Chapter Eighteen

Lamorna picked her way carefully through the forest. The deepening dusk added to her anxiety, and she wondered how she’d find her way. Even though there had been no sign of the wolf when she’d left Bryna, the woman had assured Lamorna that the wolf would return to her side, now that the blood had stopped flowing.  Her sadness at leaving Bryna lingered; despite the danger, still Lamorna wished she could have remained with the kind, motherly woman.

Detecting movement out the corner of her eye, Lamorna froze. She exhaled loudly as Wolf took a tentative step towards her. The girl stood still as the beast stepped up and sniffed around her before nosing the sling.

Lamorna slowly lowered herself to her knees; the wolf nuzzled her cheek. “I missed you, Mistress, so much.” She put her arm around the animal and buried her face in the musty fur.

The second day after leaving Bryna, the second day Lamorna had spent in the forest, this time in a coppice, the only hiding place she could find. She had to admit, having enjoyed the comfort of Bryna’s home for those seven days, she was finding it difficult to readjust to sleeping in the wild again.

As dusk approached, Lamorna made sure her brother had a good feed before they set out again. She walked with her hand resting on the wolf’s back, realising that this night more than any other night, she was glad the beast did not mind. For this part of the forest was more densely packed with trees and seemed so much quieter. Lamorna’s wariness grew when she realised that even the wolf was picking her way with extra care.

The trees thinned out slightly; Lamorna stopped and stared. A tiny hovel, barely recognisable as a dwelling, cowered in the small clearing. She’d only noticed it because of the light within. For a moment, she considered approaching it, but the wolf tugged at her dress, and she started to turn away.

Furious barking made her cry out. A shadow detached itself from the shadows by the hut and lunged at Lamorna; she stumbled back. It was almost on her when it stopped short, its bark choked off. Lamorna gasped, pressing her hand to her heart; the dog was tethered. But it continued to pull and strain on its leash, ceaselessly barking. Growling and snarling, the wolf darted at it, and snapped her teeth close to it.

“Come,” said Lamorna, her wide-eyed stare flicking from the dog to the hut. “Mistress Wolf, come.”

The door was flung open and a man stood silhouetted in the doorway. “Who is there? Get your beast away.”

Lamorna was about to flee when she saw he held a crossbow, levelled at the wolf. Without any hesitation, she placed herself between the man and the wolf, her body turned slightly to protect her brother as well.

“Who is there?” He started to approach.

Feeling slight movement behind her, Lamorna glanced around to see the pale figure of the wolf disappear into the dark. “No...” she whimpered, biting her lip to stop herself crying out. Mistress Wolf will not abandon me. I know she will not. She must stay safe, this also I know. Stay calm, Lamorna. Stay calm.

“Bring me light,” said the man, inclining his head towards the hut. “I said–”

A woman appeared, holding a lamp aloft.

“Bring the light here,” said the man. “You. Walk to me.”

Lamorna remained where she was.

“Walk.”

Tightening her grip around the baby, Lamorna forced herself to move towards him.

As the woman crept closer with the light, the man began to edge towards Lamorna, all the while keeping the crossbow aimed at her. When she stepped into the pool of light, the man failed to hide his surprise.

“What are you doing out here in the dark, alone?” His gaze darted to either side of her. “Where is your dog?”

Lamorna shook her head.

“Answer me.”

“Gone. She’s gone.”

The baby was starting to squirm.

“Why are you here?”

“I mean no harm.” Lamorna glanced at the woman who had moved even closer. Before Lamorna could stop her, she prodded the child through the sling; he started to grumble.

“Baby,” said the woman. “My baby. You’ve found my baby; you’ve brought her home–”

“No.” Lamorna stepped back, half-turning her body away. “He’s not yours, he’s my–”

“A baby already?” said the man. “So young?”

“No. He’s my–”

“Give me my baby.” The woman, almost shouting, was trying to get the now-wailing infant off Lamorna.

“Stop it.” She pushed the woman who fell back.

“Give it to her.”

Her breath catching, Lamorna looked at the man only to find herself staring down the crossbow. She shook her head. “Please. He’s all–”

“Give it.” He moved the weapon closer, stooping to take the lamp the woman had put on the ground.

“My baby my baby...” The woman’s hands fluttered around the infant like a pair of agitated birds.

Lower lip quivering, Lamorna slowly undid the sling and handed her increasingly unhappy brother to the woman. Goddess, help me, I don’t know what to do...

The woman snatched him and held him close against her ragged dress, all the while cooing; he quietened down.

The man gestured with his crossbow. “Go.”

Tears blurred her vision as she shook her head. “No. I cannot leave him.”

“There is no room for you. We don’t need another mouth to feed.”

“Please–”

“Go.” The tip of the crossbow bolt touched her shoulder as he took a small step closer to her.

“Morning. Please, please let me stay until morning.” She clasped her hands together, on the verge of falling to her knees.

He stared at her long and hard until finally he nodded.

The woman was already making her way back to the hovel, still crooning softly. The man motioned for Lamorna to walk ahead of him, handing her the lamp as she passed him. Giving the painfully thin dog a quick pat on the head, he followed.

Lamorna pressed herself against the wall for once the man stepped into the hut, there barely seemed enough room to move. A small bed was against one wall with a makeshift fireplace near the other corner; the only other furniture was one chair and a barrel that appeared to be the table.

Pointing to the floor by the now closed door, he said, “Sit,” and Lamorna obeyed.

Wiping her face with her shawl, she drew her legs up before her and hugged her knees, watching as the woman lay on the bed with the little one in the crook of her arm. Lamorna wondered what had befallen her baby, what had befallen them. It was difficult to guess the woman’s age with her dirt-stained face. As for the man, despite his stern demeanour, his eyes were filled with sorrow.

As the night wore on, none of them slept as the hungry child continued to wail. There seemed little food in the place, let alone milk for a new-born, and no matter how much the woman cuddled him, he would not stop crying.

Lamorna wept with her brother, hands pressed against her ears as she silently prayed for help.

With a curse, the man leapt to his feet. “You.” He gestured at Lamorna. “Take it. Make it stop this infernal noise.”

Lamorna quickly got to her feet and tried to take him, but the woman refused to relinquish him.

“No. I can care for my baby. I don’t need–” She cried out as the man slapped her and took the infant.

Scared, Lamorna held her brother close against her neck, shakily whispering the White Lady’s prayer. Maybe it was her familiar touch, maybe it was the prayer or it might have been sheer exhaustion, but he quietened, sobbing softly. She sank to the floor, filled with gratitude... and confusion.

Having slapped the woman and left her weeping on the bed, the man now sat beside her and took her in his arms, comforting her.

The dog began to bark again; Lamorna jumped before a gasp escaped her. The unmistakable howl of a wolf sounded not too far away. The dog’s barking increased before it whined, yelped and fell silent.

She’s here. Mistress Wolf is here... Taking a deep breath, Lamorna slowly got to her feet and opened the door. The fingers of her free hand closed over her bundle of belongings; all the while she remained facing the couple.

The man watched her silently, holding the woman, keeping her face against his chest. He made no move to stop Lamorna.

She backed out the door; still the man did not move. Slowly, she turned and almost cried out with relief at the sight of the wolf. She glanced to the side; the dog was unhurt, merely cowed. Forcing herself to walk, when all she wanted to do was run, Lamorna followed the wolf, and soon the hovel in the small clearing was lost to sight.

They walked a little further before Lamorna had to stop so the crying baby could feed. She prayed that no one would come upon them. Knowing her brother never took that long to feed, this time it seemed to Lamorna that he was taking twice as long.

When he was done, she quickly settled him in the sling and started to walk, her hand once again resting on the wolf’s back. An anguished wail cut through the silence of the forest. Lamorna jumped, and even the wolf started.

Glancing over her shoulder as they hurried on, Lamorna shuddered as she blinked back tears. “Poor woman.”