‘You did this,’ she stated, flatly, without an air of anger or arrogance in her voice. A fact.
‘I did,’ he said back, ‘what of it?’
‘You killed a Witch’s Familiar. You Killed My Dog.’ She paused for a second, looking at the man like he was the stupidest, most pitiful person to ever enter God’s Good Creation. ‘Y’e offended Hekate. There’s nothin’ to be done now. You’ll live here on my farm, payin’ off yer debt to the trees and gods of this land, and after that - ‘ she looked him up and down, ‘well after that, God have mercy on your soul, because my Dog won’t, and ye’ll be seein’ Him once you’re in the ground under that tree.’
He turned and looked to where she was pointing. A hollowed oak, nestled amidst an orchard - a grove of olde, sacred apples. Smaller, tinier than the ones he had known back home.
As if she knew what he was pondering: ‘Aye. You ain’t back home. This isn’na England. Here, WitchCraft is respectable, legal, and tolerated - but yer actions? Dammable. By rights, I’m supposed to do to ye’ what ye’ve done to my dog.’ She sighed. ‘But I cann’t. I’m not that sort of a witch.’ She looked at the groves of apple, the sky seeming to cloud a darker grey, as with her mood. ‘Best be gettin’ inside. They’re talking to him now.’
‘To…to yer dog?’ he queried, unable to comprehend what he was hearing.
‘Aye,’ she said. Gathering her cloak, she moved beyond the apple orchard, past the stone walls surrounding it. It was time for the Grove to receive her dog’s spirit. ‘Out now,’ she flung, flatly, uncaringly, unfeelingly, again, toward the man. The trees heaved in the distance, a bellow of wind and a large branch broke. He scurried toward her, the deafening crack quickening his pace. Out of the wall she tied a small cord, and knotted it.
‘Thas’ yer gate?’ he asked, dumbfounded. ‘What about thieves?’
She marked the knot and each touchstone of the walls with a small sigil, signed in a droplet of her blood. Tucking her knife back in to the folds of her dress, she walked calmly back to her cottage, knowing he had no choice but to follow.