Elliotte

Chapter Ten

The sound of heavy flesh slapping against a hard surface filled the large kitchen and rocked all actions to a halt. Eyes followed the trail of the sound and locked upon the creator.

"What ails ya now, Mr. Gimsby?" Deidre demanded a bit put off.

With an ugly snarl, Mr. Gimbsy launched into a self-possessed tirade on just how inhabitable Costswold has become.

A chorus of hushes snarled and nipped at him.

Wielding a blade, "I avow ya would mind that gleaming tongue of yer, Mr. Gimsby" Ailish warned. "Or by St. Stephen's decapitated body, I would take it out of yer dark cavern."

Mr. Gimsby looked like he had more to say but swallowed them.

“‘Tis but a world where one can na express one self,” Deidre said sadly.

"Me haf no qualms saying me mind," Ailish countered. ""Tis a life I must protect that cripples me. Ya all know this," she said taking them all in with her gleaming peridot eyes. "Ya all haf seen how life has been fer her."

"Aye," agreed Mr. Norman. "Scurrying about seeking ways ta win some good graces that she didna haf a need and half fer."

"I wish she would cease," Deidre said.

"Me too,” Ailish said with a shake of the head.

"Me too." Recalling Ernice's words as she narrated her visit to the Diviner's.

A chorus of deep sighs heralded a cloud of silence.

Pots sizzled.

Soup boiled and rolled.

The slab suffered the fall of the butcher's blade as Mr. Gimsby hacked and worked at the deer that had been caught only this morn.

Suddenly Deidre raised her head from her kneading. ""Tis time" she said. "Ya must do it, Ailish"

"She is na ready" she said. "She's na keen fer it."

"At this rate, she would never be" said Deidre.

"She never had any say in the matter in the first place. If 'tis what needs to be done, then it needs to be done. Keen or nay!"

Mr. Gimsby's hairy head bobbed up and down in acquiesce.

"l agree" said Mr. Norman. "The earlier we started the earlier it all ends!"

Ailish stopped washing the beetroots she had rooted out from the garden this early morning, and turned to them. "But the dog keeps watch," she said speaking of Laith.

Mr. Gimsby let loose a long earsplitting roll of curses

"We can na wait any longer," Deidre continued.

"Ernice gave her life for this cause. 'Tis been moons; her death must not amount to naught, I say."

Ailish just stared, her mind calculating the possibilities and all.

"Aye" Mr. Norman said. "I reckon with what Deidre said. If it's to do, 'tis no use waiting. It has to be done."

Ailish waited. Heart in hand. Drawing what remains of strength and courage she could reach.

"Im ready to do what I need to" Deidre avowed.

"Oh Deidre," Ailish said amazed. "’Tis a toughone."

"There won't be a meaning to it otherwise.!"

Ailish sighed again.

"Get her ready. She turns four and ten in a few!"

Ailish glanced around and nodded at them.

A silent vow sealed their comradeship.

Aye, Ailish though, what had to be done had to be done.

And from behind the walls of the kitchen, a shadow moved with a low growl and blood-red eyes.