A Witch's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A

filled her eyes, disgusting her to no end.
She’d been in this man’s company under an hour and did everything a witch was
not supposed to do.
    Witches did not cry, whine, or entertain such
wanton thoughts of handsome knights. The moisture gathering at the corner of
her eyes mocked and enraged her. The Goddess abandoned her as well. She
muttered incantation after curse, spell after spell, and nothing worked. She
fell into some unforeseen trap, one that no self-respecting sorceress would
dare to ever find herself in.
    They arrived at her cottage. Gavin helped her
down. She disappeared inside and stuffed what little clothing she had into a
bundle, muttering angrily under her breath as the knights tramped into her home
uninvited. She was fuming while the six knights walked about her humble home,
looking around in interest.
    One of them was picking up and looking at a
jar of questionable contents. She smirked at his unease as he saw the hundreds
of jars there, all containing her potions and ingredients. He dropped the jar
and backed away when he saw dead animal corpses hanging to dry on a rack.
    A large, fat orange cat meowed plaintively.
The knight’s all eyed it worriedly as it jumped down from its perch upon the
mantle over the hearth. Seeing their reaction to her cat was priceless. She
raised an eyebrow at their odd behavior. She nearly giggled to see them jump
back away from him. Certainly six brawny men were not scared of Gerwin, her
cat? She smiled even wider to see the youngest of the six knights back away and
leave the cottage to wait outside.
    “What is all this nonsense here?” Gavin asked
curiously, picking up and sniffing at a jar of some white, powdery substance,
scowling at the foul odor within.
    “Had you a case of the pox; you might
appreciate that, Sir de Mortaine,” she said pertly.
    The other men chuckled as Gavin put the jar
down hurriedly, and moved away from her work table.
    “We haven’t all day, Mistress Farrand,” Gavin
replied testily and gestured to her bundle, “is that all you need?”
    “No, I have my books. I must insist on taking
all these as well,” she said and began dumping the jars into another bag.
    “My guess is the villagers are not very far
behind us, Sweetness. Please hurry,” Gavin informed her tightly.
    “Aye, I know it. It is doubtful they will
leave my cottage standing in their desire to burn something this day,” she
mused as she grabbed jars and vials off the work table. “I will not leave my
things. It will be just a moment.”
    “Very well, but do have some pity on my
mount. Cyrian might protest half your household on his back.”
    Madeline was glad the remaining five knights
left then. She looked around at her home, and decided she had all she needed.
She gazed at her comfortable cottage with its homespun coziness, fighting the
urge to weep. Seeing the things she was forced to leave behind made her balk.
There was no choice.
    She paused as she saw the book sitting upon
her mantle. She grabbed the leather bound book and stuffed it into her bag.
Madeline took one last look and left, scooping up Gerwin, shutting the door
behind her. The men all smirked at Gavin to see her toting her cat as she
approached them in the small yard.
    “I must ask if it’s truly necessary you bring
that creature with you?” Gavin asked in dismay.
    She handed him up her bag and bundle. “He
goes with me,” she informed him stubbornly, her blue eyes flaring. “I will not
leave him behind to fend alone. It is not his fault we leave in such haste, but
yours!”
    Gavin held out his hand to help her up,
glaring at the cat she held in her arms. Gerwin’s large amber eyes narrowed and
he hissed softly. He curled protectively in her arms as she arranged herself in
front of Gavin in the saddle. Alastair chuckled at the sight. Gavin sent him a warning
look, daring him to say one word.
    ****
     Madeline was exhausted by the time they
stopped to rest the horses. She learned from one of the