Chapter 1 [Nemeth—During the "Witchfinder"]

Steel-gray overcast hung low in the sky. Fog and Chill obscured Woods and Roads alike. Hearty souls pressed on with tasks. Pigs and Livestock grazed over last yellowed grasses. Nuts and berries gathered for Winter's stores. Merchants and tradesmen filled Marketplace's stalls.

Expected Duties occupied some…Others ran for Sanity and Life itself….

[Manor of Astolat, Isle of Shalott]

Fall set the inhabitants' schedule. Serfs and villeins brought in the last crops. Some guided Count Bernard's pigs from Summer's graze back toward stalls or final appointment with Butcher's axe. Hay stalks dried. Mills ground wheat for Winter's sustenance.

Outside visitors remained rare. Rodor's surveyors came once a year. Otherwise, no one else bothered with the remote isle or its people.

At least until that day….

Bernard of Astolat pulled his cloak tighter about himself. Raw and Chill reddened his face. Frosted breath drifted through the air. Elements reddened his face. Still, Necessity demanded his presence at the dock. "Is everything in order? Aredian is to have complete cooperation! Am I clear, Caedmon?" He spat onto Oak planks underfoot. His eyes narrowed back toward the house.

Lady Elaine lingered in her chamber. The door's lock and accompanying charms barred escape. Her mother's affliction infected her as well.

Acquiescence forced a bow from the white-haired man. Caedmon's eyes remained averted from the Count. He and the other servants loved her. As her mother before her, Gratitude warmed their hearts at Elaine's displays in Kindness' and Charity's service. She cared. First sniffle and illness' signs brought herbalists and Master Antonius' medical treatment. Hunger remained nonexistent among the serfs and villeins alike. Her roses and flowers bloomed across the isle.

Pity Magical accidents doomed her in her father's eyes. Intention never guided Elaine's hand with sorcery. It's just…well…a sneeze…or a cough…caused accidents. Showers of rose petals. A glow about herself. Spontaneous levitation before coming down to the ground several sands' passage through the hourglass later. Apologies spewed from her mouth. Shame and tears flowed from her eyes…

…tears bringing flowers along her path…

Beauty literally in every beholders' eyes…except for one. Unfortunately, Count Bernard ruled over Shalott….

Bernard curled his lip. He spied an approaching barge. On it, two servants rowed in unison. Between them, a tall, gaunt man dressed in black with a large hat looked about. Impatience wanted to pull the transport to shore faster. Pity the King overlooked Reyna's witchcraft! I dealt with her as necessary! Pity that our child is infected with her disease as well! Plans brewed. Agents scoured the countryside for potential marital alliances. Continuity demanded another heir…this one without such impediments. I tried! Oh, how I've tried! Elaine won't do what she's told! Even the blasted mushrooms won't work right. Disgust narrowed his eyes.

The barge landed at the dock. Caedmon tied it there. "Good morrow, Sirrah." He bowed again. "Milord the Count welcomes you to Asolat and our Isle." He buried his true feelings deep. Duty instead kept a tight leash on his tone and manner.

Aredian raised an eyebrow. Barest of nods acknowledged Caedmon. His bootfalls echoed against the oak planks. He strode toward Bernard. "Greetings, Count Bernard. My apologies. I came as soon as I was able."

"I wish to add to Caedmon's greetings, Aredian. Welcome to Astolat. I wish it wouldn't require such a purpose to bring you here." Bernard nodded to his guest. "It seems Reyna's issues did not stop with her."

Aredian narrowed his eyes. "I suppose not, Count Bernard. You followed my advice from the last time?" He knew of Elaine and her issues. Directives shoved the prescribed mushrooms down Antonius' and poor Elaine's throats.

"I did. They do not work. Alas! I fear magic's infection runs too deep in Elaine." Bernard exhaled a sharp breath. "She's locked in her chamber. Perhaps this time, you can convince the King?"

Sarcastic snort escaped Aredian's lips. He shook his head. "The only reason justice was done the last time, Count Bernard, was because of King Uther of Camelot's intervention. King Rodor favors sorcerers. He turns a blind eye toward their perfidy!" Disgust curled his lip. "I wish I could bring her to Camelot and arrange one of those…displays…you wrote to me about."

"Well, why don't you? I can cast her out. Anything to be rid of her!" Bernard hissed through clenched teeth. "She cannot be cured! Let her be cast out!"

Aredian nodded. Bernard's certainty of purpose eliminated Doubt's questions therein. "Very well. Let us collect her then. I will take her to Camelot and deal with her. You have but to transfer guardianship to me."

Bernard bit his lip. "Very well." He turned on his heel. Purpose overrode Reluctance and Love in that case. He led Aredian and Caedmon up the dirt path toward the two story structure. "Caedmon, see to Aredian's meal and drink. Be quick about it!"

"Aye, Milord!" Caedmon sprinted around them and into the house. Pity's tears welled up in his eyes. Wish would undo the locks and aid in Elaine's escape. Still, Duty prevented him from doing anything else. He disappeared through the door.

"You shall see, Count Bernard. What we are doing is a necessary thing. Sorcery must be rooted out and eliminated!" Aredian studied the house. "Your servant feels sympathy for the Lady. You should deal with his disloyalty."

"Get rid of the disease. That will go too. Caedmon is loyal. I am not worried about him." Bernard stomped into the house. "Elaine's upstairs. Let us fetch her."

"Indeed. I would keep my eye on her at all times." Aredian met the servants' eyes with his own. Resentment simmered in their eyes. Unspoken impudence pressed them past him. Their recollections held him in low regard…

…mourning for Countess Reyna, it seemed, continued….

Bernard ignored the servants' rebellious attitudes. He stomped up the stairs and down the passage. "She's still in the same room, Aredian. I used the locks and charms like you taught me."

"Very good, my Friend. At least that still works." Approval prompted a more demonstrative nod. Anticipation had already taken the household's rebellious attitude into account. Memories ran deep in his mind over Countess Reyna's arrest and removal from that household.

Sympathies, it seemed, still ran deep and stubborn course….

Bernard stopped in front of the third door on his right. His fist banged on the oak. "ELAINE, IT'S TIME! STEP BACK FROM THE DOOR!" He undid Chains and Charms on the door's latch. An iron key turned in the lock. He pushed the door open. "I HOPE YOU ARE PACKED!" He looked about the chamber. "ELAINE? ELAINE!" He searched the area. Hands flung open wardrobe's doors. He pushed gowns aside in the closet. He peered under the bed. "WHERE IS SHE?"

Aredian's hand stifled a cough. His eyes rested on the cause. "Not here it seems." He strode over to the window. His hand pushed it open. "The Lady has escaped, Count Bernard." Respect, it seems, had underestimated Elaine. "Is there any other way off the island?"

"There's only one dock and…." Bernard's eyes rolled. Curses hissed through his teeth. "HER BOAT! I…" He rushed back out of the room. Feet nearly tripped on the way down the stairs.

Aredian set his jaw. Despite Reyna's arrest, Memoria held onto Failure's lasting bitter aftertaste. His fists clenched at his sides. He stepped back over the threshold and into the passage. His eyes turned to the right. They rested on another door at hall's end….

…a door barred by Camelot's and Nemeth's physicians, Masters Gaius and Wyngate…a door barred by Rodor's final authority on the matter…

Who was in there? His eyes narrowed. Countess Reyna, despite Uther's and Bernard's suspicions, could not have cast the spells on the battlefield back then! They sheltered the sorcerer! If only I'd broken her, I'd have chased that one all the way to Hell if needed! Lady Elaine will not escape as that one did!

Wisp-like, Gaius' remembered form stood in his way. Right eyebrow pushed his hairline back. Jaw set. Purpose and Determination smoldered in his eyes. Like Lioness or Tiger, Protectiveness would not allow him to be moved from that door…not for anything….

Suspicion held onto several theories. Opportunity perhaps would avail him another chance to test them at another point.

"AREDIAN?"

Aredian turned to face an expectant Bernard. "Any sign?"

Dark scowl twisted Bernard's face. "NAY! The knights search the shoreline! Blast! If she gets to the other side…." Experience anticipated Elaine's thinking in that regard. "She'll set safety at the court!"

Dismissal shrugged Aredian's shoulders. "One girl on foot against knights on horseback? There is only one path toward Whitgate. The river leaves her too exposed to be a useful escape route. The Gedref will offer her little. Camelot would burn her at the stake. I have men watching on the other side. How fortunate for you." He pushed past his host toward the door.

The girl would not escape. Aredian would guarantee that….