The Witching Hour

The first four parts of this file are written by Petyr van Abel in a form of Latin used by the Talamasca as code. The text is translated by Aaron Lightner. His introduction mentions how Petyr was taken in by the Talamasca after he was orphaned at eight years old. His letters are addressed to the head of the Talamasca, Stefan Franck, and begin in 1689.

Part I

Petyr describes how the Comtesse Deborah is tried as a witch in Montcleve, France. People in the town tell him about her healing powers. Deborah is being persecuted because she couldn’t heal her husband, and he died cursing her. Her grandmother discovered Deborah’s occult doll, potions, and jewels and had Deborah arrested. She was the daughter of a Scottish witch who was burned, Suzanne Mayfair. Deborah’s daughter, Charlotte, escaped to the West Indies. A priest takes Petyr to see Deborah, who he met 25 years ago, before Stefan joined the Talamasca. Petyr then describes their initial meeting.

On his first assignment 25 years ago, Petyr witnessed Suzanne being tried for witchcraft. Her daughter, Deborah, was conceived during the May festival, a “merry-begot” (293), and no one was sure who her father was.