The Queen 'tween the Tides (The Umbra Series Book 2) by J. L. Dawn

Author:J. L. Dawn [Dawn, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Interact Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2023-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

27 – Nocturnal Events

Arthur – Netherwyck

Amorrie didn’t come to him until later. Arthur had locked his door but could not sleep. He paced between the moonlit window, to glance out, and his door, to listen.

Duffit had told him to keep all in the house safe from the sea girl, but not a word as to how.

‘Where have you been, Amorrie?’

‘Tracking down the Piskie.’

‘I have told you. You must not harm Twoshrews. He is Isabella’s ally and a well behaved and charming Umbra unli…’ Arthur stopped himself from adding more.

‘I cannot harm him,’ said Amorrie. ‘It is as I thought; he is protected by my enemies.’

‘The Elven King?’

‘Other enemies; I have many.’

‘Desi, who you will not remember, thinks you have one here at Netherwyck. She intends to find out who.’

‘The Piskie. He could lead others to me.’ An idea struck Amorrie. ‘I cannot reach him in my world but he is more vulnerable in this one.’

Arthur was aghast, ‘You could not. You must promise me never…’

‘It is what my enemies do. When I thwart them in my realm, they send assassins after me – and after you – in this one.’

‘Twoshrews is hardly an assassin.’

‘True,’ she said, ‘but what about the wave witch? Have you discovered more about her?’

‘Not directly, but one of the servants here at Netherwyck has an Umbra who can read certain signs. He told her that something has been sent here to kill a gentleman’s Umbra.’

‘Me? That girl is my assassin?’

‘Not for sure. I have learnt more about such sea folk, and the girl does not conform to the descriptions of them. Jane, who is the most charming young lady, has read that there are sea women who live in both your world and ours as though they were one.’

‘Your girl is not a Nixie,’ said Amorrie. ‘She is not nearly wet enough and much too big for my realm. Let us go and look in on her. She may tell us more.’

‘No, and we cannot, for she is locked in her room and Exeter and Isabella have the only two keys.’

At Amorrie’s insistence, they went to check on the girl’s door and found it locked. Amorrie looked through the keyhole but could see or hear nothing, which she thought suspicious. Exeter’s door was closed, so they returned to Arthur’s room.

‘You sleep,’ Amorrie said. ‘If you push your bed a little closer to the window, I can watch for her from there. Set your lamp’s flame low.’

≈

‘She is out.’ Amorrie’s tiny chilled hands had hold of his finger.

Arthur emerged from sleep. ‘How?’

‘Let us find out. If she is here to kill me – or more probably, you; as you are a deal easier to kill – we cannot let her prowl around free.’

‘Her door is locked,’ said Arthur.

‘Locks do not stop her.’

They ventured onto the landing, Arthur peering apprehensively around every corner, Amorrie whispering in his ear.

The sea girl’s room was still locked. ‘Either she has found a key, or climbed from her window,’ said Amorrie. ‘Let us try that other door.

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