Her new dresses and undergarments packed in her new bag, Ravenna changed from her emerald green dress to her new black one. Michael had promised to meet her in the Nerium forest and left about an hour prior. She was a little disappointed that his method of traveling was not possible for humans, but until he had shown her, she had not known it was possible. Ravenna understood why he could not travel to Canden to speak with her grandmother to tell her that she was safe, and she could never ask that of him anyway. Michael was so concerned with Ravenna's well-being that she was not sure informing her family had even crossed the angel's mind.
Ravenna descended the stairs of the Nerium Inn and found Gerald in the lobby. She handed her key to him and paid him for the room. "Thank you for your hospitality, Gerald, it has been absolutely wonderful staying here. I will tell Grandmother what a delight you were to me." Ravenna curtsied, and the old man embraced her.
"A Hawthorne is always welcome here, my dear! Safe travels, and enjoy your studies in Eravia."
Leaving the inn, Ravenna headed toward the forest where Michael would be waiting. She wondered how the courier boy she had hired was faring. He couldn't have gotten to Canden yet, but knowing he was on the way was comforting.
Ravenna continued down the trail, and once she left the outskirts of Nerium, she began to sing as she traveled, as she always did. She was always happy in her own company, but as of late, she had also found herself happy with Michael in her company. He had a gentleness to him, and he always tried his best to ensure she was cared for. Was this the type of thing Teresa was speaking of when she said of the love her husband gave her?
Lost in her thoughts, Ravenna did not notice the man behind her.
The man followed her a few steps to ensure it was indeed Ravenna. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around to grasp her by the shoulders. She screamed and looked up at this man's face. Ravenna knew this man. He was Peter Jones' second coachman- not the kind one who had stood up for her, but the one who stood idly by as she was kidnapped. Peter had paid him to sit in the carriage while he took Ravenna to the meadow just before Michael arrived.
"I thought it was you, you little bitch!"
"What do you want?" Ravenna asked the man defiantly.
"How did you get away? Where is Peter? I was paid to sit in that carriage and nobody came for me! I've been starving and alone!" The coachman looked nearly rabid. "How am I supposed to be paid now?"
"You only care about your money?! You stood by and let me get kidnapped! You're just as bad as Peter! Let me go! I don't know where he is! Go do something better with your life!" Ravenna raised her knee sharply to the fork of the man's legs, which dropped him to the ground. She took advantage of the opportunity and tried to run. The man, wincing, grabbed her by the ankle, forcing her to join him on the ground. Ravenna kicked the man's face with her other foot, breaking free.
Ravenna ran away from Peter's coachman, who lay on the trail, cursing her name behind her as she escaped. Ravenna ran toward the forest, her sides aching, her throat raw. Her knees dripped blood from the skin ripping open from her fall, stinging with every footfall.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Henry Yarrow, Peter Jones' coachman, lay on the ground. One hand clutched at his manhood; one hand grasped his nose. –The little bitch Peter had taken with him had some nerve, attacking me like that.– He groaned and shifted to his knees. Henry scowled. Peter had hired him to be a coachman, and now he was kneeling next to a carriage outside of Nerium, attacked by a woman. –How embarrassing. – His nose steadily dripped blood into his mustache and large brown beard. –This woman had hell to pay.–
Several days ago, Peter had approached Henry in the Graenwood tavern, saying he needed a new coachman. His old one had grown too fond of speaking out of turn, Peter had said and wanted someone reliable. Henry was looking for a job to fund his drinking and had happily accepted Peter's offer. He did not know Peter was looking to steal a woman from her home, but that was not his business. Peter had said he had a date with this woman and returned from her home, dragging her toward the carriage. However, in his mind, Henry was paid to drive a carriage, not get involved in Peter's business. Now this woman was interfering with his pay, and Henry's body was becoming increasingly desperate for the alcohol it had been accustomed to.
Ravenna. Henry angrily shouted after the woman who had kneed his manhood and kicked his nose. He called again, cursing after her. He gingerly touched his nose; he was nearly sure that the little wench had broken it. He watched her run toward the forest.
Henry wobbled on his knees. He wiped the blood from his face with the back of his sleeve, intensely staining his clothing. The sight of his blood enraged him further; Ravenna had no right to kick him. –Who did that self-righteous bitch think she was? – He cursed the day he took Peter to her home to pick her up.
That woman would make this up to him, no matter what it took. Henry shakily stood, his body undergoing alcohol withdrawals. He staggered and made his way slowly to the driver's seat of the carriage. He knew where this woman lived.
And she was going to pay.