Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

I flopped my tongue out and stared at myself in the mirror.

Ben and I had returned to our room after our breakfast with Aunt Dreda and I now stood in front of the vanity mirror staring at my reflection. I poked at my tongue.

Ben strode up behind me. "Is something the matter?"

I slurped my tongue back in and turned to face him. "I was just making sure my tongue was still there. Your aunt's coffee is so strong I thought maybe it had strangled my tongue."

He chuckled. "She is fond of strong foods. You should try her chili. It's legendary in these parts."

I shuddered. "I think that's one legend I don't want to meet."

"Then what do you say to making the acquaintance of less legendary subjects?" he mused as he folded his arms over his chest. "The people of Scima are a simple folk, but they have their interesting quirks."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Any particular reason why we should go there?"

Ben shrugged. "The town is quite quaint and holds a great deal of history."

"And?"

"And we may be able to find out more about our hidden foe, along with Ealden."

"And?"

"We might discover why Werd travels in that direction."

"And?"

He grinned. "Isn't that enough?"

I shrugged. "I was just checking. I mean, maybe there's some dark secret that lurks in the shadows that we need to discover or some such nightmare-inducing adventure."

Ben shook his head. "Those wouldn't be the inhabitants of Scima, but those that lay in the forest."

"The werewolves?" I guessed.

"The werewolves. They have a different culture unto themselves, and rarely do they invite outsiders into their inner circle."

I playfully wiped my brow with the back of my hand. "Good. I was hoping they were going to invite us over to dinner and we'd find out we were the main course."

Ben set his hands on my shoulders and chuckled. "I wouldn't have anyone but I enjoy your flesh."

A heavy blush accented my cheeks. I tilted my head back to stare up into his heated gaze. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

He blinked at the lustful look vanished. I was kind of sorry to see it go. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "I just thought maybe you were being a little, well, teenager-ish since we got here."

"Teenager?"

"I mean eager to jump my bones."

"Pardon?"

I slumped forward and sighed. "I need a translator. . ."

He smiled and his eyes danced with mischief. "I believe I may know to what you're referring but we'll have to save this conversation for another time. There's just one little chore we need to do before we leave."

I lifted an eyebrow but my eyes fell on the dresser where the canister with its precious prize lay. "What about that?" I asked him.

"You had better bring it in case we find this ‘Ealdan,'" Ben advised.

I strapped the canister to my arm and Ben led me downstairs to the library where we found his aunt deep in a book. She looked up at our coming and the sunlight did nothing to hide the dark shadows under her eyes.

Ben took a seat beside her on the couch and looked her over with a worried expression. "You should get some rest, Aunt."

She set the book on her lap and smiled at him. "I will in a few minutes, but did you need something?"

Ben nodded. "I was wondering where Werd slept during the day."

A pained expression slipped onto her face, but that was quickly dispelled by her breeding which made her stiffen her jaw. "He still sleeps at his cottage in the woods, and I understand where you are going. Yes, you may see him."

A little bit of color drained from my face as I realized what Ben intended for us to do. We were going to pay a visit to the semi-vampire. The only thought that kept some color on me was the fact that we would be visiting him during his hibernation hours.

Ben set one of his hands atop hers and smiled. "Get some rest."

He stood and I followed suit. We slipped out of the room, but I paused just outside in the hall and looked back. Dreda remained seated on the couch but she had bowed her head. A few glistening tears shone on her cheeks and she grasped her hands together to stop their shaking.

My heart bled for this woman in such dire need. I only hoped I wouldn't literally be doing that in a few minutes.

Ben waited for me just down the hall and together we ventured to the entrance hall. Fysan was perched upon a bust near the door and his sharp eyes studied us. "I would have you bring us some supplies while you are in Scima."

Ben lifted an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Fysan lifted one claw and showed off a rolled-up piece of paper. "Like this."

I took the paper and my fumbling hands dropped one end. The paper rolled down to the floor and I gaped at the two feet of items. "Why this much?"

Fysan fluffed his feathers. "Werd used to fetch the supplies for the house, but he hasn't been able to do so in quite a few weeks."

"So why don't you go?" I asked him as I rolled up the shopping list.

He wrinkled his bushy eyebrows. "Some of the shops don't allow me to enter. The fools believe I will filthy the place with my presence."

Ben's eyes glistened with glee. "They believe you'll filthy the place with your droppings should they irritate you."

Fysan turned his head to one side and lifted his beak. "That is enough talk. Go and fetch the supplies or I shan't be able to make so much as a dessert tonight."

Ben bowed his head. "Then we'll be sure to fulfill your list provided and I'll put in a good word for you to the merchants."

The owl scowled at him as Ben scooted me away. We slipped out of the house and into the cool morning air. A heavy fog still lingered in the woods as Ben nodded at the trees to the left of the house. "Werd's house is this way."

We had only taken a few steps when a whinny from the stables caught our attention. "Ferox?" I called back. The response was another annoyed horse noise.

"We'll be there in a few minutes," Ben assured him. There was a stomp of a hoof and then silence.

We ventured across the dirt driveway and past the house. A path existed between the home and the stable, and it was down that trail that Ben took me. The way was narrow and evidently little used except by Werd himself. The thick forest and winding trail meant we soon lost sight of all evidence of civilization save for the path on which we walked.

The fog enshrouded us in its cold embrace and obscured anything ten feet beyond our current position. I stayed close to Ben's heels. Too close.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed as my toes stepped on the back of his shoe.

He stumbled a bit but caught himself and looked over his shoulder with an amused grin. There was a tense look in his eyes, however, that revealed his worry. "Would you like me to carry you?"

"That wouldn't be such a bad idea. . ." I murmured as I cast a wary eye at the thick fog.

Ben nodded at the trail ahead of us. "Werd's house is just ahead."

We walked another fifty yards and the path opened to a tiny clearing. The trees had been cut back long ago, leaving weathered and rotten stumps. I could see the wild grass had once been controlled but of late the sod was now some two feet tall and leaned up against the walls of the only building in the area. That was a small hut about ten by ten feet, with a few plain windows looking out toward the path. A stone chimney stuck out the left wall and the door stood in the middle front wall.

Ben led us over to the door and rapped the back of his knuckle against the wood. There was no immediate reply, so I slipped over to one of the windows and peeked inside. Heavy curtains blocked my view.

"You think he's in there?" I asked my companion.

"More than likely," Ben replied as he tried the knob.

It was unlocked and he swung open the door. The door creaked inward and revealed the single-room house. I scooted up to Ben's side and peeked into the heavy darkness.

A pale figure lay on a bed in a corner farthest from the front wall. It was Werd.