Billy Detects Sorcery

"I'm fine, thanks. I caught a lad trying to steal some of my non- existent valuables, and so I put the fear of the Goddess into him."

"Ah, I see. That's all right then. I'll go back to bed. Goodnight, Astra."

"Goodnight, Fred."

Meanwhile Billy was thinking about his encounter with Astra. When the noblewoman had wrapped her arm around his neck, he had looked down and there had just been just enough light to see that her arm was clothed to the wrist in a long sleeve. But he had felt bare skin against his neck. There could be only one explanation. The dress (or at least its sleeves) was an illusion and the lady must therefore be a witch or sorceress.

Billy was a simple country boy, and as far as he was concerned all magic users were evil. The sorceress ought to be exposed and then burnt at the stake. He had to tell someone, but who? Whoever he told was sure to want to know how he knew that the sorceress's dress was an illusion. He could hardly tell the truth, and admit that he had broken into the room in an attempt to steal something. Apart from anything else, if word of his attempted burglary should get back to his mother he would never hear the last of it.

1. Billy can't think of anyone to tell.
2. Billy decides to tell the local priest. What's told to a priest remains confidential. He might be required to pay a penance for his misdeed, but it would be worth it.

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