Page 5 of Blood & Claw

It made her want to break something … hurt someone.

Dizziness swept over Ailsa, her breathing coming in short, sharp bursts.

By the Reaper’s scythe, she had to get out of here before she did something she truly regretted.

Turning, she pushed blindly through the crowd.

2: NEVER AGAIN

Two moons later …

NOTHING EVER CHANGED in this fort. Not the market, not her daily chores. Not the steady stream of customers wanting tattoos.

Ailsa wove her way across the market ground, basket slung over one arm.

She knew the route through the stalls as well as she did her way around Kayla’s workshop. The vendors all had their allotted places here—and they never altered them.

Sighing, she stopped before a stall selling onions and garlic. She and Kayla were nearly out of onions, and she was making pottage this evening. She’d need more. Helping herself to six, she handed over an iron penny to the vendor.

The man took the coin with a grunt, as he always did.

Pursing her lips, Ailsa moved on.

For years now, Kayla had sent her out to buy food, and so every three days, she filled her basket. Initially, she’d found it exciting, a chance to escape the workshop and get amongst folk. A little freedom, at last.

But these days, she chafed at the sameness of it all.

Years ago, Kayla had promised that they’d take a break from work a couple of times a year, that they’d travel The Wolds. Ailsa had wanted to see the other three southern forts—Inverwich, Muirport, and Troon—but every time she brought up visiting them these days, her mentor brushed her off.

They were always too busy.

It was never a good time.

Irritation simmered as she continued her well-trodden path through the stalls.

Aye, she’d retreated after her humiliation at Harvest Fire, but that hadn’t changed how she felt about her life in Braewall. She still felt as if she were slowly dying in this place.

Kayla was always in control. She seemed not to notice that her apprentice was a woman now, capable of making her own choices.

Frustration twisted under her ribs.

Enough.

Tonight, once they were alone, she was going to have it out with Kayla. She’d make it clear that things had to change.

She deliberately hadn’t told her mentor about what had happened at Harvest Fire. Kayla seemed determined not to bring their quarrel up, and Ailsa wasn’t in any hurry to talk about it either.

And so, they’d gone on with their lives.

Buying a wedge of hard goat’s cheese, she then moved on to the egg stall. They still had half a dozen eggs, yet Ailsa was of a mind to make a honey cake this afternoon. The day was cool and grey, and her mood matched the weather.

Kayla would likely complain she was trying to make her fat, yet there was nothing better than the scent of baking honey cake to brighten her mood.

Decision made, she bought another dozen eggs, arranging them carefully in her basket, before making her way to a stall selling pots of honey.

Stopping here was a slight break in routine. Honey was expensive. A luxury. However, they’d just finished their last pot. Ailsa took her time deciding between the different varieties before choosing the heather honey.

She was just tucking the pot away in her basket when she felt eyes on her.