{"id":253181,"date":"2026-07-13T02:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T23:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/a-nest-within-briars-sebastian-nothwell\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T02:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T23:38:22","slug":"a-nest-within-briars-sebastian-nothwell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/a-nest-within-briars-sebastian-nothwell\/","title":{"rendered":"A Nest Within Briars – Sebastian Nothwell"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If Hull believed in him, required him, needed him, he could do no less than rise to the challenge. He steeled his nerve and planted his palms on Hull\u2019s shoulders. While the strength of his arm might not account for much, he knew he was certainly not a slender man, and perhaps the sheer weight of him would make up the lack. \u201cJust so,\u201d said Grytha approvingly, surprising Ephraim again. Without further ado, she took Hull\u2019s limb in her two strong hands and\u2060\u2014 A strangled groan escaped Hull\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n

Ephraim, who hadn\u2019t the nerve really to watch the actual bone-setting, instantly looked to his beloved\u2019s face; the jaw clenched in pain, the eyes screwed shut, the brow knit. His heart couldn\u2019t bear the sight. And yet he forced himself to watch, for if his dear Hull had courage enough to withstand the necessary agonies, Ephraim could hardly do less than bear witness to his stalwart example.<\/p>\n

Only once did Hull rear up against his grasp\u2014and Ephraim, determined to do right by him, to do what he needed, to do what he must\u2014leant down with his full weight, and this, mercifully, sufficed. Hull gazed up at him afterwards with a dazed, pain-stricken, yet unmistakably grateful look, and Ephraim\u2019s heart performed a discomforting acrobatic manoeuvre. \u201cYou may release him now,\u201d said Grytha, startling Ephraim a third time. Ephraim dared a glance at her handiwork.<\/p>\n

The limb was splinted and wrapped tight, so straight and clean one might suppose no bone had ever broken and Hull merely wore a curious sort of stocking. No trace of blood remained, for which Ephraim felt most grateful. And Hull, when Ephraim met his gaze again, appeared very much relieved. Ephraim resisted the urge to press his lips to the beads of sweat blooming on his brow. \u201cHave you crutches or a cane?\u201d Grytha asked, jolting him out of his reverie.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid not,\u201d Ephraim regretfully informed her. Privately, he resolved to make himself more prepared for unfortunate accidents in the future. At present, Grytha seemed unbothered by this lack. She withdrew from her bag a length of wood. A considerable length of wood. A length of wood that no mortal bag of such dimensions could possibly hold. \u201cAh,\u201d said Ephraim. The branch\u2014for such it had been, stripped of its leaves and twigs and bark though it was now\u2014stood almost as tall as Hull would if he were upright.<\/p>\n

Grytha took out a knife from the purse at her belt (commonplace enough, Ephraim supposed, having not the least idea what ladies might typically carry on their person) and a hatchet (which Ephraim did not think quite so commonplace, but then again, he supposed himself hardly an expert in that particular field).<\/p>\n

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Copyright 2026 Kenneth Henry Cover painting by Deiridaa Cover design by Sleepy Fox Studio Feeding any part of this book into any artificial intelligence or any other form of machine learning for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, is expressly prohibited. 1kitap1.com\/en To my patrons and backers, without whom this book would never exist. 1kitap1.com\/en Contents Bruises Bloom in Blackthorn Briar Sentiment Bookseller & Bone-setter The Unveiling of Daniel Durst A Quiet Solstice About the Author 1kitap1.com\/en Bruises Bloom in Blackthorn Briar 1kitap1.com\/en Author\u2019s Note.<\/p>\n

This scene occurs during and immediately after Chapter Thirty-Seven of Oak King Holly King. 1kitap1.com\/en B ring him home. Those three words had formed the whole of Shrike\u2019s need from the instant he heard his true name whispered on the wind between realms. Mr Grigsby had at that very moment arisen to fetch down the tea-chest and refill the kettle. In the space of a blink, while the mortal\u2019s back remained turned, Shrike leapt from his chair and dashed from the office. He shifted to his feathered form in the stairwell\u2019s solitude.<\/p>\n

Then he flew through the fog to Hyde Park and dove into the toadstool ring to emerge from the well in the Rochester stable-yard. All this passed in mere minutes. To Shrike, it felt like eons. He staggered upright, still in his feathered form, convinced he\u2019d come too late. Rochester lacked the smothering fog that blanketed London. The moon shone bright, casting its silvery rays clear across the town.<\/p>\n

More than enough to illumine Shrike\u2019s path to Cemetery Gate. He shot for it swift as an arrow. Shrike. The second whisper shivered through his feathered ears and shuddered down into his bones \u2018til it grew barbs in his ribcage that dragged his heart towards the whisperer. If he hadn\u2019t already known where Wren was, he knew for certain now.<\/p>\n

Less than a minute of flight lay between the stable-yard and Cemetery Gate. Still not fast enough for Shrike. His wings had never felt so inadequate before. At long last, the gate-house loomed ahead of him. He flitted from window to window, peering in to find his Wren, drawn ever- onward by the whisper in his heart, until\u2060\u2014 There, upstairs, in Tolhurst\u2019s office, moonlight without and a guttering candle within shone upon his Wren.<\/p>\n

Held aloft by his throat in Tolhurst\u2019s grasp. For an instant, Shrike\u2019s heart ceased to beat. Then his blood surged forth with rage the likes of which he\u2019d not felt since the night Larkin died. Shrike flew up beyond the roofline, his heart pounding against his barbed ribs with every feverish wing-beat.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.<\/em><\/p>\n

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