The Vaetra Chronicles: Book 01 - Vaetra Unveiled (16 page)

I sat down as Penny walked back into the room carrying a large bowl of steaming stew and a bread board with a wrapped loaf of fresh bread. She overheard Greta's question as she came in. "You found Tam? Oh Greta, I'm so happy for you!"

Penny set the food down in front of me and my mouth watered instantly. I leaned forward and sniffed deeply with my eyes closed. "This is fantastic," I sighed. "Thank you very much."

Penny grinned and gave me a small curtsey. "My pleasure. I hope you enjoy it." She leaned forward and looked closely at my face. "Oh, you're hurt. Let me get something for those scratches." She hurried back out of the room.

I picked up my spoon, but before I started in on the food, I turned back to Greta. "I do have a plan I'd like to run by you."

Greta sat back and looked relieved. She waved her hand in a shooing motion at me. "Go ahead and start your dinner."

I didn't need a second invitation. The stew was thick and rich with big chunks of potato and meat that was spiced to perfection. Penny definitely knew how to cook. I unwrapped the short loaf of bread and ripped a hunk from it. The crispy crust crackled as it tore and steam rose from the exposed crumb. I dipped the bread into the stew and chewed blissfully.

I stopped eating briefly when Penny returned to dab at my face with a wet cloth and spread a little ointment of some kind on my scratches. Her ministrations stung at first, but after she applied the ointment, the pain from the scratches settled into a deep throb. I thanked her and went back to my food.

The two women watched me with amusement as I gave myself over to the sumptuous meal. I had to admit that the stew was better than the version Dela's mother made, although Luma herself would never hear me say that.

After I had consumed several spoonfuls of stew and the first chunk of bread, I started feeling more relaxed, so I stopped for a moment to continue my conversation with Greta. I decided that before telling her about finding Tam, I'd see if she already knew something about his strange condition. Knowing whether or not she had intentionally misled me earlier would affect how I proceeded.

"Have you noticed anything unusual about Tam's appearance or behavior lately?" I asked, watching Greta's face for a reaction.

The question seemed to take her completely by surprise. "Like what?" she asked.

Well, like an excess of body hair, or maybe a strong desire for his meat cooked rare, I thought to myself. But Greta clearly would have no idea what I was getting at. And since she was paying me a lot of money, she was entitled to know what I'd found.

"When I found Tam, his appearance was a little odd," I said. I was going to have to do better than
that
understatement, but I had trouble thinking of a way to describe what I had seen so it would make sense to her. I finally pulled the potion bottle out of my pocket.

"I think Tam and the other boys may have been experimenting with shape shifting," I said as I set the bottle on the table in front of her.

She picked up the bottle and her lips silently formed the word "eclipse" as she read the label. "I don't understand. What is this? What are you trying to tell me?"

"The boy I found didn't quite look human. I think he was shifting into wolf form." There. I said it. And it sounded stupid.

She barked a short nervous laugh and set the bottle back down near my plate. "You must be kidding. Tam would never do anything like that. He knows better than to mess with sorcery. You must have found someone or something else."

"I hope you're right. But that bottle was in his boot. I found his boots and clothes at the clearing where he and his friends meet," I explained.

"Are you telling me that Tam left his clothes behind? Then what was he wearing?" she asked.

"Fur," I stated with a shrug.

Greta and Penny both stared at me. Penny looked over at Greta, waiting for her to say something first. Greta said nothing for what seemed like a long time, her eyes never leaving my face. She finally drew a deep breath and let it out.

"I'm not sure I believe you. You said yourself it was getting dark. But if you did find Tam, we need to get him home safely."

I nodded. "If I go alone, he may run from me again. I need to bring someone with me that Tam recognizes and trusts. I was planning to take Alain along to the peninsula tomorrow morning, if that's possible."

"I'm sure I can convince Alain's father to let you borrow him for the morning if it will help bring Tam home," she assured me. "I'll stop by and speak to him on my way home tonight."

Greta looked over at the potion bottle in front of me and frowned. "I don't look forward to telling Jergen about this. He'll probably want to go with you tomorrow. I'll try to talk him out of it, but I doubt I'll be successful." She looked up at me. "You should probably be prepared to take both Alain and Jergen with you in the morning." She said it like it was a warning.

"Why does that concern you?" I asked. "Are you worried that your husband will scare Tam off?" I didn't know enough about their family dynamic to understand the nature of her warning. I needed to know what to expect tomorrow.

Greta shook her head. "No, Tam respects his father and usually obeys him. But Jergen can be harsh when his will is challenged." Penny nodded her head in agreement, her eyes wide. "If Tam
has
been experimenting with sorcery, Jergen will be very displeased," Greta concluded.

With a heavy sigh, Greta got up to leave. Penny rose with her and gave her a comforting hug. I stood as well and gave Greta a slight bow in farewell. I slipped the potion bottle back into my pocket.

"Don't worry, Greta. We'll get Tam back for you tomorrow," I promised her before she left, and then sat back down to finish my excellent meal.

A
fter two days of hard riding and far too much excitement, I slept soundly and comfortably at the Eagle's Rest. Penny would definitely be getting that recommendation from me when our guests at the Snow Creek Inn asked about a place to stay in Delta. The bed was better than the one I had at home, and the little bags of dried flowers in a bowl on the dresser gave the room a subtle floral scent. I'd have to tell Dela about that idea.

In fact, I was so comfortable that I slept far longer than I normally do. I didn't wake up until Penny knocked quietly on my door. I sat up in bed quickly, yawned hugely, and looked around at the strange surroundings, slowly remembering where I was and why I was there. Her muffled voice came through the door. "It's nearly dawn sir, and I thought you'd like a bite to eat before you meet with Greta's husband."

I hung my feet off the edge of the bed. "Thank you. I'll be right down," I said in a raised voice.

I dressed quickly and collected my things from the room. I ran down the stairs to the common room and laid my sword and saddle bag next to the door. I walked into the dining room just as Penny was setting a plate of eggs and more of that fabulous bread onto the table. Thanking her for her thoughtfulness, I wasted no time devouring my breakfast.

Penny and I talked while I ate. I asked her about her rates and how many rooms she had available, and we engaged in other inn-keeping chatter. I was just setting down my napkin for the last time and settling back contentedly into my chair when I heard the front door open. I turned my head to see a man walk in.

He wore a richly embroidered leather vest over a carefully-tailored brown shirt. His receding hair and trimmed beard were a medium brown that had gone mostly to grey. Intense grey eyes scanned the room from under bushy eyebrows that were drawn together to match his frown. The big man moved deliberately and without hesitation toward the table.

"Good morning, Jergen," Penny said with a smile.

He nodded at her. "Penny."

I looked over at Penny with a grin. "Perfect timing. Thanks for waking me and for the excellent breakfast." I pushed my chair back from the table and got out my coin purse.

Penny put her hand over mine with a look of concern as I untied the purse string. "There's no need to pay. Greta is taking care of that."

"I know. But I wouldn't feel right enjoying such hospitality without at least showing my appreciation." I set a silver coin down on the table. It was a generous tip, but her care had been well worth it.

"Thank you. You're welcome back any time," she said with a smile as she picked up the coin.

Jergen interrupted us. "You're Jaylan?" he asked.

I turned to him and extended my hand. "Yes, sir. Jaylan Forester of Raven Company."

He took my hand and shook it once. "Jergen Overland. I'll be waiting outside." He turned on his heal and walked back out the door, closing it behind himself with a firm thud.

I turned to Penny with my eyebrows raised in surprise. She gave me a small apologetic smile and shrugged her shoulders. Being friends with Greta, she was probably used to Jergen's gruff demeanor.

I picked up my things, waved goodbye to Penny, and followed Jergen out the door.

I started around the side of the house toward the stable and nearly bumped into Alain as he came forward with Patches all saddled-up and ready to go.

Alain licked his lips nervously as he handed me the reins. "I hope you don't mind. Mister Overland instructed me to get your horse ready for you. Did you have anything else in the stable?"

I looked Patches over and accounted for all of his gear. "No, looks good. Thanks for getting him ready." I attached the saddle bags and my sword sheath to the saddle, checked the cinch, and mounted up.

Jergen and Alain were on their horses waiting for me. Jergen was looking around the town slowly, but not really focusing on anything. Alain was watching me and fiddling with his reins, never once looking over at Jergen.

I said, "Okay, let's go." When I spoke, Alain jumped and Jergen slowly turned his attention to me, rather like an owl rotating its head to consider the worthiness of a mouse. He nodded and then urged his horse into a canter, leading the way out of town. My, what a jovial trip this was going to be.

We were about a quarter mile out of Delta when Jergen slowed down and pulled his horse alongside mine. Alain rode just behind us. Jergen seemed ready to talk, now that there was no one to overhear us.

"My wife says you think you found Tam," he stated.

I nodded and said, "Yes, sir. I can't be sure since I never met Tam, but the boy I found was about the right age and more or less fit your wife's description of him."

"She also said you think there's something wrong with him," he said, looking over at me.

Greta's doubts had worked their way into my mind overnight and I was beginning to question what I'd seen with my own eyes. Such is the nature of memories when you see things you don't expect and have trouble believing. I half-attributed Tam's appearance last evening to the fading light and an overactive imagination on my part.

"I could be mistaken. It was dusk when I found him, and the light was bad. I did find his clothes at the clearing, and it seemed to me that he was either naked or wearing some kind of fur." I shrugged in apology for not being able to give him better information.

Jergen half-turned in his saddle and spoke over his shoulder. "What were you boys up to out there, Alain?"

"Nothing, sir. We just went hiking," he replied.

"Hiking naked? Don't lie to me, boy. Why did Tam leave his clothes behind? Did you have girls out there with you?" Jergen asked with a stern tone.

"No sir! We just went hiking. I don't know why Tam left his clothes in the clearing. He must have taken them off later," Alain answered.

I didn't believe Alain for a minute, and I decided to interject my own question. "Did you boys dress up in animal skins for your hikes? Was it some kind of game where you pretended to be animals or something?"

Alain was silent for a moment, and I looked back at him. He was staring at me and his face had gone white. I guessed my question had hit close to the mark. I figured that if sorcery was not involved, what I'd seen could be explained by Tam wearing some kind of costume.

Alain looked down and finally answered. "No, sir. Nothing like that. We just went hiking."

Jergen harrumphed, but didn't pursue the matter further. I don't think he believed Alain any more than I did, but the boy was sticking to his story for now. We'd see how things went when we found Tam.

I thought about the potion bottle that was still in my pocket. If we didn't get better answers from the two boys later on, I'd surprise them with it and maybe shock them into giving us the truth.

***

We reached the sign to Buckwoods and entered the trail behind it in single file with Alain taking the lead and Jergen behind him. If we encountered Tam, I wanted him to see his friend and his father before he saw me.

I wondered what we would find when we reached the clearing. Would Tam's clothes still be there? Why did Tam stay in the woods for two nights rather than go home? What was keeping him here? Did it have anything to do with whatever was going on in Buckwoods?

The forest seemed more cheery today. The sky was mostly cloudy, but the sun emerged periodically to stream down through the trees and sparkle on the dew-laden branches. The smell of warming pine needles wafted up from the trail, and fresh pine scents breezed across us as we rode forward. Chickadees flitted from branch to branch ahead of us, chirping happily.