Chapter 2
The Greenweald never changed. It was like a smothering, yet somehow comforting presence, always there on the edge of your thoughts, no matter where you went in the world. Jocasta had sworn that she’d never return, yet here she was, walking among the giant trees.
She passed into the Whispering Pines compound with no challenge, only a lot of what the Folk here were known for. Whispering. People stared at her as she strode to the main tree, their hands held in front of their mouths, muttering to one another.
They knew who she was, even though she’d been gone for years.
Her long legs took her to the door of the main tree. Unlike the Folk here, she didn’t wear the traditional shades of green that denoted her House. Her sturdy pants were black, and the loose shirt she wore was of sky blue, or perhaps the color of the waves. The heels of her black boots made a ringing sound on the wooden steps leading up to the door, and the unscabbarded, curved sword at her hip shone brightly in the sunlight. Long, dark hair was held back with a simple tie, and from one ear dangled a chain of emblems, all of silver and gold.
For many, Jocasta would seem to fit in better with House Towering Oaks than with Whispering Pines. She was muscular and moved with the grace of one who had seen more than her share of battles, although now, her gait also had a strange roll to it, as if she were unaccustomed to walking on solid land.
She cast around once more before raising a ringed fist and pounding on the door. That was a courtesy she would extend this one time, and this one time only. From here on, this door would open for her whenever she approached.
The servant who answered it now stared at her in shock, then stepped back, opening the door fully and bowing. “Lady Jocasta,” he stammered. “What an unexpected honor…”
“Stow it,” Jocasta growled. “Where are they meeting?”
“The first-floor conference room, my Lady.”
Jocasta raised an eyebrow at this.
“Due to the…ah…advanced wisdom of some of the attendees,” the servant said.
She nodded and started to stride away. Then, she turned back.
“What is your name?” she asked.
“Mine? I’m Darius, my Lady.” The servant seemed surprised that she asked but covered it quickly.
“Darius. I’ll remember that.”
His quick recovery and tact impressed her. While she had no use for those things herself, she recognized the need for them in a place like this.
She walked on to the conference room, not bothering at even a pretense of stealth.
The double doors were closed when she approached, so she grabbed them and shoved. They slammed into the walls behind with a thundering boom, making the inhabitants of the room jump in alarm.
Jocasta smiled at them as she walked in. Without hesitation she strode to the head of the table, to the seat that the Head of House would occupy. For now, it was left empty while those in the room debated who should fill it, and whatever other nonsense they were discussing.
She pushed the chair back with her foot and sat down. She gazed around at the lined, stunned faces at the table.
“Well, now that that’s settled, let’s get on with it.”
There was silence for a moment, then every tongue at the table started to wag at once. Some were talking to her, some shouting, while others talked to each other. She let it go on for a moment, reminded of the noise of gulls fighting over a scrap of bread left on the deck.
“Enough!” she yelled when she couldn’t take it anymore. She banged hard on the table with the flat of her hand, her rings making a cracking sound.
Silence fell again, and eleven sets of eyes watched her cautiously.
She stared back, waiting for the first of them to be brave enough to speak.
“Lady Jocasta,” one finally did. She recognized him as Lord Jerome, a singularly heavy-set individual, short for one of the Folk, and obviously fond of rich food. “We weren’t aware that you had returned.”
“And why doesn’t that surprise me?” she answered. Good. This was exactly the right way to start. “It seems there’s a lot of things that House Whispering Pines doesn’t know these days.”
Lord Jerome’s eyebrows drew down in a vee shape. “I’m not entirely sure what…”
“Of course, you’re not. If it’s not on a plate in front of you, you don’t pay any attention to it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you still didn’t know what happened, Jerome.”
He sputtered as he searched for an answer, and an angry murmur went up around the table. Jocasta let it simmer for a moment, then held her hand up.
“Your pardon, my lords. That was rude of me. I’m afraid I’ve spent too much time among those with fewer…manners…than we have. But my point remains. House Whispering Pines was taken unaware recently by several things. By the Soul Gaunts, by Jamshir’s treachery, and the return of Solomon to Towering Oaks. This, for the House that has made its reputation on its store of knowledge. Am I wrong?”
All faces but one turned to the table, not looking at her or each other. That one still gazing at her, with amusement in his old eyes, was Lord Childress. Jocasta looked back at him and felt the smile form on her face. This one wasn’t surprised, not to see her here now anyway. Then again, the surprise would have been hers if he had been.
“Welcome home, Lady Jocasta,” he said, his voice still firm despite his obvious age. “But if I may ask, why now?”
“Because my cousin is gone, so someone needs to take over the House.”
“Cousin?” This from one of the
