The Herbalist and the Finder

“We have to end this threat once and for all,” the angry Loche yelled to the crowd before him, “Our crops have withered, our women have had two stillborn deaths in the last two pregnancies. This must end.”

“There’s a witch about,” a woman called from the crowd.

“Aye, we must hunt her out,” another voice added.

“I’ve called for the best witchfinder in the region. He’ll arrive within the week,” Loche called back.

“Is it, Fin?” A voice asked.

“Aye,” he answered.

“He’ll get the job done right,” a woman yelled.

“For now, I want everyone to return to home and try to get some rest. Keep a watchful eye on your neighbors and do your best to stay away from any suspicious strangers,” he called out across the worried-looking villagers.

Loche sighed to himself as he watched them nod in agreement and disperse back to their homes. He’d looked out for this village for the last twenty years. During his time here not a single string of back luck ever occurred like this one. He was certain a witch had made the area her home.

Lock sent a letter to the local monarch petitioning a witchfinder to come deal with the situation. Apparently, this was not the first case of such events in the Lord’s kingdom. He notified Loche the best would be sent promptly to deal with the situation.

The witchfinder arrived in two days’ time setting about his work quickly. Fin, and his family, received the best room at the inn. They made themselves comfortable for the night while he spent his evening down at the bar keeping an eye on anyone coming and going as he questioned the locals about the usual suspects. It was almost always a local herbalist or midwife. The drunken patrons were eager to tell him where they lived. They all felt the grip of witchery upon their village and wished the problem ended.

The morning came quickly for Fin. He set out on horseback to go inquire of the herbalist. She was housed a short ride from the village. He rode for a half hour before making his way down the narrow path toward her humble hovel. He felt the grip of a witch about the place as he approached. He knocked upon the door three times and waited.

“Whose hurt now?” Faye called out to the door.

“My name is Fin. Open your door,” he called back.

Faye felt a cold chill run down her spine. Every herbalist in the region feared his call at their door.

“Coming,” she said looking around hoping nothing of magick lay about.

“Open the door, now!” Fin yelled angry with her hesitation.

The door opened and the middle-aged woman forced a small smile as she invited him inside.

“You know who I am,” Fin asked more a statement than a question.

“Of course,” she answered.

He strolled around the room as if it was his own home. Helping himself to what he pleased as he peered in cabinets and under lids.

“How long have you resided in this village?” Fin asked.

“Nearly five years now,” Faye answered.

“No, husband I see,” he said sounding accusing.

“I have not been blessed, no,” Faye answered looking to her feet to hide her anger over his judgment of her sexual choices.

“Do you, or have you ever practiced the dark art of magick?” Fin asked looking in her eyes as he grew close.

“No…Of course not, sir,” she answered with a shaking tone of trepidation.

“Hmm…Then how do you explain this?” He asked with a triumphant smile as he held a pagan talisman in his palm.

“That is not mine!” She answered truthfully.

“Well, then who left it lying on your counter I wonder?” He asked gazing cruelty at the woman.

Faye felt a deep well of fear and sadness well up inside her as she wondered how many women this man had killed with the trick he was pulling on her now. How many ‘Witches’ had he been paid for finding with his trinket scam.

“Curse you,” she called out.

“Witch!” He yelled as soon as she said the words.

“No!” Faye cried out as two more men suddenly entered the hovel grasping her by the arms.

“Take her to the lake. We’ll soon know the truth of it,” the man said with a wicked grin.

“Be better to just kill her now,” Loche spoke with disgust heavy in his voice as he looked at the witch in his arms.

“No, the truth of it must be seen. She’ll receive the swimming test,” Fin said still smiling.

“Indeed,” Loche said sharing the same evil smile as he looked at her.

“Please, don’t do this,” she tried to beg for her life, but it would make no difference…The witchfinder had spoken.

“Take her away,” Fin said waving them off to the horses as he looked around for anything worth claiming.

“You will pay for this,” Faye called out as she was dragged from her home.

“I doubt that,” he said quietly as he found a coin purse and pocketed the contents.

Faye began chanting a slew of Latin as the two men threw her down tying her hands and feet before throwing her onto a horse.

“Definitely a witch, best plug yer ears,” one of the men said as she repeated the chant again.

“Nah, the witchfinder will take care of her soon enough,” Loche said with a light laugh at the thought.

They both made their way back to town with Faye repeating the chant as best she could with the gag the man had stuffed in her mouth to quiet her. They returned to town shortly and threw the woman in a dark cellar while waiting for Fin to return and carry out her trial. The townspeople carried out the preparations setting up the dunking seat by the edge of the lake the town was built next to.

Faye struggled against her bonds and smiled as she felt them finally slip from her wrist freeing her hands. She removed her gag and laughed happily as she finished the spell. An hour later Fin returned and claimed he’d been making sure there were no more witches in the woods around her hut, though his bags looked heavier than when he’d left. With a hearty shout Fin declared the trial started and demanded the witch be brought to the lake.

The villagers cheered as she was dragged over to the chair and strapped to the seat. Fin smiled as he looked at her scared face and dunked her once, twice, then three times before letting her up for a moment.

“Please, stop,” Faye yelled as she caught her breath.

“Admit you are a witch, and we can finish this,” Fin called down to her.

“Please. Fin, I’m not wh…” she failed to finish as he dunked her again.

Fin held her under for a full minute before bringing her up long enough to take one, short, gasp before submerging her once again. Each time her ears were met with the cheers and curses called out by the people gathered around them. He brought her up one last time calling out for a confession.

“I can’t confess…I’m not w…” she fell back beneath the water as she tried to beg.

“This time you stay under,” Fin said with an arrogant smile as the villagers cheered her words.

Eventually, the bubbles stopped as everyone leaned in to watch the murky image of the woman grow still.

“She drowned,” one of the men called out.

“Innocent. A shame,” another said.

“I declare the woman innocent,” Fin yelled smiling at the thought of getting to torture some midwife by this time tomorrow.

His face grew pale as they lifted the chair from the water. It was his wife sitting in the chair.

The sounds of gasping and lament could be heard all around the crowd.

“How’d she get there?” One asked.

“The witch did this. Must’ve been them words she spoke,” Loche called out.

“No, no, no,” Fin yelled in anger as he looked upon the woman he tortured. The woman he loved.

Taking off to find his horse and chase after the witch, he found it missing from the stable. Faye let out a soft chuckle as she rode hard to the south in search of a new home.