DARKHAVEN | "Three Sisters" Book One

Chapter Twenty-Six

Blodwyn

"To the left...no...my left..." Ms. Magda stood in the Great Hall with her hands on her hips. "No, no, now you've overcorrected..."

Above, a frizzy haired scullion heaved a sigh of frustration. Back and forth he adjusted the banner, back and forth again.

Blodwyn approached Ms. Magda from behind. "What's happening here?" she asked, and though she hadn't intended to frighten Ms. Magda, the little maid jumped all the same.

"Oh, Miss Blodwyn," said the maid, steadying herself on Blodwyn with one wrinkled hand. "Sorry, miss, you frightened me is all. We're getting the banners ready."

Blodwyn looked up at the banners. "So the other hosts will be arriving soon?"

"In two days' time, miss, according to the scouts." Ms. Magda wiped her hands on her apron, turned to the scullion, and commanded, "A few inches higher! It's lower than the others!" She faced Blodwyn again. "There's so much to do, it'll be a rush to get it all done. But we'll get it done, don't you worry."

The witch smiled. "I'm not worried about them." She studied the banner with narrowed eyes. "A black wolf on a field of white?" Blodwyn looked at Ms. Magda. "Whose banner is that?"

Ms. Magda adjusted her spectacles. "The Sinclairs, miss."

"The Sinclairs. A black wolf on a white field."

"Yes, miss. Are you familiar with the Sinclairs?"

I've seen this before, Blodwyn thought, looking up at the black wolf. She stored that information away for later. "No," she answered, mostly honestly. Then she stepped back and looked at the other banners.

She recognised only one of them: a white tree and a white crown on a field of blue. "That one," she said, pointing. "I've seen that one before."

"No surprise," said Ms. Magda. "The standard of House Acarvell, headed by Lord Alaric Acarvell. Some of the finest warriors in the known realm, it's often said." The maid seemed to fidget with her hands nervously at the thought.

"They're bringing in warriors and warlocks alike, then."

"Yes, miss, you're correct."

That bit of information didn't sit well with Blodwyn. It was one thing to call in reinforcements for magic, but if they were calling in warriors and soldiers...They're preparing for a full-fledged war.

Blodwyn cleared her throat. "Very well, then. Thank you, Ms. Magda." With that, she turned and strode away. 

x

She found her sisters sitting in their usual spot on the garden terrace. They were both reading and sunning (Roslin more reading, Gia more sunning), wearing as little as they could get away with to soak up all the sun had to offer. When Blodwyn opened the doors, Gia and Roslin both looked up from their books.

Gia draped her hair over one shoulder. "Come to join us at last, sister?" 

They'd been commanded to rest. 'A royal decree,' Lucien had called it, and though the sisters would never admit it, they were grateful for the respite. Soon, the moon would be full again, and they would swim beneath its light, but in the meantime, basking in the gardens would suffice.

Blodwyn walked over and sat on the blanket in front of the other two. "They're getting ready for the other hosts."

Roslin's book snapped shut. Her eyes went wide with interest. "Are they really?"

Blodwyn nodded. "They're hanging the banners now. Looks like they're rolling out the welcome wagon big time."

Roslin picked at her skirt with a subtle disinterest, but the youngest sister knew the middle sister well enough to know this disinterest was feigned. "It'll be a matter of days, then."