The Bite of Vengeance by Connor Wolf Page A

cottage was simple and plain, to Roconn it was home.
    â€˜Here you are, dear, this will warm you up a bit.’ Maria smiled, handing Roconn a small dish of vegetable soup infused with herbs.
    â€˜Thank you,’ he replied.
    Maria was a short, plump woman with brown, shoulder-length hair. It was held back in a pony-tail bya piece of string, which had been tied into an elegant bow. Her eyes were green and she had a small, round nose and a thin mouth. Her face, like Roconn’s, was lined and tired. Maria wore a simple, white, cloth dress, a thick shawl and sandals, a gift from her husband.
    Whilst he ate, Maria moved around the room, sweeping the floor with an old brush, her shadow flickering in the firelight.
    â€˜How are the kids? I hope they’ve been behaving?’ Roconn asked, referring to his children who were, at present, asleep in the other room.
    â€˜Oh, they have been fine. Charlotte helped me with the clothes; goodness knows I’m getting too old to be running back and forth to the river. She’s a wonderful girl; I’m so proud of her. Benjamin helped me collect and chop more firewood, and then went to Mrs Washton to buy some bread for us. What would I do without them?’ She placed a hand affectionately on her chest.
    â€˜I wanted to take Benjamin to church with me tomorrow. Mr and Mrs Torchell are having their baby, Jenna, christened. I want to show him what a christening is all about, he needs to know if he wants to be a priest, it’s not as easy as it looks you know.’ He put his empty dish in a bowl of hot water.
    â€˜That’s fine, dear. If you take Benjamin, I will bring Charlotte along with me later, after preparing dinner for tomorrow night,’ she replied.
    â€˜Well, I think I need rest. It’s been a busy day and I’m very tired.’ He yawned.
    â€˜Ok then, my love, you go on up, I’ll be up in a moment.’
    Roconn kissed Maria on the cheek and went to his bed. After a few minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.

The Change
    The morning came, and with it, bright sunshine which hinted at a good day. It shone through the window on to the bed, waking Roconn. He opened his eyes, blinking rapidly in the light. The walls were bare stone and brought a chill to the room on winter nights. The floor was covered with a large rug. He looked down and found he was still fully clothed. He then realized he had been so tired the night before that he had forgotten to get undressed. He rose slowly from his bed, trying, and failing, to stifle a shuddering yawn. He shuffled to the wardrobe, pulled out a fresh set of black robes, collar, socks and shoes, and got dressed. His bedroom was small, consisting only of a double bed, which he shared with his wife, and a wardrobe in the corner.
    Roconn went into the living room. The fire had burnt itself out through the night but a new one had been lit already by Maria, to keep the room warm and comfortable. His shoes and overcoat had dried out over night, but the sun had started melting the snow outside, so he had no need for his coat today. Maria was tending to a saucepan on the tripod above the fire. In the saucepan was a large quantity of porridge for breakfast.
    â€˜Good morning, dear. I didn’t hear you get up. Here, have something to eat, you must be quite hungry. You didn’t eat much yesterday,’ Maria said to him as she placed a bowl of hot, steaming porridge on the table.
    â€˜Thank you,’ he replied gratefully as he took a seat.
    Roconn hastily started to spoon the porridge down, when Benjamin joined him at the table. Maria dished up another bowl of porridge and passed it to Benjamin. Roconn hurried to finish his breakfast so he could set out, Benjamin followed suit.
    After breakfast was done, Roconn and Benjamin left the house and were soon walking down the muddy lane, towards the church. The sun was shining, casting long shadows behind them and the birds chirped somewhere in the forest.