Page 3 of The Witch's Cottage
As the fire dances in the hearth, chasing the cold from the kitchen and tossing shadows along the walls, Harrison abandons his bed and crawls under the heavy pile of blankets with me. Despite how uncomfortable I know he must be here, in this strange and unfamiliar place, he starts purring when I put my arm around him.
“Good night,” I whisper, pressing a kiss against his snow-white head.
But he’s already fast asleep.
Chapter 3
Aurora
WHEN HARRISON AND I WOKE up this morning, we found the fire had died in the night, and the cottage was so cold it felt like the tip of my nose was going to fall off. He stayed cuddled under the blankets while I braved the cold to revive the fire, and only when the kitchen had heated up to his optimal temperature did he rouse from his slumber. Now it’s a few hours later, and with the sun comes more hope for the project ahead of me.
“What do you think we should get first?” I ask as we walk together down the winding lane into Faunwood, a wicker basket hanging from the crook of my elbow. Yesterday’s warmth was just a tease, and the weather is back to being crisp and cold. This high up in the mountains, it’ll be some time yet before we’re officially out of the cold season, but I really don’t mind it. There’s something enlivening about the cold; it wakes my body and soul up even as the earth feels like it’s still asleep. I breathe in the crisp air, letting it fill my lungs, and a small smile curls across my mouth.
I really do love it here.
“Food,” Harrison says. He’s trotting along beside me, silky tail held high. Now that he’s eaten and slept, I think he’s in better spirits. “Do you think they have wispfish?”
Harrison loves wispfish, tiny lake creatures that glow like wisps under the light of the moon.
“Maybe. We’ll stop in the mercantile and see what they have.”
Pausing suddenly, Harrison lifts his nose into the air and gives it a sniff. Then his eyes meet mine. “I smell snow.”
That statement would typically fill me with joy, but considering I’ve got holes in my house, I’m not so excited about the prospect.
“We’d better get the roof patched, then.” I try to keep my tone light in the hope of not upsetting Harrison. He wasn’t so sure about moving here in the first place, and I don’t want to make him any more uncomfortable than he already is. The least I can do is provide him with a warm, cozy house. “I’ll ask around in town. There must be a carpenter who can come help us.”
It takes half an hour to walk into town, and as soon as my boots touch the cobbled streets, I’m whisked back in time ten years, to when I was a girl of twelve, following my auntie into each of the shops, talking with all the people we met along the way.
Faunwood has changed since I was last here a decade ago, but in many ways, it’s still exactly the same. Smoke curls from chimneys and into the gray-blue sky, the smell of baking bread fills the narrow streets, and everyone we pass offers a smile and a friendly greeting.
The mercantile is easy enough to find—I still remember it all these years later—and a bell above the door chimes as Harrison and I step into the shop. There are a few ladies browsing the shelves, and they offer friendly, albeit curious, smiles. I don’t imagine Faunwood gets to see new faces very often, but given my resemblance to my aunt—forest-green hair, pale freckled skin, and green eyes—they probably know who I am, or at least suspect I may be related to the quirky forest witch who lived in their woods for so many years.
I join the other shoppers in meandering about the snug little mercantile, grabbing items and slipping them into my basket as I go. Harrison wanders off in a different direction, probably looking for wispfish or his favorite sweet snack, starberries. Meanwhile, I fill my cotton bags with fresh-ground flour, sugar, and salt. I brought my big jar of sourdough starter with me, so with these extra ingredients, I’ll be able to start baking again. The thought fills me with excitement. There’s something so warming about the scent of baking bread in a sunlit kitchen, a cup of tea steaming on a tabletop. I almost get shivers just imagining it.
By the time I finish shopping, Harrison is already waiting for me, sitting on the front counter as if he owns the place.
“Did you find anything?” I ask, setting my basket down beside him.
The annoyed flick of his tail is answer enough. I suppose I’ll have to grow starberries in the garden for him this year.
There’s a little silver bell beside him, and he steps on it with his paw. After some shuffling in the back room, a woman emerges, thick curly brown hair piled up on top of her head and poked through with a hair stick.
“So sorry,” she says, straightening her apron as she steps up behind the counter. “Oh, hello, you.” She reaches over to pet Harrison, but he ducks out from under her hand and jumps off the counter to stand beside me.
If there’s one thing Harrison hates more than anything else, it’s people trying to touch him without permission. I’d not be too enchanted with people trying to touch me all day either.
“He’s not a big fan of strangers,” I say.
“Oh, I don’t blame him.” The woman laughs, and it’s a delightful sound. “I’ve not seen you around before.” She tucks a curl behind her ear as she looks through my basket and jots down my items in her ledger book.
“I’m new here. Well, kind of. I spent time here as a child, but it’s been years.” I reach down to pull a few eldertokens from the pouch tied about my waist. “Lilith Silvermoon was my auntie. I’m fixing up her old cottage now.”
“Oh, you must be Aurora!” The woman looks at me through new eyes, a spark of recognition glowing in them. “Lilith used to talk about you all the time. I’m Lydia Stonewood.” She reaches out to shake my hand. “I’d wondered what was going to become of Brookside. It’s been sad watching it fall into disrepair. Lilith loved it so much, you know? Oh, that’ll be seven eldertokens.”
“Actually, I was hoping to find someone who might be able to help me with some repairs.” I drop the coins into Lydia’s hand, then take my wicker basket back from her with a smile. “Is there a carpenter in town?”
She perks up. “There is! Follow Hillock Lane south, then turn west onto the little road with the big dead tree. Lightninghit it once. Lilith said it was an omen. Can’t remember what it foretold though.”
