Hild sighed as she wrapped her thick cloak around her shoulders. It was cold. Not a bitter cold, nor was there any snow fall. But the wind was strong. Anything that could be blown over or away, had been. It was a gale that drove icy fingers through layers of clothing to caress the bone.
And she was already shivering. She was so cold inside.
But a small group of traders heading for Edoras had turned into Bancross for shelter, warm food and beds. The Dragon could not afford to turn away the custom they offered. Trade had been lax the past week.
She could supply beds and beer alright, but the three men would want some hearty food as well. Although it was not far past mid morning, the men would likely want more than porridge to start with, and she was lower on her stock of eggs than she had meant to be. Porridge and eggs was a proper breakfast. That would see the guests full enough to sort out their two wagons and horses before she cooked for the evening and plied them with beer. They would speak fondly of her place thereafter. It was important to her.
So there was nothing for it but to venture down to Northgyths house and find out if she had enough eggs to sell on to her.
Bronna was tidying the inn. Sweeping the floors clean of all the dust and memories she could. She smiled half heartedly at her mother as she saw her approach the door.
“It is going to be alright, mama. Just you wait and see,” said the pale faced girl. “We have friends here. We are not alone.”
Hild gave her daughter an encouraging hug in turn. “Aye my dear. It will just take us both a while to … come to terms with things. That’s all.” She turned to pick up her wicker basket.
“You be careful, mama. He is still out there.”
Hild’s thoughts turned back momentarily to when Denholm had come to tell her Paega was dead. The captain had placed a steadying hand on her shoulder before saying “The fault is mine. They were both in my prison, but Criba tricked one of my guards, slaying him, and then also your husband, before escaping.”
“He was stabbed by Criba for betraying him, “Sergeant Thilwend had added as she moved close to support a swaying Hild. “I am so sorry things happened this way.”
“Still out there? He won’t be for long,” Hild stated, snapping her thoughts back to the present. “I saw the look on the Captain and Sergeant's face. They will have him for your father’s death and for many other things as well.”
Bronna looked at her a moment longer. Words the girl struggled to say didn’t come. Not yet. Maybe they would when Criba was caught and executed?
“Take care, mama,” was all she could manage.
So Hild went outside into the wild weather, inwardly hugging herself and Bronna.
Aye, they had both been so angry with Paega. He had betrayed them because he was caught up in a matter beyond him. He had never been the husband or father they had wanted or needed. But when the shock had settled a little… and it *was* only a few days past, Hild knew she had never wanted her husband dead. He was weak, she had always known it. Easily led. But in his own way, she now realised, all his attempts to get Bronna and herself to leave Bancross was his way of trying to protect them.
That was it.
A few tears escaped her eyes. She had cried quite a bit, and not attempted to hide it from Bronna. The girl cried too.
They had not closed the Dragon. Serving the few who came was hard for them, though Seldis helped by taking on all cooking and most serving.
There had been silence from some visitors, and knowing nods and words of condolence from others. It wasn’t the usually cheerful Hild they expected. Not all knew how to act.
It was hard.
And most others in Bancross seemed taken up with troubles and worries of their own. She longed to run away from things, to maybe run down to Waelden and Yllfa’s home and just feel she was among normality again. But they were busy. Ethel was busy in the forge.
Hild wanted to be strong. But she also wanted to go to her room and bolt the door and scream into her pillow. ‘How can matters get worse?’
Well the arrival of overnight guests was possibly a move for the better? She had asked a little about what things were like outside the village, and had the reply from them she expected.
The traders had come over the river from Snowbourn, and had seen several warg riding orcs from a distance. They said they could see and smell fire not far off.
“It’s getting dangerous to go anywhere. You would hope Edoras would increase patrols.”
“We are safer here than Middlemead,” she had replied.”The garrison here is strong.”
The trader’s had nodded in agreement. “Let’s hope so.”
And now she walked slowly down the hill, looking over to the garrison as she passed by. No need to bother the Captain, she thought. He would let her know as soon as he had Criba.
She drew the cloak tight again, wishing for a moment she could be involved in that capture. She would give that man what for, for corrupting her husband so. But then……what was the point? She had to move forward for Bronna’s sake. Her heart sank.
For a moment she halted, seeing Ethel come out of the forge to speak with one of the guards. She waved to her daughter’s friend, and the girl caught her gesture, waving back. Or rather, she was waving to Yllfa, who was riding the old warhorse up to the barricades.
‘As soon as there is time, I shall visit them’, Hild comforted herself.
Then Ethel gasped, and ran towards the barricades. Two guards followed.
It was a split second before Hild dropped her basket and ran forward as well.
Yllfa?
The old horse was on his knees, nudging the prone figure of his rider, who had simply slipped, unconscious from his back.
