They Call her Witch

[DementedPixie]

The harvest moon rose full in the sky.  Cytherea’s eyes watched from her door threshold people have come and gone both ashamed but thankful for her efforts.  The wind blew past her and her nerves could sense something coming.  It wasn’t winter yet, but the snow would be here soon enough.   

“Aye mother will soon freeze this place once again.”   She knew she must make this journey to town in the morning.  It wasn’t far but those who never understood her or what she stood for often thought her and the devil the same. 

The cottage wasn’t remarkably suited for anyone of money.  But it fit her needs and those who entered.  She brought a many little ones in this world.  She has never made a house call.  That was too much.  If they want her, they came to her, other then that she did what was taught to her.  She kept to her self. She tended her wood.  She kept her small garden of tomatoes, lettuce, some corn and pumpkins.  She could not see the future.  She just healed.   Her talents were not out of this world.  Like most thought.  She even hunted her own food.  Not eat little children like most of the stories in town were about the woman who saved and trained her.  And now stories about her were one in the same.  The stories were that the woman cast a spell on her older self to be young again.  This was not so.  She died last fall.  The fever got to her and so Cytherea had her wishes granted and cremated her and her ashes were spread through out Mother Nature’s body. 

Those who journeyed her way, kept her as a last resort and her efforts are no longer mentioned once she services their ailments.  But a little recognition wouldn’t be disregarded.  But like the Tara had said over and over, never ask what is not given freely.  Not now, not never. 

Cytherea liked the steady method of this madness.  She became a sponge of everyone’s thoughts and opinions of her.  What mattered was how much she gave in the end.  Even, if the little money was left like a man leaving a harlots bed; Then on the table before the only door of this place.  It was one room.  There was a bed in the corner, a table in the middle of the room, a fire place to cook and warm her self.  A cast iron pots and pans lay in another wooden bucket beside the fire place.  There was a stream behind the cottage.  Where she went to bathe and collect water for other activities.   It was nothing glamorous.  But she wasn’t use to glamorous now was she?  She turned from the door and closed it heading to the bed in her bare feet.  She was a light sleeper.  Never know when some one would NEED her.  But they didn’t want her now did they?  Cytherea laid on her back as she covered her self with the wool blankets, she then eyed the only crack in the wood where moon light entered. “Blessed be mother moon.”  Then Cytherea closed her eyes and sleep soon followed.

[DementedPixie]

The morning came without any interruptions more the better.  Cytherea rose from the bed and ran her hands through her hair.  The trip to town must be made to day.  The crick in her neck popped as she stretched it.  She then placed both feet on the wooden floor.  The fire in the fire place was down to bright coals.  She would have to gain more wood also on her return. 

She changed from her sleeping habit, to a dark blue skirt that came to her ankles, a light blue trim lace at the bottom of it.  The skirt swayed freely.  Her top along was a white peasants top, along with a dark blue corset.  Her dark brown hair came to her shoulders.  She put it in a lose bun and held it with a piece of lace.  After she was comfortable with her usual appearance for going into town she grabbed her coin bag.  And her shopping leather bag.  Making a memory of her list she slipped on leather shoes and made her way out the door.  After locking the only door, she walked 3 blocks east and stopped at the entrance to the town.  The bridge was very narrow, and many travelers made there way past her and from her.  The town was busy with vendors alike.  And she was a paying customer just as must as the next man or woman in line to pay.  Only her reputation kept her moving faster. 

she began walking quickly down the bridge.  The smell of this town was one of sweat, cooking meat, iron, horse and yolk.  This was a large town. It was big enough for her and everyone else.

She stopped as many people who recognized her for who she was and moved away, almost like a stray dog.  Cytherea was used to this and made her way over to the clothe vendor for new rolls of wool. 

“I’ll take two rolls please,” She said kindly to the woman eyeing her cautiously.  The woman only slid the roll to Cytherea after she paid her gold.  “You have a blessed day.”  The old woman already ignoring her words, and already working on the person next in line. 

She moves to the next vendor, herbs and such, and ponders her stash of rose petal veins.  She may need to rep-plant them again.  The crows have been in her bushes again.  She purchases a few more seeds from the planter’s wife as she heads to the store building.  More bread and milk too.  The store that was full of patrons seems to see her and walk out the door.  She looks the other way.  “You’ll want me when you need me she sighs” 

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea's visits to town were always quick, and un-interrupted.  She never once took the chance to draw unnecessary attention to herself.  The rumors were enough to keep others a safe distance.  But from who?  Her from them?  Or them from her?  She gives a soft smile giving into the joke that must be there somewhere.  But with the secret agreements between the villagers and her.  She won't dattle to much longer.  She had a life to live as well.  Wood to chop.  A fence to mend.  The life of a healer.  "What fools us mortals be,"   she said to her self, as she made her way out of town back to the bridge that crossed the river that led her to the path that led her home.  With her leather bag full of goods, and her gold coin purse empty.  There was always just enough.

[LongN4]

He sighed as he looked down at the moldy piece of paper in his hands, it was a map....of sorts the sort of rural scribblings that a well meaning but ill educated farmer would hastily draw before rushing back to drive away the crows from his crop. Looking around the quaint little town Fritz let out another bitter sigh. "close enough" he thought to himself. "Come" he pulled on the reigns of his traveling companion. A old gray and speckled plow horse by the name of Pfeffer, who had been donated to the church after its better years had already past.

As he walked down the street the villagers made obvious attempts to avoid his path though not for the same reason that they had avoided the girl. A wide brimmed hat covered a head of shaggy brown hair which looked like it had been hacked at with a knife in a attempt to attain some semblance of respectability. Stubble and hints of a mustache framed the lower parts of his sharp angular face though most of that was obscured by a tattered scarf that was wrapped around the lower parts of his face and his neck. He wore a plain black over coat that was emblazoned over the left breast with the emblem of a eye framed by the wings of two flying crows set against a silver cross. Every now and then the silver rod he used as a walking stick tapped down on the stone sidewalk. *tap* *tap* *tap* A slow leisurely rhythm to match the man's pace.

and then his stomach growled, he had been on the road for several days subsisting only on what he could manage to forage from the wilderness and while he wasn't starving per se he was damned hungry. Sighing again he entered into the market district. "I suppose a local would know the best place to avoid catching botulism at......" Sighting out a remarkably well dressed young woman with her hair done up in a bun just leaving the market place....something was off about her though something almost bewitching. Deciding that she was as good a person to ask as any he hurried his pace to catch up with her and placed a strong but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Excuse me miss, but do you know where a tired traveler may find a decent place to have a good meal and a place to rest?"

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea was humming and thinking to her self almost home.  She didn’t hear the man coming up behind her.   But when her asked, her blue eyes met his.  She held his gaze longer than maybe she should have.  She stopped in her tracks.  She smiled polite. “ I am sorry sir.  My thoughts are not about me this day.  May I beg your pardon?”

[LongN4]

He gave her a tired smile in return his own eyes not quite willing to break contact with her's either. "Not its perfectly fine, I was simply wondering if there was any place nearby where I could have a meal and some decent rest. I've been traveling for some time and have just arrived in the town a while ago. "

the horse behind him let our a snort that was half snicker and half snort, "oh and I suppose the beast at my back could use some carrots and hay to lie down on as well."

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea nodded in agreement.  Even though she was friendly.  She eyed him closely.  She wasn’t about to lead this man to her home.  She had her own safety to think about and though he looked friendly enough she was cautious of anyone a man in particular to just come up and touch her on her shoulder.  He defiantly didn’t know who she was.  She liked that.  She reached in her leather sack as she smiled to the man and the beast of burden at his back.  She pulled out two carrots.  One for the man and the other for his horse.  She handed him both and then pointed east behind her. 

“There is an Inn.  Its called the majesty.  The food there is edible and the bed will suit you and your horses needs.  Sorry, that is all I know.”  Her voice soft but wary.  With that she turned her back on him and continued walking.  She needed to get home and do chores.  The less the villagers saw him talking to her the better for him.

[LongN4]

"my thanks" he took the carrots and went back his own way towards the inn the young lady had recommended, but not before turning back to say something. "A young lady such as yourself had better take care to be careful. Especially with a witch in the area......." With that he left with carrot, and horse in tow.

"She's an interesting one isn't she Pfeffer?" The horse merely shook its head to shoo away a horsefly in response. "Isn't it odd that she lives so far out of town? You don't think she's hiding something do you Pfeffer?" Again another noncommittal shake of its head. "Still such a nice young lady I do hope that she isn't the one that we're looking for." Silence "Ah, well have a carrot" The pair munched on their carrots and reached the inn at their own relaxed pace. Every now and then stopping to let one or several of the village children play with Pfeffer, or cajole Fritz into buying them sweets.

[DementedPixie]

  She didn’t hear his last words as Cytherea turned down a dirt path between willow trees, the spring was bubbling, deer and other creatures took turns sampling its liquid.   She un-bolted the door and entered; Setting her leather bag and empty gold coin purse on the table.  She went back out the way she came.  Going behind the cottage she pick up three pieces of wood.  All three decant size fire wood.  She brought them back inside and laid them next to the fire place.  Next she took her hand spade and mixed the once coals now ash.  She cleans her fire place enough and set the three logs neatly in the hearth.  Striking the flint to the stone she sparked a few embers until enough flame was born and growing.  Picking her self up.  She dusted her skirt off and whipped the sweat from her brow.  She now need to collect water from the stream. To water the garden and make a another stew.  She  could feel the muscles in her back protest already.  She was fit for the task.  Who needed a man around the house anyway?  Better her alone.  Then wait hand and foot on a man.  Besides, a man would want her bare foot and pregnant and she has seen the pain all ladies have gone through.  She had herbs to numb them, but they lasted only so long.  She will never want to be in position. 

Cytherea collected the wooden bucket in her hand and made her way to the stream behind her cottage.  She startled a red-squirrel from his spot and it raced up the willow to her right and began barking her arrival through the forest.  Cytherea looked up the willow as she set the bucket down before the stream.  The red-squirrel still staying its ground from its limb.  Doing the creatures of the forest a favor.  “And to think I was going to eat you?” She said laughing at the critter.  She then got on her knees and placed the bucket in the stream to collect water.   When it was full enough she stood.  Leaning over to collect the bucket in her hands.  This time walking carefully back to her cottage.  She stopped and cupped water in her palm to take a sip.  She brought it to her lips and drank freely.  The cool crisp liquid sliding down her dry throat.  She then made it to her small garden.  Taking a smaller cup and splashing the plants.  “Drink up my lovelies.”  She said softly.  She began humming again. 

Back in town there was talk of the witch being spotted again.  “As lovely as she looked, never trust the blue eyed devil.  She will steal your soul and leave your body to the birds”  Many men said that. Never any of them having such experience.  But when one cries wolf it is better to be on the better liked side.  The Majesty was a tavern combined with an Inn.  Many patrons frequent the bar and few slept there.  The beer was tasty.  A few men sat at the tables talking about the newest gossip.  Cytherea the witch was spotted.  Some said that she cast spells with her eyes.    One look and you’d turn to stone.  A few talked about other things they liked to do.  But none never said they dare try.  “The devil walks among us.”  The older man said as he took a sip of his beer.  She wears blue, and lives alone in the forest.  Why would we dare want her here?  There are doctors that do what she does. 

[LongN4]

Fritz entered the Inn, "Barkeep! A room for the week, and a hot meal please?" The inquisitor placed a few small silver coins on the bar counter, "Oh and if you would please have your servants see to my horse, she's the old speckled mare tied to a post out back." He seated himself at an empty table glad for the opportunity to rest his weary bones. Leaning back against the old wooden chair he signaled a passing serving wench for an ale by mimicking the action of deeply drinking from a tankard. With the issue of food and shelter done with he sat back and listened into the smattering of conversations that surrounded him.

"The devil walks among us......She wears blue and lives alone in the forest."

For some reason that description seemed oddly familiar to Fritz, oh look here comes beer. He thanked the wench for the tankard and continued listening in. It was the typical superstitious talk that rurals tended to spread amongst themselves, the sort of talk that more often than not resulted in the death of a perfectly innocent midwife, but still he was bound by duty to follow any leads that came up. Coming up to their table he introduced himself.

"Gentleman, I have heard your concerns that there might be a witch in the area perhaps I may be of assistance. I am Fritz Jaeger a inquisitor of the church." This was all said in a tired almost irreverent tone, as if this were an introduction that he had used for years and years to calm the fears of superstitious village folk.

[DementedPixie]

The bar- keep eyed the man asking for the room and collect the coins.  Then he sent the young boy, Daniel to tend to his horse.  “Aye sir, my daughter will be back with your drink and food.” 

The little boy ran out the back door and around the majesty to collect the man’s horse. Bringing the horse around back to the stables where many other horses were fed and watered.  He placed the horse in a stall by it self, made sure the water holder had plenty of fresh water.  He made sure the hay was dry and clean for the horse to eat and lay on.  He then came back in to hear the newcomer’s speech.

"Gentleman, I have heard your concerns that there might be a witch in the area perhaps I may be of assistance. I am Fritz Jaeger a inquisitor of the church."


Daniel looked at his grandfather coolly.   He watched as his mother brought the man his plate and ale.  His grandfather eyed him and shook his head.  When he saw Daniel he shook his head and pointed out the door.  Daniel went back outside but not far away.  Just outside the door.  He could hear the men and patrons give the woman that brought him into this world a death sentence.  To call her witch was horrible.  She may be a cookie of a woman.  But a witch.  He had heard lies of her and his thoughts were always the same.  He still visits the lass every year.  On the day he was born.  In fact, his 10th birthday will be coming up.  But he may need to make this trip sooner.  The woman needs to know what is coming and he was going to be the one to tell her first.  He shot out past the back of the building through the forest taking his short cut under the bridge. Heading to her.


Cytherea was knee deep in wire when she heard her name from a breathless boy.  It was soon to be his 10th birthday.  Daniel Malloy.  She stood where she was waiting for the boy to stop and take a breath.  She even offered water laughing at his quickness. “What is with you, you’re early.  But I suppose you can have your gift already.  She stepped over the wire. 

“No, Cytherea, there is talk about you.”

Cytherea chuckled, “There is talk always talk about me. What is it this time?  Am I eating children again?  Better leave before you fall victim then?”  She turned and made a mockery of a monster and made her hands into claws.  “Or am I bewitching the livestock? That’s a good one though got to give them that. Or,” She stopped and placed her finger on her chin with a sly grin.  “I am bewitching men to com to me!”  She broke into laughter.  But the boy was not smiling.  “This is serious isn’t it?  Come in and have some stew and we will talk.”  And Cytherea and Daniel walked inside and Cytherea closed the door. 

[LongN4]

He let the men ramble at each other about how the "witch" had turned the cows' milk sour, how she had brought drought and flood to the region, and any number of terrible deeds this so called witch had perpetrated; listening calmly he went to his seat to claim his meal, only to return the men's table to listen in on their claims. The food was plain and rustic some thick stew and a trencher of hard dark bread for dipping still to a man who had lived on nuts and berries for the past week it smelt simply heavenly. He dug into his meal with relish savoring every last bite going as far as to lick his own fingers to lap up the greasy residue the stew had left on his fingers.

"So do you have any proof that she's done these deeds your claiming she's done?" he asked the old men carefully.

[DementedPixie]

"So do you have any proof that she's done these deeds your claiming she's done?" he asked the old men carefully.


Jacob the milk farmer told Fritz of the time he had been healed by the woman, her name was Cytherea, she had asked for a calf for   payment instead of gold.  Once he denied her all the cows milk had gone sour.  Chickens stopped nesting too.  But he had no excuse for that.  Then another man cut in saying his whole plot was flooded after Cytherea came to town one year but was older.  Same blue eyes though.  But this was hear say there was no hard evidence they could offer.  But more than one could say there was something unnatural about her.  She was unmarried.  No children.  Did man’s work.  Any decant female would be caught dead doing what she did.  She was uncommon and very dangerous.  Keeps to her self. 

A younger  man came to join the group and sat down next to Fritz. The woman worships the devil she does.  I’ve seen her dance under the pale moon with him.”  This man was the son of the shoe makers.  Dark hair and seedy eyes that matched.  His clothes although more common fashioned.  He smiled as a knowing man. 

[LongN4]

"So........ just rumor and hear say" He leaned back against his chair and weaved his hands behind his head to think for a bit. He sighed before eyeing the young man, he knew this sort hell he was this sort of person a few years years back: cruel, mischievous and always on the prowl for trouble. "Can you take me to where she dances with he devil? young man I have my doubts, but its my duty to get to the truth of the matter here and if there's even the remotest chance that she is in league with the devil then I'll have to make sure that she won't bring anymore harm to this town. So if you please, lead the way."

[DementedPixie]

The man chuckled, “far be it for me to step foot on tarnished ground holy man.  But Daniel the bar-keep son visits her once a year to keep the peace with his family.  They sold their souls to the devil when they let that witch stay under their roof as a girl.  She helped bring him into this world you know.  He is the one that cared for your horse out back.  He is turning 10.  He has been bewitched by her since he fell off the apple orchard and she nursed his arm.  He is under the beauties spell since then.  Just ask his grand father.  He pointed to the old man behind the bar.  The man looked at Johnson sternly.  Said, “You be leaving me boy outta this hog-wash, Cytherea’s a good girl, just miss-understood.  It is the woman before her that was the witch.”  With that he tossed Fritz the key to his room.  In worn engraved numbers 202 was present.  It was a wooden key.  The woman lives 3 blocks east of here.  Follow the path of willows and streams.  You’ll find your mid-wife there living off the land, like the good lord permitted.”  With that the old man left and stepped out side and slammed the back door in anger. 



Cytherea listened to Daniel’s story of the man named Fritz Jaeger a inquisitor of the church.  The stories that were being told about her.  She smiled as the families only son came all this way to warn her.   “Daniel my dear boy, it warms my heart to know that you care more about my reputation than I.  So, there is an inquisitor in town.  I’ve nothing to hide.  Let him come and Test me.  There are no evil deeds here.”  She took the empty bowl from the table and re-filled his cup of juice.   The gift she gave him wasn’t really a gift but company and a meal.  Time to make a mockery out of the town he calls home.  She had sung to him. Told him stories, now she repeated what Tara told her one day would come. “There isn’t anything to worry about.  Now, you best be on your way before they think I gotten to you too.  The boy hugged Cytherea and she popped him a kiss on the top of his head.  Motherly in nature.  Daniel walked out the door after waving and telling her that he will be back on his birthday.  Cytherea said she be looking forward to it. 

After Daniel left a cool chill went up her back, so it wasn’t winter that was coming early.  So an inquisitor had com to town?  Cytherea gave a soft sigh,  “what fools us mortal’s be”

[LongN4]

(OOC: I probably won't be on for the rest of the day, but I think I can come back on either Saturday or Sunday. Thanks, its been a lot of fun so far.)

This is why he hated his job too many things, such as innocence and the like, getting in the way of his hunt. Oh, if only the world were filled with evil witches who he could hunt down at his leisure that would be paradise, but no instead the church had him chasing midwives and nursemaids out in godforsaken little backwaters like these *sigh*. At least he wasn't a priest.

He opened the door and quickly shut and locked it behind him, a force of habit from his days as an apprentice. Throwing off his clothes one by one he plopped down on the bed too tired to think or care about this so called witch. "I'll take care of this tomorrow, for now I'm going to sleep." With that he drifted off into a deep, blissfully dreamless sleep.

[DementedPixie]

((OOC: this is all well and fine LongN4 ;) till then))

Cytherea was getting ready to turn in for the night when a frantic knocking came at her door.  This was always the beginning of a long night.  She opened the door quickly, “Bring him inside and lay him next to the fire.”  The two men brought their brother who had been stabbed.  The man was obviously unconscious, and lost large amounts of blood, but nothing she had not seen before. 

The two young men in a frantic did what Cytherea said.  She never asked what happened, she usually didn’t want to know, she just healed the wounded.  Cytherea removed the remainder of the man’s tunic.  It was ripped already.  After that another knock came at the door.  It was a man and a very pregnant woman about to give birth.  Her gown soaked so it was obvious her water had already broken.  Still Cytherea bade them entrance as she asked the man to lay his wife on her bed.  The men whose brother was stabbed looked at Cytherea as she did rounds.  Going back and forth from their brother and the woman giving birth.  She gave instructions to the lady’s husband.  “I need you to take you hands and keep them here.”  The man looked scared to death.  “You want my hands where?” Cytherea rolled her eyes, “It’s obvious you have touched her there before, what makes this any different? Keep you hands here.” She then turned to the woman, my dear I need you to breathe your too late for my numbing herbs.  She pulled a cedar stick from behind her bed.  She placed it between the lady’s teeth.  “You’re going to bite down on this you hear?  Now push.”  The men whose brother was coming too.  “Cytherea, Jessie is waking.”  Cytherea rushed to kneel at the man’s side and pulled a poker from the wooden box and placed it in the fire.  She dumped water over the man’s chest. She cleaned the wound.  It was deep, She ushered the brother closest to her to take the clothe she handed him and keep pressure here.  The man did what he was told.  She then went back over to the woman breathing and a scared man afraid to touch his wife. 

“Move you worthless hope, she ushered the husband aside as she took place of him.  Putting her hand between the woman’s legs,  she lifted the woman’s dress,  the husband making a protest, “ Now’s not the time for modesty my dear, what’s your name,  making conversation was one way to keep the birthing mother at ease and occupied.”  “Elizabeth McCray… ohhhh!”  Cytherea,  nodded and laughed, pushed Elizabeth McCray, your crowning.  Pushhhh!  One more, that’s it!  Soon enough a slippery baby girl was in Cytherea’s hands and she offered the husband to cut the umbilical cord.  His denial was evident.  She took the dagger and soon the babe was free of mommy.  Giving the baby a good wack to the behind.  After she cleared the airway.  Once the shrill, high-pitch of the little ones life rang through out the cottage.  She cleaned her off and placed a clotting agent on the babe’s belly button.  Then wrapped her in one of her wool blankets and handed her off to her mommy.  “Well done Elizabeth McCray, well done.  Sorry to say you’ve more guts then your other half, Cytherea added in humor for them.  The man didn’t laugh though.  But Elizabeth choked back a smile.  Lie backs my dear I’ll be right back.”  She then went back to the three men.  The one lieing on the floor contious but dizzy.  She kneeled by his side. Her forehead wrinkled as she pulled the poke from the fire. She looked at the two others,  One man already had leather abound the mans mouth keeping sure the tongue wasn’t going backwards. “ I need you to keep him still”  She removed the man’s hand from the clotting stab wound on his chest.  “This is going to hurt you more than it hurts me I’m afraid.  Without any a dew she placed the poker to cauterize the wound.  A harsh sizzle and smell of cooking flesh filled the room.  The man was already growling.  “I am so, sorry for this.”  Cytherea said as she reapplied the poker then removed it from him.  Nodding for the two men to remove the leather. 

Working later on in the night after Cytherea made sure that the McCray’s were okay to go home,  she never gave a price, they just left what they felt necessary on the table.  Then the three brother’s left carrying their now mended but still uncontious/contious brother home.  He would be just fine other wise she wouldn’t of let them leave.  The sun was right over head just as she finished cleaning up, Cytherea was weary but satisfied of a job well done.  When the pressure was on was when she shined the most.  Like she knows they will want her when they need her.  She made new arrangements of her bed cleaning and drying her mattress and flipping it over.  She didn’t take time to change she just collapsed on the bed and went to sleep.

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea whole body was stiff.  Her hair askew, her skirt and top wrinkled and soiled.  Cytherea sighed as she finally for the first time looked at her only table.  Five gold coins lay there next to her coin purse.  She raised, the catch in her back aching from last night’s leaning over.  She needed to change her clothes.  But, she desired a bath first.  It was dark the moon was full in the sky.  She must have slept the entire day.  That’s the last thing she wanted to do was get her days and nights mixed up like the McCray’s babe will soon do.  They always did.  She suspected they blame her for that as well.  She gathered a yellow bar of soap and a small bucket as she walked barefoot out the door. 


The grass was wet and cool beneath her feet, her hair lose about her shoulders running to the middle of her back.  She soon reached where the lake ran into the river.  The spot she always chose was secluded and cut off from the stream.  She couldn’t see her cottage, but it was her safe spot.  She has never been caught nor interrupted here.  Cytherea removed the solid top, revealing a chemise underneath.  Nothing but pure mesh material really, below was underwear.  So she was never naked here, Just indecent to anyone else’s eyes. 

The moon was flickering white moon beams on the water top as Cytherea swayed in the water waste high.  She wasn’t too skinny all the work she did around the cabin kept her body tone.  She never starved.  She was always blessed with that.  Cytherea dunked under once and rose.  The water running down her body like drops from heaven.  She took the soap and started to scrub her hair.  Then her face and moving down until she was soaped from head to tip.  She then dunked under once more.    The soap from her hair had made clear retreat into her eyes.  Causing them to burn.  She goes to rub them but she feels a breeze.  The coolness sending sharp shivers up her spine.  And something else.  She felt like she wasn’t the only here. 

Cytherea retreated under the water to hide her body.  Her soap free eyes surveyed what mother moon would let her see.  And what she saw was nothing.  Far be it for her to now start getting paranoid.  But still she gave a soft, “Hello?”  But only the sound of the forest and water and wind, was her only response.  Cytherea collected her self and went under once more.    “Fool I be, they live in fear and I live alone!.”  She chuckled and began a swim. The moon light giving her the freedom to see what was there to see

[LongN4]

-The morning before-

"Ugghhhhhhhhh" As with every morning Fritz dragged himself out of the fog of sleep half mentally yelling at himself to wake his lazy arse up, and half actually digging his fingers into his matress and sheets to actually physically drag himself out of bed. And as happened every morning he spent in a actual bed he fell from his soft matress onto the hard wooden floor with an loud dull *thud*.

"God be damned for making mornings.....damnit thats another hour in the confessors box." Gathering what little wits were available to him this early in the morning he took stock of his surroundings. The room that he rented was much the same as any other room he had stayed at while in the countryside: quaint, plain, and suprisingly well kept. It's walls were made from a brownish grey wood. There was his bed with its plain white sheets and pillows and matress stuffed with straw, next to it was a small wooden thing that could easily double as either a stool or a very small table. Elsewhere in the room was a empty shelf, a chest at the foot of the bed, and a proper table situated in the center of the room. From the windows Fritz could see the familiar purple, orange, and red washed sky that signified the beginning of dawn. He was slipping normally he wouldn't allow himself to sleep in so "late" into the day.

Exiting the room he threw his arms out in wild arcs to awaken them as well, and was pleased with the heat of warm blood rushing into his limbs as he made way to the Inn's baths. Preparing a bath was one of the first duties taught to the young Fritz during his trainee days, so he had little trouble stoking the fire beneath the copper tub, or in draining the tub, scrubbing it out, and in refilling it with the relatively clean water the inn provided for baths. Stripping down uncermoniously he took his bath. To him cleaning wasn't something to be enjoyed or savored, it was simply another chore to get out of the way so his baths tended to be quick, but thorough affairs that left his skin scrubbed almost to the point of rawness. With that out of the way he left the inn and began his day.

It was simple day, he tended to Pfeffer, listened in on village hearsay and gossip which proved to be quite interesting unlike most "witches" this Cytheria had as many of the commonfolk praising her as there were ones who were out for her blood. This wasn't neccasarily a good thing though he had encountered villages where some of the village folk had been charmed by a local witch. This was how he spent most of the day unobstrusively listening in on conversation. Until he met with the shoe maker's son the weasel seemed almost desperat to show him something.

"What is it now?" Fritz said in a tired  voice.

[DementedPixie]

Johnson McCormick unlike most of the men here in this place.  This town was neither home for him or any of the like,  he was had no intention on following in his father’s foot steps.  He didn’t feel like becoming the “next shoe maker”  Although, he could make shoes and fix them.  He felt the work tedious and uneventful.  He desired something.  HE had first met this Cytherea and feel head over hills in love with her, but when she denied his desires.  He felt angry and figured that him seeing her and feeling this way from only seeing her once, that there was bewitching about it.  There was going to be consequences for her denial.  But how to convince a town that she was actually in ties with the devil.  You’d have to be in on a dark way of thinking as well.  He was bored as it was.  So if he had a chance to light a fire, might as well have fuel. This town needing to see some action and why not let pretty Cytherea take on a town gone mad?  He was more than able to stir this kettle. 

Johnson strolled out of behind his father’s shop.  He stood about 6’3’’.  Dark hair one could never truly distinguish if it was black or if it was brown.  But his eyes dark brown.  He wore a tan shirt made of a thick, canvases material.  His pants are leather.  Dark brown leather.  He wasn’t very skinny, nor was he built like a horse.  He saw Fritz walking out the inn and smiled.  He just needed to convince him.  He may need to get his hands dirty for this one. 


Cytherea had taken her time with her bath and the swim was even more relaxing then the bath alone.  She had then came from the water to only begin washing her clothes once she had finished she gathered everything back to her home.  The sun about to wake up.  Cytherea pulled out a long soft cotton black dress.  This dress she had made her self.  One of her favorites.  It was a long sleeve dress.  The weather becoming cooler now warmer clothes would be beneficial.  It was also adorn with a gold trimmed belt that had some kind of design she made out of a rougher material.  Along both sides she had adorned it with red leather ties. On her feet again were leather slippers that were grey.  Once she had dressed.  She took the wicker basket from below her table and went back out into the forest to collect more berries and nuts and other thing she will need.  She had to find more rocks to add to the garden and she needed to run back to town un- fortunately.  She never did this but considering there was a church inquisitor in town she may need to make a better effort to show these people of Hastings that there was really no witch amongst them.  Gathering the 5 gold coins in her change purse she turned and walked out the door locking it.  She lazily went in to the forest and saw that the dandelions were in bloom.  Sound like dandelion greens were on the menu tonight.  She began collecting them and humming softly to her self. 

[DementedPixie]

((OOC:  The woman in the dress is not Cytherea,  however I couldn't find the dress by itself.  So ignore the woman in the dress and but the dress is what Cytherea is wearing.  I hope that makes sense))!

[LongN4]

(OOC: Gotcha, nice dress btw)

"Are you just going to stand there smiling like an idiot, and wasting my time or do you have something important to say?" The "witchhunter" leaned back against the outer wall of the inn awaiting Johnson's reply. He was attired like always plain shirt, breeches, and his overcoat; however a full nights worth of sleep did wonders for the young man. While he wasn't as big or as tall as McCormick he did have an air about him that suggested that he was much more ruthless, fierce, and savage than his bland demeanor let on.

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea had a basket full of black berries, dandelion greens and a walnuts, her change purse dangling freely at her left hip.  The basket carried on Cytherea’s left arm.  Her hair blowing in the breeze about her shoulders, she came to town through the back way, leading down through the horse stables behind the Majesty.  She looked and saw a familiar beast. The grey spotted horse that was accompanied by the man who she directed here.  Could it be?  Was he this inquisitor?  He would be her first.  But, unlike taking the peoples comments with a grain of sand, This Fritz could very well break her.  But it wasn’t him she was concerned about right.  The more times she visits this town with out necessity, the more people talk.  Her thoughts went to the McCray’s.  She opened the back door to the Majesty and say old Mathew Millister, Daniel’s grandfather at the earth stealing biscuits and popping them quickly in his mouth.  His daughter Kathleen Malloy was no where to be seen.  When he looked left and saw Cytherea standing there with a mischievous grin on her face, he stepped away from the biscuits.  “Cytherea, what brings you here this morn?  Mathew said after he swallowed a sip of water. 

Johnson looked at Fritz with the smile he had on his face while thinking how to turn this town upside down.  “Good morn to you as well, the bed hold up to the majesty’s expectations?”  He said this chuckling. 

"Are you just going to stand there smiling like an idiot, and wasting my time or do you have something important to say?"


Johnson smirked grew as he tilted his head the opposite way to look at the young boy walking down the street.  He waved and Daniel Malloy drew near.  Johnson knelt down on one knee and placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.  "You be turning 10 soon aye, what gifts will the witch give you this time ya wonder?"  Daniel backed away from the man and spat on the ground at Johnson feet and turned and looked very cooly at Fritz.  Before going inside the Majesty and stopping ony to see that Cytherea was standing there in the kitchen. Stealing biscuits with his grandfather.

[LongN4]

"Ah, a nursemaid giving a boy that she helped birth a gift for his birthday such a great crime that would be......" Annoyed Fritz returned to the inn not wanting to waste time with the weasel more than he had to, had he been that rotten when he was a lad? Most likely, but he didn't like to dwell on that disturbing thought and pushed it out of his mind. Sitting down at a empty table he leaned back and watched the regulars of the taverns take their meals and drink while he waited for his own meal, and then he saw something strange the young woman he had met yesterday he could spot glimpses of her in the tavern's kitchen she was laughing and from the looks of it teasing an old man. The little boy who regarded him so coldly soon also entered the kitchen and joined in the merriment.

Two old friends, or two bewitched victims now which could it be...........regardless he smiled he seldom saw people actually enjoy themselves, especially during times like these, and regardless of whether it was the result of witchcraft or genuine friendship it was still quite the touching scene.

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea popped a couple of biscuits in her mouth after she gave Mathew a hug.  “Good morn I’ve been warned there is talking of me  ...Again.  The McCray’s have a new baby girl.  And the Absinth Brothers came to her…Again for another stabbed wound.  Why is it always the middle brother who gets roughed up?”  Cytherea was chuckling as Daniel walked in and stopped with the paleness of a ghost.  “Cytherea good morning.”  Cytherea came to Daniel giving him a hug.  “Good morning dear,” She said smiling.  Kathleen walked into the kitchen, in the majesty’s attire an apron over her front dress and her hair done up.  She gave Cytherea a sly smile as she nudges Daniel from her embrace.  “Go on now; leave the woman to her business.”  Daniel then left his spot and went in search of fire wood.  While Cytherea greeted Kathleen warmly.  “How is Jessup?”  Kathleen shrugged her shoulders softly.  “He is still a sleep. The cattle are always a want for something.  But luckily we got us a big bull this morn.  He be cutting it up and you’ll have meat for this winter.”  Cytherea nodded softly and poured the 5 gold coins from her purse and gave them to Kathleen happily.  Kathleen pocketed 3 and gave the two back.  It wasn’t that bad this time.  Cytherea nodded happily.  She turned and out the corner of her eye she saw him.  The man she directed here.  She smirked softly and decided to go out the way she came.  “I’ll be back later…”  Cytherea went out the door and turned back towards the stables.  To stop at the mans horse.

[LongN4]

Finishing a quick meal Fritz decided he might as well go check on Pfeffer, the old beast was a high maintenance sort of lady not that he minded or had much to do in this sleepy little town anyways. He ambled leisurely toward the back of the building when he saw the young lady had already beaten him to his horse.

"Putting a charm on her? I'm afraid that won't do any good the old girl's skull is far to thick, see?" He calmly walked over to the horse and lightly rapped it on the forehead. It snorted in response and gave him a look, a look that seemed to say "go ahead try it one more time, see what happens." To which the hunter replied by ruffling her mane playfully. He had a soft grin on his face.

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea brought a hand to the horse’s mane and was startled when the man came next to her. "Putting a charm on her? I'm afraid that won't do any good the old girl's skull is far to thick, see?" She watched as he reached out and touched the beast and how the horse acknowledged him.  “I don’t do well to rumors, be sure you take these villagers comments with a grain of sand.” She said this and whether he took it as confrontational or not she didn’t care.  She then turned on her heel and took her leave of Fritz.  Her hips swaying the dress about her ankles as she walked the back way to her home. She was  Carrying her basket in hand. She looked over her shoulder once and saw him still standing there watching her.  She took her time walking home.

[DementedPixie]

She would have thought that Fritz would have followed her.  But he never did.  This was all fine.  The less she is in town the better it is for her.  But she took her basket of berries nuts and dandelion greens and stopped just before her door.  Something didn’t feel right.  She had no clue what it was.  The door was still locked; she went to go look around back. She saw nothing out of the ordinary.  Perhaps it was her imagination.  Her becoming paranoid again.  She needed to stop that.  So Cytherea returned to the door and unlocked it and shut it after she entered.  She then locked it from the inside.  That was something she has never done before.


~~~~***~~~~

The night came as a loyal companion.  It was silent and eerie and something was off.  Cytherea had eaten her dandelion greens in silence.   Jessup had brought the beef over to her.  He was so accustomed to walking in; but when he attempted to just walk in.  He was shocked to find Cytherea’s door locked.  She jumped at the knock at her door, and even went to ask who it was.  She was able to catch her breathe once she saw it was Jessup Malloy.  He had dropped the meat off and left after asking Cytherea if something was wrong.  She had replied no. He left and she re-locked the door. 


Jessup thought the rumors of Cytherea were far from true.  He knew from experience.  And after she saved his wife’s life after she helped birth his boy Daniel, who was premature.  He could care less if she was in ties with the devil.  He had his family and it was the will of that woman who wouldn’t quite. When the Dr. turned his back on them.  That woman was an angel of mercy. Witch or not.  Live and let live he says.  And all she wanted in return was meat for a lifetime.  She even made attempts to pay for it when she could.  He’d never demand her heart on a tree for anything. 

~~~~~***~~~~~

Johnson sat in the darkness of the Inn; sipping his ale this was his 4th pint of Ale to be exact.   He was feeling pretty good and the thought of bringing that woman to her knees was making him even better.  He was still infatuated with her.  The way she moves through town and sneaks in and out.  Reminded him of a snake.  The way she won’t look at him when he looks and talks to her. “Cytherea the Snobby Witch...”  He sat up from his stool.  He thought about going for a walk.  How much magic Cytherea was made up of anyway?  With a smile on his lips like a child with a secret he walked out the door and headed across the bridge. 

~~~~~***~~~~~

[LongN4]

(ooc: I see you got a bit impatient   :-))

No Fritz did not follow her unfortunately he had a more important duty to attend to, grooming Pfeffer. "You think I went and scared her off?" His only answer was a quiet neigh and a flick of a flea bitten tail. "Na, if anything you were the one being rude. Shame on you tricking a pretty young thing like that to get her hands dirty to clean your mangy coat." A snort of protest was directed in his general direction, "bah, I was nothing but a perfect gentleman. Wouldn't you agree my young friend hiding in the hay?" This particular question wasn't directed at his horse, but rather to the small boy hiding in a nearby stack of hay.

"Daniel was it? Come on out and lets speak face to face like proper gentleman. I promise I won't bite."

[DementedPixie]

Daniel had done his chores for the morning and when he was done he made his way back to the stables to take a brief rest then check and water the horses.  He had been sitting in the pile of hay when he saw Cytherea stop in front of Fritz’s horse and reach out and lightly touch his horse.  He then slid farther behind the gate and the hay.  When Fritz came to her.  The look on Cytherea’s face was unreadable.  “I don’t do well to with rumors; you best take the villagers comments with a grain of sand.”  Then turning her back on him like she did.  So cool.  Not like her at all.   He was trying to leave as quietly as he could with Fritz noticing him.  But that did not happen.  The witch hunter looked right at him and motioned him to come forward. 


"Daniel was it? Come on out and lets speak face to face like proper gentleman. I promise I won't bite.
Daniel came to him and nodded in regards of his name.  “Yessir”

[DementedPixie]

Daniel wasn’t scared of him.  He saw kindness in his eyes when he had looked at Cytherea.  But it takes more than kindness to earn his trust.   He fidgeted as he watched the man brush and groom his horse.


((OOC:  as it does seem I had gotten impatient. I won’t make any more posts with Jessup, Cytherea, and Johnson until later) ;))

[Draken Urido]

 a man in tattered rags that once must have resembled a brown cloak of moderate thickness entered the tavern  he hair and beard where long, black with hairs of gray poking through,  and knotted with dirt his stench was rather foul but not particularly strong.he was also large his near 7 foot frame was leaning on to a long twisted staff  that was almost as long as him self and knotted at its peak.   his long body was thick as well and it was surly puzzling why a man of such size seemed to labor in his motion. the obviously weary traveler pushed back the hood of his cloak and tossed his dirty head back revealing a scarred face with inset blue eyes that where unusual in their icy color,. taking an further ragged and slightly unbalanced step forward he bellowed in a throaty yell,

" Where can a man get a decent drink in this province"     

The barkeep  smelled of his breathe from where he stood be hind the bar which was only a few meters away  and spoke

" we will have no trouble here stranger i think you best sleep before ye imbibe further, now be gone before your stench scares away my good paying customers."

the stranger s fist tightened on his staff but he did not say a word and instead left he tavern in a storm walking out of the building in such a rush that he nearly ran over  a woman { pixie } was he headed back into the woods for the night

" beg you pardon mam"

was what the scamp said to the woman as he nearly collided with her.

[LongN4]

"Good boy, come here sit by me." Fritz said patting a nearby stool for the boy. "Have you ever groomed a horse before lad?" Fritz regarded the boy with a look of dubious fondness. He liked the little scamp but he could hardly trust the the young boy. He was friend's with a suspected witch after all and in his line of work he had to be sure he discovered the truth and not opinionated rumor. Trusting his words would be much the same as trusting the words of that weasel, McCormick they were both too close to the witch though admittedly for different reasons. He had seen the looks Johnson gave the "witch" looks of longing and burning jealousy.

Turning his attention back to the boy, "If you help me groom old Pfeffer here I might have a reward for you if you do a good job." he said with a gentle smile.

[DementedPixie]

Daniel nodded and sucked in his lowwer lip. 
"l"ve groomed lots of horses sir. Along side with feeding and doing most chores around here.  Keeps me busy. But I'll help, since your a payn customer you don't have to give me anything."  He then took a brush next to Fritz and began brushing the side of Pfeffer. The horse snorted dust from her nostrils as both Fritz and Daniel groomed the horse.  When there was a prolonged silence Daniel asked, "What do you want to know?"

[DementedPixie]

Daniel waited patiently, in the silence between him and Fritz and continued to brush.  He began to stay in one spot being lost in his thoughts and knowing that this conversation was going to consist of him telling him the story of his birth.  He cried the first time he heard it.  How he almost lost him mom, him being a very early birth.  She was the one that saved his mother’s life and his miraculously.   He was getting the plots in his head as he changed to the other side of the horse continuing brushing.

[LongN4]

He watched the boy intently, the young lad was trying to hold something back that much was certain. "Tell me whatever your comfortable with Daniel I won't force you."

"l"ve groomed lots of horses sir. Along side with feeding and doing most chores around here.  Keeps me busy. But I'll help, since your a payn customer you don't have to give me anything."

"nonsense a job well done must be rewarded properly! Hold on, I think the rest of the little village brats haven't completely cleaned me out yet." The man rustled through the contents of his coat's many pockets a look of serious intent on his face. "AH! here we are! Some SPice candy from Araby. try some and see if you like it!" He handed the boy a smooth white droplet of condensed spice and sugar that was wrapped in a scrap of wax paper. While popping a few droplets of his own into his mouth.

[DementedPixie]

Daniel took the candy from him slowly,  he never got something from strangers before, kindly thought against it, But the man seemed honest.  “My thanks.” He un-wrapped the wax paper looking at the circular object.  Watching Fritz pop a few in his mouth also he did the same.  It was good.  Daniel smiled happily at the man. 

“Tell me whatever your comfortable with Daniel I won't force you."

Daniel let the candy roll over in his mouth and let it dissolve.  Before he spoke.  “Mum say’s to never speak with a mouth full.”  Daniel spoke after he swallowed.  “Cytherea saved me mum and me at the same time.  She’s different than most of the women ‘ere.  But…” There was a pause as he tried to fine the words to say. “ I don’t know.  I’ve never seen someone who could cause such non-sense in the village.  She has done nothing but good ‘ere.” 


“Daniel….Daniel?”  Kathleen his mother called from the outside the Majesty’s back door. 

“Well, got to go for now. But you should go visit her…  see for your self.”  He said as he took his leave and ran in the direction of his mother.

[LongN4]

(ooc: I probably won't be able to respond this until after about 4-5 hours or so, just a heads up. Oh, and have fun with the new guys)

"All right then run along." He nodded his head he probably should go and visit the woman. After all what better way to find something out then straight from the horse's mouth right? Speaking of horses, he looked at his own. Pfeffer was simply standing placidly in her stall. She didn't seem like she was in the mood for a trip, even a short one. "Ah, well then you stay here and get those old bone's rested I'll be back soon." Patting her on the head he exited the small stable and soon found himself on the trail that led to Cytheria's house. When he came across a quaint little cottage with small gardens dotting the land all around it he could more or less guess who was living inside it.

He lightly rapped his knuckles on the door, and awaited her response.

[DementedPixie]

Cytherea was not home when Fritz came to her door.  So the knocking was useless.  Cytherea was wondering around in the forest.  Collecting flowers and nuts and berries.  Humming softly.  Something to keep her mind occupied.

((OOC: this is fine :) ))

((OOC:  okay I’m moving on moving on lol))

***Later that night***

~~~~***~~~~

The night came as a loyal companion.  It was silent and eerie and something was off.  Cytherea had eaten her dandelion greens in silence.   Jessup had brought the beef over to her.  He was so accustomed to walking in; but when he attempted to just walk in.  He was shocked to find Cytherea’s door locked.  She jumped at the knock at her door, and even went to ask who it was.  She was able to catch her breathe once she saw it was Jessup Malloy.  He had dropped the meat off and left after asking Cytherea if something was wrong.  She had replied no. He left and she re-locked the door. 


Jessup thought the rumors of Cytherea were far from true.  He knew from experience.  And after she saved his wife’s life after she helped birth his boy Daniel, who was premature.  He could care less if she was in ties with the devil.  He had his family and it was the will of that woman who wouldn’t quite. When the Dr. turned his back on them.  That woman was an angel of mercy. Witch or not.  Live and let live he says.  And all she wanted in return was meat for a lifetime.  She even made attempts to pay for it when she could.  He’d never demand her heart on a tree for anything. 

~~~~~***~~~~~

Johnson sat in the darkness of the Inn; sipping his ale this was his 4th pint of Ale to be exact.   He was feeling pretty good and the thought of bringing that woman to her knees was making him even better.  He was still infatuated with her.  The way she moves through town and sneaks in and out.  Reminded him of a snake.  The way she won’t look at him when he looks and talks to her. “Cytherea the Snobby Witch...”  He sat up from his stool.  He thought about going for a walk.  How much magic Cytherea was made up of anyway?  With a smile on his lips like a child with a secret he walked out the door and headed across the bridge. 

~~~~~***~~~~~

Cytherea was fidgeting so she decided to do some sowing and mending of clothes.  Something that would help keeps her hands and mind busy.  She felt foolish.  There was nothing to fear here.  The inquisitor just has her in a stir and far be it for her to let of all things get to her.  She had nothing to hide.  But she had nothing to prove.  She has heard tales of the tests that were done to those accused.  Liars all of them.  Not one of them she was sure was truly legitimate.  She pulled out the basket and sat by the fire and began mending the gown she wore the day before.  This was her working clothes any way.  Had to keep the appearance.  She liked the color blue.  She figured if the Mother Nature gave her blue eyes like the heavens.  Then why not keep the theme going?

~~~~~~***~~~~~

Jessup came to the edge of the forest and took a pause to rest his legs.  This life was hard on men, women and his son.  Just then he heard a rustling in the forest.  It was dark now and though he had but just a horn to hold the fire in his right hand he looked around.  Was it a bear?  Was it elk?  Probably one or the other but surely. Either way they would be more scared of him then he of it.  But something seemed off in the way the animal moved.  It foot falls were heavy.  He looked to the left of him and decided he better move on. 

~~~~~***~~~~~~

The creature wasn’t really a creature at all but that was neither here nor there.  What mattered was what was done and what was seen and what was thought.  It looked and saw the Majesty’s cattle keeper.  He lunged at the man and was able to subdue him.  With a quick look to his left he stabbed him with the sharpened spike of wood.  Jessup collapsed at the monster’s feet.  And the lights were out for the Daniel’s father, Jessup Malloy. 

~~~~~****~~~~~

[LongN4]

Deciding he would have to speak with her sooner or later. Frtiz decided to simply camp out outside of Cytheria's door. He had the oddest feeling that tonight of all nights he had to talk to her. Instinct, nerves, the hand of God call it what you will but that feeling caused Fritz to wait, and wait for hours outside of Cytheria's door.

[DementedPixie]

((OOC:  Seeing as your character has camped out on Cytherea’s doorstep.  And, for us both; especially me., not to get confused.  Let’s say she never saw him when she had come home.  Maybe he was on the other side of the cottage, maybe?  ))

Cytherea heard something outside her doorstep and with all the paranoia going around in her head she took a breathe and closed her eyes.  She would not open her door tonight, not even if the one on the other side was as innocent as Daniel.  The trickery of keeping her hands busy to ease her brain was failing.  Her mind was wondering. 

~~~~****~~~~


To frame someone, one must be sure the plot goes as plan and so far this was going as close to perfect as it could be.

The creature took the wooden spike covered in Jessup’s blood far to the corner of Cytherea’s home.  He placed it under her pile of dirty laundry soiling the white sheets that were left in the wooden bucket; with blood as he did this, he quickly left without being seen.  But if seen they would never see a man.  They would see a monster.

~~~~~****~~~~~


Kathleen was getting worried pacing about the Majesty’s front door like a impatient customer.  Her husband should have been home by now.  And he should have been waiting for her before he went to the cattle yard.  But she had Dominick the run down the road and fetch the Blacksmith’s son to see if her husband was at the cattle yard.  There was no sign of him.  She was scared and worried.  She knew he had gone to see Cytherea to bring her the meat that was promised for her.  So without a second thought she took off down the bridge only to bump into Johnson swaying side to side in his drunk stupor.  In all honesty she should of just let him fall over.  But her being the one who serves his ale to him.  She felt some what sorry for his predicament.  “Johnson, you going to kill your self one of these days.  You haven’t seen Jessup back there anywhere have you?” 


Johnson looked at her smiling.  No I haven’t my dear.  You think the witch bewitched him?  I saw him come in…never seen him leave.   *Hiccup* He stayed steadied by her hands on his forearms.  She was a small lady. 

Kathleen wanted to slap him sober.  Of all the things he would suggest.  But still she needed to be looking for her husband and not scolding the town’s drunk.  She set him free and ran into the forest.  The moon lighting the way hopefully it was enough to see.  He may still be there in Cytherea’s home.  But not for what that fool suggests.  She ran and could see the light of Cytherea’s home still burning.  *Thud* was the only noise around when Kathleen tripped over something oddly hard and yet soft.  It was wet and it was sticky and it smelt like blood.  Did she trip over and animal?  She rose feeling her way in shadowed light.  Then realized that this was not an animal after all.  This was a human being.  This was her Jessup.  She gave a loud “NOOOOoooo!!!..Why????”   She pulled at her dead husband’s shirt sobbing loudly. 
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~

[LongN4]

Fritz woke with a startle as he heard Kathleen's wails. He ran towards the sound and soon found the woman crying over a bloody corpse. "What happened here?!" He placed his hands on the woman's shoulders to try and calm her down. "Calm down damn you! panicking is not going to make things any better. Come now breathe slow and steady" He mimicked the action slowly pulling in the cool night air into his lungs and slowly expelling it as if to guide her through his actions.

Though he hated it, for tonight the air smelled of death. It smelled of.......murder. In the black of the night a lightening bolt split through the sky, while thunder roared overhead.

[DementedPixie]

Kathleen was sopping uncontrollably over Jessup’s dead body.  When Fritz placed his hands softly on her shoulder’s she jumped at the touched and turned around seeing it was the Witch Hunter. 

“What Happened here?!” 


“He’s dead….my husband’s been killed.  We need to get the Dr. to examine.”  She didn’t tell him where he was at before going to look for him.  But in her heart.  She needed proof before she would point the finger.  For to blame Cytherea for this act of violence, she would think the world would stop spinning.  She got up and stood next to Fritz.  Crossing her arms over her chest she sobbed.  “Daniel must never see him like this.”  The lighting began to be come more violent.  There was a storm brewing and soon enough it began to rain, And hard.

~~~~~****~~~~~

Cytherea had fallen asleep with her needle in her hand and the dress in her lap.  The rain falling through the roof woke her.  She never heard the cry of Kathleen mourning the lost of her husband.  She didn’t hear anything.  She slept soundly.

[LongN4]

"All right lead me to the doctor's office" He gathered up Jessup's bloody in his corpse, wanting to spare the woman the act of carrying her dead husband across town. He walked after the woman and arrived at a plain squat stone building with a solid oak door. Kicking on the door Fritz yelled for the doctor.

[DementedPixie]

Kathleen led Fritz to the drs office as fast as she could.  The town was silent most people were asleep.


Douglas Maroon was sitting in his bed idling sleep.  When the knocking and hollering on his door came he rose and quickly making his way to the door he opened it and was pushed aside when Kathleen and a new comer came in holding who was that?  Jessup Malloy?  His heart stopped. 

He motioned for him to lay the man, who it was obvious to him was dead on the floor.   And with a grim line on his face as he looked deep into Kathleen’s eyes.  “I’m sorry for your lost. Tell me my dear where was he last?”  Kathleen closed here eyes knowing that if she spoke a single name all hell would break lose and with the witch hunter standing next to her she was so lost for words.  She wrung her hands around her and sobbed again.  Douglas laid his arms on her shoulder trying to comfort the lass.  “Where was he Kathy?” 

There was silence in the room as the thunder bellowed above.  Lightning striking in the sky.  She looked down to the ground and whispered.

“Cytherea’s cottage.  He had gone to bring her meat from the bull we killed this mourn. “

[Vergil1989]

The half Drow was well versed in monsters and their ilk.  Seeing this one was up to no good, arriving too late to stop it from murdering the poor man, the woman kept herself hidden from its eyes with ease.  She was no stranger to stealth and sneaking anout either, and this was easy to do when it ran in one's blood anyway.  Giselle waited until the thing had gone before swiftly going to the basket and pulling the spike out before it could be used in the way the creature had intended.  The sheets would be another matter as Giselle quickly went to the healer's door and knocked loud and hard.  Whoever was here had to be warned.

[LongN4]

Kathleen led Fritz to the drs office as fast as she could.  The town was silent most people were asleep.


Douglas Maroon was sitting in his bed idling sleep.  When the knocking and hollering on his door came he rose and quickly making his way to the door he opened it and was pushed aside when Kathleen and a new comer came in holding who was that?  Jessup Malloy?  His heart stopped. 

He motioned for him to lay the man, who it was obvious to him was dead on the floor.   And with a grim line on his face as he looked deep into Kathleen’s eyes.  “I’m sorry for your lost. Tell me my dear where was he last?”  Kathleen closed here eyes knowing that if she spoke a single name all hell would break lose and with the witch hunter standing next to her she was so lost for words.  She wrung her hands around her and sobbed again.  Douglas laid his arms on her shoulder trying to comfort the lass.  “Where was he Kathy?” 

There was silence in the room as the thunder bellowed above.  Lightning striking in the sky.  She looked down to the ground and whispered.

“Cytherea’s cottage.  He had gone to bring her meat from the bull we killed this mourn. “

He took that information in quietly as he settled himself in some dark corner in the Doctor's room. With tensions as high as they've been this was definitely not good. He could all but hear the accusation in her voice, The witch did it! she ensorceled him with her charms and dark magic so that she could use his god worshiping blood in her devil fornicating rituals. He had to do his best to stop these rumors before they spread. He knew from experience that a spark like this could easily turn into a raging fire that would consume everyone in the village with blind hatred and fear.

"You said he was carrying meat. Maybe some wild animal attacked him on his way there. After all the meat was gone when we arrived"

The widow only shot him a tearstreaked glare, "good inspector" she said her voice tinged with steel, "Pray tell me what animal you know of that can stab a full grown man in his chest?!"

"Lady I know this must be a difficult time for you. My heart grieves with you, but we can't afford to make wild accusations that will lead us away from the trail of the real killer. Now I'll ask you again was there anything odd in the area? foot prints? disturbed patches of greenery? ripped cloth? a mysterious scent? anything? please?! Anything that will lead me to your husband's true murderer. If it was the witch then she will pay for her crimes, but if not then I am not willing to let a innocent person be a scape goat."

[DementedPixie]

"Lady I know this must be a difficult time for you. My heart grieves with you, but we can't afford to make wild accusations that will lead us away from the trail of the real killer. Now I'll ask you again was there anything odd in the area? foot prints? disturbed patches of greenery? ripped cloth? a mysterious scent? anything? please?! Anything that will lead me to your husband's true murderer. If it was the witch then she will pay for her crimes, but if not then I am not willing to let a innocent person be a scape goat."

Kathleen jumped at the intense raise of the man’s voice.  She closed her eyes as she rung her hands through her already messed hair.  There was another knock on the door and it was Mathew Malloy; Jessup’s father-in-law.  But Daniel was not far behind.  They had both heard the ruckus from all the way at the Majesty and one couldn’t move without waking the other.  So, both he and Daniel raced to the Dr. Douglas’s door step.  When Mathew saw his son-in-law lying motionless on the floor he shielded the door before Daniel could see his father in this situation.  “Oh sweet Jesus let him be alive.” Mathew had prayed.  But Daniel was already under his grandfather’s feet and at his dead father’s side. 

“My son had left from Cytherea’s I take it?”  He asked the three people already full of emotion to much to speak.  It was only Daniel who held his breathe.  This wasn’t real.  It couldn't  be.  He even pinched his arm to be sure he wasn’t dreaming.  But when his mom came and wrapped an arm around him soulfully, he went completely numb.  He knew where this was going.  And it left a sour taste in his mouth.

~~~~***~~~~~

*BANG BANG BANG* Cytherea was woken up with a start.  It wasn’t even morning yet.  But she sat still in the chair making sure she heard it and it wasn’t a figment of her imagination. *BANG BANG BANG* Cytherea rose from her chair.  “One moment please.”  She slowly walked to the door and held her breathe and opened it.  Then she was met with an even more suspiring guest.  White eyes looked back at her from Dark blue skin.  Who…what was this?  And dumbfound she had asked, with the apparent shock on her face.  “Can I help you?”

[DementedPixie]

Johnson took another sip of the malt beverage in his hands.  He had heard the entire thing as he sat in the stables easing his head against the wooden trough.  The beer going down like water.  His heart pounding and his stomach was turning flips.  The stage was set.  All he needed now was to wait.  The creature had promised he’d be in the clear.  All it cost him was 3 pieces of gold.  And Johnson knew he had it all covered.  They would blame the witch for the death of the boy’s father.  He had been scared when he first set eyes on the creature.  But he mentioned so in so’s name and the creature dropped to its knees like the cloaked stranger had assured him that it would.  He nearly pissed his pants after the monster left to do “HIS” bidding. 

With the conversation going over again in his mind he vomited under the trough, thus spilling the remaining of the beverage in the hay.  He needed a bathe and he needed to sober up.  But right now, he needed to lay low. 

[Vergil1989]

Go figure, even out here Drow were feared to some extent.  Giselle put a hand to her face and sighed heavily before looking back to the girl before her.  "Look, I know what this appears to be, but believe me when I say I ain't here to cause you issues.  You have a serious problem, and I am hoping to stop it from becoming worse."  Holding the bloody spike out to Cytherea, Giselle made sure the point was away from either one of them.  "I saw something plant this in your laundry basket.  I think someone wants you dead or at least in trouble.  I know the stories about my race, but trust me, please.  I am not here to cause chaotic discord or anything like that.  My name is Giselle Do'Urden.  The rest can wait, but know that someone has already died and I have a hunch it was to get you into trouble.  Can we talk more or is that asking for too much?"

[DementedPixie]

Now to be fair to the human mind, Cytherea, as a little girl had been told bed time stories of magical creatures; some creatures that flew in the sky bigger then the birds of prey, others tiny as a snail.  But to see one face to face? Cytherea was still in shock.  Sure as a little girl the stories that Tara told her let her imagination soar.  But that was all she ever assumed them to be, just that, Stories; But, as she stood eye to eye with the woman drow.  She was too blind to see that the Drow was holding a wooden spike covered in blood for her eyes to see. 

"Look, I know what this appears to be, but believe me when I say I ain't here to cause you issues.  You have a serious problem, and I am hoping to stop it from becoming worse."  Holding the bloody spike out to Cytherea, Giselle made sure the point was away from either one of them.  "I saw something plant this in your laundry basket.  I think someone wants you dead or at least in trouble.  I know the stories about my race, but trust me, please.  I am not here to cause chaotic discord or anything like that.  My name is Giselle Do'Urden.  The rest can wait, but know that someone has already died and I have a hunch it was to get you into trouble.  Can we talk more or is that asking for too much?"


Cytherea’s mouth went dry.  She shook her head silently motioning for Giselle to come in.  When  her guest entered Cytherea closed the door quickly.  The thunder still bellowing in the Distance. 

The room had one chair, one table, and one bed.  She offered Giselle the only chair for she thought if she sat down, she would not be able to stand back up.  She insited to see this through.

“Please, set that spike on the table.”