The beautiful oak-lined library was a remarkable space. It was the only room in this part of the house that looked like it was cleaned every day and pristinely kept. A first-floor gallery ran along one side of the gigantic room, adorned by an intricately crafted, church-like ceiling. Two large leather armchairs were placed on opposite sides of a small round mahogany reading table, and the gleaming walnut floor was covered with plush Persian rugs. Along one wall, two immense bay windows, both hosting a cushion-covered window seat, overlooked the vast manicured gardens of Redstone Manor.
Perfect for reading.
As I walked farther into the massive library, my eyes were drawn to the wall at the very end of the room, and I was immediately mesmerized. The entire wall at the far end was swallowed up by a huge tapestry, which dominated the whole space. It was a delicate and elaborate weave, depicting a lush but dark forest surrounding a crystal-clear lake, with a medieval castle glistening in the distance.
This was definitely my favorite room in the house.
I turned back to the bookshelves. Redstone Manor had an excellent collection. I was at a loss as to where to start. The walls of the enormous room were packed from top to bottom with shelves, filled with a seemingly countless array of books. Some were newly bought and some looked as though they must have come with the house many centuries ago. This seemed like a dream come true.
Just as I found the complete Chronicles of Narnia, I heard someone at the door. I don’t know what came over me, but I panicked and dove behind one of the large leather armchairs.
My heartbeat quickened as I peered out from behind my hiding place, feeling immensely stupid.
I tensed. It was Uncle Christopher. What was he doing down here at this time of night? Looking for a book seemed like the only reasonable explanation.
I was about to come out from behind the chair and announce myself when I realized that he wasn’t going toward the books, but toward the tapestry.
What was he up to?
Christopher stopped abruptly in front of the tapestry and stared at it. I stayed where I was because I had no idea what he was doing and I didn’t want to startle him. I looked over at the door of the library. It was shut, and there was no way I could leave the room without Uncle Christopher noticing.
So I crouched and waited.
My uncle was definitely acting very oddly. That became eminently clear when he held out his arms, palms facing outward, and touched the tapestry.
I felt a breeze whisk through the room. I turned to the windows, but they were shut. A rustling noise startled me, and I looked back at my uncle. My mouth fell open as I stared mutely at the scene unfolding in front of my eyes.
The tapestry on the wall shimmered like moonlight on water, while the rustling noise and the breeze came from inside it. I spotted the bushes in the tapestry moving slightly, and sudden, strange ripples started forming in the fabric, expanding from the middle, like when you throw a pebble in a pond. A chill scuttled down my spine as I watched a big, booted leg and an arm come through the tapestry. Slowly, finally, a whole body emerged.
I had to clap my hand over my mouth to prevent myself from gasping aloud. A big, rough-looking man in a fur-lined black cloak, with a patch over one eye and a massive sword that swung at his rather large waist, stepped out of the tapestry and into the library of Redstone Manor.
Everything happened so quickly, I couldn’t even think. I knew I should say something and excuse myself, but then my uncle might think I was spying on him. In fact, I was much too fascinated to do anything more than crouch behind the large leather armchair and see what happened next.
Finally the stranger spoke, his voice a deep rumble. “Christopher, do you have the girl?” Numerous scars crisscrossed his thickly bearded face.
For a moment I wondered what had happened to him to disfigure him so. But then my thoughts whirled quickly back to the main questions clamoring in my head. How on earth did he appear out of the tapestry? What was on the other side? Who was this man? And what girl were they talking about?
Christopher bowed slightly to the black-cloaked man. “Yes, Lord Oblek.”
Oblek leveled a hard look at my uncle, his one good eye widening in expectation. “Is she here, in the house?”
“Yes, I have brought her to Redstone Manor as you requested.” Christopher quickly stepped back. “Are you sure she’s the right one?”
Why did he look so nervous? I couldn’t understand who or what they were talking about, but I started to get a really bad feeling that I wasn’t going to like it.
“Yes, of course I’m sure.” Oblek’s condescending tone was harsh. “Would I have wasted years of my life searching for her, only to find the wrong girl?”
My uncle shook his head and dabbed his perspiring head with a purple handkerchief. “Why are you so interested in Aurora, anyway?’
My blood ran cold as fear coiled inside me. They were talking about me. What did this horrific man want with me? This made no sense.
Oblek shot him a dark glare. “I have my reasons.” He clasped his hands together. “Finally I will deliver the girl to the queen, and she will reward me beyond all imagination.”
“Yes, yes, you can do what you like with her,” Christopher said impatiently, “but not before you pay me my fee. It has become quite considerable now, seeing as I will have to answer many questions about her when she’s gone.”
Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. Gone? Where was I going?
Oblek’s eyes narrowed. “You’ll get your money. But only after I have the girl in my possession. When is the earliest you can get her to me?”
“Arianna will bring her down
