CHAPTER 167

500 B.C.E,

"ANNIKA, DO NOT do this," One of the women said in a long forgotten language. "This is against the laws."

"The laws do not apply to me," The woman called Annika said, looking back. She pulled down the hooded shawl made from dried animal skin from her head, revealing a very pretty face, bright blue eyes, and high cheekbones framed with dirty blond hair. "I made the law." Her eyes flashed across the plain, empty desert that stretched all around them and their small, shabby looking tents.

This was one of the first ever covens of witches to roam the earth. They were more of wanderers, moving from place to place, following the wind, and signs they saw in the night sky.

"Annika," an older woman said, walking out of the tent on shaky legs. The wind was heavy and threatened to sweep her away, but she made it up to Annika and placed a hand on her arm. Annika looked at the elder witch and the red blood markings that covered most of her face. "What you are planning to do... it will s