The Heart of Broken Crystal

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Stop Lying About Me

Katherine couldn't stop thinking about Charles. She overheard her father arguing with a man who was demanding payment.

"You owe me a lot of money! I want it now!" the man yelled angrily.

"You better watch how you speak to me! My daughter is a witch!" Ray warned the man.

"Stop lying! I'm not a fool. I know you're lying to me, so you can avoid paying me!" the man yelled even louder.

"I'm not lying. My daughter is a witch!" Ray replied angrily.

"I don't understand why you're so poor if your daughter is a witch. She should be able to get you a lot of money," the man exclaimed angrily.

"My daughter chooses not to use her magic for personal gain," Ray retorted with frustration.

"I understand your skepticism, but that's the truth," Ray added with a sigh.

Katherine was furious with her father for lying about her.

"Katherine, can you come outside, please?" Ray shouted.

Katherine couldn't believe what was happening.

She went outside and asked, "What do you want, Dad?" in an angry tone. "This is Stewart Black. I told him that you were a witch, and he didn't believe me. Can you please tell him that you are a witch?" Ray begged.

"My dad is right. I am a witch! You'd better leave right now or else!" Katherine responded angrily.

Stewart got scared and ran away.

"I am tired of you lying about me. What if the king finds out what you have been telling people about me being a witch? I can get into trouble. Two women were executed for being witches!" Katherine exclaimed in frustration.

"I am sorry, but those men will kill me if I do not pay them the money!" Ray retorted, also in frustration.

"Stop playing cards!" Katherine snapped, still angry.

Larry went to see King Arnold who was busy counting the money collected as taxes. While doing so, King Arnold realized that some money was missing and became furious. He asked Larry who had not paid their taxes. Larry informed him that Ray Mills was the one who had not paid his taxes. He also mentioned that he had tried to collect the taxes from him, but King Arnold's son had told Ray's daughter that they did not have to pay their taxes at the moment.

King Arnold was furious when he learned that his son had done something he disapproved of. However, King Arnold knew that he couldn't confront his son about it because his wife, Queen Natalie, would become angry with him. She always protected their son from King Arnold's punishment.

In order to take action, King Arnold ordered, "Bring Ray and his daughter to the castle. I will make him pay his taxes!"