“Who are you?” I called out. “What do you want?”
I had only taken a few steps outside the door, heading towards the yard with the intent of speaking with Ethel about Wynn, when I saw him. A nondescript sort of man he was; neither old nor young, neither short nor tall, neither fair nor dark of hair, nor wearing any item that linked him to a place or Lord, standing to the side of the stables. He was in the shadows, brown garbed against brown tree trunks and the wooden fence.
And he was watching her. A shiver went down my spine. It did not take any wolf-sense to know there was something not quite right about him.
My voice was steady and strong, although my heart was beating rather fast. If he made a move towards Ethel I would have him. A hand went to my knife. ‘Isa’ I whispered to myself. ‘Be ready’.’
Ethel turned at my voice. She saw him as well, and her friendly expression took on a darker mood. “Oi! What’s with all the lurking!” She moved away from Roan and stood defiantly, hands on hips.
Roan, Wynn, and Ealdhors turned their heads as well. Ears flicking back and forth, nostrils testing his scent. Had Ealfin, or Herne been there, I doubt anyone would have got that close. But Waelden had ridden Ealfin round to the market that morning.
Our unwelcome visitor stepped out into the open. Two women he now faced. He grinned, right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Isa walked forward in response. Though none would see her with their eyes, I knew she was there, crouched, ready to spring. ‘Touch not my cub or I will rip out your throat’ she said. To other ears it likely sounded like a long drawn out howl.
The man halted, eyes narrowing a moment, unsure of what he faced.
“Think I am scared of a howling woman and a child, eh? So you are the low life who have taken over old Erbrand’s home. I don’t like that one bit.”
My main thought was for Ethel. She had no weapon at all on her, save her words. And her expressions.
Rolling her eyes at the man, she sighed with exasperation. “And we don’t care at all what you like or dislike. Get lost, or it will go worse for you.”
He laughed dismissively. I saw Herne in the longer grass, low to the ground, edging up behind him. Ethel could obviously see Herne as well.
Though he spoke and acted in a threatening manner, this man was not the Dunlending. He was not a patch on the size of that man who had first shown Ethel how unsafe we could be if we did not take care.
“Oh, I don’t think so. All I want to do is watch you both… very closely… and there is no one going to stop me doing that.”
“Oh yes there is, Criba! And I have been wanting a word with you for some time!” A recognised voice cut through the air like an arrow.
The man, Criba, went pale, gulped and turned to run, Herne jumped forward at the same moment, and grabbed his lower leg with his teeth. Ethel slapped Roan on the shoulder “Go get him boy!” even as she gasped as the man swung his sword at the snarling dog, and thankfully missed.
I struggled with Isa, her rage at the threat flooding my veins… she was furious, but I knew that once I let her truly loose I could never again pretend to be like everyone else. If need warranted it… and only then, would I let her have her head.
Criba turned and ran towards the trees in the lower field, kicking his legs out sideways as he did. He ran like a chicken!
Then Thilwend rode down the path and past me, crouched low over her horse’s withers. “Stand down, Yllfa. I have this.”
I knew her well enough to trust she did have the situation under control. So I stood down, drawing a slow and deep breath and calming myself. Not many would understand me like Waelden did.
Then I hurried over to hug Ethel reassuringly, as she headed to hug me. Herne was at her feet in an instant, now another had taken up pursuit, and Roan was neighing defiance after the fleeing man. Wynn was eating apples.
“Thilwend will catch him,” I said assuredly, smoothing back Ethel’s hair. “I have heard Hild speak of a village lurker recently, but I thought it was just gossip.”
“Aye. Brona mentioned it to me.” Both Ethel and I took to petting Herne, and telling him what a good dog he was. His tail almost wagged itself off. “But we showed him, mama,” Ethel added. ”A coward and a bully won’t make us afraid.”
There was a sudden shriek of horror. He had been running towards the goat’s field.
“Phillip!” Ethel and I spoke at the same time. Ethel chuckled. “He’s not much of a stalker if he didn't check around the house first. He would have noticed a Fell goat if he had.”
‘No indeed, a coward and a bully would not make us afraid’ I thought. But all the same I needed to make sure Ethel was safe. And I needed to tell Waelden.
