Through the Looking Glass (19 page)

“It’s beautiful!” Lizzy said breathlessly as she surveyed the
vision before her.

A surge of pride soared through him at the sound of her words. Yes, his land was beautiful and he would protect it with his life. He nudged the horse forward and down the opposite side of the hill. His castle was much smaller than his brother’s but he did have plans to enlarge it as soon as the weather turned more pleasant.

As the pair approached the outskirts of the castle walls, shouts went out to raise the gate of the main entrance. The stone walls that surrounded the castle and her inhabitants rose twenty feet into the air and had towers placed at every corner. Men walked back and forth on the ramparts that looped a
ll the way around the castle’s perimeter. The gatehouse was heavily protected with soldiers who didn’t dare to let their guard down.

As they passed through the gatehouse the black metal gate slammed down heavily behind them. Several of the soldiers called out to him as they rode past, greeting them in friendly tones. The entrance to the Keep was in the west Bailey, so they needed to circle around several smaller structures before they would reach it.

Lizzy’s head swiveled back and forth in amazement. Nothing in her life had ever compared to the sight she was seeing. It was an entire city within the stone walls. Several smaller roads broke off the main road with either homes or businesses appearing every few feet. Lizzy had been surprised when they approached the outer walls and didn’t see a single building or structure outside the protective barrier and wondered why. Now she knew why.

Everything around her reminded her of a medieval scene right out of a movie.
People moved about buying and selling products, children ran by squealing as they chased a pig, guards were posted everywhere she looked, and the clang of the blacksmith’s hammer hitting metal reverberated through the air. How could a world so similar to her own actually exist? Was it another planet? A different realm possibly? Another universe that co-existed alongside the one she was from? It was all too much for her mind to comprehend in one day’s time.

Brock guided the horse to a large, double, wooden door. In the middle of each of the doors hung a massive ring of metal, which she assumed was used as a door knocker.
The huge iron rings were clasped inside the mouth of an animal she didn’t recognize and thought to ask Brock what it was, when an alarm sounded throughout the area.

Brock quickly lifted her up off the horse and stood her on the ground next to him. “Stay here,” he told her then took off in the direction of the alarm.

Not knowing what else to do, Lizzy climbed up the four steps that lead to the door and leaned against the hard wall. A group of soldiers went running by with long broad swords clasped in their hands. Lizzy sucked in a quick breath at the sight then tried as hard as she could to plaster herself against the wall. Finding little security in her current position, she moved to the corner of the alcove. She could hear shouts and cries as people ran by in the same direction Brock had headed. Whatever was happening was apparently crucial enough to draw the entire population to it.

No one paid her any attention as she stood pressed in the corner
trying to hide. The smell of smoke reached her nose when she inhaled deeply to calm her racing heart. Curious to know what was happening, she pushed off the wall and peeked around the corner. To her horror, she instantly understood what had caused such a panic.

Tall, orange, yellow, and red flames rose up into the air. The people of the castle were lined up one after the other passing bucket after bucket of water that was then dumped onto the burning building. Brock was at the head of the line receiving the buckets without stopping. She stepped out from behind the wall to get a better view of the commotion that was well under control. The wind picked up a bit and stirred the flames and pushed them higher
and higher. If they didn’t bring the blaze under control soon, it threatened to set the buildings on either side on fire.

As she stood watching something whizzed by her head, heading to the fire.
Must be a bird or something
she thought to herself. She watched as the animal rushed to the fire, careful not to fly into the flames licking closely at the hay that separated two of the buildings.

“No, no little bird! Don’t go that way!” she chanted to herself quietly.

Without warning, two more of the animals flew overhead, but this time they appeared to be carrying something. Her eyes were glued to the small creatures as they raced to the fire then unceremoniously dumped whatever they were carrying over the highest part of the fire.

“What the hell?” she asked out loud to no one. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her. Just then the three creatures, which she had thought were birds, came from behind the fire and hovered next to the line of people still passing buckets of water. “That’s not possible.”

Ignoring Brock’s command to stay at the door, she slowly walked forward. As she got closer, she could make out the legs and arms of the flying things. A high pitched sound was coming from them and it took her a few moments to realize that they were talking to the people below them.

She was stunned and couldn’t move.
What kind of world is this?
Small flying people?
Oh, how confused she was now!

The fire that had been blazing seconds ago, was quickly reducing in size until it was finally extinguished. The buckets of water continued to the smoldering ash, but Brock had handed over the lead position to one of his soldiers.
He patted a few of the men and women on the back as he walked away from the line and came her way.

With her eyes still glued to the flying things, she didn’t hear Brock when he approached her. She was oblivious to him and everything else around her.

“I thought I told you to stay where I left you,” he said a bit harshly.

She continued to ignore
him until she felt her body being jolted back and forward, making her teeth bite her tongue.

“Elizabeth!”

She tore her eyes away from the scene to look at the face that was trying to block her view. “W…WH…what?” She was virtually speechless.

His eyes bore into hers as he finally got her attention. “I told you to stay by the door.”

Was he angry with her?
She thought. She blinked her eyes several times to clear her vision and when she was satisfied they were clear enough, she took in the sight of the angry man standing before her.

“What did you say?” she asked him stupidly.

He shook her body again as he spoke, “Damn it, woman! What’s the matter with you?” He peered at her waiting for a response.

“W…what are those things?” she asked and pointed to the flying things.

Brock’s eyes followed her finger to see what she was pointing to. “What things, Elizabeth?” He was becoming irritated with her.

“Those
…those flying things,” she shrieked.

“Are you kidding me? Those
are the fairies,” he stated plainly.

She looked at him as if she were seeing monster. “Fairies? Fair
ies don’t exist!”

“Don’t tell me you have never seen a fairy before?” he asked her. The response he received was a simple shake of her head as she moved to look around him.

“Umm…there aren’t… any fairies where I come from.”

“Well, there are here.” He grabbed her upper arm to lead her back the way she had come. She kept looking back over her shoulder to watch the fairies as they flew around the group of people. “Next time I expect you to do what I say.”

Out of view of the ruined building, her attention snapped back to Brock. If she had heard him right, he just demanded that she follow his orders. That didn’t settle too kindly with her.

“I don’t have to listen to you! You over-grown Goliath!” She attempted to jerk her arm free from his
grasp but only succeeded in getting her arm squeezed tighter.

“Elizabeth,” he turned her around to face him. “You need to understand that this is not your world.
I understand you came here by mistake, but you are stuck here. There is no going back, so you must do what I tell you to do if you hope to remain safe.”

His words stung her just much
his hand would if he slapped her across the face. This day was getting worse by the minute. She stood dumbfounded in front of him with her mouth hanging open.

“What do you mean I can’t go home? I didn’t want to come here and demand that I be returned immediately.” She stiffen her spine in hopes of showing him that she wasn’t going to comply easily. Brock’s attitude immediately changed towards her. He appeared to have had the wind knocked out of him as she stood there in
complete defiance.

“We need to get inside before the storm comes. I don’t think you want to get wet all over ag
ain.” He guided her to the door then opened it for her. Once inside he pulled her to a stop once again and spoke to her. “I will explain things to you after you are settled in a room. For the time being, your friend Isobel is safe and sound with my brother. I am going to make the arrangement to travel back to his castle within a few days’ time.”

Lizzy went numb. She was trapped in a world not her own and there was a deranged killer still after
Isobel and now her.

Chapter 18

Isobel spent the next week in much the same way.
Her days were spent in Jakar’s mother’s garden sometimes with Nyla, other times alone. Her nights were filled with Jakar making love to her late into the night. She was becoming content in her daily routine as well as feeling safe behind the walls of the castle. It had been nearly two weeks since she first arrived and was beginning to adjust to her new life.

Jakar still hadn’t found out about her redoing his mother’s garden a
nd prayed when he did find out he wouldn’t be furious with her. Her co-conspirators always kept a lookout for Jakar but thankfully he never returned home earlier than what he said he would. Nana even went as far as to bring her lunch every day and would sit with her while she ate. A couple of times she had caught Nana plucking out a weed she had missed in a spot already cleared.

“You know, the anniversary of Jakar’s mother’s death is approaching,” Nana blurted out to her one day.

Stunned by this new information, she felt a tremor of unease course through her. “When is it?”

“The middle of next week. So that gives
you a bit more time to finish up in here.” Nana stood up to survey the garden. “I have got to say you have done an excellent job in restoring the place. Jakar’s mother would be so pleased.”

“It’s not his mother I’
m worried about,” she mumbled under her breath.

“I will leave you to your
work now. Don’t stay out here too much longer. Another storm is fast approaching.” Nana gave her a wave then slipped through the door into the castle.

Isobel went back to her gardening, working in silence. There was no way she would be able to finish the entire garden by next week, especially if Nyla kept being a no show. The fairy hadn’t showed for the last two days and it was star
ting to annoy her. If the fairy got her in trouble she was going to kill her. Her relationship with Jakar was blossoming into something unexpected and she didn’t want anything to spoil it. She had been so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t heard the footsteps that approached her from behind. It was the sound of the hissed warning that startled her back into awareness.

“What are you
doing?”

Isobel, on her hands and knees, turned her head to see who was speaking to her. Betsy stood behind her with her hands on her hips glaring at her.
Going on the defensive with the younger girl, Isobel stood up and faced Betsy.

“What does it look like I am doing? Knitting?” Her peaceful isolation had turned into a hostile confrontation. “What business is it of yours anyway?” She was becoming more and more leery of Betsy as the days passed
and she didn’t trust her. Several times when Betsy thought she hadn’t been looking, Isobel would see a sneer on the girl’s face as she walked by or when she went into the kitchen to get a bite to eat. There was something just not right with the worker but she was afraid to say anything to Jakar about it.

“Well, by the looks of it, something you have no business doing!” Betsy snapped. The servant
’s face contorted into the usual sneer Isobel had become accustom to seeing.

“I have I done something to offend
you, Betsy? Why the big shift in attitude towards me?” She was curious to find what the younger girl would say.

Betsy stood before her glaring, then shifted on her feet and folded her arms across her chest before she spoke. “When you first came here I thought maybe you were a poor innocent woman who had probably gotten lost
and injured on her way to some place. But then, my lord goes and marries you! He’s daft I think to have done such a thing. We know nothing about you or where you came from. For all we know, you could be one of Tuloch’s spies!”

Oh here we go again!
Isobel listened to the words Betsy was spewing at her. Each and every word was lined with a hatred that Isobel couldn’t figure out. How is it Betsy was the only one to supposedly not know who she was?

“I do
n’t have to answer to you, Betsy! I thought we were friends, but I was mistaken. Please go away and stay away from me. I will speak to my husband about having you replaced if you are so unhappy with me!” She wasn’t going to waste another breath on the ignorant girl. 

Isobel waited for Betsy to leave
. Why did the young chit have to go and ruin a rather nice day? The girl left her feeling a bit unsettled and wary. She would definitely have to keep a close eye on Betsy

******

Betsy left Isobel in the garden after being sent away. She had seen Nana coming from the direction of Jakar’s mother’s garden a little while ago and was curios to find out why. It was a part of the castle that was rarely used, so something had to be going on. She had hidden from Nana’s view in a tiny alcove that was barely wide enough for a child to squeeze into. It was a tight squeeze but she had been able to manage it. Once Nana had passed and turned the corner, Betsy eased herself out of the small hole and quickly walked through the hall. Her head darted back and forth searching for anything out of the ordinary and she was about to give up when movement out one of the windows had caught her attention.

There on her knees in the mud was her target. As the days had grown closer for Tulo
ch to put his plans into action, she had been looking for a way to somehow stir up trouble between the newlyweds. Now she had the perfect ammunition. Isobel was in the one place Betsy had been warned to stay away from her very first day of work in the castle. It was strictly forbidden for anyone to go into that garden or that part of the castle for that matter.

Betsy smiled to herself as she walked away from the stupid woman.
This would be the perfect way to cause a riff between the pair.  Technically, she really didn’t have a problem with Isobel and probably could have become good friends with her, but her heart wanted more. She wanted to be with the most powerful man in all of Aslog and the only way to do that was to betray her employer and his new wife.

She had gained the attention of Tuloch when she sang for him at his birthday gathering. She had been nervous as all hell but in the end she won
her ruler’s affection. Now, a year later, she would do whatever it took to seal her place at Tuloch’s side. Maybe, she thought, she shouldn’t have revealed her feelings to Isobel just yet. There was still a couple more days until she had to go meet with Tuloch’s man at the old mill. Once she had the information from Tuloch’s man, she would go forth her own plan. With the new secret that Isobel was holding, she could go to Jakar and tell him what she saw in his Mother’s garden. Hopefully this would split the two in half and Isobel would become more easily accessible. For now though, she would go about her daily duties and keep her eyes and ears open for anything that might be able to assist her in getting Isobel away from the castle.

******

Isobel worked out her frustration on the weeds that insisted on staying put in the soil. She pulled and tugged as hard as she could until the useless plant would finally let go of its hold in the ground. She couldn’t get over the way Betsy had acted towards her. Something wasn’t right with her and she was determined to find out what it was. She didn’t put it past the girl to tell Jakar what she was doing. It really wasn’t any of Betsy’s business as far as she was concerned, but if Jakar did find out before she was ready to tell him herself she would just have to explain what she had been doing for him.

She tossed the clump of mud and weeds to the side as she crawled farther underneath the big bush she was currently trying to save.
A vine of unknown species had wrapped itself around every stem of the bush and was slowly killing it. The bush looked like it had been a type of rose bush but without the thorns.

The light in the sky was beginning to fade. That was her cue to
finish up what she was doing then head to the bath to get cleaned up. Jakar typically made his appearance right before dinner was served in the dining hall. The little amount of time she had been here so far, she knew that Jakar would be in the dining hall at exactly six o’clock and he wasn’t one to miss a meal intentionally.

Brushing the dirt and grass off her hands and skirt, she headed into the castle.
The amount of work she was able to accomplish today surprised even her. She had, so far, managed to clear half the garden with the hardest part still to go. It would take her at least another week or so to get it all cleared. She just prayed she had enough time to do so.

She cleaned up in record time and headed to the dining hall. It was busy as usual in the large area with soldiers, staff, and any guests that were staying in the castle. Thankfully, Jakar hadn’t come in yet. His place at the head table remained empty. The noise in the room was at a comfortable level which made it pleasant in the room. Occasionally, the noise would be so loud in the room, usually when the men were drinking, she would have to leave the room before a headache could creep its way into her head.

She took her place in her normal position at the table and waited for her husband. One of the servant boys handed her a glass of wine then placed an empty plate in front of her. Sipping the wine slowly, she let her gaze travel around the room. A small group of children sat off to one side of the room laughing and giggling as they devoured the food in front of them. She assumed they were children of the staff that lived in the castle full-time because she had seen some of them numerous times. One little girl in particular stood out among the rest.

The little girl couldn’t have been more than four or five years old and had a head full of red hair. It was parted down the middle then braided into two plaits that hung past the girl
’s waist. The girl’s face reminded her of a cherub with her fat cheeks and round eyes. She noticed that the little girl wasn’t taking part in the childish conversation but would laugh when another child said something to elicit a reaction. She studied the child for quite some time and wondered who her parents might be. Apparently, the child was very shy because when any adult came near the table she would cast her eyes down.

“Umm. I wonder what’s up with that,” she said in a low tone.

“What’s up with what?”

Isobel jumped at the voice coming from behind her. She knew it was Jakar but still, he had startled her.

“Geez, you scared me!” she replied as she watched him take his seat next to her. She put a hand on her chest as if to still her rapidly beating heart.

“Sorry,” Jakar replied and gave her a big smile. “Tell me what you were saying.”

She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure she should ask him about the girl. Thinking there was nothing wrong with her curiosity about the child, she went ahead and asked. “Who is the little girl with the red hair? The one sitting at the end of the table over there.” She directed her gaze and nodded her chin in the direction of the girl.

Jakar followed her gaze then turned back to her. “That’
s little Skye. Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. That’s all.” She took a sip of her wine. “Who does she belong to?”

Jakar took a big swallow from his own wine glass before he answered her. “Her father is one of my men. Her mother died in childbirth.”

“So, who takes care of her?”

“Mostly Nana and the kitchen staff. Everyone watches out for her. She stays here in the castle when her father is away.” He reached for the platter of meat that had just been set on the table in front of them.

“Oh,” she said quietly.
She took the offered plate Jakar held out to her.

The rest of their dinner was passed in silence. Isobel’s eyes returned to Skye more times than she could count. There was something special about the girl that tugged at her heart strings for some reason.