Page 34 of The Knucker King

She recalled she had pickled both with carraway and mustard seed. Her stomach growled at the idea of adding it to some rye bread she baked over Ashling the day before.

Butter with it would be nice, but this will do. Her mouth watered at the thought of milk, butter and cheese. No Spring, no calves, no dairy.

Avice gathered the jars into the crook of her arm and turned back towards the light. Bramble had moved through the shadows again, and he stood at the base of the ladder. She juggled the jars and candle; her awkward movements snuffed out the light.

Darkness enveloped her.

She froze.

Avice! Bramble barked.

She felt her familiar’s presence next to her. He whimpered and licked her gloved hand. Normally, that was enough to snap her out of it. She trembled, the rattling of the jars she held rumbling like thunder in her head.

In her periphery, Avice caught the tip of Trewoofe’s snout peek into the root cellar, the only part of him that would fit.

“Little witch, please come out now,” he called to her, his voice gentle, yet firm.

Her scars screamed. All she could feel was the knife, the hands, him on top of her.

Avice, come back to us, Bramble begged, nosing at her hip.

“Avice, follow my voice. Over here, please.”

Blinking, she processed the obvious distress in their voices. They are worried about me. I should not let them be concerned because of me; it is not fair on them.

“Little witch?”

Shivering and abandoning the dead candle, she turned to face the exit. She let out a coarse chuckle at the sight of Trewoofe’s nose twitching.

“I am coming,” Avice whispered.

“Good, well done. I know you can do this. Whatever happened in the past… it is not the now. Your familiar and I are here for you, I promise.”

Yes! Bramble agreed, following her jerking steps.

Avice blinked up, unsure how she managed to get to the bottom of the ladder. Trewoofe’s sweet breath wafted in her nose and helped ground her.

She looked up with a small smile. “Lord?”

“Yes. What is it? Do you need something?”

“I cannot climb out when you are in the way,” she chuckled.

“Oh! Yes, of course.”

Trewoofe shifted from the entrance, and Avice was met with the clouded afternoon Sunshine. She squinted at the light, turning her face from it as she climbed up.

14

Chapter 14

Avice

Ashort time later, Avice joined Trewoofe in her garden with a stack of trenchers – thick slices of bread – lathered in pickled onions and cabbage. Bramble and Ashling bounced around the garden with a half dozen Pillywiggins as the midwife pulled off her gloves, reached for a trencher, and satiated her hunger with her first crisp bite.

The soft bread topped with the vinegary taste of pickled vegetables perfectly complimented one another. Avice sucked through her teeth as she chomped through crunchiness, letting out small murmurs of delight. By the third bite, her stomach stopped its growling, and she saw the amusement dancing in Trewoofe’s eyes.

“Good?”