HERE FOLLOWS THE FOURTH EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF KEMENDIL:
Chapter 9. Chapter 10 v. 1-14, 17-18, 45, 77-78
9.1. And Waltrot married Wencela in the chapel of the King’s House: and Sorondur the High Priest tied the knot between them. For he said, The sin be on my head alone.
2. But the King came to the wedding, and the Queen also, with Aldred, and Lady Vornis and Lord Thoronhir, and Bryd the mother of Wencela. And King Kemendil gave the bride to the groom, for Dreng the father of Wencela had not yet come to the City.
3. And Calendis the witch, who was also named Berma, came in to bestow her blessing on the couple: and they welcomed her with joy. And she blessed the womb of Wencela, and the loins of Waltrot, that their marriage might bear fruit.
4. And the Queen made obeisance to her, and comported herself humbly before her.
5. Then Kemendil feasted the married couple, and the guests, and all had joy; and the Queen smiled. And Kemendil stood before the company as a minstrel, and he played upon the harp, and sang.
6. And when the revels were ended, the King followed the Queen to her bedchamber. But she stood with her hand on the door, and said, Nay, my lord. And he said, When, Gauriel? For verily I love thee, although I cannot see thee, as much as ever I did.
7. And she answered and said, I do not know: perhaps never: for my heart is cold toward thee, and I am still ashamed.
8. And in the same night the King went forth to seek the dwelling of the witch. And Aldred led him by the hand, and a certain maid named Ristila, who had been a wedding-guest, guided them both.
9. And the moon was shining. And they came to a stream that reflected the light of the moon, and they saw the house Barammath:and they knocked on the door, and the King entered. And Aldred and the maiden sate outside.
10. And by and by Kemendil came out of the cottage with the witch. And Calendis sighed, as one who has great sorrow, and said, This is a great thing that thou demandest.
11. And Kemendil replied, Even so: but thy heart desireth it nonetheless, for so shalt thou make expiation for Dimorn, and get leave to depart.
12. And Calendis said, Alas, thou art grown cruel. But say, when I am gone, who shall serve the Goddess in my place?
13. And then Calendis and Aldred beheld the maid Ristila standing beside the stream. And the moon shone upon her, and her shadow was black. And Aldred said, Surely thou art answered.
14. Then Calendis said, Return ye hither on the third evening. So Kemendil and Aldred left Ristila at the house of the witch; and they returned to the City.
10.1. Then Calendis wrought a great magic. She kindled fire below a cauldron, and placed herbs therein, and the blood of beasts, and some of her own blood also; and she emptied her bag above the cauldron, so that all the dust of flour went in; yea, she shook it, and emptied it out entirely: there was no dust left in the bag. And she stirred the cauldron, and sang a charm over it, and ceased not for three days and two nights.
2. And Ristila attended upon her, and helped her in all that she did.
3. And a steam arose from the cauldron, and a bitter smell: and it went abroad through the Kingdom, even unto the coasts and the uttermost parts thereof.
4. And on the third evening King Kemendil rode back to the dwelling of the witch. And Aldred guided him, with a band of retainers following.
5. And lo, the sky was covered with a cloud, so that the heavens grew black, and a strong wind blew; but in the West the sky remained clear, and the light of the sun was golden.
6. And Aldred said, Behold, the funnel of the clouds pointeth downward like a dark finger.
7. And when they came to the dwelling of the witch, it was in the midst of a mighty wind: and the clouds whirled downward through the funnel, returning into her cauldron.
8. Then the wind ceased, and the cauldron was full of a gathered dew like cold water. And all the ashes had been blown away from underneath.
9. Then Calendis opened a small box, and let fall somewhat from the box into the cauldron. And Aldred said, They are shards of the glass. And Calendis cried in a great voice, Entulo, which signifieth, Return.
10. And in that moment every fragment of the broken orb rose into the air, wheresoever it had lain, and began to fly back.
11. And the earth was rent open in many places, and the rocks; and the trunks of trees were cloven by the emerging of the small fragments; and pavements split, which had been wrought of artificial stone, and cement crumbled, so that many walls and buildings fell down.
12. And certain of the fragments came forth from the bodies of man and beast, so that many were wounded, and some died.
13. And blood gushed from the Queen’s eye, and a fragment came forth; and she was blind in one eye thereafter.
14. And the body of Lord Hriveor burst open, for several fragments were in his liver; and he died, and Lammanwe the advocate died likewise.
17. And the cheek of Sorondur the High Priest was cut open, but he died not.
18. And many women had an issue of blood, and fragments came forth from their wombs; but these died not.
45. And from the loins of Bentliman Gough who kept the inn of the Dragon’s Head, issued a flow of blood; but the shard flew forth, and he recovered of his wound.
77. And there was a wailing and a lamentation throughout the land: for it seemed to the people that they were stricken by a grievous plague of Dru.
78. But the stones of the Erumar were all unmoved, and the young tree still throve within the midst of it. And a multitude of people resorted unto the Temple: and there they cried continually unto the Lord Dru, and besought him to have mercy.