# The Liers in Wait explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

## 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.

## Themes 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.

## Character check-ins

### Lord Byron

Referenced in the epitaph by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, but not present in the chapter.

## Key lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/the-liers-in-wait
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters