Davina's Ascent by Lianne Willowmoon & Rae Hendricks

Author:Lianne Willowmoon & Rae Hendricks [Willowmoon, Lianne & Hendricks, Rae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hydra Productions Online LLC
Published: 2020-01-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

I brought more firewood with me when I finally returned. I had wasted as much time as I possibly could wandering the perimeter of the woods. Jorden’s sister was bound to come searching for me if I had stayed away any longer.

I dumped the pile of dried wood near the small fire that continued to smolder. I stirred the pot that hung over it, and tried to guess what was cooking inside it. A vegetable stew of some sort was my best guess. I did not smell, or spy, any meat. I worried that without Jorden they were not able to hunt for animals to use for food.

“Are you feeling better this morning, Davina?” Jorden’s mother asked me.

I stiffened; not ready to hear the questions I knew were coming. Keeping my back to her, and pretending to add seasoning to the already aromatic stew, I replied, “I am rested, and dry. I did not catch any illness from my drenching, so I suppose I am as fine as I can be. I am grateful for the warm place to sleep, and the food to make me strong. You have been more than kind.”

“You must stop saying thank you. It was our pleasure as well as our duty to be of service. We shared bread and butter to break our fast. There is some left for you unless you would rather wait for the stew to be done,” she offered me.

“You have given me enough. I think I should be on my way,” I replied. I was not sure where I would go next, but anywhere was better than here, where I would be interrogated.

“Oh, please, do not leave us yet,” Jorden’s sister begged. “There are so many chores to do, and Grandmother cannot help anymore. Perhaps, you could help ease my burden, and allow my mother to remain with Grandmother. We do not feel good about leaving her alone.”

I owed them a debt, so I could not refuse without appearing lazy, and ungrateful. Thus, I answered with a reluctant smile, “Certainly; I can spare a little time to do some chores. What is it I can do to help?”

“We were camping because a storm collapsed the roof of our cottage while we have been searching for Jorden. We have spent days clearing the broken pieces from the inside, and repairing the floor. We were going to put a new thatched roof on today. All the materials are ready. Will you help me place them atop the cottage, Davina? We are so tired of not having our home.”

It had not occurred to me to ask why they were camping. I was so involved with my own problems; I had completely ignored those of these sweet ladies. It was ironic that I would be doing the work that would normally have belonged to Jorden; especially when the issue had arisen because he had disappeared, which was also my fault.

I grabbed a piece of bread, left the butter alone, and said, “I am ready when you are.

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