Chapter 24 Being Molded
Rose leaned in with interest as her Father hammered the iron before him. When it was hot it moved quite easily as sparks flew, it molded this way and that. Rose had climbed up to a higher shelf pushing aside many trinkets so she could still stay out of the way. The cat had jumped up next to her and it rolled contentedly in her arms while she stroked it. The object hissed for it was being placed in water for the final time. Rose dared to ask, “Father Do demons really smell like ashes?”
“That depends on what kind of demon it is.” Ivan turned around and hung his tools next to her. “Who told you that?”
Rose shrugged, “The older girls are always telling stories.” Ivan could tell she was lying but pressed no further. Rose on the other hand had just begun.
“What kinds of demons smell like ashes?” The cat wanted to jump down. It was getting agitated with her talking.
“There are demons that are from deep under the earth where hellfire lurks. Mostly they like to possess others or eat them. Lueda Yedka is the name used in this land. Man eaters. Only flesh and souls have taste to them. Where I am from they are called witches.”
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“I have heard of witches from my mother, Do they not hate fire? People burn them.” Rose jumped down to follow her father out.
“Not a true dark witch. They love the fire and the heat. Even if their body is truly destroyed by it they go and possess another. Of course usually many are so skilled with fire that it does not harm them but most people do not know this. When a witch burning takes place, and it works, that only means that they were not very powerful, white witches, or perhaps not witches at all.”
“How does someone destroy a witch?” Rose tried to grab Catkin. He rushed out to the door.
“You should go to Grandmother in the garden to finish your basket lesson.” Ivan wiped his hands with water from inside the troth.
“Oh I finished that yesterday, see!” She proudly picked up and displayed her craftsmanship that was hidden in the grass. “Although Babushka was angry because Mother has already taught me some of the words to chant.”
“Why chant words to begin with?” Ivan strapped on his ax.
“So it will carry all I need and nothing I do not. I will go to the kitchen to help Mother.” Little Rose Red skipped away happily to have spent almost the whole day with her Father though perhaps he had barely noticed.
“Farewell child, I will see you at dinner.” Ivan gave a wave. He wondered if he had said too much. His mistress had insisted the child be brought up to be intelligent, beautiful and strong. Perhaps too much intelligence was not good yet.