Invaders

The Witch's Daughter: Chapter 2. People approach the cottage, and Hilde must flee. The Normans march from the hidden valley. Hilde runs, and sees a horse and rider.

“Mama! There’s people up the lane!” Hilde gasped, as she burst through the door of Blaine cottage. She set down the two buckets, now clean and full of water from the well.

Two starlings fluttered up into the thatch, startled as the door banged against the jamb.

“Hilde, really,” Bronach said. Her face gave the lie to her dismissive words; with furrowed bro…