To Catch a Witch

by Sharon Booth

  'And they believed that?' Star said scornfully. 'Just like that?'

  Hector smiled. 'Not just like that. There was plenty of evidence to support her story. Rumours spread through the town that this Tobias Palmer had been making enquiries about Blaise for days.'

  'And where did the rumours come from?' Father asked.

  'Let's just say, it didn't take much to start gossip. Then, as now, a few well-chosen words can rewrite history. Before long, the whole town was convinced it was an established fact that this notorious witchfinder had been searching for Blaise long before that night. Some people even claimed to have been questioned by him.'

  'But surely Blaise's followers wanted evidence?'

  'They found it. Scorch marks on the ground, hoof prints of several horses, even Jennet's shocked state told its own story.'

  'Hoof prints of several horses?'

  Hector nodded. 'I was quite impressed. Jennet was a remarkable witch.'

  Star laughed. 'Good old Jennet. I must say, I'm rather proud to be descended from her.'

  'I suppose they searched for Blaise?' Mother said. 'Bevil must have been out of his mind.'

  'He was, and the whole town grieved with him — magical or not. Everyone looked up to the eldest son of Rafe St Clair, and Blaise was well-respected. They searched the river for days, as Bevil begged them to find his brother alive, or at the very least, retrieve Blaise's body to give him some closure. Of course, they never found him.

  'Jennet couldn't forgive herself for playing her part in Bevil's grief. She destroyed the sallyport, ensuring she buried Blaise's work in the rubble. As penance for what she'd done, she begged me to remove her powers from her.'

  'But you didn't?' Star gasped, horrified.

  'I had no choice. She'd broken the first law of magic. If she hadn't asked, I'd have done it anyway.'

  'What a waste,' Star said. 'Poor thing.'

  'Not at all,' Hector told her. 'Living a quiet, normal life brought her peace and joy. Bevil was happy she'd given up her magic, and she wanted nothing more than his happiness. For the sake of love, she paid the price.'

  We all nodded, understanding another line of the prophecy. 'Ah!'

  'Not long after Bevil's death, his son was born. Mary Clipson told Jennet that Bartholomew could become another powerful witch. Jennet wanted to be loyal to Bevil, so she discouraged Bartholomew from using his powers. She tried to bring him up without magic in his life, and she succeeded. Unfortunately, Jennet herself died when her son was eleven years old. Bartholomew was too young to manage the St Clair estate. Luckily, his great-uncle was all too willing to step in and take care of him.'

  'Oh yes,' I said. 'Titus St Clair. Your ancestor, Castor!'

  Castor looked away, staring steadfastly at the pouring rain through the window.

  'Titus was a good man,' Hector said firmly, 'but he was also no fighter.'

  'Gutless,' Castor muttered. 'Coward.'

  'Don't be too harsh on him,' Hector advised. 'They were dangerous times. Who knows what any one of us might do in those circumstances?'

  'What circumstances?' Star asked. 'What happened?'

  'Blaise's followers saw their chance. With Jennet out of the way, they wanted Bartholomew to become a great St Clair witch like Blaise. They — shall we say — put pressure on Titus, who had the trust and the ear of Bartholomew, to put their version of events to the boy.'

  'And what exactly was their version of events?' Aurora asked, lapping up every second of the story.

  'That Bevil had powers but had used them to win Jennet from Blaise. In short, they wanted Titus to fill his head with the stuff of legend. The St Clair legend. And because Titus was afraid of them, he did as they asked. And so, history was rewritten, and Bevil became the villain of the story, while Jennet was relegated to nothing more than the object of Blaise's and Bevil's desires.'

  'Told you,' Star said triumphantly. 'Men always airbrush women out of history. All the power and courage Jennet had, and she's reduced to the token love interest. It's like every Hollywood movie ever made.'

  'And Bartholomew?' Father asked.

  'Ah, well, this is where our faith in human nature — and genetics — should be restored. Because Bartholomew, despite his uncle's teachings, and despite being surrounded by Blaise's sycophants, made up his own mind about the use of his magic. He kept a tight rein on his powers, never using them for harm, and he kept a tight rein on those around him, too. He may not have thought much of his poor father, thanks to the lies they had fed him, but he carried Bevil's gentleness and goodness within him just the same. The St Clairs lived a decent and honest life from that generation to this.'

  'With one exception,' Father muttered. 'Me.'

  'I hate to break it to you,' Mother said, 'but your drunkenness and infidelity hardly puts you in the same league as Blaise St Clair. You were always good-hearted, dear, no matter how stupidly you behaved.'

  Father beamed at her.

  'Only you could take that as a compliment,' Zephyr said with a sigh.

  'So, it was Castor's ancestors who started the rumour,' Aurora said, as if she'd just caught up with everyone else. 'Fancy that.'

  Castor looked mortified.

  'And you knew about this, the whole time?' Father demanded. 'You knew your ancestor had maligned ours, yet you kept quiet?'

  'Be fair, Father,' I said, 'what could he say after all this time?'

  'The truth would have been nice,' Star said. 'It's been awfully embarrassing, thinking Bevil was a baddie. You could have put us straight at least, Castor.'

  'I'm sorry,' Castor said, and my heart went out to him. He looked even older, if that were possible, and pain filled his eyes. 'I did all I could to make it up to you. I've worked for you all me life, and I've tried to be a good friend to you all.'

  'And you have been, Castor,' Mother assured him. 'More than a friend.'

  'Family,' Sirius said firmly. 'Always.'

  'It's bin horrible,' Castor admitted. 'Carrying my family's dirty secret all these years. I were that ashamed. Me and Enid, we didn't even have children because I wanted our line to die out with me. It's been a burden to us long enough, I reckon.'

  'Oh, Castor, darling! You poor thing.' Sky jumped up and rushed over to give him a hug, and before long we were all crowding around him, hugging and kissing him, while the five members of the High Council and Hector looked on.

  'But if you knew the truth,' Zephyr blurted, 'you must have known we couldn't trust Blaise?'

  We all stepped back and surveyed Castor.

  'You didn't trust him, did you?' I said. 'I always sensed that, right from the beginning.'

  'No, I didn't. I knew the truth about Bevil and Jennet, see, so I knew the legend made little sense. I didn't know all the details, but I had a feeling Blaise wasn't the saint some folks thought he were.'

  'I wish you'd warned me,' Mother said. 'I'd have kept a much closer eye on Celeste. And on Blaise,' she added grimly.

  'Don't you worry,' Castor said. 'Blaise were watched night and day.'

  'By whom?' Mother asked, surprised.

  'Belasko,' Castor said. 'I asked him to do me a little favour, like, and he were happy to oblige. He's bin following Blaise all over the place.'

  'So that's why he abandoned me!' Sirius laughed. 'Smart move, Castor.'

  'But what about the other raven?' I asked. 'The female who's been following me everywhere. Who sent her?'

  'I did,' Hector admitted. 'She's my raven, Branwen. And she was making certain you came to no harm. She and Belasko have been exchanging information. We owe them both a great deal.'

  'I didn't realise Guardians had familiars,' Sky said. 'Mind you, I'd never even heard of Guardians until a few months ago.'

  'Branwen isn't my familiar,' Hector said, smiling. 'She simply turned up one day and stayed.'

  'Ravens go where the power lies,' Aveta reminded me. 'No one has more power than a Guardian.'

  We all looked at Hector with respect, and he tutted and held up his
hands. 'Don't look at me like that. I'm still Hector.'

  'I can't believe I never knew,' Benedict said, shaking his head in wonder. 'All these years we've known each other, and you were keeping this secret from me. Why didn't you tell me?'

  'Why didn't you tell me you married a witch?' Hector said, grinning.

  'I suppose you knew all the time,' Benedict groaned. 'God, I feel stupid.'

  'No need. We all have our secrets,' Hector assured him. 'And that's as it should be. We must all do our part to keep our world and our people safe.'

  'It's a good job travelling in time messed up Blaise's memory,' Star said. 'I wonder when he got it back?'

  'I suspect he's been slowly recovering his memories for some weeks,' Hector said. 'According to Belasko, he's been rooting around in the sallyports, no doubt looking to see if he could find a way through them to where he used to keep his magical supplies, and all his diaries and journals. He would quickly have realised he had no chance without magic.'

  'Thank goodness time travel stripped that from him, too,' Sky said.

  'No, no, time travel didn't take his magic from him,' Hector said, smiling. 'It wouldn't have affected it at all.'

  'So, what did happen to it?'

  'Hector happened,' Aveta said. 'It must have been you,' she told him. 'Only five witches together can strip magic from another witch — or a single Guardian. I'm right, aren't I?'

  He nodded, and I frowned. 'But when? When did you do that?'

  'When Jethro pulled him from the River Hrafn,' Hector said. 'I must apologise to you, Jethro. I'm afraid the power I used on him to strip him of his magic may have affected you, too. If you felt particularly drained and weak, I can only say I'm sorry.'

  Jethro looked delighted. 'So, I'm not a wimp!'

  Hector laughed. 'Far from it. You saved his life. That took immense courage. You, Sirius and Benedict were incredibly brave that night.'

  'I can't believe you were there,' I murmured. 'How did I not see you?'

  Apparently, he didn't hear me.

  'As soon as I realised who Blaise was, I went straight back to 1669,' he continued. 'I calmed Jennet down and reassured her all would be well. Together, we came up with the story of Tobias Palmer.' He paused for a moment, looking steadily at us. 'We then went to the sallyport to destroy Blaise's work — which is where we found Mary Clipson.'

  'Mary Clipson?'

  'What was she doing there?'

  'Dying.'

  'What?' There were gasps all round at this unexpected revelation.

  'To Blaise, she was the fly in the ointment. Always one step ahead of him; always trying to stop him from doing what he wanted. She'd frightened Jennet off, and he was furious. He'd decided she had to go, so he'd given her aqua tofana and left her to die alone below the castle.'

  'No!' Even though nothing should have surprised me about Blaise, this cut deeply. 'He spoke so fondly of her,' I said tearfully. 'He kept ... he kept saying he was sorry to her.' I hung my head, realising at last why he'd been so apologetic to her memory.

  'Aqua tofana!' Sirius leaned forward, his expression eager. 'I thought that was a myth. Surely there's no such poison?'

  'Oh, but there is,' Aveta assured him. 'Given in tiny doses over a long period, it can kill its victim slowly and subtly, ensuring no suspicion falls upon the perpetrator. Given in large doses, it's usually fatal within thirty minutes.'

  'And it would have killed Mary Clipson for sure,' Hector confirmed, 'if we hadn't found her. Jennet knew the antidote, and I was able to gather the necessary ingredients at speed, using the gift of time.'

  'So, after you went back and changed her fate,' I said, 'the history books changed. Instead of Mary's body lying undiscovered forever, she recovered and lived another eleven years.'

  'And Jennet returned her body to Glastonbury, where she now lies with the parents she loved in the shadow of the Tor,' Hector confirmed.

  'That Blaise could do such a thing!' Sky wiped her eyes. 'He really fooled me.'

  'He fooled us all,' Sirius said firmly.

  'Excuse me,' Trinity said weakly, 'but is it always like this in your family?'

  'Oh, darling, no! This is the worst possible time you could have met us,' Sirius assured her, putting his arms around her.

  'Honestly, Trinity, this is a one-off,' Star said. 'It's usually Easter egg trails and house hunting and new babies and lemon drizzle cake.'

  'Or chocolate fudge cake,' Sky said, grinning at her. 'You've been stuffing your face with that for weeks.'

  'I know, I'll be the size of a house at this rate,' Star said, shuddering. She cupped Benedict's face. 'I'm so glad I didn't get the chance to destroy that witch bottle,' she told him. 'What would I have done without you?'

  'I'm still amazed you'd decided to get rid of it,' he admitted. 'You were adamant it had to stay.'

  'I know,' she said, smiling. 'But I thought it best I did as you asked.'

  'I suppose there's a first time for everything,' he said.

  'Not for your sake,' she said. 'Don't get too smug.'

  'Then for whose sake?' he demanded.

  She glanced round at us all and I saw the happiness in her eyes and recalled the memories I'd heard in my mind, that day in the museum. Star's visit to the doctor. Some good news for our family at last.

  'Who do you think?'

  Benedict clearly remained clueless. 'What are you talking about?' he asked her.

  'I thought,' she said, taking his hand, 'that any little witch who practised magic on his or her daddy would be in mortal danger, and I couldn't have that, could I?'

  'Little witch?'

  She placed his hand gently on her stomach and waited.

  It took him a second or two, but his expression was worth waiting for. 'Oh, my God, Star! Really?'

  She nodded, her face bright with excitement. 'Really.'

  He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, and everyone began congratulating them and patting them on the back.

  'What on earth will Paypacket make of this?' Sky wondered aloud.

  'Oh, he's over the moon,' Star told her. 'He can't wait to meet the little one.'

  'You told Paypacket before me?' Benedict said, aghast.

  'Of course I did,' she said. 'Why wouldn't I?'

  He sighed. 'Some things never change,' he said, but his eyes still twinkled, and the light of excitement within him still shone brightly. I had a wonderful feeling nothing would ever dim it.

  Aveta held up her hand, and we all quietened down as she listened intently to something. She looked directly at me.

  'Blaise is awake,' she told me quietly. 'I rather think he would like to see you.'

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  'You don't have to see him if you don't want to,' Hector said, as he unclipped the bracelet from around my wrist. I'd forgotten all about it, but evidently, he was taking no chances. 'It's entirely your choice.'

  There was, however, no doubt in my mind. 'I need to see him,' I said. 'Do you mind?'

  'Of course not.' He put his hand on my shoulder. 'Whatever's best for you.'

  'Do you want us to come with you? Because we will,' Star said, and Sky nodded in agreement.

  'Thank you,' I told them, grateful for their eternal support, 'but this is something I need to do on my own.'

  'Of course, darling.' Mother reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. 'We'll be right here if you need us.'

  Blaise lay propped up on several pillows, looking pale and rather drawn. He watched me warily as I crept into his bedroom and sat in the chair beside his bed.

  'I understand you wanted to see me,' I murmured.

  'Celeste.' He stared at me for what felt like forever.

  'Well?' I asked him, eventually. 'What did you want?'

  'To ask you a favour,' he said.

  'Really?' I gripped the arm of the chair tightly, astounded at the nerve of him. 'And you expect me to agree?'

  'I expect nothing,' he said listlessly. 'I must ask it, nonetheless.'
/>
  'I loved you,' I burst out. 'You know that, don't you?'

  He was quiet for a moment, then he sighed. 'You didn't love me, Celeste. You didn't even know me. You were in love with a fantasy. A lie. Loving me was a story you told yourself, but it wasn't true. Think about it. Once you met me, the real me, you went off me fairly rapidly, didn't you?'

  'I didn't! I—' I stopped, realising he was right. I couldn't deny it.

  'I think,' he said, 'that you used me to keep other men away from you. The fantasy of the great Blaise St Clair — loving me, being so dedicated to the legend, it kept you safe. You had an excuse not to be with other men, because who could live up to that? Maybe you should ask yourself why that was so important.'

  I hung my head and studied the fibres of my skirt for a few moments. 'Okay,' I said at last. 'You may have a point. But that doesn't excuse what you did. How you deceived me. You used me.'

  'Yes,' he said simply. 'I did. As far as I was concerned, that's what you were there for. To be used. You were my guide into this time and place, nothing more. Without you to focus on once I'd cast the spell, without the promise of this great witch who waited for me in the future, I would have been lost in time, and who knows where I would have ended up? Your role in this story was crucial.'

  'And once you'd got here, I was surplus to requirements,' I said bitterly.

  'Not entirely,' he corrected me. 'I knew I'd need your help to return to my time. I had no magic and only you had the power to get me back to 1669.'

  'Even though you knew it would blink my family out of existence?'