The Last Quarrel (The Complete Edition) Read Online Free PDF

them back,” their sergeant said with relief. “Please, highness, follow me.”
    “Keep them back from what?” Cavan asked, but the guards were already moving and he, Eamon and Niall had to follow or be swallowed up by the crowd as well.
    The crowd grew angrier and, strangely, more frightened the further they pushed through, until they emerged into an open space before the gate being kept clear by the spears of guards. At its center was a stake sunk deep into the hard-pressed earth. Stacked around the stake were faggots of wood, rising almost half of its height. Next to the stake was what Cavan at first thought was a bundle of rags. But then, at a kick from a guard, it rose into a thin woman dressed in a cheap black dress.
    “What is going on here?” Cavan demanded.
    “We’re going to burn this witch, highness. Just as soon as you give your speech to the crowd,” the guard sergeant said stolidly.
    “But I don’t have a speech,” Cavan began, then realised just what the man had said. “What do you mean, burn a witch?”
    “Well, highness, it’s the only way to be sure we’ve killed her. Some folk say you can cut off their heads and throw it into running water but we want to be sure,” the sergeant said.
    “But how do you know she’s a witch? And how did you find her?”
    “Highness, we had men searching for these missing children and the people pointed her out to us. She lives alone with cats and two people heard her curse a merchant whose cart ran over one of them. The merchant’s donkey died after it was cursed, the moment he put the whip on it. Then, when we went into her house, we found herbs hanging from the rafters and some small bones in a cooking pot.”
    “Children’s bones?” Cavan gasped.
    The sergeant hesitated. “Not sure, highness. They might have been. But the rest of it shows how guilty she is.”
    Cavan looked at the so-called witch, who was sobbing pitifully.
    “Highness, please save me! We know you are wise and kind and good! I’m just a widow who makes poultices for sick children to earn a little money! I never did anything!”
    “She brews up potions for children! You heard it yourself, highness: she admitted she is a witch!” the sergeant shouted.
    “Kill the witch!” someone in the crowd screamed, and next moment they were all howling it and pressing forwards so the guards had to use the butts of their spears to keep them back.
    “Our children will never be safe while the witch lives!” someone howled.
    The woman rushed towards Cavan and grabbed at his boot, tears pouring down her face. “Highness, I am innocent! I never did nothing! You must believe me! I would never hurt a child!”
    “Get away, witch!” Eamon guided his horse in and kicked her away from Cavan’s legs, sending her sprawling on the ground.
    “Eamon! She was just talking!” Cavan protested.
    “Highness, she could be a witch. It is my job to protect you. I cannot risk it. King Aidan would have my head if a witch cast a spell on you.”
    Cavan shook his head. “But we don’t know she is really a witch. A merchant ran over her cat and she swore at him. Then the merchant beats his own donkey to death and looks for someone to blame. It worries me that children are going missing but finding some herbs in a kitchen and bones in a pot is hardly good enough reason to burn someone alive! Aroaril, if that was the case, we should slaughter half the cooks in the castle!”
    “Highness, we aren’t going to be able to control this crowd for much longer. You need to give your speech and then let me burn her,” the sergeant said.
    “I am not letting you burn her! There is no reason! I shall explain that to the crowd and then we shall all go and get to the truth of this matter,” Cavan insisted.
    “Highness, I am sorry but I have an order from King Aidan himself to burn this witch. If I don’t do it, I shall join her on the pyre,” the sergeant said, sweat running down his face.
    “Show me this order,”