“Then look to the witch up on Widow’s Point,” said Nathan. “I still think she must be behind all this. Someone has to destroy her!”
Solon said, “Have faith, friend. We will crush her evil just as we destroyed the evil that has plagued you.”
“If she is, indeed, the source of this evil,” said Jazhara pointedly.
Nathan said, “Are you mad? You did nothing last night. Don’t you think I’ve fought those things before? Except for one or two you burned with magic fire or beheaded, the rest will return. In the darkness they can’t be destroyed!”
“Well, we’ll see what we can do,” said a tired James. “But first we need to get something to eat.”
“Toddy will open the door for you once the sun is up,” said Nathan. “Tell him to send my food over, would you, please?”
“What will you do?” asked Kendaric.
“Barricade my door again.” Then his voice took on a frantic quality. “But you know they’ll get me in the end, turn me into one of them. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Easy,” said Solon. “We’ll have none of that, laddie. With Ishap’s divine guidance, we’ll see an end to the troubles that plague this poor village.”
James and Solon removed the boards that were nailed across the door and went outside. Before they were off the porch, they could hear Nathan again nailing them into place. Kendaric looked at the sky.
“What is it?” asked James. “Rain?”
“No, something . . . odd,” said the wrecker. “For nearly twenty years I’ve worked the sea and I’ve never seen a sky like that.”
“Like what?” asked Jazhara. “I don’t see anything odd.”
“Look toward the sunrise.”
They did so and after a moment, Solon said, “Ishap’s mercy! What has happened to the sun?”
In the distance the sun rose, but despite the air being dear and there being no clouds in sight, the light seemed muted, and although the sun glowed, its brilliance was dimmed.
“Magic,” said Jazhara. She paused, as if listening to something. “There is something in the air which drinks the light. We didn’t notice it yesterday, because we arrived near sundown, but some dark agency is lessening the sun’s radiance here.”
“What could do that?” asked James.
Jazhara shrugged. “A relic of great power, or a spell forged by a magician of great arts. It would have to cover a very large area indeed to dull the sun’s brilliance.”
“I thought it a little overcast when we arrived,” said James. “But I didn’t note if there were clouds over the cliffs or not.”
“There is nothing natural in this,” affirmed Kendaric. “But to what purpose has this been done?”
“So that things that walk the night can walk the day?” mused Solon.
James said, “Forget breaking our fast. We must go to confront this witch now.”
Without further comment, James turned toward the peak at Widow’s Point on the other side of Haldon Head and started walking.
As they walked through the village, they saw Toddy hurrying from his inn. “You!” he said with a broad grin as he spied James and his companions. “You survived the night!”
James smiled. “Surviving is something we do well. You seem to be in a hurry.”
The mayor of the village lost his smile. “Farmer Merrick’s daughter is ill, and he’s gathered some of the village folk at his home. I think they mean some mischief.”
James glanced at Jazhara, who returned a slight nod. They fell into step behind the portly innkeeper, who was hurrying along as best as his girth permitted.
When they arrived at Farmer Merrick’s house, they found a half-dozen of the village’s men, and an equal number of women, gathered before the farmer’s door. The farmer and his wife stood in the doorway. A florid-faced, stocky man was saying, “We must do something. This has gone on too long!”
Toddy pushed through the small crowd. “What is this, then?”
The florid-faced man shouted, “We’re going to do something about that witch, Toddy!”
“Now, now,” said the mayor, holding up his hands. “Let’s not do anything rash. This lad here” - he indicated James - “is a representative of the Crown and will take care of things.”
Instantly all speaking stopped and eyes turned to James. James threw a dark look Toddy’s way, then said, “Very well. Now, we’re here on a matter of interest to the Crown and what has been going on around here is of importance to His Highness. So, who can tell me what has occurred?”
Instantly everyone started speaking at once. James held up his hand and said, “Wait a minute. One at a time.” He pointed to the florid-faced man who had been railing when they arrived and said, “You. Speak your piece.”