Nuala sat perched on the front of the comfortable chair in the opulent room set aside for the court proceedings. She couldn’t relax; her hands were cuffed together behind her back and they pressed uncomfortably into the seat cushion as she sat there. She felt completely out of place in her casual jeans and tank top and her stiletto high heels echoed around the wooden panelled walls when they clicked on the parquet floor. By comparison Edward was in his ceremonial robes and The Witch Finder General wore his old fashioned costume. God alone knows where he found something like that. 

Things had happened so quickly this morning. She’d opened the front door to greet the Mayor and find out what he was going to do with The Witch Finder General and within a minute she was chained like a slave on the back of a horse and cart, being driven through the village. People had lined up along the pavement and were sneering at her and shouting obscenities as she went by. These people where her friends. She’d worked so hard for the past year or so to integrate into the village lifestyle and now they had turned on her. She still could not reconcile the situation she found herself in. Mayor Brown had done an about turn in his opinions overnight, this was not at all like him, he was acting very strange, he seemed to be enchanted by the man. Although she was not exactly one of them, she certainly was not the evil witch that everyone seemed to be implying. Besides which, to the best of her knowledge, witches, in the form that medieval England believed in, didn’t exist. Matthew Hopkins had ridden into town from nowhere in period costume and the entire town seemed to be lining up behind him.

“You, Nuala, are a witch.” Bellowed the Mayor pointing a steely finger across the court room at Nuala, “You have hidden your true form from the village for too long now, behind spells and potions. It has taken The Witch Finder General, here, to show me, and the rest of the village, the evil that resides within our midst. You have integrated well into our village and sold us enchanted potions to hide your true nature. Your potions, that actually work. No one here saw what you really were.”

“Yes, Nuala. I felt your presence from far away, calling me to this time and this place.” said The Witch Finder General, ”I must say, for a witch you are surprisingly resourceful. Concealment spells like this are rare and to maintain your identity for over a year is very impressive. But you are now found. You have been shown for what you really are. You will pay for your evil when I pass sentence. Mayor do you have anything else to add?”

“Excuse me, don’t I get the opportunity to defend my…..”

“SILENCE”, bellowed The Witch Finder General

“…self?”

“You are the devils mouthpiece. This is a lawful and holy place and you have no voice here. Your witchcraft is plain for all, in this courtroom, to see. Your concealment spell is broken. We all see you for what you are.”

A cheer went up from the few people squeezed into the courtroom.

“Now, If I can continue, Mayor, do you have any last words to add before I pass sentence on this, this, daughter of lucifer?”

“No, General, I have no further words to add.” replied the Mayor,

“Then, by the power vested in my by Parliamentary Order, I find you guilty of witchcraft and casting your evil incantations on this innocent village. The punishment for your crime is death by hanging.” Another cheer went up from those in the room. When the noise quieted down the Witch Finder General continued, “Even the most powerful Witch can not escape the cleansing power of the noose. You will be take from this place to a place of reflection. There you will have the opportunity to admit your sins and atone for them. I will take your confession tonight. Tomorrow you will be lead to the gallows where your life will be forfeit.”

Nuala gasped. Laura screamed, “No, this isn’t true, tell them Nuala! Tell them!” Nuala swung round and quietly shook her head looking at her friend.

“Silence! Sentence is passed.” Called The Witch Finder General as he clapped the gavel against the sound block, “Jailer, take her to her cell.”