Page 32 of The Masked Baron
She heard an owl behind her, and her back bristled. She tightened her right hand around the handle of the dagger and with her left hand raised the mirror to see behind her. There was nothing but blackness because the moon was blocked by tree cover. She scanned in front of her and turned from one side to the next. Her breathing became rapid, and she fought to control herself. Ginger whinnied, and Andalin jumped, causing the stallion to take a few steps forward. In panic Andalin grabbed at the reins, dropping her mirror in the process.
No! She needed the mirror. She swung off the saddle and stumbled on the ground. Where was Ellis? Did she dare call him back? Each creak of the trees and rustle from the wind caused her head to whip around in every direction. But there was no one.
A loud, croaking voice penetrated the night, causing Andalin’s hair to curl at the back of her neck.
“Leave! Leave my forest! A curse be on you for every minute you remain near. Leave, and never return!”
The voice, clearly female, seemed to circle around her, echoing off every tree. Andalin scanned the dark shapes of the forest but couldn’t identify anything, anyone. The darkness pressed into her, and she felt like she would drown in it. She screamed before she knew she’d opened her mouth, and the horse reared behind her.
“Annie!” Ellis called. “Annie, I’m here!”
Andalin panted for air. Relief surged through her exhausted body at the sight of him. “The mirror. I dropped it.”
Ellis saw it right off, lying innocently in the growth by his boot. He swiped it up and put it away. Then he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close to him.
“There, there. All is well.” Ellis tried to soothe her, but Andalin’s body convulsed in fear.
“A voice... I heard a voice.”
Ellis laid his head on hers. “Shh, I know. I heard it too. After all these years, I have finally found her. Don’t worry; she won’t harm you while I am here. But it’s not safe to stay out here. I will get you home as fast as I can.”
If possible, Andalin had more questions than ever. She didn’t dare speak them out loud until they were out of the forest. In fact, she did not want to broach the topic until daylight, when she could see everything around her. She had never been so terrified in her life. Even wolves seemed like better company than the eerie voice and the consuming darkness.
Andalin buried her face against Ellis’s arm as they rode home, hoping to hide her tears. She didn’t want to ever see the inside of the Black Forest again.
***
When Andalin awoke, she was in her own bed. Beams of sunlight burst through her window, making her aware she had slept until nearly noon. Andalin sat up and rubbed her eyes. She was still in her riding habit. Memories of the night before flooded into her mind and caused her to take an unsteady breath. Sneaking into the forest had been a foolish idea indeed. She would pay for her behavior by the haunting reminder of the voice she had heard. She had not been thrown into the Cadogen mystery; she had forced herself into it. Her curiosity was going to be the death of her.
Andalin padded over to her wash table. She splashed cold water onto her face, but her thoughts wouldn’t wash away so easily. Ellis had been doing more than playing the honorable hero in the Black Forest every month. He had been searching for a woman, the same one who had spoken to them last night.
Sephira. There was no doubt the witch of Baltar was connected to the loss of Ellis’s family. He had given her a clue when he had lent her his book.
Andalin dressed herself in a simple day gown with far fewer buttons than one Hannah would have chosen. Then she brushed her hair and braided it down her back. A few wild curls escaped by her ears as proof of how unrefined she truly was. She smoothed at the hair, but it was futile. Forgetting her hair, she hurried down to the kitchen. Food was more important than secrets at the moment.
Hannah and Matilda were whispering to each other in the kitchen when Andalin entered. Hannah’s eyebrows lifted and, without even commenting on the unflattering state of Andalin’s hair and dress, promptly excused herself.
“Hungry?” Matilda asked.
“Starved.”
Matilda pushed a plate of pancakes sprinkled with sugar and squeezed lemon toward her.
Andalin slipped onto a stool and almost swallowed an entire pancake whole.
“Ye just missed his lordship. He was as hungry as ye look.”
Andalin lifted her eyes from her plate to meet Matilda’s. Did she know about last night?
Matilda studied her back. “Strange you slept so late. But his lordship insisted ye were not to be awoken this morning.”
So she didn’t know. Or maybe Ellis had told her about the witch without including her in the story.
“I did sleep rather late.”
“Yes, that much is clear,” Matilda said. “Ye went to bed early, if I recall. Mr. Lewis also said Ginger was acting funny this morning. Said to make sure ye didn’t come out for a ride today. Ginger isn’t as young as she used to be. Can’t be ridden all night and not need a good resting up.” Matilda’s words hung in the air, and she looked at Andalin for an explanation.
Andalin swallowed guiltily. “Come now. You can’t put ideas into my head and then criticize my methods for carrying them out.”
