The Night Wanderer by Alys Clare

Author:Alys Clare
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780727885845
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2015-12-10T16:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

The house was isolated. It stood on a small area of ground that was very nearly an island; joined to the shore by a mere neck of land some two or three paces wide – in places less – and perhaps twenty long. At times of even modest high water, the patch of ground became a true island. Then it was only reachable by boat. Not that its sole habitual inhabitant would use a boat – nor even possessed one – for solitude was the desired state.

The house was a simple dwelling, with walls of wattle and daub and a roof of reed thatch. It had one main room for eating and sleeping, and, separate from it but linked by a covered way, a second, larger workroom out of which led a tidily arranged store whose shelves and hiding places were crammed tight with a variety of materials. A wooden workbench stretched the length of the room, its surface scarred with scratches, pale rings where wet or hot vessels had been carelessly put down, and rather a lot of dark and sinister burns. It had been wise to set the workroom away from the house, for quite often the fierce and uncontrollable demons of fire raged there.

Outside there was a privy. No pump, well or trough, for the house stood so close to the water that there was no need. Trees grew profusely, in a thick canopy comprised of alder, willow and one or two oaks, beneath which grew the all but impenetrable carr of bushes and smaller trees. The marsh fern, rare in its ability to flourish beneath the thick carr, was now turning from bright green to rusty brown as the advance of autumn forced its life force to retreat into itself.

The dense vegetation stood as a frowning, overshadowing barrier. Accordingly, the fen water appeared almost black.

Hrype approached the narrow causeway just as the first pale streaks of light appeared beneath the skirts of cloud on the eastern horizon. He had left Aelf Fen in the middle of the night, slipping out of his bed without disturbing Froya or Sibert, with whom he shared the house, and he had been walking for several hours. He paused, feeling the usual strange reluctance to put his feet on to the narrow, perilous path. Do not be foolish, he upbraided himself. There is no danger here, only wonder. In addition it was, he reflected, as safe a sanctuary as he could think of.

He strode up the causeway. The stump of his feet must have sent vibrations deep through the earth and into the water, and some night creature, swirling and thrashing in protest, briefly broke the surface with a loud splash. Hrype jumped, then smiled at this demonstration of nervousness. It was indeed a strange place …

A faint light showed along the crack between the top of the door and its frame. Hrype tapped softly, and, when a voice within instantly answered, pushed the door open and went in.

‘You were expecting

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