Prolouge
"A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:27
Alice hid behind the tree line, trying to slow her breathing so she couldn't be heard. The River Stour had a thick layer of mist over it, making it hard to see the group of people huddled around its bank.
She could detect possibly half a dozen figures, all bending over something. As they moved, she saw what it was. A woman was lying on her front. One of them was holding down her head, while another pulled back her arms and tied her wrists to her opposite ankles in a cross. She was naked... what happened to her clothes?
Alice's knees were shaking. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She felt sick, gripping the tree in front of her just to steady herself.
The men picked her up, throwing her into the murky waters. She knew there was no hope. If she floated, they would send her straight to the gallows, but if she drowned...
Please... please. Not her, she thought.
There was a thrashing as she tried to save herself. Then the silence came. It washed over her, a total devastation. She felt like she was losing her vision.
The men heaved her up from the filthy silt. The tallest bent over her, touching her neck.
