Lilly found the dining room by the mouthwatering scents wafting into the halls. Lunch had been a long time ago, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation as she entered the room.
A giant fireplace dominated one wall. Over the flickering flames, Lilly could just see a large kitchen on the other side. Racks were set up over the fire with pots and covered dishes set at different heights above the flame. Even under the protective Veil, the outside temperature had dipped low enough to make Lilly glad of the roaring fire. The arrangement was a sensible solution to both heat a large portion of the house and cook at the same time.
Lady Fiora Adain sat at the head with Detlif occupying the other end of the long, intricately carved and polished table. Luc sat on one side, with Petr on the other. A place setting had been added to each side, and Lilly had to wonder if it would be safer to sit next to Luc or across from him.
The choice was taken out of her hands when Lady Dela unceremoniously snagged the closest chair, which happened to be next to Luc. Lilly made her way around to the other side, answering Petr’s welcoming smile with one of her own as the boy held her chair politely for her to sit.
Belinda, it turned out, was the very organized housekeeper. Lilly marveled as the woman bustled around, organizing a team of servants. Within moments, steaming platters were placed on the table, and all was in readiness. A hush fell over the table as all eyes turned to Lady Adain. She held her hands together as she spoke the blessing.
“Blessed be the Mother of All who watches over our crops and our hunts, our families and younglings. We thank Her for Her bounty.”
“Blessed be.” The others around responded in unison, and Lilly was touched by the simple words of faith and thanks. Too often, Lilly’s own prayers had been limited to requests for help when in dire straits.
Plates were passed around as the meal began. Lilly liked that the members of House Adain served themselves from the platters and let the majority of the staff enjoy their own meal in the kitchen. Lilly could see some of them over the flames in the fireplace that connected the two rooms and was impressed by the joviality of the servants’ meal. Happy servants indicated good masters, or so she’d always thought.
“How goes it in the Seer’s Hall, Dela?” Lady Adain asked after the men started eating.
“Both the elders and apprentices have been receiving strong, often confounding, visions.”
“But not the masters? Is this something we should worry about?” Detlif asked as he paused to reach for his glass.
Dela turned to him. “As I was telling Lilly when she asked very much the same question earlier, it’s doubtful anything could tamper with so many in such a specific way. If it was just the apprentices, I might be concerned, but the elders are too skilled to be deceived. Still, I am puzzled by it. I thought to ask Elira for her take on the situation tomorrow, but more pressing now is the content of the visions.” Dela sat forward, not touching her food as her brows drew together in a worried line. “Lilly was able to help us decipher a great deal this afternoon, and the majority of what we are seeing pertains to the upcoming quest Luc, Shilayla and Lilly will undertake.” The dragon’s head rose over Luc’s shoulder at the sound of her name, and only then did Lilly realize that Shilayla lay on the stone floor behind Luc.
“What do they see?” Lady Adain asked, worry now clouding her lovely gray eyes, as well.
“Danger at every turn, I’m sorry to say. We have enemies, though we have yet to see them clearly. In fact, I begin to doubt we ever will, given their ability to block our gifts. Though the block is well and truly gone now, certain things about our enemies remain hidden. But we do know they are aware of Lilly and her mission.”
“How long did it take you to get here, Lilly?” Detlif asked out of the blue.
Lilly paused to put down her glass. “One complete moon phase and then some. Thirty-two days, to be exact.”
Detlif stopped eating altogether. “Even in deepest Winter, the journey from here to the Kingdom of Valdis should take just over a fortnight by ground.”
Silence met that observation as Lilly thought back over her journey. “I ran into bandits three times on the road, but they were no problem, just troublesome to disarm, tie up and deliver to the local authority. That added at least six days to my journey. Then, the weather turned bad. Freak storms flooded the river crossings, and I had to wait for the water to subside, which added another three days or so. I waited in the village of Hambling’s Ford and encountered trouble at the inn there. Street toughs challenged me when they saw my sword, and when I trounced them all, I was almost arrested by the local constable until I showed him my safe passage token from King Alric. Even then, I got the feeling he let me go grudgingly. That cost me another day, because by the time it was all sorted, it was full dark, and I was persuaded to stay the night and start fresh in the morning. The next morning, my horse was lame, and none were for hire. At that point, I knew I was being sabotaged, and I snuck out of town on foot.”
“Were you pursued?” Luc wanted to know.
Lilly nodded. “For another three days. I finally managed to lose them in the foothills of the Grimnies, but it wasn’t easy. I bypassed the towns and villages after that as much as I could, adding more days to my journey, but in that last village, I took the chance of stopping so I could rest, resupply and prepare for the coldest part of the journey to come—through the unprotected lands. I was ready to leave the village when a boy got hurt. My healing gift ran amok, as usual, and I drained myself badly. I rested there another day and was pressed to stay longer, but I lit out of there in the dark of night before the delays could begin again in earnest. Then, the weather turned really foul. I walked in a near-constant blizzard for days until I could walk no more. I’d been waiting in that one spot all night and half the day when you found me.”
“You’ve been waylaid at every turn.” Lady Adain regained everyone’s attention. “Why didn’t you tell us this before, Lilly?”
“I didn’t know it was significant to you. I mean, I knew King Alric would be investigating as soon as I reported back, but I was just glad to have made it here. I never thought to regale you with the trouble I had making it to your door.”
“I see.” Lady Adain’s voice was understanding, yet firm. “I expect you’ll be more forthcoming from here on. As you now see, even the slightest detail could be important. By seeking alliance, our fates have become entwined.”
Rebuked, Lilly bowed her head in respect. “Yes, milady. I apologize if I have offended you.”
“We are not offended,” Luc said in a kind tone. “But it helps to know what’s come before as we prepare for our journey ahead. One good thing is that we’ll be flying back. The normal two-week land journey will only take less than a week with Shilayla’s help. But we’ll need to stop at villages or farms for food and rest periods. You and I, Lilly, will have to be on guard at those times.”
Lilly nodded agreement, her gaze going from Luc to his dragon partner. It was going to be an interesting journey, that was to be sure. Lilly had never flown before and was a little apprehensive at the idea, but she admired Shilayla. The dragon was truly magnificent and seemed to be a kind and loving companion from all Lilly had observed.
“We will all keep watch for each other,” Shilayla added, her big head bobbing up and down twice in an endearing way.