Witchcraft does not pay side story: The Apprentice (CLOSED)

[Knightmare27]

It had been two months since the notorious witch Lianne had seen Master Heinrich's torture chamber, and given up the names of so many others. He had expected these hints to bring him many more witches. They had. But he had not expected...this. Standing in front of him was a young woman, wearing nothing but a cloak one of the soldiers had apparently thrown over her. When they had found her, she had been even less clothed.

"We found her when we captured that coven. She was tied to a rock and there was a knife next to her. She was naked and crying, and these devil sluts were planning to sacrifice her. We could not leave her there, so we brought her to you. She is not from here, she says she was taken from elsewhere. We do not know what to do with her, and thought you might want to question her."

It only took one look into her face to confirm that this was surely not a witch. She was a sacrifice, abducted to that forest under lies, or threats, or deception. And she looked exactly like someone who had been nearly sacrificed, too. The guards were right. As innocent as she was, she had to have witnessed something. At the very least, she could confirm which of the accused had tried to murder her, and maybe she even knew more.

He thanked the guard and led the young woman inside his small house just above the city dungeons and torture chamber. That was not where they were headed to today, though. Instead, they went over to his kitchen where he gestured for her to sit down on a chair and began warming up some of his evening soup for her.

"I am Heinrich, the executioner", he said bluntly, "but do not worry. You are not accused of anything. We brought you here because I want to ask you some questions about the hellish fiends who nearly killed you. They will suffer for what they did to you."

 

[LandiKirk]

Heather O'Shea was confused when the guards appeared but indeed came after a prayer to the heavens for The good Lord to rescue her from the vile wretches that misled her to leave her home of Aberdeen.

It was a pitch dark in the woods with barely a sound. Heather didnt realize how close she had been losing her life. One of her rescuers gave her , his cloak so she could keep some form of modesty .

Now the seven women were screaming at the foul luck being discovered by the Church's executioner.

Heather now found herself in the company of a Man that stripped of Authority. She wasnt sure who he was but hoped she could implore to his decency and provide her with clothes.

"I am Heinrich, the executioner"

"My name is Heather, Heather O'Shea. "

"but do not worry. You are not accused of anything. We brought you here because I want to ask you some questions about the hellish fiends who nearly killed you. They will suffer for what they did to you."

"Thank you, my Lord" she stood and curtsied politely. She could smell the aroma of the soup he was making.

Heather did blush as her belly grumbled. It had been almost three days ago since she had a decent meal

 

[Knightmare27]

A strange name. Wherever she was from had to be far, far away. How had the devil gotten her all the way here? Well, what mattered was that she was here now, and safe. He served her the soup, and she started eating it eagerly. Now that he had a better look at her he could see that she looked pale, not only from fright but also because she was utterly exhausted, and had probably not eaten anything for days. It made anger well up in him. Anger he would later take out on her would-be butchers down in the dungeon.

"My Lord?", he chuckled, "oh, that is too much honor. I am just a humble executioner. Now, finish eating and I will get you some proper clothing and show you your place to sleep."

He went down to the dungeons, to a cell where he had imprisoned one of the witches who he remembered was about his guest's size. It only took a moderate caning for her to donate her dress to the poor girl. He laughed as he closed the cell door on the witch, now naked and glaring at him, her entire body covered in pink stripes.

He led Heather to a small chamber just behind the kitchen. It was tiny, with only one small window, a chair with a straw seat, a small desk with a jug and a simple bed with straw. It had been meant as an apprentice's chamber, and was therefore unused. Normally, the sons of executioners became their apprentices, but that meant he had to marry first. And since marrying an executioner was the quickest way a woman could destroy her reputation, that meant seeking out other executioners' daughters. Since he had not found a suitable one yet, he was unmarried, and the apprentice's chamber had been empty since he himself had slept in there, years ago.

 

[LandiKirk]

"My Lord?", he chuckled, "oh, that is too much honor. I am just a humble executioner. Now, finish eating and I will get you some proper clothing and show you your place to sleep."

Heather nodded politely and went back to enjoying her bowl of soup. It warmed her body with every slurp and by the time she finished she felt sleepy.

When Heinrich led her to a small bedroom she was very delighted. Safe from the elements was the biggest gain from having accommodations. Heather looked over the small room and spun around happily.

"Forgive my silliness but being one of ten children, having a sleeping room to yourself is surely a blessing. " Heather explained. She did turn and give Heinrich a gentle kiss to the cheek "I be thankin you fer your generosity. "

Heather did have her modesty "if you dont mind, would you turn about so I may don this garment. "

After he turned away Heather quickly slipped the dress over her head and smoothed in place. It was a little big in some spots but she could alter the dress herself with needle and thread.

 

[Knightmare27]

The spinning was adorable... it also exposed some parts he was not supposed to see, as she was still wearing nothing but the cloak, which was clearly too large for her. The kiss did make him blush a little. He was not used to being thanked by people. Feared, yes. Respected, yes. But genuine, cheerful gratitude? That was something new, and it made him smile.

He did turn around as she put on the dress, without even asking for a minute where he had gotten it. Apparently, she just assumed that he had piles of womens' clothes lying around. Or maybe she was just too happy to be clothed again to ask many questions. He smiled evilly as he recalled the thrashing he gave that witch to get that dress. And the angry glowering she had been reduced to as he had left her naked. Well, the dress had simply gone to someone more deserving. Someone who did not sacrifice innocent girls.

Now that she was clothed and no longer practically naked, he allowed himself his first longer look at her. The food and the dress and the rescue had done her a world of good. She was no longer as pale and trembling. She was bubbly, cheerful - and pretty. And she would have nearly been gone from this world if they had not attacked the coven when they did!

 

[LandiKirk]

Heather patted down her twisty honey colored hair and smiled again

She wss so grateful for so many things, mostly her life. But now she knew she should get some rest.

"I probably should get some rest. I'm already begining to feel sleepy . I'm sure you have our important things to do then babysit me. I promise I won't try to run away without a word. I honestly have no idea which way home is." Heather tried to reassure her host.

 

[Knightmare27]

He agreed. She did need to rest. There would be enough time to question her the other day. Right after the - much more violent - questioning of the coven that had tried to kill her. He considered confronting her directly with them, but decided against it. He did not want her to face her would-be killers that early, especially not in the dreadful atmosphere of the dungeon. No, better to question her upstairs, then confront them with the facts.

"You are right. Have a good night, and get some rest. You probably did not get any in a long time."

 

[LandiKirk]

"You are right. Have a good night, and get some rest. You probably did not get any in a long time."

He was right Heather hadn't got a good night's sleep in over two months. Well honestly since she was taken from home.

Home! That hit a nerve. So many people who must be worried about her. Her parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, her betrothed, and her best friend, Mary.

Were they still looking for her? Or worse believe she died?
Her head began to throb so she laid down on the bed and drifted into a deep sleep

 

[Knightmare27]

The next morning, he let her sleep and went downstairs to feed the prisoners. Only afterwards did he cook his morning grain mush, as well as another bowl for Heather. Then he entered her little chamber, put his hands on her shoulders and shook her awake.

The executioner led her over to the kitchen where their bowls were waiting. It was so unusual to have someone else at the table with him... let alone a young woman. "I hope you slept well. I have many questions for you. If you give me some useful answers, you will have done your part in bringing the fiends who tried to murder you to justice. I want you to tell me, in every detail, how you ended up here, and what they did to you."

 

[LandiKirk]

Heather's eyes opened the second she felt his touch. She blinked a few times remembering where she was and who she was with.

"Good Morn ,Heinrich. " Heather said with a renewed smile. "Pray you slept well."

She followed him back to the kitchen and enjoyed another meal with him.

"I hope you slept well. I have many questions for you. If you give me some useful answers, you will have done your part in bringing the fiends who tried to murder you to justice. I want you to tell me, in every detail, how you ended up here, and what they did to you."

Heather took a deep breathe then began recounting her story..
"Twas a day in the spring when farmers plant their crops. My father sent me and my brothers James, John, Luke , Mark, and Peter. To help the families plant their seeds."

Heather could envision that day in her mind. Hennasley farms

"We all went to different families. The family I went to was on the edge of the woods. I recall the good wife tell her small child re en to stay away from the woods or the witches would send goblins and spirit them away. Ne'er to be seen again."

I ignored her stories and kept working. Soon I was at the end of the field along the woods. I thought I could hear children singing further back amid the trees. I thought it was the family children playing a folly. So I laid down the seeds and all down walked into the woods looking for the children"

I came to an opening near a stream and saw three women dancing like sprites with neary any clothing on. It was them who were singing. I stood still for a few moments as the song had called me to see them. The women became six and another came swooping from trees like a giant bird."

I was afeared for my life and turned about and ran. I had forgotten my way and couldn't find the field when two of them caught me."

They took me back to where I saw them dancing. There were strange stick like creatures of dark red dancing about a fire and fauns blowing on pans dancing with them. I was horrified as something climbed out of the fire pit. I must have fainted. It was midday and I was drenched from the rain. My things were gone and I was bound up like a pigling.

They swept me away into another land. The people didn't seem to care that witches were moving across their land. The seasons passed like sun moves across the sky."

When we stopped moving it was late in the fall. The woods were different and when I managed to get free i ran as far as I could. They caught me and ripped my hair from my head and beat me with rocks and sticks. During full moons some would cut upon me and roll my piece of flesh in flour.. I dare not watch fir fear of becoming bewitched.:"

A few nights past we came to these woods. One of then said the Master's door would open only with the blood of an innocent. I was chosen to open the door. I didnt know what to do so I prayed the Lord send an angel to rescue me. That was when a.man in armor with a Crest I've never seen. He struck the vines that held me to a rock and carried me away. Then I met you."

 

[Knightmare27]

What she told him was fantastical - and infuriating. The description of what they had done to her was enough for him to swear that someone would pay. Oh, how they would pay, the witches waiting in the dungeon. But first, he had to continue the questioning.

"I suppose they never used any names around you? But you can recognize them, right? I need you to come down to the dungeon later and be a witness that these were the witches who brought you here and did these unspeakable things to you. If you want, you can even stay while I question them, though I must warn you that I might do things to some of them that are really not meant for a young lady like you to see."

She really had recovered marvelously. The terrified girl had become a cheerful woman again. The dress he had taken off the witch was a bit too large for her, but it fit her surprisingly well. He smiled and looked her in the eyes: "Oh, forgive me, I did not mean to scare you. I am an executioner, and my days are spent doing things you could not even imagine. While you stay with me, I will try to keep you far from them."

Then, his smile fading, he continued: "You must be far from home... I curse these witches just for taking you away from your family. As soon as they have been punished, I will find out where it is you are from, and figure out how to send you back."

Their bowls empty, he put them away and scrubbed them. "And we are off to work. Please do not get scared. The dungeon is a place of horror, and you will see some things... remember, I only need you to swear as a witness that you saw these witches and that they were the ones who brought you here and tried to sacrifice you. Afterwards, you can go if you want. You do not have to stay here longer than is necessary."

A knock at the door. Ah yes, the clerk who would be needed to note down Heather's statements. He was an old, kindly-looking monk carrying a scroll and writing utensils. "Ah, the witness", he said, greeting the young woman with a warm smile.

Heinrich nodded and went downstairs, together with Heather and the scribe. He was carrying two chairs. One for him to sit on, one to use as an improvised table. He sat down and the executioner opened door after door. Each time, a woman was led out and he asked Heather: "Do you know this woman? Was she part of the coven that took you? Did she participate in these unspeakable rituals? Did she try to murder you?" Each time, the scribe dutifully noted down her answers.

After the necessary part was done, he turned to the young woman: "Now you may go upstairs while I question the witches. Or you may stay and watch, if you want to see them brought to justice for what they did to you. But again, my justice is rough."

 

[LandiKirk]

Heather wasnt sure how well Heinrich saw her body so she showed him the places her flesh was carved off. Heather had scars along both arms and the back of her right leg, She lifted the bodice of the dress she wore and showed him the gaping hole she received under her breast. Heather did have to remove the paste and wrap as it was needing to be changed.

"I suppose they never used any names around you? But you can recognize them, right? I need you to come down to the dungeon later and be a witness that these were the witches who brought you here and did these unspeakable things to you. If you want, you can even stay while I question them, though I must warn you that I might do things to some of them that are really not meant for a young lady like you to see."

"A few times I heard them speak to one another. Sometimes when we passed thru villages and they sought one of their kindred. One i knew from church for a short while. Her name is Miave O'Brien. She is about my brother Luke's age. In a village four days north of here they stole a pig and some chickens from a family called Baier. Molly was the one who told the rest what to do. The others called her mother. There was one with hair white as snow. They called her Helga."

"Oh, forgive me, I did not mean to scare you. I am an executioner, and my days are spent doing things you could not even imagine. While you stay with me, I will try to keep you far from them."

Heather admitted "mother was a midwife. My brother James was a good cutter. Some of the neighbors said he was a good butcher. I've seen many farm animals killed for the family supper."

"You must be far from home... I curse these witches just for taking you away from your family. As soon as they have been punished, I will find out where it is you are from, and figure out how to send you back."

Heather sighed sadly. "I've been gone for so long they may have given up hope I would ever come back. "

"And we are off to work. Please do not get scared. The dungeon is a place of horror, and you will see some things... remember, I only need you to swear as a witness that you saw these witches and that they were the ones who brought you here and tried to sacrifice you. Afterwards, you can go if you want. You do not have to stay here longer than is necessary."

"Thank you, Heinrich. " Heather replied.

"Ah, the witness",

Heather curtseyed to the monk mistaking him for a.cleric. " good morning your lordship."

Downstairs the witnessing began. Heinrich brought out each woman then asked . : "Do you know this woman? Was she part of the coven that took you? Did she participate in these unspeakable rituals? Did she try to murder you?"

Heather answered . "Her name is Anne, she would make drinks that would make you sleep. She joined us when the leaves began to fall from the trees. She would make a mark on a families door. The house would burn at night. She trussed me to the tree when your men found me."

"I dont know her name for certain. She was one of the.three I first saw dancing with nary a stitch on. She was one that cut my arms.. she would start the fires on the houses that wouldn't give them food or housing. I saw her kill a.small boy and pray to the devil. I couldn't watch what she did after that."

"That's Molly. She is the one they called Mother. She made the hole at my breast and was going to plunge that knife in my heart. She has several Mark's on her back. Once I saw her eyes go from blue to burning red and flaming."

The next two Heather didnt know their names but said they were among the coven that meant to sacrifice her to their Lord and Master.

Following them was Maive."that is the only one i know from childhood. Her parents were God fearing people. She was among the three that lured me into the woods."

The last one came out. Heather shuddered ." That one joined us just before the time I was rescued. She somehow addled the mind of men and set them against their good wife or children. Then gave each one a bloodied kiss to weep at what they did to their own family. Pray you do not look into her eyes, that was how she bewitched the men. She stared at me once and I nearly fell from the cliffs of Dover."

"Now you may go upstairs while I question the witches. Or you may stay and watch, if you want to see them brought to justice for what they did to you. But again, my justice is rough."

Heather nodded and went back upstairs and felt a weight had been lifted from her heart. There was some sense of security being free from those women and the madness that was spread before their capture.

Back upstairs Heather knelt before the crucifix upon the wall and prayed her soul was still pure and clean.

As time passed Heather looked into the cupboards and made a fair Shepard's pie and fresh bread to enjoy as dinner.

 

[Knightmare27]

The monk had only a mild smile for being greeted as "your lordship". He really did not like having to participate in something as gruesome as a witch trial, and was glad he would not have to write down the mad shrieks of a tortured witch, just the witness statement of a young woman who was clearly willing - eager, even - to help them.

The witness statements were important, even though they would still get proper confessions from all of them. It was so much easier to cut through their lies when you could confront them with this. It even benefited them because it made it easier for him to talk them into admitting everything. It meant less pain, and everyone would be done with this more quickly. Of course, for most of them, that merely meant going to the stake more quickly.

"Anne...I see. Thank you for calling my attention to her. Arson alone is a serious crime and would warrant burning. Arson by witchcraft - well, too bad we can not burn her twice. She certainly looks like she could fuel two fires."

Anne was a big, strongly-built woman who did not find that joke nearly as funny as the executioner did, especially since it was about her painful death. She scowled at him as she was led away again, the door slamming shut behind her loudly.

The next one was the witch who had been forced to give up her clothing for Heather, so she was still naked and not at all happy to see what her dress was being used for now. She stared at the young woman before Heinrich stepped up and slapped her hard. "Dumb cow! Did you really think it a good idea to put the evil eye on someone while I was watching? I will make special not of this, for later."

"She made a hole in your breast? I know it is much to ask from you, but...in the interest of justice, would you show it to me?"

True, he had seen her wearing nothing but a cloak before, and many, many witches and other criminals naked in his torture chamber... but those had been evildoers. Asking an innocent young woman to reveal her breasts was something very delicate. Even in the interest of punishing the guilty. And some other interests, too, if he was honest with himself...

"Maive... I see." He then addressed the witch directly: "I will have many questions for you. If your parents were as god-fearing as she says, then why did you turn your back on them? What made you turn to the devil?"

Maive breathed in hard. Clearly she wanted to spend as little time as possible being "questioned" by him, especially on exactly this. The look she shot at Heather as she was being led away was not the look of a childhood friend. It promised revenge.

The last witch was brought up. When he heard Heather's warning, he immediately ordered two guards to keep her head down while he went upstairs and retrieved a filthy rag. He pulled it tight around her head as she struggled. "You will have this blindfold on whenever we open your cell. Guards - if you ever open her cell and she is not blind, whip her until she puts it on - and do NOT look her in the eyes. You heard the witness."

The difficult part done, he turned to Heather. "I thank you so much for helping us with this. You helped put an end to some very powerful witches. And you must not fear their revenge. They will stay down there, far from you and far from anything they could curse you with. And, one day, the fire will purify them. You are safe with me now, and their hatred will burn with them. You did very good work, thank you."

Of course she did not even consider taking him up on his offer. It was better that way. She did not need to see such things, and he would not have to hold back to protect her from some of the more...ghastly procedures. And he was not planning on holding back. Hearing what they had done to this innocent young woman filled him with a righteous anger he could not wait to take out on some witches' bodies. Good thing his dungeon was so well-stocked.

It was a long, gruesome day for him. Eventually, he decided to take a break and go upstairs to get something to eat. He left Maive hanging by her arms to "give her some time to decide" and went upstairs. As he neared the surface, the smell of food greeted him. That could only mean one thing, and it made him smile. A delicious smell it was, too. It reminded him of when he had been just a child, an eager apprentice of his father's.

He stepped into the kitchen and greeted the young woman with a smile: "I see you cooked something. Let me try. Questioning those witches really is hard work, but I will spare you the details."

He hungrily cut off a piece of the bread and took a portion of what she had cooked. Even with the limited stores he had, she had managed to make something he had never eaten before. It was good. Really good. He finished his portion in an instant.

"They cook well in...wherever it is you are from. It has been so long since a woman has lived here. Not since... not since my father lived here. And my mother. Yes, I was a child once, as strange as it sounds. But I am an executioner. Only an executioner's daughter would be a fitting wife for me. All others would lose their honor if I merely touched them. I can only be with someone who has already been dishonored."

 

[LandiKirk]

"Anne...I see. Thank you for calling my attention to her. Arson alone is a serious crime and would warrant burning. Arson by witchcraft - well, too bad we can not burn her twice. She certainly looks like she could fuel two fires."

Heather looks saddened over the woman's fate but Heinrich was working in the Lord's behalf. Then when the next came out Heather felt odd and looked about for something then stopped hearing the strike upon her face bit bore no mark. She saw the handprint on the witch's face. Heather quickly looked away

"Dumb cow! Did you really think it a good idea to put the evil eye on someone while I was watching? I will make special not of this, for later."


"She made a hole in your breast? I know it is much to ask from you, but...in the interest of justice, would you show it to me?"

Heather lifted the bodice of the dress and showed the gaping hole in her chest just under her right breast. It marked where she would have been stabbed in the heart for their ritual to call Satan to them.

Even the monk was shocked seeing her wound.

"Maive... I see."

She was rather plain looking in the face and hardly a fetching body. She was unloved in her family being a third daughter and unwed by marrying age. A child of constant disappointment to her parents.

"I will have many questions for you. If your parents were as god-fearing as she says, then why did you turn your back on them? What made you turn to the devil?"

In Maive's eyes Heather was pretty and well liked by those youth of the village. As far as Maive believed Heather was her rival.

Heather's warning was a welcome amount of knowledge. Instantly safeguarding himself and the guards he went upstairs and retrieved a filthy rag and blindfolded the woman.

"You will have this blindfold on whenever we open your cell. Guards - if you ever open her cell and she is not blind, whip her until she puts it on - and do NOT look her in the eyes. You heard the witness."

Heather touched the monk's other hand. "Will you say a prayer for them before they are punished?"

That surprised him. Usually the victims had not made a request for their enemies. Did this girl think that a prayer would bring about huge confessions from these daughters of Satan.

"I thank you so much for helping us with this. You helped put an end to some very powerful witches. And you must not fear their revenge. They will stay down there, far from you and far from anything they could curse you with. And, one day, the fire will purify them. You are safe with me now, and their hatred will burn with them. You did very good work, thank you."

.Hearher had gone upstairs after the group was identified. She didnt want to see there punishment.

Maive was left hanging by her arms to "give her some time to decide"

Heather was cleaning up some of her utensils when Heinrich came into view.

"I see you cooked something. Let me try. Questioning those witches really is hard work, but I will spare you the details."

Heather nodded. "Shepard's pie and fresh bread."

"They cook well in...wherever it is you are from. It has been so long since a woman has lived here. Not since... not since my father lived here. And my mother. Yes, I was a child once, as strange as it sounds. But I am an executioner. Only an executioner's daughter would be a fitting wife for me. All others would lose their honor if I merely touched them. I can only be with someone who has already been dishonored."

Heather sat down and had some of the pie and a slice of bread. She offered Heinrich some juice from the apples that was sitting on the table.

"Ireland. " she said. "Tis a shame your people put a shroud over your profession. I do not share this thought. Back home I would think my father would see you as a good match for me or even my older sister Erin."

"I dont understand what you've done that makes you think so lowly of yourself? "

 

[Knightmare27]

She was so...pure. She had even asked for a prayer for the condemned, even though they had tried to murder her. It was no wonder that the devil's whores had tried to destroy a heart so pure. And damn near succeeded, given the awful wound on her chest. He would "have" to look at that later. Heather was probably one of the few people to ever see the fearsome executioner blush and smile, but she had done it with her offhand comment that he would be considered "a good match".

"What have I done?", he laughed with a hint of bitterness, "well, what I do every day. I do justice. They love me when I am out there, killing and maiming for their enjoyment. But they fear and hate me. No one wants to be near such a grim reminder of death and pain. They even say that I have magical powers...healing powers. Superstitious fools. I am a pious man. I punish the body so the soul can repent."

"I can not tell you exactly what I do. It is not good for you to hear such awful things. But tell me - would you want to be close to a man you have seen covered in blood from head to toe? Blood that could very well be yours if you are ever led astray? A man who earns his bread by pushing people of a ladder to slowly choke to death? If you saw me work, you would not think I was such a kind man. Kind people do not last in this craft."

He sighed. "But I want to hear a little more about you. Maive, the one I am currently...working...on. You know her since childhood? Yet you became so...good and she became a witch. What was it that led her down the devil's path? She told me something, of course. They all tell me, after some time. But she is of the devil, so I do not know how far to trust her. Do you know what tempted her into becoming so evil?"

She was now busy cleaning the bowls. It was strange and heartening to see her turn from a terrified sacrificial victim into a well-bred maiden so quickly. It was as if she had always been there, not brought in the day before, shivering and only covered in a cloak. After all that happened, she clearly just wanted to be a normal girl again, and not think too much about all that had happened. Yet there was one thing he needed to take care of.

"That wound in your chest... I would like to take a closer look at it. I might not be much of a magical healer, but they are right about one thing - I know some things about wounds. I cause them every day, after all. I would have asked long ago if it was not in such an...intimate...place."

A strange thing to say for someone who had seen so many naked men and women confess in his torture chamber. Someone who, in fact, had one of them hanging from the ceiling this very moment. But those had been damned souls. Asking a maiden to show him her breasts - even for healing - was quite something else.

"Lie down on your bed in your chamber and bare the wounded part. I will get some herbs."

Bare the wounded part... yes. Bare her breasts. He knew he had to do it or her wound would get worse. That was what he kept telling himself as he gathered up various herbs he knew would be good for healing, as well as some fat to make them into a salve. It was only what was necessary to keep her alive. It had nothing to do with the fact that he could not get the sight of what had been under that coat out of his head.

The thought of keeping her crossed his mind. No. Impossible. She was from far away, she had a family who missed her there. And how did he even dare consider dishonoring such a pure maiden by turning her into an executioner's wife? No, he would return her to her family after all this was done. Wherever this "Ireland" was. If necessary, he would have to ask a merchant to take her to the sea.

And send her off into the unknown? A lovely young woman who would be raped and murdered twenty times over before she even set foot on her home island? She was so much safer here. No one would harm her here. Too great was their fear of the grim man with the axe. And she seemed to be quite happy to be with him. And, in the few hours that she had been with him, she had shown him how much he missed the company of a woman.

Lecherous fool! Do not pretend to care for her safety. All you want is to have a ravishing maiden by your side, a maiden who will be forever stolen from her family because you were lonely. Return her at once, and do not let the sin of lust lead you astray!

Two voices screamed at him inside his head as he returned with the herbs. He did not know which voice would win, but he was sure the sight of her bare breasts would do nothing to calm them down.

 

[LandiKirk]

"What have I done?"

Heather say down to listen to Heinrich explain himself

"well, what I do every day. I do justice. They love me when I am out there, killing and maiming for their enjoyment. But they fear and hate me. No one wants to be near such a grim reminder of death and pain. They even say that I have magical powers...healing powers. Superstitious fools. I am a pious man. I punish the body so the soul can repent."

Heather paused a moment then added. "No different from a minister. Prays for the soul and leads the body to repent of the sins they do day by day. "

"I can not tell you exactly what I do. It is not good for you to hear such awful things. But tell me - would you want to be close to a man you have seen covered in blood from head to toe? Blood that could very well be yours if you are ever led astray? A man who earns his bread by pushing people off a ladder to slowly choke to death? If you saw me work, you would not think I was such a kind man. Kind people do not last in this craft."

"What woman has never seen blood. She sees it on her children when they hurt themselves. She sees it on the animals she keeps to feed her family, and even war can bring blood to her doorstep. You say your profession is an evil one by what you do.. I do not agree. You are upholding your lineage and a fine one as well. You canna believe what others say poorly of you when you work to do the will of the Lord and your King."

"But I want to hear a little more about you. Maive a
, the one I am currently...working...on. You know her since childhood? Yet you became so...good and she became a witch. What was it that led her down the devil's path? She told me something, of course. They all tell me, after some time. But she is of the devil, so I do not know how far to trust her. Do you know what tempted her into becoming so evil?"

"Maive , she comes from a large family. They were poor people. Her father wasn't always there. Her mother god bless her.. she had so many mouths to feed. Sometimes Maive would have to or three tied to her apron to keep them close to home. Once I remember her saying she would never have children. Noisy mice she called them. On sundays her mother would bring them all to services, their mother knew her scriptures and she was truly a God fearing woman. But Maive was a lonely child. My brothers said she wasnt very handsome and probably tossed by an elder brother. I didnt think that was a kind thing to say. I pinched my brother Peter in the mouth for saying so."

Cheeky little lass with a temper among her own.

"That wound in your chest... I would like to take a closer look at it. I might not be much of a magical healer, but they are right about one thing - I know some things about wounds. I cause them every day, after all. I would have asked long ago if it was not in such an...intimate...place."

"I thank you for asking. It hurts sometimes. I pray no bug crept in it since we were in so many places. Filthy places I can still hear the sounds of frogs ringing in my ears." Heather shuddered as she rubbed down her dress. Definitely a girlish fear.

"Lie down on your bed in your chamber and bare the wounded part. I will get some herbs."

Heather went into the chamber that is now her room. She said a quick prayer that it wasnt infected with a pox or such. She removed the dress and took the linen wrapping it about her waist. Heather realized she would need employment to purchase some necessities for her stay in this land.

Heather laid down on the bed and relaxed. She felt that twinge aching throb from her wound. She sat up and holding her breast up, looked at the hole. It was seeping yellow liquid again and the smell was horrid. Heather wished she had one of the little rolls of linen her Morher would make to bind it after cleaning.

Heather notices how angry and red it was becoming. That wasnt a good sign and putting a little pressure on her skin made more yellow juices ooze out and the wound was getting bigger.

"Heinrich, come quickly something is wrong." Heather cried out as the liquid now looked like curdled milk and her whole chest felt like it was burning with a fever.

 

[Knightmare27]

"I hope you will not...pinch me in the mouth for that, but I must agree. Maive is rather plain. I just had a good opportunity to examine her thoroughly. Quite unlike you in that way, too." He looked at her and smiled. She really was anything but plain.That was, after all, the reason he had to convince himself all the way to the bedchamber that he was only doing the prudent thing, not trying to get a better look at her bare chest.

Her shouts made him run to the chamber. What had she discovered? The wound looked far worse than before. That could mean only one thing, and the thought made his mind race. If this wound continued to fester, the witches would have succeeded in killing her after all... and in unbearable pain, too. There was really only one way to save her, but she would hate it. The only way to save her from unbearable pain would be pain she could bear. Or maybe not.

He sounded slightly panicked as he spoke to her: "Your wound...it is festering. There is only one way to save you, but it will hurt more than anything you have likely ever endured. We must...we must burn it out." Strangely, the heart that had coldly watched so many tortures worse than that nearly stopped at the thought of doing this to her. Yet he knew it was necessary if she was to live. "If I do it right, you will live through this with only a small scar."

"I have equipment we could use down in the torture chamber. You can imagine that it is full of hot irons. I will run down there and bring something up. You will scream more loudly than my prisoners, that can not be avoided. But we must do it, and soon. The longer we leave your wound like that, the more likely you are to die screaming. I have seen people die of poisoned wounds. I will not let that happen to you."

No. No. No. These witches... he hated them more than ever before. He thought she was safe, and now they were murdering her right before his very eyes. He had to calm down. Nothing was lost yet. She was still breathing. He still had time. The only thing he had to do was to torture her. Why was that so hard for him? He had done it hundreds of times before. Though normally to save someone's soul, not their life.

No time to waste. He rushed down into the dungeon. As he threw open the door to the chamber, the hanging Maive, groaning from the strain of her tired arms, looked at him with an almost relieved look on her face. She was clearly so desperate to be lowered from the ceiling that she was even happy to see him. No, she would have to wait. Much more important things to do upstairs. He quickly grabbed a brazier of coals.

Looking around the chamber, he also quickly grabbed a flat-ended branding iron, a metal gag, and two wooden yokes - one for the head and hands, one for the legs. He knew she would kick like a mule at him while he was trying to save her from a slow death.

He carried the brazier upstairs, set it down next to the bed, then ran back to the fireplace and lit the coals with a piece of firewood. Then, he retrieved all the smaller items, stacking them on the foot yoke like a tablet. Breathing heavily from fear and the strain of running, he kneeled next to her and stroked her forehead, both to feel her fever and to calm her down. It was worse than he had feared. He had to act now.

"You must be very brave now. I will lock your arms, legs and head in those restraints because I know you will struggle and kick. Then you will bite down on this gag, and try to remember whatever your happiest memory is. And tell yourself that it will only feel like years. It will be over in a moment, and your life will be saved. And you will not even have that much of a mark from it, if all goes well."

He plunged the iron into the coals and impatiently watched it heat up, frantically muttering prayers all the time. Prayers for a steady hand, and prayers against witchcraft. If this was just a plain dirty wound, he could save her. If the wound had been cursed... well, then he had fallen victim to the cruelest trick the devil had ever played on him. He had to hate him for having taken out that many of his servants.

 

[LandiKirk]

"I hope you will not...pinch me in the mouth for that, but I must agree. Maive is rather plain. I just had a good opportunity to examine her thoroughly. Quite unlike you in that way, too."


Heather smiled his compliment made her blush a little.
She was still young and sometimes it showed.

When Herinrich arrived Hesther was dribbling puss. The wound looked far worse than before. "I fear something is in the hole."

"Your wound...it is festering. There is only one way to save you, but it will hurt more than anything you have likely ever endured. We must...we must burn it out."

Poor Heinrich looked terrified and even Heather began to feel afraid. Did the one that looked at her do this? During a small amount of time Heather felt she wasn't herself. Even when Heinrich slapped the witch Hearher felt it upon her face though had no sign of abuse.

"If I do it right, you will live through this with only a small scar."

Heather gulped hard. She never felt a burn before and it did not sound welcoming. Yet she had to trust him for he was all she had for support.,

"I have equipment we could use down in the torture chamber. You can imagine that it is full of hot irons. I will run down there and bring something up. You will scream more loudly than my prisoners, that can not be avoided. But we must do it, and soon. The longer we leave your wound like that, the more likely you are to die screaming. I have seen people die of poisoned wounds. I will not let that happen to you."

Faith welled in Heather's heart. "Do so. The Lord will keep me safe and aide your hands."

Heather tore off the pocket of the dress and cleaned off the yellow gunk that came out of her wound. She gently pressed the skin beyond the ring of redness and pushed more of the infection out. Before Heinrich returned Heather felt light headed.

Now her forehead began to sweat and hee stomach started aching. Heather thought it was the devil fighting to stay as she pressed its foulness out of her body. "Lord look down on your faithful servant, save me from the devil's grip. "

Heather laid back and soon was dropping into a severe fever. Her face began perspiring as her forehead was turned a deep shade of pink. The poison of the wound was spreading thru her body.

"You must be very brave now. I will lock your arms, legs and head in those restraints because I know you will struggle and kick. Then you will bite down on this gag, and try to remember whatever your happiest memory is. And tell yourself that it will only feel like years. It will be over in a moment, and your life will be saved. And you will not even have that much of a mark from it, if all goes well."

Heather barely nodded as her body felt like fire. Her body trembling as the wound drained even more from the pressure caused by the yoke. Saving her life was in Heinrich's hands lead by the Lord was her last thought before she passed out.

It worried Heinrich to see her eyes close but he knew it was time to proceed Heaven watched as Heinrich lifted the branding tool and laid it into the gaping hole.

Even in her weakened state she fought like a wildcat does to a bath. Heather let out a scream that made the bed shake and she nearly lifted herself off the bed.

The wound bubbled and more puss bubbles out and the smell of burning flesh quickly emanates in the small room. Heather cried out to her Mother begging for forgiveness for leaving home. She cried to her Lord to give Heinrich strength to heal her back to health. She cried out one last thing... that the Devil be torn from the hearts of those witches that sought her death and they find salvation. Then she dropped back to the bed breathing still as her wound sealed shut from the iron's heat.

Heathrr would live. Heinrich has indeed saved her life twice in a matter of a few days.

 

[Knightmare27]

No time for the gag, or the restraints. With shaking hands, he ripped the iron out of the fire and plunged it into the wound. The effect was immediate. Screaming. Struggling. An indescribable smell of pus, of seared flesh, of...death. When the cloud of smoke reached his nose, he gagged and nearly vomited all over the squirming young woman. Concentrate. Concentrate. Keep the iron on her. Burn out all the sickness.

He did not care about leaving no scars anymore. He pursued the pus with utter hatred, ignored even her screams as he pursued it to the edges of her wound and turned it into a black, stinking mud. When he was done, the first thing he did was to run out of the room and heave up half of his dinner on the kitchen floor. Then he returned to the chamber. She was alive, and breathing. That was something. The huge black spot on her breast looked hideous, and yet it meant...victory. It meant she would live. In his panic, he had burned far larger an area than he had meant to. He would not be able to keep his promise. She would be scarred like that forever.

He calmed down a little as he pounded various herbs into a burn salve, then mixed them with goose fat and slathered them on thick. Much thicker than needed. He knew that, but he found comfort in the idea that maybe, just maybe, it would help her heal just a little bit better. He needed any hope he could get now.

Finally he could rest a little. He sat down in the chair, panting as all the fear he had forced himself not to feel crashed over him like an ocean. His hands shook. Why was he so weak now? It was not like he had seen much more gruesome things. Inflicted them, in fact. But, somehow, he was, for the first time in his life, worried sick about someone whose flesh he had burned. Praying silently that he had done everything right.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to think about her like he would have about a witch down in the dungeon. Just a piece of flesh to have admissions twisted out of. He immediately calmed down a little. This was much better. He was not sitting next to the bed of a poor girl anymore. He was the executioner, coldly watching as the body was mangled and burned to force evil out of it and save the soul.

In the end, was that not exactly hat he had done? He had saved her life by burning away evil. She was delivered from it now, thanks to the pain he had caused. Like he had so many times before.

That was much better. It allowed him to get up and look at her with the icy eyes of the torturer. To examine the huge burn under the lump of salve without even a twinge of guilt or sympathy. Just another time he had eradicated evil through inflicting suffering. And this time he was sure she would thank him as soon as she would be able to speak again. Whenever that would be. She had to rest for now, that was for sure.

He almost laughed at himself for getting so upset before. Had he immediately thought of it as necessary torture instead of trying to spare her pain, he could have done this so much more calmly. Instead, he had shaken, and gagged, and done all kinds of things he would not even have thought about if she had been just another prisoner. How the maiden had made a fool of him! He smiled a little and shook his head.

"You are safe now. I have burned out all the pus. You must leave your chest uncovered while the salve is doing its work. Then we will see how much it will scar. Now rest. I am going to get you some water." He knew from so many brandings that even the smallest burn tended to cause fierce thirst in its victims. And her burn was not small. She had to be desperate for water. There was no need to even ask about that.

He fetched her a cup of water and held it to her lips. His mind was now entirely in the torture chamber, and he was extremely grateful for that. If he had not purged himself of sympathy, he would probably have started crying, unable to see her like that.

 

[LandiKirk]

Finally her fever broke and Heather opened her eyes. She felt weak which was an odd sensation. She even struggled to force herself to sit upright.

"Heinrich..." her voice hardly more then a whisper. "My throat ..is dry."

"You are safe now. I have burned out all the pus. You must leave your chest uncovered while the salve is doing its work. Then we will see how much it will scar. Now rest. I am going to get you some water."

Heather felt tears come to her eyes. He was so different from the Man who sat with her at the table. Now she understood what he meant about people fearing him. She would not give in to such foolishness and superstitions.

In her mother's soft voice Heather recalled one of her mother knows. [Color=dark pink] When the Lord puts a god fearing man despite his profession within your heart. Do not hesitate to follow the will of the Father in Heaven. The Lord will guide you to the man you should be with for the rest of your days. For a man will leave his mother, a woman leave her home and they shall be as one it says in the HolyBook .[/color]

Heather took small swallows of the water and it felt so good going down her parched throat. "Thank you."

Heather touched his hand gently as she laid back and drifted back to sleep. Dreaming of home and showing Heinrich her homeland

 

[Knightmare27]

He felt her gently touch his hand as she drifted away to sleep, utterly exhausted from her fight against the fever. He wet a rag and placed it on her forehead, left a large cup of water next to her bed and left.

The rest of the day, he brought a true reign of terror on the imprisoned witches. He was a merciless torturer even under normal circumstances, but now he was out for revenge. The sight of that ugly black spot on Heather's chest drove him to draw screams from the prisoners that were so loud he sometimes feared they would wake up the woman peacefully sleeping upstairs. Molly, especially, the one who had made that festering hole, was driven to the brink of insanity.

It was late in the evening when his thirst for retribution was satisfied and he began to feel the effects of fatigue. The judge, shaken by what he had seen, but with a book full of interesting new leads, left, and the guards carried the witches back to their cells, leaving them alone with their nightmares. He was not quite sure he would not have some nightmares too, when he would eventually realize just how far he had gone.

He entered Heather's chamber, now all lover again. The salve was still on her bare chest, doing its healing work. He removed the rag and put the back of his hand to her forehead to see whether she was still feverish.

"Heather, can you hear me? How is your wound?" He took her left hand between both of his and squeezed it quite gently. His eyes rested on her face, on her expression of peace after having narrowly won a battle against a slow, creeping death.

 

[LandiKirk]

Heather had stirred when he came into the room. She opened her eyes slightly and saw the fuzzy outline and felt her hand being lifted.

"Heather, can you hear me? How is your wound?"

Heather opened her eyes fully and his image brightened and came into focus. She smiled. "Heinrich, I had such a fond dream. I dreamt you came with me to Ireland to meet my Father and family. We went for a walk on the nearby hillside where the heather grows wild and dances in the breeze."

Heather slowly touched her wound and winced. It was tender to the touch but it wasn't oozing that awful yellow liquid. Heather could smell the burnt flesh aroma and wrinkled her nose.

"It is tender but healing. " Heather answered softly. She reached for the glass and took several swallows feeling the water sooth away the rawness

 

[Knightmare27]

He smiled back. "...that must have been a beautiful dream. To be back with your family."

And also him coming with her, yes. He pointedly ignored that part, knowing it to be impossible and not wanting to get her hopes up. Besides, he was still not sure of his own feelings in the matter. Oh, he loved her. He was quite sure of that by now. But could he dare keep her for himself? It was kind of her to respect him despite his profession, but everyone else would still look down on her. She had no idea what she got herself into if she stayed with him.

She looked much better now, and the fever was much lower now. Her bare breasts were rising and falling calmly, right above that ugly black spot. It would take quite some time to heal. And even then, she would always bear the mark of evil on her chest.

 

[LandiKirk]

"...that must have been a beautiful dream. To be back with your family."

Heather nodded but she knew it was only a dream. "Are you worried o'er my dream?"

Heather felt something different but she didn't know how to ask the right question and she knew it wasnt the end of winter

She sighed softly and decided to use the privy and get a little more rest

 

[Knightmare27]

It was a week later now. Heather had spent it lying in bed, being tended to by Heinrich as her wound slowly healed as far as it would under the salve which he had refreshed daily. Finally, he had decided that it was time to clear it away completely. Underneath it, he saw a raised red spot that would remain with her for the rest of her life. Other than that, her chest seemed completely healed and the fever was gone, too.

He hugged her, even though her upper body was still bare, and pressed her tightly against himself. "I am so happy to have you back", he sighed.