THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART FORTY ONE )

Martha looked at Brad, her voice down to a whisper.
"I think you'd better tell me what's going on Brad."

Brad came and sat down opposite Martha. "There be
trouble brewing North, a lot of the Northern travellers say, that if it do carry on...that they
will travel South. They say the Others are coming,
rumour has it, they will come here."

"There be unrest here too," said Martha. "A lot of
bad hunters are roaming the forests. But there ain't much we can do about it right now, so don't
you go talking of such things for now Brad. So
where did you find these here crystals?"

"Well! said Brad, "you know up by Crowberry, where
our Missy gave birth to Alfie?"

"Yes," said Martha, "I remember."

"Well it was around that area."

"Then," said Martha, "perhaps we be camping in the
wrong place."

Brad turned to his mother, "I wouldn't advise going
up there now."

"And why ever not?" enquired Martha.

"A couple of reasons, firstly like I said, there
be trouble brewing, but also because it be Heathland and far to open...anyway, it'd be Winter
before we got there. We would never survive the
Winter up there."

Martha looked at her son, "well then come the Spring, you can lead us there, that's if you're
still staying with us for the Winter?"

"Ofcourse I'll be staying, but right now I be
hungry and thirsty."

Martha got up and stepping outside the Wagon, she
told Brad, "you go tell the others to get their
plates and line up for some food."

Martha dished up the piping hot stew, it was so
good, that people were coming back for seconds. For
dessert, Martha had the children pick some blackberries, which finally filled everyone up.

The children went off to play, while Missy was
helping Martha clean up. Brad went to feed Tawny.

"What's our Brad doing here then Mam?" asked Missy.

"He be staying the Winter luv." replied Martha.

"I hope he don't go causing any trouble, you know
what he's like, when him and our Gerard get together." Missy said worriedly.

"Don't be silly luv, that was two Summers ago, I'm
sure they've grown out of all that now."

Martha went to the entrance of the Wagon and called
Nathen. "What is it Martha?"

"How do you fancy a bit of a celebration tonight,
as me son's come to see his old mum?"

"Sure! that would be fine." said Nathen, "do you want me to pass on the word?"

"Yes!" said Martha, "while you're at it, go and get
some of me home-made berry brew...Oh! and tell Gerard to get some beverage for the men."

To be continued .........THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART FORTY TWO ) | ABCtales