Chapter 79: Return to the Tutelage

Returning with the carriage, the twins found Nora still upset.

Deragan listened from the grove outside. Her pain rushing over him in waves.

Marcus stared at her in confusion. “We brought the carriage back.” He said helplessly. “What more do you want?”

“It was filled with goods.” She wailed, eyes filling with tears. “They’re not there!”

Calm down Nore. Deragan willed her. Wishing he could tell her.

“Well I didn’t take them!” Marcus defended.

“I’m not accusing you.” Brushing her bangs back she stared at the floor. “I-I just...Nevermind.” Throat clogged with emotion she gave him her back.

She thinks it was all for nothing.

“William tell her I didn’t take them!” Marcus sputtered gesturing to Nora as he gave his brother a pleading glance.

In the kitchen doorway William watched the interaction. “Nore.” William said softly.

“I know he didn’t! I-”

“Nore.” He interrupted.

“What?” She snapped.

Voice soft, he asked. “You’re not talking about the stuff in the pantry in here, are you?”

Whipping back around she saw his eyes dark with worry. Rushing over to push past him she ran in and jerked the pantry door open.

Still in bags, the groceries sat on the wood floor of the pantry.

Carefully stacked so nothing was smashed.

Pointing to them she turned on her brothers. “Which of you brought these in?” She demanded.

Their expressions were a mix of confusion and concern.

“Were you hurt when you wrecked the carriage?” William materialized.

Nora rubbed her finger where her ring used to be. “I don’t know how the goods got inside.”

It didn’t make a lot of sense, but it was all she could articulate.

“You must’ve brought them in when you came in.” Marcus offered tentatively.

“Sure, you didn’t hit your head?” William asked softly.

“This isn’t funny!” She shouted. “Marcus is this your idea of a joke?”

Deragan winced. Go easy on them.

I was trying to help but now she thinks they’re playing games with her.

Sputtering he gestured helplessly. Whispering to William from the corner of his mouth. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing!” She screamed. “I’m not mom!” Furious she couldn’t keep the pain from her voice.

No. Deragan’s shoulders slumped. She wasn’t crazy either. He wanted to defend.

When her mother had begun speaking of the dark little animals after her daughter everyone had thought she was crazed.

Marcus’ brows drew together. “Mom? I didn’t say anything about mom.” He pleaded.

Turning she ran upstairs.

“Nore? Nore!” He called after her. “What’d I do?”

You didn’t do anything, Lad.

She just doesn’t understand. Deragan’s chest felt tight.

William shook his head slightly. “For once it’s not you.” He watched her go upstairs, hand on her stomach. “Something is wrong with Nore.”

“What?” Marcus followed his gaze.

Grier Tutelage, Meadowbrook, Grier Country

“Bastard.”

“Knave.”

“Why so cross?” Marcus questioned as they pulled into the tutelage’s circular drive. The carriage still grating roughly on one side.

William gave him a sideways look as he guided the reins. William was sure he was behaving precisely as he did every other day, but Marcus had an irritating knack for seeing straight through it.

Apparently, William wasn’t going to answer. But as they rounded the corner and the tutelage came into view William drew the horses to a halt. “Good God, what happened to it?”

“Why we here?” Marcus eyed the large stone building. “I didn’t ever want to come back here, I-” He stopped talking as he stared in shock. “It’s been vandalled.”

Windows were broken out. There were places where the stones had been knocked ajar. Doors dangled from the hinges. Much of the structure looked as though it were barely standing.

But students were moving in and out. “Well, let’s go talk to my tutor.” He slapped rein on the horses.

Lowering in his seat, Marcus braced himself and obstinately crossed his arms. “I’m not going in there! What if they try to make us stay?”

“We won’t. It looks near fit to collapse as it stands. We’re going in.”

“Why?” Marcus asked impudently.

“Nora didn’t grab our Herbal Diagnosis books. We’re getting one so I can finish my tutoring.” William clarified, aware he didn’t have to mention Marcus was already floundering in class. “You whine like Airon.”

“It’s not physically possible for me to be that bad.” Marcus defended.