by M. J. Haag
Mrs. Medunge called another thanks for the carrots and wild onions and waved a farewell from the side door. I spared her a brief wave in return and hurried from the cramped alley between the bakery and the baker’s storage shed.
Konrall consisted of one main dirt road that divided the village north to south. To the north, it led to the next village, Water-On-The-Bridge, some twelve miles away. To the south, it led to farmlands and little else. But here, in the middle of the village, its stone filled ruts lent a clean look, as did the trim grass growing between the line of buildings on each side of the road.
It was a pleasant enough way to walk if it wouldn’t have brought me too uncomfortably close to the blacksmith. I’d successfully avoided Tennen and Splane since our last run-in.
As I neared the butcher, Sara, flanked by Tennen and Splane, left the smithy and headed in my direction. Panicking, I stepped through the butcher’s open door, startling him.
“Ho, there, Bini!” cried Mr. Flune with a laugh. “Are you so hungry to come running through my door?”
“I’m sorry for startling you, Mr. Flune,” I said. “I wanted to see if you found the hide I left at your door yesterday.”
“I did indeed,” he said with a kind smile. “It’s a beauty. We don’t see white fur often, so it will fetch a fine price.” He stepped back from his butcher’s block, away from the meat laid out for slicing, and reached for a small wrapped package. “This is for you, a trifling token of thanks for such a prize.”
Smiling widely, I took the package, liking the mystery of it. He often gave me small things to take home, and I never knew what they might be. I thanked him and, after checking the road, went on my merry way, happy with the day’s trades.
When I walked through the cottage door, Bryn was consoling a sobbing Blye.
“What’s happened?” I asked. Blye should have been at work; the day had just started.
“The seamstress can’t afford to pay me this month. There are too few orders.”
Though Blye didn’t earn much, what she did earn, helped. With that disheartening news, I pulled the bread from my bag and set it on the table.
“It’s still warm,” I said quietly to Bryn. I handed her the package, too, having already peeked at its contents. A dollop of pig fat glistened within.
Meanwhile, Blye continued to sniffle and sob. Though I considered the loss of her coin sad news, I didn’t understand why Blye would choose to wail in self-pity rather than look for a solution. It was a waste of time to carry on as she was. At the very least, she should have faith our father would not let us fall into destitution.
“Blye, we’ll pull through,” I said. “We always do. Please stop crying. You don’t want Father to come home and see you like this.” Her gaze flashed with displeasure, but she wiped at her eyes. I took that as a good sign and continued trying to cheer her.
“You are clever with a needle and thread. And, you still have bits of the materials she’s given you. You’ll find something clever to do with those. I know you will. I’ll probably see someone wearing a bit of it in their hair or on their breast next week.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I’d offended her. But, she popped from her chair, a slow smile creeping onto her tear-stained face.
“You are the brilliant one, Benella. Their hair,” she said excitedly. “I can make pieces to exactly match the existing dresses.”
I had no idea what she meant but nodded my agreement. She dashed back to our room, saying she needed to start right away and that I should bring her anything pretty I found on my wanderings, like feathers and such.
“You always seem to find the right side and turn it up.” Bryn shook her head then cut me a slice of the bread and spread a thin layer of our fresh butter on it. “Here. Take this with you. I know you’ll want to walk around and find something for Blye right away.”
I reached for the bread as she expected, even though I didn’t really want to walk the estate so soon. Blye would appreciate anything I found, especially if I found it quickly. If I stayed, she would probably start crying again. Taking a bite of the bread, I grabbed my bag and left.
The dark woods surrounded me with a sense of peace. Many of the village folk didn’t like foraging so close to the estate, and that made my foraging much quieter and easier. Before I reached the shadowy mists, I heard the cry of a large bird above me. I followed it with my eyes and watched it land on a forked branch of the largest tree in the area. Not far from its perch, I spotted a twig nest that was wedged in the crotch of the two branches. The bird ruffled its white and grey feathers and hopped forward to begin feeding its squawking young.
Wrinkling my nose, I eyed the bird’s feathers then adjusted my bag and set to climbing the enormous tree. The bark bit into my hands and scraped the skin of my legs through my woolen trousers as I scrambled from branch to branch. The bird noticed my ascent and shrieked at me before taking flight.
Minutes later, I pulled myself onto the branch that held the nest and glanced at the tangle of twigs. Slowly, I inched forward, clinging to the branch so the wind didn’t catch me unaware. The large chicks, blind to what approached them, chirped at me hopefully and opened their mouths wide. Soft down feathers the size of my hand lined the nest and cushioned the chicks. Those beautiful white feathers would be a prize in any lady’s hair.
I removed several from the nest, careful not to touch anything else. I didn’t want to scare the mother off or rob the babies of their warmth.
The climb down took much longer than the climb up, and my legs began to shake with the strain before I reached the ground. In the distance, I heard voices and worried they might be Tennen and Splane’s. Despite the tiredness I felt, I hurriedly dropped the last few feet, managed to land softly, and quickly disappeared into the mists.
I traversed around the wall, finding more treasures. The place where the primrose had grown now had several more delicate flowers. Carefully, I plucked the buds, leaving the roots to grow. Bryn hadn’t been able to make anything with the single flower, and I doubted she’d be able to do much with the six I’d just found, but the candle maker might.
Not far from the primrose, I discovered a large spider spinning a silvery web. It noted my attention and spat web at me. I jumped back in surprise, and the web missed me and landed on the grass. It shimmered in the mist. Keeping an eye on the spider, I bent to touch the web. It didn’t stick to my fingers. Instead, its strong silk slithered over them softly. It would make a fine thread. The spider didn’t seem to notice me pulling the mass of web from the grass.
Hungry and tired, I returned home well after dinner. A covered plate waited for me in the quiet kitchen. Sitting to eat, I heard Bryn and Blye talking softly in our room and knew our father read in his study, as he did every night after dinner.
It didn’t take my sisters long to come from the room and inquire after what I’d found. I set my food aside and pulled the thread and feathers from the bag. Blye exclaimed over the thread, asking where I’d found it. When I explained about the spider, she begged me to return the next day to try to get more. I nodded my agreement, and she left with her prizes to go sew.
* * * *
The candle maker eagerly accepted the flowers, saying a scented candle was worth its weight in silver. Then, he sadly admitted he had nothing to give me in payment until it sold. Though disappointed, the lack of payment didn’t stop me from looking for more flowers as I walked around the wall to find the spider. But the day didn’t gift me with either of them. The primrose plants that I’d plucked free of any flowers the day before were completely gone. The spider, too, had vanished along with his pretty web. Even the patch that usually yielded some type of food had nothing. I eyed the wall sadly, wondering why it was being so uncooperative.
As I neared the gate to complete my journey around the estate, it swung open of its own accord. Heart thumping wildly in my chest, I froze and stared at the black iron, listening for the telltale sounds of the beast’s approach. Nothi
ng sounded but the wind. It puzzled me why the gate would open as it had. I didn’t think it was an invitation. Especially when the wall hadn’t been very bountiful like it usually was. Guilt struck at how much I’d taken over the last few days without giving anything in return. Usually, I only took carrots, onions, and the like. What if the estate expected compensation for the other things I’d taken? Worried that might be the case, I checked my bag for an offering but found nothing. With unease, I walked away.
The day grew pleasantly warm as I made my way home. When I neared, I went around back to check my own garden’s progress. The onions were just sprouting little green tops, and the peas were an inch high. I hoped the warm weather would hold.
“Well, how much did you get?” Bryn’s voice carried through an open window.
I looked up in surprise. The voice had come from our shared bedroom window.
“A silver!” Blye said. I smiled, knowing they were talking about Blye’s first hairpiece.
“And I’m hiding it in the usual spot,” Blye continued. “I wish Benella didn’t even know I’d been working on it. What if she mentions something to Father?”
My smile faded as I listened.
“We’ll keep her busy searching for more things to use. It should be fine,” Bryn said.
“I’ll give the coin of every third sale to Father just like I did when that fat cow paid me. I still can’t believe she said she couldn’t afford to keep me on. I sew better than she does. She’ll lose business fast now, I swear. I hate this town and refuse to be stuck here for the rest of my life.”
“At least you can save decent coin to leave. What I’ve put aside in change from Father’s food allowance is nothing in comparison,” Bryn complained.
How could they withhold any coin from Father? He provided us with food and shelter and love. I didn’t understand them.
“I told you, if you marry Tennen, you won’t have to worry anyway. Their mother is one of Mrs. Stinich’s best customers. They obviously have money.”
Although the news that they were hiding coin away annoyed me, I refused to act on my emotions as impetuously as they did. Turning away from the window, I quietly walked around the house and entered through the front, making plenty of noise. Both came out with smiles and asked what I’d found. I didn’t feel too badly when I admitted there was nothing.
“What about the web? Surely you could have taken that if the spider was gone,” said Blye with a hint of reprimand.
“The spider took the web with him. There was nothing left.”
She glowered at me for a moment before smoothing her face into a sympathetic expression. “Thank you for trying. The estate is fickle. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.”
“Could you take some of the carrots to the bakery and see if you can trade for bread again?” Bryn asked, changing the subject.
“I’d rather not. It’s hard to catch Mrs. Medunge, and the baker refuses to trade.”
“I heard from Tennen that the baker looks kindly on you. I think you just need to ask again,” Bryn said.
I really didn’t want to approach the baker again.
“Is there nothing left of the coin we set aside for food?” I asked without a hint of recrimination.
“No,” Bryn said, turning away. “I’ll make do with a soup tonight, but meat and bread would be appreciated tomorrow.”
Two
I forced myself to approach the baker after three days of little game or harvest from the estate. Taking my time, I walked to town with my bag slung across my chest. The wilting carrots thumped against my hip with each stone-kicking stride. Because of my musings and lack of concentration, I didn’t see Tennen and Splane idling against the tinker’s building until they spoke to me as I passed.
“Well, hello, Benella,” Tennen said.
Startled, I turned to face him instead of ignoring him. His eyes narrowed on me. I looked around at the light foot traffic and saw no one near enough to help me. The baker’s side door opened and Sara, looking flushed, stepped out with a loaf of bread.
My eyes darted from her to Tennen. He shook his head slowly.
“Bad timing,” he said harshly.
My first instinct was to run, but I knew they would catch me before we cleared town. While trying to think of a way to avoid a beating, I gained the baker’s attention, and he called to us.
“You boys walk your mother home. Benella, come inside and let’s see what goods you have to sell.”
Run and risk a beating or face the baker?
“Not so much better than the rest of us, now, are you?” Splane said softly.
His statement confused me. How had I ever given them the impression I thought of myself as better? I had crouched, hiding behind the crates by the baker’s shop for hours, cold and hungry, waiting for Mrs. Medunge to appear. The whole village was poor with the exception of the baker. Shaking my head, I turned and walked toward the horrid man.
Sara didn’t meet my eyes as I passed her, not that I blamed her. I hoped for her sake, the baker’s price wouldn’t climb any higher.
The baker grinned at me in welcome and held the door open, but I stopped a few feet away, reached into my bag, and offered him a carrot for inspection. From the corner of my eye, I watched the Coalre family walk away.
“Come now, Benella. There’s no reason to do this outside. Come in.”
“I’d rather not. Are you interested in trading carrots for bread, today?” I asked bluntly.
“We’ve enough carrots. Perhaps we can come to some other arrangement.”
Swallowing a gag, I took a moment before answering.
“I think not.” I placed the carrot back into the bag and turned to leave with the hope that both Tennen and Splane would be well away already.
“Benella,” the baker said. “I’ve always thought you a pretty thing. My mother commented the other day on how pleasant you are to talk to and reminded me of my very unwed status. Perhaps, it’s time to change that.”
I ran and didn’t look back.
I caught up with Father on the path to our cottage. At the sound of my thumping feet, he turned with a smile on his face.
“Anything interesting from the estate today?”
I slowed to walk beside him, heart hammering and stomach heavy. How could the baker even hint at marriage? The thought of his heavy body pressed against mine sickened me.
“Bini, what’s wrong?” Father asked, stopping. His blue, watery eyes studied me with concern, really seeing me for a change.
“The baker hinted at marriage.”
“Ah...” he said enigmatically. “And that upset you?”
“Yes. I know I won’t be able to live with you forever, but I would choose a man I could care for. One that wouldn’t smother me in my sleep with his girth.”
“Bini,” he chided.
“He’s not a good man, Father,” I said firmly, hoping he would understand.
“Then, don’t take his hint seriously.”
Having his support calmed me. We walked the rest of the way home in silence. Bryn had no supper waiting when we returned home.
“No bread?” she asked. I shook my head and handed her the carrots.
“No worries, dears,” Father assured us. “I wasn’t hungry, anyway.” He drifted to his study, leaving me to face Bryn’s frown.
“Did you even ask?”
“Yes. He was quite clear that he wasn’t interested in trading for carrots. I told you, I only have luck with his mother.” I didn’t like her tone, especially when I knew she had coin hidden aside that could have bought the bread.
She sighed.
“Can you try to set traps yet today? Perhaps we could have something fresh for Father at breakfast, then.”
For Father, I nodded and headed back out toward the mist-filled woods. The sun hung low in the sky, sending the already dusky woods into further shadow. The dark didn’t bother me. I set a few traps and walked toward the break in the estate’s wall, hoping for some type of bounty. The
ground sat barren, the same as it had for the last several days.
While staring dejectedly at the brown patch of dirt, I heard a faint scuffing sound behind me and turned in time to see Tennen step out from behind a tree. He held a thick segment of a broken branch. The determination in his gaze told me I wouldn’t go home without injury this time.
Pivoting, I thought to run away, but Splane stepped out from behind another tree, effectively blocking the route. The hole in the wall mocked me. It was the only open path, but I knew what waited if I dared take it. No matter what I chose, I’d return home with bruises and most likely something broken.
“What did I ever do to you?” I asked Tennen, who I viewed as the bigger threat.
Instead of answering, he rushed toward me with the branch raised. I waited on the balls of my feet until the last second, then ducked under his swing in an attempt to get behind him so I could run. The movement hadn’t been deep enough though because the branch raked my back. I hissed in pain, but kept moving. The gate loomed ahead, but I knew I dared not enter. I tried veering to the left toward the village, but Splane threw his rock and hit my left shoulder, effectively driving me toward the entrance. Defeated, I acknowledged they meant to corral me into the estate and darted toward the gaping black iron gate.
They chased after me, panting heavily in their exertion to catch up. As soon as I cleared the opening, the gate slammed shut of its own accord, the clang of the metal sounding my doom.
Skidding to a stop, I spun to stare at their disdainful faces a distance from the iron bars. They weren’t stupid. The bars didn’t guarantee their safety. The beast had been known to venture out on occasion.
Splane saluted me in farewell and took off running. Tennen waited, watching me. When his eyes widened and the color drained from his face, I knew the beast had arrived. I watched Tennen spin and sprint away then hung my head in defeat. My back burned and shoulder ached. Had I a choice, I wouldn’t have run through the gate. I had known it would only add to my hurts.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Behind me, the beast’s growl clicked with his anger. I kept my eyes on the overgrown gravel path at my feet. I didn’t try to beg or flee. It hadn’t ever ended well for those who’d attempted such methods before me. Better to just accept the punishment quietly.