Salems Vengeance by Aaron Galvin

Author:Aaron Galvin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: witchcraft, witch, salem witch hunts, witch queen, salem, salem trials, salem witch trials, witch story, witch hunters, salem witch, witch covens, witch series, witchcraft thriller, witch dagger, witch history
Publisher: Aames

-12-

“Your pardon, sir,” I mock Bishop. “But I am no lamb, nor do I have any intention of being sacrificed.”

“Well, that’s good, lass,” he says. “I’ve no desire to risk me own life if ye were. Right then. I want ye and yer muther to move anything in the house ye’d like to keep over to the barn. When ye’ve done with it, I’ll give ye another job.”

I start forward. “But—”

“No buts. The more questions ye ask, the less we get done,” Bishop says. “Now, Little Kelly, the Martin lad, and, er—” He scratches his head and points to Wesley.

I watch Wesley raise himself to his full height. “I am—”

Bishop waves him off. “I don’t care who ye are. Don’t want no names neither. I don’t do attachments, ye know. Saves me the time from mournin’ ye if’n ye get yerself killed. So”—he claps his hands—“the three lads run along to the barn, fetch the axes, and cut down the nearest trees ye can find to fashion some boards. I don’t give a damn what’s been said to ye before this day. None of ye are wee boys any longer. It’s man’s work we do tonight, and I’ve need for three more standin’ alongside me. Now off with ye.”

George and Andrew grin at being called men for the first time. Together, they run off to complete their task.

Wesley lingers beside me. “I did not leave my family to chop down trees for a plan you will not speak of, sir,” he says. “I came to protect Sarah.”

“It’s right noble of ye, lad,” Bishop says. “But they’ll be time for yer chivalry later. She’ll be safe so long as the sun is shinin’. Witches only come at night when it’s harder to see ’em.”

“Then why not track them by day?” Wesley suggests. “Find where they sleep and kill them there?”

Bishop chuckles. He turns his attention to Priest. “Oi! Why didn’t we ever think on that?”

Priest takes a small whetstone from his pocket, uses it to sharpen his tomahawk. It makes an awful scratching sound as he drags the blade’s edge across it.

“Oh, that’s right,” Bishop says grandly. “Some of the natives protect and hide ‘em. Well,”—he turns back to Wesley—“if ye’ve an army to raid the tribes with, then by all means, we’ll get right to it.”

“Why would savages shelter witches amongst them?”

Bishop chuckles. “Ne’er been with a woman, have ye, lad?”

I see the truth of it plain upon Wesley’s blushing face.

“There’s no shame in it, son,” Bishop says. “Safer, truth be told. Course if ye doubt me, ye could ask him over there.” He motions his head toward Priest.

I hear the blade’s edge sing off the side of the stone. Priest holds it aloft. He glares at Wesley, daring him to ask the question.

Wesley gulps.

“Ah, don’t ye worry about him,” Bishop says to Wesley. “He’ll do naught to ye. Less ye go round stickin’ yer nose where it don’t belong, that is. Well,” he cocks his head to the side. “Off to the woods with ye to join the others.

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