Free The Obsidian Dagger by Brad A. LaMar Page B

after strike. The moat at the castle’s base was alive with slithery creatures craving an unsuspecting caller or perhaps a girl scout with a wagon full of cookies.
    Morna was nearly giddy at the thought of the plan. They were nearly complete and soon the rule of man would be over and the wizards and witches that once dominated Europe would reign supreme once again. None of the others even knew of her plan, except for Conchar, of course, but he had long since went into hiding, leaving her alone and brewing. It surprised her that her mentor had not wanted to follow through on his own design, but he had planted the idea in her that it could work, and that was good enough for her. The old wizard probably didn’t have it in him so he left it to the next generation. Fine by her.
    She considered these things as she marched briskly down the stone hallway toward the dungeon. She pointed her finger at the door and threw her arm to the side and invisibly forced the door open, slamming it into the wall. She strutted inside and grinned at Duncan.
    Duncan jumped to his feet and yelled, “What did you do to Wardicon?”
    Morna cackled the evil laugh that haunts dreams and scares children. “Do you like his new look?” She spared a glance his way. “I hear everyone in our hidden world is wearing it these days. Or at least they will be.”
    Duncan folded his arms in defiance. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œPoor little Wardicon and his Sidhes are only one step, Duncan,” Mornan began.
    â€œThe Sidhes are a peaceful clan, but look at what you’ve made of their king!”
    Morna tipped her head to the side in a consenting nod. She walked over and touched the top of Wardicon’s cage causing blue electricity to travel throughout. Wardicon leapt to the air in anger, flapping his bat-like wings and shrieking in a high-pitched, unrecognizable cry. He clawed at the witch before collapsing to the base unconscious.
    â€œSuch dark beauty I’ve created, isn’t it?” She removed her hand and licked her lips in enjoyment as his little body continued to convulse. “And to think, Wardicon was nothing more than what you say. Peaceful. Dull. Not under my control.”
    â€œBut why?” implored Duncan. “You’ve kept to yourself for all these years, why attack the Sidhes?”
    â€œWhat do you think I’ve been doing for the last hundred and fifty years, Duncan? Getting my nails done?” She scoffed and then looked down at her fingernails, noticing that perhaps she was due for a manicure. “I’ve been reading and training for, I don’t know, taking over the world. You know, forming it into my idea of a utopia.”
    â€œApparently you mean pain and misery for everyone.”
    â€œNow you’re catching on,” she cheered. “The humans and the clans who agreed to this self-imposed hiatus will especially suffer.”
    â€œBut why hold him here like that?” Duncan gestured at the sad mass that lay in a convulsing heap. Wardicon’s wing was crumpled awkwardly beneath his frame.
    â€œTo make it simple enough for your little mind to comprehend, Duncan, I just need to possess the keeper of a clan’s magic and cast a few spells from magic long forgotten to be in control of the clan.”
    â€œSo, as long as you have him, you control the Sidhes?” Duncan shook his head in disbelief. “But why would you need to?”
    Morna raised her brow. “You’d be surprised at how powerful the Sidhes are, Leprechaun. As a matter of fact, a little demonstration may be in order.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œWhen you arrived I noticed that my griffin was missing a feather. He wants it back.”
    Duncan was still confused. “I don’t have its feather.”
    â€œI know that, simpleton. It seems to be traveling towards us as we speak, but the search party from your village is taking their