The Sorceress by Alane Adams

Author:Alane Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SparkPress

Chapter 16

Hugo rose before daylight, hoping to avoid a conversation with Emenor. His brother was all over him, trying to find out more about what was going on at the coven. Like Hugo had all the answers. He set off for the docks, hoping to fill Jasper and Fetch in on what they’d learned so far.

When Hugo arrived, the rickety ship was moored in the same slip. Seeing nothing awry, he slipped on board and opened the hatch. He reeled back in shock, hitting the deck as a Balfin guard poked a sword in his face, charging up on the deck.

“Say what are you doing here, boy?”

He pinned Hugo down with the tip of his sword as more Balfin soldiers piled out of the hatch.

“N-n-nothing. I just was checking out the boat.”

“This sailor a friend of yours? You know where he is?”

“And his companion?” Another voice added. Hugo’s heart dropped as Lieutenant DeGroot appeared on deck. His brows went up in surprise as he took in Hugo. “You again. You seem to have a knack for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” He nodded to his men. “Bring him to the High Witch. She will want to find out what he knows.”

“Me?” Hugo said feebly as he was lifted to his feet by a pair of guards. “But I don’t know anything.”

DeGroot grabbed him by his shirt, dragging him close enough that Hugo could see his bloodshot eyes. “The High Witch won’t care if you don’t know anything. She will make you suffer just for wasting her time. And I for one will enjoy watching.”

They put a hood over Hugo’s head and tied his hands roughly behind his back. The men pushed him along the dock and then lifted him and tossed him into the back of a wagon. He felt the jerk as the horses rolled forward.

Hugo tried to stay calm. At least Jasper and Fetch were safe.

The wagon stopped and he heard the creaking of gates. They must be at the Tarkana Fortress. The wagon rolled forward again, rumbling over cobblestones. The courtyard then. It finally stopped and he was lifted out of the wagon and marched up steps and down a long hallway. He tried to keep track of his surroundings, but it was hard to breathe or think with the hood on. He made out a polished tiled floor and that was all.

One of the guards shouted an order to open the door. There was a slow whoosh and a draft of cool air, and then they were walking across another marble floor. He guessed it to be the Great Hall where the witches held their councils.

He was pushed to his knees, and then his hood was roughly pulled off. The dais was deserted but the space behind it was not. A giant spider bigger than a wagon was spinning its web. Its eyes locked on Hugo as it spiraled down to land on the dais. It skittered forward a few steps on legs marked by red and yellow bands.

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