The Blue Flames by Jacquelyn Hagen

Author:Jacquelyn Hagen [Hagen, Jacquelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mastmarner Books

Chapter 33

Sympathizers

The winter rains came again to the East Country, flooding the creeks and rivers, causing mudslides on the steeper ridges and foothills. Fields turned into bogs. Forests swam in six inches of water. It was worse than snow in a way, for it couldn’t be shoveled aside or piled into a corner. When the heavens finally did stop pouring down, travelers risked being stuck deep in the mud that remained, which might take as much as a week to dry out, if not longer.

It was for this reason law enforcement had not yet routed the bandits camping on the Ashing River Bridge. It also meant the bandits hadn’t ventured any farther north, especially as the weather only promised to be worse nearer to the mountains. Beatrice Babbin rode to the edge of the wood every day to watch them from afar and make certain they had come no closer to Sparrowhaven. While the rain was still at its worst, they didn’t even venture out of their tents unless there was someone coming their way to rob. But no one came. At least, not yet.

Harriet and Caradoc worried that there’d been no sign of Daniel or anyone else from his crew. The weather had likely delayed them, of course, but now there was a risk of being caught by the bandits on the bridge if they did make it that far. After more than three weeks, they were wasted on worrying, and finally realized they could do nothing now but hope for a reunion sometime after the rain dried up.

In all respects, they were well taken care of. Beatrice was a kind and generous hostess who made sure no one wanted for anything, and even comforted the more faint-hearted guests who often came to her sick with anxiety over their situation. Caradoc suspected the Entress had placed spelltraps around the area, or at least a shield enchantment or two in strategic locations. He himself was far more concerned with the inside threats—Cora, the former servant of the Whistler household who had recognized them, and the ever-watchful Beatrice, who was keeping her Entrian identity a secret for some reason. There was also the matter of his rapidly-dwindling sleeping tonic. The opium cordial was already a quarter of the way emptied.

But there were ways to mitigate these threats. Since Beatrice refused any extra payment for their longer length of stay, they endeavored to make themselves useful. Harriet went every day to the stables and passed many hours helping to take care of the horses, which also proved a good excuse to see Bessie and Annabelle as often as possible. Caradoc, much to Beatrice’s delight, began building a fence along the overlook at the edge of the cliff. A few of the other guests would sometimes join him in the work, but no one more often than Lucas, who also happened to be Cora’s husband. This provided a convenient opportunity to get on good terms with the couple, which had seemed impossible at first as the Colonists had agreed not to make Cora even more nervous by speaking to her.

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