Vivienne Von Vexx's Arc

Chapter 12 of 21

The shouts came across the water just after midday. Vivienne lifted her head from the door. Voices called a name through the trees, the same name, over and over. The hunter behind the saint sat up. He knew the voice. She saw it in his face. She crept to the broken window and looked through the torn vine. On the far bank a fire had been lit, a tall bright bonfire throwing sparks into the dark branches. Around it stood a hard-eyed band of hunters with blades and spears, scanning the black water. They called his name again. She pulled back from the light and held the old folded sketch tight in her fist, the creased paper of two children under autumn trees. "They will cross," she whispered. "They will find the chapel." The hunter looked at the door, then at her burned hand, then at the silver ring on her finger. He stood slowly. He took the sketch from her. He folded it once more and pushed it into his coat. "I'll go to the bank at dusk," he said. "I'll tell them I fell. I'll send them home." She stared at him. No one had ever chosen to lie for her before. They waited until the sun dropped behind the trees. Vivienne opened the chapel door. The hunter stepped out alone, walking toward the fire and the calling voices. She watched him grow small against the orange light. He did not look back. The voices changed when they saw him. The shouting stopped. After a long while the bonfire was smothered, and the far bank went dark. He had sent them away. And he had not come back across.