“It’s a breeding cave for some of the smaller creatures for the area. Mostly a pip will use it for night time faeries. But for the most part, it’s used by some bats as well as a few snakes. It’s not safe to walk around other animals when they’re breeding.” Grandda nodded and said it was good to know. “You could take them to the stash too if you’d like. I’m sure you might even find a few things of Mom’s there you’d like to keep. By the way, have you been able to go through the stuff Mom left you in the fireplace?”
“We did. Lots of small paintings of you and her were there. We’ll treasure those—also a lot of gold. I don’t know what we’d do with it right now, but it’ll be nice to know we can fall back on it. The kids, they have anything from the cave?” Duncan told him they didn’t, just the few things that had been given to them by the birds. “I’ll see what we can look for then. I know Miley has that set of armor. That was nice to let her have it.”
“It was. She’s got a lot of things in her room that Mercy has given her too. If you wanted to take her too, she’s been there. She might be able to help Abe and Tracy find something they want.” Grandda thought that was a grand idea. “Great. Just let someone know when you’re going, so we know when to start to worry.”
“You’ll worry, anyway. But in the morning I want to walk up there. I’m needing to get out more, and we’ll have us a lunch there too. Spend the day going through the caves.” Duncan reminded him how much colder it would be in the mountains. “Yes. I thought of that too. I’m glad you reminded me. Not a picnic, but perhaps some cookies and hot cocoa. I’ve not had any of that for years. Yes, I’ll get on that.”
Grandda was still talking to himself as he moved toward the kitchen. Duncan shook his head, thinking how much he loved having the two of them here. And Abe seemed to be coming out of his shell too. Duncan reached for Judith. He wanted her to know that Hanna was out and about so she’d not be startled if she saw her. She knew, thankfully, and didn’t seem to be upset.
It was on the news. The six of us were talking about it. I don’t think they’re going to find her. He didn’t ask. Duncan was sure he already knew the answer to why she’d not be found. I’m tired of dicking with her. If Abe finds out she’s around, he’s going to hide away for the rest of his life. I want him to feel safe, no matter what.
I agree with you. Duncan told her what Grandda and the others were doing tomorrow.
That’ll be great for all of them. To get out of the house for a little while. Maybe we can work around that. I’m not sure how you feel about us—
You do what you do best, Judith. I don’t want her around any more than you do. And the simple fact that she was able to escape makes me think she’ll do it again until she hurts one of us. Judith told him she believed that as well. Good. I’ll not make any plans for tomorrow then. You want me to join you six?
I think it would work better if you were to go with the others to the cave. We can handle one little human. Especially since she’s got to be hurting about now. He said he could do that. While you’re there, see if you can find a painting that was in the main part of the castle. Mary said it’s a painting of the sea beyond the castle walls that shows several ships out to sea. I’m not sure what else I can tell you about it, as I’ve never seen it.
I think I know the one she’s talking about. The ships are ours. Mom sent them out for foodstuffs, and when they returned, there was a great deal of celebration. Judith said she and the others were going to try and find the king’s ship that went down. Really? You think it’s still there?
I don’t know why not. Mercy knows where it is. She’s the one that put it down anyway. She said that with the king traveling, there might well be enough treasure on it to open a showing of it all. I’m thinking she just wants to make sure the fucker is dead. I’d think he was, but you know Mercy. He did and laughed with Judith. Also, there was some jewelry on the ship. He was coming here to marry your mother, so he would have brought riches to the area to try and sway her. Not that it would have worked. But I’m betting we can find it.
That sounds like it would be a lot of fun. Especially if we can find some of the nicer things to put in a museum, as you said. Duncan didn’t think there was any other reason they’d be looking for a centuries old ship that had gone down when large stones were dropped atop it. Is that why you left here to go there? I had no idea you were even gone.
I came here to talk to Mercy. She’s getting incredibly nervous about having a baby. None of us have ever had children before. She was freaking out a little, thinking that Joel would be upset if it was born like a bird. I think he’s just thrilled to death to be getting laid on a regular basis, but that could be just me thinking outside the box. He laughed again, sitting down at his desk to work while she was gone. I do have a question for you. When did you think we should
