Cadan’s chair went flying as he bolted upright, pushing her behind him, tense and ready, as he focused on the shadows in the doorway. Shadows who resolved into Matthew and Evan as they moved inside, eyeing Cadan with a mixture of surprise and caution.

Matthew spoke first. “You’re alright then? We were fearing the worst.”

Cadan straightened, winced, and reached for his shirt. “It was close.”

Evan snorted. “Can’t have been too bad if you’re making pretty here instead of coming to the aid of the village.”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at him and coaxed Cadan to turn as he tried to untangle his shirt, presenting his bare back to the two men. Matthew’s indrawn hiss of breath contrasted with Evan’s reluctant grunt. She glared again, then helped Cadan ease into his shirt, then tunic. The fabric was stiff and crusted with blood and mud, rubbing on the cuts every time he moved. She made an exasperated noise and grabbed the pot of salve. “I forgot to put this on.”

Matthew said. “Probably just as well not, it doesn’t play well with open sores.”

Evan sneered. “Making very free with my family’s possessions ain’t you, townie? Is there anything else I can fetch you while we’re here?”

Eleanor made a show of inspecting the balm. “Your father-in-law’s notebooks would be useful, thank you.”

He spluttered and she raised a cool eyebrow at him. “You did ask.”

She turned to Matthew. “I’ve cleaned the cuts as best I can but he needs to see Sarah. He’s managed to collect the best part of half a tree in splinters.”

The forester moved to help put out the fire and collect the dirty towels. “And you lass?”

“Just a fright and some scrapes, Cadan took the brunt.”

Matthew’s eyes lit with questions, but he shook his head. “Nay, I’ll not ask now, best to only tell your story once.”

Cadan asked. “How bad is the village?”

Matthew pulled a face. “Garden Clearing’s the worst. We’ve lost half the chickens and most all of the crops. The millwheel’s gone, but Miller had already disconnected the gears for the day, so nowt else is broken. People are all safe and none of us are pulling our water from the river so should stay so.”

He opened the door and ushered them all out into the dreary afternoon. It was cold. Eleanor and Cadan each took back the towels for an extra layer of warmth as they made their weary way back to the village.

As they walked, Eleanor saw lights through the trees, but they were the wrong direction for the village, and too close, surely. She asked. “Are there other people out looking?”

Matthew followed her gaze. “Nay, lass, that’s the will-o’-the-wisps having a wander, they like the cold winds.”

She watched the luminous white balls as they swayed and swam between the trees, casting distorted shadows that filled the woods with ghostly figures on hopeless quests. She pressed closer to Cadan’s side and fixed her eyes on the path ahead.

Cadan raised his head as they approached the village, he’d been silent the whole way and was leaning on her quite heavily. “Is the castle road washed out?”

Matthew sucked in a breath. “Never looked before I came to find you, lad. If no one’s gone to check, we’ll do it first up tomorrow.”

Eleanor said. “You might be, Cadan’s staying in bed.”

“I’ll be fine, Nora.”

She gave him her best hard stare. “You’re cut, bruised, cold, and exhausted. If you don’t end up with a fever out of this, I’ll be very surprised.”

Matthew grunted. “Aye, you’re right, lass, I wasn’t thinking.”

Evan huffed. “You’ll do no good with coddling, Matthew, he needs to toughen up.”

Eleanor could not let that go unchallenged. “Kindness and courage takes more strength than sneers, Master Smith, my husband is quite tough enough.”

The smith flushed and growled, but before he could retort, they turned a corner and Garden Clearing came into view. It looked awful, branches and full tree trunks strewn across the remains of the garden beds, the trellises and frames flattened, and everything covered in mud. Looking at the broken mess that used to be the chicken coop, Eleanor wondered how any of the chickens had survived.

Amazingly, none of the houses seemed damaged. Cadan followed her gaze. “We always build away from the banks, and they’re high here, so even a large flood has trouble making it over.”

He stumbled and Eleanor nearly went over as his full weight pulled her forward. She braced against him and said. “Not much further and you can sleep.”

Matthew shook his head. “You’re for the baths first, Sarah can look both of you over there, then we’ll need your story.”

“Can she bring food? Neither of us has eaten since breakfast.” She tried to sound brisk and practical, but a plaintive whine intruded and she braced for Evan’s derisive reply.

Strangely, he didn’t react, but increased his pace. “I’ll let the others know you’re here.”

The path between Garden and Riverside was impassable, they had to go by way of Central Clearing. So close to their cosy room and warm blankets, but Matthew herded them past and back out to the other group of buildings.

Riverside Clearing proved to be where all the villagers had gathered. Mostly looking over the mill and talking with serious faces. Sarah was already striding towards them as they emerged from the trees.

The healer looked them over, then said. “Into the bath house, now. Matthew, bring fresh clothing.”

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