“Why are you trying to save her?” I asked. “She isn’t worth your efforts.”
“If she dies now, we can’t hang her,” he responded.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Fair enough.”
Suddenly, water poured out of the woman’s mouth. She began coughing and gasping, struggling to replace the water in her lungs with a mouthful of air. The guard slapped her on the back until she lay on the ground panting.
“Stand up, you worthless whore,” I said to her, gripping her upper arm hard enough to bruise her withered flesh. She was wobbly on her feet. She no longer screamed curses at us, but her eyes were glazed over and not focused on anything. Starting to slump, I caught her and hefted her weight back up. She would not stand on her own feet.
Matthew spoke to her. “Joan Fern, you have survived your third submersion. While you did not float, you also did not drown, so your final dunk was inconclusive. Do you wish to make a plea?”
She stared at him remotely but did not utter a word.
“He’s speaking to you, witch!” I yelled, releasing her arm. Her body crumpled to the ground.
“She refuses to plead,” Matthew announced. “She doesn’t wish to free her soul from the clutches of evil and turn to the light. Joan Fern, you will be returned to the jail to await trial. Ladies and gentlemen remember this when the public is called to witness. This woman floated two out of the three times she was given to the water. Two out of three times. Even after being pushed under, the water spat her right back out again. Remember this when you’re called to give an opinion on guilt or innocence. Recall the curses she has bestowed on all of us gathered here. Help me commit her back to the fires that she crawled out of.”
Cheers erupted. Every man and woman raised their voices. Matthew smiled at their praise. I saw Taryn making her way through the crowd to rejoin him. Once again, I would be denied my time with him.
“John, go with the guards, make sure she is secure in the cell.”
“They are more than capable on their own,” I stepped towards my friend, reaching out to him. “Don’t you wish to celebrate with me? As we always do?”
“I’m not feeling well. I’m going to return to the inn for the evening.”
I stepped in close and dropped my hand that I had reached out to him. “Of course you are. You go right back to your whore then. Who cares about me? I’ll just go find something else to do with my time.”
“I will not stand for you to call her a whore once more. This is your final warning to do as I say.”
“As you wish, Sir,” I said. He flinched visibly at my words. Never in our career together had I ever called him, Sir. He had always just been Matthew or friend. I had hurt him. Not nearly as hurt as I was by his betrayal. Usually, we would drink together after a swimming and plan for what was to come next. It seemed now I was on my own.
I grabbed the woman’s arm and lifted her from the ground less than gently. “Let’s go, you. Back to your coven of whores.”
“Not a witch,” she whispered.
“Oh yeah? Then how did you manage to float?” I asked her pointedly.
“Not a witch,” she repeated.
I took the rope still attached to her waist and led her back to the castle like an animal. She walked as if she were drunk, listing to one side, tripping over her own feet, with no coordination to speak of. Reaching the castle was a feat in itself and took far longer than it should have.
Handing the rope off to a guard to have her deposited back into the tiny cell, I pulled the second aside. I waited until the woman was out of sight before I spoke to him.
“I need to ask a favor of you,” I said, placing a small bag of coin into his palm.
“What would you ask of me, Sir?” he hid the bag away in the pocket of his trousers.
I looked around to ensure no one was watching or listening in. “The child in the cell below,” I started. “When you make your rounds this evening, you are to smother the girl. Cut her throat once she ceases to breath and smear markings on the wall that can be blamed on witchcraft.” The man started to reach into his pocket to return the coin to me with a green look on his face.
“I have children her age, Sir, I couldn’t possibly….”
“When the task is completed, I will give you a second bag, double what you make in a week.”
His expression changed. He retained the green hue but his mouth flattened into a straight line of determination. He released his pocket and let the bag slide in out of sight. “Yes Sir,” he said. His eyes fell to the ground, his shoulders slumped. He didn’t want to do the job, but the money was too good to refuse.
“If you tell anyone about our little agreement, I’ll accuse you of being in line with those women down there. I needn’t tell you what will happen to you and your family if that occurs,” I smiled at his obvious discomfort.
“No, Sir. You’re very clear.”
“Good man. I look forward to the discovery in the morning.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Matthew
I climbed down off my makeshift stage after John led the old woman away. The crowd was beginning to disperse now that the show was over. Still, a few men and women milled around, excited about what they had seen. Taryn made her way through them, reaching me just as my boots hit the ground. Her skin had an unnatural pallor to it. I was alarmed, thinking that she was falling ill.
“Are you alright, my love?” I asked her, taking her hands in mine. They were cold and clammy. I breathed a warm breath on them and rubbed my hands together with hers trying to warm them.
“I’m fine,” she said. “It's just hard to stomach what I just saw. I read about this for years and thought it was all so interesting. But it’s another thing altogether to see it happen before your eyes. That woman came very close to drowning on the third time through. By the way she was stumbling afterwards, I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t suffer permanent brain damage from being denied oxygen for so long. It really is very barbaric,” she proclaimed. “I don’t know how you can take part in that and be unaffected.”
“I tried to dissuade you from coming,” I said.
“I’m not upset that I came. I needed to see that to really understand.”
I looked down at her in confusion. “Really understand what?” I asked. She looked like she had reached some great revelation that was just out of my reach. I didn’t feel anything monumental had happened here. “Have you finally realized that you were wrong, and witches do, in fact, exist?”
“No, I still am firm in my beliefs, but I realize I didn’t have a full grasp on what happened here by simply reading texts by people who witnessed it. Seeing the water, seeing the fear on that woman’s face as she went into it, three separate times. That can never be accurately described on paper with all of the emotion and gravitas that the situation truly exudes.”
“How are you going to handle the trials and hangings, Taryn, if a swimming is too much for your sensitivities?” I glanced down at her beautiful face. I wanted desperately to take her into my arms and comfort her, but our relationship was still a secret, and a man and woman who are not married to showing affection in public would damn her. I didn’t want to subject her reputation to that.
She was correct about one thing though. The woman did very nearly drown. Had we not pulled her in at the very moment we did, I don’t believe any trial would have been in her future. We would have skipped right over that and went straight to the wooden box. It wouldn’t have bothered John for her to have expired in the water, but it would have robbed her of the chance to plead guilty or innocence and to have the appropriate justice be administered to her for her crimes. She wouldn’t have had the opportunity to repent and see the gates of heaven upon her death.
The pond was glass smooth once again, already having forgotten what had transpired within it. The water held no grudges or memories, it just simply was. If only the rest of the world was that uncomplicated.
“Everyone really responded to you,” Tar
yn said.
“That’s why I’m in charge,” I laughed.
“What do we do now?” She asked.
“It's about time for dinner, we can go back to the inn and grab a bite to eat, then go back to our room where you can congratulate me on a job well done.” Now it was her turn to laugh.
“I’m supposed to reward you for almost killing someone?” she was smiling broadly.
I crossed my arms in mock offense. “No, you reward me for having given the people real evidence of evil they could draw upon when they are asked to make a decision of guilt or innocence.”
“No offense, but I don’t think any of that proves guilt or innocence in any way, shape, or form. But I know things are done differently in this age, so I’ll leave it alone. You know best.” She looked me right in the eyes as she spoke like a man would when challenging me. I should have thought it was vulgar, but it attracted me to her all the more.
“Shall we go then?” I asked her.
“We shall.”
We made our way back up the path to the castle, kicking fallen leaves off our path, and making small talk about how beautiful the trees were in fall and how it was nice that the weather hadn’t turned quite cold yet. Once inside the battlements, I whistled for the guard to bring my horse, leaving John’s mount behind since I did not currently know where he was.
“What about the girl, Charlotte?” Taryn asked. “I told her I would come back.”
I motioned for the guard and he quickly made his way to where we stood. “Has the child been properly fed and cared for this evening?” I asked him.
“Yes Sir. Paul just took a fresh tray of bread and fruit to her. She has a healthy appetite and never leaves a morsel on her plate,” he said.
“See? She is perfectly fine,” I reassured her. “You can see to her again when we come back tomorrow.”
She scoffed, “Do you ever take a day of work?”
“Only between towns. Too much has to be done once we commit to a place. We work until the work is done, then we move on.” If Taryn stayed with me, then this was likely my last hunt. I had amassed quite a lot of gold from my endeavors and would like very much to settle down with her in a place of our own. I would greatly enjoy seeing her heavy with my child and be able to call her, Wife.
I mounted the beast and pulled her up behind me. I loved the feel of her warm body pressed so close to mine and her arms around my chest. I gave her the stirrups for her feet so she would feel more secure and let my legs hang loose against the horse’s sides. “Hold on tight, love,” I whispered to her.
“I’m ready,” she said. I dug my heels in and the horse took off like a shot. We moved much quicker than we had on the way to the castle. But she didn’t seem as afraid this time. I urged the horse faster. I felt her lift her face from my back and I knew she was enjoying it this time.
“More comfortable on horseback this time?” I asked.
“This is fantastic. I don’t know why I was so afraid the first time!” she exclaimed happily.
It made me happy that she had found some enjoyment after a trying day.
All too soon, the inn came into view and I pulled the reins and brought the creature to a gentle stop. She hopped down on her own this time and patted the horses flank affectionately. Henry rushed out, taking the horse from my hands still chewing part of his dinner in the process.
“Sorry, Sir, I didn’t know when to expect you back. I had just sat down to eat,” he explained apologetically.
“Not to worry Henry,” I couldn’t take my eyes off Taryn giving her love to the huge beast. Stroking her silky nose and brushing her mane from her face with her delicate fingers.
“What is her name?” she asked Henry.
“This girl is Jezebel,” he said, patting her proudly. “She’s the sweetest of all the girls in the stable, and she loves everyone’s attention.”
“She is positively stunning,” Taryn said.
“I like to think so too,” he said standing proud beside his charge. “Come on old girl,” he said to Jezebel. He turned her around and led her back to her stall where he would have a bucket of fresh hay waiting for her.
“Some people are born to be around horses,” I said watching the pair go.
“Have you given any thought about what will happen to the little girl?” Taryn asked me.
“I was told a charter for the colonies will be leaving port in about a week and they are sending orphaned children. It’s supposed to be a great opportunity for them to become apprentices and learn trades. I think it would be good for her to go somewhere where no one knows her history.”
“That’s a fantastic idea!” Taryn said hugging me hard.
I reluctantly released her and looked around to make sure no one was watching us embrace. “Don’t get too excited. First, we have to ascertain if the ship has space, and then find out whether or not we can get her on it.”
She looked hopeful, beaming up at me. It warmed my heart to see her so worried about the little girl when she didn’t even know the child. Nobody I knew would have given her a second glance, but Taryn, she genuinely cared about people.
“Let’s get inside where it is warm,” I said. Taryn shivered in the falling temperatures and I wanted to get her warmed up quickly.
The tavern was packed to the gills. The Thorn, as it was called, was close enough to port that sailors frequented it as much as townspeople and very seldom did it ever lack business. There were men at every table in every stage of merry making. Elizabeth was rushing around like a mad woman trying to keep everyone’s mugs full. Harold was behind his bar engaged in conversation with two men and his ever-present rag was going to town on the smooth wood under his hands. While we waited for seats to open up, Elizabeth greeted us. She had sweat on her brow and her hair was disheveled.
“I'm sorry, I can’t stay and talk!” she yelled over the din of chatter. She rushed off again when a group of men shook their mugs in her direction.
Three men got up and headed towards the door, laughing and pushing one another. “There!” Taryn cried out, pointing to the vacated seats.
We finally sat down, and Elizabeth slid a round of ale in front of us winking at Taryn. “You two grabbing food too, or just winding down with ale?” she asked.
“Food please,” I said
“Oh yes, food,” Taryn reiterated.
Elizabeth laughed at us. “I’ll get it out to you quickly as I can. It’s really busy tonight though.”
I waved her off and let her know to take her time.
“Hey everyone, look! It’s the Witch Hunter General himself! Mr. Matthew Hopkins!” a man stood up and announced me to the room offering his mug in salute. I lowered the brim of my hat trying not to attract attention to Taryn and me.
“Oh, come now Witch Hunter! Don’t be so modest. You can save us from evil, but you can't share a drink with us?” another man added.
“Maybe we should just eat in our room,” Taryn suggested picking up on my discomfort.
“He’s too good for us boys. He doesn’t want to join us.”
“I feel you may be correct,” I said to her. I whistled to Elizabeth, I caught her eye and she rushed over. “Elizabeth, can you have our dinner sent upstairs please. We decided to dine alone.”
More men were standing and jeering at us now. I was growing more uncomfortable. I felt like they were closing in on me, and I feared for Taryn's safety if the men were looking for a tussle.
“Go on you two. I’ll send it right up,” Elizabeth said.
We rose from the table to take our leave. A man I didn’t notice put a hand on each of Taryn’s shoulders and forced her back down to her seat. “What’s the rush, Witch Hunter? We are just getting started here,” The men around us laughed.
“We are quite done,” I said. “Taryn and I will be retiring to our room now.”
“Taking your whore back for a night of fun, Witch Hunter? Why not let us all have a go at her to celebrate a successful swimming today?” I heard a lo
w growl and realized it was coming from me. “Come on sweetheart,” the man said. “Give us a kiss.”
The man tried to force himself on Taryn's mouth. She fought to pull away from him as his fingers dug into her chin. Without realizing it, I stood and grabbed the man by his neck. I was seeing red and was quickly losing control.
“Matthew, let’s just go. Let him go. Let’s just go to the room,” she pleaded with me, not wanting to make a seen.
“How dare you put your hands on my woman,” I screamed, inches from the man’s face. “You, nor any other man, will ever touch her again. Do I make myself very clear?” My words bit at him and he clawed desperately at the hand that was crushing his windpipe. I loosened my grip on him enough for him to take a gulp of air.
“We were just messing, Sir. We didn’t mean any harm. No one knew she was your woman. No one had ever seen her before.” He spoke quickly trying to talk me down. Everyone in the inn stopped moving and watched with bated breath. No one spoke. The heckling stopped, even Harold stopped moving his rag across the counter.
I pushed the man back by his throat. He stumbled and fell into the table behind him but quickly stood and made for the exit. “Now everyone, the show is over! Leave Mr. Hopkins and his lady be! Round of drinks on me! Elizabeth! Serve these fine men their ale!”
Harold thankfully broke the silence and cut through the tension. Everyone cheered for their free drink and seemed to forget about us completely. Harold’s son rushed to us with a covered tray and sat it on the table. “Father says he is very sorry, supper and wine are on us tonight.” He rushed away as quickly as he came, off to clear more tables.
John picked this moment to barrel through the doors to the inn. He had a cold expression on his face and found Taryn and I as we moved to the stairs. “Taking the witch for a rut, Matthew?” he said, loudly.
I stopped walking. Everything stopped moving. The only thing I was aware of was Taryn pulling on my arm. “Let’s just go. He’s not worth it,” she pleaded.
“What did you say to me?” I demanded as I turned to face him.
The Witch Hunter Page 19