“You found these children and dog inside a barn in an abandoned village on the far side of the forest?” I tried to keep my voice level as I repeated the summary of what Stafford and Bran had just described to me. I looked over at Stafford. He’d seemed so normal before. Now I learned he was crazy? Or a liar? I refused to accept either of those possibilities, so I needed to find a third option.
“Yes.” Bran nodded. “I assume you saw the horses?”
“We did.” At least that part of their story checked out and made sense. “Only we don’t know who they belong to.”
“I assume the villagers.” Bran leaned back against a column. “And these belong to them too.” He pulled out a pile of clothes from his sack.
“Yes, the villagers.” I knew I sounded skeptical, but that was because I was skeptical. “From the village right on the other side of the forest?”
“Yes. Why do you keep asking that?” Stafford narrowed his eyes.
“Because there is no village on the other side of that forest.” I watched all of the assembled before me as I spoke, looking for reactions. “There is only a lake.”
“That’s impossible.” Stafford shook his head wildly. “Impossible. We were just there.”
Why did he have to look so hot? He couldn’t be making this up. I preferred to think he was crazy over making up such a tale. “It’s not. Way before I was born a massive flood destroyed the small farming village that was there.” And an absolutely crazy possibility hit me.
“There was a village.” Bran frowned. “I assure you.”
“There was.” Ana stamped her foot. “We were in the barn. I still don’t understand how we got there, but we were there for sure.”
The dog barked, and Ana pet his head.
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you…” I needed more to go off of. “But tell me, what did this village look like?”
“It was small,” Stafford started to describe it more. “Really just a circle of huts around a green space with a scattering of barns and outbuildings and large, open fields.”
“A circle you say. How many huts?” Details. I needed details. We were in the courtyard again. This spot had become my unofficial ruling chamber. I kept eying the doors, half expecting my father to stroll in and to send me on my way. He’d never gone silent for this long.
“I don’t know.” Stafford rubbed his chin. “Two dozen maybe.”
“Please wait here.” I really hoped I could find what I needed.
“You aren’t calling someone to lock us up or something, are you?” Bran eyed me suspiciously.
“No. I need to find something that could help.” I pulled open one of the double doors, and let the cool air hit me as I made my way down the hall toward the library. It was a large room filled with books; usually finding something took hours, but this wasn’t just any book. It was the history of all settlements in my court. I walked over to the glass case at the back of the room and wove my hand around. I waited before a small bronze key appeared in my hand. I had no clue how the deep ancestral magic worked, but I was completely in awe no matter how many times I witnessed it. I used the key to open the case and then lifted the false bottom. I carefully reached in to retrieve the old and weathered leather-bound book. I felt the wave of familiarity that always hit me when I touched the book as I clutched it close against my body and headed back toward the courtyard. I slowed down as I passed the family portraits. I stopped in front of the one of my parents. They were both smiling, yet there was such a loneliness in my mother’s eyes. How had I never noticed that before?
I gave myself a moment longer to study the picture. I should have hurried, but I needed to ready myself. I had to make sure I had the absolutely most controlled reaction. I was good at that. One of the things my father had taught me well was to control my emotions, and when that wasn’t possible to at least control my reactions enough so I didn’t let them weaken my position. I’d taken his lessons to heart, and I knew I was going to need them now. On top of all of the confusion, stress, and concern, I also absolutely could not stop thinking about the kiss with Stafford. I’d never let a guy mess with me so much. I was breaking all my rules, yet I found I didn’t really care.
I gave myself another moment when I returned to the courtyard. I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face. Finally, I opened my eyes and walked toward the assembled group. All eyes were on me, but I tried to ignore them as I took a seat on a wide lounge and started to flip through the pages. I found exactly what I was looking for but kept the pages hidden from view “You said two dozen huts didn’t you?”
“Yes. Or close to that. All in a circle around a central grassy area.” Stafford watched me as he spoke.
“Prestile.” I knew it was time to start revealing some information. “The village was Prestile.”
“So now you admit there is a village there?” Bran raised an eyebrow. He was far more comfortable speaking up now.
“I’m saying there was a village just the way you describe it. Where the lake is now.” I lowered the book so they could see the picture.
“Wow. That’s where we were!” Todd spoke from the first time. He pointed to the barn.
“It’s as if nothing changed.” Bran rocked back on his heels. “That’s exactly how it looked.”
Stafford sat down beside me and gently moved the book over to his lap. I didn’t stop him. The ancient magic would protect the book even if he did try to hurt it, not that I actually thought he would. He began to read the text, “Prestile. Founded during the Marvin reign and destroyed by the great flood under the Penelope reign.”
“Is that how you all track time?” Ana peered over at us. “I know they used to do that a long time ago in Europe and stuff, but now we use years.”
“Europe?” I asked. She’d mentioned other places I’d never heard of before. Either the girl was not of a coherent mind, or she was from very far away.
Ana groaned. “Doesn’t anyone know anything about geography?”
“Sure I do. I know all about the geography of the Courts and the lands nearby.” My education was thorough and expansive. As the future heir I needed a rich knowledge base and the ability to handle any situation.
“But there is life beyond these courts.” Ana wrung her hands. Evidently children from where she was from weren’t all that different from those that age here.
“Yes.” The chasms were making it increasingly hard to ignore. I pushed away the thoughts about whose fault those were. I’d promised Fritz after all. “I am well aware, and I hope you can teach me something of the geography of where you come from.” Diplomacy was important even when dealing with children.
“Can you get us home?” Todd stepped away from his sister.
I swallowed. What was I supposed to say? I didn’t even know where they lived, so how could I promise to get them there? “I am going to do everything I can.”
“That means you don’t want to promise.” His eyes were so wide and brown, surrounded by long eyelashes wet from tears. It shot right at my heart.
I gave him the most reassuring smile I could. “It means I am going to do everything I can do.”
Ana sighed. “I don’t get it. How could we end up here?”
“I don’t know. Especially since the place you showed up hasn’t existed other than at the bottom of a lake for well over seventy-five years.” I looked back at the book Stafford was holding. Nothing made logical sense, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t real.
“Maybe this is all a dream.” Todd pinched his arm and made a pained face. “But I can’t wake up yet.”
“You keep saying that, but wouldn’t we wake up already?” Ana put a hand on her hip.
Mayo whimpered.
The door made a loud whine as Fritz flung it fully open. “We will protect you and get you back home.”
“How long have you been listening, or watching? Or spying?” I pivoted to look directly at my cousin. “However, you would like to describe what you were doing?”
“Not long. I just got back from doing the things you asked.”
“The things she asked?” Stafford carefully rested the book flat on his lap.
“Yeah, you know. Court stuff.” I really hoped he’d drop the questioning.
“Court stuff, eh?” Stafford raised an eyebrow.
I didn’t want to have to tell him to mind his own business, but that’s where we were headed. It’s not that I didn’t want him to know, but I didn’t want anything getting back to my father, wherever he was. I turned to Fritz. “And everything is set?”
“Yes. Everything is set.” Fritz nodded. “Things seem a bit more intense here.”
“Aren’t they always intense?” At least lately.
Fritz glanced around the courtyard. “Where is the kid? And who are these kids?”
“Preston is still sleeping,” I started with the easier part to explain. “I know he’s okay. He’s moved around and eaten, but he must have been seriously sleep deprived. These kids were found by Stafford and Bran. And I bet you want to know where they were found. That would be in a barn in the village of Prestile. ”
“The village that’s under the lake?” Frisk’s eyebrows knit together.
“The one and only.” I smiled. “Oh, and they are from some place called Georgia. So yeah, it’s been pretty quiet here with no surprises.”
“There are other kids?” Todd asked before Fritz could reply.
“Not as young as you.” I made sure to get all the sarcasm out of my voice before I continued. “But he’s younger than us.”
“So anyone younger than you is a kid?” Todd looked me over as if trying to figure out my age.
“Yes. Because there aren’t too many adults younger than us.”
“How old are you?” Todd walked over and stood toe to toe to where I still sat.
“Todd!” Ana gasped. “You can’t ever ask a woman that.”
“Why? And can you ask a man?”
I smiled. They really were cute even if their discovery complicated things. “It’s okay. I’m twenty-three. Does that sound young or old to you?”
“Young.” Todd spoke slowly and looked over at his sister. “I think.”
“It is.” Ana put her hands on her brother’s shoulders.
“And they were found in a sunken village?” Fritz gave a wry smile. “Seems I missed quite a bit doing your bidding.”
“It wasn’t sunken.” Bran straightened. “It was perfectly normal, aside from being abandoned. Well, and the soot.”
“Soot?” I jumped to my feet reflexively. “What soot?”
“Oh.” Stafford rubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose we haven’t mentioned that part yet.”
“No. I suppose you haven’t.” I was growing impatient. Well, more impatient. I’d been impatient this whole time. “Tell me about this soot.”
“It was all over the grass and the fields.” Bran gestured a long distance with his hand.
“Are we talking soot as in from a fire?” Fritz sat on the edge of the bar.
“Yes,” Bran replied. “But there was no sign of a fire. The whole thing was odd. Was there ever a fire in Prestile?”
“I’m sure.” I sat back down and took the book back from Stafford. I looked back down at the page with the black and white drawing and read the small, script writing underneath. “Notable events: Second drought of Penelope. Dragon attack of Marder.”
“Dragon attack?” Todd’s eyes grew even wider.
“Not a happy existence, huh?” Stafford made a whistling noise.
“I’m sure they had their share of joy; it just didn’t make it into the history books.” That’s how it was. The mundane was forgotten, and that’s what most happy occasions were. Not lavish events but instead small moments in time shared between people. At least I hoped that was the truth. I needed to believe there was true happiness out there somewhere. “But to answer your question, Todd, yes, you heard right. A dragon attack. We don’t get them often, but it does happen.” I didn’t want to scare the kids, but I also wasn’t going to lie.
“I hope it happens while we are here.” Todd looked around at all of us in wonder.
“Ugh. Why must you be so crazy? Why would you want to be attacked by dragons?” Ana groaned.
“Well, I don’t want to be personally attacked, or for anyone to get hurt, but I want to see dragons.” He crossed his arms. “If we are going to be trapped here we might as well get to see dragons.”
“I’m afraid the chance of no one getting hurt during a dragon attack is slim to none.” Maybe honesty wasn’t the best course of action, but I didn’t want to lie to them. Wishing for a dragon attack could get you in a lot of trouble in the Courts.
He shrugged. “I still wish I could see a dragon.”
“I take it there are no dragons in Georgia?” Stafford asked him.
“No. No dragons anywhere on earth. Well, aside from Komodo dragons, draco lizards, and bearded dragons which are not actually dragon, dragons. They are lizards.” Todd explained. “I know lots about reptiles. They are my favorite. Those lizards are cool, but not as cool as fire breathing dragons.”
“They breathe fire, meaning they are the opposite of cool.” I stated the obvious.
“I know why you think they are interesting.” Stafford nudged my shoulder playfully while watching Todd. “But they are a real danger.”
“Then maybe we can see them from afar.” He pointed up at the sky. “Wouldn’t that be safe?”
“That’s the only way to see dragons.” Thankfully, that’s as close as I’d ever gotten to one.
“They’d eat Mayo anyway.” Todd knelt down and began petting his dog. “For sure.”
“Likely,” Stafford agreed. “So, let’s stay away from the dragons for now.”
“If they are even around.” Todd continued petting Mayo. “How many dragon attacks do you all get?” He was all business now, acting much older. Evidently talking about a subject he cared about brought him out of his shell.
“Not many,” I reassured him. “Not many at all.”
Fritz caught my eye. “Why don’t I get the kids settled with Nana so they can get cleaned up and get a snack.”
“Who’s Nana?” Todd stood up.
“My grandmother. She is the best with children. I assure you, you will like her.” Everyone loved Nana.
“Why can’t we stay with you?” Ana frowned. “I’m not a little kid.”
“Nor are you an adult,” I pointed out. “Besides, your brother is most definitely a child, and it wouldn’t do him well to be separated from you, would it?”
“No,” Ana conceded.
“Take them to Nana,” I instructed Frisk. “And tell her to spoil them rotten.”
Fritz smiled. “I will, but I’m not going to be the one dealing with any sugar high behavior that comes from that.”
“Sugar high?” The wonder was back in Todd’s eyes.
“Yes. Sugar. Nana has access to a lot of lovely sugary treats,” I explained. “But don’t tell her I said so.”
“Forget the treats, I just need a shower.” Ana pulled some of her brown hair away from her and then let it fall. “I’m filthy. Whatever that soot was got all over us.”
“Well, that can be taken care of too.” I completely related to her. “This is a palace after all. There are few if any needs that can not be met.”
“Okay.” Ana tried to wipe some dirt off her shirt. “We understand.”
“I promise Nana will find you some clean clothes too.” I really did feel for them. I wasn’t sure I’d have handled the situation half as well as these kids were so far.
Fritz left with the kids after mouthing, “Be right back.”
“This Nana sounds lovely.” Stafford closed the book. “Is she actually your grandmother?”
“Yes.” I took the book from him. “She is. She took care of both Fritz and I as children.”
“Are Fritz's parents around?” Stafford asked.
I considered my answer because I wasn’t sure how much I should say. “Yes and no.”
“Okay.” Bran stepped away from the bar and took a seat in the chair across from us. “If it’s not something we need to know, it’s not something we need to know.”
“We can discuss all of that later. Now I want more answers.” Whether I wanted to come off friendly or not, I was in charge. I would get the information I needed. “Tell me everything about how you found the village.”
“Maybe it would be easier to just show you,” Stafford stretched his long legs out in front of him.
“True.” I thought over his suggestion. “Shall we wait for Fritz?”
“That’s up to you.” Stafford’s expression was unreadable.
“Yes. Yes, we should wait.” Fritz was an asset and someone I could trust. “And maybe we should get Preston too. He may know more than he has told any of us yet.”
“You think he’s holding out on us?” Bran asked.
“Whether intentionally or not, I’m sure he has more to share.” I considered my next words very carefully, but ultimately decided I had to go with it. “Unless perhaps he told you more.”
“Are you doubting me?” Stafford stretched his arms over his head showing off his muscular arms more than I needed to see.
“You in particular? The “us” has been dropped I see.” I was struggling to concentrate, and it was all Stafford’s fault.
“I was the one who briefed you, wasn’t I?” He put a hand to his chest.
“I’m not accusing anyone of anything. I’m just tired of everything being out of control.”
“I understand.” Stafford reached over as if to take my hand, but he let his hand fall at the last moment. “But I’m afraid this feeling of being out of control will likely become the norm, at least temporarily. With the way things are going.”
I sighed. “I wish I didn’t agree with you.”
“Coral?” Bran said my name. “It is really okay to address you so informally?”
“Yes. I prefer it.”
“Okay. Then if I may speak freely...” He leaned his elbow on his knee.
“Of course.” I wanted to put him at ease. Sometimes I enjoyed the power that came from people’s intimidation, but it felt wrong here. There was too much at stake, and I was done with games. “Go ahead.”
“I understand Stafford’s point that things will continue to feel out of control, but pessimism will help no one. Whatever challenges lay ahead we can handle. Even if things seem unprecedented, they aren’t. Time constantly repeats.”
“That it does. That it does.” I considered his words, and it was as if a lightbulb went off. “And you may have just figured it all out.”
“I did?” Bran narrowed his eyes.
“Yeah.” I smiled as excitement surged through me.
“Meaning what exactly?” Stafford asked.
“Let’s table it until you show me the village.” Sometimes I had no problem using my authority.