Page 12 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“Ha!” Royce nodded at him. “Well then, imagine that. A helper falling right into my hands.”

“You two can speak about it later today.” I looked behind my shoulder to see if anyone was there and moved toward the wall.

“I’ll put him straight to work tomorrow. I’m almost done here.” Royce moved away from the frying pan of eggs and grabbed two plates. He scooped the eggs onto each, then gave us each sliced ham, toast, and fruit.

I took the plates and thanked him, then nodded and left for the dining table where Mary, Natalie, Eugenia, Edgar, and Annie were. All of them looked eager to talk to the newcomer, but they also glanced around awkwardly because they weren’t used to me being there. I never ate with them at the table. I always ate meals in my room.

But today was an exception. At least until after I showed Cale around the manor. Then everything could go back to how it was before, and I could go back to my room and not have to be around any of them.

“Hello,” Cale said, looking at them all. His face went beet red as he sat down, and he brought his plate down so hard onto the table that it clanked, and Natalie couldn’t help but turn her face and snort behind her hand.

Cale cleared his throat and looked down, picking his fork up and dropping it. He was so nervous, and I needed help in trying to make this not look as awkward as it was. I was ready to dash out of the room and leave for Ashwood just to get away from it all.

Thankfully, Mary came to my aid. “Cale, I heard you’re from Tolburg. How is it there now? Is it a big town?”

“Oh, um, yes, it’s rather big, I guess.”

“That’s where Eugenia and I came from,” Natalie said, smirking. “We both were walking through the woods one day and found the food. I told her not to eat it.”

Eugenia smacked her lightly on the arm. “You know that’s a fat lie. You’re the one who pressed me to do it.”

“And what does that say about you? That you’d jump off a bridge if someone asked you to.”

Eugenia rolled her eyes. “Only you,” she muttered.

“What is it you do in Tolburg, Cale?” Edgar asked, looking down the table as he ate. And I noticed for the first time in a while that his hair was graying around his ears.

“I . . . work at one of the taverns. In the kitchen.” Cale picked at his food, and I gritted my teeth. When was this conversation going to be over?

Eager to get it done with, I said, “This is Edgar. You met Mary, Natalie, and Eugenia.” Eugenia flattened her palms and placed them under her chin, smiling. “And this is An—”

Before I could finish, Annie got to her feet and cleared away Edgar’s and Eugenia’s plates. I didn’t expect much less from her. She’d always been the one unable to hold back her emotions, and I supposed she was angry about something she couldn’t control.

“Come on outside when you’re done, Cale,” Edgar said. “I’ll put you to work with the animals.” He chuckled and left the room, and Annie followed behind him with the dishes.

Eugenia got up and yawned, stretching her arms, and smiled sleepily. “I’ll see you later tonight, Cale, before I patrol. You find something odd around here, come tell me,” she told him. “I usually start walking the grounds around late evening.”

“What are you patrolling for?” Cale asked.

“The monsters in the forest. They mostly stay in there, but occasionally, they make their way up to the wall of the manor.”

Cale looked taken aback. “What if they get in?”

“They won’t,” I cut in. “There’s a barrier from the curse surrounding this place.”

“No telling how long it’ll—”

“Thank you, Eugenia, that’s enough.” I cast her a stern look, and she cleared her throat.

Cale didn’t need to know our magic barrier was weakening each year the curse wasn’t broken.

“Right.” She shifted and grabbed her bow and quiver up from the wall. “See you around, Cale.” She nudged Natalie lightly, and the redhead followed her, leaving Mary.

“I’ll get the rest of these to the kitchen,” she said, taking up the rest of the plates and leaving Cale and me alone.

Looking over, I watched as Cale moved the eggs around with his fork, and I realized he hadn’t taken a single bite yet.

As he brought the fork up to his mouth, he stopped and looked at me. “This won’t . . . send me to another,otherrealm, will it?”

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