The baron of Port Town decides to take action against the witches that are causing so much trouble in his town. Witch hunters are summoned to the area to capture the witches. The members of the town rejoice as they welcome the group to their community.

The leader of the group of hunters assures the baron, that for a price, all his worries will be taken care of.

Here is a sample from the novella ‘A Tale Of Witchcraft: Hunters’.

 

5. HUNTERS

PART I

The town hall was packed to capacity as the baron walked in escorted by his soldiers. The people demanded protection and justice for what had happened to them recently. The witches and wizards scared them to the point that some of them could no longer sleep. An emergency meeting had been called which the baron was only too willing to attend.

“Could we please have silence in the hall as the baron addresses you,” said an announcer.

A hush came over the premise as they looked at the important gentleman.

“I realise why you have called me here and why you are all assembled here,” said the baron. “I too am frustrated by what is going on.”

A gentlemen raised his hand and the baron pointed to him.

“Recently a witch cast a spell on my merchandise causing it to rot. Since then I have lost a lot of my regular customers. They no longer trust the condition of the fruit and vegetables that I bring to the market. I don’t know who the witches are and whether they will cast another spell on my produce,” said the stall holders.

“Witches have powerful spells and can use them at any time. I also know that they can easily blend in among us,” said the baron.

The pub landlord Mr Baird then raised his hand. The baron motioned to him to speak.

“I hear the complaints from many of my patrons as they drink at my pub. Some feel ill and they are not sure whether or not the illness has been caused by a witch. We have also lost many of our patrons from the Black Death which has been caused by witches. Others have reported that property has gone missing, again caused by witches and wizards. These people are rampant through our community and something must do done urgently. The Witchery Act which should be helping us, has not been effective as far as I can see. Those witches are still flying over our town and almost every day,” said the Landlord. He realised that he was seething and ranting now and thought that he had best stop and let someone else speak.

“I agree with you Mr Baird,” said the baron. “The witches are oppressing our community and getting away with it.”

A middle aged woman was the next to raise her hand. The baron pointed in her direction indicating that she should speak.

“My husband was a law abiding citizen and a good member of this community. He attended, what should have been the execution of a witch where he was horrifically struck down by lightning. I mean he was a good man and yet he wasn’t protected from these evil people,” said the woman who began to cry. She sat down quickly no longer able to control herself.

“We all know what happened on the day of the execution. The old witch was whisked away by another witch and one of my own soldiers was also killed by the lightning,” said the baron.

The bodies of the local and the soldier were picked up from where they had been struck down by lightning and the blood cleaned away shortly after. The funerals for the soldier and the local were held at the same church and at the same time. The coffins were sealed as the lightning had disfigured both of the bodies so badly. Six soldiers carried the coffin containing the dead soldier to the front of the church. Members of the family and the friends of the dead man carried his coffin to the front of the church. On the day the church was packed with family and friends of the soldier and the local man. Many of the soldiers in the town were there to pay their respects. Locals also turned out to show sympathy meaning that the church was packed. During the ceremony the locals were told about the short life of the soldier and all he had done in service for his country and community. He had been a diligent soldier who was liked by his fellow soldiers.  They were also told about the longer life of the local who was well known within the town. The sense of grief was apparent as many wept within the church as they looked on at the coffins. That day was a time for mourning and remembrance. After the service the sealed coffins were taken to the local cemetery which was already burgeoning with the dead. The holes had been dug for two more people who had been taken before their time. The minister held a short service at the gravesite before the bodies were lowered and buried.

The baron and the locals remembered that day of grieving. It was a time for reflection. Now the baron and the locals knew that it was a time for action.

“We all know that something needs to be done. Those witches have killed us with plague and lightning. They harass and oppress us on an almost daily basis. We are a critical point where either we succumb to the tyranny of the witch or we do more to protect ourselves,” said the baron.

“What will we do?” shouted one man. “Those witches kill us whenever they please and we are defenceless against them.”

“We have thought long and hard about this matter and we have come up with a response. At this moment in many cities and towns, bands of people known as witch hunters are rounding up and killing witches. These people travel to places that are oppressed by the witch and carry out this essential duty. We have heard of one such witch hunter and his group who are operating very close to us. His name is Lucius Dearth and he is a very successful witch hunter. We propose that we should bring him to our town to take care of our problem,” said the baron.

The baron looked upon the seated audience before him. He could see that there was a murmur going round and the locals were talking amongst themselves at the proposal. Two of the locals became heated in their discussion until one finally put his hand up to speak.

“Yes, you put your hand up. Would you like to tell us something?” asked the baron.

“I have heard about some of these so called witch hunters. They promise you the earth initially. They promise you security and safety from the witch and say that they will destroy them. However, some of them do not know what they are doing,” said the concerned resident.

“What do you mean?” asked the baron. “Are you saying that they are incompetent in their duties?”

“Well, yes or so I have heard. Some of them do not know how to recognise the witch or the wizard and have mistaken normal people for witches. This has had disastrous results as innocent people have been killed. They kill the innocents while the witches and wizards are still out their causing the problems. Also, some of them are only fly by night scoundrels. Those rogues will take our money from us for their supposed service and then disappear out of sight with our money and without having done anything for us. Quite simply there are frauds and charlatans out there who will take advantage of our plight and our good natures,” said the resident.

This caused the locals to shout and yell out that they would not put up with such people.

The baron waved his hands until the hubbub had died down. “I know that you may have concerns about this matter and I have had them too, that is why I have been asking around. Lucius Dearth is very well known I am assured. Many of my friends and family members in other parts of the country have heard about him and they say he is an honest person who can recognise witches and destroy them,” said the baron.

“How can you be so sure? We do not want them to kill us?” said another resident.

“They are experienced and I have been told they are very well equipped with all sorts of weapons they use to kill witches and wizards. I have invited them to our town and they will arrive here in the next few days. I know that you will all like to see them. I have told them that they can parade around the town before I invite them to the castle for a meal. I will then discuss terms with Lucius Dearth the leader of this group of Witch Hunters. We will discuss how are problems with witches will soon be over and they will no longer be able to wreck our lives,” said the baron.

The locals stood up within the hall and clapped in approval at what their leader had told them.

 

The carpenter had the horse by the harness and led him through the town square. The horse was pulling a cart full of newly cut timber taken from a nearby forest which would be put to good use. The carpenter reached what would be his job for the next few days. The old gallows had been wrecked by lightning which had struck it in the centre and split it in half. The carpenter could clearly see where the lighting had done the most damage. After the initial strike most of the wooden structure had caught fire.

He unloaded the timber from the cart and placed it at the side of gallows. He then laboriously took what was left of the old gallows apart and placed them on his cart. The wood was burnt and damaged beyond repair and he could not use it for any other structure. If he could, he would use it for firewood, but the charred pieces would have to be discarded.

As the carpenter was working on the job he thought of those that had been executed on the old gallows. He now wondered who would be the first to hang from the new one.

 

Lucius Dearth was the first to enter the walled area of Port Town on horseback. The gate was wide open and the guards stood to the side. The streets were thronged with people who had had been told of their coming and awaited their arrival with eager anticipation. Lucius felt as if he and his men were receiving a hero’s welcome.

Lucius was the leader of the witch hunters. Those accused of being witches or have the shadow of suspicion hanging over them live in fear. He believes that his service, no matter how it is carried out, provides relief to villages. He is tall with long black hair and a beard. He rides on a black stallion and wears the finest of clothes. He wears a cross to symbolise his religious beliefs. He carries a small bible with him at all times.

Immediately behind him on horseback was his second in command and oldest accomplice, Bartholomew. He had worked with Lucius for many years hunting down witches. Out of them all, Lucius had the most confidence in him. Bartholomew gave Lucius his full respect and support, he would do anything for him.

Riding behind the front two were Griffin and Geoffrey who had been in the witch hunters for just over a year. They were not as enthusiastic as Bartholomew, however, they were willing to do whatever was commanded of them…

 

 

This novella is available in both eBook and paperback formats from Amazon.

Kind Regards.

Alan

alanrove@hotmail.com