The Woven Crown (Completed)

Chapter 27

It was nearing nightfall and Ryla worried they would have to spend another night exposed to the elements and after the incident with the ire light, she didn't think sleep would come easily. But her hope was renewed when she saw scraggly brown patches of grass, not yet dead. Up ahead she heard the shrill call from a lone bird.

The forest gradually thinned and they emerged on a meadowy hill as the sun slid behind the trees. Nestled in the valley below they spotted a small farmhouse next to a dry creek bed. There was one yellow light coming from a window. Although there were enclosed pastures beside the house, there were no animals to be seen.

"What do you think?" asked Killian.

"We have nothing left to eat and we haven't seen game for days now. I think the choice has been made for us. At least if something goes amiss there won't be any neighbors to report us. "

During the hours of walking on their journey they had agreed on the story they would tell if need be. They were cousins from Starling who were making the journey to visit family that lived in a town south of the Hive. Killian had shown her the forged birth papers Oran had given him. On it, his name was Osten Dain.

They walked down the valley until they stood at the door to the farmhouse. Ryla had Killian check to make sure she hadn't missed any coppery pieces of hair and giving each other one last look, Killian knocked. There was no answer. They waited a few moments in silence and just as they turned to check the window, a small slit appeared at the doorway with a creak.

"Hello," said Killian to the sliver of face they could see through the crack. "We're traveling to Harker's Bridge and could use a place to sleep and a bite to eat. Do you have room to spare?" The eye blinked at them and then a gruff voice said, "I've room, but little food. Do you have birth papers?" They hadn't expected that to be the first question asked, but then again, people near the border had reason to be suspicious. Ryla and Killian fished them quickly out of their travel bags and handed them through the crack in the door. They could hear the person rifle through them, then the door opened a little wider.

A woman, taller than Killian, stood in the doorway. She wore a rough spun tunic and a ebony braid that hung to her belt. She had an ax, none too small, in one hand that looked like it belonged there just as much as a cooking spoon might have. She folded the papers and handed them back to Killian.

"Married?"she asked.

"Cousins, actually," answered Killian. Ryla suddenly wished they had come up with a story in which she'd have to play his wife. Just as suddenly she berated herself for having such a ridiculous thought.

"Well, I don't see any harm in ya, but I want you out of here by morning. Understand?" Killian and Ryla nodded politely. "Come in from out there. It's not safe after dark."

They sidled in through the door and the woman quickly closed it behind them, pulling a thick wooden bar back in place. She guided them into a cramped room with a hearth and a few chairs.

"You can sleep in here. Throw a few logs on if you get too cold." She gestured to a stack of wood beside the crackling fire. "That's one thing we have plenty of." Ryla looked around. A pair of boots, too large even for the tall woman, sat by the door. A wooden toy in the rough shape of a horse sat on a shelf. Something wasn't right.

"Is it just you living here?" Ryla asked carefully. The woman paused as she rummaged through a pile of blankets to spread out on the floor.

"Why do you ask? Did you see anybody out there?" Ryla thought she saw a flutter of fear cross her face.

"There was a man. He said he had a farm—"

"Where!" The woman dropped the blankets she had been gathering and swung around to stare them. She did nothing to hide the panic now. "Where did you see him? Was he hurt?" She went to the door and took down a heavy cloak and began wrapping it around her shoulders.