taken by four men, not one, she was devastated. The witch and her daughter made the trip to the shire stone stronghold of the father to confront him.
The large stonewalls were covered by leaning, rough-hewn buildings, as locals had found safe lodging under the protection of the soldiers of the Lord of the Shire. Soldiers walked the wide walls constantly, looking outward at the fields and the distant forest. Many years ago, a wise head had removed the shield of the trees a measure to ensure the enemy could not come close undetected. The muddy road that led to the wide and tall opening in the high wall was protected by alert guards even though many local tradespeople were coming and going.
Everyone stepped aside for the witch and her barefoot daughter. The witch’s necklaces of herbs and magic stones marked her for what she was. The fact was she dressed as a witch, a ragged scarf not quite holding back her scraggly grey hair, layers of dirty skirts over mismatched shoes, and a blouse that might have been white once was now spotted brown. In opposition was the barefoot daughter. She was pretty and clean with a laced up bustier and white blouse with very little dirt, worn over a full skirt that swirled around her hips that drew smiles from all the men.
The witch came to the steps leading to the main entrance of the manor and requested a speaking with the Lord. The two women stood and waited as a servant hustled inside. It was not long before he was back to take them into the presence of the head of this shire.
The witch entered with head held high and a frown that quieted the great room full of many people eating and an equal number of servants, looking only at the man at the far end of the room. Her daughter was a different story.
* * * *
The young maid was all eyes as she looked around at what to her eyes was more wealth than she had ever seen. Long tables covered with food, some of which she could not even name. Large tankards of ale at the hands of each man. Some of the tankards even looked to be of silver or gold with inlaid jewels. The floor was covered with clean rushes and felt comfortable to her feet after the cold from outside.
Her eyes shown with interest to see the long flags hanging against the high stone walls keeping the heat from the large fireplace built into one wall. The room was so large the entire building that held the little pub where she had worked could fit into it. She returned a smile to one of the soldiers at a side table, but straightened up when her mother cleared her throat. She hurried to stand beside her mother, looking up at the large handsome older man sitting above them.
She was frightened enough to sink to the floor, but since her mother stood tall and began to talk to the Lord, she remained on shaky legs and waited to find her fate.
* * * *
With a smirk on his face, the Lord of the Shire sat on his heavy carved chair and said. “I will give the girl a large dowry and find her a husband from among our local farmers. Will that satisfy you?”
The witch looked at him, seeing not shame, but actual pride. “Do that, and after my daughter is married and settled, I will return and have a short private meeting with your sons. Then the debt will be complete.”
* * * *
He agreed, thinking his sons could stand to be lectured by the angry old witch. So the young woman was married, and a local farmer was satisfied to have a pregnant wife. With her dowry, he had plenty of money for many crops for the next years to come and with a child on the way, he had a worker already started. The witch returned to talk to his sons, so he arranged a quiet room and made sure his errant sons were present.
* * * *
The witch looked at the four handsome young men with a scowl. “You four have done nothing good in your lives except to please yourselves. So I am going to make sure that you finally do something good for someone else. I am going to put a charm on each of you, and it will stay in place until
The large stonewalls were covered by leaning, rough-hewn buildings, as locals had found safe lodging under the protection of the soldiers of the Lord of the Shire. Soldiers walked the wide walls constantly, looking outward at the fields and the distant forest. Many years ago, a wise head had removed the shield of the trees a measure to ensure the enemy could not come close undetected. The muddy road that led to the wide and tall opening in the high wall was protected by alert guards even though many local tradespeople were coming and going.
Everyone stepped aside for the witch and her barefoot daughter. The witch’s necklaces of herbs and magic stones marked her for what she was. The fact was she dressed as a witch, a ragged scarf not quite holding back her scraggly grey hair, layers of dirty skirts over mismatched shoes, and a blouse that might have been white once was now spotted brown. In opposition was the barefoot daughter. She was pretty and clean with a laced up bustier and white blouse with very little dirt, worn over a full skirt that swirled around her hips that drew smiles from all the men.
The witch came to the steps leading to the main entrance of the manor and requested a speaking with the Lord. The two women stood and waited as a servant hustled inside. It was not long before he was back to take them into the presence of the head of this shire.
The witch entered with head held high and a frown that quieted the great room full of many people eating and an equal number of servants, looking only at the man at the far end of the room. Her daughter was a different story.
* * * *
The young maid was all eyes as she looked around at what to her eyes was more wealth than she had ever seen. Long tables covered with food, some of which she could not even name. Large tankards of ale at the hands of each man. Some of the tankards even looked to be of silver or gold with inlaid jewels. The floor was covered with clean rushes and felt comfortable to her feet after the cold from outside.
Her eyes shown with interest to see the long flags hanging against the high stone walls keeping the heat from the large fireplace built into one wall. The room was so large the entire building that held the little pub where she had worked could fit into it. She returned a smile to one of the soldiers at a side table, but straightened up when her mother cleared her throat. She hurried to stand beside her mother, looking up at the large handsome older man sitting above them.
She was frightened enough to sink to the floor, but since her mother stood tall and began to talk to the Lord, she remained on shaky legs and waited to find her fate.
* * * *
With a smirk on his face, the Lord of the Shire sat on his heavy carved chair and said. “I will give the girl a large dowry and find her a husband from among our local farmers. Will that satisfy you?”
The witch looked at him, seeing not shame, but actual pride. “Do that, and after my daughter is married and settled, I will return and have a short private meeting with your sons. Then the debt will be complete.”
* * * *
He agreed, thinking his sons could stand to be lectured by the angry old witch. So the young woman was married, and a local farmer was satisfied to have a pregnant wife. With her dowry, he had plenty of money for many crops for the next years to come and with a child on the way, he had a worker already started. The witch returned to talk to his sons, so he arranged a quiet room and made sure his errant sons were present.
* * * *
The witch looked at the four handsome young men with a scowl. “You four have done nothing good in your lives except to please yourselves. So I am going to make sure that you finally do something good for someone else. I am going to put a charm on each of you, and it will stay in place until
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