This story does not revolve around the life of my family, and so I will not reiterate the events of my trip to Olivington except to say that Papa had taken me to Engleton to see my stepmother who was visiting her sister and was delighted by my visit. The two weeks spent with my family were blissful ones and as the day of departure grew nearer, their attentiveness to my every desire grew so strong, I often found myself fleeing to the garden, my place of refuge. When at last my stay had reached its end, I was put on a train to Gordorf with as many as a hundred kisses from Papa, bundles of thoughtful gifts from his wife, and a letter for my aunt who'd be waiting to receive me. The train, having given a final whistle, chugged forward and I waved goodbye to my father until I could see him no more, then, pleasantly tired, leant back to sleep off a few of the eight hours' ride ahead.

Aunt Winnie met me as promised with her two sturdy fawn coloured ponies, excellent specimens for the many errands she managed to do each day. Aunt Winnie was a busy woman, whether at home or about town and was well known throughout Gordorf for her charitable deeds. She was a determined little woman with waist long hair, twinkling eyes, a rosy complexion, and a happy manner that was always remembered by everyone she met.

When she had embraced me for the third time, I was hustled into the wagon with my luggage in tow and we bumped along the busy streets of Canopy Square, one of upper Gordorf's bustling places of business. This was mainly where the townsfolk traded  or sold produce and goods made from their homes whereas Portman's Bells, which was near the docks, was where Gordorfians collected their imported goods from far off places like Laquer and Hartuga to name a few.

We left the square behind and rode along the handsome street of Billshmoth where we passed a little shop with toys displayed in the windows, a bakery, a jewel store, and a few storefronts displaying men and women's apparel. My aunt made quite a few stops collecting and delivering goods before guiding the ponies onto Lagged Lane, a smooth dirt road that became impassable after a heavy rain. It was also a shortcut between lower Gordorf and her home.

My aunt cheerfully discussed the little that happened in my absence which was interesting enough, for she told it as though it had happened in some far off place and not at all here in Gordorf.

"Jeff didn't like the idea of me runnin' all the way out in the lower parts with that cough an' made me bed down nice an' warm an' wouldn't hear any of my protests."  She chuckled lightly. "But I did enjoy having him fuss over me like a hen over one of her chicks!"

I smiled at the mention of my uncle Jeff who, like my aunt, was an easily lovable person. I secretly enjoyed watching the two of them during my visits; they laughed together like children and were wonderful hosts and storytellers.

I nodded to the gentlemen that raised their hats as we passed.

"A girl from beyond the mountains has gone to stay at Bedlaam. Have you seen anything of her yet?"

Aunt Winnie slackened her hold on the reins with a chuckle.

"Haven't seen anything but there's certainly enough talk of her to reach the Hars!"

I found myself telling of the quiet girl and the things said between Marge and the others. When I finished, she said with a concerned frown:

"Well, Lia, if they were so keen on not even greeting the child, she may be worse off than you think. From what you tell me, I imagine she's quite alone in the world, and so is bound to be spoken ill of… and girls can be particularly cruel."

She fell silent, obviously in thought. Then she gave a little start and turned to me, her eyes twinkling:

"You'll be good to her, won't you, love? Oh, of course I knew you would! And when she's at ease you'll invite her straight this way for a visit.... "

As we climbed higher uphill, I caught a glimpse of the low wall on the opposite lane, and battled with the desire to set out for Bedlaam myself. Aunt Winnie laughed suddenly and it was only then I realised she'd stopped her idle chatter to watch me. Her eyes held more than their usual gleam.

"You gaze as though expectin' the lad to appear out of thin air."

I stared at her in surprise then quickly refocused on the road ahead, hoping my hat hid the colour that undoubtedly rushed to my cheeks.

Eres was a nuisance, that's for sure, but there were times where he proved to be delightful company, and I was much fonder of him than I liked to admit. He was also the first friend I made when I came to Gordorf, not to mention the only male companion I had besides my uncle.

My aunt manoeuvred the horses near the wall to let me off. Having taken my basket and a few small parcels in the pockets of my skirt, I kissed her hastily on the cheek saying I'd send word if I wasn't back in time for tea. I expertly slipped through the opening in the vine-covered wall and was disappearing into the thicket when Aunt Winnie called out:

"Be sure to give my love to Eres if you two should cross paths, dear."

I secretly hoped we didn't.

                         
~

Carriage wheel tracks deeply imprinted the rich brown earth and here and there were hazardous depressions of rock and soil near the outside lanes while trees and brush arched high overhead. I pictured myself falling into every ditch I passed and snapping my neck in two, a terrible way to go, I imagine. I tried channelling my thoughts elsewhere until I became mildly aware of something—another presence, and I remembered the story of Betty Purgon, a girl who, long before my time, disappeared on that very road....

Something snapped in the brush ahead and I froze in my tracks, fear having placed his cold fingertips on my heart. I strained my ears. Nothing. Doing my best to recollect my nerves, I went on hoping I looked braver than I felt but hadn't gone ten steps when a hooded figure sprang from the bushes. I jumped back stifling a scream.

“You wicked little toad! How could you?!"

My heart was still pounding my chest like a pair of angry fists when a head full of tousled golden locks and laughing brown eyes emerged from the deep blue hood which had looked black only moments before. I groaned inwardly trying to control my shaking. How did I not see this coming?

"The look on your face! Oh, by Gordorf's blood that was too much!" He slapped his knee. "You scare way too easily, Lia Gargoyle!"

I scowled at him. I hated the name Gargoyle; it didn't do justice for a face as well bred as mine. But as I've said: Eres Dacklefoy was, is, and might always be a nuisance. It irked me to know he saved his ridiculous antics for me, after all, I've never seen him attempt to scare Miss Caddish whose company he's been known to keep every Saturday. It irked me to remember this and I scowled even more. He seemed oblivious to my expression and went on laughing and prancing around like a drunken elephant.

"You frightened me out of my wits, Eres and took such pleasure in it–I could've fallen into that very ditch or had a seizure. Next time you might not be so lucky to have me recover, and let's see if you'll be laughing then!"

I rearranged the contents of my basket, checked my pockets and, finding everything in place, turned up my nose as I passed him. Honestly, I had expected to find him more civil and less teasing after a whole two weeks absence but clearly my leaving had had no effect on his constitution. I focused on calming my nerves and only got five breaths in when his footfalls fell in step with my own.

"How was your trip?" he said pleasantly, ready to put aside the silliness that occurred earlier.

"Hope you had a good time, though I imagine you'd have a good bit of fun wherever you went." He fell quiet for a minute.

"My days weren't too bad, I suppose– I shot a couple of squirrels this week. There was a pretty red one there too. I think you'd have been impressed." He paused, then said thoughtfully, "There was a fine chestnut one with a bit of gold... same as your hair."

I looked at my feet praying I hadn't blushed. The few gold strands of my hair were hardly visible to the average person but Eres always had an eye for detail even the smallest ones.

He cleared his throat.

"There have been a few changes down here, Lia, some of which might surprise you. Want to take a guess or two?"

"That you've finally decided to grow up?" I said testily. He laughed outright.

"Nah , where would be the fun in that?" He brushed me playfully on the arm, "Besides, you'd miss me if I changed my ways."

"Don't flatter yourself," I said dryly.

"You gonna make a guess or not ?" 

I shrugged causing him to sigh.

"Well if you're not gonna guess I might as well tell you something," he paused, lending some drama to his words.  "Ivanhallow took sick and has gone off to the coast to stay with her sister-in-law. "

I gave him my most annoyed expression; there he goes again trying my patience and I was so cross with him that his gorgeous brown eyes and handsome face looked rather stupid then.

"It's true, Lia, upon my word! Bedlaam is in an uproar and Ms. Cotts has appointed herself headmistress."

"No!" I threw my hands over my mouth.

Here was something I'd always dreaded: something terrible happening to Mrs. Ivanhallow and someone having to fill her place. I had hoped that if she fell ill or died, the latter seeming the more likely, my aunt Winnie would be called upon to take charge of Bedlaam since she and Ivanhallow shared an unusually close friendship although nearly a century separated the two... But Ms. Cotts of all people! This sudden turn of events was truly unwelcome news.

"You're serious, then?"

"I know better than to joke around about some sick old lady, especially if that old lady is Ivanhallow." He kicked a stone in his path. "She used to take care of my mum, you know."

I did know, and could never forget how Mrs.Ivanhallow had gone to the Dacklefoys when Eres' mother caught pneumonia one bone chilling winter. My aunt Winnie had been there too to look after Eres and his baby brother and the two women did their duties well, nursing Mrs. Dacklefoy back to good health and keeping the two troublesome lads out of mischief.

Ivanhallow had taken ill the day after my departure and had gone through fits of hysteria. Doctor Bibbs had been sent for and immediately decided that her sister-in-law should come at once. It was believed that a change of scene and the fresh sea breezes would clear her feeble brain of its cobwebs. Strange no one should have written to me, I thought.

"You should also know that there are strange things happening down here, Lia."

"What do you mean?"

He looked about him then said, lowering his voice, "Someone's been letting themselves into the shops and houses. People are scared."

"Theft!"

He shook his head.

"That's just it, nothing's been stolen. Someone is going about at night unbolting shutters and doors for no good reason and the strangest thing about it all is that this fellow doesn't seem very interested in the things behind these locked doors. Take Mr. Jiggs' place: he has everything a lad could want but that no good fellow just left the door swinging! Didn't even take a fine bottle of brandy or that sling I'd been eyeing for Pete—why, if that were me, I'd have cleaned the place and leave old Jiggs bawling for being so darn expensive!"

It was true that Mr. Jiggs was an unreasonable man who never gave on credit, not even to Eres who happened to have an excellent credit history in Gordorf. I had wandered into his shop once while my uncle was talking to some old friends and he was willing to let me have whatever I wanted. There was something about him I just couldn't bring myself to trust and when he said 'A pretty girl ought to have whatever her tiny little heart desires,' with a slur and what I later learned to be a tint of desire in his eyes, I fled straight outside into the arms of my uncle who was headed in my direction.

I never  wandered into Mr. Jiggs' shop again.

"Folks are starting to think that mystery mountain dame has something to do with the oddities happening around here," he went on. "Thinks a spirit may have followed her here—if she isn't one herself."

I stared at him.

"You mean the one who's only just arrived at Bedlaam?"

He nodded.

"Yup, that's the one. The lads say that the girls say she wanders about a lot and often talks to herself. Spends a good deal of time alone too."

"That's absolutely ridiculous! What about your aunt Ruth? She used to carry conversations with herself and wander about Gordorf and no one thought her a spirit."

It wouldn't have been polite to say mad though it was what I was thinking.

"Simply because no one said it doesn't mean they didn't think it." There was an edge to his tone. "Besides, Aunt Ruth didn't come from the mountains."

"Gordorf's grief, " I said under my breath.

The people of lower Gordorf were a superstitious lot. In these parts, bad things did not just happen. Something or someone was always responsible for them, whether it be witches, wizards, or spirits sometimes called lost souls; there was always some supernatural deity behind any and every ill.

When Jesse Rowe's son fell into the well, people said he had not fallen at all but was pushed in by his sister, Jesse's first born who had died near that very well. She'd done it out of spite, so went the rumours, believing it unfair for herself to have died and the boy live and wished him to join her in death. When the story reached the young mother's ears she wouldn't have it. The following morning she and her boy were gone. No one knows of their whereabouts to this day.

"Well?" said Eres, "What do you think of all this?"

"Rumours," I said tartly. "That's all it is and I think nothing more." I turned to him. "Have you seen her?"

"Can't say that I have and I don't think I'll be very keen on it. There's only one girl for me."

Miss Caddish, I thought dismally. She was a pretty, plump creature with the sweetest disposition and it was quite likely that Eres Dacklefoy would be taken to her. I shuddered.

"Are you cold, Lia?" I shook my head not daring to look into those knowing eyes. I quickened my pace but he grabbed my hand.

"Easy, easy," he said when I turned to face him. "Here, look. I got you something." Reaching into his satchel, he withdrew a soft blue scarf.

"Eres, this is absolutely lovely! And–my goodness, it's embroidered silk!"

He beamed, obviously pleased with himself.

"Why, my stepmother says I'm too young to have silk!"

"If she should argue about your wearing that scarf, " he said with a smirk, "then let me know. I'll send you a silk dress."

I put it around my neck.

"Is this an apology for earlier?"

Eres watched me steadily for a moment, tilting his head to one side. There was something in his eyes that frightened, yet excited me at the same time. Lately, I've had to remind myself he wasn't a boy anymore and there was a reason he seldom shared his thoughts with me.

He gave me a soft smile.

"If it makes you feel any better you can call it that. Although I don't see why I'd need to apologise. But," he added when I glared at him, "it was meant to be a welcome home present and I did frighten you, so an apology would probably suit. Will you accept it?"

I thought for a minute then nodded.

"Well, I suppose I shall." I pointed a finger at him. "But if you should try that again I'll not go easy on you Mr. Dacklefoy. Believe me, I won't!"

He put up his hands.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be out of your way for a while. Pete and I will be delivering some shipments to the coast and'll be gone for a week or two."

"When do you go?"

"In three days. Mum'll be alright without us she says but I'd appreciate it if you stopped by to see her when you can. She's fond of you."

I smiled. I thought Mrs. Dacklefoy was perhaps too fond of me, but Aunt Winnie suggested it's because she hadn't any girl of her own. I later developed a tolerance for her.

We reached a bend where the roads intersected.

"I best get going, Aunt Winnie's expecting me for tea, but first, to Bedlaam!”

He gave an exaggerated bow.

"Then this is where I must bid you adieu, my fair maiden and will see you when I've returned. And, Lia?"

I turned back.

"Beware of the spirit walkers."

I laughed, a little too lightheartedly. "Farewell, Eres. And give my love to Pete."

With a wave, I hurried off, anxious to see Bedlaam, but more importantly, the strange girl now living beneath its roof.