forget also, they are simply a
means.
Once Gabriel had returned from wherever he was,
I would need to remind him that this house was marked and dangerous, and he
would need to find another love nest for his personal conquests. Not that he
would listen.
Everything was temporary with Gabriel. He did
not attach himself to anyone or anything for very long. He could move and leave
his possessions like they were nothing and start again. For the sake of the
coven, he would have to change his wandering ways.
And yet, despite his shortcomings, I had grown
attached to him. He had an allure that few others shared ; drawing friendship from many. Where most might abuse such influence to gain
following within our circle, Gabriel chose not to exercise his appeal. This
lack of personal ambition suggested to me that he would make an ideal leader in
my absence.
Lilah
We said goodbye to the kindly couple
after a breakfast of rye bread with caraway seeds, bacon and watered wine,
which had made me light-headed and talkative. I told Gabriel all about the
monastery and he seemed very interested to hear about the sisters, especially
Arianne.
Gabriel walked with me half a day or more. I
did not ask about his discussion the previous night. When the town was in our
sights he stopped.
‘I have to go now.’
‘But don’t you want to go to the town?’
‘No, I am going further and will take another
track from here.’
I looked around but could see no track.
‘Farewell, Lilah.’
As he walked away I felt a strange sense of
loss and realised I had asked nothing of his background. I had been too busy
talking and answering his questions. Perhaps it was his idea all along to keep
me busy with my own words.
Once in the town, as soon as Arianne’s father
was mentioned, residents gave me directions. It seemed everyone knew the family
who lived on vast acres of land just outside the town.
The pathway to the front entrance was long and
sat between rows of peach trees, their fruity scent making me thirsty. I
followed the path towards the front door of a large white house surrounded by
manicured gardens. A man toiled the earth between flowering bushes. It was
difficult to arrive quietly given the noise of the crunching coloured stones
beneath my feet. Those creeping doubts about my acceptance had magnified, and I
wondered then if I could find my way back to the couple whose house I had
stayed the night before.
The gardener stood up as I approached. ‘Are you
lost, girl?’
‘No. I’ve come to work here.’
He was doubtful; looking me up and down then up
towards the house.
‘There’s another house down the road. It’s a
few miles’ walk and you can get there before dark. I hear they’re looking for
workers.’
I didn’t say anything immediately but stood
waiting to see if he would alert someone or wave me on.
‘My friend used to live here…Arianne.’
‘Oh,’ he said, lowering his eyes, and after a
long pause, ‘How is she?’
‘Very well. She takes care of the orphans at
the monastery.’
His eyebrows raised and his sombre mood lifted.
I believe the news gave him some sort of joy. ‘Hmm. Well you need to take the
side path, not through the front door or you’ll likely be turned away as a
beggar before you even open your mouth to speak. And good luck to you.’
I walked to the small courtyard where he had
indicated and found the entranceway into the servants’ rooms. Linens hung from
a washing line and I surprised the girl emptying brown water onto the grass.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked,
suspiciously.
‘My name is Lilah. I am here to see Baron and
Lady Köszegi. Here is a letter from their daughter, Arianne.’
The magic word was Arianne and the girl,
several years older than me, grabbed the letter greedily. Her eyes scanned the
parchment and then studied the bottom of the letter. I believe she was
illiterate but appeared to recognise the signature. She took the letter away
and was gone a long
means.
Once Gabriel had returned from wherever he was,
I would need to remind him that this house was marked and dangerous, and he
would need to find another love nest for his personal conquests. Not that he
would listen.
Everything was temporary with Gabriel. He did
not attach himself to anyone or anything for very long. He could move and leave
his possessions like they were nothing and start again. For the sake of the
coven, he would have to change his wandering ways.
And yet, despite his shortcomings, I had grown
attached to him. He had an allure that few others shared ; drawing friendship from many. Where most might abuse such influence to gain
following within our circle, Gabriel chose not to exercise his appeal. This
lack of personal ambition suggested to me that he would make an ideal leader in
my absence.
Lilah
We said goodbye to the kindly couple
after a breakfast of rye bread with caraway seeds, bacon and watered wine,
which had made me light-headed and talkative. I told Gabriel all about the
monastery and he seemed very interested to hear about the sisters, especially
Arianne.
Gabriel walked with me half a day or more. I
did not ask about his discussion the previous night. When the town was in our
sights he stopped.
‘I have to go now.’
‘But don’t you want to go to the town?’
‘No, I am going further and will take another
track from here.’
I looked around but could see no track.
‘Farewell, Lilah.’
As he walked away I felt a strange sense of
loss and realised I had asked nothing of his background. I had been too busy
talking and answering his questions. Perhaps it was his idea all along to keep
me busy with my own words.
Once in the town, as soon as Arianne’s father
was mentioned, residents gave me directions. It seemed everyone knew the family
who lived on vast acres of land just outside the town.
The pathway to the front entrance was long and
sat between rows of peach trees, their fruity scent making me thirsty. I
followed the path towards the front door of a large white house surrounded by
manicured gardens. A man toiled the earth between flowering bushes. It was
difficult to arrive quietly given the noise of the crunching coloured stones
beneath my feet. Those creeping doubts about my acceptance had magnified, and I
wondered then if I could find my way back to the couple whose house I had
stayed the night before.
The gardener stood up as I approached. ‘Are you
lost, girl?’
‘No. I’ve come to work here.’
He was doubtful; looking me up and down then up
towards the house.
‘There’s another house down the road. It’s a
few miles’ walk and you can get there before dark. I hear they’re looking for
workers.’
I didn’t say anything immediately but stood
waiting to see if he would alert someone or wave me on.
‘My friend used to live here…Arianne.’
‘Oh,’ he said, lowering his eyes, and after a
long pause, ‘How is she?’
‘Very well. She takes care of the orphans at
the monastery.’
His eyebrows raised and his sombre mood lifted.
I believe the news gave him some sort of joy. ‘Hmm. Well you need to take the
side path, not through the front door or you’ll likely be turned away as a
beggar before you even open your mouth to speak. And good luck to you.’
I walked to the small courtyard where he had
indicated and found the entranceway into the servants’ rooms. Linens hung from
a washing line and I surprised the girl emptying brown water onto the grass.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked,
suspiciously.
‘My name is Lilah. I am here to see Baron and
Lady Köszegi. Here is a letter from their daughter, Arianne.’
The magic word was Arianne and the girl,
several years older than me, grabbed the letter greedily. Her eyes scanned the
parchment and then studied the bottom of the letter. I believe she was
illiterate but appeared to recognise the signature. She took the letter away
and was gone a long
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