The innkeeper’s wife sat across from her at the small table she kept near the hearth in her kitchen. It was late afternoon the sun was slipping down behind the far mountains, the Mountains of Mist.
Katheryne had enjoyed the visit but knew her guest would have to leave soon in order to return to town
before night. She was surprised that Grace continued to sip at her tea. “She must have something on her
mind…. I wonder why she doesn’t speak out? Katheryne thought to herself. Finally the small blond haired
woman put down her cup and leaned towards her reaching out to take Katheryne’s hand between both of hers.
“Katha” she began, using the pet name that Paul her husband had given her, which shortened her full name
and rhymed it with ‘say’. Katheryne blinked uneasy and had to force herself to sit still to listen to her
friend. Grace noticed the reaction but resolutely continued “Please dear, It’s been 6 months since we
heard about Paul. You must move into town with us. Or at least consider Goodman Thomas’s offer. Your plants
and herbs can be transplanted and you could always take treks into the country to harvest what ever else
you need.”
Grace paused tilting her head and watched the younger woman intently as she said “ A woman can not live out
here in the woods by herself. It’s too dangerous! You have been lucky so far but the people in the village
are beginning to worry. There is too much unrest in our land. And the Shadowspawn she spoke the word in
disgust. “ Katha,” her voice dropped to a near whisper, “I’m not trying to frighten you but the Band of the
Red Hand fight a losing battle”.
She stopped then her own fear evident on her face. Katheryne patted the woman’s hand before pulling her
own free.
“Grace, I know you are all worried but, this is my home. Paul’s and mine! We don’t know for sure that he was killed with the
rest of his company. I can’t just leave. And as far as Goodman Thomas’s offer” She sniffed “The man isn’t
looking for a housekeeper, He is looking for a wife! And I am already married.
Grace shook her head as she rose to leave. She walked to the doorway and looked back at Katheryne “Don’t you think we would have heard something by now? Paul has been gone a year, Kat. The other men came home 6 months ago. You were there you know what they said. ‘No one who went into the mountain pass with Paul came out alive’ You must be reasonable, my dear. Paul is dead, but You are not! It’s time to grieve and go on with your life. We need you strong and healthy, I know you don’t complain but I can tell that the headaches are getting worse. You just have to let this go and move on”
The woman’s face and voice seemed to melt away… replaced with a crash of lightning and roll of
thunder. Katheryne gave a start as she sat up in bed. A storm raged outside her comfortable cabin. She held
her left hand up to her heart as she reached with her right to touch the man beside her in bed.
“It was just a bad dream.” She gave a little nervous smile and turned to look at her husband “Paul?” She
whispered “Are you awa… Lightning brightened the room and the thunder drowned out her scream as she looked
at the drawn face of a man almost a skeleton lying there in her husband’s place.
Leaping from the bed she ran into her kitchen stumbling in panic. She threw open the door and the rain and wind rushed into the house wetting her
instantly. With just a quick glance behind her she turned jumped over and crouched breathlessly behind
her wood cozy beside the hearth. “He’ll think I went outside” she thought her heart thumping.
She didn’t move. The door began to swing back and forth as the wind gusted. The lightning and thunder
began to roll away. The sounds coming back fainter and slower until even the rain stopped.
Katheryne was cramped and wet. Her long dark curls were slipping out of the braid she had put it in for
sleep. Her deep blue eyes were wide with her fear but she brushed angrily at the tears that rolled down her
soft tan cheeks.
Standing up tall to her full 5’9” height she straightened her shoulders. Picking up a piece of wood
she moved over to the mantle and lit a candle. Gripping the log in one hand and the candle in the
other she made her way back to her bedroom. As she entered the room she looked at her bed….empty.
Holding the candle high she searched the room and saw nothing …no one was there. She looked under the bed
and in the cupboard …nothing.
She ran back toward the kitchen searching room by room, nothing…no one was there.
She sat down the candle and moved over to firmly shut and lock the kitchen door. Turning, she
‘concentrated’ on the coals in the fireplace, and watched them burst into a cool blue flame. She threw
her “weapon” in along with more wood and in short time had a blaze going. After she had dried and changed she
sat at the fire with a cup of tea staring into the flames “What did I see? Now I am imagining things….
What am I going to do? I can’t stay here alone and I don’t want another man. I don’t even know for sure if
Paul is dead.” Anger overcame her as she thought of her strong handsome husband dead “Who ever hurt him I
swear I will hunt down and kill.” She repeated the sentence that she had said almost nightly the past few
months and started to say it again when she stopped her mouth open. She sat up straight, her eyes bright
and said aloud “That’s what I’m going to do! I am going to the Grey Tower and find out for myself what
happened to Paul.” Resolve firm on her face she began to make preparations immediately and was ready to
leave for the Mirror of Mists by the time dawn broke.