The Widow and The Witcher (Complete)

Chapter One

Three years later.    

Tobias and his horse walked slowly up the long entrance to the palacial estate, as they walked he enjoyed the fading sunlight as it streemed in through the trees that lined the road. He remembered how proud his master had been of this entrance, he often remarked as they walked home together "remember Tobias you always want to make someone feel welcome even at the the entrance to a property you want to make it inviting" the trees finished just as the house came into view and the road finished as it curved up to the stable. He greeted as he arrived at the large stables by Jolna and Petra the Stable hands. "How was market today Tobias?" asked Jolna as Tobias dismounted and handed the reigns to Petra. "Busy, we did well today, all the merchants did well. It's days like this I miss the master the most. He would have come home so jubilant and full of life." Both Jolna and Petra nodded their heads in agreement but kept silent. The estate since losing its master had been quiet, the joy and the passion of the past lost in grief.

Tobias needed to seek out his mistress, his heart becoming heavy as he tried to imagine how there conversation would go. In the past, he would have been excited to share his news with her and would have expected happiness in return, but these days his mistress seemed to have lost her vibrance and zest for life.  She continued to practice healing in the physical but had stopped almost all together helping the hurting of spirit. 

Tobias entered the main dwelling taking his time to appreciate his surroundings. The marble floors were a muted grey with flecks of white moving through them. On one wall was a large mirror and a side table and on the opposite wall was a long couch for visitors to rest. Placing a hand on the side table to steady his nerves he was reminded of his first time walking through these doors. 

He had been sold to his master Wilfred as a teenager. His previous master had been ok but could lose his temper at a moment's notice. He had been standing in the entrance head down trembling as the Master talked to his trader when the Mistress had walked past and noticed him. Mistress Julia instead of talking to the trader walked up to Tobias. "Hello young man, my name is Mistress Julia" hearing the voice Tobias looked up into the smiling joyful face. He had felt instantly at ease as she talked to him. As the trader left Tobias had felt a sense of coming home. 

Over time the Master had noticed his attention to detail, a penchant for numbers and ability to manipulate a situation so he would get a better deal. His Master had taken him under his wing and taught him all the skills he now used to keep the estates business's running so that Julia, his beloved mistress could be cared for. She had treated him almost like a son, and even less of a servant than his Master had.  Standing at the door to her healing rooms he ran his hands through his hair wishing they would stop sweating. Tapping on the brass ring he waited to be bid entrance.

"Come" a voice called from within, Tobias entered his eyes falling on his mistress sitting at the herb table stringing up some fresh ones to dry. She still looked beautiful to him, but she had stopped wearing colour and even after the cultural time of mourning had continued to wear the same grey-black dress. She looked up at him the dark circles under her eyes betraying how little sleep she was getting, and in that look, Tobias prayed that something would bring the spark of life back into her eyes. "Tobias, how was the markets today?" Julia asked in a husky unused voice. "Good Mistress, it was a prosperous day." "Good," Julia said and returned her attention to her herbs. "Mistress, may I have permission to speak to you about a matter very important to me?" Tobias's hands shook as he swallowed and told himself to man up.

At this Julia returned her gaze back to her servant and truly looked at the man standing in front of her, medium height with a medium build Tobias looked like most of the men in her community. His skin was a light olive that was tanned by the sun, his hair a deep brown. His body was accustomed to hard work which was accentuated muscled arms and his calloused hands. Julia had loved watching this young boy grow into the man he was today. Even in her haze of loneliness and pain, she could see he was troubled. A sweat had broken out on his forehead and his brown eyes looked nervously around the room.