The Wretched of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood #1)

“You never just eat a Muirwood apple, Colvin. You must always smell it first.”


“It is fruit. The coloring is a bit odd – at first I thought they weren’t ripe until I tasted one.”

She gave him a mockingly stern look. “Never just eat them. Smell them. Savor it first.” She closed her eyes and let its glorious scent fill her again. “Then you can eat it.” She took a bite and it was tart and sweet at the same time, juicy and crisp. “There are many ways to bake, boil, mash, spice, and fry them – but they are perfect alone.” She relished the flavor, the texture in her mouth. After swallowing, she looked up at him. “It was a Muirwood apple that tempted the first Parents you know.”

He gave her an exasperated look, but did not reply. His expression indicated that she was being discourteous again to the dead.

She straightened and brushed some dirt off her dress while she enjoyed the fruit. “I will see if I can learn the way to Winterrowd. Watch for Sowe and I at sunrise at the waymarker.” She took another bite. “Leaving tonight would be dangerous anyway. Dawn will give you a full day to ride tomorrow.”

He nodded, said nothing in farewell as he was eating ravenously from the food she brought. She finished the apple after climbing back up the ancient steps. To get back to the kitchen, she crossed the orchard. It would be a while before the orchard filled with blossoms and heavy fruit. Having been raised at the Abbey, she knew everything about them. That apples each had five seeds, and if cut a certain way, they were shaped like a star. They were useful in many dishes, including soup. Lia knew dozens of ways of preparing them.

“Where have you been hiding, Lia?” came a voice behind her as she crossed the ring of oaks bordering the kitchen.

She glanced back at Getman Smith with annoyance and kept walking. “I have not been hiding anywhere.”

He caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “Hold a moment. Where were you?”

She tried to yank her arm free, but his grip was strong. Some of the boys said he was stronger than Jon Hunter, though she doubted it.

“You are hurting my arm.” She gritted her teeth to keep back the pain.

“Tell me where you were.”

“Why does it matter where I was?”

He squeezed even harder which nearly made her cry, but she sucked it down and glared at him. “Because they say you know where the wounded soldier is. Is it true? Do you, Lia? The one the sheriff was looking for?”

She wanted to slap him across the face, but she dared not. She had seen him thrash someone for daring to scowl at him. “Do not be a fool, Getman. They already searched the kitchens. Both of them. You are wrong…” His fingers dug into her arm even worse and she nearly went wild with pain. “Stop it, Getman!”

“If they had found him, we all would have known. Do not be a fool, Lia. Do not think I am a fool. The Aldermaston visits your kitchen all the time. You hear things that none of us do. Is the Aldermaston hiding him?”

“You are daft!” Lia shouted at him. “The old man does not tell us anything interesting.” She finally managed to jerk her arm free.

His face scrunched up with anger. “If you have lied to me again, I swear by Idumea you will regret it. The sheriff’s men offered a reward to the one who finds the soldier. I am getting that reward. You remember that. The Aldermaston is a fool if he is risking hiding him. A true fool.”

Lia held the tears back until she made it inside the kitchen.





CHAPTER TWELVE:


Winterrowd





Pasqua ground some peppers in the pestle with vigorous strokes. “Carry the meal to the Aldermaston, Sowe, before the old niffler starts grumbling again. He has been in high dudgeon since that sheriff left.”

“I will do it,” Lia offered. Sowe pouted, and Pasqua noticed her frown.

“Both of you go then. The looks you give each other lately are wont to bring an early winter. Quickly now. Do not dawdle at the manor. Whitsunday is near enough. There is much to prepare, and we need to count the stores to be sure there is enough. Laziness from either of you and I will be tempted to bring back the switch.”

“We are not lazy,” Lia said under her breath as she hefted the tray. Sowe opened the door for her and followed her out.

“You never like carrying food to the Aldermaston,” Lia said to Sowe. “Why do you care if I should do it twice?”

“We should tell the Aldermaston,” Sowe said softly.

“You are thinking like a goose. The king is coming. The Aldermaston would be in trouble if he knew.”

“Then why are we helping him get in trouble by hiding…him?”

“He has a name,” Lia said with a smug feeling.

“Which he has only shared with you.”

“And you are jealous that he did?”

“I am not jealous. I am worried.”

“You are always worried, Sowe.”