-17-
Miriel sat in her father's study, reading a parchment in her hand. Stacks of documents and envelopes were on the table. She drew a line under a few words, then wrote in her book.
"You may take a seat, Anne." She said.
Anne stood in front of her dutifully, hand clasped in front, dressed in her maid attire.
"I am fine here, Lady Miriel. And I need to make sure you don't push yourself" She said, peering at Miriel and her work.
Wind entered through the windows, carrying the scent of flowers outside. Light enveloped the room though no sun rays were casted on the windows or panes.
"I am healed, Anne. It is unnerving to be stared so intently while I work."
With her fever abated and cold gone, Miriel was now helping her Uncle with the work - which was hers to be honest.
She frowned as she eyed the stacks of envelopes and documents.
"Well, if that's the case," Anne darted her eyes, "Can I look around the room? I promise I won't touch, just look around."
"You may. Touching is fine, just handle them with care."
"Yay!" She strode to the display cabinet nearest to the door and gawked at the trinkets. Close enough that her nose almost brushed the items.
Miriel put her parchment aside and reached for one of the envelopes, which she opened and read.
'Another invitation.' She sighed.
She opened the envelopes and read them, all were invitations to balls or other events. None with grand enough names she could not ignore.
She dropped them all into the waste bin and reached for another parchment.
As Miriel read it, she squinted.
'...strange hear in wood. Soldier check…'
She placed it aside and grabbed another.
'...something ate our crops. Please check the woods…'
And another.
'...some of herd disappear. Please send…'
She grabbed them one after the other, until thirteen of them were sprawled on the table.
"Anne." Miriel called.
"Hmm?" Anne turned. Her knees and back were bent, with her palms resting on her knees and her face nearly grazing a trinket.
"Tell Louis to prepare the carriage and call for Crausel."
"We're going out, my lady?" Anne asked.
"We will drop by the farms to ask a few things."
"Okay, my lady."
"I will be in my room. Head there after you are done."
"Right away!" Anne paced to the door and left.
Miriel stared at the parchments sprawled at the table once more, then left the room.
-
The carriage shook as it trailed along the flattened path which ran through the farmland.
Miriel saw men and women working in the fields they passed; the men wore smocks and trousers fastened with belts. The women wore dresses or blouses and skirts with an apron tied to their waist that covered their skirt. All had boots on their feet and strawhats on their heads.
In the carriage, across Miriel, Anne had her knees on the seat and her head poking out an open window.
"Careful, Anne, lest you fall" Miriel said.
"Okay! My lady!" Rang her dampened voice from outside the carriage.
Moments later, the carriage stopped.
Crausel opened the doors and escorted them down.
"Who should I call, ma'm?" Crausel asked, decked in a white shirt, brown trousers and a cap on his head.
"Ask for Missus Jurrie.' Miriel replied.
He bowed and went off.
Miriel was dressed in a pale blouse, dark brown skirt and a matching capelette, amd black shoes on her feet. She had a strawhat on her head, as did Anne.
Miriel turned her head to Anne.
Anne spun her hat on her right finger, then tossed it to her left finger as it spun. When it stopped, she placed it on her head.
Miriel lightly clapped and Anne blushed.
"I had a lot of practice with the dishes back home." She said.
"Hopefully, they were metal plates." Miriel replied.
"And a few others." Her eyes darted away.
Miriel saw Crausel wade through a water-filled plot. Behind him was a stout woman with long grey hair.
"Hello girlie!" The woman shouted, waving her straw hat in her hand. Her voice was high and lively.
They came closer and stood in front of Miriel.
"How goes your day, Missus Jurrie." Miriel said, hands clasped to her front.
"Fine day to farm. You better now, girl? Heard the doc say you were sick." Jurrie replied. Her dark brown eyes were etched on her wizened face.
She eyed Miriel top to bottom with her brows furrowed.
"I am well now. I spent a few days in bed and took all my tonics on time."
"My, that's as odd as a hedgehog patting their back. Must be the 'cause the girl next to you, I reckon?" Jurrie turned to Anne.
"I am Anne. Lady Miriel's maid." Anne thumped a hand on her chest and bowed.
"Take good care 'o this girl, 'kay? Might not look it, but she's as stubborn as a boulder." Jurrie said.
"Mm," Anne nodded, "You can count on me!" She replied while pumping her fist.
"Well, you ain't here for some checkup, are ya?" Jurrie asked.
Miriel shook her head.
"I wish to look into the crops and animals."
"The things those people at the end 'been sayin'?
"Most probably. Would you ask around for me?"
"Sure, girlie. Anythin' for ya'." She continued, "You sure ya' ain't gon' hop into the thing?"
"I need to look around, and it is not far." Miriel replied.
"'Kay then."
Jurrie turned and walked with them in tail.
They passed a few plots and reached the end of the farmland, and where the woods began. The flattened road stretched to a rougher clearing that wove through the woods.
"I'll have a chat with Tior and Lieu." Jurrie went to two people who were staring at them a distance away.
Miriel stepped onto the plot, bundled her skirt and crouched down.
There were short stalks jutting out the ground in the area closest to the woods. The tips were rugged and uneven. The soil below sloped into a mound under each plant as shallow troughs separated each lane of plants from the other.
Miriel stood up and returned to the road. Shortly after, Jurrie returned from her chat.
"The cowards won't be near the place." Jurrie scoffed, "Well, anythin' new, girlie?" She asked.
"Sadly, no. It is probable the plants were bit or gnawed, yet no tracks were left." Miriel replied.
"Heard the same thing from 'em." Jurrie said.
"Did they tell you of the animals lost?" Miriel asked.
"Said they lost 'em in the woods. Took them grazin' n' neva' came back."
"How many days have passed since?"
"Roughly 'bout a week or two, maybe more. Can't tell for the crops though, could be the same, or as close as yester or day before."
"They disappeared in the woods and nowhere else?"
"None. Barns weren't touched. The other plots ar' safe. Just this lil' patch n' the woods." Jurrie continued, "It'd be a spirit, I reckon. I say we give it some berth. We have 'nuf 'o the food about anyway."
"A spirit would not eat like a creature would. If it is a creature, we must find it. And if lethal, slay it."
"Well, what to do now, girl?" Jurrie asked.
Miriel rested her chin on her hand.
"Any thoughts, Anne?" She turned to Anne.
Anne shook her head and crossed her hands,
"Crausel?" She turned to Crausel.
"This place makes me shiver, ma'm. We should go back and send the soldiers to do whatever." Crausel held his arms and stared at the woods as he jittered.
Miriel pondered for a moment.
"The soldiers shall lay traps. If it is still here it will strike again. If it does not, they shall scour the woods." She continued, "We know little for any exigent plans."
"Tell 'em don't step on the plots when you send 'em. Or we'll give 'em a whackin'."
"That would be fine, Missus Jurrie." Miriel giggled.
"You head back now. I'll speak more with the two cowards." Jurrie said.
Miriel bowed, palm to her chest.
Jurrie turned and went to the two.
"Let us return then." Miriel said.
The three walked towards the carriage.
Crausel exhaled as they walked.
"I don't know why, but that place didn't feel good."
"Boo."
"Aaah!" He jumped.
A laughing Anne pointed at Crausel as he glared at her.
Miriel lightly shook her head.