Short Fiction · Chapter
The Liers in Wait explained
King Charles II, in hiding after the Battle of Worcester, recounts his flight and disguise as a woodcutter named Will Jones.
What happens
King Charles II, in hiding after the Battle of Worcester, recounts his flight and disguise as a woodcutter named Will Jones. While seeking shelter in Spring Coppice, he is drawn to a strange hut where a coven of witches or sorcerers summons him inside, led by a tall, grizzled man, a small ancient-looking man, and a fair young woman holding a hair-covered book.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because it marks the protagonist’s psychological and emotional peak of self-discov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Supernatural Evil and Occultism
The chapter depicts a coven performing a ritual invoking Lucifer and other dark entities, drawing Charles II into their lair.
- The Power of Belief and Ritual
The witches' prayer and chalk circle ritual are central to the scene, demonstrating their belief in compelling the approach of a wayfarer.
- Fear and Control
Charles II experiences fear and a sense of being controlled as he is drawn involuntarily to the hut and seized by the coven.
Characters to notice
- Lord Byron
Referenced in the epitaph by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, but not present in the chapter.
Key passages
“I am Will Jones, a poor woodcutter”
Charles II adopts the alias Will Jones, a humble woodcutter, to conceal his royal identity.
This disguise is part of his escape plan after the Battle of Worcester.
“We who keep the commandment love the law! Moloch, Lucifer, Bal-Tigh-Mor, Anector, Somiator, sleep ye not! Compel ye that the man approach!”
The coven chants a prayer to dark entities, commanding them to compel a specific man to approach their hut.
This ritual invocation reveals the supernatural and occult nature of the group.
