Seasons Of Time

Chapter 2 "Trial By Flame"

I saw the door and I made a break for it Odin at my heels the moon was full and high above the huge increasely dense forest of Oak, Hazel and Birch trees, I saw 3 horses tethered made my way over and the larger of the 3 freed himself by rearing away from his restraints a large black stallion I was weak he approached me and i feebly jumped on I knew he would take me swiftly we set off no hesitation how amazing it was to once again feel the wind blowing through my hair feeling the cold burn on my face crisp autumnal night air, as we speed out the barely there gate I look behind me and got a quick glimpse the b***h at the kennel door and Odin in hot persuit, unsure of whether he wanted to get at the magnificent horse beneath me or his loyalty to me overcame him! the canter soon turned into a gallop the twigs and leaves smacking my face and body as we steamed past the large trees lit only by the night sky I could feel the horses heart quickening I could hear the crowds of people and i new we were getting close I could see an opening in the trees I could hear the distant orcastral baroque band playing Antonio Vivaldi the four seasons I stopped tethered the horse on a nearby tree and turned to Odin who was lead down panting "stay" I walked over to the crowd and started making my way through the people all like me dressed in rags as I got closer to the front I knew I had been recognised picking up pace I heard a loud bellowing voice behind me "so it would seem as though the moth has indeed been drawn to the flame" I looked round and their he was in all his pompous glory Cardinal Fabrizo Paolucci italian roots in his red garments made me laugh did these men of god! claim to be all that's good yet wear red! I was about to paint this whole town red and I smirked at the thought. looking around me I saw the huge burnt stakes ontop of huge platforms with fresh straw ready to be set alight by the torches there must be 100s of them I turned my attention back to the cardinal "well? are we going to get on with it or do you need a minute to confer with your god?" he shot his disapproving look at me and proclaimed loudly "so the witch has come here to the burning to die with her sisters" "seeking the comfort of the flame I shall grant her this wish, take her and bind her let's get the rest of them out I'm sure there eager to enter heavens gates" I rolled my eyes at the prospect, the crowd was starting to get rowdy I could see the que of women coming down bleeding in pairs head shaven in there white smocks they had been partly drowned, beaten and starving, I could taste blood as i was dragged onto one of the platforms and tied I realised I didn't sense any other magic not even a trace these women were Human!

I could hear the cardinal "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti" I could feel the panic as much as I could hear it in the women's screams I could feel the heat approaching behind me the roar of the crowd and the splashes of the mouldy produce being hurled at us, the townsfolk rushed to the torches around us and set the pyre alight underneath me the flames licking my arms and feet I looked to the side of me and saw one woman engulfed in flames just a little longer hold on I could feel the heat and couldn't see anything other than the white orange and yellow curtain in front of me I could feel myself trembling the time is now I threw my arms out to the side looked up to the moon closed my eyes and embraced the fire I could feel it surging through my body the delectable burning that coursed through my veins my head spinning with thoughts of fury I could hear the gasps as the flames from the steaks were rapidly being soaked up by me I heard panicked crys and feet they were trying to get away my rage boiling inside like a volcano ready to explode I looked down they were scrambling pushing and shoving, stomping on top of one another, burnt woman left on the floor with skin peeling from there naked body's I could feel the fire vibrating in my hands just itching to get out i spread my palms screamed and released the tension the flames surging out of my hands unleashing it on them all, all that fire all that heat the power it coursed through me like it was the most natural phenomenon. I spotted the cardinal being rushed away at the edge of the forest I made my way down setting fire to everyone in my path "Cardinal! going somewhere?" he turned in terror as I turned the entire group he was with into ash "please" he begged "I will pay you whatever you want, please whatever you want its yours!" I looked at the pathetic fat man " and what of your salvation? do you not want to meet your god?" "f**k you, you devil's w***e if I die I will find peace you will never walk in the kingdom of heaven or feel the embrace of the Lord..... I didn't even give him a chance to finish as I stared at the lump of bone and Ash on the floor wondering if he was going to meet his precious god and if he approved of all the lives he had taken. sounds like the devil's work to me but then again I wasn't entirely sure if he existed either.

I looked around at the smoking clearing and felt strong ready to do what i came to this blasted era to do, everything is always the same, always a setback I needed to find a way into court but I wasn't going to do that with nothing on but the coat I'd taken of a crying man on my way to the cardinal I started to walk back into the forest and there odin was sat in the same place next to the horse where I left him wagging that tail of his I let out a little giggle all that commotion and he didn't bat an eyelid I mounted the gelding and set off to town I needed to get to nannys get the watch, find the map for the key sometimes it seemed as though the tables would never turn but like nanny always says "If the tables won't turn flip them the f**k over" il start at the house because first, I need a bath!

listening to the crunching of the leaves beneath me as I rode into town with Odin keeping the pace I couldn't help appreciate my flare for the dramatic and wondered if the cardinal appreciated his own trial by flame.