I watched the white stallion stop at the entrance of my castle, whinnying fearfully. It had every right considering where it had stopped. Every year, I took a necessary payment from the Catholic village up north for seeking sanctuary on my land and bothering the fuck out of me. Whether it was gold, slaves, weaponry, or even a pixie—I took whatever they treasured.

But this—surely it was a jest. A woman was sprawled over the stallion’s back, wearing nothing but rags. She had an ashy face, like most of the witches those bastards burned. Perhaps she was meant to be burned, but as a result of having nothing as payment, they sent her here like I was some fool in need of a punished woman.

I turned back inside my castle, slamming the balcony doors closed. Once I descended the many staircases, I pushed open the front doors, startling the white stallion.

“Silence, boy.” I snarled, patting its face sternly. I rounded him and reached for the girl. I held her in my arms and entered my castle, slamming the doors shut.

I’d make them all pay for this. They seemed to forget why they’d pay me in the first place. I wasn’t some weak bastard.