Chapter 6: Midsummer’s Eve

For a while, nothing much seemed to change in Tumwater and in the old mansion. Eve and Lilith did not venture out often, but were well-respected in the village. When it was discovered that Eve, too, could administer healing herbs and potions, she was viewed as almost equal to Lilith—though no one knew her name as other than ‘the Witch’s Girl.’

Fair weather and the summer breezes brought the first wave of men hoping to win the girl as their wife. These were mostly adventurers who were attracted by the promise of a wife who was beautiful and would make it so they would never need to work again. Long life, loving wife, and many children was the rumored promise.

They were soon to find the cost for such a woman was steep.

“And what do you bring to such a marriage?” Eve asked a petitioner.

“Why fun and adventure,” said the young man.

“What do you think of as adventure?”

“Traveling the world and seeking my fortune,” said the man.

“And when you have found your fortune?”

“Traveling the world and seeking another fortune!”

“So, you would not stay with your wife and children?”

“I’d be busy seeking my fortune,” the man said in puzzlement.

“And what do you consider fun?” Eve asked.

“A good woman to come home to and play at making children,” he grinned.

“Since I’m already a good woman and know how to play with myself, and I already have my fortune, it seems you have nothing to offer. Please be gone.”

While that was one typical encounter, it was by no means all. An actual prince on a white horse showed up at the mansion gates.

“I am here to save the damsel known as the witch’s girl,” he declared loudly. “Bring her forth or prepare to meet your doom.”

“My, but you are loud!” Eve said from beyond the gate.

“I shall break down these gates and save you?”

“Whatever for? I can open them whenever I wish. I am not a captive. I’ve heard of a damsel in distress held by a dragon in the mountains. Go try there.”

“But come with me and I will make you my queen!”

“Of what?”

“Of my kingdom!”

“And why would I want to be your queen?”

“You would have servants to do your every bidding.”

“I have nothing to bid them to do.”

“You would in my castle. There is much to do.”

“Sounds like a lot of work.”

“You would have the wealth of my kingdom!”

“For what?”

“To buy whatever you wish!”

“I have all I wish for. I need no other wealth.”

“Well, damn, girl! You’d have me!”

“Hmm. I think you would have better luck with the dragon. Farewell, young prince.”

She turned her back to return to the mansion and the prince leapt from his charger and assaulted the gate, which, of course, prevented his entry. He stayed, pounding at the gate, and loudly declaring his love for over an hour before he decided to go in search of the dragon. The next day, he came to a town, where he found what had once been an inn was now called ‘Alysha’s Brothel.’ He discovered he was most welcome there, and never did find a dragon.

Eve and Lilith often harvested fruit and vegetables from the ever-productive garden and took them into town on market day to trade for other goods, meat, and wine. The townspeople thought the fruits and vegetables from the witches’ garden were the most delectable in the region. Lilith took a basket of grapes to the vintner and sent Eve with her basket to the butcher.

“Got you!” a voice snarled. Strong arms wrapped around Eve from behind, causing her to drop her basket. “Now I will simply take you to my lair where you will be my wife and serve all my needs. Oh, I like these nice full bosoms,” the brigand declared, molesting Eve’s chest and pulling at her dress. “Let’s hurry to our wedding bed.”

He dragged her away from the street and Eve feared he intended the so-called wedding bed to be a dirty rat-infested alley.

“See what kind of bed you can make with your balls on fire!” Eve said, slapping him in the crotch with her hand. “Inflamo!”

The villain jumped away from her, slapping at his privates as he howled in pain.

“Stop! Stop! I repent!”

“Do you? Very well. Leave this town and find a place where you may become a hermit. As long as you live a peaceful life, you will have no pain from the fire I have planted in your balls. But if you ever touch a woman again, you will find the fire has consumed your manhood.”

Eve pulled her dress up to cover her maiden breasts and left the would-be rapist believing she’d given him the clap. He ran from the town howling in agony.

“I can no longer leave our home safely, Auntie,” Eve said on her return to the mansion. “What shall I do?”