Simply spellbinding
This narrative piece follows a young boy named Will who is fascinated by local folklore about Fen witches and ancient treasures. After his mother disappears, he embarks on a quest with his aunt to solve the mystery and find a magical artifact before it falls into the wrong hands.
Why it matters
The story serves as a piece of cultural fiction that explores regional folklore and the intersection of history and myth.
“Everyone in the Fens loved witches. Then one summer, a group of hunters arrived. They saw how much power and respect the Fen witches had and they wanted it for themselves. No one believed the hunters when they said that witches were evil. So, they made them believe.” Ma pauses to cleave a lemon in two, she wraps one half in cloth, and squeezes the juice into the bowl. Then she unstoppers a small bottle or rosewater, and adds four dashes.
“They spread sickness with wicked poisons. Crops failed, and cattle and people fell ill. The hunters told everyone they had uncovered a secret plot. They said that witches — up and down the country — were making things sick so they could be paid to make them better. The story swept across the land like a summer wildfire.”
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