James Clemens - Witch War: The Banned and the Banished Book Three

======================Notes:Scanned by JASC If you correct any minor errors, please change the version number below (and in the filename) to a slightly higher one e.g. from .9 to .95 or if major revisions, to v. 1.0/2.0etc..Current e-book version is .9 (most formatting errors have been correctedbut OCRerrors still occur in the text, especially the first word in every chapter.)Comments, Questions, Requests (no promises): daytonascan4911@hotmail.comDO NOT READ THIS BOOK OF YOU DO NOT OWN/POSSES THE PHYSICALCOPY. THAT IS STEALING FROM THE AUTHOR.--------------------------------------------Book Information:Genre: Epic FantasyAuthor: James Clemens Name: Witch WarSeries: Banned and the Banished 3 ====================== Witch WarBook 3 of the Banned and the Banished-James Clemens FOREWORD TO WITCH WAR(NOTE: The following is an open letter from Professor J. P. Clemens, the translator of The Bannedand the Banished series)Dear Students,As the historian of this textbook, I welcome you back to this series of translated texts and beg a moment ofyour time to comment on my work and some of the rumors surrounding it.As is well known, the original scrolls were lost to antiquity, and only crumbling handwritten copiesdiscovered over five centuries ago in caves on the Isle of Kell yet remain of this most ancient tale. Becausethis language has been dead for over a millennium, hundreds of historians and linguistic experts haveattempted to tackle the reconstruction and translation of these Kelvish Scrolls. Yet under my supervision atthe University of Da Borau, a team of distinguished colleagues finally accomplished the impossible: thecomplete and truest translation of the tale of Elena Morinstal.In your hands is my lifes work. And I wanted to state that I believe my translations should stand on theirown merits.Yet, over my objections, my fellow scholar, Jirrob Sordun, had been assigned to write forewords to the firsttwo books, to warn readers about the devious nature of the scrolls original author.Now were these doleful warnings truly necessary? As much as I respect Professor Sordun, I believe these

ancient histories of Alaseas black age do not need embellishments or extravagant introductions. Thoughthis ancient age of our land is cloaked in mystery and muddled by conflicting accounts, any person of soundmind will know the tales herein are just the twisted fictions of some ancient madman. Do we really needSordun to point this out to us? Lets look to the facts.What do we truly know of this black age? We know Elena was a true historical figurethere are toomany contemporary references to deny thisbut her role during the uprising against the Gulgotha isobviously a whimsical tale. She was not a witch. She did not have a fist stained with blood magicks. Iwager that some charlatans had painted her hand crimson and propped her up as some anointed savior,milking the simple village folk of their hard-earned coppers. Among this troupe of tricksters was obviously awriter of some modest skill who created these wild stories to bolster their fake leader. I imagine he regaledthe farmers with these fabrications, which he passed off as real eventsand so the myth of the witch wasforged.I can picture the gap-toothed farmers staring slack jawed as the story teller related tales of highland ogres,woodland nymphs, mountain nomads, and silver-haired elvin. I can imagine their gasps as Elena wieldedher magick of fire and ice. But surely in todays enlightened Alasean society, there is no need to warnreaders so vocally that such things are fictions.So with that said, I must make one confession. As I translated these series of scrolls, I began to believethem just a bit. Who wouldnt want to believe that a young girl from some remote apple orchard could endup changing the world? And what she accomplished at the endwhat the author claimed occurredwhowouldnt want to believe that to be true?Of course, being a scholar, I know better. Nature is nature, and what the author proposes at the very end ofthe scrolls is obviously a falsehood that can only weaken our society. For this reason, I have also come toaccept that my translations should be banned and kept only for the few enlightened, for those who wont beduped by its final message.However, even with these tight restrictions, Ive begun to hear absurd rumors surrounding the requiredfingerprint that binds each text to its reader. It is whispered in certain circles that some readers thosewho have marked each of the five textbooks with their finger-prints and bound the compiled series in silk ribbon, or so the story goeshave found themselves beguiled byancient magicks that have reached out from my translated words. I believe the fault for this ridiculousnotion lies with the university press that produces this series. The requirement to mark each of the fivevolumes with the print from a different finger of the right hand only fosters such foolishness. For a publisherto require such a thing, especially when the story in these books suggests that powerful magick can bewielded by a witchs hand, is downright negligent on the part of the publisher.Though I am flattered at such supposed power behind my work, I cant help but be shocked and befuddledby such blatant foolishness.So perhaps I judge too harshly my illustrious colleague. Maybe it is best after all to warn all potentialreaders.So let me repeat Jirrob Sorduns final word of caution as printed in the foreword to the first text:Remember, at all times,in your waging hours and in your dreams,The author is a liar.Sincerely and humbly,J. P. Clemens,

Professor of Ancient HistoriesAssignation of Responsibility for the third scrottThis copy is being assigned to you and is your sole responsibility. Its loss, alteration, or destructionwill result in severe penalties, as stated in your local ordinances. Any transmission, copying, oreven oral reading in the presence of a nondassmate is strictly forbidden. By signing below andplacing your fvnger-print, you accept all responsibility and release the university from anydamage it may cause youor those I aroundyouby its perusal.SignatureDatePlace inked print of the middle jmger of your right hand here:*** WARNING ***If you should perchance come upon this text outside of properuniversity channels, please close this book now and alert theI proper authorities for safe retrieval. Failure to do so can lead to yourimmediate arrest and incarceration.TOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.WITCH WARHeralded by a dragon d roaran? born in a maebtrom of ice and flame,this is the way the war began. Through my open window, I can hear the strum of a lyres chords and the tinkle of a minstrels voice risinglike steam from the streets below. It is the height of the Midsummer Carnivale here in the city of Gelph. Asthe searing heat of the day winds down to the sultry hours of evening, townspeople gather in the square forthe Feast of the Dragon, a time of merriment and rejoicing.Yet I cant help but frown at the gaiety of the celebrants. How much the fools have forgotten! Even nowas I sit with pen and paper and prepare once again to continue the witchs tale, I can hear the screams ofthe slaughtered and the blood roar of dragons behind the music and happy voices outside my window.The true meaning for this celebration has been lost over the ages. The first Midsummer Carnivale was asomber affair, meant to cheer the few survivors of the War of the Isles, a time for wounds to heal and forspirits torn by blade and betrayal to be restored. Even the meaning behind the ritual exchange of fakedragons teeth and baubles painted like precious black pearls has been forgotten by the present revelers. Itwas once meant to signify the bond betweenAh but I get ahead of myself. After so many centuries, with my head so full of memories, I seemconstantly to find myself unhooked from times inevitable march. As I sit in this rented room, surrounded bymy parchments and inks, it seems like only yesterday that Elena stood on the bluffs of Blisterberry andstared out across the twilight sea at her dragon army. Why is it that the older one gets, the more valuablethe past becomes? What once I fled from is now