Lady Stagg - Chapter 2: A Journeys End

The rain beat heavily upon the coach and I had been forced to raise the cowl of my cloak against the onslaught of the howling gale. The horses were drenched, still trotting on. The constant jolting of the coach sent a sheet of water from the sides every now and again. The driver had not talked to me since, not even looked at me. I could sense his fear still ever present, he made me feel slightly uneasy. I looked over at him. His hand was at his chest, fiddling with a shiny silver pendant in the shape of a cross. From the pendant shone the light of twilight, tinting the metal slightly blue. As I watched a dot of orange appeared shining on the cross, growing bigger. I cast my gaze in front. The orange light was from a lantern, held by a man stood beside the road. The man waved at us. As we drew up beside him I noticed he wore very plain clothes, slightly grubby, possibly a farmer.1

“Nasty night to be out on the road” he said2

“Indeed,” I replied “and may I inquire to what you are doing on such a night as this?”3

“Aye, you may” replied he “I was penning up my sheep when I heard hooves, judging by the time and the weather I assumed you may have wanted shelter.”4

“Ah, is the hamlet nearby?” I queried5

“Just up this track beside me”6

The driver leaned over to me, “Well you can go to the hamlet as promised. I’m afraid I have to get somewhere in three days time and it’s a long journey” he said.7

“You’re not staying? There are withy beds up ahead, they are perilous to navigate at night” warned the farmer.8

“I shall have to hope my luck holds” he replied resolutely.9

The farmer bid him good luck as I dropped from the coach.10

The driver shook the reins and they took off. I never saw them alive again. The farmer turned and began to walk up the muddy track so I followed suit. The path was dotted with silver pools of water that rippled as each drop hit them. I made my way, alongside the farmer, to a cluster of orange dots, that I knew were the hamlet where I would shelter.11