The Red Witch

Chapter 11

Screaming and cursing echoed through the entire castle and people rushed about making ready. Judith had gone into confinement two days ago after collapsing outside her carriage and since then, everything had been thrown into chaos. Karin made sure to keep out of the way and Greyson busied himself with his father’s duties as well as his own while the old man could only pace and wear out the stones of the floor. A physician came a few times but here was little he could do beyond mild pain relief. Betty was left to care for Judith, her being the most experienced in such matters but even she struggled to help Judith labour. Things were not going well. A near constant stream of women entered and left Judith’s private bedroom carrying buckets of water, soiled and clean linens for the bed. Karin could only listen to the horrors unfold from the far end of the corridor and for the first time, she actually felt pity for the woman. She had wished the woman much pain in the past but this was beyond anything she could have imagined and she silently begged forgiveness for her behaviour.

“When will it end?” Ferrydean cried as he continued to pace the floor. “Two days! Two days she’s been screaming like this. Your mother barely uttered a single word having you and you were the size of Bane!!”

“Calm yourself Father.” Greyson chuckled as he put his papers down and looked across the room. He spotted Karin lurking in the shadows with Bane. She looked utterly distraught at what was going on. “It’s not like women haven’t been doing this for thousands of years. Judith will be fine.”

“It’s not her that concerns me.” Ferrydean admitted.

“You’ll get your spare.” Greyson told him with a sigh, “And she’ll finally have the distraction to leave my wife alone.” He picked up the papers again and stacked them carefully in a leather envelope. “Or at least use the babe as an excuse to avoid her. Can’t have the redheaded imp spreading her evil to the innocent now, can we.” He grinned as he mocked his step-mother. He tied the leather closed and picked up his ale cup, still chuckling.

“Save your crudeness for another time.” Ferrydean snapped and then groaned as Judith’s screaming echoed through the hall again. “Better yet, get to work on your own heirs. I shall enjoy hearing that one scream.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Greyson said with a laugh before casting his eyes over at Karin. The girl looked even more horrified than ever.

“Something is wrong.” Judith whimpered as she crawled about the bed. “She’s cursed me! I know it! She’s killing us!”

“Nonsense!” Betty snapped. “The only one cursing in here is you, now shut up and let me check you.”

“You will not speak to me that way!” Judith grunted but did as Betty told her anyway.

“I’ll speak to you any damned way I choose.” Betty told her angrily. “And the only harm being done here is by you! That poor girl out there is not your scapegoat and neither shall I be so shut up, get on your back and let me do my thing, woman!”

“I’ll have you thrashed for this, cook!” Judith scorned.

“You’ll have to catch me first.” Betty told her flatly as she pushed Judith down and pushed her hand up between the woman’s thighs. Judith howled in agony and kicked Betty’s hip. Without hesitation, Betty whipped her hand away and then slapped Judith right across the face. All the screaming and carry on immediately stopped. “Finally!” Betty sighed and went back to work. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as she felt around inside Judith. “Oh no!” She breathed. Judith was right. Something was very wrong. “God forgive me!” She whimpered and reached further in and twisted her elbow. A sudden rush of blood flooded the bed as Betty pulled not the child from Judith but the afterbirth instead. “Please no!” She cried and began to pray as she pulled yard after yard of chord. “Lord, I beg you! I know I’ve said some awful things about Judith in the past and I’m sorry that I struck her but I beg you now, don’t let her child die?” Eventually, the chord became taught and Judith started screaming again. Betty ignored her and reached in again with both hands this time. Judith howled in agony but Betty refused to stop. The infant finally slid from Judith onto the bed and Betty quickly went about slapping its back and clearing its face so it could breathe. The child was tiny and frail but it was alive. “Oh Lord, thank you!” Betty cried with relief. She tied the chord off and cut it with a hot knife before swaddling it up and moving to Judith.

“What is it?” The woman asked quickly. “Tell me I have a son!” Her voice was desperate. Betty didn’t answer, instead, she left quickly and called for the physician to come. Judith unwrapped the child. “No!” The infant was not a boy. It was a girl. Judith pushed the crying baby away, shaking her head. Her handmaid came quickly and wrapped the child once more. She tried to give the girl back but Judith refused. “That is not my baby.” She said darkly. “My child is male. Find my son!”

“My Lady, this is your child.” The girl told her.

“Find my boy!” Judith yelled. The handmaid fled to the door with the infant but as she opened it, Ferrydean stood proudly and Judith flinched. “No!” She yelled, “No! She stole him! That witch stole my son!” Ferrydean looked at his wife and then her handmaid.

“You have a daughter Sire.” The girl offered him quietly. Judith continued to protest as he took the infant and stepped out of the room. The physician arrived seconds later and Ferrydean then left with the infant girl.

The fire roared in the main hall as Ferrydean watched one of the kitchen maids nurse the new-born. At least he didn’t have to employ a wet-nurse from the brothel. Greyson arrived with Karin and Bane as the evening bell was rung and while he took up his own chair with a sigh of relief, Karin sat easily on the floor with Bane. “All that screaming and fuss.” Greyson said bemused, “Over something so tiny.” He offered a small laugh. “Are you happy now Father? You have your spare.” He then looked around. “Where is my step-mother? I imagine she must be resting up after all that noise.”

“It’s a girl.” Ferrydean said quietly. “And my wife has just been told she is now barren.”

“Oh.” Greyson said, his smile fading. Karin looked up at both men.

“She is adamant that Karin has cursed her and stolen her true child.” Ferrydean said.

“Bullshit!” Greyson snapped. “Absolute and utter horse crap. Surely you don’t believe her?”

“Right now, I don’t know what to believe.” Ferrydean said, looking down at Karin briefly. His gaze passed as quick as it came and he looked at Greyson. “I think it best you send her away for a while.”

“Father!” Greyson snapped. “Karin had nothing to do with it! Why blame her for Judith’s selfish need? She’s done nothing wrong and I won’t allow it.”

“Send her away.” Ferrydean demanded quietly.

“I’m sitting right here.” Karin interjected firmly. She got to her feet and folded her arms. “As far as I know, only God can decide whether to give you a daughter or a son and I won’t listen to this crap about sending me away for something I have no control over. You should be grateful you have a child and a wife that still lives. Do you know how many husbands out there would kill to be in your place? You really are a selfish old goat, Ferrydean!” She dropped her arms and stormed past them both. “Bane! Come!” The hound followed faithfully and Greyson glared at his father.

“She takes my hound.” Ferrydean said with a sigh, “She takes my son and now she thinks to take the high ground over me? What next? My very house?”

“Bane knows loyalty when he sees it.” Greyson returned sharply, “And I know my own mind. Karin takes the high ground because you won’t but don’t worry, she won’t have your blasted castle. That’s mine.” He also got to his feet and turned to leave. He stopped briefly and smiled down at the suckling infant. “Hang on in there squirt.” He whispered to her tenderly. “Papa will pull his head from his arse eventually.” He gave the kitchen maid a warm smile and then left the main hall.

“Would you catch a chicken for me, child?” Betty asked as she moved around the fire, stirring the evening meal.

“Of course.” Karin replied.

“Best make it two.” Betty told her with a smile, “The Lady will need some good solid food to regain her strength.”

“Right away.” Karin hopped off the table and made for the back door. Bane made to follow her but she stopped him at the door. “I can catch a few chickens Bane.” She told him, “Go pester Betty for some scraps.” The hound offered a whimper of protest but turned about and Karin left the kitchen. With his head down, his tail between his legs, he went back to Betty and looked at her forlornly.

“What’s the matter with you?” Betty asked him as she threw some scraps down for him. He sniffed but didn’t take them. He began to whine and look at the door and then suddenly, he growled and ran for it. “Stupid beast!” She snapped. “What is wrong with you?” She went after him and opened the door for him to go out. He bolted. “Dammit!” She looked to the coop to find it empty with the gate wide open and several of the chickens escaping. “Karin?”

If the sudden darkness hadn’t been enough, the blow to her head definitely did the trick. She groaned quietly as she felt herself being moved. No, she wasn’t moving. Something was moving with her on it. Her breath was hot against the stinking hood covering her head and her shoulders ached from being bound. She had no idea where she was or how long she had been knocked out. The rag in her mouth made her protests little more than a mumble. A dip in the road made the cart bounce and Karin grunted in discomfort as something heavy fell on her. “We have company.” Said one of her captors. His voice was muffled but she recognised him immediately. It was Thackery.

“It’s that old flea bag of hers.” Said a second voice. Hamish. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.” In the blackness of the cloth, she couldn’t see what was happening but she heard plenty. She heard the thwap of a bow string and then Bane yelp in pain. She whimpered softly and struggled against her bonds but they were tight and fast. She was going nowhere.

Eventually the cart stopped and Karin felt her brothers’ rough hands drag her from the cart. She tried to fight but one of them simply dragged her arms up behind her until she yelped in pain and was forced to walk bent over. She tripped on her skirts a few times until finally, she fell near something solid. Finally, the stinking hood was removed and she looked at her brothers hatefully. Thackery pulled the rag from her mouth and she coughed before spitting at them. “You’ll hang for this!” She yelled before coughing again to clear her throat of the foul cloth.

“I doubt that.” Hamish said with mirth as he squatted in front of her. “In fact, we will be handsomely rewarded. I always knew you’d be worth more dead than alive Karin.” He laughed dryly and stood up, unbuttoning his trousers. He proceeded to urinate all over her. “Greetings from Father.” He chuckled. Karin coughed and spluttered as she turned her head away and shuffled back against the gravestones of Fergus Tilling.

“Where is she?!” Greyson stormed into the main hall as Ferrydean got to his feet. “What have you don’t with her?!”

“Who?” The old man asked quickly, putting his ale cup down. “What are you talking about?”

“You know full well, old man!” Greyson boomed. “Where is my wife?”

“I know not!” Ferrydean shouted back.

“Liar!” Greyson snapped, turning on his father and towering over him. “You demand I send her away and when I refuse, she suddenly disappears the moment my back is turned. What have you done with her?!”

“I’ve done nothing!” Ferrydean said, holding his ground though it was clear he was terrified in that moment. “I swear to God, I don’t know where she is!” He then began to choke as Greyson took him by the throat, nearly lifting him clear off the ground. He spluttered and clawed at his son’s hand and eventually, Greyson realised the old man was telling the truth. He set his father down again and pushed him into his chair.

“If anything happens to Karin, I swear to God…” Greyson said menacingly.

“You swear what?” Asked Judith from the top of the stairs. “You’ll murder your own father?” She smiled and narrowed her eyes at him before descending the stairs. “Well now, isn’t this a frightful scene.” She moved to the bench and sat down carefully. “Father and son trying to kill each other… well, the son anyway. Pray tell, what would drive you to such rage dear boy?”

“Karin is missing.” He said.

“Oh dear!” Judith said with a feigned gasp of shock. “How awful.” She looked to Ferrydean and smiled, “Husband, dear. Would you send out some men to look for Greyson’s missing witch? I hate to see him so grief-stricken.” Her smile never faltered and Greyson knew immediately she had something to do with it. He stepped to her and glowered at her.

“Where is she?” He demanded angrily.

“I have no idea!” She replied with an icy chuckle, “I doubt anyone does. You know how these girls are. Here one minute, gone the next.” She shrugged her shoulders and laughed again. Leaning over quickly, Greyson gripped the high back of the bench and stooped down to Judith, his nose barely an inch from hers. She pressed her back and head into the bench and her smile dropped.

“Your step-mother has just given birth Greyson.” Ferrydean said, coming to her defence. “How could she know anything?”

“You know.” Greyson said darkly and with danger in his voice. “And I know it. Where is Karin?”

“She doesn’t know!” Ferrydean snapped, grabbing his son by the shoulder.

“This isn’t over.” Greyson said, almost drooling over Judith and pushed himself away from her and he turned about to face his father. “Pray that she isn’t harmed.” He hissed. “Or by God, I’ll see you both swing for it.” He then pushed his father aside and stormed from the main hall. “Someone fetch my horse!” He boomed.

Adjusting her seat a little, Judith smiled proudly. “Ding dong, the bells shall ring.” She sang quietly, “The witch is dead, we all shall sing.” Slowly, Ferrydean turned to face her, his face draining of blood. “Worry not, Husband.” She told him brightly, “All shall be right again very soon.”

“Judith, what have you done?”