Lady X

The first thing Hunter noticed was that David looked intensely frazzled. Indeed, he looked like he had completely lost his mind.

~ Chapter Three ~

A DARK BLAST of smoke and shimmering mist, and Exerilla closed her eyes and thought, “oh no, my father has found me, oh no.”

Instead of her father, a stranger walked out of the mist.

He wore a black cone hat, threaded with silver and a matching robe. After she recovered from the shock, Exerilla wanted to laugh. No one in her mother’s coven wore such things and she had never seen any of the warlocks of her acquaintance do so either.

As he came forward, she looked past the clothes, to the grayish black long grizzled hair and the thick eyebrows and beard of the same gray black. His eyes were black as coal, unlit and unfeeling. X started to feel a certain amount of apprehension.

“Who are you?” she demanded. She thought that her father sent him. She could hear her mother’s advice, “your questions can give away answers you don’t wish them to have.”

“I am the Dark Wizard, Baudali,” he answered as though amused by her.

“Super, what do you want?” A wizard she thought wildly? Seriously?

“You will come with me,” he said authoratively.

“I don’t think so,” she answered. He thought she was human. She didn’t think he knew she was a white witch. Don’t let on. Careful now, Xie girl. Careful. She wanted to get his measure, because this was really bad.

He produced a wand, and Exerilla studied it. It was a different kind of wand than she was used to. She had never seen anything like it in her life. It radiated power and gave off a dark light. She knew he was more powerful than she was. Her mother told her White Magic was always more able, but dark more ruthless. She would have to find a dark warlock’s weakness to conquer it. So this wasn’t going to be about power, but about cunning. He had a purpose. She had to find out what it was, and thwart it.

“Don’t you, human? You don’t think so?” With scarcely a twist of his wrist, everything changed.

Exerilla could see him, but he looked far away. They were being thrown through a membraned tunnel, although he looked steadier than she felt. Suddenly, the tunnel was gone and she was falling on her face. When she coughed and looked, she saw his black satin boots at her nose. She looked up and saw him looking down at her.

“Holy Sweet Moly,” she thought as she closed her eyes.

* * *

As it turned out, David Horwich did not approach Swit and MacTorry. He instead, took a scantily clothed and buxom woman aside before leading her up the stairs where the bedchambers were housed.

Swit and Hunter exchanged looks. Swit said, “He said something earlier about teaching the Exerilla chit a lesson. Said she would learn what happens to a woman who dares spurn him, but I didn’t expect this.” he grinned.

“He’ll be dead before he ever gets near her!” Hunter’s voice was low and hard and he realized that Swit was looking at him when Swit whistled.

“Aye. So that is how it is?” He chuckled. “Should have guessed when ye didn’t want me near the pretty lady.”

“Never mind. While he is busy, I think it best that we get down to the docks. You and your men get ready to sail.”

“Aye. The moon is full tonight and we should have an easy crossing if the weather doesn’t change.”

“There’s a rider on the other side, at Calais ready to do his part?” Hunter eyed Swit.

“A r

ider on the other side. That’s right. He’ll take it to Boney, who is set to march right into Belgium.”

“Aye, but we’ll stop him before he gets there…”

“Will we? You say it like you know,” Swit said scrutinizing him.

“I know Wellington. If anyone knows how to stop Napoleon, he does.,” Hunter saved himself.

“Aye. So he may,” Swit agreed. “Then if you have no more wish for ale, let’s make our way to the docks. As you say, let’s leave Horwich out of this part of it.”

An hour later, Hunter watched as Swit and his crew quietly left port with Sir Jacob’s yacht.