She should have waited for Darius and had him dunk Zain in the bathing pool. Instead, she moved him to a chair and began wiping away the dried poultice with a wet cloth. Before, she’d simply cleaned injured arms, now, she was aware of silken feel of the skin between the forming scars, she was …
Treatment
Piety placed her cup and saucer on the table in front of her and leaned across to hiss. “They said she had to go for treatment.” Anya lowered her own tea cup. “Treatment? What sort of treatment does one go to Penzance for? It’s at the end of the earth.” “Quite! It does give the …
Visitors
Someone knocked at the door. Matthew raised his brows but went to open it. Eleanor couldn’t see the person past the forester’s broad frame, but she sounded young and enthusiastic. “Ma said I was to drop by and say hello here, after I visited the others, to make sure Cadan’s wife had another familiar face …
Clue
“It’s a clue!” Emma withered Stephanie with a look. “It’s an Easter egg hunt, it doesn’t have clues, it has chocolate.” Stephanie remained annoyingly unwithered. “Maybe for you, my Mum likes to put a twist on things.” Of course she did, Stephanie’s mum was one of those parents who did ‘enriching activities’ after school and …
Woods Cottage – Day 2
A quiet day today, my only excitement was a lively debate with Sir Scutterscarry, a mouse with delusions of chivalry who lives in the potting shed. He is something of a cheesie, which is a foodie, but – well – you can guess which particular type of food he focuses on. It seems this week’s …
Bundle
They were camping that night, set up in a roadside clearing used by trade caravans who’s plodding horses and bulky wagons couldn’t make the full run through the forest between dawn and dusk. It was a large clearing with a well-worn path to a wide, clear stream nearby. Tonight, the clearing was empty of everyone …
Knitting
Sarah handed her a little pot. “Have Cadan help you put this on before bed. It’s an easing salve for sore muscles. It'll leave your smock a little green, but we've got the big wash due for our household tomorrow. All the sheets and cloths, so it won't be a big addition and you're going …
Green River Monster
Zain grumbled, but rolled onto the bed, bringing his legs up and settling against the pillows. “It’s too hot.” Lyra checked his forehead. “You’re getting feverish again. I’m going to apply the last of the poultice to draw out the heat, but you must rest.” She fetched the pot and began to apply a thin …
Woods Cottage – Day 1
I was in my office (upstairs, computer, back door) when Sarah, the twelve-year-old from the Holmeshallow Farm family came pelting up the driveway. Unusual. She used to be running and skidding everywhere but got in with a new crowd at school, I’m told, and now it’s all about ‘the look’ and never being enthusiastic. I …
Distant
Anya’s mother poked her in the back. “Go and greet your favourite cousin.” “How can she be my favourite cousin when she’s barely one at all? She’s some sort of fifth cousin, twice removed; and claiming we’re related will make me look like the worst sort of encroaching mushroom.” Lady Charlotte Fontenbras, granddaughter of the …