Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (6 page)

She studied me for a moment, most likely
trying to gauge if I mocked her with my question. She heaved an
aggravated breath and started to explain the process of making
cheese. It fascinated me, of course. Soft cheese would be easy
enough for us, but hard cheese would require more ingredients,
time, and space to cure.

“So it’s not the preparing time we need
worry about, but the items we need to make it. What do you think of
making the soft cheese and trading milk for the hard cheese?”

“We won’t get much in return for the milk,”
she said. “At least, not the goat’s milk.”

I nodded, thinking of cows, but decided the
expense not yet worth the return given the small staff we
housed.

“Please let me know what Lord Ruhall says.
I’m very interested in assisting,” I added.

She gave a single, curt nod.

With Lord Ruhall still annoyed with me,
Egrit missing—most likely cleaning, which I wasn’t eager to
resume—and Swiftly and his men busy with repairs, I had nothing to
do to occupy myself. I hesitated in the kitchen while Mrs. Wimbly
left, presumably to speak with Lord Ruhall.

The assistant cook watched me closely.

“If anyone is looking for me, please let
them know I’ve gone to Konrall,” I said, deciding to check if Bryn
had yet moved to the bakery.

The last time I’d seen her, she’d called me
a whore. Yet, I refused to believe she would do so again. In her
heart, she couldn’t really see me as a whore. Most likely, she’d
been afraid of losing her position among the merchants of the
Water. But she wasn’t in the Water anymore. Konrall was different,
and I needed to see her again so we could mend things between
us.

The assistant cook nodded and watched me
leave. I decided the people at the estate an odd bunch. They didn’t
know what to make of me. Neither did I. I wasn’t a servant, but not
a guest either since my father was employed there. Yet, I slept in
the Lady’s quarters. Obviously, I was a nuisance. It made me
smile.

Birds sang along the dirt and pebble drive.
I found myself missing the vines and dark mist. Though eerie, it
had felt safe, like my own place to hide with only the beast to
trouble me.

A wagon rumbled in the distance. I waited on
the shoulder and smiled at Henick as he neared.

“Your timing is impeccable,” I said with a
laugh. He smiled in return and braked.

“It looks like I’m traveling the wrong
direction, though,” he said. The wagon pointed north toward the
Water.

“It’s not the ride I’m after as much as it
is the news. Has Bryn settled in Konrall, yet?”

“Yes. A few days back. The smoke’s been
pouring from the bakery. The new baker makes a fine tart and cake.
His bread’s not bad either.”

“How is Bryn?”

He shrugged and looked down at his hands. “I
know she thought she would have a hard life with me. But I don’t
think it would have been any worse than a fancy baker’s wife.”

My heart went out to him. “Remember to watch
for rainbows, Henick. It’s what you deserve.”

He looked up at me and gave a small
smile.

“Are you well?” he asked.

It was my turn to shrug.

“I think I’m still broken inside. Too quick
to anger at times. Too scornful at other times, though I try to
keep that hidden.”

He looked sad for me.

“What a pair we are,” I said with a small
smile. My mother once told me time changed everything. In that
moment, I realized what she meant. Nothing ever stayed the
same.

“If you visit your sister, I hope it’s
pleasant,” he said, nodding farewell.

I waved him off and considered his comment.
I hoped, by the end, I would be able to call the visit
pleasant.

But it wasn’t meant to be. As soon as I
walked into the bakery, Bryn’s welcoming expression closed.

“Get out,” she hissed, coming around the
counter. “Whore,” she spat. Thankfully, there were no customers to
witness her clasping my arm and tugging me toward the door.

“Bryn!” Bryn froze.

“Go upstairs and calm yourself. Perhaps
think on the names you choose to use.”

Bryn released me, and I turned to see Edmund
standing in the doorway to the bakery. He looked quite angry, and
with reason. Tennen stood just behind him.

Bryn paled, and a sob escaped her. My heart
broke for her, despite her name calling.

“Go,” Edmund said softly.

Tennen smirked as she ran up the stairs, and
a fire lit inside of me.

I stalked around the counter and pushed past
Edmund as I balled up my fist. Without hesitation, I struck Tennen.
Again, it wasn’t hard enough to bloody him as I wanted, but his
head still moved from the blow.

He growled and stepped toward me, but Edmund
stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“You used her then come in here to boast
about it to her husband?” I said to Tennen. “Her only fault was to
believe your intentions honest.”

“You’re a whore just like her,” Tennen
said.

Edmund’s hand on Tennen’s chest fisted then
flew to connect with Tennen’s jaw. Tennen grunted as the hit drove
him back a step. Edmund managed what I hadn’t the first time. He
made Tennen bleed.

Tennen narrowed his eyes at the baker, but
he didn’t move to retaliate.

“Get out,” Edmund said between gritted
teeth.

Tennen narrowed his eyes.

“Remember what I said. I’ll tell everyone.”
Then he left.

“Let me guess. Bread for life or he’ll tell
everyone he’s the father of the babe?”

Edmund nodded.

“Don’t give in. As soon as you do, they have
you,” I said, rubbing my hand. Hitting someone hurt.

“I know. His mother was already here to see
me.”

I shook my head, troubled that the smith had
sent his wife out again.

“The last baker was not a good man. I hope
you’re better.” I glanced at the stairs before meeting Edmund’s
gaze again. “I meant what I said. Bryn’s shame was in trusting
Tennen. I know she’s not perfect. She’s selfish and lied to you
about the babe, but she has some good qualities as well.”

“Name one,” he said flatly.

I felt badly for him. I knew what it was
like to discover people weren’t who you thought they were.

“She can cook well. For a baker’s wife
that’s a good thing,” I said with a small smile.

He gave a short, derisive laugh, showing
just how much he was hurting.

“Everything she’s been through has been hard
on her,” I said. “I don’t think she knows who she is yet. She’s
been what we needed her to be. If you can forgive her, I think
she’ll forgive herself and maybe find out who she can be.”

He studied me for a moment then looked
away.

“Did you need any bread today?” he asked
after a moment.

“No, I was just here for a visit. Is
business doing well?”

“Not very. People here do not have the coin
they did in the Water.”

“I hope your fortune changes soon.”

He nodded, and I left with nothing more to
say. I wished Bryn would stop her whore nonsense. As her husband
pointed out, we both knew I was not the whore.

Outside, I caught sight of Tennen, pacing
before the smithy. I groaned. Being with the beast had made me
impulsive. I shouldn’t have hit Tennen. I headed to the
butcher’s.

“Hello, sir,” I said as I walked through the
door.

“Benella!” The butcher’s glad smile
lightened my heart. “I thought we might not see you again. I heard
your father is now employed with the returned Liege Lord,” he said,
wiping his hands on his apron.

“He is. I’d hoped to visit with Bryn, but
she holds me accountable for what happened with the old baker.”

He made a sound of disapproval as Tennen
walked past the butcher’s door.

“And, I need your help,” I said softly.

“It seems so. Why does he have such an issue
with you?”

“The old baker hurt others as well, not just
me,” I said quietly. “I saw something I shouldn’t have. Tennen
knows. I think the smith knows, too.”

The butcher heaved a pitying sigh.

“How can I help?”

“Speak with Tennen while I slip out the back
door? I just need a head start,” I said with a confident smile.

“Perhaps you should mention this to your
father,” he said.

I nodded with no intention of doing so.
After all that Tennen had done to me, I still didn’t have the heart
to punish Sara by telling all. She might be sent away with her
husband who would hold her accountable or, worse, make her do the
same thing in another village. No, the punishment should lie solely
on Mr. Coalre. As far as the son...well, perhaps he could be
apprenticed to the south. Somewhere near the baker.

Slipping through the curtain that led to the
butcher’s kitchen, I listened to the butcher cross the store and
walk outside. I waited a few moments, then I peeked out the back
door. Seeing nothing, I sprinted to the trees and used my old route
past the cottage toward the estate. It didn’t take long for Tennen
to shout my name, but thankfully it was in the distance. Then he
shouted for Splane. Neither of them would have a chance.

I grinned too soon.

Splane stepped out in front of me, knocking
me to the ground. He looked behind me nervously, and Tennen shouted
again.

“You better have her, Splane!”

Tennen sounded closer, and I scrambled to my
feet.

Splane watched me, but I could see he was
torn. His gaze shifted behind me and then toward the estate. No
matter what he chose, he would face either the wrath of his brother
or of the beast. No, not the wrath of the beast. The beast wasn’t
there anymore to protect me, and Splane’s brother was just behind
me.

Lifting my skirts high to free my legs, I
made an obvious feint to the right. Splane widened his stance to
block me as we eyed each other. I kicked out, clipping him sharply
between the legs.

“Thank you for the target,” I said as I took
off, not staying to watch his slow fall to the ground.

Tennen yelled again, much closer this
time.

I kept my skirts high and ran as I hadn’t in
a long time. My side ached by the time I reached the gates. I flew
past a very surprised Swiftly. There was only one place I felt
safe.

Mr. Crow opened the door before I reached
it, my pounding footfalls probably giving away my presence. I
sprinted up the stairs into the dark interior and crashed into a
solid chest with an “oof.” Strong arms and a familiar scent wrapped
around me. In that instant, I felt safe.

“What happened?” Lord Ruhall asked.

The sound of his voice ruined my
illusion.

“A moment...please,” I gasped, dropping my
skirts and sliding from his arms. I leaned my hands on my knees as
the pain in my side clawed its way into my lungs. I’d found in the
past the position eased the pain.

Swiftly entered just then.

“Is she all right?” he asked.

“She’s out of breath,” Lord Ruhall said,
still close. “What happened?” he repeated.

“I don’t know, my Lord,” Swiftly said. “She
ran past me full out. I looked behind her but saw nothing. There
was fear in her eyes, though,” he added.

I struggled to force slower breaths, knowing
it would win me more air than the gasps.

“I feared,” I managed, “missing the
meal.”

“Benella,” Lord Ruhall said with
unmistakable warning.

Straightening with effort, I kept a bland
expression.

“Did I already miss it?”

He rubbed a hand over his face and remained
curiously quiet for a moment. He cleared his throat three times
before he spoke in a slow, calm tone.

“Do you recall speaking with me just a few
hours past?”

I nodded, wondering at his point.

“Then why did you leave the estate without
taking Swiftly with you?”

“Ah! Not just for fishing then. Sorry about
that,” I said. I turned toward Swiftly. “I promise to take you with
me next time I go to speak with my sister. We’ll try not to discuss
anything too embarrassing.”

Swiftly looked slightly uncomfortable. His
gaze darted to Lord Ruhall, whose eyes had closed. A red flush was
making its way up his neck.

I took the opportunity to leave. Mr. Crow
gave me a slight smile. Perhaps he was on my side after all.

* * * *

I collapsed on my bed, sweat soaking my back
and face. How I wished for a magical bath to appear. I needed a
long soak and to think. I’d never before felt so lost and
confused.

Konrall still wasn’t safe. Poor Sara was
still being used by her husband. Bryn had turned her self-hatred on
me. Blye wouldn’t speak to me, either. The Whispering Sisters no
longer offered peace and guidance. Aryana, herself, had betrayed
me. And above all, I missed the beast. I still had my father, but
he had been burdened too much already in his life by trying to
protect his daughters. Where did that leave me? With no one to talk
to. Alone with my confused thoughts. Wondering what I should do
with myself.

I stood and wandered to the adjoining doors,
opening them. He didn’t have his side locked. The room looked the
same. Smelled the same. I opened the door of his wardrobe. The same
shirts hung there. I took one and left, closing the doors behind
me.

Stripping from the gown, I washed with the
cool water in the pitcher and changed into his shirt. With his
smell wrapped around me, I crawled under the covers, ignoring the
sun.

Nothing ever stayed the same. But tomorrow
had to be better.

Chapter 4

The sound of my door pulled me from a light,
troubled sleep where Tennen and Splane continued to chase me
through the trees. Before I thought my dream reality, Alec
spoke.

“Benella, are you awake?”

Had I actually slept, his soft words would
not have disturbed me. Still, I pretended to sleep, hoping he would
leave and wishing I had remembered to lock the door.