Jakub the Patriot belongs to @corneille-but-not-the-author
Jacenty has now turned into a sick, old man. It has been five years and a half since he chased away the witch.
The women were so silent. Except one. That stupid Ewa. The miller's mother. Always has been a bitch. She yelled and shouted and screamed and she took her side. She said: "Who helped you while in labour? The men? Your sister? Your mother? It was this woman who held your hand. It was this woman who gave you the potion to soothe your pain. It was this woman who cared for your baby as soon as they are born! How dare you disavow her?". And she cried as she talked. "She tended to your children and your husbands when they were sick. How dare you?".
He coughs blood. His wife helps him sit down on the bed. Now his son is looking after the village for him. His daughters? Well established. There's just his youngest, sixteen-year-old Kamila, taking her time to find the right man. He doesn't have to worry anymore. The witch didn't burn, but at least she is exiled.
"Zuza would've helped you", Adelajda murmurs.
"Don't you dare say her name."
Adelajda was always too tender-natured. She was somewhat weak-willed, she was meek and discreet. Yet she found comfort with that hound of a woman. He never understood why.
"She is a witch. She should be dead. She killed my father, and her own son. You wouldn't justify poor Czcibor's death, would you?"
Adelajda remains silent as she strokes his back. The back of her lukewarm hand lands on his forehead.
"You have a fever, honey", she states with a blank voice.
"Would you justify his death?"
"I'll fetch a cold rag to bring it down."
"Answer, Adelajda", he growls as he seizes her soft arm.
"I don't have to", she responds before pushing him away. "Will we have this conversation everytime you're sick?"
Jacenty throws a coughing fit, preventing him from answering. His wife makes him lay on his side then covers him with the blanket she knit this winter.
The only man who spoke in her favour was that peasant, Manek. He used to be betrothed to the witch's daughter, and stayed loyal to her. But nobody could refute the infanticides.
"Mother, father, someone is knocking on the door, should I answer?" Kamila asks from downstairs.
"Oh, please, dear", her mother exclaims.
"For the Saints' sake who the hell would be passing by at this hour?"
"I don't know. But please, honey, rest, I'm taking care of everything."
He doesn't even bother to pretend he listens to her, and gets up quickly. He rushed down the stairs. The door is closed. Kamila is white as a sheet.
"Aunt Zuza is here", she indicates. "She wants to talk to you."
Jacenty coughs as he turns his head to where his daughter points. Sat on the bench, silent. She looks younger. Damned glamour.
"Sick? Kamila, for the love of your father, give me a jug and a bowl and bring me thyme and honey", she sighs. "It'll get rid of some of his symptoms."
His daughter obeys, too flabbergasted to do otherwise.
"Do you care to spend a moment with me? Just a few words", the witch asks with a weirdly firm voice.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am here to talk", she says. Two ravens land at the window. "Kamila looks just like her grandmother, doesn't she? And don't stay standing, you're sick, come and sit by me."
His daughter brings what has been asked, and the witch takes the jug between her hands. The water quickly comes to a boil, and the witch pours it onto the bowl, to infuse the thyme in it. She adds honey.
"Drink it hot", she advices, "and blow you nose diligently. You'll be back to health in no time."
"You got to be kidding..."
"I am a faith healer, Jacenty. I mean no harm to the sick."
More ravens start cawing around the house.
"I'm sorry for Rozalia. I've seen her grave while visiting the cemetary."
"Don't pretend that you care."
The trial was almost six years ago. Why do you come back now?
"She got sick, she never recovered."
"Which wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to kill me", she retorts on a soft voice. Ravens begin to enter the house.
"Are you blaming me? Oh, Zuza, you think you're above it all? That you can come and curse me?" He pauses, before adding in a muted tone: "You deserved to burn that day. Witches like you shall burn."
Show your true face. Go on. Show the monster you are. Rage sparkles in her grey eyes.
"You're the second person who tell me that", she says quietly. "I beheaded the first one."
"Oh, Jacenty, you don't even deserve my hatred, I don't bother to threaten you", she replies without even looking at him. "And a pregnant woman shouldn't do anything too physical. You don't have anything against theater, do you?"
Jacenty blinks twice, getting warier by the minute.
"The Patriot troup is in town. I am here out of courtesy to let you know. And to salute Adelajda and little Kamila. You'll be a dear and feed us thespians, right? It will make us even, wouldn't it?"
As if on cue, a raven winds up on the table. Jacenty quivers, growing uneasy. Zuza's eyes are now locked into his, her gaze piercing through his soul. He notices the fading scars on her cheek and the rose in her hair, waiting to drink the blood of its victim.
"Nothing. I won't ask you to bow down to the queen of the witches", she smiles.
Blood leaves his face. The door is kicked wide open, to let a young and pretty man penetrate the place.
"Zuza, you're taking your sweet time and I'm getting worried, is everything settled?" he shouts before greeting the daughter of the house and Adelajda with hand-kissing, like a gentleman, making them giggle. "I didn't mean to startled you, my ladies, I am just checking on the duenna of our company."
"Here's Jakub the Patriot, our director", she says simply. "And everything is settled, Jakub, my brother-in-law will provide for us during our stay, won't you Jacenty?"
Jacenty looks at them alternatively. Then another raven, bigger, gigantic even, sits next to him. And stares at him. He swallows back his pride, suddenly shivering, and turns to the director.
"...I will, rest assured."
The witch hits the table before standing up and joining the Patriot.
"We would be honoured if you come to our representation, sir Majak", the pretty man proclaims with confidence. "For now, I have to announce to my comedians we're eating at your table tonight. I couldn't thank you enough for your hospitality."
"Isn't it natural?" says the witch with a smile. "We are family."
