Aubreigne Read online

  Rune sniffed his hand, then looked up at Aubreigne.

  “These people are friends,” Aubreigne said, reaching out and shaking Carnage’s hand.

  Rune sniffed Carnage’s hand again, then licked him before turning his attention back to Ata who’d moved a couple of steps closer. Rune growled and turned to face Ata again, making Ata back up.

  Carnage nodded approvingly, and held his hand back toward Boon so Boon would come to him to meet Rune. Boon with usual energy bounded forward and almost right up to Rune.

  Rune turned his attention to Boon, who immediately offered him the cheese and sausage.

  “You should have let him sniff you first,” Carolena said.

  Rune ate the food offered to him and wagged his tail happily when Boon petted him.

  “I think he likes me!” Boon said.

  “I think you’re right. He likes you very much!” Aubreigne said.

  “Maybe if I give him a bit of cheese he’ll understand that I’m a friend as well,” Ata called from where he stood off to the side.

  “Wif eww?” Carnage asked Aubreigne.

  Aubreigne shook her head. “No. He’s not with me. He just showed up this morning as I was preparing to leave and has apparently decided to tag along.”

  “Aubreigne, you wound me. I thought we were friends,” Ata said.

  “We are nothing, Ata. Not enemies, not friends. As I said, you are someone I assisted in your time of need once, that is all,” Aubreigne reiterated.

  “I cannot accept that. You will see,” Ata said.

  “Gooo,” Carnage said, stepping toward Ata and pointing away from his home.

  Rune joined Carnage and stood beside him, his lip lifted to show his mouth full of canine fangs.

  “I’m not going anywhere, you’ll see. I’ll prove myself all over again,” Ata insisted.

  “Gooo!” Carnage insisted, putting a threat behind his raised voice.

  Ata jumped at the sound and backed up. “I’ll wait for you on the path,” Ata said to Aubreigne, and walked away, giving them all a wide berth.

  “I come?” Carnage asked Aubreigne.

  Aubreigne shook her head. “Thank you, Carnage, but I’m fine. He’s not threatening, just a little stubborn. And, I have Rune, and I’m not the least bit afraid of him. It will take a little time for him to figure out that I’m not interested in him anymore, but he’ll realize it.”

  “Noo leeeave feemale,” Carnage said, shaking his head disapprovingly as he looked toward the direction Ata had gone.

  “He’s saying you don’t leave your female once you’ve made it clear she’s yours,” Carolena said, making sure that Aubreigne understood what Carnage was trying to say. “He should have never left you.”

  “I agree,” Aubreigne said. “And while neither he nor I had made a firm promise to one another, the intentions were there. As it turns out though, him leaving was the best thing that could have happened. I feel nothing for him now. It must not have been real,” Aubreigne explained. “It seems he saved us both from a grave mistake.”

  “I’m glad you’re not upset by him,” Carolena said. “Now, let’s get you paid for your goods. Carnage, could you go get Aubreigne part of that slab of bacon, and one of the blocks of butter that I made yesterday?”

  “’Es!” Carnage said, before walking back up the stairs to do as Carolena asked, carrying the basket with the preserves and vegetables Carolena had chosen with him.

  Rune had by now returned to Aubreigne’s side, and Boon wasted no time in petting him and scratching him. Rune loved the attention and panted happily while the boy gave him affection.

  “Heere,” Carnage said, coming back down the stairs with a small slab of bacon and a pound of butter, all wrapped in cheese cloth.

  “Thank you,” Aubreigne said, taking the items from him and arranging them behind all the others so that she could easily keep them separate from those she was offering for sale or trade.

  “Thank you!” Carolena said.

  Aubreigne was having trouble fitting what was left into the top of her wagon. It was only two turnips that wouldn’t stop rolling off. “You know? Here, have some turnips, too.”

  “Oh, that’s too much!” Carolena said.

  “No, it’s really not. Thank you for always being willing to work out a trade with me,” Aubreigne said appreciatively when Carolena took the turnips from her. “I’ll see you soon,” Aubreigne said, taking up her wagon handle again and setting off toward the next stop.

  “Bye, Miss Aubreigne!” Boon called out, “Bye, Rune!” he said, following the wolf for a few steps. Then he turned his attention to his mother and father. “I want a dog! Why can’t I have a dog? Miss Aubreigne has a dog!” he complained.

  “Aubreigne has a wolf, not a dog,” Carolena said.

  “Well, then why can’t I have a wolf?” Boon asked.

  “You don’t need a wolf,” Carolena said, ushering him up the steps.

  “But I do! I need one!” he insisted.

  “Gooo!” Carnage said, pointing to their home.

  “Everybody else has wolves,” Boon muttered under his breath as he stomped up the stairs to their home.

  “Aubreigne is not everybody,” Carolena said, chuckling.

  By midmorning, Aubreigne had visited most all her friends in Whispers, and was approaching her last stop. All along the way, Ata’halne followed along at a safe distance. He was happily greeted by some, less happily received by others, but regardless of how he was treated, he never stopped following along behind Aubreigne.

  As she followed less familiar paths to reach those who lived a little further out, it put her entering the large, open space in which Destroy’s and Enthrall’s homes sat from an unusual direction. She thought nothing of it until she stopped in front of Destroy’s home, and noted that Ata had followed her partially into the clearing before realizing where he was, and moving back toward the shelter of the trees. She looked around and found no reason for it. He’d stayed positive all morning, no matter who’d been chilly to him, or welcoming. But now, when faced with Destroy and Enthrall, he hesitated. She smiled when she figured out why. “Haven’t asked Enthrall for permission to be here yet, have you?” Aubreigne said, without turning to face him directly.

  “I will. I had hoped to in a more private setting,” Ata answered.

  “I see,” she answered. She tightened her grip on her wagon and walked away from Destroy’s home, moving directly toward Enthrall’s.

  “Aren’t you going to stop at Destroy’s?” Ata asked, taking only a step or two toward her, not wanting to deal with Enthrall yet.

  “No. I think I’ll pay Enthrall a visit first,” she answered. Minutes later she pulled her wagon to a stop, propping its handle back against the wagon itself before walking up the steps to Enthrall’s home. As she raised her hand to knock, the door opened, and Felicity stood there. “Aubreigne! I was hoping you’d come by today. I’m out of onions!”

  “I have onion!” Aubreigne said. “And I have a host of other things, too, if you see anything you’d like. It’s just me now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat all this,” she said, waving her hand toward her wagon and all the dried meats, eggs, butter, bacon, and dried fruits she’d received in exchange for her vegetables and preserves.

  Felicity walked out of the house and accompanied Aubreigne to her wagon. She looked down at the wagon overflowing with goods. “My goodness, you have done well this morning.”

  “I have!” Aubreigne said.

  “Well, is there something you need that you don’t have?” Felicity asked.

  “Maybe a bit of flour,” Aubreigne answered.

  “And anything you have too much of?”

  “I have far too much smoked pork, and I have three pounds of butter, and two dozen eggs,” Aubreigne said.

  “I’ll take a pound of the butter, a dozen of the eggs, and half the pork. In exchange, rather than trade you, how about coins?” Felicity asked.

  Aubreigne smiled bright
ly. She could always depend on Enthrall and his wife to pay her in actual money. Which was a good thing to have when you needed things one couldn’t grow or trade for.

  “That would be very much appreciated,” Aubreigne answered, gathering the things that Felicity said she’d wanted.

  “Oh, and the onions!” Felicity added.

  Aubreigne handed some of the items to Felicity and carried the rest up to her door for her.

  “Would you like to come in and have a cup of tea or coffee with me?” Felicity asked.

  “I would, but,” Aubreigne said, looking over her shoulder toward Rune who stood a good distance away from Enthrall’s home keeping a close eye on her, and one on Ata’halne as well.

  “Oh my gosh! Is that a wolf?” Felicity asked.

  “He’s my pet,” Aubreigne said. “He’s not dangerous to the average person,” Aubreigne said. “He’s actually very gentle, he’s just a bit protective of me.”

  “He’s a beautiful animal,” Felicity said, admiring the wolf.

  “Rune! Come!” Aubreigne said, calling him to her. Rune moved toward her right away at her call, but paused at the base of the steps leading up to Enthrall’s porch.

  “He is spectacular isn’t he?” Aubreigne asked, admiring the noble way he carried himself and moved.

  “He is that,” Felicity said.

  “Who’s spectacular?” Enthrall asked, stepping out onto the porch as Felicity stepped past him to put away the items she carried.

  “My wolf,” Aubreigne answered, handing Enthrall the rest of the items Felicity had chosen.

  Enthrall stood where he was as his eyes took in the wolf, but before he remarked on the wolf at all, he noticed a familiar male lurking in the trees near Destroy’s home.

  “What is he doing here?” Enthrall asked irritatedly.

  “He’s my pet. He’s very gentle,” Aubreigne said, defending her decision to keep Rune with her.

  Rune simply watched Enthrall as he walked past him, not reacting at all, which proved his behavior to Enthrall.

  “What?” Enthrall asked, turning his attention to Aubreigne. “No,” he said, realizing she meant her wolf. “I mean Ata’halne. He has not asked for permission to reenter Whispers. Why is he here?” Enthrall clarified, handing the eggs and onions back to Aubreigne before walking down his front steps and toward Ata’halne. Enthrall paused and glanced toward Aubreigne. “Is he with you, Aubreigne?”

  “No. He is not,” Aubreigne answered firmly.

  Chapter 11

  Felicity came back to collect the rest of the items she’d purchased from Aubreigne, and handed her several silver coins. “This is too much money,” Aubreigne said, still holding her hand out open palmed toward Felicity.

  “It’s the right amount,” Felicity said. “You invest all your time growing these vegetables, then you take them around to everyone in Whispers, finally bringing them and the other items you’ve bartered for here to us and to Destroy. It’s a lot of work and saves me having to put out the effort to either go to town or go to the individuals you’ve already been to to get whatever we may need. Come to think of it, it’s most likely not enough. Let me go get some more…”

  “No! This is fine. It’s plenty,” Aubreigne said, laughing. “You are quite convincing.”

  “I am an attorney, you know,” Felicity said, grinning.

  “I am well aware,” Aubreigne said, in recognition of Felicity’s ability to sway one to her way of thinking.

  “What’s he doing?” Felicity asked, watching Enthrall walking toward a male who very hesitantly stepped out to await Enthrall’s arrival.

  “He’s going to speak to Ata’halne. He wasn’t aware he’d come back, I think,” Aubreigne answered.

  “How long has he been here?” Felicity asked.

  “I’m not sure. He just appeared this morning as I was preparing to leave home,” Aubreigne explained.

  Felicity nodded her head. “Why don’t you come inside and have that tea or coffee?”

  “I have all these things I really need to get home, and Rune is with me,” Aubreigne said, starting to decline.

  “Just a quick visit, we’ll even sit out here on the porch. And, I’ve made a chess pie! It’s quite good if I do say so myself,” Felicity said proudly.

  “Alright. I’d like that, but just for a little while. Gaston is supposed to bring me a block of ice for my icebox later this afternoon or tomorrow. I want to be sure I’m there by the time he gets there,” Aubreigne said.

  “Aren’t they wonderful?” Felicity asked, speaking of the icebox.

  “Yes! I can’t remember why I fought against Murder giving me one for so long.”

  Both women watched Enthrall across the yard, closer to Destroy’s home which sat a fair distance from Enthrall’s as he spoke to Ata’halne. “Let me get you that pie, and what did you decide you’d prefer to drink?” Felicity asked.

  “Tea, please, no sugar, no milk, just the tea,” Aubreigne answered.

  “I have a pot on the stove that’s still warm. Have a seat, I’ll just be a minute,” Felicity said, her eyes still on her husband, who from his body posture was not the least impressed with Ata’halne’s return.

  ~~~

  “Enthrall! Hello,” Ata called out as a tense Enthrall approached him.

  “Ata’halne. I trust you’re well?” Enthrall said, coming to a stop in front of him.

  “Yes, I am. Very,” Ata answered. “It’s been a while. You’re looking well.”

  “I don’t age. I’m a vampire…” Enthrall said, knowing that Ata was well aware of this.

  “Yes, of course. I just meant that you look happy, and just… healthy.”

  Enthrall chose to ignore Ata’s attempts at pleasantries. “Why are you here?”

  “Oh, I’m with Aubreigne,” Ata said, stretching the truth.

  “She said you’re not.”

  “Well, not yet. I’ve come back because I realized I was wrong to ever leave here. I’ve been following her on her errands this morning, trying to keep her company despite that vicious beast she refuses to chase away.”

  Enthrall stood there quietly watching Ata’halne while he sized the male up. Something wasn’t right, and Enthrall didn’t fall for the lies that Ata tried to feed him any more than Aubreigne had. “The animal didn’t so much as pay notice to me, he is far from vicious. And does Aubreigne know your reasons for returning?”

  “I have made my intentions known, but I fear I hurt her when I left. It will take some doing to win her trust again,” Ata said.

  “Yes, well, to say the least I’m sure,” Enthrall answered. “How did you find us?” Enthrall asked point blank.

  “It was difficult, to be sure. And I was becoming discouraged, but I knew the approximate location, and I just kept searching. Then, I heard the music and the laughter and voices of all at the wedding. Congratulations, by the way. It was Shane who married my stepdaughter, was it not?” Ata asked.

  Enthrall’s brows slammed down over his eyes. “Firstly, allow me to object on behalf of Aubreigne. Deaumanique is not your stepdaughter. As you left her and her mother, she is not anything to you. She is my daughter-in-law, however, and I will protect her as such.”

  “I didn’t mean any offense,” Ata’halne said, realizing he couldn’t smooth talk Enthrall as he’d been able to do some of the others.

  Shrugging off any explanation Ata’halne tried to offer, Enthrall went straight for the obvious. “So, what you’re telling me is that you hid yourself away and watched us all, Aubreigne included, until the wedding and celebration was finished. Then, you followed Aubreigne home and waited until you felt it the right time to reveal yourself.”

  “You make it sound sinister,” Ata’halne objected. “I simply knew I’d been away and had no right to intrude on the celebrations of the day.”

  “And asking for permission to enter Whispers never occurred to you?” Enthrall pressed.

  “I did intend to. I hoped that it would be with Aubreigne a
t my side,” Ata admitted.

  “But she has refused you,” Enthrall said.

  “For now, yes. But, I will prove myself again. And I will win her over once more,” Ata said, his gaze wandering over to where Aubreigne sat enjoying a visit with Felicity as her wolf lay at her feet. “And that mangy wolf,” he muttered.

  “The wolf is Aubreigne’s pet. I suggest you try to be kind to it. In the meantime, I’ll allow you temporary residence in Whispers. You are not granted sanctuary here, only a temporary reprieve,” Enthrall said. “I suggest you begin to make other arrangements.”

  “But I lived here before,” Ata objected.

  “You weren’t human. You are now. And I’m not sure you belong here any longer,” Enthrall said honestly.

  “There are several humans who live here now. Your own son being one of them. What makes me any different?” Ata’halne asked, his irritation clear.

  Enthrall smiled sinisterly at Ata’halne. “It’s simple really. My community, my rules. I don’t think I want you here. Prove me wrong.” Enthrall stood where he was simply looking at Ata’halne long enough to make him uncomfortable before he finally turned and walked away.

  As Enthrall walked back toward his house, he heard Ata’halne call out to him. “I will prove to you that I still belong here.”

  Enthrall didn’t acknowledge Ata’halne’s statement, he just kept walking. When he was close to home, Ezekiel came running out of the house and launched himself at his father. Enthrall laughed and caught him up before he hit the ground. “Trying to fly?” Enthrall asked.

  “Just playing!” Ezekiel said. “Can I go see if Marauder wants to play?”

  “Let’s give it a moment, alright? There’s a new visitor here,” Enthrall said, stopping short of warning the boy away from Ata’halne. Ezekiel was sharp like both his parents. He’d pick up on what was not spoken.

  “Let’s visit with Mama for a moment first,” Enthrall encouraged.

  “Okay,” Ezekiel said, walking along beside Enthrall once he’d put him down.