Year 4 Reading Task Friday 16th October

The next morning, after they’d packed up their sleeping bags, and Willow had attempted to brush her teeth with her finger, they came across a rather unwelcome sight. Standing with their backs to Willow and Moreg by a clump of tall trees were a large gaggle of around twenty men wearing distinctive brown and gold robes. Moreg help up a hand, just as a faint ‘Oh no’ came from within Willow’s carpetbag. ‘Brothers of Wol,’ she said softly. Her face turned to marble, like she was annoyed, then gestured for Willow to go back the way she’d come. Willow gave a silent gasp. The Brothers of Wol still had a rather archaic view of witches – mostly that they thought the best way to deal with them was by burning them at the stake. The Brothers lives in Wolkana – a hidden fortress that no magical being could find, let alone enter. And when they weren’t there, plotting and scheming, you could guarantee they were out causing trouble for people with magic in their veins. Such as trying to ensure that no witches or wizards entered Forbidden areas. These were towns and cities that had decided that they would prefer to not to have magical residents on their doorstep. When magic had at firs begun to trickle back into the world, families like Willow’s and Moreg’s had been forced to live in enclosed settlements like Ditchwater. Gradually things had changed; as magical people grew in number, a compromise was needed. Magical people agreed not to use their abilities on people without their permission, as well as to only live in areas where they were welcome. Some moved away to more accepting pockets of Starfell over the years, but they never forgot the shadow of persectution, which was why some witches and wizards – like Moreg Vaine, for instance – kept the location of their home a firm secret, vowing never to have to answer to anyone ever again. ‘We could fight them,’ said Moreg, who appeared for a moment to consider it. ‘I could get rid of them now…’ Willow swallowed, hoping the witch didn’t mean what she thought she meant. She was finding the nerve to ask when Moreg shook her head, her eyes going hazy for a second, before she blinked. ‘But not quite yet, no… She’ll need it, so this is best, yes.’ Willow stared blankly at Moreg. ‘Er, sorry?’