The royal attendant—or whatever he was—led us down this impressive main hall to a set of doors with elaborate, stained glass inserts. He opened them and escorted us through to the back garden.
Riotous color greeted us. And sound. Birds—or whatever passed for birds in this place—sang from every bush and tree. Trix’s ears pricked at the small animals hopping amid the greenery. And even the patch of grass in the center was dotted with flowers. I was reluctant to step on them, but the attendant took us straight across to a table.
The woman seated there was so much like the woman in my dream that my feet froze. Her flowing gown shimmered with every color of the earth, from red-brown to chocolate and gold. It mimicked the colors that ran throughout her thick, long hair. And on her head, between the delicate, curved horns, sat a crown with the distinctive royal crest.
She was incongruously pouring tea, and looked up to smile broadly at us. Only then did I see the differences from my dream—her eyes were the same, but her face was broader, her mouth narrower. Her complexion had fine lines around forehead and mouth, although her age was impossible to determine.
“Please,” she said in a rich, melodious voice. “Sit with me. Cara, it has been too long.”
“Yes,” Cara agreed as she pulled out a chair. “I’m afraid I have been rather busy as of late.”
“So I have heard. And I wish to hear more.” The woman’s curious gaze moved to me, and they were the same color as her hair and gown. And warm, like sun-baked earth.
“Who have you brought to me?” she asked. She crouched to pet Trix. “This is a dog, is it not?”
“Yes. Anna’s Familiar, Trix.”
My Familiar?
Aha! Suspected you were a witch.
I ignored him. Cara gestured for me to approach and take a seat, and I did so. “Melody, this is Anna.”
Her beautiful eyes rested upon me, and suddenly sharpened. “Hello, Anna,” she said.
She handed me a cup of tea and offered one to Cara. Another attendant appeared with a selection of pastries on a tray.
Something brushed against my bare ankle above the shoes. I glanced down to see five small furry creatures gathered around my feet, sniffing. As I watched, one rubbed up against my shoe.
To my shock, Trix just watched from where she sat on my other side.
She’s getting used to you attracting the locals,Matt said.
A bird critter trilled, surprisingly close. I glanced up to a tree whose blooms arched overhead, and the branches were lined with brightly colored bodies. My gaze dropped to find Melody regarding me with interest. Her eyes shifted to Cara.
“Much as I am enjoying your visit, my friend, I can’t help but think you have an ulterior motive for doing so.”
Cara’s lips pursed, and she set down her pastry. “Your intuition has not dulled over the years. I am here to ask something that, I regret, will be painful to discuss. It is about Lyric.”
Melody straightened in her chair. “My sister has been dead for over twenty years. Why bring this up now?”
“I have my reasons. And I’m sorry, but they are important.” Cara’s eyes reflected her sympathy. “Lyric appeared to Anna in a dream.”
Melody’s eyes widened. “I don’t understand. Why would that have happened?”
“It was detailed enough that I thought I should explore it.” Cara turned to me. “Anna, tell her what you saw.”
I swallowed. Melody grew very still when I described the woman, but she went rigid when I elaborated on the arbor in which she had sat.
When I was done, Melody rose. “Come with me,” she said.
We followed her along a pathway that had mosses between the stones—they bloomed in bright pink. Then the rampant shrubs gave way to a hedge maze.
It was just like in my dream—the hedge, and the paths lined with sculptures.
Melody’s stride was sure as she took us through, twisting and turning, until we came to the center. And there it was. The arbor. It was even more beautiful than I’d envisioned it.
“That’s it,” I said.
