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Dreda wrinkled her nose but retreated with the forkful of meat. “Very well, but I recall the days when you used to be able to eat almost a whole ham by yourself.”
“That’s when I still had two hollow legs,” he countered as he patted his stomach. “Now I have only my stomach to fill.”
Dreda looked over my empty plate. “Nothing more for you, Miss Lucas?”
I smiled at her. “Please call me Millie, and I really couldn’t eat another bite.” My stomach jiggled at the thought of any more food in its stuffed confines.
Dreda looked over the half-finished plates and sighed. “Well, I suppose there’s much for the men-folk.” She turned her attention to the hall. “Fysan! Oh Fysan!”
The owl swooped in from the hall and landed neatly on the back of Ben’s chair. The sudden counterweight made him start forward and grab the table. Ben turned his head to one side and one of his eyes cast an irritated look at the bird. Fysan for his part pretended not to notice, but there was a wicked glint in his eyes that told me the off-kilter attack was on purpose.
The bird bowed his head as well as any owl could. “Yes, My Lady?”
“We’re finished with the food. Please inform Tully and Werd that they may come in here and eat what they wish.”
Fysan nodded. “As you wish.”
He turned around and in the process, his tail feathers smacked the back of Ben’s head. Ben winced as Fysan’s eyes shone with a wicked glee. The bird opened his wings and flew into the hall. I couldn’t help but gaze in awe at how close he was able to tuck his wings through the narrow gap and yet still stay airborne.
“Magic.” It was Dreda who spoke, and I turned to her amused face with bewilderment. She nodded at where Fysan had vanished. “You were curious how he flew so elegantly in such tight spaces. He has a gift of magic.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Animals have magic? I mean, besides being able to talk.”
She stood and we rose with her. “They are very rare and their magic is not very powerful, but they find uses for their gifts. Now I’m sure you’re both very exhausted from your long trip, so I’ll let you get some rest.” She guided us down the corridor and through the parlor back to the entrance hall. “You may share Ben’s old room. I’ve had it cleaned just for your visit.” Dreda turned to us at the bottom of the stairs and her eyes shimmered with happiness. “I am truly happy to have you both here, and I do hope you enjoy your stay.”
Ben bowed his head. “I’m sure we will and thank you for having us.”
Dreda turned her attention to me and grasped my hands in hers. “Rest, dearest Millie. The morning sun will make the dark shadows in your thoughts seem like nothing more than a nightmare.”
I blinked at her. “Dark shadows?”
Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she stepped back and wagged a finger at Ben. “And mind you, don’t go looking for trouble outside like you used to.”
“We’ll be sure to stay in bed,” Ben promised as he grasped my shoulders and his gaze took on a slightly lecherous glint when he looked down at me. My face drooped and I elbowed him in the gut.
“I’m sure you will,” Dreda replied as she bowed her head. “Goodnight.”
We returned the farewell and she slipped through the door that led into the other wing. I tried to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond, but all I saw was a long, dark corridor that led deep into the bowels of the manor.
Ben caught my eye and gestured to the stairs. “Shall we?”
I studied the crowded steps. Paintings with thick frames hung from the wall and miscellaneous trinkets like oil lamps and wooden boxes crowded the steps. I folded my arms over my chest. “You think it’s safe?”
“As safe as anything in this house.”
“I think I’ll take my chances with the ground floor.”
“The only beds are located on the second.”
My shoulders slumped and I sighed. “Alright, let’s do this.”
We made our way up the steps with Ben leading the way. “What do you think of Aunt Dreda?” he inquired as we tiptoed through the tulips, in some cases literally as I stepped over a bouquet of dried flowers.
“Your aunt seems a little, well-”
“Scattered in thoughts?” Ben suggested.
I felt like an adventurer on safari in a land of quicksand and booby traps. Each step was a danger to my livelihood and healthy ankles. “Or a little short on her attention span.”
