The Nemesis, The Wizard and The Waterfall. Book One.

Chapter Eight

  The Three Sisters were startled by the shimmering red light that formed before them, coalesced, and became solid in the form of a giant barbarian warrior, at least four times larger than normal, with long black hair, and black beard plaited with small human thighbones.

  ‘Bagarnack, how nice of you to visit us,’ said Gremelda, with razor sharp sarcasm.

  ‘Gremelda, Grinfreda, Grunhilda, looking as beautiful as ever. How long’s it been, ten thousands years?’

  ‘More like fifty, you Twanguine.’

  Bagarnack gave a great belly laugh. ‘Gremelda, even after so long your tongue is still as sharp as Clarissa’s scimitar.’

  Grinfreda spoke, ‘What do you want Bagarnack, come to release us?’

  ‘Not yet, although I might if you do as I ask.’

  ‘Command more like,’ said Grunhilda.

  ‘Obviously this has something to do with Elijah,’ said Gremelda.

  ‘Perceptive as ever. You’re to kill Elijah.’

  ‘We guessed that,’ answered Grinfreda.

  ‘You cannot kill him yourself,’ said Grunhilda.

  ‘Because he’s become too powerful,’ said Gremelda, ‘your magic doesn’t affect him.’

  ‘Which means,’ said Grinfreda, ‘our magic will not affect him either.’

  ‘Ah ladies, in that you’re wrong, one of you will enter his dreams and kill him.’

  ‘That means one of us will also die,’ said Grunhilda.

  ‘Not exactly, Grunhilda. You could trap him in his dream, poison him, then escape quickly.’

  ‘But what if he wakes before one of us can trap him?’ asked Gremelda.

  ‘Be quick, then.’

  ‘Your plan is full of holes Bagarnack,’ said Grinfreda, ‘One of us will surely die.’

  ‘It is a sacrifice one of you must make to free the other two. It’s your choice. Two gain freedom and one might die, or three gain freedom if the one does it right. Those are my terms. Or do nothing and remain prisoners for the rest of eternity, and I’ll send such creatures to haunt you every waking moment and nightmares that’ll drive you to madness.’

  ‘Your threats means nothing to us Bagarnack,’ spoke Grunhilda, ‘you forget we also have power.’

  ‘Yes, power I gave to you, godlike power, but nothing compared to my full power. Think it over my lovely ladies, either kill Elijah or suffer my wrath.’

  As he shrunk his body seemed to flash, and the last thing he said was, ‘I’ll leave so you may decide your plan. I’ll return soon to review your progress.’

  Bagarnack instantly disappeared in a blinding flash of red light that each of the Three Sisters knew he’d done for effect, to demonstrate the extent of his powers.

  ‘Nevermind that,’ answered Grinfreda, ‘who’s the one that’s going to enter Elijah’s dream?’

  ‘Well,’ started Gremelda.

  ‘As Bagarnack said,’ muttered Grinfreda.

  ‘Then who’ll do it?’ asked Grunhilda.

  There was silence. The Three Sisters stared at each other, lost in thought. Then finally, Gremelda announced, ‘I’ll do it.’

  Grinfreda and Grunhilda gazed in awe and shock.

  ‘I’ll do it because... I, I’m the oldest.’ stammered Gremelda.

  Her sisters still didn’t understand, so Gremelda explained, ‘I’ve lived longer than you two. I want to give you a chance to live long, and as the oldest, I have responsibility, but I may still live.’

  ‘Gremelda?’ sobbed Grinfreda, ‘you’ll be killed.’

  ‘It’s our only choice. Anyway, we must prepare.’

  The Three Sisters split up and walked into different parts of their mountain home, making preparations for an assassination...