Chapter 14

“Anyone care to explain why we’re scared of some fog?” Gustav asked as Avera slammed the door shut and Josslyn jammed a rolled dining cloth into the crack between threshold and floor.

“We found a diary that says people started disappearing when the mist appeared.” Josslyn quickly summarized.

The reply raised Gustav’s brows. “I doubt we’ll get lost in it while inside this house.”

“Not lost. From what we read, folks were being drawn into it and then never seen again. It’s what emptied the town,” Avera explained.

“The diary also mentioned singing coming from the mist,” Josslyn added.

“It started the night of my mother’s death, which may just be a coincidence.” Avera paused as a thought hit her. “I wonder if something similar happened when the previous king died, and Mother took over as queen.”

“Not that I heard of. Seems like people going missing in large numbers would be something that would have gotten noticed.” Gustav dumped the armload of clothes he’d scrounged on a table.

“No one seems to realize Herder’s Respite has been wiped out,” Josslyn interjected.

“Because few people come this way. The sheep they raise are usually run to market. There is more traffic out of Respite than in, meaning it would take a bit of time for anyone to report on it,” Gustav explained.

Avera glanced at the door. “The horses. Will they be safe in the barn?”

“Guess we’ll find out in the morning when this fog dissipates, because I, for one, am not going to check.” Josslyn hugged herself.

“If you’re worried about the mist, then you might want us to find another room.” Gustav pointed to the window. “Seems like it’s seeping in.”

Josslyn snapped her fingers. “What about the cellar?”

The suggestion brought a grimace to Avera. “Not sure I like the idea of being underground.”

“Would you rather run out into the fog like the townsfolk?” Josslyn riposted.

Avera sighed. “The cellar it is.”

“Let’s quickly grab some bedding before we head down for the night. Gustav, get the hatch open and grab us some cups and plates. There’s food down there we can eat.”

Josslyn and Avera raced up the steps and entered the marquis’ bedroom to snatch the linen and pillows from the bed. As they reached the main level with their armfuls of bedding, Avera heard Josslyn murmur, “Can you hear that?”

“Hear what?” She glanced back at Josslyn who stared vacantly.

“It’s so beautiful.” Josslyn dropped her armful and began walking for the door.

“Whoa, where are you going?” Avera ditched her load to grab Josslyn by the arm.

Josslyn blinked and shook her head. “What happened?”

“You were trying to go outside.”

“Why would I do that?” Josslyn laughed, but it emerged reedy and thin.

“I don’t know. You said something about it being beautiful.”

The reminder pursed Josslyn’s lips. “For a second, I could have sworn I heard singing.”

“Do you hear it now?” Avera asked, squeezing her arm.

Josslyn shook her head.

“Let’s get to the cellar before we disappear like the townsfolk.” They grabbed the linen, and as they began to climb down, Gustav appeared at the bottom.

“Do I hear singing?” he asked.

Avera didn’t, but Josslyn turned her head, and her eyes got that dreamy look again. “Don’t you dare,” Avera growled, giving her a shove. “Down into that cellar. Now.”

Josslyn bit her lip and headed down the steps, Avera at her heels. Gustav then climbed to grab the hatch, only to pause.

Avera dumped the bedding and grabbed his pant leg just as he went to climb out of the cellar. “None of that, now. Close the hatch.”

A grim-faced Gustav slammed it shut before huffing, “Don’t know what came over me.”

“Probably the same thing that happened to the townsfolk.” Avera pursed her lips. “Can you still hear the singing?”

He shook his head.

“Did you recognize the melody?” she asked only to have Josslyn reply.

“It had words and didn’t. More of a melody that rose and fell. I’ve never heard anything so lovely.”

“And was it telling you to go outside?”

A frown knit Josslyn’s brow. “Yes and no. It was more like I wanted to get closer to the music.”

“Why?” Avera tried to understand since she’d not heard it at all.

“Because it felt good,” Gustav muttered. “Which I don’t understand since I’m not a music lover.”

“But you’re both fine now. No singing?”

“We’re fine. Told you the cellar would work,” Josslyn stated a little too brightly. “Shall we see what we can scrounge for our dinner?”

They had pickled beets, lamb jerky, and preserved pears as a meal. A quiet repast that didn’t distract them from repeatedly eyeing the hatch. The lantern they had brought emitted enough light to see, not that they had much to look at. Shelves filled with jars and sacks, even a few boxes, lined the walls. While the space was cramped, they managed to spread out the blankets and pillows to create a nest, not that anyone seemed tired.

Gustav chose to sit by the bottom step, sword across his lap. As if his blade could fight the fog.

Josslyn lay on her side, facing Avera. “I am scared to close my eyes,” she admitted.

“Me too.” What if they didn’t wake? What if the mist managed to find them and made them disappear?

“I wonder why you didn’t hear the singing,” Josslyn mused aloud.

“My music teacher used to claim I was tone deaf.”

The statement curved Josslyn’s lips. “My dance instructor lamented I had two left feet. I spent the few balls I attended by the food table pretending to eat so no one would see how ungraceful I was.”

“I hated balls.” Avera grimaced. “The last one I went to was Mother’s wedding to Benoit. I escaped as soon as I could.”

“You didn’t like him.”

“More like I couldn’t see what Mother saw in him. She turned into this giggly person I didn’t know when they were together. Fawning over him and more. It made me uncomfortable.”

“She acted very out of character with Benoit,” Gustav replied from his perch. “I remember your mother with her first husband. They cared for each other, but never acted so untoward in public.”

“What about my father?” Avera dared to ask.

A pause before Gustav slowly said, “She was enamored, but not giddy. Only with that fiend did her personality change.”

“Do you suppose Benoit used magic on her?” Avera whispered. “Like he did with those things in the field?”

“You mean like a love spell?” Josslyn snickered.

“Yes, actually. And don’t laugh. A few weeks ago, you would have scoffed at statues coming to life. We both would have.”

Josslyn bit her lower lip. “You’re right, I shouldn’t mock. I guess it’s possible.”

“It would certainly explain why she suddenly hated him,” Gustav added. “Maybe the spell wore off and she realized what she’d married.”

“I can only imagine how horrified she’d have been, if true.” Avera rolled to her back and plucked her locket from under her shirt. She opened it to eye the two pictures inside. “I wonder if she loved my father.”

“They weren’t together for long,” Gustav replied. “But she certainly liked him. Not in a gushing kind of way, but you could tell by how she watched him and just seemed to brighten when he entered a room. She took his leaving hard but claimed he’d be back.”

“Only he never returned.”

“No, but I don’t know if that was by choice. Verlora went dark a few years after your birth, but I imagine the problems began before that.”

“May I see the pictures?” Josslyn asked.

“Sure.” Avera went to lift it from her neck only to find it tangled with the strange amulet she’d taken from her mother’s things. As it emerged from under her shirt, she noticed it glowing. “Oh, that’s odd.”

“What is it?” Josslyn sat up and eyed the pendant with curiosity.

“I don’t know. I found it in my mother’s things.”

“It’s like a dim night light,” Josslyn laughed.

“But how is it glowing?” Avera questioned. “I didn’t light it.”

“Magic,” growled Gustav.

“Really?” Avera couldn’t help but be intrigued and studied it intently.

“I think we should tether ourselves,” Gustav suddenly stated.

“Why?”

He pointed. In the dim light of the lantern, mist began to seep around the edges of the hatch.

“Oh dear.” Avera stood, hand clutching the amulet. “Do we have rope?”

Gustav rose from the bottom step but rather than look for some, headed up the stairs.

“Gustav, no.” Avera ran for the steps as he flung open the hatch. She bolted up the stairs after him and reached him just as he opened the door. A thick mist spilled inside the house, wreathing Gustav who lifted a foot over the threshold.

“Oh no you don’t,” Avera grumbled as she reached for him, the mist keeping away from her while the light of the amulet let her see. The moment she hauled Gustav back into the house, he shook his head, his glazed expression melting to awareness, as if he woke from a trance.

He stared at her. “Thank you for stopping me.”

“Let’s close the door and get back to the cellar.” Avera pushed at the panel, keeping a hand on Gustav as if afraid he’d run off.

“I’m fine. Josslyn isn’t.”

Avera wondered what he meant until she saw Josslyn emerging from the cellar, a dazed look on her face. “Not you too.” She let go of Gustav to rein Josslyn in.

Josslyn blinked. “Not again.”

Creak. The door reopened as Gustav fell back into his somnambulistic state.

“Hold on to me,” Avera growled as she took a half step and snared Gustav. Gripping both her companions, she muttered, “Why is it when I touch you, the mist has no effect?” Because it had become clear Avera was the thing snapping them out of their trances, not to mention, she couldn’t hear this supposed music.

“Look at your chest,” Josslyn replied.

“Not sure what my bosom has to do with it.”

“The amulet, silly.”

A glance down showed it glowing more brightly than before, but Avera felt no heat.

“The mist is avoiding you entirely,” Josslyn noted. “I think that amulet is keeping it at bay.”

“If true, then it’s probably why I can’t hear the singing,” Avera murmured.

“It seems to offer some magical protection. I wonder if your mother knew,” Gustav stated.

Avera glanced at her companions. “Doesn’t matter if she did or not. I’m more interested in the fact it can keep you from running off so long as we’re touching.”

Which led to a very strange night where they used cloth to bind Gustav’s hand to Avera’s ankle, and Josslyn to her wrist.

They didn’t sleep much, getting short stints here and there. Avera especially struggled as each time Josslyn or Gustav moved, she opened her eyes in a panic, thinking they were trying to leave. It left her exhausted by the time morning came.

At least the mist was gone, but so were their horses.