the delicious wolves

4: little tragedies

1929

Master William Brand,
Brand Hall, Bournville

With winter passing away, life has finally come back to the fields and rivers. It warms my heart to hear the chirping of birds in the morning, and to know that Patrick is safe at home. But I'm afraid not all is well. I've thanked you countless times by now for brining Patrick home to me last winter, and I feel I must inform you that things have been bittersweet for us since returning to Sparkhill.

Ever since he went missing, Patrick has been distant and, dare I say, melancholy. It's like something is changed in him. I am not certain of the cause, but he spends all his time moping and sighing. His mind has spiralled into a sort of depression.

Every day he seems to slip a little farther from me and I desperately want to help him. Nothing I do or try to do for him brings Patrick any comfort. I thought perhaps that he was lonely, but even when Sam came for a visit there was no real change in his demeanor. And so the thought to ask you to visit overcame to me.

You and Patrick were once the best of friends. You being around might cheer Patrick up, and that's all that matters to me right now. So before spring sizzles away, I do hope you have the chance to visit our home in Sparkhill.

-Diamond Bishop

Will didn't see why he should go at first, and Diamond didn't explain herself very well. Why ask him? Because they used to be friends? He had every intention of writing her back with his own explanation as to why he didn't have the time (or some other such excuse) to be able to travel to Sparkhill. Every day he would sit at his desk to write this letter, but every day he would drift off in thought, thinking of merrier times when he would travel that road and be at his happiest. He knew that road very well, and would love to travel down it once more... but things were different now.

It wasn't until he had had a particularly nasty fight with Estella, one of the many they always managed to find themselves in, that he finally sat down and wrote his reply to Diamond. The reply was different than what Will had originally envisioned. Where the words 'I regretfully decline' should have gone, now 'I shall arrive no more then a day after you receive this' read. As soon as he sent to letter, he began to pack a few things, the entire time Estella stood over him shouting things that were less than kind.

The next day, which was a particularly sunny and wonderful day with a light breeze and a calm atmosphere, Will set out on a horse, wearing his best cloak.

Travelling was slow, because although it was terribly nice to be travelling away from his homestead, he was a little nervous about travelling towards Pat's. In the cave together things had not gone exactly well and the thought of his visit making things even worse made him slow to almost a complete stop, but something pushed him onwards.

He went along the road, past fields and glens where he Fred, Sam and Pat had often played as lads. As the eldest Fred had been their leader, and Sam his second-in command. Pat and Will worshipped them both, and became their little followers. It was much the same dynamic when they went to war. 

An hour after nightfall he was before Pat's cottage home in Sparkhill. With a deep breath Will dismounted and walked towards the door.

"Oh Will! I was beginning to worry," Diamond greeted him at the door with a broad smile on her face. She was honestly relieved to see him.

"Hullo Diamond... nice to see you again," Will forced a smile and before anything else could be said, Diamond had dragged Will into the home and was taking his cloak as she began telling him how glad she was that he had managed to come on such short notice... even though it had been almost two weeks since she had sent him the letter. "We were just finishing supper."