The Beginning

         A cold wind drives sleet and snow across the hilltop meadow. Three dark figures stand just inside the tree line at the meadow. The shadows concealed them from anyone who would be watching.

They are watching another figure struggle up the hill toward the open meadow. Wheezing and huffing, each step a battle for ground, and another lungful of air. The large struggling figure finally manages to move onto the more level ground of the meadow.

Stepping from the shadows, the three figures move to intercept the figure near the middle of the meadow.

         “Very well, Mordecai, I have arrived as thou didst request! Pray tell, what matter of great import necessitated our meeting in this peculiar location?” gasped the heavy figure of Constable Ryan.

         ““Thou must release Mother Tituba.” Mordecai spoke with authority, “Or my brothers and I shall be compelled to take her."

         “Thou knowest I cannot, nor would I ever so perform!”, spat the Constable, “She shall be put to trial and judged in accordance with the law, just as all others!” he shifted his frame and turned to step back down the hill.

         “Then if thou shalt not release her, endure the consequences!” Mordecai shouted above the blowing wind.

The constable chuckled nervously, "Thou dost not fright me!” he spat as he stepped toward the downhill path.

Mordecai, Oliver, and Benjamin stretched their arms toward the stumbling figure. Speaking loudly, their words were carried away by the wind. They spoke an incantation.

The constable found himself rising from the ground. Giving a shout he started running in the air. His legs moving but going nowhere. Spouting “LET ME DOWN!” and grunting, the whole scene brought a small laugh from the three figures.

Mordecai flipped his wrist and the floating man turned upside down and dropped with a crack to the frozen ground.

With his neck snapped he was not going to complain as the three searched his pockets. They found the jail key, a wallet, and a shard of a mirror.

Tucking these away they made their way back to the tree line where their horses were tethered. Mounting the horses they turned back across the meadow and past the snow-covered body. Down the same hill the constable struggled up, at the bottom they paused a few moments to spot his horse.

Just a few yards away they found the horse and Oliver took charge of the reins. The snow had increased just as the wind did, hindering their sight as they rode toward the wooden bridge.
No one saw the 3 riders and 4 horses cross the wooden bridge nor did they see them turn and follow the North River.

After several hundred yards they stopped and dismounted. Tying their horses to the branches they moved up to the top of the bank. Crouched low they were looking right at the jail and the road.

They saw no one but a shadow moving around in the jail.
“Oliver, prithee, cross yonder road and fashion a diversion; Ben and I shall rescue Mother whilst all are engaged in quelling the flames. Return hither to the horses posthaste once thou hast commenced the ruse.” Mordecai whispered.

Mordecai and Ben watched from the bank till they saw a small flicker in the straw across the road. They heard a voice screaming “Fire! Help Fire!” and watched as the jailer and his assistant burst through the jail door and headed toward the road at a fast run.

Oliver made sure no one was coming and then snuck back across the road, up the bank and down to the horses. At the same time Mordecai and Ben stood up and ran to the open jail door. Running inside they found Tituba sitting inside a cell. Mordecai unlocked the cell. Stepping in and helping her up.

“Pray, let us make haste to depart ere they return!” half carrying and half dragging her through the door. Ben grabbed the other side of her and helped, as both young men carried Tituba back up the bank and down to the horses.

“Hurry get her on the horse”

“Art thou well enough to ride?” he asked her.

“Pray, let us discourse of it at a later time!” she said jumping upon the horse “Which way?”

“To the cave and let us make haste!” Mordecai starts first down the path they had come.

The snow and sleet had not let up and the cold wind seemed to increase with every step. The four rode quickly down the road and cut right to cross the wooden bridge.
After a couple miles they cut off into deep thick brush, and a few feet into it they come to a small clearing that the brothers had found a small cave in.
Tying the horses up outside on the shrubs they all hurry into the cave. They had been staying in this cave, so it had a couple furnishing in it, a chair and 3-legged seat, Ben restarted a fire, and Oliver pulled a chair around for Tituba.

“Thou art aware that this endeavor shall not come to fruition. They shall pursue us with great haste as soon as the sun doth rise!" Tituba finally speaks.
.
“My destiny is already inscribed. What is fated for me shall unfold as it must. There exists no possibility of alteration in my course. Yet thou, I have nurtured thee to the best of my ability and imparted the knowledge needed for thy survival. Thou and thy brethren may yet elude these tribulations and carry forth, whilst I must remain and embrace what is soon to come. ’Tis the only path before me. Mordecai! There is no sense in attempting to dispute this matter. Now, pray hand me the shard thou didst procure from Ryan.”

Mordecai pulls the shard from his pouch and hands it carefully to Tituba.
“I possess not the faintest notion of what it may be, yet I surmise it doth hold some measure of value.”
"Oh, it is of no further worth. It hath already been employed beyond its utmost capacity." she smiled.

“Now, Mordecai, behold what remains after the enchanted mirror hath been employed on more than three occasions. Its efficacy in the workings of spells henceforth shall be rendered utterly futile. Pray, take a seat, and I shall elucidate the enchantment of this mirror. Thou wilt find it exceedingly beneficial in thy future endeavors. Accept this knowledge as a parting gift from me to thee.”

Choking up slightly Mordecai has always taken what she told him as truth and never thought to ever argue with her on her decisions.

Now he has to be ready to move on with his brothers. He knew this was coming and there was no other result that would work. “Oliver, prithee, refresh three of the steeds and prepare them for a long journey. Enlist young Ben’s aid and pack what thou can. I shall be ready as soon as our tasks here are completed.”

In a few minutes Mordecai had learned the enchantment and was hugging Tituba goodby. The boys gather around hugging and saying goodby before moving to the door and quickly outside.

The wind still gusting with sleet and snow making it hard to see very well.

They turned and moved out the brush that had the cabin hid so well and off the main road.

On the road itself Mordecai stops and spy's a figure across the bank of the creek.
Constable Horace Colin was patrolling around the creek when he saw the three brothers seem to suddenly appear on the road.

“HERE NOW!!!!” he hollered. “STAY THERE!!!” the wind was carrying his voice, so he didn’t know if they heard him or not.

“Giddup, let's go” Horace moved down across the creek and about 20 feet in front of the 3 brothers.

“You are under arrest!! Dismount and surrender yourself. I know you had something to do with Ryan disappearing! I think you have had your hands in many things around here. Let's just see what the judge says!” Horace reached into his raincape and couldn’t find his gun.

His horse was being really jittery so controlling it was becoming an effort.
Mordecai started chuckling then laughing as Horace could seem to get control of his horse.

“I’ll get you Mordecai, I promise I’ll get you if you have hurt Ryan.”
Mordecai laughed a loud laugh and said “Go!” and Horace's horse jumped and ran back down the road like there was a fire on its tail.
Horace bouncing and holding on then disappearing in the snow and sleet.

Mordecai looks at his brothers and says, “Off to Boston by morning, take some shelter then move on south tomorrow evening.”

Mother Tituba relaxes in the cabin, knowing that by morning they will find her and take her back to stand trial.
At the same time Mordecai and his brothers head down the road toward Boston in the cover of darkness.

Mordecai thinks as he rides, now it all begins.