them each inside “It is so good to see you again. I have missed your company. And thank you so much for everything you did. It was quite unexpected and very much appreciated.”
“We had such a lovely time here that we couldn’t go without leaving some token of our gratitude,” Alexandra said with a smile.
“Well, again I thank you. You’ll be staying in the upstairs rooms. As you can see, I’ve had some improvements made while you were away. There is more space and more rooms available.” She led the way upstairs and to the familiar rooms.
“How many rooms did you add?” Lucian asked.
“Only three, but I have plans on making one more addition,” she replied. “I’ve had the most gracious gentleman staying and he’s helped me begin the process of refurbishing. So very thoughtful.”
Lucian and Kaelen exchanged grins. It was quite obvious that the older woman was in love with Adrian’s uncle. “Will he be here during our stay?” Kaelen asked.
“Why yes, as a matter of fact he will,” she answered. “How did you know?”
“Just a guess,” he shrugged.
“Ma’am,” Alexandra said as they went into their room, “I don’t recall your name. I’m so sorry; I am just terrible with names, what was it?”
The older woman looked startled and then smiled, “My name is of no importance. Most people just call me Mother.”
“Oh, very well then,” Alexandra replied. She stifled a yawn.
“You must be very tired. I’ll prepare lunch for you all and while I do that, you must get some rest. I insist,” she added when the others looked about to argue. “Get some good sleep and I’ll have everything ready for you.” She then left before anyone else could even attempt to argue. They were all so tired that they quickly found themselves heeding her council.
Lucian woke to the smell of vegetable stew wafting up the staircase. He had been so tired he hadn’t even bothered to close the door to his room. Stretching, he got out of bed and headed downstairs. “We were wondering when you would join us,” Alexandra said with a smile, handing him a plate with rolls on it. “Here, I’m sure Mother will bring out an extra bowl for you shortly.”
“Thanks,” Lucian replied as she handed him a bowl. He could see that Allegra was still avoiding looking at him.
“Lucian, how did your semester go?” Leticia asked pointedly.
He could tell she was forcing him to join the conversation, so Lucian said, “It went well. All of my classes had high marks and Raphael was really impressed with how George and I are doing in our class.”
“What have you been working on?” Alexandra asked.
“Double-handed fencing,” Lucian replied between bites. “Raphael says I’m a bit ahead of where George is, but between us I don’t think that’s true. George is a very good swordsman.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Sebastian entering the room. “I hope you’ll forgive an old man being late, Laura,” he said as he placed his bags on the floor. “Last night was very long indeed.”
“No matter,” Mother replied with a bright smile. “And that’s not my name. But where is your sister? I expected her to join you.”
“Due to a family emergency, she has chosen to stay at home with her daughter and granddaughter,” he explained. “She hopes you’ll forgive her.”
“Oh I do hope that everything turns out alright. No need to ask forgiveness. Life happens. Will this cut your visit short?”
“I’m afraid it will. But I’ll come again soon. After all, I have a room to finish.”
Mother laughed. “Well, come have some lunch. You must be starved.”
“I am feeling a mite peckish,” Sebastian agreed. He joined everyone at the table.
“I’ll bring you a bowl,” Mother said and walked from the room as everyone greeted Sebastian.
“So, have any of you been able to discover her name?” Sebastian asked.
“She said she goes by Mother,” Alexandra said.
“Bah,” he scoffed. “I can’t call her Mother. She can’t possibly be a day older than me. In fact, I’d wager she’s not even the same age as me.”
Laughing as she returned, Mother said,” It won’t work. You’ll just have to get used to it.”
“No, I shall make up a name for you every day until I finally pick the right one,” he retorted. “Today your name shall be Felicity.”
“Wrong again,” Mother said, shaking her head. “Eventually you’ll run out of names.”
“Ah, there aren’t that many names in the world. At some point I’m bound to pick the right one and then perhaps you’ll stop being so mysterious.”
“But if I lost my mystery, you might lose your interest.”
“I never lose interest in a lovely pursuit,” he retorted with a wink.
Flushing, Mother excused herself to begin the dishes.
They continued their meal and then left the inn to take care of signing the girls in for their competition. The necessary veterinary checks were done and the girls were each given a schedule of when they would be performing with their horses. After getting everything in order, the group wandered the town. Allegra spoke to everyone except Lucian. He couldn’t help feeling that Allegra was being vastly unfair. It wasn’t his fault that Adrian had been transformed. It wasn’t his fault that Adrian had disappeared. While part of him understood that she was just scared and angry, he didn’t think it fair that all her anger was directed at him. Couldn’t she at least be a little angry at Adrian? he thought. Just a tad?
Though he longed to go back to Lictthane to be with his family, Sebastian joined Allegra’s family in the stands. He watched and cheered as she performed for nearly the first half of the competition. Towards the end of the second week, he told everyone at supper, “I must be going to Lictthane now. I have overstayed my visit far longer than I ought to have.”
“Must you go?” Allegra asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “Bethany will need me to help with Lavinia and Moira. I can’t very well leave them on their own. But have no fears, I will visit again. I always do.”
“When?” Mother asked.
“That I will never tell,” he said. “But, I am packed and ready. I must simply take my leave and be out the door.”
“Have a safe trip,” Alexandra said as he stood from the table.
“Yes, and tell Moira hello for us,” Leticia added.
Sebastian nodded to everyone and walked to the door. His bags were on the floor next to it.
“Sebastian,” Mother said from behind him.
“Yes?”
“Please do be careful. There is rumor amongst the innkeepers of a band of highwaymen who are attacking carriages along the roads you will travel. They are merciless, killing everyone and leaving nothing of value behind.”
“I’ll be careful, Melody,” he promised.
Smiling and shaking her head, she replied, “No, not Melody.”
“You can’t keep your name a secret forever,” he said. “I’m close to figuring it out.”
“Well, I wish you’d do it sooner rather than later,” she teased. “You’ve picked out so many new names for me I do believe my head is spinning. I doubt I’d remember my own name if I heard it.”
“You’d remember. I can tell.”
“Perhaps I would. Now, if you’re going to go tonight, go quickly before it gets dark. And please do be careful. Send word when you reach Lictthane, just so I don’t worry too much.”
“I’ll be sure to do that.” He raised her hand gently to his lips. “Farewell my lady.”
“Until we meet again.” She waved to the carriage as it rolled away from her inn, smiling at no one in particular.
Sebastian didn’t travel far that night, keeping to his promise to stay safe. When he put in for the night, he talked to the innkeeper privately about the rumor Mother had confided to him. “It’s true enough, all right,” the innkeeper said. “We’ve been losing customers as no one wants to travel now. It’s a bad business I tell you.”
/> “Indeed,” Sebastian mused. In the years he’d been traveling, he’d heard of highwaymen, he’d even run into them from time to time, but never had he heard of there being a gang of them together. Highwaymen tended to travel alone, in pairs at the most. It was more difficult to catch them that way. These men must have been very sure of themselves to be traveling as a pack. In any case, Sebastian decided it would be best for him not to travel at night until he had safely reached Lictthane. It would still be a few days’ journey because he planned on stopping briefly in Traifloran before continuing on to Lictthane.
The next morning, Sebastian awoke early to begin his travels again. He paid the innkeeper before packing his light curricle. A flurry of snow was dusting the wintry world around him. He wrapped his winter cloak about him a little tighter. The horses continued at a lively gait and he stopped once for luncheon in a small town along the roadside. Soon he was on the road again; he should arrive just outside Traifloran by nightfall if he kept up his pace. He enjoyed the scenery and the soft glow of the winter snows as he rode swiftly past. He slowed the horses as the snow began to fall a little thicker. Soon dusk was falling over the mountains. It was nearing time to stop, but he had not yet reached his destination. A few more hours surely would be alright. He was still as swift with his sword as he’d ever been. If the highwaymen were foolish enough to stop him, they’d get a whipping they’d not soon forget.
Dark had just crept over the land as the glow of a fire showed over a hill. He slowed the horses to a silent walk. “I wonder what that could be?” Stopping the