Page 60 of Lady's Steed

“I think we should tether ourselves,” Gustav suddenly stated.

“Why?”

He pointed. In the dim light of the lantern, mist began to seep around the edges of the hatch.

“Oh dear.” Avera stood, hand clutching the amulet. “Do we have rope?”

Gustav rose from the bottom step but rather than look for some, headed up the stairs.

“Gustav, no.” Avera ran for the steps as he flung open the hatch. She bolted up the stairs after him and reached him just as he opened the door. A thick mist spilled inside the house, wreathing Gustav who lifted a foot over the threshold.

“Oh no you don’t,” Avera grumbled as she reached for him, the mist keeping away from her while the light of the amulet let her see. The moment she hauled Gustav back into the house, he shook his head, his glazed expression melting to awareness, as if he woke from a trance.

He stared at her. “Thank you for stopping me.”

“Let’s close the door and get back to the cellar.” Avera pushed at the panel, keeping a hand on Gustav as if afraid he’d run off.

“I’m fine. Josslyn isn’t.”

Avera wondered what he meant until she saw Josslyn emerging from the cellar, a dazed look on her face. “Not you too.” She let go of Gustav to rein Josslyn in.

Josslyn blinked. “Not again.”

Creak.The door reopened as Gustav fell back into his somnambulistic state.

“Hold on to me,” Avera growled as she took a half step and snared Gustav. Gripping both her companions, she muttered, “Why is it when I touch you, the mist has no effect?” Because it had become clear Avera was the thing snapping them out of their trances, not to mention, she couldn’t hear this supposed music.

“Look at your chest,” Josslyn replied.

“Not sure what my bosom has to do with it.”

“The amulet, silly.”

A glance down showed it glowing more brightly than before, but Avera felt no heat.

“The mist is avoiding you entirely,” Josslyn noted. “I think that amulet is keeping it at bay.”

“If true, then it’s probably why I can’t hear the singing,” Avera murmured.

“It seems to offer some magical protection. I wonder if your mother knew,” Gustav stated.

Avera glanced at her companions. “Doesn’t matter if she did or not. I’m more interested in the fact it can keep you from running off so long as we’re touching.”

Which led to a very strange night where they used cloth to bind Gustav’s hand to Avera’s ankle, and Josslyn to her wrist.

They didn’t sleep much, getting short stints here and there. Avera especially struggled as each time Josslyn or Gustav moved, she opened her eyes in a panic, thinking they were trying to leave. It left her exhausted by the time morning came.

At least the mist was gone, but so were their horses.

Chapter 15

Neither Gustavnor Josslyn strayed far from Avera the following morning. Most likely fearful the mist would return suddenly to take them. After all, it had stolen the steeds that should have been secured in the barn. The door gaped wide open when they went to check at dawn.

“Luna?” Avera whispered her horse’s name as she stared at the stall door that had been kicked open.

Gustav followed the tracks a short way before announcing, “Looks like they’ve gone to the spire.”

“Why?” What drew them to that inhospitable place? And more importantly, did Luna, and everyone else for that matter, live?