"First Born"

[WildBill2015]

"First Born"

(Needs a female writer. PM to join.)​

William studied the woman before him, trying to mask his fear with an expression of anger. Long ago, he'd been told she was dead. He'd have those who misled him drawn and quartered before the day was out.

"What is it you want, witch?" he asked, emphasizing the last word with the true disdain the name deserved. "Speak your words so we can get on with burning you."

She laughed loud and long, making him think of the word cackle with simultaneous humor and fear. She took a half step closer, causing the men surrounding her to move closer as he himself tightened his grip on the dagger strapped to his hip.

"Vengeance, M'lord King!" she said.

Murmurs flooded through the Lords and Ladies who had gathered in the Great Hall for the ball celebrating the King's marriage. As William cast a sharp glance to the group, silence quickly reigned. He looked back to the witch, asking, "For...?"

"You hunted my womenfolk ... my sisters and daughters ... and burned them at the stake!" She turned away from him, looking from one Noble and Royal to another as she continued, "My girls did you no harm. We lived in peace in the Great Forest--"

"You're witches ... warlocks!" William cut in. "Your black magic--"

"Lies! she hollered with a venomous tone as she turned to face William once more. "Lies! We have done you no harm!"

All about her the King's Guardsmen were on edge, pointing spears, swords, and daggers at the witch. She had slipped into the ball under a Spell of Disguise and reached the King and his new Queen without once being challenged. Again she turned fully about as she dared, "Can any person here name a child I have taken?"

William looked about, expecting many to step forward. None did. Was there not a single victim amongst the 200 members of Court here tonight? Or were they all so afraid of this witch that -- even to seal her fate at a witch -- they couldn't force themselves to provide witness against her?

Her slow encircling brought her back to face William and Louisa, who was visibly trembling at the hard stare the old woman was giving her. The witch moved another step forward, causing the Guardsmen to move their sharp points and edges even closer to her. She drew in a dramatically long and deep breath, held it, then released it slowly as she set her sight firmly upon the crowned and gowned female.

"You are ripe, M'lady," the witch said. "You will conceive a child tonight should your Lord King separate those milky white thighs of yours."

As the Crown Princess blushed and looked away as William barked, "Silence your tongue, woman, or I will have it cut from your mouth.

The witch hissed at William, then cackled again. William stood quickly, intent to order the Guardsmen to kill the witch. But as she raised her hand and pointed a bony finger his way, he found himself unable to get out a single word or even gesture the armed men to her.

"For your crimes against my sisters," she spoke in a booming voice that shook both the glass in the French doors and goblets in the guests' hands, "you shall be punished, M'lord King!"

She began her slow turn again. Scared eyes watched the witch as the Nobles and Royals, too, were unable to speak or move. She continued, "You shall ALL be punished. You place such value on your male heirs and so little on your females..."

Her circling put her face to face with William again. This time as she moved forward, there was no one to stop her. She continued, "From this night forth, no male child born to any male present tonight shall live past the next full moon, and no male child born after a female child will even survive his birth until and unless you can learn to treasure and honor your daughters and sisters as much as I treasured and honored my own daughters and sisters, who are now little more--"

The witch reached into her gown with both hands, then whipped them out, sending a cloud of ash into the air that quickly began to envelope the entire assembly. She finished with emphasis, "--than ash!"

Despite the steady, light breeze flowing through the French style doors on one side of the Great Hall and up the grand stairways, the cloud of dust spread in every direction as if exempt from the laws of nature. It enveloped the entire crowd, with black specks entering the nostrils and mouths of the men and women like miniature bats flying into dark caves for the day's rest.

With another cackle and a flourish, she spun and headed out of the Great Hall, unimpeded by the dozens of Guardsmen with their weapons stilled before them.



Three days after the full moon:

"Lord Byron?" William asked, crumpling the note. He looked to the Messenger, got a confirming nod, then ordered, "Return to his father, express my regrets."

"Yes, M'Grace," the Messenger said, bowing before turning and hurrying away.

Louisa looked to William with tear filled eyes. "They are all falling to this witch's spell. Can you do nothing?"

"What would you have me do, M'lady?" he asked. "No one has seen the witch since our wedding night."

Speaking the words wedding night caused William's stomach to turn. They'd decided to postpone

Not done