Cobweb Forest by Vera Nazarian

Author:Vera Nazarian
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Leda (Imprint of Norilana Books)
Published: 2013-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

Percy and Beltain returned to the D’Arvu villa to wait, while the afternoon deepened and the quality of the light outside warmed into the precursor of sunset.

They had followed Lady Arabella D’Arvu and the Lady Leonora as they made their way back along the street that was now the seashore, walking several steps behind to grant them privacy. Leonora turned a few times and cast her bird-like fixed glance at Percy, then looked away.

Within the villa, the count was where they had left him, seated alone in the parlor and his eyes were closed, while his woodcarving was set aside. He was not sleeping, for at once he opened his eyes and he glanced at them all and spoke quietly to his wife.

They consulted in soft weary voices, while Leonora stood in the middle of the room, straight-backed as a pillar of salt. Her faint death shadow billowed at her side, next to the real shadow on the floor cast by the sun in the window.

Percy and Beltain approached and Percy spoke evenly, addressing all of them. “Will you come with us tonight, as I lead the local people from here?”

Lady Arabella turned with a nervous expression on her thin sunken face. “We—we have not decided—that is, we need to think—”

“You cannot stay here. . . . The town is an island now, completely cut off from everything. There will be no food, no means of leaving again, unless you decide to fashion a raft or boat,” Beltain interrupted, looking at the Countess and then the Count. “I urge you strongly to think well on this now. The Kingdom of Tanathe in its entirety may not be here tomorrow.”

“But it would mean going to Death’s Keep!” The Countess began wringing her hands in distress. “My Leonora cannot—must not—she must not be forced to this—”

“I promise you,” Percy said, “I will not force the Lady Leonora to anything against her will. Even in the presence of Lord Death, she will have her choice.”

“I—”Leonora’s voice sounded. “I will come. But—no, I cannot die, not yet. My Lady Mother and My Lord Father, I cannot have you stay here and perish because of me. We will go to this—this otherplace. I will see Death and look upon him, and I will think. . . .”

“Then, it is well, and it will be for the best, My Lady.” Percy looked upon Leonora kindly.

The count nodded and then called his servants to gather their things yet again. Only this time, he directed them to leave most of their unpacked belongings behind, and choose only what was most essential.

“Will it be cold where we go?” he said wearily.

“Yes, it is Lethe, in the Realm. Death’s Keep is to be found from there, though I do not think you will necessarily end up in Lethe once we go there,” Percy spoke.

Beltain meanwhile went to gather his own armor and knight’s attire, and to get Jack ready to ride.

When sunset approached, they walked to the marketplace, leading horses behind them, and followed by a few servants carrying small items of personal value.

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