Castle of the Red Contessa by Robert John MacKenzie

Author:Robert John MacKenzie [MacKenzie, Robert John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781647041731
Publisher: Bublish, Inc.
Published: 2020-10-19T14:25:37+00:00

CHAPTER 32

A Bargain Struck

Sarah wrapped the corpse of the dead witch in a quilt. Thurmond gestured for the village men to carry it downstairs for burning, but they adamantly refused to touch it. With no other option, Thurmond took the shoulders while Sarah held the feet. It was surprisingly light.

Hieronymus awaited them in the great hall. His findings in the second tower mirrored their own. The Sisters had obviously inhabited the two tall towers, leaving the rest of the castle and its furnishings to rot away. The only exception was the room of invocation, where a palpable shroud of evil still lingered.

The priest agreed that the witch’s body must be burned at once. He ordered his men to build a pyre in the courtyard, using the great hall’s broken tables and benches as fuel. The fragments of undead would be added to the flames.

The castle’s great doors were now thrown wide, allowing wholesome sunlight to stream inside. And through these doors came Pozi, wide-eyed and breathless. She ran to the priest and clasped him around the waist with both arms. He took her by the shoulders and gently forced her back. His voice was calm and kind but also firm.

“I told you to wait outside, girl. It’s not yet safe in here.”

“I know, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I was so scared for you.”

“That matters not. You must learn to obey. I am very busy at the moment.”

Hieronymus stepped away from the child to see to one of the injured men—a farmer named Fulvar, who had been struck on the head and remained unconscious. Pozi turned to Sarah.

“I’m so glad you’re alive! I thought I’d never see you again. Please believe me, I didn’t mean to run out on you, but I knew of nothing else to do. That black cloud… I just couldn’t…”

Thurmond placed a reassuring hand on the crown of her head.

“Pozi, you did nothing wrong. We were glad you got away. We didn’t want to see you hurt.”

She started to cry. Her words came in gasps between her sobs.

“I could think of…nothing else “I…went back down the mountain…to fetch Father Hieronymus. I knew…he wouldn’t let you die. He brought the village men…to help you.”

Sarah spoke in a comforting tone.

“You saved us from a horrid death, Pozi. Maybe even saved our souls from the old witch, who would have trapped them in some blasphemous form. We would have certainly perished here, if not for your good sense to bring help. I am very grateful.”

The sobs subsided.

“I thought you’d be mad because I ran away.”

“Nay, not mad. Exceedingly glad, both of us.”

Thurmond nodded in agreement.

“Aye, Pozi, both of us are exceedingly glad. I, too, thank you.”

Finishing with the unfortunate Fulvar—there was little hope he would recover—Hieronymus joined Sarah and Thurmond as Pozi was completing her story.

“I knew I could do you no good against the witch. I don’t know how to use weapons or cast magic spells, but I had to stick with you because of our bargain we’d made.

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