“Stop crying, child, we need you strong. Now tell us, plainly, what are the dark ones?” I asked sincerely. Gerda looked up at me with great fear in her eyes and tears that streamed down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and began to speak.
“They are sisters, witches; yet they were not always evil. Many years ago, they were young beautiful women of our village who married into a wealthy family of land owners. Agatha and Arna were prized above all other women in the village for their beauty and grace. One day, their men went Viking and left for a raid. That very same day strangers came into the village and took them captive. For many days and many nights the strangers had their way with the women as they were deprived of food, water, and freedom. Agatha one day found a way to free herself
