The Witch of Ferathan by Ryan Hoyt

Author:Ryan Hoyt
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781956163032
Publisher: Ryan Hoyt

CHAPTER 10

It was as if nothing particularly peculiar or eventful had happened in the small village only three days earlier. The tables and chairs outside of Fielders’ Fancies had been cleaned up promptly the morning after the wedding reception. The lawn of the central park was perfectly manicured. The statues stood guard outside Ferathan Manor in the same positions they had always stood. The neighbors took turns delivering hot meals to the house of the newlyweds, whom nobody had seen since, as was customary.

When morning came on the fourth day, Gaethen Devorac opened his front door, completed his morning routine around the farm, and made his way into town for the first time as a married man.

“You can’t keep coming to see me in the mornings now that you’re married, Gaethen,” Sana teased. She passed a mug of fresh coffee across the counter as she winked at him. “Your new missus ain’t feeding you at home?”

“Now, just because I’m married doesn’t mean I don’t have time to patronize my favorite family’s establishment. And no, so far she hasn’t done any cooking on account of everyone in town feeding us. We had to start tossing out leftovers for the sheep, we were so overloaded.”

“Aye, I thought those sheep were looking a bit hefty when it was my family’s turn to bring dinner last night. Hope they enjoyed the bread pudding, then.”

“There was no way I was letting that go to waste!” Gaethen patted his belly. He downed the rest of his coffee and slid the mug back toward Sana. She made to refill it, but Gaethen waved her off. “Best to stop with the one cup. I have to run a few errands around town before I go back to have lunch with my bride.”

He noticed something troubled in the woman’s stare. He had known her long enough to recognize that look. He raised an eyebrow at her, which prompted her to speak.

“How much of the wedding do you remember, Gaethen?”

“Well, it’s not like I was drowning myself in ale! Why wouldn’t I remember the most wonderful day of my life? It was quite fun, up until the issue with my lungs. It was the first time I’d felt that way since that night in the caves. Not sure why it happened.”

“And what about those statues?” Sana asked.

“Statues?” He passed a coin across the counter to pay for the coffee. “At the manor? Yes, those things are very ugly, but I hardly notice them anymore. They’ve been there all our lives, and long before we were conceived. Why do you bring them up?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said.

Gaethen couldn’t read her. Was it jealousy she was feeling? He had always known that Sana had feelings for him, but he had always seen her more as a sister than a potential lover. Perhaps she missed her brother or was overworked because of his absence from the brewery. She picked up the coin and the mug and turned away. As Gaethen got to his feet, she spun back around.

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