The Weaver's Source

Chapter 19

Arms enveloped me, strong and warm. I knew it was Grigore. I knew that strength, that sweet taste and potent song. But this time he wasn't ravaging me. This time he was holding me, moulding me against his frame, his fingers deep in my hair and tracing my back as he brushed his mouth against ear. I couldn't hear the words, all I knew they were urgent, filling me with the need to find him. That I would be safe by him.

I woke sharply, finding myself swallowed by blankets and my body feeling oddly cold, as if Grigore had truly been holding me all night and wasn't just a figment created by my magic. For a moment I felt lonely, wanting that kind of loving companionship, the sort I had only dreamed of before. I curled into a ball briefly, trying to hide myself from it and quietly reminding myself Grigore was my partner in hunting, if even that, but gradually the dream faded, taking with it the itch to get up and run to him and the sense of loneliness. Instead I felt oddly muggy with sweetness catching at the back of my throat and a strange lulling calm taking me. 

I pushed myself up, letting my cloak and blanket fall away as I removed some of the tufts of straw from my hair. I sat there, looking up at the window. It was grimy and mostly all I could see were branches with red leaves and grey clouds. Slowly I slipped to my feet, padding across the small stone floor between my straw bed and the door, and reached for the handle. Annis seemed to instantly know when my hand reached the door as she welcomed me before I had even finished opening it.

"Good morning, Lyra." She said warmly. 

I yawned as I entered the room, observing that she was once again carving meat and organising herbs. 

"Did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "I did."

"That's good. There's an apple there if you want it and fresh water outside if you want to wash. It will be cold, mind you. You'll be out in the open."

I thanked her before making my way outside. An instant chill shot up my spine as I left the hot house and the cold air bit me. Now that the sun shone weakly from above, I could see a small path leading away from the house. It was much clearer now light was upon it, less ominous. I felt silly now, letting old fears get the better of me.

I pottered around the side of the small hut and instantly found where Annis washed. It was a small broken patio where a lone square stone stood with a knackered wooden bucket sitting beside it. I approached it slowly and stood before the washing area. There was a small stone trough that held icy cold water with a few rotten leaves dancing on top. I looked around for a stool to sit on before I realised the crudely square cut stone was the seat. Briefly I let my gaze linger about the woods. I was out in the open but far from the town. If I was quick, I wouldn't be seen. Not that I wanted to linger, it was going to be cold.

Rapidly I stripped and took the worn cloth that was hung from a wooden hook above the trough. Picking up the bucket and filling it with the ice cold water, I dunked the cloth in and began to clean my body. I was as brief and fast as possible. The cold air was stroking my bare skin, raising goosebumps and causing my body to shiver. While I may like the cold and enjoy the grey surroundings, I most certainly did not like being frozen to the bone, but I paused when I reached the raw wound on my hip. It appeared to be healing still and my journeying hadn't upset it too much thankfully, but I cleaned it carefully, cautious not to upset it. As soon as I was finished, I dressed once again and replaced the now frozen cloth on the hook.

I shuffled indoors, the wound gone from the forefront of my mind, and found Annis working still in her large kitchen. I didn't know what she was making, some sort of remedy this time by the looks of it, it was far more pleasant to watch her work with herbs than with raw bloodied meat.