Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

finished with the inside of the castle, I made my way out the front door, Meridian still gripping my shoulder and Fergus trailing us like a puppy.  The courtyard was noisy and dusty, what with all the construction going on, so I looked around for a way out.  If I wanted to get away from all the ruckus, I could simply slip through the portcullis and cross the bridge.  Perhaps I might even find Speirling, Cade’s black stallion, grazing in the fields.  But I already knew what lay that way.  I wanted to see more of the castle grounds .  A sharp whistle pulled my attention to a small stone archway. Fergus released a bark, then took off to chase a young boy through a small gate.  Aha, that would be a good place to start . . .
    I quickly followed after him, passing through the arch and stepping into the small gardens I had seen earlier.  Up close, the space appeared to be much larger, the far end backing into the same hillside where the waterfall and dolmarehn could be found.  Luckily, the water cascading down the hill fell on the other side of the castle, so no mist bothered us here, although a narrow creek snaked along the garden’s edge to disappear under the great stone wall I recognized as the base to the patio on the second floor.  I suspected it flowed past the garden to join up with the larger stream that formed a makeshift moat around the castle .
    Fergus barked somewhere in the maze of herbs and plants up ahead, so I followed the crushed gravel track around flower beds overflowing with lavender, rosemary, thyme, yarrow and a variety of other herbs whose names I didn’t know.  I trailed the wolfhound' s excited barks and after bypassing a bed of mint, a happy scene greeted me.  In the center of the garden stood a small fountain and around the fountain ran the boy who’d whistled at Fergus.  Two little girls, their looks so similar they m igh t have been twins, chased after the dog and the boy, squealing in delight, their light red hair trailing in braids behind them.
    “Niall!" a young woman kneeling in a muddy flowerbed shouted.  "Stop playing with that dog and get back over here and help me with these weeds!”
    “He’s not a dog!  He’s a spirit guide, Lord Cade’s spirit guide!” the boy responded, out of breath as Fergus yipped at his heels.
    Play!   Meridian sent before leaping from my shoulder.
    Before I could say anything, she dropped from the sky and made an arc in front of the boy.  I knew she was just joining in the game, but her sudden appearance startled him and he jerked to a halt , letting go a small screech.  Fergus didn’t have time to stop, so within the time span of two seconds, the boy, the spirit guide and the two little girls were in a jumbled heap, legs and arms, both Faelorehn and wolfhound, scrambling to get up.
    “Niall!  Oriana, Wynne!” the girl weeding the flowerbed cried, jumping to her feet and lifting up her mud-stained skirts to run to wards the others.
    “Oh no!” I shouted, bolting from where I stood to join her.  “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.  My spirit guide, Meridian . . . she likes to play.”
    I felt guilty, even though I know Meridian meant no harm.  Eventually, the girl was able to pull the boy and two other girls free of Fergus, and to my relief they only had a few scratches.  The two little girls were crying, but only sniffling at the shock of being rolled around on the gravel with a giant wolfhound.  Fergus had trotted off to the side, tail between his legs and looking somewhat shamefaced.
    I knelt down to help.  “Is everyone okay?”
    The young woman looked up for the first time and I saw Melvina’s double, only younger, gazing back at me.  The expression of concern on her face was briskly replaced with surprise.
    “Who are you?” she asked.
    “Uh, sorry, I’m Meghan.  Meghan Elam.”  I held out my hand and grinned, but the girl’s eyes only widened.
    She stood up and backed away, giving a quick curtsy , then glanc ed at her