7
There was no sign of her husband in the village. She didn't know whom he'd been to see, but everyone she asked reported not having seen him in days.
With each shake of a head, her heart sank lower and lower.
She returned home to their cottage, daring to hope to see him there, in his workshop or perhaps napping under the apple tree as he was fond of doing throughout the summer and warmer days of autumn.
His workshop was dark and the only thing under the apple tree was the long grass that bowed gently in the breeze.
Her heart grew wearier by the moment.
By the time night fell, she knew something was gravely wrong.
She could not return to their bed, not until exhaustion demanded it of her, so instead, she curled up by the fire, her mind racing over every possibility. He would never willingly leave her, and though he'd been gone for days on end before, he'd always sent word to her if it was longer than expected. He would tell her how he anticipated being gone some time, and she would miss him, but her heart and her mind would continue onwards because she had to and because she knew he would return to her soon.
She felt adrift with his absence, pulled out to tide without a thing to anchor her in the world.
Bear rested his heavy head at her feet, trying to provide his mistress with any comfort, but his own animal heart was weighed down without his master as well.
She fell asleep by the fire, her heart heavy and nightmares plaguing her mind.
When she awoke in the middle of the night to a quiet hearth, she knew what it was she needed to do.
Knowing what lay ahead, she climbed out of her chair, beckoning a sleepy Bear with her as she curled up in bed. He climbed up beside her, his back curling into her own back as he let out a long sigh that she felt matched the sound of her heart.
Thankfully, she was asleep again shortly.
…
The village was buzzing again as she made her way to town. The frenzy of the day before was nothing compared to the flurry now. She had a set course, but she paused, reconsidering her route. People were rushing to the cemetery again, and she steeled herself to follow them.
Her heart sank when she saw how many people had gathered, and she silently prepared herself for more disturbing news.
"The blackest blasphemy," one villager muttered, shaking her head as Bella passed. The villager's hard eyes were glued to the field before her, and Bella turned to take inventory.
Several graves had been upturned, but the scent of decay in the air told her that these coffins still held bodies.
"Grave robbers?" she asked, startled.
"It's the revenant," the woman muttered, crossing herself. "She's come back to eat our dead."
Everyone around her crossed themselves. Bella felt a chill settle over her spirit. She knew the word revenant, though she'd never had the need to use it. But her husband was a coffin maker, so of course, she knew the tales.
They were beings come back from the dead. Some were malicious, intent on eating and killing and destroying, while some were sent as omens.
She never believed in the old superstitions of revenants, though she could remember her husband's father telling tales of them when she was a child.
She glanced at the gossiping group beside her and frowned, pushing past them. The constable was back, looking ill as he gazed down at the open graves.
"Constable?" she asked, catching his attention.
He looked up at her. "Mistress Masen," he breathed out. "Has your husband returned?"
She shook her head. "No, and I have not heard word from him." She paused, glancing down into the nearest open grave. Her stomach rolled when she caught sight of the rotted corpse below. "This is undignified," she protested softly.
The constable nodded in agreement. "We're working to put them back to rest, but—" He paused, looking at her. "We could do with your husband's aid."
She looked at him. "Is there any idea what's happening?"
The constable looked down at the desecrated grave. "Too fresh to determine yet," he hedged. She stared at him, realizing that he had a theory but he would not tell her. Whether it was because she was a woman, or because his theory scared him, she didn't know.
She swallowed hard. "Good luck, Constable."
She turned, pushing her way through the crowd. She called Bear to her side, and he came running, his bark startling several people. She was on a mission today, and she didn't need to be slowed down by the superstitious fears of the village.