Nyx
Wyrd Sister
It was the end of summer, when a 15 strong group of Roma's headed north across the border. They left behind the long strewn out pastures and low hedgerows. The field crops were harvested, dried and stored, so the need for extra farm hands had passed. With Autumn pressing on it would be the orchard owners seeking extra hands. With that in mind most of the summer labour packed up and headed for the uplands, following the winding tracks, where the land was more heavily wooded. Oak, Birch, Cedar, and others stood tall casting their long shadows over the group as they passed. There was the soft 'clop-clop clop-clop' accompanied by a perpetual low rumble, as the vanner ponies pulled the caravans without complaint. Also heard was the restless chatter of women, occasionally interrupted by the low grumbling interjection of a husband or brother requesting, food drink or peace and quiet.
Havel Prochazka had led this group for nearly two decades. For many years they continued to follow the old routes as the family had done for half a century. Things had changed though in the last decade, the authorities had punished and persecuted those offering work or assistance to the Roma. Forcing them further out into the more rural areas. They could go two or three days before passing a homestead or village, and weeks between finding work in exchange for supplies.
Riding ahead of the four wooden slatted caravans, Havel was second guessing his decision to take this route across the northern border, it had been 5 years since they had stayed in the grounds of the manor at the invitation of the landowner. Their hosts had found their guests quaint, and invited friends for a bonfire and get together several times in the month they had stayed. Havel had no doubt a few bastards were sired that summers end, perhaps even one of his own. He smiled beneath a well trimmed beard, in all honesty he had not thought of the woman, or the manor since. There were promises made to return the following year, but life had interceded as it often does, and before he even realized, 5 years had passed. Running a weathered hand through his collar length greying, black hair, he contemplated the reception they might receive. As if reading his mind, he heard the crisp mocking tones of his wife, split the air
"you thinking your filly may soured in your absence 'milenec'."
her voice was thick with sarcasm,but when Havel turned to look, her head was thrown back in hearty laugh, and her bright hazel eyes were alight with good humour.
He reined his horse coming alongside the wagon, leaning over he ran his fingers through her copper hair and pulled her in for a kiss. She gave in and reciprocated, until he pulled away, taking the opportunity to slap him across the face.
" that's for failing to be discreet" .
"Ah Eva had i not I would not realise what perfection I had in you." He winked and smiled. As she laughed at the ridiculousness of his comment.And again when she saw the disgust on her daughter's face.
" Otillie you need not feel pity for me, I won out, I know your father better than any, and whilst he may have occasionally thought he knew better, he always crawls home on his belly. Besides it saves me a night of keeping him amused."
The young woman beside her, wrinkled her nose, then snapped the reins on the grey mare pulling their wagon, earning a resentful swish of the tail.
"mama, that is more information than I ever needed to know about you and papa."
The older woman smiled at her daughter, their only girl and a perfect mix of her parents. Waist long rich auburn hair, in wild waves that tumbled like a restless waterfall down her back, braids tied and fastened with coloured threads and wax, decorated with beads or feathers. Skin the coloured of creamed coffee, eyes green like a cat, bright, acute, missing nothing. Otillie loved both her parents dearly, didn't mean she always understood them.
As the heat of the day peaked the group found a clearing on the side of the road, enough room to let the horses graze. Whilst they built a fire for cooking, and to wait out the midday heat. In truth beneath the shade of the aged trees that lined their way the heat was not so severe, but Havel liked to remind his charges that the horses came first, "no horse, no home, no livelihood." words he would bark, if he found a horse with a stone in its hoof, or harnesses ill fitting.
Otillie and her mother were first to pull in, the girl springing lightly down and quickly setting to, quick nimble fingers making short work of the buckles and fastening. Giving the grey mare a good rub between her eyes, she led her to the grass and steaked the tether. With the lead mare tethered the others could be set loose in the knowledge they wouldn't wander. She turned to see the other two families just pulling in and at the back her oldest brother with the stock wagon, he passed them all reining in just in front of where his sister had parked. Soon a barrel of water was opened and the trough chained to the wagon side filled. A kettle set to boiling over the fire.
The group sat eating or napping throughout the early afternoon. They consisted of Havel and his family, Eva's sister her husband and their children and then Jan and Raina Cizik, father and daughter of which they knew little except they were on the run after Jan hunted and murdered those who raped and killed his wife 3 years back. No one knew the details but whatever happened to his wife that night had left the fair, ashen haired, Raina mute. She hadn't uttered a word since. Otillie did what she could to bring the girl out of herself but she would just stare back with large,washed out blue grey eyes.
Otillie was walking back towards the others after offering Raina some food when she caught her younger brother staring at the ashen haired girl. A sly smile curled her lips, she stepped up on him lightly from behind, "you sweet on Raina?" her whisper making the poor boy jump out of his skin, he turned on her pink with embarrassment. This quickly turned to anger as it often does with young men. He tackled her to the floor getting caught up in mess of skirts and hair and hissing curses beneath his breath. Just when his sister was about to get the better of him there came a bellowing from by the fire.
"Oi!!!! I did not raise a couple of Tom cats , you have so much extra energy take Otto and ride up to the manor, find out what, welcome if any awaits us."
The two groaned in unison, but stopped their ruckus and got to their feet.
"But papa…" they both started.
"But nothing, go on you have time to ride out and be back before dark."
So it was they took their papa's roan stallion Otto and set out to the manor, Otillie in the front Kazamir behind her. They rode in silence each lost in their own thoughts. It was only once sometime had passed Kazamir voiced a slight concern that they hadn't found the drive leading to the estate.
"Papa said there was one at the front and a narrow one further on for trade."
Otillie reined up, swinging her leg over and sliding to the ground she handed the reins to her brother.
"ride on ahead i will walk a little ways back and see if we missed something." Kaz nodded tapping his heels on the roans sides, setting off into a steady trot.
Otillie half walked half danced back the way they had came, it didn't take long before she saw what they had been looking for...only it wasn't.
Two large wrought iron gates stood closed, covered in vines and ivy, their stone posts covered in moss. Now she was looking at them it seemed obvious, but they were not what the two had envisaged so the entrance was easy to miss. As her eyes followed the drive towards the house it became apparent something was very wrong.
The sound of hooves hitting the dirt lane made her turn, Kaz had Otto coming towards her at a steady canter, "you need to see this." he called before reaching out with a free hand. Otillie reached up skip hopping a step and swinging herself up behind her brother, as he reined the stallion back around to face the direction he had come. They covered the distance quickly, Kaz suddenly turning Otto off the road and onto a narrow overgrown winding path. As they approached the light was dimming. It wasn't as late as it felt, but with the dense woodland it seemed evening was creeping up on them quicker than expected.
In the low light, everything was dark and very quiet. The house itself seemed, distorted , mis-shapen. It wasn't until they rode into the court yard it became very obvious there was no one here.
Originally the main house had sat ahead, back of the house towards the courtyard, kitchens and servants quarters had been built down the right side, forming an L. When last they had been the place had been lit with braziers, the court yard had been a space with a fire pit and music and dancing. Now in the half light it seemed even more vast and uninviting. As they neared the house the siblings slid to the ground
As they drew closer to the main house it became obvious a fire must have taken hold, the end nearest the stores had burned so fiercely the roof had crumbled away. Giving the place it's eerie appearance. Approaching the backdoor Kaz reached to push it open. Otillie caught his arm.
"Never without permission" she hissed, repeating their father's mantra.
Havel Prochazka had led this group for nearly two decades. For many years they continued to follow the old routes as the family had done for half a century. Things had changed though in the last decade, the authorities had punished and persecuted those offering work or assistance to the Roma. Forcing them further out into the more rural areas. They could go two or three days before passing a homestead or village, and weeks between finding work in exchange for supplies.
Riding ahead of the four wooden slatted caravans, Havel was second guessing his decision to take this route across the northern border, it had been 5 years since they had stayed in the grounds of the manor at the invitation of the landowner. Their hosts had found their guests quaint, and invited friends for a bonfire and get together several times in the month they had stayed. Havel had no doubt a few bastards were sired that summers end, perhaps even one of his own. He smiled beneath a well trimmed beard, in all honesty he had not thought of the woman, or the manor since. There were promises made to return the following year, but life had interceded as it often does, and before he even realized, 5 years had passed. Running a weathered hand through his collar length greying, black hair, he contemplated the reception they might receive. As if reading his mind, he heard the crisp mocking tones of his wife, split the air
"you thinking your filly may soured in your absence 'milenec'."
her voice was thick with sarcasm,but when Havel turned to look, her head was thrown back in hearty laugh, and her bright hazel eyes were alight with good humour.
He reined his horse coming alongside the wagon, leaning over he ran his fingers through her copper hair and pulled her in for a kiss. She gave in and reciprocated, until he pulled away, taking the opportunity to slap him across the face.
" that's for failing to be discreet" .
"Ah Eva had i not I would not realise what perfection I had in you." He winked and smiled. As she laughed at the ridiculousness of his comment.And again when she saw the disgust on her daughter's face.
" Otillie you need not feel pity for me, I won out, I know your father better than any, and whilst he may have occasionally thought he knew better, he always crawls home on his belly. Besides it saves me a night of keeping him amused."
The young woman beside her, wrinkled her nose, then snapped the reins on the grey mare pulling their wagon, earning a resentful swish of the tail.
"mama, that is more information than I ever needed to know about you and papa."
The older woman smiled at her daughter, their only girl and a perfect mix of her parents. Waist long rich auburn hair, in wild waves that tumbled like a restless waterfall down her back, braids tied and fastened with coloured threads and wax, decorated with beads or feathers. Skin the coloured of creamed coffee, eyes green like a cat, bright, acute, missing nothing. Otillie loved both her parents dearly, didn't mean she always understood them.
As the heat of the day peaked the group found a clearing on the side of the road, enough room to let the horses graze. Whilst they built a fire for cooking, and to wait out the midday heat. In truth beneath the shade of the aged trees that lined their way the heat was not so severe, but Havel liked to remind his charges that the horses came first, "no horse, no home, no livelihood." words he would bark, if he found a horse with a stone in its hoof, or harnesses ill fitting.
Otillie and her mother were first to pull in, the girl springing lightly down and quickly setting to, quick nimble fingers making short work of the buckles and fastening. Giving the grey mare a good rub between her eyes, she led her to the grass and steaked the tether. With the lead mare tethered the others could be set loose in the knowledge they wouldn't wander. She turned to see the other two families just pulling in and at the back her oldest brother with the stock wagon, he passed them all reining in just in front of where his sister had parked. Soon a barrel of water was opened and the trough chained to the wagon side filled. A kettle set to boiling over the fire.
The group sat eating or napping throughout the early afternoon. They consisted of Havel and his family, Eva's sister her husband and their children and then Jan and Raina Cizik, father and daughter of which they knew little except they were on the run after Jan hunted and murdered those who raped and killed his wife 3 years back. No one knew the details but whatever happened to his wife that night had left the fair, ashen haired, Raina mute. She hadn't uttered a word since. Otillie did what she could to bring the girl out of herself but she would just stare back with large,washed out blue grey eyes.
Otillie was walking back towards the others after offering Raina some food when she caught her younger brother staring at the ashen haired girl. A sly smile curled her lips, she stepped up on him lightly from behind, "you sweet on Raina?" her whisper making the poor boy jump out of his skin, he turned on her pink with embarrassment. This quickly turned to anger as it often does with young men. He tackled her to the floor getting caught up in mess of skirts and hair and hissing curses beneath his breath. Just when his sister was about to get the better of him there came a bellowing from by the fire.
"Oi!!!! I did not raise a couple of Tom cats , you have so much extra energy take Otto and ride up to the manor, find out what, welcome if any awaits us."
The two groaned in unison, but stopped their ruckus and got to their feet.
"But papa…" they both started.
"But nothing, go on you have time to ride out and be back before dark."
So it was they took their papa's roan stallion Otto and set out to the manor, Otillie in the front Kazamir behind her. They rode in silence each lost in their own thoughts. It was only once sometime had passed Kazamir voiced a slight concern that they hadn't found the drive leading to the estate.
"Papa said there was one at the front and a narrow one further on for trade."
Otillie reined up, swinging her leg over and sliding to the ground she handed the reins to her brother.
"ride on ahead i will walk a little ways back and see if we missed something." Kaz nodded tapping his heels on the roans sides, setting off into a steady trot.
Otillie half walked half danced back the way they had came, it didn't take long before she saw what they had been looking for...only it wasn't.
Two large wrought iron gates stood closed, covered in vines and ivy, their stone posts covered in moss. Now she was looking at them it seemed obvious, but they were not what the two had envisaged so the entrance was easy to miss. As her eyes followed the drive towards the house it became apparent something was very wrong.
The sound of hooves hitting the dirt lane made her turn, Kaz had Otto coming towards her at a steady canter, "you need to see this." he called before reaching out with a free hand. Otillie reached up skip hopping a step and swinging herself up behind her brother, as he reined the stallion back around to face the direction he had come. They covered the distance quickly, Kaz suddenly turning Otto off the road and onto a narrow overgrown winding path. As they approached the light was dimming. It wasn't as late as it felt, but with the dense woodland it seemed evening was creeping up on them quicker than expected.
In the low light, everything was dark and very quiet. The house itself seemed, distorted , mis-shapen. It wasn't until they rode into the court yard it became very obvious there was no one here.
Originally the main house had sat ahead, back of the house towards the courtyard, kitchens and servants quarters had been built down the right side, forming an L. When last they had been the place had been lit with braziers, the court yard had been a space with a fire pit and music and dancing. Now in the half light it seemed even more vast and uninviting. As they neared the house the siblings slid to the ground
As they drew closer to the main house it became obvious a fire must have taken hold, the end nearest the stores had burned so fiercely the roof had crumbled away. Giving the place it's eerie appearance. Approaching the backdoor Kaz reached to push it open. Otillie caught his arm.
"Never without permission" she hissed, repeating their father's mantra.
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