North Ridge , and at the foot of the Ridge dwelt my stable keeper , with his beautiful wife and two young children . I was most fond of them , and he was an impeccable hand with the horses . I would have his family to the Hall on Christmas each year .
“ Ah , but what occurred took place at Samhain — Halloween . I became aware that the good laborers beyond the Ridge had borne wicked offspring who were blossoming into wretched young adults . Rumors swirled that a group of them had studied the Black Arts and formed a coven of sorts to practice not nature-worshiping Wicca but the darkest possible witchcraft . I would have ignored the gossip if my sheep had not started to disappear .
“ Determined to evaluate this pagan horde for myself , I rode out to the North Ridge at midnight on All Hallow ’ s Eve . Even from afar , I could see they had set a gigantic bonfire at the very crest of the hill . They were dancing and softly chanting as they circled the flames hand in hand . I continued watching from a near copse of trees for some minutes , debating if I should ignore their ritual , when suddenly one of them raised his arms , holding a knife in one hand and my prize lamb in the other .
“ Enraged , I spurred my horse into the open and rapidly crossed the elevation between us . They screamed and scattered into the night , the tunics they had been wearing flying like smoke around them . As I reached the pyre , which climbed above my head , I saw in the light of the fire my lamb upon the ground with its throat cut . The villainous coven members had reached the wooded areas all about and disappeared .
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