22
Despite the young age of the apothecharist's apprentice, he was not foolish. He was naive, perhaps, and certainly had his share of reckless moments, but the boy knew when something was a bad idea, and more often than not, he'd been able to stop himself from getting into a truly dangerous situation.
Likewise, the orphaned boy had learned from an early age to keep himself safe.
He didn't have the luxury of being too reckless—he had his own hide to watch out for. No one would do it for him.
Returning to the glen that night was one of those situations where both the apprentice and the orphan knew better. Both boys could feel how foolish and reckless it was, and had they been calling the shots, they wouldn't have tried it.
But above all, the boys were loyal, and Mistress Masen needed help. They wouldn't leave her to fight these demons on her own.
After a long, tense day of waiting wherein Mistress Masen said not much, and the boys said even less, the three of them returned to the woods in the dark.
It was much more ominous without the sunlight filtering in above them, and Seth's ears strained for the sounds of nocturnal wildlife.
It would be just his luck to cross the path of a bear or wolf when he was already out risking his neck.
The coffin maker's wife and her hound led the two boys into the woods, trailed by the apprentice, their group followed up by the orphan.
Despite their efforts, each step through the dried foliage felt loud and intrusive.
The moon above was nearly full, but the beams of moonlight were weak as they struggled to filter through the thinning branches above.
If the boys had been able to see the face of the coffin maker's wife, they might have known that despite her sure step and her straightened back, her eyes were giving away her fear and that she carried worry in the way her teeth bit at her lower lip.
Somewhere beyond their small party, an owl let out a soft call, as if warning them to turn back.
Seth caught the scent of smoke first, his body stiffening as his mind processed the meaning of the smell.
He let out a soft breath, rushing forward, past Jasper, to reach out to the coffin maker's wife.
"Mistress," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "There's smoke."
The party froze, faces tilting toward the sky as everyone took a breath in.
Bella smelled the woodsmoke and faint whiffs of meat roasting on the fire, and her blood burned inside of her. They were there, in the glen.
She charged forward, heedless of the panicked boys trailing after her.
They neared the glen, and she paused still in the cover of the woods to survey.
There was a group of men, perhaps five of them, around a campfire. From their loud, slurred voices, Bella suspected they were drinking with their supper. She tried to make out her husband, but the men were too far from her vantage point.
Behind her, the boys shifted, anxious and frightened.
Bella had a carefully laid plan, one that she had explained several times to the boys, though each time her two young companions had looked confused and frightened by it all.
Still, they were with her in this, and they would not let their mistress down.
In the distance, there was a soft hoot of an owl, and Bella thought she heard the snap of a twig not far from that. She told herself it was a doe, some lost creature out too late and finding its way home.
Bella turned to the orphan. "Seth, it's time, go," she urged. The boy gave her a frightened but determined look before he nodded and turned, slipping through the trees and disappearing into the night.
At her side, Jasper stared at her warily.
"You remember your task?" Bella asked him, turning to face the young man.
"Aye, mistress," he agreed.
Bella nodded. "Good," she sighed. She noted the worry the boy carried around his eyes and mouth, saw his uncertainty, and she found herself reaching out to him. "All will be well, Jasper. I promise."
Jasper looked at her, swallowing hard. "I trust you, mistress. I'm with you to the end."
She noted the straightening of his shoulders, the determination setting his eyes, and she smiled. The young apprentice was growing into a fine young man. His master would be proud.
"You're a good man, Jasper," Bella said softly. "One day, the world will also know how great you are too."
She couldn't be certain, but she thought she saw the boy blush in the darkness.
The coffin maker's wife smiled, turning back to the camp. She waited, her heart hammering in her chest as she took in the scene once more.
"It's time," she whispered to him.
Jasper reached up to cross himself. "God be with us all."