Now let's get back to The Betrayal by R.L.Stine!
Chapter 8
Matthew Fier's description when standing at William Goode's door does not make me think he's a good man. So might I suggest slamming the door in his face? He didn't exactly help defend your family so why expect anything different now?
After Matthew says he wishes to help William, the defeated father looks like he'll take help from anyone at this point. I just can't wait to see how the Fier brother will spin this tale. Nothing can earn forgiveness for him since it's never mentioned that he tried to stop the other women from burning.
William lets Matthew in after the man requests to be let in. This looks like a very awkward moment. Extremely awkward. It is the Goode man that breaks the silence first by stating this his wife and daughter are completely innocent of the crime of witchcraft. The Fier brother tries to move past him but William stops him and screams that Benjamin is wrong.
Matthew's reply is that his brother is only human. William is as shocked as I am. So the Fier brother's reply to what is happening to Susannah and Martha is that Benjamin is only human? Why, yes, that totally seems like the response of someone that just wants to help and is a good guy.
William grows angry once the Fier brother shows more concern for the fire than the women he claims to want to help. Matthew says that he can save Susannah and Martha because he's such a trustworthy guy and all.
It must be because William has nowhere else to turn to that he believes Matthew. Stupid but extremely understandable. The Fier brother claims he has influence over Benjamin. If he has such noble intentions, why has he never tried to use such influence before? Why did he really come over to William? Because it's not out of the kindness of his heart.
Matthew continues to say that he can make it so that Susannah and Martha don't burn. As William is so broken, he kneels to the obvious villain. If he had been in a better state of mind he would know never to trust such a snake. No offense to snakes.
It looks like William still has enough sense to doubt Matthew's offer! He questions the man to make sure the Fier brother isn't lying. Matthew makes himself look totally innocent by sitting in the chair in a very villain-like way. He tells William that he can persuade Benjamin but it will be costly.
Okay, there is no way that Matthew is telling the truth. You don't offer to help rescue someone's loved ones and then ask for an expensive payment. If I were William I would say payment would only come when Susannah and Martha were safely back home.
William is shocked at Matthew's statement. Good. The Fier's fake smile fades as he repeats his services will be costly. The Goode replies that he is not a rich man but will spend everything he has to save his family. When Matthew states the price William is shocked most likely because he doesn't have that amount of money.
Yes, this totally seems like a guy that really wants to help William. Even the grieving father is sickened by what Matthew is asking. He already didn't like the Fier family but never imagined that they would sink so low into sin as to ask for an outrageous sum of money in order to not burn women. I wonder if the Fier brothers started burning women in Wickham in order to get money.
William, being in the desperate state he's in, asks if Matthew will accept a lower payment. This due to the fact that he is offering all his money in order to save his family's lives. The Fier brother, being a villain, doesn't care that in order to make the payment the Goode man will be left without any money. Which makes me believe he won't actually save the Goode women.
The Goode father isn't happy but knows that he will pay any price in order to save his loved ones. Matthew shows interest in one of William's items and takes it as the Goode man won't be able to make the full payment. William says that the Fier can take anything as long as his family is returned to him.
Okay, now Matthew has gone into full creep mode. He asks about George, the Goode baby, and William says that he has been given to Mary Halsey for the time being. He can't bear to look at his child as he is too guilt ridden about what his happened to his wife and daughter.
William cries and asks if Matthew will speak to Benjamin tonight. He says that the Goode women will be released tomorrow at sunset. Hmm...he never says they will be released to William or released to the afterlife. He also never says yes to talking to his brother.
In the hopes of seeing Susannah and Martha again, William gets the money to pay Matthew. As the Goode husband counts the money the Fier brother seems a little too eager. The Goode man is excited that he has enough with just a little left over for himself. Yet he exclaims that he is a rich man. Matthew says William is but doesn't sound happy for the man he is supposedly helping.
When Matthew leans over to get the money, William notices the man's amulet. It is extremely unusual which means it's not going to play any great importance on the plot whatsoever. He can't help but comment on the amulet's unusual appearance. The Fier brother twirls it around and reveals the words 'Dominatio per malum' which means 'power through evil'.
So, yeah, I already wasn't trusting him but didn't expect him to be wearing jewellery that says 'I am evil'.
Oh...guess I shouldn't have looked up that translation as William asks what the words on the amulet mean. Um...accidental spoiler?
Matthew, of course, doesn't say the translation and just says that it's an 'old saying'. Yeah, you can get away with a lot by claiming it's an 'old saying'. He explains that his grandmother gave him the amulet before the Fier brothers left their village. He says he only wears the amulet to remind him of his previous life. Yeah, if he's not going to give the proper translation I highly suspect there's more to the story.
William isn't an idiot and says that the claw on the amulet is referred to as a demon's claw. Such a claw is said to have great powers. Matthew is shocked that the Goode man knows such a thing which means there is much more to the amulet than the Fier brother is admitting.
Matthew finally is able to gain control of his mouth and says no one should know what a demon's claw is. William then feigns ignorance about what he knows. So...um...how does either man have such knowledge? I'm sure that's not important to the plot at all.
The Fier brother goes to leave the house and William doesn't bother to get up as he's so happy. So you're not suspicious about the man that has a clearly evil magical item? You're not even worried? Really? Really, William?
William barely manages to say anything about his family out of happiness. Matthew replies about making sure of things without promising that the Goode women won't burn. Then he leaves.
I'm sure the man wearing an amulet that says 'I am evil' is honest and Benjamin is the only bad one. Yeah, I'm sure that's the case.
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