there were four horses tethered to a tree.
Marisol broke the silence. “This is Nathaniel, one of my husband's vigilant soldiers who is loyal to our cause. He has volunteered to help you find the expedition, the location of which is secret—only men who have gone on previous missions are aware of where the mountain is located."
"I am honored to be of service.” His voice was low like thunder, but his face was oddly placid.
"Thank you so much, but we must depart now. Every moment we delay ... I cannot wait a moment longer without taking some action!” Rachael said as loudly as she dared.
"Of course,” said Nathaniel, already rising, “let us go and mount."
As they were mounting the horses, Marisol pulled on Nathaniel's arm to have a moment.
"Nathaniel, please tell Colin...” But her voice faltered and faded. What could she say?
He gripped her shoulders tightly, and his eyes were fixed on hers. “You know him, Mari. He will prevail, and then return to us and restore order to this chaos."
As Nathaniel mounted his chestnut mare, Marisol added hastily, “Search me out the moment you return."
"Of course.” He touched the brim of his hat.
Marisol stood till the horses exited the clearing to the north, and all that was left was the sound of trees rustling in the early morning air. She wondered if this would be the end, or the beginning.
Chapter 21
Sam lay awake in his bed. It had been one night since he had found the note in the Autumn Room. He ran his hand over his unshaven face while he walked over to the window and stared up at the inn.
If the women were gone for any amount of time, people would start to talk about their whereabouts. He needed to come up with a story ... He would say they had gone for awhile to visit their great-aunt in Pennsylvania, to try and regroup after Morgana's disappearance.
Upon finding Bella's note, he had gotten on the internet and read everything he could possibly find about lunar cycles and folklore. Unfortunately, very little information was of any help, except when the next full moon would be. He had been able to decipher that the previous night's moon was a blue moon, meaning it was the second full moon in a period of thirty days. He decided he would check the charts to see when the next blue moon would occur.
He could not believe how silent the inn had become. He had wanted to stay there in the Autumn Room, but the dead silence had proved too much for him. Their own house, where he was surrounded with Bella's belongings, was much more comforting to him. Plus, there was the matter of the dog. Solomon refused to go into the Autumn Room and would pace and whine continuously when he was on the second floor. There was the opposite in Chloe, Morgana's dog, who refused to leave the room, except to go outside twice a day.
Sam shook his head and thought for sure this must all be a dream and he would wake up with his wife lying beside him in bed.
Tap, tap, tap.
Sam looked to locate the sound. He could not find anything out of place in the bedroom.
Tap. Tap. Tap. It was louder this time.
Solomon growled low and menacingly with his teeth bared, which Sam had never seen this gentle animal do before.
The dog was looking toward the kitchen with his hackles raised.
Sam reached under his bed and grabbed his shotgun, then strode toward the kitchen.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
At the kitchen window sat a magpie, staring at him unblinkingly. In its beak dangled an apricot ribbon. The very color Morgana had been wearing in her ponytail the night she disappeared.
The bird took flight and Sam raced out onto the stoop to try and catch it.
It was nowhere in sight. He wrestled the dog back inside and to his bedroom.
Sam lay down on the bed and invited the dog to join him. Soon, he was gently snoring but the dog was watchful, staring out the window till the rising of the sun.
Sam awoke to the dog's whining. Uncertainty filled him and he was unclear as to whether the events of the previous night had
Marisol broke the silence. “This is Nathaniel, one of my husband's vigilant soldiers who is loyal to our cause. He has volunteered to help you find the expedition, the location of which is secret—only men who have gone on previous missions are aware of where the mountain is located."
"I am honored to be of service.” His voice was low like thunder, but his face was oddly placid.
"Thank you so much, but we must depart now. Every moment we delay ... I cannot wait a moment longer without taking some action!” Rachael said as loudly as she dared.
"Of course,” said Nathaniel, already rising, “let us go and mount."
As they were mounting the horses, Marisol pulled on Nathaniel's arm to have a moment.
"Nathaniel, please tell Colin...” But her voice faltered and faded. What could she say?
He gripped her shoulders tightly, and his eyes were fixed on hers. “You know him, Mari. He will prevail, and then return to us and restore order to this chaos."
As Nathaniel mounted his chestnut mare, Marisol added hastily, “Search me out the moment you return."
"Of course.” He touched the brim of his hat.
Marisol stood till the horses exited the clearing to the north, and all that was left was the sound of trees rustling in the early morning air. She wondered if this would be the end, or the beginning.
Chapter 21
Sam lay awake in his bed. It had been one night since he had found the note in the Autumn Room. He ran his hand over his unshaven face while he walked over to the window and stared up at the inn.
If the women were gone for any amount of time, people would start to talk about their whereabouts. He needed to come up with a story ... He would say they had gone for awhile to visit their great-aunt in Pennsylvania, to try and regroup after Morgana's disappearance.
Upon finding Bella's note, he had gotten on the internet and read everything he could possibly find about lunar cycles and folklore. Unfortunately, very little information was of any help, except when the next full moon would be. He had been able to decipher that the previous night's moon was a blue moon, meaning it was the second full moon in a period of thirty days. He decided he would check the charts to see when the next blue moon would occur.
He could not believe how silent the inn had become. He had wanted to stay there in the Autumn Room, but the dead silence had proved too much for him. Their own house, where he was surrounded with Bella's belongings, was much more comforting to him. Plus, there was the matter of the dog. Solomon refused to go into the Autumn Room and would pace and whine continuously when he was on the second floor. There was the opposite in Chloe, Morgana's dog, who refused to leave the room, except to go outside twice a day.
Sam shook his head and thought for sure this must all be a dream and he would wake up with his wife lying beside him in bed.
Tap, tap, tap.
Sam looked to locate the sound. He could not find anything out of place in the bedroom.
Tap. Tap. Tap. It was louder this time.
Solomon growled low and menacingly with his teeth bared, which Sam had never seen this gentle animal do before.
The dog was looking toward the kitchen with his hackles raised.
Sam reached under his bed and grabbed his shotgun, then strode toward the kitchen.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
At the kitchen window sat a magpie, staring at him unblinkingly. In its beak dangled an apricot ribbon. The very color Morgana had been wearing in her ponytail the night she disappeared.
The bird took flight and Sam raced out onto the stoop to try and catch it.
It was nowhere in sight. He wrestled the dog back inside and to his bedroom.
Sam lay down on the bed and invited the dog to join him. Soon, he was gently snoring but the dog was watchful, staring out the window till the rising of the sun.
Sam awoke to the dog's whining. Uncertainty filled him and he was unclear as to whether the events of the previous night had
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