"So a pissing match?" I guessed.
Erik snapped his head to me and blinked. "What?"
I rolled my eyes. "You know, like dogs and marking their territory."
He snorted and looked ahead of us. "That's a very apt description."
I glanced around us. "Speaking of descriptions, are you sure this is the right hall to the dining room? I don't think I've been down this one." The walls of the stone hall were covered in old portraits of men and women dressed in ranging from the early twentieth-century to the fifteenth. "And who are these people?"
"We are in the hall of the kings, and these are my ancestors," Erik told me.
"Well, at least you didn't stuff them," I mused. I stopped in front of a particularly stoic fellow with a frown and a deep, black beard. I jerked my head at the painting. "What's his problem?"
"That was my great-grandfather. He was-well, very severe," Erik admitted.
"It looks like a doctor shoved a snake up his butt and forgot to get it out," I quipped.
Erik pursed his lips and shook his head. "Nothing so medicinal. He was still alive when one of his grandsons was sentenced to death for treason."
"You mean Blackwood's dad?" I guessed, and he nodded.
"Yes.
I leaned towards the painting and squinted. "That's some old clothing he's wearing." The gentleman wore a waistcoat with frills on the sleeves and at the neck. He showed off a white pair of breeches and buckled shoes.
"He wore that long after it went out of style," Erik explained.
"Well, I know where we are now, but why did you take me through here?" I wondered.
"Because the halls chose this to be our path," he told me.
I turned and blinked at him. "The halls?"
He nodded. "Yes, the halls."
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"But we must follow the halls."
"Okay, now you're just teasing me. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Do you recall that I told you the Dens were contrived by a madman?" he asked me.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because he enchanted the halls so we would be led to where we needed to be," he revealed.
I leaned forward and sniffed his breath. "You sure you haven't been drinking?"
He sighed. "Why do you doubt the existence of supernatural elements when you yourself are one?"
"Because Denial is a really long river to swim upstream to Acceptance Junction," I retorted.
"Whether you accept it or not, the halls change with every passing."
I stepped away from him and held up a hand. "So let me get this straight. There are rat people below ground who helped build the Old Den-"
"Correct."
"And there are witches, one of whom enchanted the fog around the islands-"
"Also correct."
"And now you're telling me some mad wizard architect made a building where the halls tell you where to go, and not the other way around?"
"He was an alchemist, but yes."
I threw up my arms. "Of course he was. How stupid of me to think he was a wizard."
"It's an honest mistake."
My mouth dropped open and I tilted my head to one side to look at him askew. "Are you seriously telling me all of this is true?"
"I am because it is."
I ran a hand through my hair. "What next? A supervillian with an inflated ego?"
CHAPTER 2
He jerked to a stop, and wrapped as I was around his arm I stumbled to a stop.
"What was that for?" I questioned him. I followed his eyes and noticed Cousin Tyrone coming towards us.
There was the usual smile on his face, and he stopped in front of us and bowed. "We always seem to be meeting at this hour, Mrs. Greenwood," he mused.
Erik's eyes flickered between us. Blackwood chuckled. "Yes, we've met before. It was only a little tete-a-tete yesterday morning, but I've heard you both have had quite a few adventures since then."
"What has brought you here, Blackwood?" Erik questioned him.
Blackwood feigned injury. "Dear cousin, such harsh words. I've come on account of the earthquakes, and to visit my ancestral home. I have that right, you know."
Erik raised an eyebrow. "What about the earthquakes?"
"I'm part of Deacon's entourage. He thought I could find something useful in the library," Blackwood explained.
"And have you?" Erik wondered.
Blackwood chuckled and shook his head. "Not a thing, but it's still a very interesting library. You should frequent it more, dear cousin. It may broaden your mind." He bowed his head to us. "But I must be off. Good day to you both." He strode past us and out of sight around a bend in the hall.
I shivered. "Your family tree must be very gnarled," I commented.
"In some branches, yes, but we should move on," he suggested.
We walked on and soon arrived at the dining room. The company was the same, the Lord and Lady Greenwood. Behind the lady stood Heather, who smiled and bowed to us.
The lord arose at our entering and grinned at us. "It's a good omen when a son obeys his father's wishes," he commented.
I noticed Erik tightened his grip on my arm. Disaster was averted when the Lady Greenwood stood and smiled at us. "I hope you're not too exhausted from your late hike," she wondered.
I smiled in return and shook my head. "Nope, I'm fine, thanks to a hot bath and a good night's sleep."
Lord Greenwood's eyes wandered down my body, and his eyebrows crashed down. He gestured to my outfit. "What is this?" he questioned me.
"Comfort," I quipped.
He straightened and frowned. "Perhaps on the mainland, but we do things differently on the island. We don't allow-"
Lady Greenwood laughed and pointed at my pants. "Aren't those Erik's old pants?" she asked me.
I grinned. "The one and the same."
She moved to stand in front of me and inspected the shirt. "And this looks like Gregory's handiwork. He always was good with a needle. He's sewn all my dresses," she told me.
"Cassandra! Don't encourage this blasphemy by appreciating it!" the lord protested.
She waved him off. "A little change in dress won't cause the collapse of a house."
"But it might cause the collapse of a society!" he insisted.
"Have you any other clothes like these?" the lady asked me.
"Cassandra!"
"Greg-um, Gregory is making me up some right now. Did you want some made, too?" I offered.
"No!"
Lady Greenwood smiled, but shook her head. "No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I am fond of these dresses and wouldn't want to offend Gregory by not wearing them. Now who's hungry for breakfast?" She ingratiated herself between Erik and me, put her hands on our backs and led us over to the table.
The lord still fumed beside his chair. "She will not eat at this table dressed as such!" he insisted.
"Would you prefer we eat outside?" his wife suggested.
"That is not what I meant!" he growled
"My dear, our food is getting cold. We shouldn't keep it waiting," she pointed out as she seated us on either side of the table. Erik sat opposite us
Lord Greenwood grumbled, but he grudgingly followed us to the table and took his seat at the head. "She must wear dress if she goes to the other islands," he insisted.
"That isn't such a bad idea," Lady Greenwood mused.
The Lord perked up his head from his plate. "What you mean?" he questioned her.
She smiled and shrugged. "Perhaps she should visit some of the islands. With Erik as escort, of course. After all, she will be lady of these lands someday."
"A lady doesn't dress as that," he argued as he nodded towards me.
"Regardless of how she dresses, she will be lady of the islands," Lady Greenwood countered. Her eyes flickered between Erik and me. "I can have the boat ready for you anytime, if you wish," she offered dots
Erik bowed his head to her. "We would appreciate it."
Lady Greenwood leaned backed and furrowed her brow. "Yes, I do believe there is at least one on this island. You can find her the rear guard houses."
My eyed widened. "Do you recall her name?"
She shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't know. Their names weren't given during their Choosing. They were merely given the blood and taken by their mates to their new homes."
"Have you forgotten that tradition dictates that the women aren't allowed to see each other for the first three months of their time here?" Lord Greenwood reminded his wife.
"I haven't, but seeing as this is the first future Lady Greenwood in many years we can make an exception to the rule," she insisted.
Lord Greenwood frowned and half rose from his seat."Who rules these islands? Man or woman?"
"You, my husband, but a little trip won't cause any problems," she persisted. She turned her attention to us. "Will you go today?"
"Why not?" I mused.
Erik bowed his head. "We will do as you wish."
Lady Greenwood laughed. "Don't be so serious," she scolded. "It's merely an excursion to the other islands. If you visit only the closest ones today you should return in plenty of time for lunch. That leaves many more islands for other days."
"Visiting the other islands isn't the best idea right now," Lord Greenwood spoke up. "Have you all forgotten about the earthquakes?"
"What news do you have of them?" Erik asked his father.
The lord munched on his eggs and scowled. "Nothing. The Diggers have refused us entry into their domain and we haven't found a way around their guards. If one of them was murdered, I'm apt to believe it was done by one of their own."
"Regardless of the earthquakes, I'm sure the waters will be safe enough to travel upon," Lady Greenwood insisted.
"If I'm going to be here for a while as well see everything," I agreed.
Lord Greenwood looked up from his plate and raised an eyebrow at me. "Yes, we are a long-lived race and no one leaves these islands except the guards."
I frowned."How come they're the only ones who get to leave the islands?"
Erik shot me a warning glance from across the table. I scowled back at him. "What? It's a legitimate question."
"Perhaps that's another lesson for another time," Lady Greenwood suggested. "For now we should eat this delicious breakfast before it gets cold and see this day has for us."
The rest of our practice was done uncomfortable silence. When we were finished the delicious food Erik and I stood. Lady Greenwood also rose from her chair and she wrapped her arms around one of mine.
"Speak with you more and?" She asked of me.
I looked to Erik for help. He merely shrugged and I was pulled away by his mother into the hall. She led us away from the doorway and halfway down the hall where she released me and turned to face me.
"Do you still intend to leave us as soon as possible?" She asked me.
"I'm still a prisoner here, even if you are treating me like a guest," I pointed out.
She sighed and turned her face away from me. "I had hoped you possibly could change my son's mind about forever being alone. You see, we live a rather long life here, and it can be rather lonely."
I raised an eyebrow."Why does he want to be alone?"
Sad smile slipped onto her face. "I'm afraid it's because of me that he so detests the Choosing. You see, I, like you, was one of the women brought to this island so many years ago. When he was born I was still bitter about my imprisonment here, but raising him on these islands has been more of a blessing than I could've imagined and a peace of mind I don't believe I could've found in the outside world."
I frowned. "That's all good for you, but I still don't want to be here and if there's some way that I can get out here I'm going to take it."
She grasped my hand in hers and looked me in the eyes. "Please, for my sake and my son's sake won't you stay here for just a little while longer. He's changed so much in such a short time and it's all thanks to you."
I snorted. "I haven't seen much change," I argued.
She squeezed my hands and chuckled. "Then you underestimate your ability to change the people around you. You hold more influence over my son right now than his own father, Perhaps even more than me, given enough time. Won't you allow just a little more time?"
I leaned forward and scrutinized her face. "Do you really think we can find a way to break this bond we have? I mean, you're acting like I could just walk out of here any day," I pointed out.
Lady Greenwood sighed and dropped my hands. There was a small, sad smile on her face. "You are certainly as stubborn as my son, I will admit that, and I hope that whichever path you two choose you will be happy on it. My last bit of advice is this: whichever road you choose to take, always keep your heart at the forefront of your decisions."
I wrinkled my nose. "Doesn't that sound a little cliched?"
She smiled and stepped back. "I suppose I'm a little old-fashioned matters of the heart. I hope Erik and you have fun on your trip around the islands. They really are beautiful places once you see the big hidden in the rocks."
"I guess we'll see," I mused. I turned around back to the dining room and saw that Erik stood in the doorway. His eyes were trained on his mother who stood past me. I followed his eyes and saw that Lady Greenwood had vanished. I frowned. "I wish there was somebody normal around here. . ." I muttered.
Footsteps came up behind me and Erik joined me by my side. "Are you ready?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, this is a dangerous mission like yesterday?"
He shook his head. "Only if you have a habit of being seasick."
I snorted. "You think I would've tried to take that boat if I got seasick?" I pointed out.
A sly grin slipped onto his lips. "Yes."
I couldn't help but grin myself. "Well, you're probably right. Anyway, lead on to this guard barracks place thingy so I can meet my fellow prisoner."
CHAPTER 3
Erik guided me through the madhouse that was the Old Den and through an external door at the rear that led outside to a bright, sunny sky and no wind. The rear view of the island was much like the two rocky sides, but the ground was flat and stretched out of sight. The lack of view was helped by the many trees that stood in front of us. They covered the island like a thick blanket of tree trunks. All view of the lake was blocked by their large branches, and the only way I could tell we were surrounded by water was a cool, wet breeze that blew through the trunks.
A small, winding dirt path wound through the trees and disappeared into that mess of branches, roots and bushes. Erik led me down this winding path where we were forced to walk one behind the other.
I frowned at the blue sky and shook my fist at it. "Of course it would be beautiful the day I'm not trying to escape. . ." I muttered.
"When you leave these islands it will hopefully be less of an escape and more of a farewell," Erik commented.
I shrugged. "That's being pretty optimistic for you, isn't it? I mean, we have no idea how to break this bond between us and judging by how old this tradition is-" I paused and furrowed my brow. "How old is this tradition?"
"The same age as the fog, several centuries," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow. "So are you going to tell me that the witches is involved with this whole Choosing thing, too?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"You werewolves sure do like to get yourselves into a lot of messes with a lot of other supernatural monstrous creatures," I commented.
"The world is a smaller and more strange place than you can ever imagine," he told me.
"I'm starting to learn that, and the hard way," I pointed out.
"Today will not be so hard. My mother was correct when she said visiting the islands wasn't difficult,In the fresh for you, and a fresh view may bring some ideas to us," he reminded me.
I gestured to the never ending forest in front of us. "So what is this guard place we're going to, anyway?" I asked him.
"The Barracks are
where the guards call home. The building is nearly as old as the Old Den. It was built shortly after the Old Den to house the protectors of the islands before the fog was created," he explained. Erik led me down the stone path to the large wood door that sat in the center of the building.
"So how come they weren't put out of a job when the fog came?" I wondered.
He pursed his lips. "Though the fog kept outside trouble from entering, it couldn't keep inside trouble from growing."
I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of inside trouble?"
"Those such as the betrayal of Blackwood's father, and the disquiet among the less lineaged population," he told me.
"So this place isn't quite the paradise that your mom made it out to be?" I guessed.
"It has its beauty, but even the garden of Eden had its snake," he countered.
"You sound like your mom, always having a nifty quote for everything," I teased him.
"It's a trait she taught me well," he told me.
I noticed an opening ahead of us, And the trees parted to reveal a large swath of cut forest that created a field of dirt and rocks. The perimeter of the field was surrounded by trees that grew down the hillside and all the way to the edge of the water where lay their falling brethren in the rock-strewn waters. The distance from one end of the field to the other was about hundred yards, and created a U-shape.
At the far end sat a squat building made from rough brick. The windows weren't as elegant as those of the Den. These were simple rectangles with foggy pieces of glass in the. The windows looked out on weeds and brush with a small, winding path made of buried stones. The trees surrounded the three-story building on three sides and only the front was open.
"That's it?" I asked him.
"Yes."
"And I thought prisons looked depressing," I quipped.
"It was built to be that way. A guard's life is not one filled with much beauty," he commented.
Erik guided us through the dirt and rocks and we reached the front door. On the wood was a large, metal Marley knocker, the kind with the face and the bar sticking out of its mouth. Erik grabbed the bar in his hand and rapped the metal against the door. The clanking sound echoed behind the door, and in a few moments the entrance was opened.
I was not pleased to see Gethin's ugly face. He looked between us and sneered.
"What's wanted?" he questioned us.
"An interview with your captain," Erik demanded.
Gethin grudgingly stepped aside and allowed us entrance. I followed Erik into the building. The bottom floor had three long hallways. One to our left, one to our right, and one that led ahead to the rear of the building. The halls were wide, and the floor was paved with cobblestones. The walls were made of stone, but whitewashed to a smooth shine. The place was Spartan, but clean.