The Silver Witch(59)

‘Professor, in the time we are looking at, let’s say between 850 and 950 AD, were witches seen as good? I can’t find too many references to them being persecuted or hunted the way they were in medieval times.’

‘Not good, exactly, but an accepted fact of life. Christianity was well established in Wales by then, of course, and yet we read often that many still held the “old religion” dear. Paganism did not go away, and witches were very much a part of the older Celtic belief system. Many communities would have had a resident witch who might have provided spells and remedies for healing, or to assist warriors in battle. Some foretold future events. They would only have been prosecuted if they had been deemed to have used their magic against members of the community in which they lived—putting a hex on someone they took against, perhaps, making them ill, or causing their cattle to die, that sort of thing.’

‘Do you think the bracelet could have been owned by a witch?’

‘That seems a plausible hypothesis. Although, given the amount of gold needed to make such a thing, this particular witch must have been very wealthy. Or at least, had wealthy friends; someone who might have given the piece of jewelry as a token of thanks, possibly. All in all, I can’t say I am surprised to find evidence of such a person living by the lake, whether at the time we are considering, or later, or indeed any time at all. Greta always told me there were things history could not explain. Things we would never find proof of but would have to accept as inexplicable. Magical, even. No, I can’t say I’m surprised.’

Later, after copious amount of tea and some chunky cheese and pickle sandwiches, Tilda thanks the professor for his help, deciding it is time to leave. Suddenly there threatens to be an awkward moment.

Is Dylan expecting to come back to the cottage with me? Why would he? Come to that, why shouldn’t he?

‘I’ll give you a lift home,’ Dylan offers.

‘Actually, I want to go down to the dig and have another talk with Lucas.’

‘Oh?’

‘About who it is they are digging up. Though I can’t imagine they’ll do much in the snow.’

‘Ah, you might be wrong about that,’ says the professor, polishing off the last of his tea. ‘The ground is actually less frozen now than it was a few days ago, when it was actually too cold to snow. My guess is, they might actually make some progress today.’

‘They could finally be removing the remains?’ Tilda asks.

‘It’s possible.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Dylan walks with her as she heads for the door. Tilda cannot quite decide if she feels pleased or put off by how keen he is to spend more time with her. As if sensing this, he adds, ‘If things are moving again at the dig they might want to put me to use. The snow doesn’t settle on the lake, after all.’

When they reach the site they find that the professor was right. There is a buzz of excitement and activity around the opened grave. A 4x4 vehicle is parked close to it, with a smart trailer attached, boxes of soil and samples already stacked in front of it. Around the dig site, three tall metal gantries hold powerful floodlights aloft—the kind used to illuminate football pitches. Molly and several of the other archeologists are carefully packing things into crates, which are then lifted into the trailer. Lucas is directing operations with much arm waving and a fair bit of snapping at people. He does not look pleased to see Dylan, whom he all but ignores, but he does at least pause to greet Tilda.

‘You’ve certainly got a knack for choosing the right moment to turn up,’ he says. ‘We are about to remove the top skeleton and then lift the coffin and its contents. You can’t rush these things, you know. In the wrong conditions, one hasty move, and something that has survived for centuries can be destroyed.’

‘But you can work in the snow,’ Tilda says. ‘Because the ground is not so frozen?’

‘That’s right. The snow acts as a sort of insulation. We had the lights set up a couple of days ago in case we have to work through the night. Once we get started, there’s no turning back. We have to get everything, all the contents of the trench, lifted, packed, and moved into the trailer.’

‘I’m surprised I haven’t noticed the lights,’ says Tilda. ‘I can see the dig from my cottage.’

‘We haven’t used them yet. Tonight will be the first time. Or actually, this afternoon, the way the light is fading. We’ve got a bigger generator in specially.’ He indicates a large metal box on wheels parked up by the main tent. ‘You’ll probably be able to hear that from your house when it’s going, too.’