Eight
The Circle of Stones
Autumn 921 MC
Gemma never recovered from the death of her husband. Instead, she became very withdrawn and solitary, and the bulk of the household duties fell to Albreda. The girl's days now consisted of cooking, cleaning, and washing their clothes, along with chopping down trees and finding berries. Life became an endless chore as time wore on. Occasional visits from the pack were a rare highlight, but at least Fang visited every day, often to share a meagre kill.
Weeks became months, and winter came and went, the old woman growing more reclusive until only Albreda left the hut. Gemma now preferred to sit before the fire as Raynor did in days of old. She would often reminisce, telling stories of their life together as the younger woman sat in rapt attention.
