Page 19 of Song of the Dawn
The enchantment ended as he guided me back inside, and I felt the loss of it keenly.
“I can walk you down. It’s no problem,” he said.
“Maybe next time.”
“All right then, good night.” Catching my hand, he pressed it to his lips before releasing me. “Until next time.”
Mila
The stairs creaked under my footfalls, and although the halls were lit, glimpses of the silver moonlight helped my passing. My thoughts flickered back to Ezra, and a tight ball of hope sat in my chest. I shouldn’t hope, I shouldn’t want, but I did, and it was mutual.
What, exactly, I needed or wanted from Ezra I did not have clarity on, but I couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of guilt, reminding me not to rush into anything. My sojourn at the Dawn was only for three months, and the first month was almost over. I pushed away that thought, and as I did, Aveline’s words drifted back to me:You never know where you’ll find love. It is beautiful, life-changing, better had for a little while than not at all…
But this wasn’t love, only a brief flirtation.
Reaching the main floor, I padded to the door that led into the staff lounge.
A sound came from behind me, a faint murmur but not a voice. I had the distinct feeling a presence watched me. I spun around fast. Pressing my back against the door, I peered into the shadows. Even the flickering lights did not fully illuminate the hall, and something, anything, could be out there.
My thoughts raced back to the slurping sound I’d heard in the cellar, and as if reacting to my fear, a shadow moved. It was a shape—I was sure of it—hulking, bent in half as though in pain. It moved, a dark blur, and my heart leaped into my throat. I burst into the lounge and closed the door behind me, tight.
Pressing my ear against the wood, I listened, determined to hold the door shut with my body. Why wasn’t there a lock on this door?
The warm and friendly air of summer changed, and a foul coldness seeped around me. A distinct smell of decay made me wrinkle my nose. Why hadn’t I taken Ezra up on his offer? If he’d walked me back to my room, I could have avoided this situation, or I would have felt safer if he had seen the shadow too.
I waited, but nothing chased me or tried to open the door. After a few moments, my racing heart rate slowed, and I doubted what I’d seen. Had it been my fanciful imagination? An effect of the decadent wine?
Letting go of the door, I backed away, waiting to see if anything would chase me. Nothing did. That eerily cold sensation faded, and I went up to my room, unable to shake the unease.
I peeked into Rachelle’s room when I arrived. She’d left the door cracked, but her bed was empty. Again. Where did she go these evenings? It wasn’t particularly late, but I wanted a word with a friend to ease my discomfort.
After closing all the doors, I locked my room and put on my nightgown. Pulling the covers over me, I lay still, but my mind would not relent. The slurping sound, the hunched, lurking shadow…was the paradise of the inn too good to be true? Was something else going on that I didn’t know about? Eventually I drifted to sleep and dreamed of dark things.
* * *
Over the nextcouple of days, the inn was busy, and I did not see Ezra again. I stayed away from the cellar, practiced violin, and limited my time alone after dark. I also studied Ginger and Rachelle for unusual behavior. If something malevolent dwelled in the inn, surely they would know. They both acted as if nothing was wrong. At least Rachelle did, but it was impossible to read Ginger. She brushed in and out, sharp-edged and abrupt, other times waving me away, giving me more time to myself. I recalled her words. We were staff, not servants; we weren’t expected to work ourselves to the bone.
I wondered if those were Ezra’s words, not hers as I speculated about her relationship with Ezra. He claimed she was his second-in-command, but why her? It wasn’t jealousy, for the few interactions I’d seen between them had been stilted, almost hostile. What was the history between Ginger and Ezra? I resolved to find out.
On Tuesday morning I went to fetch the eggs. Rachelle was grateful I’d taken over that task, and I was growing used to Giselle. After lacing my shoes, I hurried down the stairs and slipped out the back door.
The sheep and goats had done their work, for the grass on either side of the path was short again. The animals grazed in the distance, balls of off-white fur and lumps of brown, moseying their way through the meadow. Humming a tune, I glanced at the tower, offset on the hillside, a lonely tribute.
Was Ezra there now, working on another carving? Or had he slept in his office? Innkeepers weren’t rich, yet the paintings outside his office told the story of a wealthy gentleman. Next time I saw him, I’d ask about the carvings and the paintings. If my luck held, he’d invite me to his workshop. The thought made me smile, and my guilty conscience eased the more I entertained being in his presence.
I found Giselle in the barn. Just like Rachelle had said, one side was painted a bright red. The vibrant color made me smile as I moved to the open door, the scent of animals washing over me. “Giselle?” I called, poking my head inside.
“One moment,” she hollered. “The cow is giving me some trouble.”
A few moments later she appeared, carrying two pails, hay sticking out of her curls. She looked so funny I burst into laughter, clamping a hand over my mouth at the last moment. “I didn’t mean to laugh at you,” I apologized.
She smirked and set down the buckets. “Let me guess, I have hay in my hair.”
I nodded.
“It’s not the first time it’s happened. That cow is temperamental.” She jerked her chin over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Some days she gives me milk; others she wants to fight about it. She best give up, because I always win. You’re here for the eggs.”
It was more of a statement than a question, since I came for the eggs weekly. “Yes, and…” I twisted my fingers together, wondering how to word my question. “I’m curious about some things here. When we first met, you told me Lagoda is the land where strange things happen. Why is that?”
