The Witching of the King by Greg Hoover

Author:Greg Hoover [Hoover, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2021-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“Malachi,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here, I found—”

A guard punched me in the stomach; I doubled over in pain and fell to the floor. “Shut up, witch,” the guard said, and kicked me in the side.

“Stop,” said Malachi. “There is no need for that. He needs to be in good shape when we burn him at the stake for witchcraft.” He knelt down near my ear and added, “And his daughter with him.”

The two guards pulled me to my feet and dragged me out of the room.

“The king is in the Great Hall,” said Malachi. “Take him there.”

Struggling to breathe, nausea filled my stomach as I stumbled down the hallway with them. We entered the Great Hall; hundreds of people were there finishing their supper. The sound of conversation and laughter filled the air; I could smell roasted lamb and fresh-baked bread. The king sat at the royal table near the front of the dining room, finished with his evening meal.

Malachi strode to the front. “Your Majesty,” he said in a loud voice, and the Great Hall became silent. “You have appointed me to investigate witchcraft at Hampton Court Palace, and I am honored to tell you that my search has been fruitful. By the authority invested in me by God and the Crown, I hereby accuse William Shakespeare of the high crime of witchcraft.”

The guards flung me to the floor in front of the king. He looked shocked and stared hard at me for a moment. Catching my breath, I stood to face him.

“What’s the meaning of this?” the king asked Malachi. “I personally picked this man to be our Witchfinder General.”

“He fooled all of us, my lord,” said Malachi. “Or at least most of us.”

“What evidence do you have?” asked the king. “I demand answers.”

“Your Majesty, these two noble palace guards and I caught William Shakespeare in the act of practicing black magic.”

“Is this true?” the king asked the guards.

“Yes, sire,” said the guard who had hit me.

“Or at least,” said the other guard, “we found him in a room with cursed items.”

“And where are these ‘cursed items’ now?”

“Here, Your Majesty.” Malachi held up the book I had found in the room. “It’s a witch’s book of spells.” Malachi turned and faced the crowd, holding up the book for all to see.

“A Book of Shadows,” said the king, stroking his beard.

“Yes,” said Malachi. “And there was a pentagram on the floor surrounded by candles.”

“Witch!” a voice in the crowd bellowed.

“Sorcerer!” screamed another.

“Quiet!” said the king. He then turned to me. “How do you defend yourself?”

“Sire,” I replied. “While investigating on your behalf, I found the room that Malachi described. I discovered the spell book and pentagram there.”

The king nodded. “Is there any other evidence against this man?”

“Yes,” said Malachi. “Your Majesty, I call as a witness the chief servant, Myles Lewis.

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