ALL HALLOWS IN MIDDLEHAM

All Hallows Eve comes to the town of Middleham in a swirl of autumnal leaves and bonfire smoke. Young Edward, the son of Duke Richard of Gloucester, wants to join in with the traditional festivities--the turnip lanterns, the Soul Caking, the storytelling in the churchyard. Richard agrees, despite the reluctance of his wife, Duchess Anne, and the frail little boy and his half-sister, Katherine, go to join the festivities. Old Gatty tells traditional, haunting tales of the Yorkshire dales--the man-eating Water Horse of the Ure, the witch of the hazelnut tree, the evil giant of Penhill with his spiked club.A merry night is had by all, but after the fires go out, young Edward is still restless and slips away into the darkness. And what might a lone young lad meet upon the road?A SHORT STORY OF APPROXIMATELY 12000 WORDS