Shadow Weaver Series, Book 1 Page 7

  Every single leaf gives off a shadow in the late morning sun, striking a pang in my chest.

  “You never tended a garden before?” Lucas asks.

  I shake my head. I haven’t the slightest idea where to start. Yet another thing I took for granted on the estate.

  He wrinkles his brow. “What kind of servant were you, anyway?”

  Be careful, Dar warns as her dark form slinks over my toes.

  I square my shoulders, hoping I don’t let my uneasiness show. “I was a ladies’ maid. We didn’t get our hands dirty much, except occasionally with laundry.”

  “Nothing very useful then?”

  “Only if you need your hair done up,” I say, feeling oddly proud of myself and disgusted at the same time. How can I expect them to know me and accept me when I can’t even be honest with them regarding the most basic things about myself? But there’s just too much at stake right now.

  Lucas laughs. “Ask my mum about that.” I freeze, sincerely hoping he does not mention it to his mother. The truth is, I know nothing about putting up hair. I haven’t even had a servant do mine in years. A simple brushing has worked fine for me.

  He kneels down in the dirt beside a row. Judging by the long greens hanging from them, I’m guessing this row is green beans. “So, Mum wants us to do some weeding. They’re finicky things and keep sprouting up every week. It’s important to stay on top of it so the real plants have room to grow. Pa sells the vegetables at the market, and Mum makes things from her herbs, like the poultice she used on you, to sell too.”

  I kneel down next to him.

  “See this plant here?” He points to the one I believe to be green beans.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s a vegetable. We want to keep that. But this one”—he points to a smaller plant consisting of two long green leaves shooting up from the earth—“is a weed. So, pull these, not the first ones.”

  “I can manage that.”

  “Good, because Mum wants us to weed this whole thing today.” He sweeps his arm out, indicating the entire garden plot.

  “That’s a lot.”

  He nods sagely. “It’s not the most fun, but it’s only once a week. Tomorrow I get to practice baking again.”

  “I’m happy to help,” I say, meaning it wholeheartedly. They’ve given me food, clothing, and shelter, not to mention protection from the soldiers. Pulling up some weeds is the least I can do.

  We get to work, side by side at first, then spreading out in opposite directions. I sneak occasional glances at Lucas, marveling at his behavior. He treats me like we’re equals, just two children on any normal day.

  It is a jolting thing to realize that no one has ever treated me that way before.

  The sun beats down, and soon my hair sticks to my face and my hands are coated in dirt. But there is something about doing this work, something about making the rows more orderly and neat that appeals to me. I can see progress has been made, and by the time I’m halfway across the yard, I stand up to survey my work.

  The greens and the shadows dance together in the breeze, almost as if they say thank you.

  Suddenly something cool and sticky hits my face. Startled, I brush it away only to find my hand covered with more dirt—and to see Lucas on the other side of the garden grinning.

  “It’s just some weeds.”

  Laughter bubbles up in my throat, and I grab a fistful from my own pile of weeds and lob it toward him. It doesn’t make it nearly far enough, so I grab another and run after him. He ducks and weaves throughout the garden, knowing the way better than me, but finally I score a hit.

  With weeds in his hair, he folds his arms. Then deftly pulls some he had hidden in his pockets and tosses them at me.

  “Oh!” I cry, batting them away. We run around the garden, lobbing bits of earth and discarded weeds back and forth until we’re exhausted and our stomachs hurt from laughing. Lucas collapses underneath one of the trees at the edge of the yard and leans against the trunk. I settle next to a nearby tree too. Its shadow bends toward me, but I resist reaching out.

  Dar slides over to it in greeting, but I can’t tell her to stop with Lucas so close.

  Emmeline, we ought to run off and play in the woods. I can hide you so that they never find you… Dar stops just shy of the tree’s shadow, directing her attention to me, but I cannot return it just yet.

  “Truce,” Lucas says holding his empty hands out. I giggle.

  “Truce,” I agree.

  He sighs at the mess we’ve made of the garden. “We’re going to have to clean that up, you know.”

  “We should probably get started then,” I say. I busy my hands by winding a blade of grass around one finger, but it isn’t the same as the feel of shadows.

  Lucas sits bolt upright. “We should. But first, I want to show you something.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Show me what?”

  He gets to his feet and offers me a hand. I take it, and he pulls me up, Dar grumbling behind me. When he lets go, my skin is still warm from the gentle pressure of his fingers on my wrist.

  We walk back to the garden, but at a slower pace this time. Lucas stands over one of the first patches we cleared in the garden—the green beans—and begins to sing.

  The music wraps around the garden and the light around us bends and plays in response. The temperature rises a few degrees, and I roll up my sleeves.

  Oh, I don’t like this at all, Dar says so quietly that I barely hear her. But I’m too distracted by the sight before me to give it much thought.

  Lucas brings the light down, closer to the ground, but keeps it hazy instead of focused like when he was toasting the croissants. I gasp in amazement as the green beans begin to swell and grow, new leaves opening up and the vegetables sprouting before my eyes.

  “Incredible,” I breathe. For a brief moment, I am a little jealous. His talent is much more useful than mine. So many applications, so much good he can do with it.

  I am certain no one has ever told him he and his magic are anything less than a wonder.

  In mere minutes the beans are long and fat and ready to be harvested. Together we pick them until our basket is full, then we bring them inside to give to his mother. When she sees them, she laughs.

  “Showing off, are we, Lucas?”

  His cheeks redden, and he scuffs his toe. She ruffles his hair and takes the basket from him, setting it on the counter.

  “Care to explain why you two are all dirty?” she asks.

  Now both of our cheeks flame, and suddenly the floor is intensely fascinating.

  Miranda sighs and peeks out the back door, then gasps. “Really? You made such a mess. Go clean that up right—”

  But she doesn’t get to finish what she was saying. Her stern words are cut off by a sharp rapping at the front door of the cottage.

  Chapter Ten

  Miranda freezes, one hand still pointing at the garden. Then she moves like lightning, closing and locking the back door, yanking the curtains closed, and ushering the two of us toward their bedroom. She tosses a rug aside and unlatches a trapdoor, revealing a crawl space inside.

  “Lucas, you know the drill. Stay in there until I come get you and don’t say a word. Don’t make a sound, and definitely do not use any magic, not even a tiny bit.”

  The rapping at the door continues, growing more insistent with every second. Lucas has paled. His father appears in the doorway, then vanishes as his mother nods.

  Lucas climbs down and I follow after him. His mother closes the trapdoor gently and replaces the rug. She even drags a chair over it for good measure.

  Every breath feels like I’m swallowing knives.

  Why is Miranda scared of someone at their door? Lucas did mention earlier on the way to the river that his parents had instructed him never to talk to strangers. But they are taking
it far more seriously than I would have expected. Though I am grateful for it; I have people I wish to hide from too.

  My stomach churns as we huddle down in the crawlspace. Dar slinks through the cracks, and I feel her gliding across my shoulders, offering me comfort. I wrap her around me, thankful it is too dark for Lucas to see her.

  We don’t say a word. When we hear the front door open and Lucas’s father says hello, we stop breathing. As if a single wayward breath could give us away to this faceless enemy.

  A man’s voice rumbles from the doorway. “We are looking for a girl,” he says. My heart flies into my throat, throbbing like it wishes to run free. “She is about this high with dark hair and eyes. She’s…” The man hesitates. “A little bit strange.”

  I ball my hands into fists and bite down on a knuckle. Lucas puts a hand on my arm and squeezes.

  It’s the soldiers, I’m sure of it. That voice sounds like Tate’s nephew, Alden. I’m at the mercy of Lucas and his family now.

  If they betray us, Dar says, I’ll find a way to protect you. I promise.

  I lean into her comforting presence, and put my hand over Lucas’s.

  “Why? Is she lost?” Alfred says.

  Alden jumps on this excuse. “Yes, sir. And her parents miss her keenly. They’re offering a reward to anyone who has information that brings her home.”

  I’m not ready to go back. I miss home, but it won’t be the same until I have set right what went wrong. Dar will fix everything once the ritual to make her whole again is completed.

  If the soldiers come for me, I will flee before they can take me.

  Miranda chimes in. “A girl? Alfred, didn’t we see a child in the woods yesterday matching that description? She was all alone, too.”

  “We did indeed. She was across the river, but it appeared she was headed toward Zinnia, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Zinnia?” Alden says, surprise coloring his voice.

  “I believe so. She was definitely traveling away from us. Perhaps she stopped at the local village about a mile away. Have you tried there?”

  “We just came from the village this morning. Regrettably, no one has seen her.”

  “Well, head for Zinnia and you’re bound to find her.”

  “We’ll do that,” Alden says. “Thank you.”

  “Good luck,” Miranda says. “I hope you find her. It must be awful to lose a child like that.”

  When the door closes, my heart stutters back to its normal pace. But a sick feeling still fills me. I will have to explain to Lucas and his family why Alden and his men are after me.

  They lied for me. They protected me. Not even my own parents could do that. The least I can do is tell them the truth.

  It feels like an eternity passes before we finally hear the rug being moved aside and the latch on the trapdoor opening. Light assails us, making me wince, but Lucas appears to be given new life by it. I forgot; darkness may suit me, but for someone with light magic it must be uncomfortable to sit in the shadows for long.

  Alfred pulls him up and envelops him in a bear hug, while Miranda holds out a hand to help me up. I can’t meet her eyes. She must know I haven’t told them everything, that I’m keeping something back.

  “Lucas,” she says, “go set the table for lunch please.”

  “But Mum…”

  “Go. Now.”

  He casts a nervous glance in my direction then heads to the kitchen. His parents study me. My stomach drops into my boots.

  This is it. They’re going to send me home. They’re going to tell me to leave, at the very least.

  They are quiet for a moment, exchanging a look. Miranda speaks first.

  “Emmeline, those men were here seeking a girl whose description sounded a lot like you.”

  I stare at my feet. Dar whispers in my ear, Please don’t tell. Keep me secret for now.

  Of all the people I’ve met, I suspect Lucas’s family is among the few who might believe me about Dar, but I won’t betray my best friend.

  “We have secrets of our own, as you may have guessed when we hid you and Lucas,” Alfred adds. “We’re not going to force you to tell us anything you don’t want to.”

  “We want to trust you, and we want you to trust us,” Miranda says. “We’ve already placed a lot of faith in you by letting you stay here, and Lucas has too. He revealed his talent to you, however unintentionally.”

  Unspoken words tie my tongue in knots. I twist my hands together, wishing like never before that I could throw up a wall of my shadows and hide. Being caught by Lord Tate was awful, but this feels a hundred times worse.

  Miranda places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “You seem like a sweet girl. Whatever happened to cause you to run away must have been awful. You can stay here for as long as you need to. Maybe we can help you track down a relative who will take you in. But we do hope that you’ll confide in us when you’re ready. We’ll be better equipped to help you if we know what’s really going on.”

  The lump in my throat makes it impossible to swallow. Tears sting my eyes, and their forms swim in front of me.

  “Thank you for your kindness,” I finally manage to squeak out.

  Miranda puts her arms around me and hugs me to her, rendering me fully speechless. No one has hugged me in years—not since the incident with Rose—except for Dar, but this is much more solid and welcoming.

  Her arm remains around my shoulders as we leave the room. “Come on, Lucas has been listening at the door anyway, we might as well go have lunch.”

  I feel warmer and more grateful than I ever have in my life. I think, finally, I have learned what real friends do for each other.

  Chapter Eleven

  When night descends and the rest of the household has fallen asleep, Dar curls around my cot, whispering in my ear.

  It is time, she says. My stomach tightens.

  “For what?”

  To begin collecting items for the ritual. There are several things you will need to gather; then on the next full moon you can perform the ritual.

  “That’s only about a week away.”

  Indeed, it is.

  “What must I do?” I begin to dress. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. I can’t wait to see Dar as a real girl.

  Once the ingredients are collected, you will need to combine them into a mixture. Then you must put the concoction on me. As a shadow weaver, you’re the only one who can touch my form and make the ritual work.

  A hard knot begins to form in my stomach. She needs me far more than I ever realized, but she is here because she’s my friend. She has more than proven that over the years.

  I lace up my boots and gather my cloak. The darkness is plentiful here in the cottage, and I pull the shadows to me in case any of the family is still awake. Spending an entire day not touching the shadows has been torture.

  “What must I collect tonight?” I whisper.

  Witch hazel is first.

  My heart sinks. “I’ll have to go into the woods for that, won’t I?”

  We’ll go together.

  I don’t relish the idea of venturing into the forest when the guards might return at any time, but the darkness lends me safety.

  I won’t steer you wrong, Emmeline. I promise. Dar places a shadowy hand on my shoulder. I rest mine over it.

  “All right.”

  We sneak out of the cottage undetected, and Dar directs me to the east to find the witch hazel.

  It grows at the edges of fields like the one where you found Lucas, she says.

  “Why didn’t you say something then?” I frown, peering into the darkness to the east.

  Dar grumbles. That boy and his light. They stole my voice. I don’t like it. I don’t trust him.

  I bristle. “Lucas’s light is beautiful. Don’t you see how much I need to know so
meone else who has magic?” Lucas may prefer the light as much as Dar and I prefer the darkness, but I’ve never heard him complain about shadows.

  She sulks as I walk between the trees, but I grow bolder every minute. The newfound freedom is invigorating. No Mother and Father to tell me no, to insist I come inside and wash up for dinner. Or go to bed. The shadows bend and sway as we pass. Above us, the stars wink through the branches. I pretend I’m dancing with them all the way to the field where I found Lucas.

  Dar is silent.

  I pause between the trees at the edge of the field. My breath catches at the sight. The long grass buzzes with life, and the moon paints all the flowers in glowing silver.

  The night and darkness still own my heart.

  “Isn’t it beautiful, Dar?”

  She wallows at my feet and does not answer.

  “Don’t be angry, please? Why can’t I have both you and Lucas?” I fold my arms over my chest. “Besides, once the ritual is done, we’ll go home and set things right. This is only temporary.”

  The truth of my words makes my chest ache in a way I hadn’t expected. I will not know him for long. Once I’m home again, everything will go back to normal—and for me, normal means I will pass my days in my room, alone with my shadows and Dar.

  But that’s what I wanted, isn’t it?

  Dar sighs. I worry you will get attached to him and…and that you’ll leave me behind once I’m flesh again.

  “Oh, Dar, I’d never do that. You’re my best friend. You know that.” I smooth over the edges of her wispy form and she billows with relief.

  Promise?

  “Yes, I promise I’ll never leave you.”

  She curls around my neck and settles in. Then let’s find that witch hazel.

  “What does it look like?” I ask.

  It’s an odd bush, with yellow and orange flowering fronds. You’ll know it when you see it.

  I trust her to guide me, and we set out around the edge of the field. Somewhere in the distance a wolf howls, but it doesn’t faze me in the slightest. My shadows will protect me, I’m sure of it.