Located deep within the forests of H8nsdale, there lies a legend that has been passed down through generations - the legend of the Witch of H8nsdale. This mysterious and eerie tale has both intrigued and terrified the locals for centuries. According to the whispered tales, the Witch of H8nsdale was a powerful sorceress who lived alone in a small cottage hidden amongst the dense foliage. With long, flowing black hair and piercing, all-seeing eyes, she was said to possess extraordinary magical abilities and a profound knowledge of the dark arts. Fear and superstition surrounded the witch's dwelling, as it was believed that she could curse those who crossed her path. People would avoid venturing near her cottage, afraid of incurring her wrath.
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She reserved a 7,000 night private riad, a traditional Moroccan villa with an interior courtyard, three bedrooms, and a pool, and forwarded me the confirmation e-mail. And the ground around them rumbled and bounced so hard that it actually began to make the two of them move around in a chaotic pattern, hurting their already injured bodies.
People would avoid venturing near her cottage, afraid of incurring her wrath. The forest echoed with spine-chilling tales of those unfortunate enough to encounter her. Some claimed to have seen strange lights and heard haunting chants emanating from her abode during the dead of night.
Wait, is this just GATE? (451/?)
Around her the healers from the ward, mainly the youngest and least experienced of them, were guiding the children out of the room. Babies were being carried, or having their carriers pushed along on the lightly levitating beds in groups of six to eight. A small contingent of the royal guards were waiting outside to escort them to the new gate near the Earth Embassy. The children, and the handful of pregnant mothers that were already being wheeled out ahead of them, were being given priority on transiting to Earth.
She wasn't surprised when she exited the room and saw Amina leading the guards. The two of them exchanged nods as they saw each other, and Mrs. Choi could see the redness around her daughter in law's eyes as she took up her position leading the group.
"Alright move out!" She commanded the security detail as they began moving forward. "Let's get these little ones to safety. Nobody stops us for anything."
The guards all nodded as they began marching in a tight cordon around the group.
More than a few of them held out their hands to the little children as they reached up to the soldiers, who many of the children thought of the same way Earth children thought of fire fighters, or police officers, or soldiers.
Alixan grunted in pain as he faded in and out of consciousness while leaning against a tree that had been knocked over by one of the shock waves.
His skin was laced across his entire body with black veins. And that was on top of the myriad burns that covered him anywhere his skin was exposed, and most of the places where it wasn't as well.
Several yards away Viya lay on his back, his arms curled in in front of his chest like a dead spider as he struggled to breath. The orange light that had glowed off of him with radiating heat pulsed in and out as the magic of his country's faith waned. He was too far from the door that he'd come through. And, unbeknownst to him, the priest that had been stationed there had been pushed out of the way by the rushing throngs of his citizens as they fled their country to Petravius, where they had heard there was a chance at salvation.
Alixan was fairly certain that the emperor was dying, though it was hard to tell. The diminutive man had channeled more energy through himself from his people than most people might channel in an entire lifetime. That power had made him a borderline demi-god as he'd flown alongside the Crown Prince in their attempt to slow the asteroid they'd thrown Glag at, and then to destroy the others after that.
The Glag plan had, to the best of Alixan's knowledge, failed.
He didn't know why. Glag SHOULD have been more than capable of devouring the mass of space rock. But something had gone wrong.
Maybe it being from outside the planet made it different despite Alixan's magical senses saying it was just rock and metal and ice.
Maybe they'd thrown the poor elemental too hard, cracking him like James had in the arena months ago.
Or maybe they just hadn't slowed the asteroid down enough to give him the time he needed.
They'd had to let go of the asteroid in an attempt to get away from the, admittedly smaller, impact so they could survive.
Either way it didn't seem to matter now. He could see the last few asteroids flying down in the distance. None were going to impact close enough to hit him or the Emperor. But they'd still get battered by the ensuing shock waves and quakes.
One of those quakes was happening even now. The ground rumbled beneath their barely conscious bodies as they sat there, struggling to even breath.
"You know. old friend." He said as he shifted from the tree behind him, causing him to fall a bit. "I miss your singing." And it was true. He'd never said it to the young emperor because he knew how much the loss had hurt him all those years ago.
Viya twitched, his head turning a bit to look at Alixan. One of his eyes was sealed shut by swelling and blood from his forehead.
He didn't have the energy to use his magical speech, written or through the air, but he weakly used his signs. He knew Alixan didn't understand the signs, but it wasn't like that mattered anymore.
[I don't.] He said, grimacing as his arms protested the motions. [As much as it hurt. The truth was important to know.] He rolled back over and looked back up at the sky, which was still hard to comprehend. [I do miss my parents though.]
Alixan nodded, despite not understanding.
The rumbling around them grew louder.
[See them soon, I imagine.] Viya signed as one of his legs began to tremble, though he couldn't tell.
Alixan was ready to pass out when he noticed a shadow form over the both of them as the rumbling seemed to almost be centered on their location now.
He looked up, expecting to see one last asteroid heading right for them. He hoped it would just get things over with quickly.
Instead he saw a massive column of stone that was at least a hundred meters in diameter, and several hundred meters tall, and that seemed to be growing still.
It bent down toward them and Alixan felt a surge of energy, despite his body's protests, as he realized what it was.
Two large, black orbs cracked open and peered down at them with childlike wonder. Then a fissure opened below them. It was oddly angled at first, but then shifted until it was where it was supposed to be.
The massive structure wasn't the sandstone that Alixan was used to. Instead it was an odd mish-mash of different colored stone and bits of earth. Parts of it seemed to glint with metal flecks that had odd lines on them.
The world seemed to vibrate as Glag spoke his first words in the new form.
And to Alixan's amazement, his vocabulary had seemed to expand, albeit only barely.
Children would dare each other to approach the witch's cottage, fascinated by the opportunity to catch a glimpse of her mysterious existence. However, their fears ultimately held them back, as they feared the consequences of angering the formidable sorceress. It was rumored that the witch used her powers to create potions that could heal the incurable and rejuvenate the aged. Some whispered that she could even grant wishes, though such actions came at a high price. But at the same time, cautionary tales warned of the dark consequences of seeking the witch's assistance. Those who took her potions were said to be forever indebted to her, and payment often came in the form of their souls. Despite the fear and ambiguity surrounding the Witch of H8nsdale, there were occasionally those who sought her out for her alleged powers. Desperate individuals would journey through the forest in search of her cottage, clutching onto a glimmer of hope that she could provide a cure for their ailments or answers to their burning questions. As time went on, the witch became somewhat of a mythic figure, her story evolving into a cautionary tale of the dangers of dabbling in the supernatural. Tales of the Witch of H8nsdale continue to captivate and terrify, ensuring her place in local folklore. Whether the Witch of H8nsdale was a misunderstood outcast or a true harbinger of dark forces will forever remain a mystery. Nevertheless, the legend of this enigmatic sorceress continues to haunt the collective imagination of those who dare to venture near the forests of H8nsdale..
Reviews for "Hinsdale's Witch: A Tale of Betrayal and Revenge"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I found "The Witch of H8nsdale" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, lacking any suspense or thrills that I expected from a horror novel. The characters were one-dimensional and failed to evoke any empathy or interest. Additionally, the writing style was bland and unengaging, making it a struggle to finish the book. Overall, I would not recommend this novel to anyone looking for a thrilling and captivating horror story.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "The Witch of H8nsdale" had an intriguing premise, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story dragged on without any significant developments. The supernatural elements were underwhelming, and the attempts at building suspense felt forced and cliché. Moreover, the main characters were unrelatable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to invest in their journey. While the idea behind the book had potential, it fell flat in execution.
3. David - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Witch of H8nsdale," but sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. The writing felt disjointed and disorganized, making it challenging to follow the plot. The narrative lacked coherence, jumping between different timelines and perspectives without clear transitions. Additionally, the story was riddled with inconsistencies and illogical choices by the characters. Overall, I found the book to be frustrating and confusing, leaving me unsatisfied with the reading experience.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "The Witch of H8nsdale" started off promising; however, it quickly descended into a predictable and mediocre story. The character development was lacking, leaving the protagonists feeling flat and uninteresting. The plot twists were predictable, and the writing style failed to engage me. The pacing was off, with long stretches of dullness followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. Ultimately, I didn't find anything unique or captivating about this novel, and it left me disappointed.