The Bitterness of Bad Apples by C.S. Edwards

Author:C.S. Edwards [C.S. Edwards]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C. S. Edwards
Published: 2023-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

The next morning, a hush had fallen over the normally bustling streets of Cauldron Falls. A grim mood permeated the village on what would normally be a lively fall morning on the quad. Honey pulled her scarlet wool coat tighter against the chill as she hurried to meet Roam O’Reilly. Her breath came in frosted puffs as her boots clicked rapidly over the cobblestones. She felt a pang in her chest when she saw the inspector’s tall silhouette waiting by the iron gates of the orchard.

"Morning," Honey said quietly.

Roam nodded, his amber eyes mournful. "Cona okay?”

“As well as expected. At least he has a house full of company. The rest of the lot of familiars are fawning all over him. Martin is taking care of him.” Honey wrapped her arm in Roams.

“Good. Let's have a look, then." He patted her hand.

They walked between the rows of apple trees. The branches seem to sag and their leaves less colorful in the gray light. Near the back of the orchard, Roam stepped toward the dense woods, and sniffed. “You smell that?”

“Smells like wood burning.” Honey rubbed her nose. “And something else. I can’t quite make it out. It smells like burning mold.”

Roam crouched down, his panther senses detecting no trace of magic or hexes close by. He motioned for Honey to join him, examining the surrounding area. “I’m gonna venture into the woods there. You stay here.”

“No way. I’m not staying here. I’m going with you.” Honey stuck like glue to Roam’s side.

The great pine trees loomed overhead, casting deep shadows over the forest floor. Honey shivered as she stepped over tangled roots and fallen branches, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt Roam's hand on her arm, steadying her as they navigated through the dense undergrowth.

As they moved deeper into the woods, the smell of burning wood grew stronger, mixed with the scent of something musty, foul, and rotten. Honey wrinkled her nose in disgust, but Roam's face remained stoic and determined. He led them to a clearing at the base of a rocky outcropping where a small fire burned in a shallow pit. Roam bent to get a closer look.

“What was burning in there?” Honey looked over his shoulder. The circular pit has rocks stacked along the edge, keeping the fire contained.

“Seems whoever was here cared about the woods, at least. The rocks here tell me they knew better than to spark it up this time of year without takin’ some precautions.” Roam rubbed his chin.

“Do you think this is the killer’s fire?” Honey asked.

Roam sighed loudly as he rose from the fire pit. “Maybe. I found similar fires around the dead Shifters. Wasn’t exact, but basically the same kinda thing.”

“So, how was it different?” Honey walked around the fire pit, examining it from all angles.

“I don’t know ‘xactly. It was different. Like the first one looked older and less perfect. The second one was just ‘bout the same, but smaller.” Roam covered the perimeter of the area as he talked, looking down at the ground for clues.

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