Eyes of the Woods (6 page)

“I know what I saw,” I said.

“Aye, that’s what I told the others. The scouts saw nothing. No tracks. You’re sure it wasn’t an animal, Eris?”

“I can tell the difference between an animal and a nightwalker, Father. I saw its eyes.”

“It doesn’t make sense for one to be out in the daylight,” he said, mostly to himself. He was troubled. “You’re sure your eyes weren’t just playing tricks on you? You’re exhausted.”

“No. I don’t think so. I mean…it’s possible, but…”

Father nodded, and held out his hand for my mother. “Get some sleep.”

I tried. My body begged for sleep, but after hours of tossing and turning, I finally climbed out of bed well before evening. I ambled down the hallway to the great chamber. It was empty and dark except for the embers glowing red in the fireplace. The house was quiet, and I wrapped my arms tighter across my waist.

The eyes that hovered above the stone wall that surrounded our home wouldn’t leave my thoughts. I played that moment over and over in my mind, trying to think about what the face around the eyes looked like. But the harder I focused, the less I could see.

By the time I’d kindled another fire, the house was alive again. The clouds snuffed out the late-afternoon sun.

Lukas trudged into the great chamber in a rather foul mood. “Father has said we’re staying in tonight,” he grumbled, twisting the iron tool in his hands.

I sat up. “Oh? Did he say why?”

“So that you can rest. You know…for your celebration.”

I instantly felt sick. “Oh.”

I went into the kitchen and came upon Jonathan sitting at the table. He was watching Ursula pull fresh bread from the oven.

“Smells wonderful, Ursula,” Mother said with a smile.

“Can you teach me?” Jonathan asked.

“To bake?” Ursula asked, surprised.

Jonathan shrugged his shoulders, his cheeks turning a pale shade of red. “I just like it so much. Seems like I should know how to make it for myself.”

“It’s a good idea, Jonathan,” I said, patting his shoulder.

His embarrassment vanished, and he joined Ursula, watching her intently.

Mother shook her head. “I have a son who wishes to learn to bake, and a daughter who refuses to.”

I offered an apologetic half smile. “But she’s good to have around in the dark?”

Mother chuckled and leaned against my side. “That she is.”

Ursula rang the bell, and several pairs of footsteps could be heard making their way to the table.

Mother sat next to me and patted my knee. “Blessings, please.”

I nodded, and once Father and the boys were settled, we all bowed our heads.

“Bless us, Father God, that we work for your glory. And bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. Amen.”

Everyone at the table repeated my last word in unison, all in different tones.

Father sat at the opposite end of the large wooden table from Mother. The boys sat on each side, and although I usually sat next to Father, Mother seemed to want to be closer to me lately. I imagined it was because of my upcoming betrothal.

Two extra chairs sat empty. Those we kept for guests, but we hadn’t had any in a while.

A knock sounded at the door, and Father left the table. His deep voice softened while he spoke to the person at the door. He returned only briefly to kiss my mother, and then he took his hat and coat and left again, shutting the heavy door behind him.

We all looked to Mother. She squirmed nervously in her seat.

“He had some business to attend to. Eat your breakfast.”

“What kind of business?” Jonathan asked.

Mother lowered her chin, and my little brother sank back into his seat.

“Sorry,” he said.

After a few bites, Clemens set down his fork. “Should we go into town, Mother? I could pick up the fabric you were wanting. It should be in.”

“What a wonderful idea, Clemens, thank you,” Mother said.

Lukas, Jonathan, and I rolled our eyes. We knew the real reason he wanted to venture into town. If we had the night off, he wanted to see Emelen.

“Be sure to bring your brothers and sister with you,” Mother added.

Clemens paused, and then his shoulders fell. I stifled a giggle. Mother knew his real reason too.

We walked together, the younger boys teasing Clemens. I walked along one rut, while the boys walked in a line in the other. The wagons left deep indentations in the roads, and once the mud dried, it was a fun way to pass the time it took to walk to town.

We passed the first houses, A-framed and made of stacked wooden planks and small windows with attached shutters. The roofs were covered with woven strips of bark, leather, and tar, and covered in grass. I sometimes wished our house looked like theirs, but Mother explained that our stone walls were necessary.

While Clemens stood with Emelen in front of Brewster’s Bakery in the center of town, I took the boys to the sweet shop. After picking out a few pieces of licorice, we ducked into the blacksmith’s, looking for anything new.

“Nothing exciting,” Lukas said.

“Where next?” Jonathan asked.

I put my hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “We best pick up the fabric for Mother. No doubt Clemens will forget.”

Jonathan chuckled.

We pushed open the door to the fabric store, and Lukas ran his fingers over the bright hues and prints. Mother had her eye on a purple jacquard, so I chose two shades, grape and lavender, and paid the woman at the counter.

Jonathan nodded in approval. “Clemens owes you one.”

“I’ll add it to the pile,” I said as we returned to the street.

The sun was setting, so I found the closest bench and sat too. We watched the townspeople hurry about their errands so they could get home, and listened to the village weavers singing their beautiful birdsong while they settled into their nests for the night. Neither the birds nor the people dared wander at night, for fear of the predators from deep within the Glades. Mothers hurried their children along the dirt streets, and one by one, the shops began to close.

The clouds broke just long enough for the glorious sun to make a dramatic exit, painting the sky in purples and pinks as it extinguished into the mountaintops.

I closed my eyes and welcomed the last moments of the sun that I loved so much. It was so warm, so different from the cold night. Maybe one day I would find a way to spend my days in the sun instead of inside asleep. Until then I would have to learn to love the moon.

“I’ll, uh…I’ll be right back,” Lukas said. He disappeared behind a corner before I had a chance to call after him.

Jonathan made a face.

“Do you know where he’s off to?” I asked.

Jonathan just sighed. “Why does everyone have to act so crazy when they get older?”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed again. “Nothing.”

After several minutes of waiting, I grabbed Jonathan by the hand and walked in the direction Lukas had run. We passed Clemens and Emelen along the way.

“Have you seen Lukas?” I asked.

Clemens nodded and pointed to the alley. I walked in that direction and came upon Lukas, his arms crossed, his head leaned against the corner of the building. He was gawking like an idiot at Johanna Wayland.

“It’s time to go, Lukas.”

“But—” he said, startled. His reaction annoyed me. He was a trained Prior. It was in his blood to detect something or someone sneaking up on him, and all it took were the detestably straw-colored locks and hideous bright-green eyes of that sow to distract him.

“We’re going home, Lukas. Now.”

I walked away, and Lukas followed with a smile on his face.

“Why so cross, sister?” he asked.

I turned on my heels, and Lukas stopped with just an inch between our noses.

“Of all the ridiculous girls in this godforsaken territory, you’re falling for Johanna?” I seethed.

“She’s wonderful,” Lukas said in the most preposterous tone.

“She’s awful!”

“She’s beautiful.”

“She’s a boorish, brainless witch!”

Lukas’s eyes grew wide. “I didn’t realize you were friends.”

I groaned at his teasing, and Lukas howled with laughter.

Jonathan frowned. “You’ve never forgiven her, have you?”

“And I
never
will,” I said, continuing home.

LUKAS CHUCKLED AND THEN CROSSED HIS ARMS.
“We were only talking.”

Johanna had been cruel to me as a child, and I always chalked it up to jealousy. One day she caught Lukas’s eye, and she realized she didn’t need to be jealous because she could marry into our family. Of course, she never admitted to it, but I knew what she was up to.

“I’ve warned you about her. She means to use you, Lukas. She only wants what our family name can do for her.”

“If you only got to know her,” Lukas protested. “She wouldn’t do that. She’s so much different than what you believe her to be. I understand that she was mean to you when we were children, but we’re not children anymore. Can’t you let it go? She’s apologized. You can’t parade around like a grown-up and then be so childish.”

I lifted my chin. “I can’t just let her manipulate my little brother like that. I can’t just stand by while she plays you like a violin.”

“She wasn’t…,” he started, but then smiled. “You really think she means to marry me?”

I shuddered. “Don’t act so excited. It’s disgusting.”

Lukas watched me for a moment and then walked away, his steps a bit lighter, his grin even wider than before.

I turned and blew away the wisp of blond hair that had fallen in my face. I tucked it back into my ponytail and followed him to the house.

Jonathan stayed several steps behind, keeping his head down. He knew I was angry and didn’t bother trying to talk me out of it.

When we arrived at the house, Father had returned home. He was in the kitchen with Mother, and they were talking in hushed tones. Jonathan and I didn’t try to get close enough to hear. It wouldn’t matter; Father would be able to detect us.

As predicted, once we encroached the hall, our parents fell silent.

“Did you have a nice time?” Mother asked. The deep double lines between her brows instantly vanished.

Jonathan handed her the fabric.

“Lovely,” she said, smiling at the folded material.

“Father,” Jonathan said. “I thought I could join you tomorrow night, after Eris’s ceremony.”

“Oh, is that tomorrow?” Father teased.

Jonathan blew out a breath in frustration. “I’m ready. It feels like a waste of time and talent to be in the bakery.”

“Talent, eh?” Father said.

Jonathan stood tall. “I think I’ve proven—”

“You’ve still a ways to go yet, son.”

“Father,” Jonathan began, but Father waved him away.

“Patience. You have the rest of your life to hunt—to be an adult. Don’t be in such a rush.”

The skin around Jonathan’s jaw tightened. “I’ve been patient. I’ve trained hard. If you would just—”

“Jonathan, you have your answer.” Father’s tone was final.

“But you let Eris hunt far more than I when she was my age. She’s a girl! It’s not fair!”

“Enough!” Father said. He furrowed his brow. “You mean to tell me how to train my children? Eris was ready. And you’re ready when I say you are.”

Jonathan breathed quickly from his nose and gritted his teeth.

“Jon,” Mother began, but he turned and ran from the house.

“Dyre,” Mother said, reaching out to Father.

He pulled away. “I won’t baby him, Ingrid. He has to learn to listen first.”

Mother nodded, and I went outside. Jonathan wasn’t in the barn, or the courtyard, or anywhere along the wall.

I approached Jed, one of our many cousins who patrolled our stone walls.

“Have you seen Jonathan?”

He shook his head.

I retreated back to the house, guided by the glowing light of the torches that lined the perimeter. Just before I reached the door, that familiar feeling of being watched made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I turned to see a pair of red eyes gleaming just above the wall.

“Nightwalker!” I yelled, taking off into a sprint.

The heavy footsteps of those patrolling grew closer, running toward my voice.

I ran to the wall and leaped, my fingers barely gripping the ledge. I pulled myself up and looked down, trying to see the body that belonged to those eyes.