Page 8 of Seas the Reckoning

“With the time change, we’ll land Thursday morning, giving us a day to prep and sneakily scope out the grounds. Friday evening is when I’m expected, with an opening event that night. There will be a few things planned for Saturday, and then the final celebrations will wrap up on Sunday.”

Jackal holds out his hand.

“Deal. If you win, then I will bow at your feet and declare you the strongest of witches.”

Starla opens her mouth, but Jackal continues before she can say anything.

“But if I win, and assuming we make it out alive after you undoubtedly lose it on one of these gentlemen, you will loudly yell ‘Shifters rule, witches drool’ in the middle of your next coven meeting.”

Starla’s already fair skin leaches of color, her hand freezing before she takes his.

Grammy Pearl is unlikely to find this as funny as the two of them will.

Starla locks her jaw, grabbing Jackal’s hand forcefully.

“It’s a deal. Even more motivation to bite my tongue.”

5

WARM WELCOME

We’re able to get some sleep on the flight, for which I’m endlessly thankful. After landing, we make our way to a train station with our luggage in tow.

“My gut is telling me that we ought to book a private compartment so we can plan without worrying about anyone overhearing,” Ji-hwan says, pulling out a card and sliding it to the woman selling tickets.

Councilman Taylor’s estate is on the fringes of the Lake District, and we’ll be taking a train to a station nearby and then deciding on accommodations.

“I’m beginning to like this flying-by-the-seat-of-our-pants thing,” Starla says as she takes her ticket from Ji-hwan’s hand.

I have a stomachache building. Snap decisions are not my forte. I’d prefer a list with the start and end times of every event, a detailed description of the dress code, and perhaps even what food will be available.

With the short notice Grammy’s instructions gave us, we also have not made hotel reservations. The plan is to go to a town near the councilman’s estate and go with what feels right. Somewhere we can easily get to and from the manor but still allow ourselves a bit of privacy.

As someone who likes to have a plan, a backup plan, and a backup for the backup plan, this is hard for me to swallow. But the seer has spoken, and she’s yet to lead us astray.

Spontaneity it is. I grab my ticket as well.

We get settled into our compartment and spend the first portion of the trip looking up possible bed and breakfast or hotel accommodations.

“First we unpack, and then scope out the town and get our bearings?” Jackal asks.

“And we will need to get at least one or two new outfits for whatever my father has planned,” Starla adds.

“Maybe we get some lunch, or at least a coffee, before we do anything else,” Ji-hwan suggests as the scenery flies by outside the train window.

The train attendants have kindly supplied us with some tea and biscuits, but I’m craving more significant fare. I agree with him.

“A bit o’ fish and chips? Some bangers and mash, perhaps?” Starla tosses on a British accent and directs the questions at Jackal.

He rolls his eyes at her.

“Terrible, you over-steeped teabag. An insult to the Crown, honestly.”

“As if you could copy our accents any better.”

The hyena knows a challenge when he sees one.

“As a matter of fact. Try this on for size. Ain’t it neat travelin’ by train like this? Faster than a jackrabbit across the hot ground, this is.”