Wolves Among Us (31 page)

Stefan stepped into the baker’s shop, buying honey syrup. It would do fine. He would return home and mix it with the preparation from his own garden. Stefan rarely had a chance to make this recipe. Rarely had he need, except when some white-haired old man needed a broken leg set, or a frightened child needed a rotted tooth out.

Bastion was sitting on the steps, watching the boys work, when Stefan returned. Ava’s cage was covered. At the sight of it, Stefan patted the bag hanging from his belt, as if to remind himself what he must do.

Bastion sighed, frowning at the stakes.

Stefan sat beside him. “Mia did not confess, I heard. Is this what is troubling you?”

“Mia is troubling me, yes.”

“Tell me something, Bastion. When did you first understand what you were to do with your life?”

Bastion looked in the distance. “I was a child.”

“Go on. It’s a good day for stories. Let’s sit and have a drink while the boys work.” Stefan offered him a flask. Bastion eyed it, then stared at Stefan, who smiled.

“Come, Bastion. I would like peace.”

Bastion sat on the steps and reached for the flask. He took a long draught and wiped his mouth. He shook his head before starting. “I was a child. Maybe seven or eight. I thought my mother a good woman. She could be very industrious. She fed me sweets all the time, little raisins soaked in honey or wine. She’d give me a pile of sweets and then leave me for an hour or so. Oh, I’d stuff myself. But she did not dote on my father that way. We both knew he did not love her. I didn’t even think he saw her. He traveled often. When he returned, he ate and slept. Then left again. One morning I woke up, alone in the house, except for him. He had been away. He must have returned in the night while I slept. He asked me where my mother was. I had not realized she was gone. I did not know what women did.”

Bastion’s voice faded.

“And then?” Stefan prodded him.

Bastion shrugged. “I told him. There was a neighbor she often visited. I pointed toward the man’s house, and my father left me. A few minutes later, the neighbor came stumbling out of his house, blood spurting from his throat. He had been sliced clean. I never saw my mother again. I am grateful my father spared me that sorrow. He must have killed her.”

Stefan sat, silent. There was nothing he could say.

“That is when I knew how I would live, although years passed before I knew there was a name for this work. I wanted to save women from their sin. Women must not repeat her mistake.” He sat quiet for a moment, thoughtful. “But perhaps I am getting too old for this,” he finally continued, “or growing careless in my work. It seems that some women cannot be saved. But I must not trouble myself. There are other towns that need me. I will go to a new town after this.”

“Yes. Once a man sees what must be done, he should think of nothing else.”

Bastion took another swig and grinned, casting off the memories. “I’ve never known a priest like you.
Inconstant
is the word I would use. I cannot predict a word you will say.”

Bastion yawned. He had not slept last night either. Stefan had heard him, sitting against the wall instead of lying in his bed, banging his head against it. Whatever Bastion wanted here, it eluded Stefan. Stefan decided not to dwell on it. It would not matter soon.

“Come with me inside, Bastion. You should rest.”

Bastion spit on the ground. “I don’t want to sleep. I want to watch these boys work. I want Mia to see these stakes and consider what she has done.” Bastion drained the last of the flask and stifled another yawn again.

“You were up all night. I heard you.”

Bastion looked away, so Stefan pressed further. “I’ll not doubt you again about your work. Only recently have I begun to understand mine. But you should lie down in the dormitory. The day ahead of us is a long one.”

Bastion needed help standing. Stefan led him to the dormitory, feeling Bastion become heavier with every step, leaning against Stefan. He began murmuring like a child, speaking about strange things like his generous nature and women’s inconstant temperaments. Stefan deposited him onto a bed, lifting his legs onto the straw mattress, resting his arms at his sides.

He leaned down and called Bastion’s name but heard no reply. Stefan slapped Bastion, hard. He did not move. The flask had done its job.

Stefan reached into Bastion’s bag and removed a key, placing it in his own bag.

“Good-bye, Bastion.”

Ava pried his fingers off the lock, then bent her head down and tried to bite them.

“Stop!” Stefan said.

“What are you doing? I’m going to die today. Bastion promised.”

“You don’t want to die.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You want your son back. Dying won’t do it. Dying is no assurance you’ll see him again in heaven, either.”

Stefan swung the cage door open. Ava pushed herself against the back bars of the cage, cowering.

“Don’t do this to me, Father Stefan. You don’t have a child. You don’t understand.”

“I am beginning to understand, Ava. That is why I cannot leave you caged.”

“No, please, I would die a thousand deaths for my son. Please don’t stop me.”

“Only one death was ever needed. And it is not yours.” Stefan’s heart ached for her. He had learned so much about God since reading from the Bible, but there was no time to tell her of everything. He said a silent prayer that wherever she went next, someone in that village would have a Bible. And read it.

He stepped back away from the open door. “I should have done this a long time ago. Come out of there, Ava.” He extended his hand. “If God intended for you to suffer for your sins, why did He send His own Son to die for them? You must never again punish yourself. That is the only blasphemy you are guilty of, not witchcraft. This punishment, the condemnation you have heaped on your own head, these are the true blasphemies. Jesus died, and your sins are no more. You are beloved. Take your freedom, Ava, today. Do not wait. You are beloved.”

“You’re wrong!”

“I cannot force freedom on you. And you are still His beloved, even if you remain in this cage. Because you are forgiven, only you should have this.” He held out the key to the cage door. “I want you to come inside the church.”

Ava stared in horror at it, transfixed. She did not move. Stefan threw it inside the cage, getting it close to her feet.

“Good-bye, Ava. I cannot express how you have helped me. You were presented to me as a witch, but I saw a woman. I thank God for that.” He could think of nothing else to say and grinned at the irony of words failing him now. They had failed from the moment he took the priesthood, and this was as it should have been. He had learned so late the ways of the Shepherd. If only he had read the Book so much sooner.

As he walked away, he heard the slam of metal on metal and glanced back. Ava had pulled the cage door closed, crouching down in it, glaring at him. He bit his lip and kept walking. He hoped that the next time he opened the door for a prisoner, there would be less resistance.

Chapter Twenty-six

“Father.”

Mia heard the jailer greet Father Stefan, his chair scratching against the polished wood floor as he did.

“Would you do a priest a kindness?” Stefan asked.

“Yes, of course,” the jailer replied. “You made quite a sight sitting up there with Bastion. I rejoiced to see you join our cause.”

“Yes, well, there are more changes to come. Now, for my favor?”

“Anything.”

“Leave.”

“What?”

“You can return tomorrow. I haven’t thought through all the details of what will happen after the burning, but that should be right.”

“I don’t understand, Father. The burnings are in a few hours. I can’t leave the witches here without guard.”

“Please, son.”

“I can’t just—”

Mia heard a wet snap and a loud collapse, then Stefan’s voice. “Well. Throwing a punch is as easy as it looks.”

Father Stefan stood at Mia’s cell a moment later, peering in at her. He twisted and slid the lock across itself, pulling the door open.

Mia sat, unable to move. Dame Alice didn’t rise either.

“Are you able to walk?” he asked them.

Both women nodded.

“Good.”

“Where is Alma?” Mia said.

“Erick has her hidden. She will be safe with him.”

Stefan dragged the jailer into Mia’s cell. He deposited the man on the filthy floor. The jail was silent except for Stefan’s movements.

“He’ll wake within the hour, I think,” Stefan said, loud enough so all the jailed women could hear him. “It would be better if you were gone when he came to.”

Dame Alice stood, lifting Mia up, helping her to the door.

Stefan followed and locked it behind them. The women were in the corridor of the jail, all out of their cells, confused and anxious. Stefan counted eight women.

“My friends,” he said. He began to speak but broke off. There was no other sound. Mia looked at all their filthy faces streaked with blood and dirt. She could tell them apart more by the skirts they wore than their faces.

Stefan coughed to free the words. “The church. It’s your best hope. The law cannot touch you once you are inside. When I open the door to the jail, those of you who can run, do. If you can help one another, do that. But we must be fast. I cannot protect you if you are not in the church. Are you ready?”

“But where is Bastion?” Dame Alice asked. “He will stop us if he can.”

The women glanced at each other, nodding.

“He is asleep in the dormitory, and for a long time. Once you are inside the church, he can do nothing to you.”

Mia’s face looked pale and drawn; she would be too weak to get across to the church in her own power. Dame Alice did not appear much better. Stefan walked to Mia, his arms extended. Dame Alice began releasing her grip on Mia. Mia’s chin began trembling as Father Stefan wrapped one arm around her shoulders and one around the back of her knees, carrying her like a child.

Stefan nodded at Dame Alice and took a deep breath.

“Open the doors.”

The women and Stefan ran from the jail, startling people in the square. Shock froze their faces. Not one of them would move in time to stop them. His legs pounded the earth, making the world shake in his vision as he ran with Mia in his arms.

Stefan could see Erick move to the doors from the window where he had been standing as soon as he saw Stefan and the women running. He threw the doors open. They made it to the steps before the townspeople could get their bearings and attempt to detain the group. Stefan was last to enter the church. He stumbled across the threshold, collapsing onto the floor near Mia. Erick slammed the doors on the approaching crowd. Stefan had seen how the men were furious. They gnashed their teeth and called down curses.

Stefan scanned the women, counting quickly. They had all made it, every last one. He looked up at Erick and began laughing as tears welled up in his eyes. Mia reached up for Stefan’s face, turning him to look at her.

“Why are you so happy?”

Stefan smiled, peace flooding through his soul faster than the adrenaline could drown it. He exhaled and softened his grip on her.