Page 92 of Witchbane

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder and spun me around. ‘You got away?’

I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream. ‘Jem, for pity’s sake.’ My legs went weak with relief. I reached out to take his arm and steady myself.

He dropped something, maybe his catch of a couple of rabbits, wrapped his arms around me to stop me falling and held me tightly to him. ‘Is someone following you?’ he whispered so quietly I only just managed to make out his words.

‘I don’t believe so, but I can’t be certain.’

He slowly lowered me to the ground and crouched next to me as I gathered my strength. Even in this light I could see his shock at finding me there.

‘Have you seen my aunt or Grandmama?’

‘No, why?’

Unable to hide my disappointment and fear, I began to cry, doing my best to explain between sobs about the Witchfinder and his men raiding our gathering and arresting the women. I remembered there could still be a militiaman following me and cleared my throat, desperate to remain strong.

‘There was screaming and shouting,’ I told him quietly. ‘I saw one of them grappling with Aunt Sorrel and another took hold of Grandmama.’ I covered my mouth to muffle a sob, then pulled myself together; I needed to tell him what had happened. ‘Grandmama yelled at me to run, so I did.’

He didn’t speak.

‘Oh, Jem, I must find a way to save them. I can’t let the Witchfinder do to them what he did to my mother. I just can’t.’

He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. I could feel him trembling and realised that if anything happened to them, I wouldn’t be the only one to be devastated.

‘I must get you back to our cottage,’ he said a few seconds later. ‘My father is the best person to speak to about this.’

‘Yes,’ I said. Then I remembered Theo’s instruction to tell Pierre that my grandmother and aunt had probably been taken to Mont Orgueil. I calmed slightly. I had a plan. Pierre was always strong and loyal.

Jem gathered up what he had been carrying and we ran to Pierre’s cottage.

Jem burst through the door.

As I entered I expected to see a surprised but sleepy Pierre sit up from his pallet, but he wasn’t there.

‘Where can he be?’ I asked trying not to panic.

Jem shrugged, as confused as I was.

Maybe I had been wrong to assume Pierre was unaware of the night’s events. I turned and ran across the yard, making for the back door to the manor house.

‘Where are you going?’ Jem called frantically.

‘Follow me.’

Excitement built as my mind raced. Could Pierre be in here with my aunt and grandmother? Was that possible when I had left them amidst the chaos? I thought guiltily.

Full of hope, I ran into the house, through the kitchen and down the hall to the withdrawing room, praying to the spirits of my ancestors that I’d find the women I loved most in the world sitting there waiting for me, unharmed.

I crashed into the room and saw Pierre. I looked around but he appeared to be alone.

‘They’re not here,’ I cried, my heart breaking in horror. ‘Where are they, Pierre?’

He seemed relieved to see me and took a step back. ‘Your grandmama is here, Rue.’

I gasped, seeing her sitting on the sofa behind him. She had a thick shawl around her shoulders and a blanket across her knees. For a moment I stood rooted to the spot, staring, before walking over to her. I knelt before her, expecting her to be relieved, confused when her expression changed to one of shock.

‘You’re bleeding.’

Was I? I didn’t feel any pain. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing,’ I insisted, crouching in front of her, careful not to get blood on her furniture. ‘It must have happened when I ran through the woods.’ I noticed a cut on her cheek and winced. ‘I’m not the only one who’s injured.’ I took her hand in mine. ‘Are you quite well, Grandmama? How did you get here? I left you behind,’ I said, a sob rising in my throat, ‘in the woods, about to be arrested, in the raid.’