Sorcerer from Another World

The rioters were shocked into silence. Shamus stared with open mouthed shock. He looked desperately into the crowd, but whoever he was looking for he could not find. He muttered something but at that moment two more crowds approached.

On the right Meredith with Galen’s armed warriors who were armed, armoured and on horseback. On the left is a many of the folk of Yolin’s Hill mixed with some from Ferisdarm they all bowed low upon seeing me: my unwanted worshippers.   

“What is going on here?” Meredith and a man from the left crowd asked in unison.

“Justice.” Shamus answered. 

“They burned our house down.” Morgana replied. 

Meredith looked at the burning house, and then to the torches in the mobs’ hands. 

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and said, “You fools.” 

“Where is my nephew?” Shamus demanded.

“The war effort demands his constant attention.”

“That is not an answer.” Morgana pointed out with contempt.  

“My Uncle is out on a night raid against the Unseelie forces.” Meredith explained. 

I could have been wrong but it seemed to me that Shamus grew pale at that. He gulped and again checked among the crowd. But who was he looking for? It couldn’t be Galen. 

A man at the front of the second crowd raised to arms in the air, “My name is Gainor. I speak for the New Faithful of Sorcerer Grey.” 

The crowd at his back praised Gainor and encouraged him to continue.

He pointed an accusatory finger at the attackers, “You attacked the Resurrected One and his chosen brides. There can only be death for those who would harm our saviour!” 

Brides? Marriage? I had only known Iris, Morgana and Umbra for a few days. Can you really know someone well enough to marry them so soon? Yes, my romance-flooded brain replied. I’m screwed, I responded. 

“There will be justice, but the justice of the law. Not of the will of the mob.” spat Meredith. 

Death did seem a bit extreme. We are practically unkillable now that I have modified and improved our bodies. We were as perfect as could be physically. About the only thing we lacked was spiritual enlightenment and I don’t think you can magic that into existence. 

Gainor smiled, “We are the faithful followers of the Resurrected One sent by the Seelie Court and our chosen saviour.”

Meredith grimaced, “The saviour of Ferisdarm contributions are recognised. The punishment for my great-uncle’s crimes will be severe but just.”

Gainor paused and turned to his crowd. They jeered and booed in response. 

Gainor turned back, “What are the promises of a Roman lover worth? You would favour your blood. Lies! Let none of the Unseelie go!” Gainor commanded. 

His mob anticipating the command dove into the action with their pitchforks, scythes and axes.

Meredith blinked and hesitated at the unexpected violent charge. 

Blood spilled and screams pierced the air under the carnage, before she raised a sword and shouted, “Break it up!” 

She drove her calvary straight into the violent mobs. 

What the fuck?

I glanced at Morgana but she had her eyes closed. I thought at first perhaps she was scared of the blood, but there was no tension or distress squeezing her eyes. She looked calm as a sleeping baby. She opened her eyes and watched the carnage with dulled eyes. There was neither fear or excitement at most; perhaps she was irritated. 

“You are new to these lands, my Paragon. As far as the texts go back, and from what I have seen the violence between Seelie and Unseelie is as constant as the coursing rivers. The Romans threaten to destroy our way of life and for those who aren’t raped, enslaved and killed with be converted everyone to their so called Gods.”

“So you would rather hide?”

Her eyes finally screwed up as if she was holding back tears, “Can you blame me?”

I thought back to my life on earth as I was crushed by the forces beyond my control and choice.

I shook my head. 

“Until you came, I had no hope.” She held my hand. “Now there is you.” 

“She’s right.” Iris said with an affirmative nod.

She stepped forward and grew three times her original size until she was as tall and wide as a giant. The metal chain mail grew with her and adjusted for her size. She towered over the rioting metal smiths and my so called followers. She muttered a word and the fires died. One moment they burned bright and high and the next they vanished. 

In the fires' wake, the roundhouse was a blackened and smoky ruin. 

“No more!” she declared. “The will of my champion, The Slánaitheoir, my gift from beyond, is for peace among us.”

Gainor and his mob pressed themselves to the earth, not daring to look up at Iris. They shook with the fear of the faithful before the terrible wrath of a godly being. 

“Your wish is our vow.” They said in a muddle of voices after Gainor.  

The smiths rushed to take advantage of their submission, but were blocked by Meredith’s forces who cut down without mercy all who resisted their commands to stop. Meredith in particular showed a fierce keenness and brutality in restoring order, cutting down one man before raising her horse to quell three more. 

“It is over.” Meredith declared as she flicked the blood of her blade. “Arrest them all for unlawful violence and murder.”

The warriors moved to comply. The faithful looked fearful. 

Half a dozen bodies lay strewn dead or dying from cuts and blunt force wounds. 

Among the dead was Shamus who bore multiple wounds but the pitchfork embedded in his skull was the worst. He had faced the brunt of the faithful’s fury and borne the cost to an early grave. Two faithful lay dead before him with crushed skulls. 

Meredith’s forces with their horses, arms and armour alone remained untouched from the bloody fight. 

Morgana stepped forward. “The Followers of the Sorcerer were merely trying to defend us. They have committed no crime under the law other than protection of their fellows.”

Meredith turned her horse and trotted over to Morgana, “They just slaughtered a member of Clan Pendragon and many valued members of the community. They are guilty.”

Morgana stood a head above the horse and was still wreathed in flames, “They rose to protect the saviour of Ferisdarm, a member of clan Pendragon and one of the last Druids from a rioting lawbreakers intent on our deaths. They are innocent until the Chieftain of Ferisdarm makes a ruling otherwise.”

Meredith nostrils flared, “I act in his stead.”

Morgana stared back with a stoic countenance, “I am second while he is gone, Meredith. Not you or even his lawful spouse and I know Rebecca would side with me.”

Meredith frowned but had no other response. 

“The Sorcerer is under my camp. He is our champion. All his followers by virtue are mine. Any accusations against them as a group in defence of ourselves is a charge levelled against me.”

Meredith frowned unhappily, “No matter what words you twist, order and truth will prevail.”

Morgana actually smiled this time, “Power prevails. Always.” She flashed her teeth. “And, I hold the greatest powers here.”

Meredith glanced at Morgana's sword and flame wreathed body, to the Giant Iris and finally to me.

“For now.”

Meredith turned her horse away, “Take what is left of the smiths to face their punishment.”

The warriors obeyed and soon left. 

I rushed over to Tulisa and Iris to Byrette. 

“Are you okay?” I asked Tulisa.

She nodded but her face was stained with tears. I gently pressed a thumb to the shallow cut at her neck and healed it. I raised my hand up further to catch a few of her tears. 

I let the gathering storm above me die, “I promise you are safe now.” 

She nodded but cried more. I hugged her and held her close.

Sometimes restraint stopped further more brutal bloodshed, but it didn’t prevent the terrible experience she had been through. 

“We leave in the morning.” I said loud enough to catch Morgana’s ear. 

She had been talking to the Faithful.

“If we give it a little more time.”

“Morgana. Seriously.” I said again. 

Everyone’s eyes were on her.

She nodded with a forced smile, “It is time to go.”