The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

28 - Letter From a Drunkard

Dominic looked around the castle hall in astonishment. The whole place looked as if it had been abandoned only hours before. He half expected the true inhabitants to leap out of the shadows, laughing as if they were playing a party game. That might have come as a relief.

Lorcan sat with his feet up on the table that dominated the room, a contented smile on his face. "Good, isn't it?" he asked.

"It's... something," said Dominic. "How did this happen? This place has been abandoned for years, decades... there was a big fire. How can it be like this, in its own world?"

"Magic," said Lorcan with a shrug. "Or possibly science."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "There's a castle in its own bubble of existence, because of science?"

"Possibly," replied his brother. "I don't know. I might go to a university and see what they have to say about it."

"They probably wouldn't believe you," said Dominic.

The younger boy shrugged again. "Their loss. Besides, I don't want a load of scholars snooping around the place. It might just have to stay a mystery."

"You hate mysteries," said Dominic.

Lorcan nodded. "True. Very true. I could have a problem there." He thought for a moment, before his face lit up. "Forget that, come and see the garden!"

"The garden?" The older boy twisted his face a little.

"Yes. Garden. The flowers glow!"

Dominic rolled his eyes. "Why doesn't that surprise me? Do they sing and dance too?"

"No," said Lorcan, shaking his head slowly. "Why would they do that?"

"Magic," suggested Dominic. "Or science. Or I ate a bad mushroom by mistake and none of this is real."

"It's real," said Lorcan, cheerfully patting him on the shoulder. "Come on then, follow me."

XXXXX

He was surprised how familiar the place seemed, after all those years. The layout, the wall decorations, the candles and lamps that never burned out, all carved into his memory. Lorcan pointed out various changes and improvements that had been made, mistaken in his belief that Dominic was in any way interested in the castle itself.

Just as the Priest's patience began to wear out, Lorcan knocked on a door, and a female voice responded from the room beyond. Dominic followed his brother into the room, and saw a young woman sat by the fireplace, a book resting on her lap and her eyes wide with surprise.

The surprise turned to dismay as she stood up the book clattering to the floor. "Sweet Divines, sil Vaddrin. You've kidnapped a Priest?"

"No," said Lorcan. "I mean, he's clearly a Priest, but I haven't kidnapped him. This is my brother, Dominic. He wanted to meet you. Dominic, I present the Princess Arianna. Alive and well, as you can see."

"Your Grace," he said, bowing his head. "I trust you are in good health."

"Thank you, Father," she replied, her tone calm and polite. "My health... seems to be excellent."

Lorcan had moved next to her, draping his arm around her waist. Dominic noted that the Princess didn't flinch or try to pull away, as he might have expected. Her expression was neutral, but her body language didn't show any discomfort or awkwardness. Her hair was loose, hanging down to her waist, but clean and brushed, and her face seemed radiant in the light from the lamps and fire of the room.