Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
I furrowed my brow. “Why is that?”
“Because it is the same wood that is featured so prominently in Ivy House.”
“Whoa,” Nessa said, stopping dead.
Sebastian handed off the computer to her before drifting closer to us. “Come again?”
Austin glanced back at him before pointing out the two different colors and types of wood that had been seamlessly fitted together within the sculpture.
“The archways and fireplaces, the coffered and beam ceilings—this sculpture would match them. It would complement the rooms where different types of wood are used.”
“Are you sure about this?” Sebastian asked, looking hard at the sculpture.
“Yes. I’ve always noticed the craftsmanship in Ivy House. This reflects the best the house has to offer.”
Sebastian stopped on one of Austin’s sides, Nessa on the other, both of them looking at him with wide eyes.
“And this doesn’t trouble you?” Sebastian asked.
Austin glanced over before returning his gaze to the sculpture. “It impresses me, actually.”
“How would they know about the wood used in Ivy House?” I asked, more alarmed by that than the items that had worried the others.
“I’ve come across a few pictures of Ivy House’s interior in my research,” Sebastian said. “But I did extensive research. They weren’t easy to find.”
“We’ve had gargoyles in that house.” Austin tore his eyes away and took a step back, his gaze finding mine. “The ones who didn’t make it on your team either flew home or stayed in town. None of them are expressly loyal to you. Not if an influential cairn comes asking questions, that is.”
“They all have eyes and ears in town,” Sebastian whispered. “I wondered if someone would exploit that obvious advantage.”
“They might not have,” Austin said. “We have no way of knowing.” He paused for a moment. “The cairn could’ve tracked down some of those that returned home. I can’t imagine it would take long for news to travel.”
“If we have time, we should try to track that down.” Nessa opened the laptop and stepped up to Sebastian so he’d hold it again.
“Our to-do list is already really long,” he told her. “Let’s hit the important things first and circle back to this.”
“We’re dealing with gargoyles, at least. They can’t possibly be cleverer and more devious than mages. They don’t steal, they raid. They present themselves in plain view and offer their opponents the advantage of preparing. I don’t think we’ll have to work nearly as hard as we’re used to.”
Austin grabbed my hand and tugged me in the direction of the others. “Just make sure you don’t break any of their societal rules,” he told them. “Don’t insult them or cause Jess to lose their respect.”
“In the words of the great puca…” Nessa straightened up and lifted her chin in mock importance. “Do I look like an amateur?”
We found the others gathered around a stone statue of a naked man with a stone leaf covering his private parts.
“Wasted opportunity,” I murmured.
“Amen, sister,” Nessa replied.
The statue didn’t have nearly enough detail in the face, lacked nipples, and had abs that were strangely off-center. It stood on a rough stone base that didn’t jibe well with the dull gray stone used for the rest of it. Its height barely topped Austin’s, and the body didn’t at all measure up.
“Not…great,” Jasper said, crossing his arms and circling the statue. “It gets worse the longer you look at it.”
“This is a middle-status cairn that is very proud of their production cairn.” Patty’s face creased in confusion, and she squinted into the trees.
I had a moment of alarm, thinking it might be a gnome. Cluing in to my surroundings, though, I quickly realized she must be reacting to Dave, who’d gotten very close to us, his companions in tow. He was clearly having a little fun with Patty.
“They work stone, obviously,” Patty went on. “I’d always heard that…” She frowned, now staring at a small branch that was gently waving despite the lack of wind.
Jasper grinned and looked away to hide his expression.
“What’s up, Mom?” Ulric asked into the silence, his expression patient but his eyes glittering with humor.
Patty lightly shook her head and pulled her focus back to the statue. “Nothing. Where was I…”
“You’d always heard…something,” he helped.
“Ah yes. Yes, I’d always heard they were quite good with stone, actually. If they could just get a better group of guardians, their cairn would easily elevate in status. This statue doesn’t support those rumors, though.”
The branch wiggled again. Patty snapped her head that way. After staring for a moment, her brow furrowed, she wet her finger and held it up, probably checking for a breeze.
When she felt nothing, she swept the ground with her gaze, probably looking for gnomes, and then shrugged.
“Okay,” she said. “One more and we’re—”
Dave burst out of the trees. His giant arms were held aloft, and his massive jaw exposed large, jagged teeth. He roared, all his hair puffing out to make a nine-foot-high and robust creature look that much bigger.