Bonus Chapter - The Witch of the South.

“Do we have to?” Alratha mumbles and fixes her mask, “I am not sure I can sit still for more than ten minutes.” Catherine gives her a rebuking look. “I got into the city under the pretence of this whole mask gala only to watch this play. It is an Estaran classic and I want to see it at least once.” "Why do the rest of us have to be here though?" Aelana asks, "So i can be sure nobody of you does anything stupid while i am gone." The rest of the crew is there with her as she sits down. Well the females at least, the man stand at the side with the other servants. They are all wearing masks and so is every other visitor.

It is two weeks after Catherine took power and she wants a day off for once. This mask gala is the best safe vacation she could take. “Now be quiet it’s starting.”

The Witch of the South

An old lady steps on the stage. Her wrinkled face shows past beauty, her hunched over body great age. Leaning on a staff she takes slow steps. “Time has not been kind to me.” She weakly laments, “Once I was powerful and young. Enslaved this land, from Orstead to the Wekgrond. Now I am old and weak. I search for knowledge forbidden and to do so I must take from my peasant’s taxes not only of gold but of blood as well.”

Two peasants, one male and one female, enter the stage and kneel to each side of the Witch. “Are you my sacrifices for today?” The Witch asks, “That we are, oh great and terrible Witch.” The female peasant says. “Before you take our lives from us may I ask you three questions?” The Witch makes a generous gesture, “Ask away, I am a just lady.”

“First, I ask of you, who are you?” “I am the Witch of the South, My name is too terrible to be spoken in front of you.”

“Second, I ask of you, where do you come from?” “I am the daughter of a normal family, the way I got this land is too terrible to be spoken in front of you.”

“Third, I ask of you, what do you seek?” “I seek life eternal, the way I will achieve it is too terrible to be spoken in front of you.”

The Witch grabs the peasants and drags them off the stage. Panicked screams come from behind the scenes, silence, and then the loud noises of hard steps on hollow ground. A beautiful lady comes back onto the stage, her hair bleached white with green eyes she takes an arrogant look over the audience.

“Behold for I have been renewed by the power of magic.” The Witch exclaims. “However I remain mortal and this cannot stand. I need to continue my plans.” In the background a wheel depicting sun and moon is lowered unto the stage. “I will stay in my laboratories for twenty years, this I have decreed. Only the most interesting of matters shall disturb me.” She walks to a table and begins to tinker with something as the wheel spins.

The wheel spins and spins for a while until it comes to a halt and steps are heard. A messenger enters the stage. “Oh great and terrible Witch.” She says, “There is a new nation on the march. A stout nation that rules over the earth, its name is – “ “Foolish messenger, only I command the earth.” The Witch says, with the wave of her hand a trapdoor opens beneath the messenger and she disappears under the stage.

The wheel turns again. As it stops another messenger enters. “Oh great and terrible witch.” She says, “This new nation expands rapidly, their queen rules over the seas, its name is –“ “Foolish messenger, only I command the sea.” The Witch says, with the wave of her hand water falls from above the stage unto the messenger, who falls down seemingly dead.

The wheel turns again. As it comes to a stop one final time a messenger enters. “Oh great and terrible witch.” She says, “This new nation has declared war on you, they say you are an unholy being, for you practice magic forbidden, for you tolerate demon worshippers in your country.”

The Witch sighs and finally stops her research. “Very well then. Tell me about this new nation.” “It is a rising star, coming from the north. A rising star, a comet as their Queen. A rising star, conquered all but us. A rising star, called Estara.”

The Witch nods, “I will take on this comet then. After I should finally have my peace.” The Witch walks of the stage.

The set gets changed, a wooden plate with a green plain painted on it gets lowered from above, the wheel and the table are removed.

The Witch steps unto the stage again and looks around. “Where is that Queen? I told her to come. I have people to cut open, experiments to attend; my time is limited and very important.” A knightess in highly decorated armour and a crown on her head steps on the stage on the opposite side. She shoulders her mace and walks towards the Witch. The crows cheers as they watch the depiction of Queen Lydia the First.

“I assume you are the Witch of the South?” The Queen asks, “That would be right, I do not need to assume who you are your pompous gown gives you away.” The Witch answers. “Let us get this over with, Queen of Estara.” The Witch waves her hand and water falls from atop the stage. It doesn’t hit the Queen however and instead uselessly splatters over the stage.

“That cannot be.” The Witch says, surprised, “My powers have never failed me.” “But they fail you today, demon worshipper, for I have the blessing of all goddesses, old and new.” The Witch shakes her head at that statement, “There are no goddesses, only more and less powerful beings.”

“Can you really believe that, Witch of the South? My faith allows me to defeat you with your own weapon.” The Queen exclaims, “Whatever would you mean?” The Witch asks, “I know your name and I can speak it without harm. Witch of the South, Aclysia, in the name of Estara I banish you.”

The Witch takes a shocked step backwards. “Your people have betrayed you the second you left, Aclysia.” Another step back, the Queen steps forwards. “They follow my rule now. Aclysia, I will not kill you today.” The Witch is only two more steps away to leave the scene entirely. “For your sins are to great to be punished by **** alone, you shall atone, I will allow you to leave but know, I will always watch you, Aclysia.”

With a cursing scream the Witch points at the Queen. “I will leave today, Queen of Estara, but I will never atone, I will become eternal at the setting of a new age I will return to smite your descendants from this world.” The Witch takes the last step backwards and leaves the stage.

The Queen turns to the audience. “And so the Witch of the South was defeated. Her threat never became true and although her name is still spoken in fear in some parts of this world we all sleep better because our beloved First Queen protects us for eternity.”

The audience cheers and the curtain falls.

“Wow, that is the story behind Aclysia?” Alratha mumbles, “I thought more of the Witch, Master Uklag practically prays too.” Catherine smiles, “Well, it is the Estaran Version at least. There are bits of truth in there in all likelihood but the historical accurate tale is nowhere to be found, at least in Estara. It’s the last bit of the unification wars and shrouded in a bit of mystery.” Cather stands up. “”We liked it.”” The twins say and follow, “A bit low on the sexual side thoug-“ Aelana suddenly stops and looks at her sister with a huge smile. Analea smiles back. “What is wrong with you two?” Catherine asks. The twins turn to her and speak in unison. “”Master Uklag just contacted us, he is on his way back.””