The Witching Hour

Ch. 14

Castle Nitehardt

The Red Queen sat in her throne as her King listened to the reports from his Guard. The ambush party sent to Eversong from the previous day had been successful, the town was burned to it's core and it's citizens had either fled or perished. Queen Anthena smiled as she heard the good news and her husband congratulated the Guard.

"We have done it, my Queen." King Leonidas said as the queen approached him softly with a kiss.
"The people of Aster are now reminded of our might. None shall dare to even speak of such atrocities as magic again." He stated triumphantly.

"I am quite glad for our victory. Let us just see what the Oracle has to say about it, shall we my King?" Queen Anthena said with a devilish grin and held on to her husband's arm.

The King nodded in reply and he dismissed the Guard from the throne room. The King and Queen traveled beyond the room to the far end of the Castle. Once they were there, they went to the tallest tower and climbed up the staircase to the lone room on top. The King knocked strongly on the door and waited a moment. The door unlocked and moved slowly by itself, as if by an invisible string was pulling it open. The Oracle sat on the floor at the far end of the room with her legs crossed and eyes closed.

"Oracle." King Leonidas said in his deep voice.
"We need to speak with you. Do not make me ask twice." He commanded.

The Oracle smiled softly and slowly opened both eyes before standing up off the floor. She had wavy, rich dark brown hair and appeared older than the King and Queen and wore a odd gold dress that had a hood and sleeves.

"Ah yes, I knew you would be stopping by. My new messenger told me about your attack on Eversong." She said, looking sideways at the queen.

"Your old messenger boy was... defective." The Red Queen said with a hint of a smile.

"As you say my queen, but if I may ask, why are you here if your attack was successful?" The Oracle replied with a similar smile to the Queen's.

"Attacks?" The King scoffed.
"This was no attack. Do not make this appear as an act of mindless violence, this was a retaliation. You yourself told us magic was used in Eversong and it hid a strong source of witchcraft, therefore some person or people broke the sacred law of my kingdom. I had to fight back, to set an example of those who cross me." The King said, looking the Oracle in the eyes.

"My apologies, my king." The Oracle said with a bow.
"I did not mean to suggest your actions were mindless violence. However, still my question stands. What is it you ask of me?" She said while raising an eyebrow.

"We want to know," the Red Queen stepped in,
"If we have successfully eradicated the last source of magic in that worthless city, or not." She said slowly as her eyes narrowed.

"You burnt the land to it's core... And yet, the prophecy stands as strong as before." The Oracle replied, her eyes glowing a faint red.

Queen Anthena looked stern and mumbled a curse as King Leonidas banged his fist on a nightstand.

"Enough about this prophecy!" He demanded,
"No person or creature, with or without magic, shall ever take my throne from me!" He said strongly.

"My husband is right," Queen Anthena added,
"We will find what little unholy magic there is left in the kingdom... and exterminate it. There is simply no power in this world that will keep us from ruling it." She said with an amused smiled.

" A Queen's spiteful might...
A King's stolen power...
Will end in the rightful fight...
During the witch's hour."

The Oracle stated the prophecy as her eyes glowed red again and her voice became more inhuman and echoed around the room. When she was done speaking, everything quickly returned to normal.
"You know what the prophecy states, Leonidas." She said, staring back at the king.
"You can not out run your fate nor can you, with all your might, defeat true magic. There is still a witch out there from Eversong, she will be the cause of your fall. The prophecy has not, and will not, change." The Oracle said sternly.

"Your future seeing was always the devil's art itself, Oracle! The only reason I let you live with your abilities is because I have need of them. You should pray to whatever creature you believe in that I can defeat this forsaken witch. If it turns out that I can not and I also can not stop my fate, then what good are you to me?" The King replied, drawing his sword and breathing slowly as he stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

"Oh isn't this wonderful," the Red Queen said, sitting upon the window's edge.
"Now you have gone and made him angry. Thank you ever so much for your help...mother." She stated, casting a cold and hateful stare into the eyes of the Oracle, who stared back for several moments before returning to her meditation.