The Witch of Aggodar Ch. 09

It was the day after the weighing of the concubines and Maeve had never felt so exhausted. She had spent the night on display with the other contestants; bound and gagged and subjected to so many orgasms that her legs were still shaking and her head was still spinning. At some point she had been returned to Shay's quarters and by some miracle she had managed to tell Shay about everything she had heard before collapsing onto the bed and falling into a deep, deep sleep.

She woke up gradually, blinking her eyes in the afternoon sun that shone between the archways that led out to the balcony. She could hear birds calling to each other in the palace gardens and felt a gentle breeze softly caress the parts of her naked body that were not covered by the thin, satin bedsheets that she lay beneath.

Shay sat at the desk across from her, her head down as she scribbled something into her spell book. She wore only a thin black thong that sat high upon her hips and for a time Maeve simply lay there silently, marvelling at the way the sunlight highlighted the streaks of purple in her otherwise black hair, and made her pale skin sparkle as if she were coated in a thin layer of star dust.

"It's rude to stare," Shay said without looking up.

"Busted," Maeve murmured sleepily, though she could tell that the Witch was smiling too.

Shay picked up her spell book and walked over to her, the swaying of her hips and the bouncing of her breasts as hypnotic as any spell she could have cast. She sat down on the bed beside Maeve and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine," Maeve replied. "Just a little tired still."

Shay searched her face for several moments and Maeve wondered if the witch thought she was keeping something from her. The truth was, however, that she was absolutely fine. The weighing had been intense but she had stood on her plinth and stared into the faces of the many people who had come to judge and gawk at her body and though it had been humiliating to lose control of herself in front of them all as she came, she had also found the experience to be exhilarating and empowering to know that everyone in that room had wanted her.

Shay squeezed her hand and smiled gently. "You have all day to rest," she said. "The results won't be announced until this evening and the next round isn't until tomorrow. You did brilliantly, though."

Maeve accepted the encouragement with a smile. She still didn't fully understand what the spectators had been looking for whilst she had been chained up and displayed overnight, but knowing that Shay was pleased with her performance cemented her feeling that she had nothing to be afraid of.

"What about Katya?" Maeve asked quietly. "Were you able to find anything more out about what I told you?"

The witch chewed her tongue thoughtfully. "Nothing, yet. We have no proof that the Princess is plotting to take over the Sheik's throne," she said.

"But I heard her!"

"I know," Shay replied calmly. "But the Sheik will not believe the word of a concubine over the word of his niece. We need to find some actual evidence that connects her to this plot, and I think I know where to begin."

Maeve frowned. "You do?"

The witch picked up her book from where she had set it beside her on the bed and slid a piece of parchment from between the ancient pages. She unfolded the parchment and laid it out on Maeve's lap between them both.

"This is a map of the Golden City," she explained, tapping the north west corner to show Maeve where the palace was amongst the jumble of crooked streets and winding canals. The city looked like it had grown organically over many ages with new districts bolted on as and when they were needed. It was far removed from the neat, ordered blocks of Everdale.

Shay indicated several crosses that she had placed on the map in red ink. "These are all of the disappearances that I have been able to find out about so far," she explained. "I thought they were random at first but then I found this..."

She opened her spell book and turned the page to face Maeve. It was thick with writing in a language that she did not understand and the margins were covered with Shay's spidery handwriting where she had made notes on specific parts of the text. In the top the corner of the page there was a strange symbol that looked like a backwards number three with two lines cutting diagonally through it and a pair of diamonds above and below the symbol.

"What is it?" Maeve asked, uncertain what she was looking at.

"It's the mark of the Djinn," she said, a unusual note of excitement in her voice. "And look!"

She turned the book on its side and placed it on the corner of the map. As Maeve watched, she began to indicate the crosses where she had marked the disappearances, using her finger to slowly trace a line over the map until Maeve could see the pattern begin to emerge.

"It's the same mark," she said.

"Almost," Shay replied. "The symbol isn't complete yet."

"But this could mean that we will know where the next attacks will happen!" Maeve said eagerly.

"Exactly!" the witch replied. She pointed to a part of the map near the city's southern gate. "I saw this mark yesterday when we entered the city. If I'm right then I'm sure this is where the next attack will happen."

"What do we do?" Maeve asked excitedly. She had forgotten how tired she was and how nervous she was feeling about the first round of the games. Shay's excitement was infectious and she was ready to help however she could.

"The attacks have all taken place after dark," the witch replied. "We'll go tonight and see what we can find. I'll need you to watch my back whilst I look around, assuming you feel up to it?"

Maeve had expected Shay to say that it was too dangerous for her to come with her, but hearing that the witch not only wanted her there, but also trusted her to protect her, filled her heart with joy. She had grown used to submitting to Shay's orders since they had left Everdale, but now she was excited to have the opportunity to act as her guardian once again.

Maeve was about to reply when a sharp knock on the bedroom door silenced them both. They looked at each other momentarily before Shay swiftly scooped up the map and her spell book and slid them under the bed before plucking her short, silk robe from where it hung on the bedpost and pulling it on over her body.

"Just a moment," she called as she beckoned Maeve out of the bed and remade the sheets with a wave of her hands. "On your knees," the witch whispered.

Maeve did as she was commanded, grateful that she did not have to try and stand on her still wobbly legs for any longer than was necessary. She watched as Shay wove her fingers through the air again, conjuring a golden chain between her hand and Maeve's collar and a matching ball gag that fitted snugly between her lips.

"What?" Shay whispered innocently, smirking at the look of surprise and annoyance that momentarily crossed Maeve's face. "It needs to look convincing!"

Maeve threw the witch a playful scowl before crawling along beside her as tugged on the chain and led her across the room. The witch pulled opened the door and Maeve smiled behind her gag as she saw Mhati waiting in the corridor outside, her dark skin framed in a long dress of pink silk with gold and sapphire accents.

"Good afternoon," the older woman said with a sly smile as she took in Maeve's gag and leash and the dangerously short robe that Shay had just donned. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"

"Not at all," the witch replied casually as if the sight of her and Maeve was completely normal.

Mhati was momentarily silent and not for the first time, Maeve got the distinct impression that she understood far more than she let on. She held up a scroll that she clutched in her hands and said, "I have the results of the Weighing, if you are interested?"

Shay tilted her head. "A little early isn't it?" she asked.

A smile tugged at the corner of the trainer's lips and she glanced briefly at Maeve before looking back at the witch. "Let's just say it wasn't a close competition."

"Then come in," Shay said, stepping aside and gesturing her into her suite. "Would you care for a drink?"

"Wine, please," Mhati said as she glided elegantly over the threshold towards the sofas that looked out onto the balcony.

The witch looked down at Shay and pointed with her chin to the gold and mahogany drinks cabinet behind the seating area. "Make it two," she said with a smirk that told Maeve she was having fun with this.

Maeve crawled over to the drinks cabinet as Shay and Mhati exchanged pleasantries, the gold chain dragging along the floor beneath her. She rose slowly to her feet, using the frame of the cabinet to hold herself steady. Her legs already felt stronger and she knew that she probably just needed to move around a bit more, but this wasn't exactly what she had in mind. She opened the cabinet and poured two glasses of blood red wine into gold goblets before setting them carefully on a tray. The distance from the cabinet to the sofas seemed immense and she could feel Shay's eyes watching her but with every step she became more sure of herself and she managed to reach the table between the two women without spilling a drop of the wine. She passed Mhati her glass first before handing the second to Shay and then took her place on the floor beside the witch.

"Thank you, dear," Mhati said before looking at Shay. "She is well trained."

"She is," Shay said, stroking Maeve's peppermint coloured hair. "She is the best that I have ever had."

Maeve blushed as she turned her head to look up at the witch, wanting more than anything to tell her how much she meant to her as well.

"It would seem that plenty of other people would agree with you," Mhati said as she passed the scroll that she had been carrying to Shay.

The witch took the scroll and swiftly unfurled it, her eyes flitting across the writing that Maeve could not see. She glanced at Maeve, her eyes full of pride, before turning back to Mhati.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Mhati said. "In all my years, I've never seen a contestant win so much support this early on."

"Nor have I," Shay said. She turned to Maeve and gently tugged the gag out of her mouth before handing her the scroll. Maeve could see her name amongst a list of the other contestants along with what appeared to be a tally of votes, betting odds and other pieces of information that she did not understand. Her tally was significantly higher than anyone else's on the list.

"What does this all mean?" she asked uncertainly.

"It means that you're the favourite, dear!" Mhati exclaimed. "Everyone wants to sleep with you, bet on you or be you! When this is over, you're going to be a very wealthy woman."

"Wait, I can win money from this?" Maeve asked.

Mhati giggled as she looked at Shay. "Dear, dear... Haven't you told her anything about the Games?"

Shay shrugged. "We haven't really had time to discuss it. It wasn't as though we were expecting to participate."

Mhati considered this before bowing her head respectfully. "Perhaps now would be a good time to elaborate then?" she suggested.

The witch nodded slowly. "Starting tomorrow you will face a series of challenges and games. Some will test your endurance whilst others will require you to perform certain tasks. At the end of each round those contestants that lose the game or fail the tasks will be knocked out until there is only one contestant left standing."

"The results of the Weighing indicate how likely a contestant is to make it to the final round. The greater the odds, the more likely people are to bet on you and the more support you will receive during the rounds themselves."

"What kind of support?" Maeve asked uncertainly.

"That depends," Mhati explained. "It could be anything from gifts between rounds to things for you to wear during the games. In some rounds, they can even influence the tasks that you have to perform."

Maeve chewed her tongue anxiously, the earlier elation she had felt at helping Shay with their investigation dampened by her fear of the unknown. She looked at Shay, reminding herself that the witch would never make her do anything that she was not comfortable with.

"Each contestant and their trainer get a cut of the betting pool placed upon them, which gets bigger the further into the competition you get. With the support you have, I'm sure you will receive a very generous payout when this is all over."

Maeve looked down at the scroll and tally beside her name and for the first time she began to imagine what it would be like to win the games. She had started out on this adventure with the intent of earning enough money to never have to worry about working again and although Shay had promised her just that, here was another opportunity for her to finally make her own fortune.

She looked up at the witch with renewed enthusiasm. "I can win this," she said determinedly.

"I know you can," Shay replied, though there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

The room was silent for several seconds, Shay's tone not lost on either Mhati or Maeve. After an uncomfortable moment, Mhati drained her goblet and clapped her hands together.

"Well!" she exclaimed. "I'm sure you both will want to prepare for tomorrow and I should go and tell the other contestants the news." She reached across the table and plucked the scroll gingerly from Maeve's fingers before gliding elegantly towards the door.

"Good luck, dear," she called before throwing Shay a reproachful glance and disappearing into the corridor outside.

The witch waited for the sound of her footsteps to disappear before hurrying over to the door and snapping the lock shut. She then moved to the arches that led out onto the balcony and began muttering under her breath and Maeve could see the air begin to shimmer and shine as layers of magic appeared between the stone columns.

"What are you doing?" she snapped, unable to keep an edge of irritation from her voice.

"I'm placing wards around the room," she replied sharply.

"Why?"

Shay turned to her, her brow furrowed with concern. "Because you are now in danger!" she hissed.

"Danger?" Maeve replied. "Why? Because I got the most votes?"

"Yes, that's exactly why!" Shay replied. "I have never seen a result like that, Maeve. It's not that I don't think that you deserve it or are capable of winning, but it has just put a huge target on your back. You're now the one to beat. The other contestants will be coming for you."

Understanding dawned on Maeve and she suddenly felt guilty for snapping at the witch earlier. "Do you think someone tampered with the results?"

"It's possible," Shay replied, weaving a complex ward over the windows of the suite. "You need to be careful. It's not unheard of for rival contestants and trainers to try and take each other out, and there's no shortage of assassins in Arridia."

Maeve swallowed. "What do we do now then?" she asked.

The witch took a moment to consider her response. "We carry on with our plan," she said. "The Princess is the most likely person to have tampered with the votes. If we can find the evidence to convince the Sheik that she is guilty, then hopefully we can stop all of this before anyone else gets hurt..."

****

The sun was setting in the west as Maeve and Shay prepared to leave the palace. They had eaten in their room, politely refusing a request from a trio of trainers to join them for dinner in one of the palace's many dens. Shay had met them during the Weighing and had little good to say about any of them.

Shay had dressed swiftly, slipping into a pair of skin tight black leather trousers, knee high boots that came up to her knees and a cropped top with long sleeves and a hood. a pair of knives were tucked into the top of her left boot and strapped to her left arm and over the top of her outfit she wore a cloak of lavender silk which, when she drew the two halves together, neatly hid her unusual attire.

"You look like a proper thief," Maeve said with a grin as she watched Shay draw her purple and black hair into a ponytail. She sat on the end of Shay's bed, fully refreshed after a hot bath and a hearty meal. She was looking forward to getting out of the palace and stretching her legs and was keen to strap on her armour and feel the weight of her swords on her back once again.

She realised as she waited that she was completely beholden on Shay allowing her to change. The witch kept all of their shared possessions in her enchanted bag and it was up to her to give Maeve whatever clothes she was permitted to wear. The idea would once have disgusted Maeve but now she barely even thought about it.

"Alright," Shay said as she reached into her bag and produced a length of purple rope. "Come here."

Maeve frowned. "What's that for?" she asked.

Shay smirked. "I thought you would have guessed by now."

"Where are my swords though?"

"They're in here," Shay replied, patting her bag. "But you can't exactly go walking through the palace with those strapped to your back can you? We have to look the part until we get beyond the gates."

"Fine," Maeve muttered. "But I know its just an excuse."

Shay smirked as she took a step towards her and kissed her forehead. "So what if it is?" she whispered in a way that made Maeve's cheeks turn pink.

The witch began to bind her with the rope slowly and tenderly. She used her hands instead of her magic and Maeve felt her every touch lance through her body like tiny electric shocks, stirring that deep, primal side of her soul that only Shay could unlock. She wrapped the rope around Maeve's breasts and over her shoulders, pulling the harness tight before passing a length between her legs to complete the tie around her waist. She bit her tongue as she felt the knot that Shay had tied in the rope rub against her pussy and knew that it would be soaking wet by the time they left the palace.

Shay bound her arms separately to the harness, tying them behind her back at her wrists and just over her elbow. She then attached a gold chain to her leather collar before holding up a choice of two gags for Maeve to pick from. The first was a simple purple ball gag that shone in the lights that hung from the ceiling whilst the second was a bit gag with a more complicated harness like system that fasted beneath her chin and over her head. Maeve nodded tot he ball gag but made a mental note to ask Shay about the bit gag another time.

"There we go," Shay said as she secured the straps of the ball gag. "Comfy?"

"'Uck oo," Maeve growled behind the gag, earning herself a playful slap on the ass from Shay.

"Now, now," she teased. "We mustn't forget our manners, must we?" She wrapped her cloak about herself before picking up the end of Maeve's chain lead and gesturing towards the door. "Come on," she said. "Let's take a walk."

They left Shay's suite together and made their way casually through the palace. It was quieter at night than Maeve had seen previously but by no means were the halls deserted. They passed dozens of servants who eyed them with anything from fear to awe, guards whos eyes lingered on Maeve's tits as she strutted past them and doors to rooms in which drunk nobles, guests and administrators engaged in everything from gambling to orgies with so many limbs tangled around each other that Maeve could not tell what belonged to who. In one room that they passed she spotted Taroh and Clara sitting in awkward silence as three older women fawned over one of the male contestants. Maeve realised she hadn't even thought to check how Clara had performed during the Weighing and hoped that her fellow contestant had managed to win herself some small amount of support.

Maeve closed her eyes as they made their way downstairs to the entrance hall. Whether it was the heady musk that seemed to fill the halls of the palace, the sight of so many bodies writhing in pleasure, or the attention that she was receiving from whoever they passed, the knot between her legs was proving to be a greater distraction than she had anticipated. She could feel her excitement trickling down the inside of her legs and the fact that it was visible to anyone who cared to look only served to excite her even more. She threw Shay a look that was both frustrated and pleading but the witch simply grinned at her and tugged a little harder on her leash.

They left the palace and made their way out into the gardens, Shay leading her at slow pace so that it would seem to anyone watching that they were simply enjoying an evening stroll. They followed the path parallel to the western wall until, when Shay seemed sure no one was watching, she pulled Maeve off the path into the shadow of the wall itself. They crept along at a swifter pace, Maeve's cheeks burning from the stimulation between her legs. Shay half dragged her to the gate where a pair of guards stood watch and then whispered something into the night sky that caused the two men to turn towards some unseen threat on the opposite side of the courtyard. The Witch took Maeve's had and pulled her through the gate into the winding streets of the city.

Maeve fell back against the cool stone of the alley that they slipped into, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to control the desire that was building up inside of her. Shay stood at the end of the alley, watching for any signs that someone had been following them. When she was satisfied that they were alone she turned to Maeve and raised her eyebrow.

"A little flustered are we?" she teased.

Maeve scowled at her, breathing heavily into her gag.

"What's wrong?" the witch asked as she sauntered towards her, the light of the moon reflected in the crisp, shiny leather of her trousers where they met the curve of her hips. She placed a hand on Maeve's stomach and slowly slid her nails over her sensitive skin towards her throbbing pussy. "Didn't you enjoy that?"

Maeve moaned in frustration. The problem was that she was enjoying it too much. She didn't know how it was possible for her body to crave more after the relentless orgasms she had endured during the Weighing, but she needed Shay now more than ever. She longed to feel the witch's fingers inside of her, to taste her lips and feel her tongue between her legs. She whimpered pathetically as Shay's nail's traced the path of the rope that slid between her legs, her eyelids fluttering and a strand of drool oozing out from behind her gag onto the mound of her breasts. She arched her back, silently begging the witch to take her right there as she ground her soaking pussy onto her fingers.

"Come with me," shay whispered.

She took Maeve's leash and pulled towards the other end of the alley, every step causing the knot that rested against her clit to torment Maeve further. She could hear people talking and laughing, the clatter of cutlery and the melodies of half a dozen musicians attempting to compete with each other. Beyond the shadowy entrance of the alley she could see lights and a street full of small restaurants, bars and clubs that were all packed with people enjoying the cool evening.

Shay turned suddenly and pushed her up against the wall of the alley. One of her hands clasped Maeve's ass whilst the other gently cupped her breasts and then she was kissing her neck, the smell of her lavender perfume filling her nose. Maeve inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She didn't care that they were dangerously close to the street full of strangers. She didn't care that they could be discovered or overheard at any point. All she wanted was Shay.

The Witch took her nipples into her mouth one after the other, sucking on them until they were hard and sensitive, before her lips began to travel down her stomach towards her aching clit. Her head spun as Shay's nails left soft scratches on her thighs and she felt the warmth of her breath on her tender clit. She bit down on the gag in her mouth, her whole body trembling with anticipation as Shay carefully slid the rope aside before softly running her tongue around the entrance to her pussy.

Maeve clenched her fists behind her back and squeezed her eyes shut. Her legs threatened to fail her once again but she forced herself to remain standing as Shay's tongue delved deeper inside of her. She moaned into her gag, the thought of the people in the street overhearing her ecstasy only fuelling her desires. Shay had barely begun to tease her clit with the tip of her tongue when Maeve felt her body surrender. A wave of pleasure pulsed through her body. Her toes curled, her legs went rigid and she strained against the ropes that bound her. Tears of joy stung her eyes and she bit down hard on the gag in her mouth. She didn't know if she screamed or not, and it wasn't until those first intense waves had passed that she realised she had been holding her breath. Shay held her as she came, her face still buried in the space between her legs as her tongue continued to work its own kind of magic. She stood slowly as Maeve finally fell still and wrapped her arms around her, rocking her gently from side to side until her trembling had stopped.

"Shh, shh" she whispered as she stroked Maeve's peppermint hair.

She reached around and unfastened the strap of the ball gag, sliding it from Maeve's mouth and slipping it into her pocket. Maeve licked the drool from her lips and eased her aching jaw. She looked up into Shay's bright pink eyes and in that moment it seemed like they were the only two people in the whole world.

Shay untied her arms and slid the rope from between her legs and around her breasts. She then helped her into her armour, pulling her leather corset tight around her waist and helping her into her skirt studded leather straps. and knee high sandals. She still deprived Maeve of her underwear, and there was nothing to wipe away the juices that trickled down the inside of her legs but as she took her swords from Shay, she felt a comforting sense of normality that she had not felt since leaving Everdale.

"Ready?" Shay asked as she slipped the gag and the rope into her satchel.

Maeve rolled her shoulders and nodded, feeling as though there was nothing that they could not face together. Shay snapped her satchel closed and they stepped out of the alleyway onto the street. If anyone gave them strange glances, Maeve simply smiled innocently at them as if she had no idea why they were looking at her...

****

It did not take them long to cross the city using the many cut throughs and back alleys that Shay had memorised. The city was a maze of weaving streets and canals that would have been easy to get lost within, but Maeve gradually began to notice patterns in the architecture of the buildings and the styles of the frescos that decorated them that differentiated one district from the other as the city had expanded over the years.

The farther they travelled from the palace, the quieter the streets became and by the time they reached the city's southern gate there was no one else around. Maeve eyed the surrounding rooftops as they turned off the main street and approached the warehouse where Shay had spotted the Djinn's mark the day before. It was daubed in reddy-brown paint beside the entrance to the large, sand coloured building. Maeve wondered how Shay had managed to spot the small symbol through the crowds of people that had lined the streets to welcome the Sheik back to the city and wondered whether there was some kind of magic at work that had alerted the witch.

The warehouse lay still and silent in the night, its windows dark and its heavy, sliding doors secured by a heavy chain and padlock.

"Well?" Maeve whispered as Shay examined the symbol.

The witch scratched the mark with one long nail and put her finger to her lips. "Blood magic," she muttered with a grimace.

Maeve chewed her tongue as she slowly slid one of her swords from her back. Her instincts were screaming at her that something was not right and after her years of work as a mercenary in Everdale, she knew better than to ignore them.

"Come on," Shay hissed. "Let's find a way inside."

They made their way to the back of the warehouse where they found a flight of stairs leading up to the foreman's office. Maeve easily picked the lock of the office door and they snuck inside. The air within the warehouse was dense and Maeve felt her skin begin to itch uncomfortably as a strange smell filled her nose. Shay beckoned silently to her and they crossed the small office and crept through the door leading onto the gantry that overlooked the warehouse floor.

Voices echoed off the walls of the vast warehouse. Maeve could not understand the language that they spoke but the chanting rhythm made her skin crawl. As they peered over the edge of the gantry they saw a trio of hooded figures standing between the rows of tightly packed shelves, a heavyset man whose wrists were bound behind his back kneeling in front of them.

"Please!" the man whimpered. "Let me go!"

The trio of figures ignored him as their chanting seemed to reach its crescendo. For a moment Maeve thought she might be sick as a wave of nausea washed over her and she saw Shay steady herself against the gantry as the witch too recoiled from the archaic chant. She swallowed the bile in her throat and forced herself to watch the ceremony that was taking place beneath them.

Two of the hooded figures stepped forwards to flank the larger man whilst the third reached into the folds of their robe and withdrew an ornate gold lamp. The fluted spout was decorated with vines etched into the metal whilst the main body was set with rubies that looked strangely dull in the pale light that lit the scene of the ceremony. Maeve felt Shay stir and saw that her eyes were fixed on the lamp.

The older man was weeping now, shaking his head from side to side as he stared fearfully at the lamp.

"What is that?" he cried. "What are you doing?"

"Blood remembers blood," the hooded figure, a woman, hissed. "Let us see if you are who we think you are."

She knelt in front of the man as her two accomplices grabbed his shoulders and pulled back his head to expose his throat. She then placed the lamp on the floor in front of him and produced a plain but elegant dagger from her robe which she drew across his throat in a single, swift motion. Maeve stifled a gasp as blood spurted from the open wound, splashing over the woman's arms and down onto the lamp at the dying man's feet. Where the blood touched the metal it began to hiss loudly and the rubies set into the metal began to glow brighter.

The woman carefully picked up the lamp, heedless of the blood that still trickled over its surface, as the two other figures let the lifeless body of their victim fall to the floor.

"I trust you enjoyed that?" she called suddenly to the darkness.

Maeve's blood turned to ice and she felt Shay tense beside her.

"Did you really think I could not smell your magic, Witch?" the woman said snidely. "I know you are here."

Shay glanced at Maeve before standing up and walking out across the gantry to look down at the woman. "Who are you?" she demanded.

The hooded woman cackled harshly. "Do you think me so foolish to tell you?" she hissed.

"Fine," Shay growled. "What do you want? Who was that man?"

"He was no one," the woman said bluntly. "But his ancestors once possessed this lamp and what it contained."

"A Djinn," Shay said.

"Ah, very good," the woman purred. "Only, this lamp has lain dormant for centuries. The Djinn within it must be awoken before its power can be claimed. Blood remembers blood."

"So you are using blood magic to awaken it?" Shay hissed. "Have you any idea how dangerous that is?"

The woman shrugged. "And why should you care?" she hissed. "This need not be your fight. In fact, I will make you a deal, Witch. You and your whore may leave the Golden City tonight. If you do, no harm will come to either of you."

"And if we refuse?" Shay replied cooly.

"Then we shall destroy you," the woman said, "And your whore will be my slave for eternity."

Shay smirked. "Then you leave us no choice."

It was at that moment that Maeve, who had crept around the other side of the gantry, leapt over the railing with both her swords drawn. She crashed into one of the woman's henchmen, driving one of her swords through his chest a using his body to cushion her landing. At the same time, Shay vaulted over the gantry and threw out her hands, bolts of purple magic springing from her fingers to strike at the woman who hissed loudly as she dove aside.

"Kill them!" she shrieked as the other hooded figure cast off his robe to reveal his soldier's uniform and the curved scimitar at his waist.

"I'll handle him," Maeve growled as Shay landed beside her. "Go get her."

She advanced on the soldier as Shay hurried off after the other woman. He was at least a foot taller than her and twice her weight and looked as though he could split her in half with one swing of his sword, but Maeve knew she was quicker. As they circled one another, the larger man launched himself towards her, slashing the air with his scimitar and forcing her to scamper out of reach. She darted forwards, ducking under his blade and scoring a shallow cut on his thigh that seemed only to enrage him further. The scimitar slashed at her again, driving her back between the shelves that were stacked high with pots and vases waiting to be painted by the warehouse staff. She kept just out of his reach, knowing that he would eventually tire and that would be her time to strike. Deeper within the warehouse she heard shouts and the sound of magic singing the air as Shay and the hooded woman fought.

The soldier swung his sword in an overhead slash that Maeve barely caught between her crossed swords. He smiled nastily as he put his full weight behind his blade, driving her down onto one knee as she strained to keep the sharp edge of his sword away.

"No where to run, whore!" the soldier growled. "We've all been promised a turn with you once the witch is dead!"

She gritted her teeth, her anger giving her the strength that she needed. She twisted out of his reach, the soldier's own momentum causing him to stumble forwards as she uncrossed her blades. She skipped past him, using the shelves like steps as she leapfrogged over the soldier and landed lightly behind him. The soldier turned at the same time as she did, his scimitar raised above his head. Maeve's first sword pierced his gut a moment before her second blade punched through his throat.

"You aren't my type," she snarled as she ripped the blades free from his body.

She stood still for a moment as she caught her breath, blood dripping from the ends of her blades, then she heard Shay cry out in pain and suddenly she was running past the shelves towards the main doors of the warehouse. The shelves had been blasted aside, twisted and warped by intense heat, and the floor was covered in bits of broken pottery. She saw Shay standing defiantly amongst the wreckage, blood oozing from a shallow cut on her cheek, whilst opposite the witch, her hood thrown back during the fight, stood Princess Katya.

"You have no idea what you are doing, Katya!" Shay called. "You cannot use blood magic to control the Djinn!"

The Princess cackled and Maeve saw that her palms were bleeding heavily. "You know nothing of what I can do, Witch!" she spat. "When the Djinn is mine, all of Arridia will bow before me!"

She threw out her hand, conjuring white shards that she hurled at Shay and Maeve. Maeve dove behind an overturned shelf and as the shards scattered past her she realised that they were tiny fragments of bone. She peered over the shelving unit in time to see Shay retaliate with darts of her own purple-black magic. They sliced through the air around Katya and the Princess hissed as one buried itself into her thigh.

"Give up, Katya!" Shay demanded. "You cannot defeat me!"

Katya bared her teeth, her expression becoming increasingly feral. "You have no idea what I can do!" she snarled. "Witness my power!"

Maeve watched as the Princess pressed her blood palm to the wound on her thigh and spat out a curse that turned her stomach. The room seemed to grow darker and Maeve yelped in surprise as she felt something curl around her ankle. She turned sharply, her eyes widening as the shadows of the warehouse seemed to come to life. Inky black tentacles of shadow magic coiled about her limbs and her throat, pinning her up against the shelves that she had been hiding behind. She snarled as she strained against the magic, dimly aware of Shay also struggling to free herself nearby. The tentacles forced their way into her mouth and coiled tightly over her eyes. Her heart was pounding and she could feel herself starting to lose consciousness moments before she heard a rush of wind and felt an intense heat singe her right arm. The tentacles that held her recoiled from the heat, releasing her arm and providing her the chance to snatch up her sword. She twisted, bringing the blade down on the magic that pinned her other arm and thought she even heard the tentacles screech as her blade sliced through them. She struggled to her feet, clawing the rest of the magic off of her body and looked around for Shay. The witch lay motionless beneath what appeared to be a blanket of shadow. Maeve rushed to her side, her swords flashing as she hacked her free. Shay's face was even paler than usual and she didn't appear to be breathing. Panic threatened to overwhelm Maeve but she forced it down as she lay the witch on the floor and attempted to breath life back into her body in the way she had seen the doctors attempt to revive people back in Everdale. The moments passed, each second feeling like an eternity until, mercifully, Shay spluttered and Maeve was rewarded with the sight of her chest slowly rising and falling once again.

"Shay!" she gasped. "Are you alright."

"Katya..." the witch groaned. "Where is..."

Maeve looked around but the Princess was nowhere to be seen.

"She's gone," she said grimly.

"Need to... Get out of here..." Shay gasped before her eyes slid shut again.

"Shay? Shay!?" Maeve gritted her teeth, reassuring herself that the witch was still breathing even as she slid in and out of consciousness. She had to get them out of the warehouse. She needed to get Shay back to the palace and then maybe she could find someone to help her. Her heart was racing as she returned her swords to her back and hauled the witch onto her shoulder. She found the side door that Katya must have used to escape and, after checking that there was no one lying in wait for her, made her way out into the night.

****

It took Maeve until the early hours of the morning to make it back to the palace, her body running on nothing but adrenaline and fear. She had done her best to navigate the twisting, winding streets of the Golden City but even then, she had been forced to turn back multiple times and had had to divert around the busier parts of town. Shay continued to slip in and out of consciousness on her back, the witch occasionally stirring for just long enough for Maeve to ask her which way to go, but it was clear that she was in a bad way.

When Maeve finally reached the palace gates, luck was once again on her side as a covered wagon was waiting to be permitted entrance to the grounds. She stole across the moonlit cobbles and hefted Shay into the back of the cart before scrambling in behind her moments before she felt the wagon trundle forwards beneath the gate. She listened to the sound of the horse's hooves on the cobbled drive, waiting until they were well past the gate before daring to risk a glance over the back of the wagon. She waited until she saw the main courtyard slide past before silently dragging Shay back onto her shoulder and extracting herself from the wagon. The witch felt ten times heavier than she had before and Maeve honestly did not know if she could make it back to her suite but she had no choice.

She stole across the drive into the gardens, circling the palace before entering through one of the archways into the empty throne room. She paused beside Junda's throne to catch her breath and felt Shay stir again.

"Maeve..." she groaned.

"It's alright," Maeve wheezed. "We're almost there."

"I can walk..." the witch whispered.

Maeve was disinclined to believe her but she had little choice given how exhausted she was. She gently lowed the witch from her shoulder and helped her to stand against the Sheik's throne.

"Are you alright?" Maeve asked.

Shay nodded unconvincingly. "You saved me," she wheezed.

"I haven't save you yet," Maeve muttered looking around. "We need to get you to a doctor."

"No doctors," Shay said firmly. "Just... Just get me back to the room."

Maeve licked her lips uncertainly before nodding. "Alright. Can you walk?"

The witch nodded and with Maeve's help they made it across the throne room and into the corridor beyond. They did not get far, however, before voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Lady Shay?"

Maeve's stomach knotted inside of her as she turned to face Fazah, the leader of the Sheik's personal guard. He was looking at them with a mixture of confusion and suspicion and Maeve noted that whilst he was dressed in a simple tunic, his sword still hung ready at his side.

"What's going on?" he growled as he saw Shay's condition.

"Fazah!" Maeve hissed urgently. "Please, I need your help! We were attacked!"

"Attacked?" he replied uncertainly. "Where? When?"

"I promise, I'll tell you everything," Maeve said. "But first I need you to help me get her back to her room!"

He chewed his tongue for a moment. "She looks like she needs a doctor," he muttered.

"No!" Maeve said more urgently than she had meant to. "Just... Please. Trust me."

Fazah stared at her for several long moments before walking up to them and placing his arm under Shay's other shoulder. "I'm starting to think you might not just be a concubine," he muttered.

"I swear, I'll tell you whatever you want to know," Maeve replied. "Just help me save her."

With Fazah's help, they made it back to the suite without anyone spotting them. They laid Shay on the bed and Maeve brought her water and honey to help soothe her throat. When the witch was finally sleeping, Maeve told Fazah everything, just as she had promised. She told him how the Sheik had warned Shay about the disappearances throughout the city, she told him about Shay's theory regarding the Djinn and what they had seen in the warehouse and how it had been Princess Katya who had led the ritual. He listened in silence, his expression unreadable apart from a small twitch of his brow when she mentioned the Princess' name. When she had finished he remained silent for a long time and she wondered if perhaps he thought she was lying to him.

"I never trusted Katya," he muttered.

Maeve blinked in surprise. That definitely hadn't been the response she had expected. "You believe me then?" she asked.

He nodded. "I do. But you have no proof. And not even Shay's word will be enough to condemn a member of the royal family."

"Then we need to find the proof," Maeve said. "The Princess was injured tonight. She had cuts on her hands and her thigh."

"It's a start," Fazah said. "I have people in the palace whom I still trust. I will consult with them and find out what I can. Do not worry, I will not mention either of you."

"Fazah..." Maeve began. "I... Thank you."

For the first time since she had met him, she felt that he truly saw her for what she was and that maybe, he didn't entirely despise what he saw. ""This is my home, Maeve," he growled. "I will do everything I can to protect it."

Maeve was about to reply when a sharp knock on the suite door caused them both to look round.

"Stay here," he ordered, standing up and walking over to answer the door.

"Fazah?" Maeve heard Mhati say in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Lady Shay is feeling unwell," the guard captain said without missing a beat. "I was passing when her concubine requested my assistance."

Maeve saw Mhati peer into the room, her brown furrowing beneath her silver, black hair. "Might I be of any help?" she asked. "I daresay I know a thing or two more about home remedies than you do."

Fazah glanced at Maeve who nodded. Aside from the guard captain, Mhati was probably the only other person in Arridia who she trusted to help her. She watched as Mhati swept across the room to Shay's side. She placed her hand on the witch's forehead and clicked her tongue.

"Ginger," she said. "There will be some in the cabinet there if you would, Fazah?"

Maeve watched him go to retrieve the herb before catching Mhati's eye. The older woman was examining her leather armour and when her eyes met Maeve's, she saw a little smirk tug at her lips.

"I do hope that isn't what you are planning to wear?" she said.

"Wear?" Maeve repeated uncertainly.

"For the first round of the games," Mhati exclaimed. "It begins at breakfast."

Amongst all of the excitement Maeve had almost forgotten that the games were about to start. Her mouth felt suddenly dry and an all too familiar knot returned to the pit of her stomach. She was already exhausted. How did anyone expect her to compete like this?

"I was coming to fetch you," Mhati continued. "It's traditional for the contestants to be formally presented on the first day of the games."

"I didn't know," Maeve began.

"Surely given the circumstances..." Fazah began.

"There are no exceptions," Mhati said, seeming genuinely sorry. "If Maeve wishes to compete then she cannot miss any of the events."

Maeve rubbed her face, her eyelids already feeling heavy. She couldn't walk away from the games. Shay was convinced that they were somehow connected to the Princess' plan and so she had to see them through, even if Shay wasn't there to support her.

"I'll do it," she said firmly. "Just... Please look after Shay."

Mhati smiled softly. "Of course we will," she whispered. "Fazah will stay with her until morning and I will help you prepare for the first round if you would like?"

Maeve cast one last look at Shay as she lay sleeping in bed. The witch had warned her that if they chose to stay and fight the Djinn that she might not be able to defeat it. Looking at her, lying there in bed a small and broken thing, Maeve felt more determined than ever to prove to Shay that there was nothing that the two of them could not face if they did it together.

She turned to Mhati and nodded. "Lets go," she said.

**** Author's Note ****

Sorry for the delay on this chapter! Life has got in the way of writing but hopefully things have quietened down a bit now and I should be back to more regular releases. As always, please remember to like and leave a comment!

Shadow