Five
Lessons
Winter/Spring 918/919 MC
The cold of winter finally arrived, draping a white blanket across the forest. Albreda found it easy to fit in with the old couple, for the work was not taxing, and the company easy to get along with. Raynor was not particularly talkative, but Gemma, understandably, was happy to have someone to converse with. She delighted in showing her new friend all sorts of things, from identifying herbs to planning a vegetable garden for spring planting.
The young girl longed to walk the woodland trails, but the old woman insisted she stay close. "The paths are not safe," she would say. "There are dangerous creatures hereabouts."
"What kinds?" Albreda would ask, but Gemma was never specific, quickly changing the topic.
Gathering water was a daily chore, so e
