Hidden Masks by Jodee Steffensen

Author:Jodee Steffensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: witch, magic, young adult, sweet romance, fantasy
Publisher: Jodee Steffensen
Published: 2017-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The morning was clear and cool as the cat scrambled up a cottonwood. He climbed just far enough so that he could leap down in dramatic fashion and dash across the path. Darting like a flash of lightning, he threw himself into the air and bolted part way up another trunk, pulling himself higher until he reached a branch. He ran gracefully along the limb until he was directly overhead the path below.

He waited patiently for his mistress to make her way toward him, and then bellowed a greeting into the cool dawn air. She laughed as she looked up to see him there and called to him by name. He responded with another joyful meow, rubbed himself on the branch, and quickly made his way down to her side, brushing against her leg as she reached down to pat him.

This was what life had been like before they left the forest. These mornings, when she stole away from the high walls and noisy crowds, were precious to the cat. Combining nature and mistress together was freeing. It filled him with purpose and pleasure. Additionally, it offered a chance for him to sharpen his prowling skills. Just then a bird perched itself on a bramble to greet the morning with its lonely song.

It was an alert bird. It heard the slight movement of cat paws just before the attack. The sound of wing feathers slapping against each other broke the otherwise peaceful landscape as the bird soared out of reach. The cat ignored the loss and lunged for the limb of an oak just beyond the bush.

=^-^=

Alfred’s joy was contagious. Beatrice thrilled at these stolen moments as much as her pet. The night’s drama was ended, as well as her frustration with the two men she’d allowed to control her life. She decided she needed to build up her supply of medicines and this early summer morning presented treasures of blossoms and flowers. She knew which herbs were ready to harvest. Such plants were abundant if you knew where to look, and if you had the courage to explore the fields outside of town. Beatrice also knew that plants were best gathered in the early morning hours when the air was cool and moist.

She was reaching for a lovely specimen of dragonwort when she heard the quiet voices. Careful to hide quietly away from the road behind a stand of birch trees, she saw two men walking together. One was a stranger. No surprise there. But she stopped and studied the other.

What was Mr. Rattlelance doing so far out of town?

Distance made it impossible to make out their conversation and so she reached down to quickly pluck some dragonwort leaves from the tall stalk, leaving the pink shaft of flowers in place. They would mature to seeds later, and if not gathered, replenish the supply.

Wrapping the harvest carefully to store in her pouch, she rose again to view the men. Mr. Rattlelance was handing his companion papers, which the man promptly tucked away in his cloak.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.