Witchbane

Chapter 46

Chapter Forty-Six

RUE

Iran as fast as I could, pushing through the thicket, unaware of anything but my racing heart, the sensations that kissing Theo had ignited in me, and my need to reach home as soon as possible.

As the reality of what might have happened to my aunt and grandmother sank in, I wondered why I had spent time explaining about us to Theo when I should have been making for home instead.

Instead of thinking about Theo and his disappointment in me, I should have been ascertaining whether they needed my help.

Panic coursed through me at my selfishness.

No, I reasoned as I ran. It wasn’t selfish.

I needed to educate Theo, as the Witchfinder’s assistant, about us witches.

If he had some understanding of us he would feel less suspicious of our activities and discourage others from wanting to torture or kill us.

Nothing that achieved that could be a waste of time.

The trees appeared to be thinning. I gave a sigh of relief – I was on the outskirts of the wood.

I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and find my bearings, grateful for the bright moonlight.

I was used to being outside in the darkness and it didn’t take me long to spot a small copse I recognised.

I remembered Theo’s warning to be careful of his father’s men.

I had no idea how many there were, or whether the one who came to find Theo had in fact returned to join the others.

He might still be here somewhere hoping to impress his master by finding me.

I shivered. I must take care. The thought of getting this close to my home and not reaching it terrified me.

I looked around for any movement that could be a person.

Then, taking a deep breath, I ran for the small group of trees and waited again.

Once more, I watched, listened and waited before making my move, then ran in the direction of my home, keeping low and quiet.

I reached another, much smaller wooded area and, hearing movement, stood stock still, holding my breath.

Had the sound been made by a person or an animal?

There was the sound of footsteps again. Animals were quieter than that.

I sidled slowly up against a tree trunk, hoping to blur my outline so I wouldn’t be spotted.

The person was coming nearer. I could tell by the breathing that it was a man.

An icy sensation trickled down my spine.

I dared not move. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the person to keep walking.

If they had been out here as long as I had, their eyes too would have become accustomed to the moonlight.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder and spun me around. ‘You got away?’

I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream. ‘Jem, for pity’s sake.’ My legs went weak with relief. I reached out to take his arm and steady myself.

He dropped something, maybe his catch of a couple of rabbits, wrapped his arms around me to stop me falling and held me tightly to him. ‘Is someone following you?’ he whispered so quietly I only just managed to make out his words.

‘I don’t believe so, but I can’t be certain.’

He slowly lowered me to the ground and crouched next to me as I gathered my strength. Even in this light I could see his shock at finding me there.

‘Have you seen my aunt or Grandmama?’

‘No, why?’

Unable to hide my disappointment and fear, I began to cry, doing my best to explain between sobs about the Witchfinder and his men raiding our gathering and arresting the women. I remembered there could still be a militiaman following me and cleared my throat, desperate to remain strong.

‘There was screaming and shouting,’ I told him quietly. ‘I saw one of them grappling with Aunt Sorrel and another took hold of Grandmama.’ I covered my mouth to muffle a sob, then pulled myself together; I needed to tell him what had happened. ‘Grandmama yelled at me to run, so I did.’

He didn’t speak.

‘Oh, Jem, I must find a way to save them. I can’t let the Witchfinder do to them what he did to my mother. I just can’t.’

He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. I could feel him trembling and realised that if anything happened to them, I wouldn’t be the only one to be devastated.

‘I must get you back to our cottage,’ he said a few seconds later. ‘My father is the best person to speak to about this.’

‘Yes,’ I said. Then I remembered Theo’s instruction to tell Pierre that my grandmother and aunt had probably been taken to Mont Orgueil. I calmed slightly. I had a plan. Pierre was always strong and loyal.

Jem gathered up what he had been carrying and we ran to Pierre’s cottage.

Jem burst through the door.

As I entered I expected to see a surprised but sleepy Pierre sit up from his pallet, but he wasn’t there.

‘Where can he be?’ I asked trying not to panic.

Jem shrugged, as confused as I was.

Maybe I had been wrong to assume Pierre was unaware of the night’s events. I turned and ran across the yard, making for the back door to the manor house.

‘Where are you going?’ Jem called frantically.

‘Follow me.’

Excitement built as my mind raced. Could Pierre be in here with my aunt and grandmother? Was that possible when I had left them amidst the chaos? I thought guiltily.

Full of hope, I ran into the house, through the kitchen and down the hall to the withdrawing room, praying to the spirits of my ancestors that I’d find the women I loved most in the world sitting there waiting for me, unharmed.

I crashed into the room and saw Pierre. I looked around but he appeared to be alone.

‘They’re not here,’ I cried, my heart breaking in horror. ‘Where are they, Pierre?’

He seemed relieved to see me and took a step back. ‘Your grandmama is here, Rue.’

I gasped, seeing her sitting on the sofa behind him.

She had a thick shawl around her shoulders and a blanket across her knees.

For a moment I stood rooted to the spot, staring, before walking over to her.

I knelt before her, expecting her to be relieved, confused when her expression changed to one of shock.

‘You’re bleeding.’

Was I? I didn’t feel any pain. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing,’ I insisted, crouching in front of her, careful not to get blood on her furniture.

‘It must have happened when I ran through the woods.’ I noticed a cut on her cheek and winced.

‘I’m not the only one who’s injured.’ I took her hand in mine.

‘Are you quite well, Grandmama? How did you get here? I left you behind,’ I said, a sob rising in my throat, ‘in the woods, about to be arrested, in the raid.’

She lifted a finger. ‘Hush now. All these questions and I haven’t long been here myself.’

I looked around. ‘Where is Aunt Sorrel?’

Grandmama hushed me again. She reached for a glass on the table next to her and took a few sips. ‘That’s better.’ Replacing the glass, she looked at Pierre. ‘I’m feeling weary after tonight’s dramas. Please explain everything to Rue while I rest.’

‘Pierre?’ I asked, impatient to hear about my aunt.

He noticed Jem standing by the door.

‘Jem found me in the—’ I began.

Pierre narrowed his eyes and I realised Jem might not want his father to know he had been out poaching.

‘—yard,’ I said quickly, changing my story. ‘We went to look for you, and when you weren’t in the cottage we came here.’

‘I see.’ Pierre gave me a sympathetic look.

‘Your grandmother tipped me off about tonight’s gathering.

She doesn’t like to admit it, but she gets a little tired these days,’ he said, glancing at her to check she didn’t mind him saying so.

‘She asked me to bring the horse and cart to the outskirts of the wood to wait for her.’

‘You were there all along?’ I wondered why he hadn’t made himself known, then realised his concern would have firstly been for my grandmother. ‘Sorry, please continue.’

‘I heard shouting and women’s voices and knew something terrible was happening, so remained hidden then made my way carefully to the camp.

I saw you do as your grandmother instructed and leave, then I watched as the men were distracted arresting others, and took your grandmother to some thick undergrowth where we hid. ’

‘What about Aunt Sorrel? Did you see what happened to her?’

His eyes lowered. I could tell he felt the same guilt as me at not being able to help.

‘Your aunt was arrested, I’m afraid. Two of the men took her away. I would have gone after her if I’d thought I had any chance of rescuing her, but I was outnumbered and wanted to save at least one of you.’

‘And without your help I would still be out there now,’ my grandmother reassured him. ‘At least now Rue knows what happened and we can plan how best to help the others.’

I shuddered at the thought and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

‘As soon as it’s daylight,’ Pierre continued, ‘I’ll go and make enquiries as to your aunt’s whereabouts.’

I recalled Theo’s instructions and wished he hadn’t made sense when he told me not to go to the jail. Damn that Elias Le Cerf. I had no intention of allowing him to do to my aunt as he had done to my mother. I needed to gain my aunt’s release, but how?

‘You need to speak to Appoline,’ my grandmother said as if she was listening to my thoughts.

‘If she escaped arrest. Tell her we need to hurry and cast our spell to banish the memory of Sorrel from the Witchfinder’s mind.

Without his resentment of her, he will have little reason to want to hurt her. At least that’s what I hope.’

A sadness came over me.

She patted my hand. ‘You need to rest first, though.’

‘No, I’m fine. I’d rather go straight away.’

She was having none of it and shook her head.

‘First, you will have something to eat and drink. You also need to rest, even for a little while, and you can do that while we tend to your injury.’ She waved her hand in front of me.

‘Go and fetch the calendula and lavender balm for those cuts and scrapes to your arms, legs and face. Smooth it over them once you’ve washed away any dirt. ’

I began to argue, impatient to do what I could for her.

‘You will be no use to anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first,’ she said.

‘But Grandmama,’ I pleaded.

Her eyebrows rose and she glared at me. It was a look I recognised as one that did not tolerate argument.

‘You will do as I say. There is plenty of time to do all you need to before daylight, but I have no intention of letting you leave this place alone, or until I’m satisfied that you’re in a condition to do so.

’ She waved her hands at me. ‘Anyway, you need to make yourself presentable before going anywhere.’

I reached up to touch my hair and pulled out a piece of ivy from the tangled mess. My dress, too, I now saw was torn, bloodied and smudged with green stains. She was right, however much I wanted to disagree with her.

I gave in, knowing that the sooner I did so, the quicker I’d be able to leave and begin to rescue my aunt and break the Witchfinder’s hold on my family.

‘Good. Now, off you go. Jem can go and make you a hot drink while you eat something.’

Jem followed me out to the hallway. We reached the foot of the stairs, but before I could take the first step he grabbed hold of my arm to stop me.

‘There’s something I need to tell you, Rue.’

I turned to him and was surprised to see his eyes downcast. ‘Can’t it wait until later?’

‘No. It’s something I should have admitted to you as soon as I discovered it.’

I recognised the guilt in his eyes when he finally looked at me, and I guessed what had upset him. ‘It was the maid from the farm, wasn’t it?’ I tried to recall her name. ‘Beattie?’

‘Yes, it was Beattie.’

I glared at him. ‘You knew she made the accusation about me?’ I sighed.

‘Not until now, no.’

‘Why would she do such a thing?’

His shoulders drooped. ‘I think it was because I stupidly grumbled about your interest in Theo Le Cerf one time when we were out walking.’ Before I could respond, he added, ‘I know you’ve only ever seen me as a friend, and most of the time I’ve been content with that, but seeing the pair of you dancing, and then everything that happened after that …

well, I lost my way a bit. It was stupid of me to let her know I was jealous of him. ’

I was angry but too exhausted to show it.

‘It was. And now look what’s happened because you shared with someone else how you felt about my having feelings for a man.

Didn’t it occur to you that Beattie might be upset to discover how you felt about another woman?

’ About me, I wanted to add but was too embarrassed to say it.

He sighed. ‘I was too wrapped up in my resentment to consider her, I suppose.’

Unsure what else to say, I left him feeling sorry for himself and went up to my room.

I needed the comfort of my mother’s strength.

I went to the drawer and took out the blue ribbon.

My mother had warned me that someone close to me was untrustworthy.

I just never imagined it could be my childhood friend.

Things really are changing around here, I reflected.

I stared at the blue ribbon, then, holding it between my fingers, closed my eyes and willed her to come to me. At first nothing happened, then I felt a warmth wash over me and rest on my shoulders like the softest shawl. The scent of lavender and roses filled my bedroom.

‘Mama, please help me be strong. Show me a way to harness my powers and make them stronger.’

The ribbon appeared to tug lightly against my fingers.

I opened my eyes, fearing I was imagining things, but the ribbon bent in the middle as if invisible fingers were pulling it gently.

Not enough to snatch it from my fingertips but enough to grab my attention.

I sensed my mother wanted me to do something with the ribbon.

‘Ouch.’ I flinched as the skin on my right wrist puckered as if it were being pinched.

It stung. I gasped. What did she want me to do?

I threaded one end of the ribbon over the other and slipped my hand through the loop.

Then, taking one end between my teeth, I slid the other through to make a knot and pulled it tight.

A happy sigh filled my room and my heart swelled. She was near.

‘Thank you, Mama,’ I said, blowing a kiss into the air.