The Weaver's Source

Chapter 19

Absentmindedly, I plucked out one of the red apples that sat in an old crooked basket beside the door and began to eat, quelling the hunger in my stomach. I glanced outside.

"I should really be off now." I said hesitantly.

Annis smiled. "Would you mind going into the village for me? I'm out of milk and cheese." She said.

I never noticed that she had completely ignored me. Instead I smiled at her kindly as that bitter sweetness scratched at my throat.

"I shall."

"Oh, and a loaf. Maybe some cow meat if Kliff has any fresh."

I nodded and, after being indicated to where her money was, left with basket in hand down the hidden path. I could do this one thing for Annis, I thought to myself. She had fed me and gave me a bed after all. I would leave after this was done.

Through the trees I walked until the road lay before me. Sounds of life drifted from the village; dogs baying, children laughing, woodcutters slamming axes against wood. As I drew closer, the louder the sounds became. It surprised me a little. The village was so quiet when I first arrived yesterday evening that it came as a shock that it could be so noisy. The people went about their daily business with so much vigour and noise; even the livestock bleated and clucked as much as possible.

It took me a while to find out where the food was sold. Apparently the inn sold everything the town needed, much unlike my town which had numerous shops of its own. I bought what Annis needed from there and placed each product in the basket with care. I smiled warmly at those who welcomed and wished me a good morning. They spoke to me openly, wondering what I was doing and answering my own curious questions. It was odd that the driver had warned me away from this place, claiming it was cursed. I felt like I had been here for years. Every face I saw was recognisable, every name and house I knew. I saw no danger anywhere.

As I bid farewell to an elderly woman and her granddaughter who had spoken to me as if we were old friends, I turned and headed back down the road to hand Annis back her groceries. I never noticed I was being followed. I glanced up though when the leaves rustled and just glimpsed a round muddy face watching me from behind a tree before ducking out of site. Squinting my eyes in confusion, I walked over to where I had seen the familiar face and glanced around the barren leafy woods but found no one. At first anyway. I hadn't heard him sneak up behind me. When Gerald took my hand and roughly pulled me behind a tree, I gave out a cry of surprise but was shushed roughly. I silenced myself and knelt beside him when he tugged at my hand.

"Gerald, what's wrong?"

He waved his hand in a sign for me not to speak so loudly. 

"What are you still doing here?" He whispered hoarsely.

I blinked then indicated to the food in the basket. 

"Annis asked me to go get some things. I thought it was the least I could do after she let me stay in her house free of charge."

"But I thought you were leaving as soon as possible." He said earnestly.

"I know but it can wait. I'm not in an rush."

Gerald narrowed his eyes in disbelief and shrugged. He sat back and abruptly pinned me with a hard gaze. 

"Did you eat the food?"

I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, portraying my guilt well. His eyes widened and suddenly flew into a rage.

"You fool! I told you not to eat anything they give you!" He snapped.

"I'm sorry but I was hungry. I wouldn't have eaten for several more hours and I needed the strength for this morning." I said apologetically but a little defensively to cover my confusion.

"They've got their claws in you now! You're in danger!" He said angrily then stood and pointed at the road. "Leave now! Go!"

I knelt there, staring up at the child in complete confusion as something rooted me to the spot, stopping me from agreeing. 

"But everyone here is so kind."

"Lies." He said as he dragged me onto my feet. I trailed after him helplessly as he pulled me towards the road. "You leave right now. Don't stay."

As soon as we got to the road he let my hand go and pushed me north, away from the town.

"Go while you're still able to." He said earnestly.

"I can't. My pack is still at Annis' hut."

"Leave it."

"But I can't." I said, remembering that not is the small amount of money I own held within it but my mother's well-worn book and the knife from Otto.

He opened his mouth to demand again that I leave when his name was called sharply from behind. I looked up and saw the same stick thin woman from last night stalking her way towards him.

"Gerald, what are you doing now?" She demanded.

Gerald scowled at her then glanced imploringly at me. He still wanted me to leave but I found that I couldn't. The people here had been kind to me and Annis especially so. To run from them without saying so much as a goodbye would be rude.

"Nothing mother." Gerald grumbled, giving me a hard glare as he realised what I was thinking. I saw something else though. Fear. Raw genuine fear. But not for himself. It was fear for me.

Normally the amount of fear showing on his face would unnerve me and have me quickly going on my way. But for some reason I didn't react as I knew I normally would. Instead I simply watched as the boy was taken back into the village feeling so calm it should have made me anxious.

Completely unfazed, I turned and headed back to Annis. My magic swirled in my chest calmly so the words of Gerald dulled quickly. As soon as I stepped inside, Annis welcomed me and thanked me for doing her shopping. While she took out each item from the basket, she asked what I wanted for lunch.

I paused. I knew I had to be going. I wasn't going to find Grigore by staying here and time was slipping by, taking him further from me. Weirdly though I didn't feel the need and desire to find him as I did yesterday. In fact I didn't really mind if I stayed here and never found him again. I quite liked it here.

I smiled warmly at Annis who waited for my reply. 

"Cheese and bread would be nice."

Annis grinned and set to work, singing happily to herself as I went to go get the book from my sack. I never noticed the eerie hungry glint in the old woman's eyes.