± Searching his memory for the girl name. Chastising himself for not getting to know her more other than calling her Sister. ¡°Jason, you would not happen to know the Sister''s name?¡± Grinning back at him, ¡°Sister Samantha White, you mean?¡± laughing at his friend. David never was one to remember the names of people that he doesn''t see as a threat. But if you do, then he would never forget who you are or what you did. ¡°Yeah, her keep an eye on her for her safety. I no longer trust the Fryer, and I saw some abuse.¡± Narrowing his eyes as he watches the Fryer talk to a few of his men. ¡°Keep an eye out on any of the men getting too friendly with him, and I want to know.¡± Jason nods his head and peeks into the wagon, ¡°Sister White, get some of your gear, I mean your clothes and I will have someone escort you to the spring so you can bathe and wash your clothes!¡± The woman peers out at both of them looking frightened, ¡°I''m not allowed to go with anyone without the Fryer escorting me.¡± Looking up as the sound of the Fryer huffing and puffing as he races over to them. ¡°Captain! I have to insist that none of your men be allowed around the Sister! She is of the Temple and can not be alone with these, these barbarians!¡± He sputters as he nearly slips in the mud. ¡°You can go if you want to keep watch so she can keep her virtues protected. Jason was telling me that he thinks there might be another Horror in the area and could use another man like you to protect everyone around the spring.¡± ¡°Horror you say, in the area?¡± his eyes darting around in fear, ¡°I think the Sister virtue would be safe, someone needs to watch over the young lord.¡± Pushing his way past the captain and climb up into the wagon with a few attempts as he was slipping as he tries to climb. Captain Hendrik turn to keep from laughing as Jason pretends to clean his boots to keep from busting out. After getting into the wagon, he handed down to the Sister a bag of clothing and some lye soap. ¡°Be sure to get the undergarment clean I will inspect each piece of my clothing.¡± Jason helps her carry a load of laundry down to the spring. David turns back to the hut and walks over to a totem that was nearby it. The totem is of an eagle head with a beak and wings. Carve down the wood was the body and claws of an eagle. Carve into the wood is runes of protection he had seen a few of these but bigger that protect small villages. Finding one is rare. From the size of it about ten hands in height, this totem would protect about forty rods in a radius around it. Or four acres of land. Unfortunate if Fryer Roberts find it he could try to destroy it, The Temple of the Three declare totems to be a creation of evil. Only the Goddess and their flock can create them to protect an area from the Horrors. Reaching out to touch the pole, he can feel the thrum of power within. Muttering under his breath, ¡°Good, this totem should last until the third moonrise which will be in about a month.¡± talking to himself. A Witch or woman that has powers and can call upon the Goddess could recharge the totem. Looking toward the direction of the spring, then looking around, he pulls a few limbs off the collapsed hut and covers the totem. Going to need to pull it up and take it with them, Temple or not, this is the Bloodlands.