July 19, 1859

A Chapter by Havatara

July 19, 1859

Of course I sent someone. What else did you expect? I do not think they shall bother you again, but tell me as soon as they do.

I understand what you are saying about the canoes. If he wanted to move to a place where he can be on water a lot of the time they should have moved farther north. And why can he not pity you? That might be a good thing, especially if you need to move somewhere else. Oh, hush. You would want to move there, wouldn’t you? I certainly would. I mean, they are relatively rich, aren’t they? Jamie’s grandfather was a businessman, and Jamie’s father inherited it all, seeing as he was an only child. His grandmother didn’t want it, which I do not understand.

Shall I continue with the story? I believe I shall.

When I left off, Julia and Thomas were galloping away into the night to places unknown, at least to Julia, correct? Well, it took them through a forest and partway up a mountain. They got there right before dawn, so of course Julia had fallen asleep numerous times.

Thomas had to wake her when they got there, and the first thing out of her mouth was, ‘Where are we? Where have you taken me?’

‘Someplace safe,’ was all that he replied before he lifted her off of her horse and carried her inside. On the mountain was a fortress, hidden inside the mountains. Very deep inside, where no light could get through. Definitely not the people looking for Thomas and his friends.

Julia was very tired, so she didn’t argue with him at all. In fact, she slept for about fourteen hours before she finally had sense enough to track him down and demand some answers.

As though a hurricane was coming through, Julia tracked down Thomas like there was no tomorrow. However, she never got to ask him her questions.

When she found him, Thomas was in his room, a bottle of brandy next to him, almost empty. There was no light in the room except for a small candle that was just about gone. Cautiously she walked up to him. And she found that he was crying.

‘I’m so sorry, Julia. I’m so very, terribly sorry,’ he said quietly when he realized that she was there.

‘Why do you have to apologize? I wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for you,’ she told him patiently, wrapping her arms around him.

He sighed. ‘I might as well tell you what I’ve dragged you into.’

She laughed and replied, ‘I don’t care, as long as you still promise that eventually we’ll find my uncle.’

‘I’m just afraid that you will be mad with me when I tell you what is going on,’ he whispered.

‘I won’t be angry,’ Julia promised.

He sighed and told her, ‘There is a group of people on the mainland who want to find the secrets of the old, the magic. We have already found some. Just simple spells and such. However, there is more out there, power that we can only imagine. My friends and I are part of a group who is trying to stop them, trying to keep the secrets, well, a secret.

‘Your uncle, actually, was part of this group. He knew these simple spells, and we think that this group on the mainland has taken him, for he was a great ally to us. I am sorry. All of your problems have stemmed from me, basically.’

Julia was shocked. After a while, however, she chuckled. ‘Did you really think I would get mad at you because of that? Really, Thomas, you know nothing of me.’

Shall I stop there? I believe I shall.

Tell me. What dastardly deeds have the MacJohns done this time?

Sincerely, Safiya

prev chapter