Combe in the evening

The Watcher left Ash there, standing in the Comb and Wattle Inn. The fire gave a dull glow, causing the room to look overly eery and much larger than it truly was. The only audible noise was that of the fire's crackling and the shaky, drunken footsteps of a couple drunkards which had only just left. The remaining drunkards were talking in loud, raucous tones, but were in the corner of the room, speaking to themselves with slurred words. She shuddered as one glanced her way, then nudged a friend of his. Their faces turned visibly threatening with their slow smirks. She quickly ran up the stairs, skipping every other step, and went into her rented room, closing and locking the door. Her room was quite dark and the smell of vomit permeated every inch. Clearly some drunks could not walk home themselves. She leaned over, clutching her stomach with her arms, and sniffed the bed warily. "Well, at least they do know to change the bedding!" She sighed lightly and sank to the bed slowly, staring at the unlit candle on the dresser, her mind going wild. "What if he has recruited that Watcher also? Is this simply a way to stop me from finding them? Did he tell me to come here and rent a room, that I might be asassinated in my sleep? Or that I might be abducted also?" She shivered and lit the candle, only providing a bit more light. She jumped after sitting back down on the bed. Had she just heard something outside the window? Surely nobody could break through metal bars...But the door? It was weak wood...easily kicked inward. Or the lock...It could be picked. She shook her head and turned her thoughts to her sister, a small smile coming to her face. Where was Carria? "Oh yes, she went the opposite route to find Briony and..." She buried her face in both her hands and wept. Briony. She had made a promise to keep her and her family safe. Her sisters were quite safe...but now she was...not. "Forgive me, Briony! I failed...my promise...Forgive me." She continued weeping, until she fell into a restless sleep. She dreamt of Briony, standing at the edge of the Chetwoods, just out of her reach. "You broke your promise, Ash!" Each word hit Ash like a dagger. Briony's voice rose into a mournful pitch and she ran at Ash, sobbing and wailing. Ash did not know why, but she began to run away, small limbs whipping at her clothes and face. She fell to the ground as one particularly large root appeared at her feet. She looked back in fear, but Briony was gone, replaced with her true reason for fleeing. Wolfshead stood over her with a vicious smile. "You promised to keep her safe, did you?" He laughed and Ash scurried backwards, trying to get away. Suddenly, he disappeared. She sighed with relief. A hand suddenly clamped over her mouth, muffling her scream. Her eyes opened. She realized she was not dreaming any longer.