Chapter 1

A young girl entered the scene and began to adjust things in a frenzy, tiding up, and stacking books. She then stood erect as her master entered.

"Where is my staff?" the old woman yelled. She rubbed her back and looked, the kind of pathetic look that said she wanted pity. The girl tried to say something but was cut off. "How is an old woman such as I supposed to get up those steps without my staff?"

"Sorry, Milady. Here, Milady." The girl said as she handed the witch her staff. The girl then got an old black cloak from its spot rolled up on the floor. She puts it on then pulled the hood over her eyes, fighting to conceal a yawn.

"Did you stay up late reading again? What did I tell you about doing that? I said 'No staying up late, Matilda.' That's what I said. And no more of these stupid dreams of becoming a sorceress. You are no more than a silly witch's aid and that's all you ever will be." There was a knock at the door. " Who would come at this hour of the night? Send them away. An old woman such as I, who should be retired, cannot afford such company."

"Yes, Milady. As you wish, Milady" As Mati approached the door there was more knocking and it is faster. Mati opened the door to see a man who immediately tried to walk in. He was covered in armor and completely drenched. "I am sorry, Sir, but we cannot help you right now. Come back in the morning."

"I cannot come back in the morning! Surely you are not the witch who resides

here?" The man said crossly.

"I am not. But she cannot help you either." Mati said as her master appears and stands surprised for a moment.

"Let the nice man in." She said trying to appear of more class than she was. The man stepped past Mati as if she were some inanimate object. "So you must work for the king. What has he sent you here for?"

Well I'm surprised you can see his crest on this soaked armor. But you see it's like this. I was riding my gelding along, doing the kings business. When out of the woods comes a glowing white mare. She moved like the wind. Fast as a gale in a typhoon. But graceful as a soft breeze dancing over a meadow. She trotted round my gelding, enchanting him. Then flew into her glorious gallop and disappeared back into the woods."

"Get him some hot tea," Mati's master said, glaring at her to leave.

"Yes, Milady. As you wish, Milady." Mati was eager to leave. She had no desire to stay in the company of such a pompus man. Sadly even in the cramped kitchen Mati could hear them talking.

"But that does not explain how you got soaked." The witch said impatiently.

The knight rolled his eyes at the woman he saw as utterly beneath him- and she probably was-, then went on with his story. "It took a second but then, my gelding reared and threw me right into a pool of water, and galloped off after the mare."

"Well I have no time for chasing after some stupid horse. I'm not a young woman you know!" The witch was completely insulted. Just then Mati comes back with the tea.

"Pity, the king would pay a large price to whoever recaptured my gelding. And an even larger prize for whoever got him that mare. She is captivating!"

"But you can't!" Mati immediately felt the burning glare of her master.

"What can I not do?" The knight considered this a completely rhetorical question.

"Uh. I mean… that mare is sort of a good luck charm to the local people. She is considered a sign of a good harvest, of good foals to be conceved, and of safety in the forest." Mati was as afraid of him as she perhaps should have been.

"A good luck charm?" This knight did not take her seriously at all. " All right, I'll tell you what. You come out with me, and if you can get my gelding back from the mare, I'll leave and never bother the mare." This statement proved that he thought he could control anyone he wished. "But, if you don't help me or can't catch my horse, I'll come back with soldiers and storm the forest capturing both my gelding and your mare."

There were several flaws in his plan and she was going to point them out. "How will you find them? The forest is rather large. And the mare knows all the hiding places."

"Simple, the place I was thrown was very muddy. I will track them from there. Now will you help me or not?" He was so full of himself!

Mati pretended to think on this for a moment. " Would you like some tea?" she asked. Totally refusing to help him in the process.

"Thank you, no. I should get moving. There is no way that I will make it to the palace before the approaching nightfall. I will have to camp in the forest. Farewell." Mati knew that he would at least try to capture the mare now. And he might get her, Mati could not let that happen.