The Annals of Wynnewood Complete Series by Chautona Havig

Author:Chautona Havig [Havig, Chautona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Havilah Press Publications
Published: 2019-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Letty and the Lair

Within days, the earth was as dry as Wynnewood ever could hope to be. On the first Saturday in January, Philip, Letty, and Dove crept over the bridge, across the open land, and into the Heolstor forest. With each step, Letty grew visibly more frightened until at last, Dove slipped her hand into the girl’s larger one and squeezed. “We’re safe. Even if Philip couldn’t protect us, which he can, remember, people fear me. They run from me.”

“Unicorns, though. Who will protect me from the unicorns! They’re said to gut a man in seconds with those horrible horns!”

“You’ll have the laurel wreath. They can’t move with that.” Philip’s voice sounded more confident than he felt.

He’d grown uneasy about the idea ever since he’d convinced Letty to do it. The closer they grew to the thicket near the cliffs, the more uncomfortable he became, until he nearly insisted that they turn back again. Before he could speak, Jakys and stepped out from behind a tree. Behind him, Grifon and a dwarf that Philip hardly recognized, Odo, waited behind the tree, stepping deeper into the shadows at Letty’s scream.

“Who have you brought, Philip? Why have you betrayed us?

“This is Letty. She works for the midwife— Dove’s midwife. She won’t share our secret. I’ve known her all my life. She won’t tell.”

“Has she never told a secret? She looks like the kind of girl who delights in looking important.” The terrible tone in Jakys voice even frightened Dove.

“When she was little, of course. All children do. She won’t now.” Of this, Philip was certain.

“Philip, I want to go,” Letty whispered. Her surprise at the sight of child sized men with beards and gruff deep voices had grown into alarm.

“She knows our mission?”

“Yes.” Dove answered, her hood turned toward Jakys, but her eyes watched the others. Something about the way they watched her, the way they shifted— it seemed off.

The wind scraped tree branches together, making terrible sounds that made an awkward silence grow ominous. At last, Jakys pointed to Odo and Grifon. “Take Dove to the lookout. We’ll meet you there once we get the girl settled.”

Smiling her encouragement as if the girl could see it, Dove turned and followed Grifon and his friend through the trees, up an incline, and out of sight. Philip explained where they’d be, and listened closely as Jakys showed Letty the wreath and explained in great detail what to do. He suggested that she pretend to be asleep in order to help the unicorn trust her.

As they walked away, Letty started to cry out— to beg them not to leave her alone in the dark forest. Instead, she folded her hands, closed her eyes, and tried to remember the prayers that she recited every week in the chapel. She heard Philip and Jakys walk away, but still her eyes closed shut to the darkness around her.

Slowly, the sounds of night pressed around her until at last, she buried her head in her knees and covered her head with her hands and arms.

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