My hand touched the unusual design and I picked it up, examining the faintly noticeable golden thread.
“That’s a pregnancy preventative,” Frid blurted out.
“What?” I dropped the item back on the table.
“I don’t know what she thinks is going on in this house, but she doesn’t want any of us to get pregnant.” Frid resumed pacing.
“How does it work?” I glanced at the chains with curiosity.
“You strap it around your waist while you... anyway, it’s infused with magic. Victor saw it. What will he think? That I asked her to bring it? That I’m planning to... it’s absolutely embarrassing!” Frid groaned plopping onto the bed.
“Why did she bring it?” I asked.
Frid made some unintelligible noise and covered her face with a pillow.
“I’m sure he doesn’t think that. Besides, since when you are so concerned with what Victor thinks?”
“True. I don’t care what he thinks.” Frid sat up straight.
“You don’t have to wear it. Let's leave them here. Grace will never know,” I reasoned.
Ten minutes later we left the room agreeing not to speak of it ever again.
I was surprised to see that Victor changed into a darkgray matching suit, his usually messy light hair was combed back.
“What happened to you?” Frid tilted her head to the side.
“Do you like it?”
“You look... nice,” her voice sounded unexpectedly soft.
After that, all three of us stepped out of the house into the soft gentle colors of the setting sun. I glanced toward the city, noticing numerous lanterns lit further in the valley. Now more than any other time, Darragh resembled a fairy land with its misty, windy roads and the fields blurring in the dim light, tiny cottages scattered here and there and the stars clearly visible up above.
The castle stood overbearing and monumental in the distance. As we got closer, my eyes took in the unfinished, disorganized exterior of the structure ahead, once again trying to envision Tynan’s life within these walls. Suddenly, I realized that even if he often appeared cold and unapproachable, he still did not seem to fit in a place like this.
Behind his often uninviting exterior, Tynan was warm and full of life. Scorching hot flames burned underneath his skin, even if he did everything to hide it.
“I wonder if Gabrielle is here?” Frid asked and my thoughts took another turn.
Victor gave me a quick glance and shrugged his shoulders.
Inside, the palace was decorated with garlands of wildflowers, and multiple chandeliers brightened the rooms without being powerful enough to overwhelm us. In thelight of the candles, the long, rough cut, wooden tables were adorned with an assortment of refreshments sitting in exquisitely made crystal vessels. Local musicians played numerous string instruments, filling the space around us with tender and melancholic melodies.
As soon as we entered the spacious hall, Grace approached us on unsteady feet, appearing slightly under the influence. Her cheeks looked unnaturally pink and contrasted with her cream-colored lace dress. Two rows of pearls decorated her neck, and long gloves almost reached her elbows.
“I’m glad you could come. This place can be cheerful sometimes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen too often. But, you two know that quite well,” she added, glancing at Frid and Victor.
“Why are you helping us?” Frid blurted out unexpectedly.
Even if I did not know the history behind all of it, I could not help thinking that we did not want to upset the only person who seemed nice to us here. Concerned, I watched Grace’s face as she stretched her lips into a thin smile.
“Hello to you, too. I helped you because Tynan is my grandchild, and despite everything, he is still my blood,” the old woman said.
“Where is he?” Victor asked, evidently relieved to change the subject.
“I believe you can find him by the fireplace, catching up with his ex fiance,” Grace moved her elegant head toward the back wall.
My eyes found the figure wearing dark leather, then my mouth went desert dry when I saw an elfin-looking girl standing beside him. Gabrielle was really pretty with curly brown hair and beautiful, sad eyes. Her hand was comfortably resting on Tynan’s arm as she was saying something to him. Her lips were curling up, while Tynan looked impassively grave, and deep in thought. He did not seem to know that we were here, oblivious to everything around him.
