3. Concert
At four thirty, Eric was already at the gates of the Concert Hall. He watched the people arrive in carriages and make their way to the entrance. They were dressed formally; men were in black tuxedos, women wore beautiful dresses and sparkling jewelry. Eric was examining the people of Hollow—their looks and manners—when his eyes caught a familiar beautiful face. It was Dinah McCormack, in a long black gown, shoulders and neck bare, waving a feathery fan in one hand, and holding Thomas Baldric’s hand with the other. Her hair was plaited into a long braid, and the blue diamonds that hung from her ears sparkled as strongly as her blue eyes. Eric couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her cold beauty was spectacular and enigmatic, her proud face gave away the awareness of the strength of her charms, while her manners were a screaming example of vanity and conceit. Tim Van Balen and Marion O’Neal, a couple more modest in their outfit and behavior, walked behind.
Dinah noticed Eric at the gates and whispered something to Thomas. They chuckled, and reaching the gates, Thomas said aloud, “I’ve heard there will be a great concert tonight.”
“Indeed?” Dinah pouted. “And I have heard about a lousy solo.”
All four cracked up and passed Eric. Though unwillingly, he turned around and looked at their backs. Tim was hiding a package inside his tuxedo, and Eric wondered why he was bringing a package to the Concert Hall. His attention returned to the street, where an unknown lady appeared in the crowd. The woman was of age: probably seventy or eighty years old, wearing diamonds and a silver gown with a long trail. In one hand, she had a silver-framed lorgnette, and the other was squeezed around a young man’s arm, whom Eric recognized as Raymond—the fellow he had met at the arena of the tournaments last autumn. They made their way to the entrance of the Hall as people around them greeted the woman, bowing in deference or raising their hats. The lady deigned stern smiles or strict looks. Her behavior amused Eric. She reminded him of one of those aristocratic personas who thought too much of themselves, considering the places of their birth and the wealth they possessed as synonyms of greatness and importance. The woman was forgotten when Eric saw Colin and Andromeda coming out of a carriage, followed by Electra, Cassandra, and Ariadne. After greetings, hugs and kisses, they all headed to the entrance—Jack holding Ariadne by her hand, Hector with Cassandra, and Eric together with Electra.
The spacious auditorium was illuminated by elegant chandeliers that were dazzling above the great hall, casting their glow on the velvety seats and the separate box in the center, designed for special guests.
When their group made its way to their seats, Eric noticed disgruntled glances and heard vicious words behind their backs. He turned to Electra, but she pretended to not hear the Easterners.
The lights went off, the curtain rose, and the members of the orchestra appeared on the stage. Mr. Frick raised the stick and the music began. Vivaldi's La Follia had the honor of opening the concert. The mellifluous music took the audience into the 18th century, to the Emperor’s palace, the baroque architecture and laced gowns. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the music, but Eric was feeling uncomfortable. He could sense a glance aimed at him, and turning left, he saw Dinah staring. She looked away and covered her face with the fan, but Eric managed to notice resentment in her eyes. His thoughts were now filled with Dinah against his wishes. She was beautiful; he couldn’t deny that, as much as he couldn’t deny feeling nostalgic about the time he had once spent with her. Seeing her hand folded around Thomas’s arm Eric felt something that resembled jealousy. She was stunning in that black dress and dazzling jewelry, just like a queen, and he couldn’t help staring at her. He forced himself to look away, then turned to Electra. She glanced at him and awarded him with a sweet smile. Dinah left his thoughts like a specter, and he smiled back to the girl who didn’t have an expensive dress or jewelry, whose only ornaments were the flowers in her hair, which gave a fabulous look to the nymph so dear to his heart.
Eric wasn’t the only one looking around. Cassandra kept peeking at the box where the wealthy woman was sitting, and at the young man accompanying her. She turned to Electra and whispered, “That is Duchess Iphigenia von Aringwen of Ornshire, Raymond's grandmother.”
Electra gave the old woman a distrustful look. “She looks grave.”
“Rather sober.”
“She’s shining. She needn't put on all her diamonds. We could get blinded.”
“Oh, I’m sure those are not all her diamonds. She’s very rich.”
“Then why do you keep staring at her?”
“Are you being biased because she’s rich and wears jewelry?”
“I’m not biased, but she doesn’t look like someone who can be easily pleased.”
“You’re being mean.”
“Alright, I won't say that again. But when the day comes, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
Cassandra said nothing more but kept blushing and staring at the young man sitting next to the Duchess. Raymond seemed engrossed in Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers and wasn’t looking anywhere else. Cassandra thought she ought to do the same, especially when it was her sister playing on the stage.
The next was Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 5, followed by Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. With the end of the symphony, the hall broke into applause. Mr. Frick bowed to the audience, turned back to the orchestra, and waved his stick. Piano music sounded in the corner of the stage, and Medea joined Romanza Andaluza with her violin. All her family watched her without blinking. They had never seen her so calm and concentrated. She was absorbed in the beautiful music, and her violin sounded magical.
Something whistled in the air and hit Medea’s chair. She didn’t stop playing, but then another tomato landed nearby. The hall began humming. Turning to Dinah’s seat, Eric saw how Thomas snatched another tomato from Tim’s package and threw it at Medea, who, nevertheless, continued to play. But when the rotten tomato hit her violin, the bow slipped from her hand. Medea hastened after it. The conductor stopped the music and turned to the audience. Whispers turned into cries.
Uncle Colin rushed towards Thomas through the row of seats. “Stop it right now!” he demanded, but Thomas just sneered into his face. Colin looked at him for a second, then slapped him so hard across the face that Thomas’s knees bent. His father, Louis Baldric, bolted to his feet and rushed to his son’s aid. Shay MacGavin and Alan Pickering hurried to their friend, and Peter McCormack and Manfred Van Balen appeared near Louis Baldric. A fight was about to break out, and Mayor Kynaston Daley hurried to stop the fray. Colin grabbed Thomas by his collar, and Louis Baldric tried to pull his son out of Colin’s grip, while Shay MacGavin and Alan Pickering held back Peter McCormack and Manfred Van Balen. The hall was lost in noise and hubbub, for the men were on the verge of fighting, and the women were yelling and begging them to stay calm.
Medea squeezed herself through the audience. “Leave him, Uncle,” she said, reaching for Colin’s hand. “Don’t waste your time on him.”
Colin at last loosened his grip and pushed Thomas back into his seat. Mayor Daley stepped forward and ordered everyone to leave the hall.
Aunt Andromeda took Medea into her arms. “My dear girl, I am so sorry that your evening was spoiled,” she said. “But you were amazing. I am so proud of you.”
“It’s alright. I should have known they might spoil the concert,” Medea said. “Let’s go home, it will be getting dark soon.”
“Should’ve guessed they were up to something when I saw that package in his hands,” Eric said, standing between Jack and Hector.
“Never mind,” Jack muttered. “We’ll pay them back at the tournament. Tomorrow at seven, you’ll start training.”
4. On the Field
Eric had been on the field since early morning. Pegasus was as calm and clever as Jack had told, but it in no way made the training easier. The spear was heavy, and javelin throwing appeared to be harder than he had expected.
“I feel I’m going to end up as the laughingstock of the whole town,” E
ric complained.
“You won’t. None of us were born with the skills,” Jack said.
“I thought it was easier.” Eric took the bow and arrow from the ground. Before Jack and Hector could stop him, he aimed at the target, shot the arrow, and winced from pain.
“Ahhh, that must be painful!” Hector squinted at Eric’s skinned forearm.
“You forgot your vambrace,” Jack said, while Eric muttered something obscene through his clenched teeth.
“I’m an idiot.” He took a bandage from the first-aid kit.
“You’re a beginner. Come here, and put on that vambrace on your arm. Now look at the target.” Jack stood behind Eric, holding the bow and an arrow. “Your body should be perpendicular to the target and to the shooting line. Now place your feet shoulder-width apart. That’s right. Don’t tense. Relax.” He handed the bow and arrow to Eric. “Point the bow towards the ground and place the shaft on the arrow rest. Hold the bow with your left hand and pull the bowstring back with the right one. Hold your index finger above the arrow; your inner elbow should be parallel to the ground.” Jack slightly raised Eric’s elbow. “Now draw the string towards the corner of your mouth. Very well. And now, aim at the target, and don’t forget to always check the range. We’re in an open field, after all. Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Shoot!”
Eric released the arrow and it pierced the bullseye.
“Ten points!” Hector exclaimed.
“Unbelievable,” Eric chuckled, shocked yet contented.
“The beginners are always lucky.” Jack grinned. “How’s your arm?”
“Hurting.”
“It will heal. Try to find time for press-ups and pull-ups. They will strengthen your arm so that it doesn’t get shaky. I suppose you know that the target has ten circles. The inner two rings equal ten points, then the value decreases by one with each outer circle.”
“I know.” Eric released another arrow and it hit the line between the second and third rings.
“That’s another ten! If the arrow falls on a line, you get the higher score. Not bad, O’Brian.”
“That’s because I’m so angry. If you only knew how much my arm hurts.”
“We all learn from our mistakes. Now shoot again.”
They continued shooting, while Jack told Eric about the rules of the tournament. “The number of the participants is unlimited, but each team can only have three members. The tournament consists of three rounds. First one is archery. One participant shoots the targets while riding a horse through the obstacles. I’ll be doing that. The other part of the archery round is shooting from horseback, but without riding. Hector will take care of that one. Then there’s shooting the targets while standing on the ground. That part is yours.”
“I’ll take that.” Eric shot another arrow. “What’s next?”
“Javelin throwing. The first one throws the javelins on horseback, riding the obstacles. This time, both the second and the third participants throw the spears riding a horse, but without obstacles.”
Eric bent to the leather quiver and took another arrow. “And the third is jousting, right?”
“Right. The two teams with the highest points participate in the jousting round, where the winner will be decided. The bad part is that it’s not very easy. The good part is that wooden spears are used.”
“Haven’t they always been used for jousting?”
“Not in Hollow. There was a time when the knights would use real arms. There were so many fatal injuries that the Town Hall banned real weapons from the tournaments. Soon the hotheaded knights raised so much ado that the Town Hall made amendments in the regulation. It’s still possible to use real arms, but only if one of the parties asks for it. The other party can refuse, but then they will be declared losers. But don’t worry, real weapons haven’t been used in Hollow for over two hundred years. People aren’t as thickheaded as they used to be. Now shoot that last arrow, and we shall rest before taking up the lances. If we have time, I’ll also teach you swordsmanship.”
Exhausted, Eric lay down on the grass and closed his eyes. The drowsiness was overpowering, but the moment he started falling asleep, Jack sat by him and called his name. He was holding something in his hands. With a closer look, it appeared to be a tattered journal.
“This is something I want you to read.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a diary that belonged to a woman named Amelia Wicker. She wrote about the beginning of the witch hunt, and about the trials.”
Eric took the diary. It was torn, dog-eared, and smelled of herbs. “Where did you get it from?”
“You don’t want to know,” Hector said, reclining on the grass.
“Well?”
“Just read it. You’ll get to ask the questions later. Do it fast, we have to take it back,” Jack said.
After the training, Eric headed to the veterinarian hospital on the East Bank. Cassandra had told him they needed help, and he was happy to continue his internship in Hollow. When Eric entered the hospital, Cassandra was attending one of her shaggy patients.
“A wolf?”
“A cub,” she said with a smile.
“He hasn’t been a cub for at least six months. You should be more careful with wild animals, Cassie.”
“I will,” Cassandra giggled, taking the young wolf into her arms.
“Let me help you.” Eric stretched his hands to her, but she shook her head.
“He won’t trust a stranger. Come with me.” She took her patient to the isolation ward. “We keep them here until they heal. Then they either go back to their owners, or are set free in the woods where we have found them. This one had gotten into a trap. I found him in the woods and brought to Dr. Robinson. He’ll be ready to go back next week.”
Eric ran his eyes around the ward full of cages with hares, raccoons, wolves, and owls. “I thought we were going to tend just sheep and lambs, not wild animals.”
“You think you can’t do this?”
He looked around the ward once again. “I think I’m going to love this.”
5. Diary
Eric reached his uncle’s house by dinnertime. He didn’t lie to Albert anymore, and told him all about the training sessions and about working at the hospital and at Pickering’s shop.
“Dad, does that mean the ban is over?” Eleanora asked with anticipation.
“No,” he said. “Not for you.”
“But why? Why can he go there and I can’t?”
“Because sooner or later, Eric will leave Hollow, but you belong here. You are my daughter—”
“That’s unfair!” Eleanora ran to her room. Eric went upstairs after her and knocked at her door. She didn’t respond.
“Nora, please open the door. Let’s talk. I don’t want to see you upset.”
Eleanora made no sound and didn’t open the door until little Henry came up the stairs and asked his sister to let him in. She was forced to open the door and let them both inside.
“Nora, don’t be upset. We’ll think of something to end that stupid ban.”
Sulky and tearful, Eleanora sat at the window and pretended she couldn’t hear Eric.
“Nora, I don’t want to tell you to go against your father’s wishes, but—”
“Just go.”
“Nora—”
“Go away.” This time her voice was harsher.
Eric went to his bedroom and, keeping in mind Jack’s advice, did press-ups for an hour. Afterwards, sweated and exhausted, he crashed down on the bed, grabbed the diary he had left on the bedside table, and opened it.
March 13th
I asked Father what he thought about the weather. Received no answer. He is puzzled as much as I. I wonder what is happening. The birds in our garden were dead, scattered all around the ground. Such a heartbreaking scene. We couldn’t cure any of them.
March 22nd
Father says that the weather’s strange behavior has something to do with witchcraft.
I don’t believe him. I know the witches; they would never do anything harmful. I hope my father is wrong.
April 3rd
The sheriff paid us a visit today. I never said a word, but now I wonder if my silence might bring more trouble. He was talking about dead horses, asking if my father could explain anything. Father said he couldn’t, and that is exactly what De Roy Senior wished to hear. I am scared to think how this story might end.
April 25th
The rains continue. Thunderbolts tear the skies. It rains in the morning. It rains in the afternoon and in the evening. Sometimes we are lucky to get a glimpse of sunshine, but it doesn’t last long.
Every time I hear someone quarrel, the argument is followed with a thunderclap and a storm. I don’t think it is a coincidence. I have asked my friends and neighbors to stop the quarrels and fights, but they won’t listen to me. Sometimes I feel some of them are doing it purposely, adding oil into the fire of frays and clashes.
April 30th
Today I saw a strange creature. They called him Shadow. I had never felt more dread in my life. What was it? It was not human, or was it? No. No human could give me as much fright as the sight of that thing. How black was his face. Or was there a face at all? I still tremble when I think about him. Empty. Like a void.
May 4th
They came after Valeria and Sofia today. Heaven have mercy on us.
May 11th
I can hardly hold the pen in my hands. They took me away yesterday. They are taking away anyone who has the slightest connection to the witches. They were sure I knew where Andromeda was hiding with the children. I am happy I didn’t. I am not sure I wouldn’t have given away their whereabouts; that is how scared I was. That place is Hell. No way out. They threatened me with fire and hot pliers, but those threats were nothing compared to the voices I heard behind the iron doors. Was it Nicolas? Or was it Anthony? And where is Valeria?
May 16th
I just came back from the trial, if I can call that theatre a trial at all. Judge Alistair’s behavior was cynical. He knew Valeria was telling the truth but did everything to cast a bad light upon her. His witnesses were circus clowns, claiming they had seen Val performing witchcraft. She has never done anything bad or illegal. Some of those men she had been nursing back to life. What a bunch of ungrateful folk! They said she had been giving them strangely smelling vials and had forced them to drink the potions against their will. They said so many lies; it was unbearable. Judge Alistair ordered a trial by fire. They can’t do that with her. She is a mother, and she carries another baby. I have to do something to help her.
May 19th
It puzzles me that I can find strength to write about what I have just seen. But my mental anguish is nothing compared to what Valeria Ainsley, Rosaline MacGavin, and five other young women had to go through. Judge Alistair ordered them to walk over live coals. They did it. All seven. They burned their feet and I had to watch that barbarity. I didn’t leave for Valeria. I wanted her to know that her friends were with her. I wish I could erase their cries of agony from my mind. And I wish that was the only trial, but I know that Judge Alistair is only warming up.
May 23rd
Today they gave the girls poisoned bread. They were supposed to eat it. If they vomited, the Judge would set them free. None of the girls wanted to put that poison into their mouths, but De Roy Senior threatened them with lashes. After some blows, all seven swallowed the poisoned bread. Six of them vomited. Rosaline did not. She died in convulsions.
May 29th
Another trial. This time Judge Alistair ordered them to retrieve a stone from a cauldron with boiling oil. Poor girls. Of course none of them could do that. They would put their hands inside and draw them out that very moment, screaming in pain. They had burnt their feet. Now they burnt their hands. Be damned, Alistair! He declared them all guilty.
May 30th
I talked to Peter. I asked about Valeria and her family. He said nothing. His silence was frightening. But I know he won’t let it happen; I am almost sure of it. I know there is a plan, and Valeria will be saved from the dungeon along with the rest.
June 2nd
They killed all of them. Some died in the dungeon after the tortures. Those who survived were burnt at the stake. They tied Valeria and Nicolas to the log and burnt them. They made us watch. “Only a witch will not watch another witch burn,” De Roy Senior proclaimed, and forced us all to the square. Peter was there. He was in a black mantle like the other Hunters, his face covered with a cloth, but I recognized his blue eyes. He watched them burn.
Eric put the diary aside and took a breath. The insides of his palms had sweated. He opened the window, and the wind gusted into the bedroom. Eric took another deep breath and returned his eyes to the torn pages on the bed. He couldn’t believe what he had just read. He went through the first pages again. Valeria and Nicolas were Electra’s parents. They had been burnt on the stake. Does she know about this? Probably not. Jack would never let her read that diary.
Rosaline MacGavin, Hector’s mother. Now Hector knew what had happened to her. His suspicion was valid, she had been murdered. Eric thought about what Hector might have felt when he had read that diary.
He thought about the weather anomalies. What if it wasn’t a coincidence, and those Hunters might be coming back to Hollow? He spent the whole night reading the diary. Sleep and rest were forgotten; he needed to know how the witch hunt ended. But the diary didn’t give him the answer. It was unfinished. He couldn’t sleep that night, couldn’t stop thinking about the Hunters, the trials, the tortures, and the witches. He needed to know more, and wished Jack had other diaries that would shed some light on that blood-chilling story.
6. Birthday
On Sunday, Hector’s friends had prepared a birthday party for him in the Cauldron and Broom, Andromeda’s restaurant. When Eric arrived, the party had already begun. The place was filled with music and dancing and many familiar faces: Dr. Robinson, Woodcutter Acks, Ariadne’s parents and little brother Jason, Raymond, who didn’t take his eyes off Cassandra, bakers Rose and Duncan McKennit with their sons, Alan Pickering, Shay MacGavin, dozens of people from the West Bank, and of course the owners of the restaurant.
Eric looked around. It was the strangest restaurant he had ever seen. The place was colorful, with carved furniture, silver mugs, and china glassware. The floor was decorated with paintings of conical hats and black cats. Brooms, cauldrons, and old cuckoo clocks were hanging on the walls. Mannequins of witches with messy hair and crooked noses were standing in the corners, turning their heads whenever someone passed nearby, while colorful marionettes, hanging from the ceiling by elastic strings, were hopping up and down to the music of pipes and flutes.
Eric stood in the middle of the hall, looking around and getting in the way of the waitresses in black hats and striped stockings. Their trays were full of food and drinks: canapés with yellow cheese, banana bread, onion scones, mustard-roasted potatoes, trout with sliced carrots, and chicken with spicy chutney, looking so inviting that Eric couldn’t help following one of the girls with the tray. To his regret, he lost sight of the waitress and her tray, but luckily Electra found him before he got lost among all the brooms and cauldrons. She came from behind and kissed his cheek. Eric turned around.
“Hey, beautiful, it’s good you found me.”
“I noticed you were a bit lost. Do you like this place?”
“This is the most unusual restaurant I’ve ever seen.”
“Have you congratulated Hector?”
“Um, no.” Eric looked around the hall. “I couldn’t find him.”
“Come with me.”
The place was so crowded that even Electra had a hard time finding Hector. Eric wasn’t looking where he was going, but glancing at his sides, and once in a while pinching food from the trays. They had crossed half of the hall when Medea ran to Electra.
“El, it’s time for the present,” she said. “Hurry!”
“Present
time?” Eric asked, swallowing a cheese canapé.
“We have prepared a present for Hector,” Electra told him. “We have to get ready.”
“What kind of present is that?”
“Oh, no time to explain now,” Medea said in a haste. “Wait a bit, and see for yourself.” She dragged Electra up the stairs.
“She’s right,” Electra said. “It’s time already. Hector is near the candy machine with Jack.” She then blew him a kiss and disappeared upstairs.
Eric found Hector and Jack by the candy machine, in the company of three pretty girls. A pile of boxes wrapped in colorful papers was lying on the table nearby.
“Happy birthday.” Eric put a small box near the rest.
“Thank you.” Hector smiled. “And as propriety demands, let me say that you shouldn’t have to worry about a present.”
“No worries. I got it from the Old Curiosity Shop. To be honest, I have no idea what those things inside the box are, but Pickering told me it’s the best present for an adult blacksmith.”
Jack snatched Eric’s present from the table and tore off the wrap. There was a wooden box under the colored paper, and taking off the lid, Jack looked inside. “Hair pins made of fish bones?”
All three girls burst into laughter.
“Why that man keeps mocking me is beyond my understanding,” Eric muttered. “Can’t believe I paid for that!”
“By the way, do you know my girlfriends?” Hector asked him.
Eric stared at the girls that had surrounded the birthday boy from all sides.
“Lora, Clara, and Romola. Ladies, this is Eric O’Brian. And you better don’t smile at him like that; his girlfriend is a witch.”
Eric let out a chuckle, but the girls continued hugging Hector and laughing along. Three girlfriends? he was thinking, when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was his father calling. The place was too noisy for a phone conversation, and Eric went outside. When he came back, the three witches were playing violins and singing for Hector:
“A blacksmith courted me1
Nine months and better.
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter.
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever.
And if I was with my love
I’d live forever.
“But where is my love gone
With his cheeks like roses.
And his good black billycock on
Decked round with primroses.
I fear the shining sun
May burn and scorch his beauty.
And if I was with my love
I'd do my duty.
“Strange news is come to town
Strange news is carried.
Strange news flies up and down
That my love is married.
I wish them both much joy
Though they can't hear me.
And may God reward him well
For the slighting of me.
“Don’t you remember when
You lay beside me.
And you said you’d marry me
And not deny me.
If I said I'd marry you
It was only to try you.
So bring your witness love
And I'll not deny you.
“No witness have I, none
Save God Almighty.
And may he reward you well
For the slighting of me.
Her lips grew pale and wan
It made a poor heart tremble.
To think she loved a one
And he proved deceitful.
“A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter.
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever.
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever.”
The guests were swirling in a merry dance. Young and old, married or single, everyone had found a pair and was dancing, except Hector, who was sitting on a chair near the candy machine, laughing shyly, while his girlfriends were standing behind him like beautiful sentinels.
When the song ended, a cake with five tiers was carried into the hall, decked with pink crème and fresh fruits.
“Make a wish, my dear,” Andromeda said when Hector stepped towards the sweet mountain with eighteen candles. He closed his eyes and blew out the candles. Just then the music started again, leading the guests to another dance. Electra and Ariadne ran to Eric and Jack.
“Shall we dance?” the girls asked, offering their hands.
As they were about to dash into the center of the hall, Andromeda put her hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“My dear, are you feeling well?” she asked. “You seem pale to me.”
“I’m fine, mom,” he said, and all four joined the dancing couples, among which were Hector with Lora, Clara, and Romola, Castor and Pollux McKennits, Medea, and Cassandra and Raymond. The last couple never left each other’s company and danced till the end of the party.
7. Boat Ride
Rainless evenings had become such a rarity in Hollow, that when the young people were unexpectedly blessed with warm weather, they couldn’t miss the chance to have a boat ride.
“So what do you think about those couples?” Eric pointed to their friends in the boats.
“Couples? I see only one couple, and that is Cassie and Raymond.”
“Tell me about them. How did they start dating?”
“Ah, that’s a cute story. Raymond’s little sister, Bonnie, has a cat named Rufus. He got sick and they took the cat to the vet hospital. Bonnie visited her cat every day, and Raymond accompanied her. Cassie was already working there, and he grew fond of her more with each day. When the cat recovered and Bonnie took him home, Raymond found any small excuse to visit the hospital. First, he didn’t like the cat's meowing. Then he was worried about his appetite. On the fourth day, the cat seemed pale to him. This lasted for a week, until he finally asked Cassie out.”
“Funny story,” Eric said, rowing the oars. “And what do you think of Raymond?”
“I don’t know.” Electra looked at the boat that was carrying her sister and Raymond in the middle of the lake. “He seems to be fond of her and he’s a nice fellow. And Cassie is totally in love, but…”
“But?”
“Oh, I don’t know. He’s twenty-one, rich, and used to live on the East Bank.”
“Used to?”
“Raymond is the heir of Duchess Iphigenia. He grew up without knowing his grandmother, because many years ago his father—Robert Von Aringwen, fell in love with the miller’s daughter and married her against Duchess Iphigenia’s wish.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“Not as romantic as it seems. The old Dowager didn’t forgive her son and deprived him of everything. Raymond’s father lost the title and the wealth, and left the county of Ornshire. Several years ago they came to live in Hollow. A year ago Robert Von Aringwen died of illness, and his wife followed him shortly after.”
“I didn’t know that. Poor fellow.”
“At least the end is happier than the beginning and the middle of this story.” Electra glanced back at Raymond, who had bent over the boat and was spattering water at Cassandra, while she was laughing and trying to avoid the splashes.
“And how did it end?”
“Learning about her son’s and his wife’s deaths, the Duchess invited Raymond and Bonnie to live with her in the county. Raymond now splits his time between Hollow and Ornshire, but I’m sure soon he will permanently reside in the county.”
“Seems a happy ending to me.”
“For Raymond maybe. But not for us.”
“Are you saying that because Raymond lived on the East Bank? You seem a bit biased; I live there too.”
“I’m not biased, why am I constantly being called so?” Electra pouted. “I just don’t know what??
?s going on in his head. What does he want? He is twenty-one. He might have serious thoughts about Cassie, but she has just turned seventeen; she can’t marry so soon.”
Eric sniggered. “Sunshine, don’t you say you’re already thinking about Cassie’s marriage. Maybe he hasn’t even thought about that.”
“How should I know? The only reason he comes to Hollow is to see her. He might take her away from us. And she is so much in love she may not even think twice.”
Eric looked at Raymond and Cassandra splashing water at each other and laughing. “I think you’re way ahead of time. It doesn’t seem to me they are discussing their upcoming marriage.”
Electra managed a smile, which came out mirthless and dry. The idea that Cassandra could leave Hollow, could leave their home and her sisters, and go to live in Duchess Iphigenia’s residence, filled her with dread.
“What about Jack? Don’t you consider him and Ariadne a couple?”
Electra shrugged. “I don’t even know what to say about those two. They puzzle me the most. I think Ariadne is in love with him, though I may be wrong. Still, I can’t call them a couple, because Jack”—Electra looked at her cousin—“he’s always so serious, and seldom shows emotions... Did you know that your cousin broke his heart?”
Eric looked at her in bewilderment. “My cousin? Nora? Nora broke his heart?”
Electra nodded. “It was years ago. They were only children. I know he adored her, and I remember she was fond of him too, but then she refused to see him or talk to him, and poor Jack was left heartbroken.”
“Tell me more about that,” Eric said, astonished. “I can’t believe Nora and Jack were—”
“Sweethearts. In love as much as children can be. He had built a treehouse for her, and they spent a lot of time there. Remind me to show you that house one of these days.”
“Oh, I surely will. Unbelievable. She never ever told me that. I wonder what happened.”
“The ban happened. Folks on the East Bank, obeying the Council's ban, ceased any communication with us.”
“I see now why Uncle Albert is always so gloomy when he comes back from the McCormacks—they probably chide him because of me. I wonder how this whole story is going to end.”
“I wonder that too,” she said thoughtfully.
“And what about those two?” Eric pointed to Medea and Hector.
Electra gave out a short laugh. “No way they are a couple.”
“Why not? They look nice together.”
“Maybe. But Hector is our brother. We love him as much as we love Jack. He can never be a sweetheart for us. I’m sure of it.”
“You might be sure about yourself, but don’t speak for Medea.”
“I am more confident about Medea than about me. She has never been interested in anyone. Medea, she’s different, unlike any girl I have ever met, unlike anyone. She is… just different.”
The sun began to set. Eric left the oars and settled himself at Electra’s feet, admiring the beauty of the tawny sunset. The lake, surrounded by Mysterious Forest on one side, and by the snowy mountains on the other, reflected the emerald sky afire with the last rays of the withdrawing sun. When the sunlight disappeared from the horizon, the skies darkened, and the water, copying the cotton clouds above, resembled a grey mirror with an undistinguishable reflection. Electra noticed a sudden radiance under the water, and bent over, trying to see what blazed inside the lake, but whatever it was, the glow was already gone. Eric bent with her, then turned to Electra and looked into her eyes that seemed to have sheltered the vanished sunshine. He had never seen anything more beautiful. As he reached out to her lips, the necklace with a pendant around her neck unclasped and plopped into the lake. Electra clapped her hand over her breast and looked despairingly into the water.
“My medallion!”
Eric shoved his hand into the water, but the lake was too deep. He would have to jump into the water to find the necklace, and he was about to do that when Electra stopped him.
“Don’t.”
“I’ll get it back.”
“It’s starting to rain; you can’t jump into the water while under the rain.”
She was right; fine drops were already hitting the surface of the lake, and the fellows were drawing their boats to the shore.
“Hey, sweethearts,” Hector cried out. “Noticed the rain?”
Eric waved his hand and rowed the boat to the shore.
Next morning, when passing by the lake, Electra noticed familiar sneakers on the grass. After a few more steps she saw Eric in the water up to his waist, feeling the bottom with a long stick and looking for the pendant. Electra perched on a low cliff by the shore, but Eric was so absorbed in his searches he didn’t notice her until she spoke.
“Be careful, mermaids might take you away.”
He looked around and spotted Electra on the cliff. “What about the mermaids?”
“This lake is not called Mermaid’s Pond for nothing. Don’t stay long in the water, or they might drag you away.”
At other times Eric might have considered her words a joke, but he remembered well the winter day and the freezing water. Electra giggled when he looked anxiously around. “Don’t worry; they don’t swim so close to the shore.”
“Yes they do.” He trudged to the cliff through the water. “Sorry, sunshine, but I can’t find it. Maybe one of the mermaids has taken it away?”
“I highly doubt it.” Electra giggled again.
Coming near, Eric leaned his wet hands on the rock where she was sitting.
“Get out of the water, you look pale. You may get sick, if you’re not already.”
“Would that upset you?”
“Of course it would! Come, get out and take a walk with me.”
Eric cupped her cheek with his wet fingers, then pushed a red lock behind her ear. “Do you know that you’re the most beautiful girl in the world?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Get out of the water,” she repeated, taking his hand.
“On one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Kiss me,” he said, stroking her cheek. “Otherwise, I’ll stay in the water.”
Electra bit her lips to kill her giggle.
“Then I’ll catch a cold. Get sick. Die.”
She laughed.
“I thought you’d be upset.” Eric pouted.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you die.”
“You’re doing that already. The more you wait, the colder I get.”
“Instead of all this talking, you could have just asked me.”
“Kiss me, please!” As Eric stretched up, Electra leaned down to his lips, but a sudden rain poured so heavily that she squealed and shrank back.
“Get out of the water, hurry!”
Eric swiftly pulled himself out of the water, and they hurried to the shore where he had left his sneakers. He snatched them from the ground, and without putting them on, grabbed Electra’s hand and looked for a sanctuary from the heavy raindrops. The castle ruins were nearby, and there, under one of the half-destroyed arches, they found a cover to hide from the downpour. Eric let Electra go deeper inside the arch while he, still barefoot and with his wet jeans rolled up to his knees, stood at the entrance and gazed at the grey sky.
“This may take a while,” he said, leaning his hands against the columns of the arch.
Electra looked at the sky from behind his shoulder. “I don’t like this rain,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Eric looked back at her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” He dropped his head back and kissed her on the lips, and while they were kissing, a vibrant rainbow bloomed above the ruins and crossed the sky from one edge to the other.