straight, for he felt the powerful shadow of great evil lurking behind the massive walls.
Kendrick laid a hand on his companion’s shoulder. “Well, Duncan, something tells me we’ve found what we’ve been looking for.”
Duncan nodded. “I believe you’re right. But how do we find out for sure?”
“We’ll have to stay for a while and do some investigating.” Kendrick broke his gaze from the castle of Bel Lione and looked at Frayne. “I’m told there is an inn over on Lure Road. Is it a good place to stay?”
“It is, but I doubt you’ll find any rooms available,” Frayne said. “Not with the festival this week. Although it is just for the youth, the activity brings many travelers from all across the region. Parents bring their children to attend and their wares to sell. In fact, I’m afraid all the inns will be full by now. You could try—”
“Excuse me,” a soft voice said from behind. “My mother sometimes boards visitors, and we have a couple of empty rooms available.”
The three men turned to see that Frayne’s tailor maid had followed them the few paces from his shop.
Kendrick was puzzled. “I thought she was your daughter,” he said to Frayne.
“No, Elise is not my daughter. But she brightens my shop—and my heart—as though she were.” Frayne smiled and put his hand out to the young woman, who took his hand and moved to stand next to him. “Forgive me for not introducing you earlier. Sir Kendrick, Sir Duncan … please meet Maid Elise of Lionsgate, daughter of Lady Odette.”
Both knights bowed and Maid Elise curtsied with grace. Frayne lightly placed a hand upon her shoulder. “Elise and I have something in common. We have both lost someone very dear to us—I my son, and she her father—perhaps to the same villain.”
Elise’s eyes momentarily lost their sparkle as she looked to the ground and then back to the men. “I work for Frayne when Mother doesn’t need me at the manor. With Father gone, we must look for other means to provide for ourselves.”
“Are you sure you would have room for us?” Duncan asked.
“Oh yes.” Her smile returned. “Our home is quite large, and it is just my brother and me at home with Mother now.”
“Why don’t you take them to Lady Odette, Elise,” Frayne said. “I can manage the shop for the rest of the day.”
Elise placed a hand on top of his and looked up at him.
“I’m all right now … really,” he said.
She nodded. “I’ll be just a moment, gentlemen.” With that she turned and went back into the shop. Duncan watched her all the while.
Kendrick turned to Frayne. “Thank you for your help. For what it’s worth, we believe you. There is much more happening here than a monthly celebration for the city’s youth.”
“May we come and visit with you again?” Duncan asked. “I’m sure there are some elements of your story that will make more sense to us as we learn more about Lord Ra.”
“Yes … of course.” The man looked as though some of his burden had been lifted. “Please come anytime.”
A COUNTRY MANOR
Duncan and Kendrick arrived back at the shop just as Elise emerged carrying a small satchel. Duncan stammered out an offer for Elise to ride his horse, and she graciously accepted. She guided them down various streets toward the southwestern edge of the city, then pointed out a road that led into the country.
“It’s not far now,” she said. “We live a short distance out of Bel Lione.”
Before they had gone far, Elise directed them down a less-traveled road that branched off to the right. Large trees stretched their limbs overhead to form a shady tunnel, now vibrant with colorful autumn leaves. Duncan, who had been tongue-tied since he met Elise, gradually relaxed as they went down this enchanted byway, and soon the two young people were engaged in small talk. Kendrick lingered slightly behind them, wondering if Duncan had any inkling as to how to win a maiden’s heart.
The end of the
Kendrick laid a hand on his companion’s shoulder. “Well, Duncan, something tells me we’ve found what we’ve been looking for.”
Duncan nodded. “I believe you’re right. But how do we find out for sure?”
“We’ll have to stay for a while and do some investigating.” Kendrick broke his gaze from the castle of Bel Lione and looked at Frayne. “I’m told there is an inn over on Lure Road. Is it a good place to stay?”
“It is, but I doubt you’ll find any rooms available,” Frayne said. “Not with the festival this week. Although it is just for the youth, the activity brings many travelers from all across the region. Parents bring their children to attend and their wares to sell. In fact, I’m afraid all the inns will be full by now. You could try—”
“Excuse me,” a soft voice said from behind. “My mother sometimes boards visitors, and we have a couple of empty rooms available.”
The three men turned to see that Frayne’s tailor maid had followed them the few paces from his shop.
Kendrick was puzzled. “I thought she was your daughter,” he said to Frayne.
“No, Elise is not my daughter. But she brightens my shop—and my heart—as though she were.” Frayne smiled and put his hand out to the young woman, who took his hand and moved to stand next to him. “Forgive me for not introducing you earlier. Sir Kendrick, Sir Duncan … please meet Maid Elise of Lionsgate, daughter of Lady Odette.”
Both knights bowed and Maid Elise curtsied with grace. Frayne lightly placed a hand upon her shoulder. “Elise and I have something in common. We have both lost someone very dear to us—I my son, and she her father—perhaps to the same villain.”
Elise’s eyes momentarily lost their sparkle as she looked to the ground and then back to the men. “I work for Frayne when Mother doesn’t need me at the manor. With Father gone, we must look for other means to provide for ourselves.”
“Are you sure you would have room for us?” Duncan asked.
“Oh yes.” Her smile returned. “Our home is quite large, and it is just my brother and me at home with Mother now.”
“Why don’t you take them to Lady Odette, Elise,” Frayne said. “I can manage the shop for the rest of the day.”
Elise placed a hand on top of his and looked up at him.
“I’m all right now … really,” he said.
She nodded. “I’ll be just a moment, gentlemen.” With that she turned and went back into the shop. Duncan watched her all the while.
Kendrick turned to Frayne. “Thank you for your help. For what it’s worth, we believe you. There is much more happening here than a monthly celebration for the city’s youth.”
“May we come and visit with you again?” Duncan asked. “I’m sure there are some elements of your story that will make more sense to us as we learn more about Lord Ra.”
“Yes … of course.” The man looked as though some of his burden had been lifted. “Please come anytime.”
A COUNTRY MANOR
Duncan and Kendrick arrived back at the shop just as Elise emerged carrying a small satchel. Duncan stammered out an offer for Elise to ride his horse, and she graciously accepted. She guided them down various streets toward the southwestern edge of the city, then pointed out a road that led into the country.
“It’s not far now,” she said. “We live a short distance out of Bel Lione.”
Before they had gone far, Elise directed them down a less-traveled road that branched off to the right. Large trees stretched their limbs overhead to form a shady tunnel, now vibrant with colorful autumn leaves. Duncan, who had been tongue-tied since he met Elise, gradually relaxed as they went down this enchanted byway, and soon the two young people were engaged in small talk. Kendrick lingered slightly behind them, wondering if Duncan had any inkling as to how to win a maiden’s heart.
The end of the
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