"Recent events having left me in a poor mood, I'd rather not waste any more time on idle conversation. I hurt everywhere and think I may vomit soon so, please, just be done with it."
The vines around my wrists loosened, and I fell forward onto something hard, furry, and warm. Draped over the beast, I realized, a moment before we were moving.
Sadly, I vomited before fainting.
* * * *
"...should I?"
The shrill voice cut through the fog clouding my mind, and I blinked my eyes open to stare at the rough shingled roof blurring above me. A growl filled the air, and my stomach lurched, not from the growl, but from the sour taste lingering in my mouth. I gagged.
"Leave us," the feminine voice commanded.
A door slammed, and I turned on my side to dry heave. A gentle hand ran over my hair, lingering on the spot at the back of my head where I'd smacked against the pole.
"There's the problem. Let's sit you up."
She leveraged a thin, wiry arm behind my shoulders and helped me sit. Slowly, my vision cleared and an aged, haggard face filled the space before me. White hair twisted tightly behind her head and pulled the skin of her face, smoothing a few of the deeper creases. Her brilliant green eyes glinted at me with cold humor.
"Got in the way of something, I'd say," she murmured, leaning in close, her gaze shifting back and forth to study mine. "Best to stay awake tonight. You'll feel sick, which is normal. Drink lightly. Don't eat until your stomach stops twisting."
Without mercy, she tugged me to my feet. The ground tilted and heaved, and I spread my stance wide to keep from falling.
"Smart girl," she said with a laugh. "Too bad he brought you to me. You can't stay here. Out you go." She nudged me toward the door.
The stomach I'd thought empty heaved again, and I left a gift on her floor before I managed to clear the threshold. Her insulting laughter rang out behind me before the door closed and silence enveloped me.
Reaching out, I braced myself on the door. Night had claimed the sky and the half-moon weakly highlighted the area, not that it did me any good. The pain in my head clouded my vision. How would I manage a walk home, especially when I didn't know where I was? I recalled the beast's growl and knew I had to be somewhere within the estate. South, then, was the way to go. I lifted my head to the moon, trying to focus enough to get my bearings.
I took a lurching step away from the door, my skirt swishing through the grass. Within seven steps, I heaved again, and my eyes watered. The muscles in my stomach protested, and I wished for a cool drink to rinse my mouth. Instead, I received a growl.
"Vomit on me again, and you will suffer," he said before he swung me over his shoulder. The grass flew past us, and I clenched my teeth as blood rushed to my head and pulsed in my ears. My vision clouded, and I knew I'd faint again and wondered if that counted as sleeping. The beast sensed something, though, because he stopped his run, and I found myself standing before him in the shadowy light beneath a tree.
"What did she say?" he demanded.
When the world tilted, I didn't try widening my stance. Instead, I let my weak knees fold and sat heavily on the ground.
"Don't sleep or eat until my stomach stops twisting. Drink lightly and get out." I partially groaned as I struggled to my knees and heaved again, aggravating my stomach muscles and the lump on the back of my head. I spit weakly and let my head hang.
"Running upside down made it worse," I said, swiping at my lips.
"You blame this on me?" His low growl increased in volume and clicked with menace as he crept close to me.
"Well, it was your fault that I hit the back of my head against the pole. Before that, only my wrists bled."
He roared in response, which brought back the ringing in my ears. I paid his anger little mind as I sought refuge from my pain in the cool grass and closed my eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to sleep."
"The witch said not to."
"And you just roared at me. So what? If I die, I die. I'm tired of being bullied by you and the idiots in the village. If I live, so be it. At least, I'll have had a few moments of peace."
His feet padded softly, rustling the grass and scraping the dirt until he stopped behind me. Lying on my side with my face cushioned by my arm, I'd saved the back of my head from touching the ground, but also left it open to the beast's inspection. He huffed a great breath, blowing my hair over my face. Then he began to lick the lump he'd made.
I couldn't help the sigh that escaped me as the ache eased and the twisting in my stomach faded.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He grunted and kept licking for several more minutes. Without the nausea, it lulled me to sleep.
Four
"CAW!"
I bolted upright at the loud cry in my ear. My stomach muscles protested at their overuse, and I suffered a brief period of disorientation. I recalled the night before and studied my surroundings. The shaded glade only sported a few tufts of low growing grass on the outskirts. A soft patch grew in the center where the sun struck at midday, the very patch on which I'd previously reclined until the crow, hopping on the ground a few feet away, had rudely woken me.
The crow cawed at me again, but I ignored it as I struggled to my feet. The aches of the night before lingered in my shoulders and stomach but remained absent elsewhere, drawing my attention to the smooth and unblemished skin of each wrist. The memory rose of how the beast had eased the ache in my head. I glanced around the glade but felt certain only the crow and I entertained it now.
Given the dangerously unpredictable nature of the beast, I thought it best to keep my company to myself, and I began to carefully pick my way through the trees, heading toward the general area of the gate. As soon as I started walking, the crow took flight only to land on a branch ahead of me. I ignored the bird for the most part since it kept quiet when it flew but listened closely to the surrounding wood as I made slow progress through the estate lands.
It didn't surprise me when I spotted the gate ahead and it grated open on its own, the estate obviously ready to be rid of me. Of the beast, there was no sign. Muddied and disheveled, I made my way home in dawn's first light.
* * * *
A familiar gasp greeted me when I opened the kitchen door. Behind me, a furious flutter of wings sounded, prompting me to ignore Bryn's incredulous stare and quickly close the door before the annoying crow decided to let itself in. It cawed at me through the wood.
"Benella," Bryn finally managed to cry. "Father's been so worried." She stood by the stove with an apron wrapped around her dress. Eggs fried in a pan, and a small crock of fresh goat's milk already rested on the table, waiting for Father.
The study door opened, and Father hurried out fully dressed for the day, his expression putting truth to Bryn's statement. His eyes swept me and relief erased the worry.
"When I mentioned a walk, I didn't think you'd stay out all night, child," he said mildly, seeing me whole and healthy.
"An unplanned event to be sure," I said. "I ran into a bit of dirt and will need another bath."
Bryn gave a small, exasperated huff.
"I can't haul water for you again, Benella. I'm supposed to go with Tennen to-"
"Bryn," Father said softly. "I'm sure it wouldn't over trouble you to help with two small buckets, just enough to rinse the dirt from your sister's hair." As he spoke, he circled me and lifted the hair on the back of my head.
"Surely this unplanned event had a few interesting turns," he murmured for my ears only.
I gave the barest of nods, and he stepped back from me. I appreciated that he didn't question me further.
"At least the dress survived unscathed," he said.
Blye harrumphed from the doorway of our room. She'd joined us so quietly I hadn't noticed her.
"Its hem is stained with mud. I wouldn't call that unscathed."
"Better than ripped," Father said in a tone that didn't allow for argument. "Benella, I would speak with you before I leave about an errand I need you to run. Would you mind stepping into my study before you wash?"
"Of course, Father," I said, more than willing to escape my sisters' pique.
He surprised me by not asking of my night once he closed the door behind us.
"I apologize for asking this of you, but I need a message delivered to the Head in Water-On-The-Bridge as soon as possible."
The request disheartened me. The walk would take me most of the day there and back, and sleeping on the ground the prior night had done little to leave me feeling rested. But, I reasoned with myself, a whole day with no other obligations might be nice. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the ache in the joints, and tested my stomach. Nothing I couldn't handle. So, I nodded my agreement. Outside the window, a crow squawked.