Merry Begot

Chapter 2

Adrenaline flooded through Elora's system, pumping into her veins by the quickening speed of her heart. She'd witnessed the horrors of what men did to poor women accused of witchcraft. Her fear was genuine and potent.

"What've you done with Elora?" Irabelle demanded.

"I am Elora," she insisted.

But it was no use, Irabelle wasn't hearing it and that wasn't because she was simpleminded. Irabelle was dangerously clever. There was a vindictive gleam in her eye, as if Elora had given her the perfect justification to get revenge for her accidental spying.

Recognizing her intentions, Elora tried to flee, but Farl caught her and pulled her arms behind her back.

He and Irabelle drug Elora kicking and screaming toward the Inn, as Irabelle continued to holler the word 'witch,' drawing the attention of everyone within hearing range.

By the time they rounded the front of the Inn, a crowd was gathering. Everyone stared, wide-eyed at Elora. When Junip came to the door, squeezing through her patrons there, she took in Elora's familiar dress and appeared confused.

"Get the sheriff. We've caught a witch!" Irabelle exclaimed. "And look, she's done something to Elora!"

Irabelle held the necklace up as evidence and her mother gasped before shrinking back with a hand over her chest.

"You heard m'girl. Get the sheriff!" she shrieked at the men just standing there with their mouths hanging open, staring at Elora with wide, hungry eyes.

They staggered away, picking up speed and causing Elora's heart to race faster. She started protesting and shaking her head to dislodge Farl's hand, but Irabelle was right there to point a finger at her with a feigned, horrified look.

"Don't let her speak, or she'll cast us all under her spell," she declared.

Elora narrowed her eyes at the conniving young woman. What she had to say to the vile creature was muffled by Farl's hand, though—which may have been a good thing.

Suddenly, a loud roar filled the sky followed by a burst of flames raining down from above and the men who'd been on their way to the sheriff ran screaming back toward the Inn.

"DRAGON!" Was their collective bellow.

Everyone panicked, including Elora. Another roar thundered through the sky and more flames shot along the muddy road. The crowd burst into chaos, men and women scrambling to run as far away from the dragon as possible. In the frenzy, Elora was jostled, partially dragged, then finally freed.

"Stop her. The beast is her pet!" Irabelle screamed.

When Farl tried to grab Elora again, more fire shot down and he yelped, rushing toward the door of the Inn, instead.

Elora twisted around and slammed her fist right into Irabelle's nose. Blood gushed forth, as the girl screamed and dropped Elora's necklace to cover the injury. Junip cried out with shock and concern for her daughter, instantly rushing over to take the girl into her protective arms.

After quickly recovering her necklace from the mud, Elora started backing away from them and the Inn. She looked at Junip, and no longer cared if she was the despised messenger.

"I saw your husband and daughter fucking in the stables, that's what this is really all about," she announced loudly, hoping everyone heard her, despite the fear causing them to run around in panicked circles. "This necklace was enchanted to hide my true appearance because my mother wanted to protect me from men and their vile ways. Is that really so evil? Is that as evil as fucking your wife's daughter?"