The Red Witch

Chapter 20

The chapel bell rang loudly, calling all the valley to prayer for the special day. Ferrydean’s favourite chair had been dressed for the King to take his place and the Bishops stood in their finest under the gleaming golden cross. Ferrydean and Greyson were at the front as expected while Karin and Gwen were consigned to stand behind. Faith stayed with Karin and played with a little straw dolly that Karin had made her as she bounced the child lightly on her hip. Dane entered and all bowed as he passed them to the front of the temple and took his place behind the Bishops. The celebrations and prayers began and Karin listened and smiled happily as the sun shone brightly on the clear but cold day and reflected down into the chapel and onto the King. Afterwards, the King gave his blessing and the people of the valley were allowed to pay homage to him. He gave a few some pennies and then left, followed closely by his Bishops. Grace collected Faith and took her into the gardens to play while Karin and Gwen were left faced with the people. Gwen seemed terrified but Karin took her by the arm and pulled out her purse. She encouraged Gwen to do the same and they made their way through, giving everyone a coin until both purses were empty. It wasn’t enough and soon, Greyson and Ferrydean’s purses were also empty. “That’s all I have!” Karin called sadly as she turned the purse inside out to prove it. “I’m sorry.” Gwen did the same and the women were finally allowed to escape. Greyson and Ferrydean weren’t so lucky.

Afternoon came with singing and games and then dancing in the evening. Dane watched on with a smile, Ferrydean at his side while Greyson danced around the hall with Karin and then Gwen and then Faith. By the evening bell, most were quite drunk, including the King. Greyson opened the doors to the castle, allowing the people to join in also and this seemed to both shock and please Dane. Even a few of the guards were allowed to join them. After a while, Karin was forced to retire from the merriment and took a place on the balcony to catch her breath and calm down a little. She leaned against the railing and watched on happily as Greyson chased his baby sister about, lifting and swinging her about before letting her go and repeating the action. Karin then jumped and yelped slightly as she felt her baby kick inside. She smiled proudly and closed her hands over her belly before casting her gaze back down into the hall. The festivities would last late into the night no doubt but she didn’t mind. Then, from her vantage point, she spotted something odd. Amidst the frivolity and chaos of bright colours beneath her, a dark cloak appeared near the back entrance of the hall and moved around the hall, clinging to the shadows almost. Karin stood up from the railing and moved along the balcony to get a better view of the stranger. The cloak was tattered and worn and a flash of a ragged brown skirt beneath said the stranger was a woman. She hadn’t seen anyone like that earlier in the day. She thought perhaps it was a beggar passing through the valley and thought to take advantage of the celebrations to get some food and warmth. Being the day it was, Karin decided she would greet the stranger and offer her what she wanted so she wouldn’t have to steal it.

Moving down the stairs, Karin kept the stranger in sight, watching closely as they navigated the shadows with great care. She watched the hood turn as though searching for something, or someone. Karin made it to the bottom and quickly approached, giving her best smile. “I bid you welcome, Stranger.” She offered politely. The hooded woman turned sharply and just for a second, Karin caught a glimpse beneath the tattered wool of a dirty face and dirty blonde hair. Small dirty hands clasped together tightly and the woman backed up sharply. “Do not fear.” Karin said warmly. “You are welcome here.” She c****d her head a little, trying to see under the hood again. “Are you hungry, Miss?” The other woman nodded. Karin smiled, “Come.” She said, holding her hand out. “Let’s get you something to warm you through.” She made to lead the woman to the door towards the kitchens. Dane was by the fire and Karin felt he would be offended if she were to bring a beggar to sit with him. The woman took her hand and Karin noticed her skin was soft. It was unusual. She passed it off for the moment and quietly led the woman away. In the middle of the room, Greyson noticed his wife speaking with someone and stopped swinging Faith about. Gwen seemed happy to take the girl from him and he made his way through the crowd to follow.

The kitchens were quiet as Betty and her staff were enjoying themselves upstairs. Only a few lower maids went here and there to keep things in order. Otherwise, Karin and the stranger were alone. “Have you come from afar?” Karin asked as she filled a bowl with hot broth and then a large cup of hot milk and honey.

“No Mistress.” The woman replied, still keeping her head down. Her voice was soft and quiet, again, unusual to Karin. Perhaps the woman had once held standing but had fallen on hard times. It happened often enough.

“Are you from the valley?” Karin asked.

“No Mistress.” The woman replied again, “I have come from South of the river.”

“That’s quite a walk.” Karin said, becoming somewhat confused. She handed the bowl and cup over and the woman quickly ate and drank.

“I lived here once but it was long ago.” The woman told her.

“May I ask what happened to you?” Karin asked politely.

“I was cursed.” The woman said. Karin flinched and closed her eyes a moment.

“I’m sorry.” She offered, “What makes you believe that?”

“She took everything from me.” The woman said quietly, finishing her meal. “My home, my husband, everything. I was cast out alone with nothing.” Karin closed her eyes again, turning back to the fire for a moment. She remembered Judith and the hatred the woman had shown her.

“I was cursed once also.” She offered the stranger. “My father believed I was a witch.” She collected the bowl and refilled it. “He sold me for the price of the lease on his farm to be rid of me.”

“Who did he sell you to?” The woman asked.

“Lord Ferrydean.” Karin told her honestly. “I was to be a handmaid to the Lady at the time but she didn’t want me. She believed as my father did so he sold me to his son instead. Thankfully, his son didn’t believe in such things.” She smiled then.

“What happened?” The woman asked quietly.

“He married me.” Karin said with a happy smile and then touched her belly lightly.

“You are lucky.” The woman said, nodding her hood at Karin’s belly.

“The good Lord has blessed me.” Karin replied with a smile and held the bowl out again. The woman took it but didn’t eat again. Instead, she put it by the edge of the fire and slowly got to her feet.

“Mine was taken from me.” The woman said, her voice becoming angry. “I was promised a son but she stole him from me and left me barren.” Karin’s face drained of blood and she backed up, finally making the connection. “But instead of punishing her and casting her out as the witch she was, she turned my husband against me. He cast me into purgatory without a home, nor my name.” She drew a small blade from under her cloak.

“Judith!” Karin gasped.

Karin tried to flee the kitchen by the stairs but Judith quickly blocked her path and so Karin made for the back door instead. She didn’t know that Betty had locked it to stop anyone thieving from the kitchen. Judith moved almost slowly, enjoying the fear in Karin. “You can’t run from me.” She called with a maniacal laugh. “And you can’t hide. I know this castle better than you ever shall.” Karin ran from the locked door to the pantry, praying that Betty hadn’t locked the hatch as well. She had. Instead, Karin slammed the pantry door closed and sat against it as she looked around for any sign of escape. “Greyson can’t save you this time, witch!” Judith called, still laughing. “Nor your stupid slobbering mutt!” She moved to the pantry door and knocked almost politely. “Knock, knock Karin.” She said.

“Go away!” Karin yelled back and then screamed in terror as she felt Judith slam against the door. “Help!” She yelled, “Someone help!”

“Only Death is coming for you.” Judith called through the door as she barrelled into it again. The hinge began to give out and Judith smiled darkly. “And I shall hand you to him with pleasure!” She lifted her foot and kicked the door. Karin screamed again as the top hinge gave out and snapped a plank. Judith quickly reached through with her dagger and sliced at Karin. She fled from the door to the back wall and quickly took up a heavy jug. Judith finally gained entrance to the pantry, her dagger up and ready and she lunged at Karin.

Greyson entered the kitchen to find it empty at first but a commotion in the pantry caught his attention. He moved through quickly and then felt a cold shiver as he heard Karin scream. He raced through, knocking over a bowl of broth on the way and then stopped at the door. He watched a hooded figure lift a blade and stab it into his wife as a pot was broken over the stranger’s shoulder. “Karin!” He roared and lunged at the stranger. He pulled the cloak back, hauling Karin’s attacker to the floor. “Judith!” He yelled as she quickly got to her feet again. Her bloodied dagger lifted and she swiped at him, slicing open his shirt and wounding him badly. He yelped and fell back against a grain sack. “Guards!” He boomed, “Guards!”

“You’re too late.” Judith said darkly as she backed up a few steps. Her eyes then turned to Karin again and she smiled again. “You took my son from me, witch.” She said. “So I now take yours.” She then made to flee as Greyson’s shout finally brought help. She laughed again as she raced away, finding another way out. The guards came rushing to them as Greyson hauled his bulk from the grain and crawled to Karin.

“Karin!” He yelled, “Karin, no!” He quickly pressed his hand to the bleeding wound just to the side of her belly. “Karin!” He cried loudly. The guards could only stand and watch in horror.