It started first as a rumbling noise coming from deep in the earth. Tree roots burst from the ground, cracking the stones that paved the square. In the distance, the wedding party could hear alarmed bleats from the village goats and a few shrieks from startled humans. A strange, sickly smell began permeating the village as a choking miasma rolled in. Small squeaks could be heard as an army of mice sneaked in under cover of the mist. The Mayor turned to the happy couple.

"What have you done?" he asked in a horrified whisper.

"I apologise," the Trickster said. "Everything will go back to normal if we leave the village."

"Then get out!"

The Trickster pulled on Arnold's hands, and led him away. She turned back to his parents, wincing a little at their stricken faces.

"I owe you those cows! I won't forget!" she yelled. There was a bright flare in the dark mist, as someone's house went up in flames.

"What by all the gods," Arnold began.

"No time to talk, we need to get out of here to stop it," the Trickster said. Hand in hand they ran from the village. They heard a goat bleat next to them, and the Trickster yelped.

"Oh it's the goat you're worried about," Arnold muttered.

"That goat is evil!"

"And what do you call this?" Arnold shook one of his hands free, and gestured widely at the chaos they were running through.

"I told you I was cursed, didn't I? Where the hell is the village boundary?"

"Uh… That tree," Arnold said, after glancing around to take his bearings. The tree was writhing like an animal in pain, blown by a gale only it could feel. "Who cursed you, Cassie? What kind of person has this much power?"

"I don't know who did it," the Trickster said. "But come on, if we go out of bounds it should stop before we wreck the place."

They hurried through the mist, dodged the flailing branches of the tree, and leaped over the village boundary. They turned, and stared through the mist. A distant scream echoed from near the village centre.

"Any minute now," the Trickster said uncertainly.

"Maybe the boundary is a little farther back?" Arnold suggested. They stepped backward a few paces, and waited. There was a faint burst of light through the mist as another house burst into flames.

"Um," the Trickster said.

"What by the gods have you done?" Arnold whispered, then louder, "What by the gods--"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Arnold!" Edith came running up to them, her face grey with worry. "What happened?"

"Edith, what have you tricked me into doing?"

"I--I didn't expect this," Edith stammered. "I thought it would stop when she was forced out of the village."

"That's what always happens when a village takes me in," the Trickster agreed.

"So why--Edith, you never think things through! Cassie, have you married someone before?"

"Well, no--"

"I am keeping the curse there," Arnold said. "I wasn't told to go, and they can't just banish me, I was born here! I have a village share!"

"I…" Edith opened and closed her hands. "I can make this right," she said. She bent down and picked up a branch. "I swear to you Arnold, I will make this right."

"If you have any ideas," the Trickster said, "I think now is the time to--"

Edith whacked the Trickster on the head as hard as she could with the branch. There was a sickening crack, from the now-broken branch or the Trickster's head Arnold wasn't sure. The Trickster fell senseless to the ground.

"I told you it would hurt," Cassie said.

The Trickster swam in and out of consciousness for a while. At one point she heard Edith crying.

"I am so sorry Mum, I didn't mean--"

Another time she woke up to Arnold's raised voice.

"No, wait, surely there's a better way--"

The next time she woke up, she was bound and gagged, and sitting on a chair. The chair was on a platform and a rope was around her neck. Arnold was yelling something. His arms were being held tightly by Edith and Mrs Strathfield. Matt was staring at her, his jaw clenched.

"I did mention it would hurt a lot, yeah?" Cassie said. "Maybe don't brace--"

Someone pushed the Trickster off the platform from behind. The last thing she heard was Arnold's yell rising to a scream.

*

The moon shone down from a clear sky as Magnus walked through the quiet village. His cloak swirled out as he moved, the soft breeze it made picking up ash from between the stones of the abandoned square. Mounds of dirt were thrown up here and there, but the writhing roots that had caused them had subsided gently back into the earth. One of his dire dogs, padding silently alongside him, began to scratch at one of the mounds before Magnus stopped him with a gesture.

The troop came up to the centre of the square, and regarded the hastily-constructed gallows. A dire dog whined pitifully.

"No, you may not eat her," Magnus scolded. "Uh… what was her name? Ah, yes--Cassie!"

The Trickster started at her name, once more snapping her almost-healed neck. Magnus sighed.

"Cut her down," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," the cultist said. He drew his knife, and moved forward. The rope was thick, and it took a minute for him to saw halfway through it. Magnus muttered impatiently, and waved a hand. The rope snapped, and the Trickster fell to the floor in a lifeless heap.

"Uh, thank you, sir," the cultist said uncertainly. "What do you want me to do with the body?"

"We're taking her with us," Magnus said, and turned around to walk out of the village. The cultist hurriedly gathered up Cassie's body, putting her in a fireman's carry and heading off after his master. Magnus paused for a moment, letting the cultist catch up to him and the dogs.

"Best to carry her where you can see her face; she'll likely try to kill you when she wakes up," Magnus said mildly. The cultist gulped and rearranged Cassie in his arms. Magnus turned, and led his troop of monsters and undead out of the village.