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Chapter 6

The prophecy begins

In careighnia the hordes had returned. Satune called one of his generals into the marquee. "Bring the women” he said. Issabelle was dragged into the room her eyes blackened and swollen, her hair bedraggled and her clothes ripped. "Is she with child” said Satune. "She has had a sickness for the past week Khan. Aye she's with child” Then lets commence the Ceremony the Khan declared.

We cannot find the Shah-man” said the General. "Then you do it” said the Khan. "but” said the General. The Khans face grew grave. "I'll do my best Khan. " Dearly beloved. We gather here today. Issabelle began to sob. The Khan grabbed her by the chin and held it hard you dishonor me women! "No nu na no she spluttered. "Surely you don't want to join your friend do you? "I'm sure it's just a case of pre-wedding jitters Khan, quite common.” Said the General. "Shall we continue? The Khan grunted as if in approval. "We are gathered here today to join these two love birds in the wedded bliss of pagan matrimony. The General turned to the Khan. "That's all I know.” Then skip to the I do, I do, bit then said the Khan. "Do you take this man as your law full wedded husband?

She sobbed. "Sounded like a yes to me Khan. The Khan grunted merrily. "And do you take this women as your law full wedded wife. "I do. Said Satune. Then I pronounce you man and wife. "Very good. Now my wife we shall dine on the flesh of my failed General's, come let us make merry” he boomed, smiling inanely. "What” said the General? "You may be pardoned, wouldn't do to eat the man that married us, would it now” said Satune. "No Khan. Thank you Khan” said the General. Issabelle was now huddled up in a corner expelling her last meal all over the marquis floor. "How very un lady like my dear.” Said the Khan. "come let us feast”

The shah-man now dodging the bottles been thrown out of the window of the nearby tavern, worked his way through the crowded streets of Padoria. His wrist strapped to that of the burly man in the boat. They eventually reached a fork in the road, leading to a rocky path which scaled the overlooking mountain. "un tie him” said the captain. "We'll have to go single file. Don't you try anything funny” he said turning to look at the Shah-man. Within an hour they found themselves standing outside a large cavern high up in the mountain. "Time to do your stuff shah-man” said the captain. The shah man took a pouch from about his person poured some metallic powder into a vile followed by a drop of dragon's blood he put the lid on the hissing vessel and said "come on” signaling the pirates round him.

They gradually made their way through the cave entrance, their eyes searching behind the hordes of gold and the huge stalagmites. "He's not here boys, get stuck in” shouted the captain. "NO WAIT” said the shah-man. Suddenly the mounds of gold started to tremble to create a landslide revealing a ginormous green wing, covered in hand sized, shimmering scales. The pirates backed away.

"What now” said the Captain? "We wake him up” said the shah-man. "Instruct your men to make as much noise as they can”. "Are you suicidal” said the captain. "What's up” said the shah-man "scared of a little dragon. Wake him up”. "You heard the man” shouted the captain."I hope you know what you're doing” said the captain. The pirates started banging together anything big they could find

amongst the horde. The wing started to flicker, smoke started to rise from beneath the gold, The cabin began to reverberate with a piercing screech, they raised the weapons. The beast leapt up from its golden bed. A torrent of fire staunched the cavern. "What now” said the captain? The shah-man pulled the vile from his pocket. "He needs to breath his fire on us”. he said. "Oh right. That all” said the captain. "And how we going to do that” said the captain. The shah-man picked up a stone and launched it across the cavern it landed on the Dragons brow with a resounding thud. The beast bellowed and

turned toward them, its mouth began to open. "Be ready to duck” said the shah-man. And with that threw the vile into the fiery inferno created by the angered dragon. "Duck” shouted the shah-man. The vile exploded.

The shah-man began to make a weird screeching noise. The dragon returned with his reply. The Shah-man gently crept closer to the dragon and began to comfort it, stroking its wing soothingly as it drifted into a deep coma. When the dragon was settled he carefully lifted its jaw, took the amulet from his pocket and carefully strapped it round one of the dragons back teeth. "The treasures yours” he shouted. "We could use someone like you” said the captain. The shah-man was gone.

"Esther, Illouise, Joseph come here quickly” said the duchess. Joseph now about six came running over train in hand, the girls now in their early teens where less enthusiastic. "Girls something most terrible has happened” she said sadly. "Your governess has gone missing”. "Missing” echoed Illouise. "Yes I'm sorry girls but we've had no choice but to appoint you a new governess. Asrael, Asrael you may come in now” said the duchess.

"Yes duchess” said Asrael. "Hello children I'm Asrael you new governess I'll be keeping a close eye on all of you from now on” she laughed. "Oh I just know they'll be well looked after with you Asrael” said the duchess. "Of course” said Asrael. "I'll leave you all to get acquainted” said the duchess.

The three children looked at one another, pondering where there original governess had disappeared to. Esther stepped forward "Very pleased to meet you” she said still puzzling at the strange turn of events. "Joseph began to mumble something about his now broken train. Asrael simply ignored him and took a seat by the fire and began warming her hands.

"Are you from Tzrauel? Enquired Illouise. Asrael smirked "no” she said "Carthagaras”. "Esther” said Illouise, "that's where you are from, and joseph too. "Do you know my mother” enquired Esther. "Calm yourself child I didn't exactly mix with the locals, if you know what I mean” said Asrael. "No” said Illouise puzzled.

For the first time Asrael scanned the children, her eye fixated on Illouise's right hand. She clutched it suddenly. "What's up” said Illouise. That mark, where did it come from” said Asrael. "It's a birth mark” said Illouise. Asrael quickly stared up at her eyes black as

black with a tiny ring of brown around the circumference. Suddenly Asrael's nonchalant mood seemed to change. "Well children I think we're all going to get on very well” she said, then she whispered to Illouise "especially us”. Illouise smiled Innocently.

After tucking the children up in their bed, and triple checking, and then checking again that they were asleep. Asrael snuck out of the governes's room down the hall, through the castle entrance and keeping to the shadows made her way out of the gates into the night, holding a jar, once again filled with blood, but this time the blood of the missing governess. She waited by the full moon, outside the same cave they had made their first sacrifice. "Sisters we are three” she howled as the other two made their arrival. "How fare thee sister” said Gither. "Very well” said Asreal. "What about the brats” asked Octavia? "Their safe” said Asrael. "It is the other one that interests me most”. "Ah yes the dukes little sis” said Gither. "What of her”."She has the mark” said Asrael. "Which mark” said Gither, already knowing what she meant, but wanting to be sure. "The mark of the witch” said Asrael excitedly. "No” said Octavia. "That little goody two shoes”. "Aye. I saw it today with my own eyes” said Asrael. "Then let's bring the poor lost child in on it” said Gither. "They trust her. She may be of use to us”.

The next day the children arose early, awoken by the sound of a crow squawking, "Where on earth is that coming from” said Esther to Asrael. "I don't know but I'll find out” said Esther, Storming into Illouise's room. "What on earth” Shouted Asrael? "I found it this morning” said Illouise "in the courtyard”. "And why were you in the courtyard at that ridiculous time in the morning before Esther and Joseph were even out of bed I might add”. I.I. I don't know” said Illouise I just heard a Screeching in the courtyard it sounded in pain. I wanted to help. I think it's got a broken wing”.

"Uck” said Asrael. "fetch it here, Ill ring its neck”. "Why because it'll end its pain” said Illouise, "No because it's getting on my nerves” said Asrael. "No” jumped in Esther. But the deed was done. "You witch” said Illouise. Asrael held back the resounding urge to tell the young miss how hypercritical she was and instead just smirked and walked off. "Well the evil wrott bag” said Esther. "What's happening” yawned Joseph clumsily walking into the room half asleep. "Nothing” said Esther. "Don't worry yourself” said Illouise. "Go have your Breakfast”.

Just incase anyone wonders I don't know what a pagan wedding is like so I'm going to sought that out when I edit it all also iot still needs a lot of beefing out.