The Second Life of Magnolia Mae

by Angela Schroeder

  “Time to look for the reason.” She grinned at him. “I think if you pay some attention to her, it wouldn’t be unwanted.”

  Jaceson stared at her.

  The rest of the dance passed in silence as Magnolia hoped she had hinted enough for him to ask Railynn to dance.

  “Thank you for the dance, m’lady.” Jaceson’s eyes twinkled at her.

  “Go ask her before the next dance starts.”

  Magnolia walked toward a quiet corner where she found Alistair engaged in morra. The next hour-and-a-half was passed watching chess, with the occasional glimpse toward the dance floor. Jaceson and Railynn had danced several reels together. The room started to empty out as the night drew on. Soon, there was only a handful of people left and they were watching the chess match.

  Magnolia excused herself to retire for the night. Dragoste was soon at her side; during the dance, he had been curled up by the fire, being adored by children. Once in her room, she let down her hair and sighed. It had started to give her a headache about an hour before. She slipped out of the hot dress then pulled on a nightgown. Dragoste jumped onto the bed, appearing to be ready to sleep. Magnolia brushed out her hair then went to bed, fatigued from the day’s exciting activities.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THE FIRE DANCED, FLAMES jumping hungrily into the air, licking at the logs beneath. Faint music was in the background. Was that “White Christmas” she heard? She turned away from the fire to see her brother sitting there with his stocking on his lap. The candy was flowing out of it, spilling over onto his pants and the floor.

  “Merry Christmas, M&M.”

  Her voice quaked from holding back the tears that threatened to fall. “Merry Christmas, Jace.” She scooted forward, wanting to be closer to him. He had been the one constant in her life. “Everything is different now.”

  “I know, but you’re not alone.”

  “Sometimes it feels that way. I need you. I want Bash.”

  Jace’s golden eyes looked at her with a heavy sadness. “We are there. We have been with you every single day. Not leaving you when you’ve been sick, even there tonight while you danced.”

  “What?” Her eyebrows knitted together as she thought about his words.

  “I told you before. We won’t leave you. You’re stuck with us, dear sister.” He reached out to tug on a strand of hair. “Open your eyes, open your heart, and you’ll understand. You’ll find us once you can do that. There are many changes coming soon, things that will test you. Remember all that you learned here. Remember what you learned of Alistair when he lost Daciana the first time. Use that information. It may help you. If all else fails, appeal to the king. He cares for his son, but history has shown that he loves power. Having Avengar there will benefit him more than not. Remind him of this. Remember…”

  Jace’s image started to drift into darkness as everything around her faded.

  “…I love you, M&M.”

  The dim light from the dying fire was all that illuminated the room as her eyes flicked open. She could feel Dragoste’s warm body next to her own. Carefully, so not to wake the wolf, she slipped out of the bed to stoke the fire. It roared to life, casting shadows across the room.

  With a blanket around her shoulders, she went to sit on the window seat. The moon was full, bright, and beautiful. It hung high over the dark sea. A glittering reflection of it and the stars made the sea look alive. As the tide moved, so did the stars and moon that were on it.

  She thought of the dream that had just awoken her. Jace had told her she needed to remember. Facts from the history books and the journals jumped into her mind, waiting for her to grasp hold of them. Alistair had given up his throne to his brother. That had to be Jaceson, since he had no other siblings. The ring had not been found on Daciana’s body. Gordon must have taken it to the person who’d paid him to kill her, perhaps as a trophy or as proof that she was dead. Magnolia didn’t have that ring now. If Alistair would need proof that the person who had ordered this was who he thought it was, then the ring could come in handy. She also knew that Nonna had been the one to foretell of Daciana one day returning to save her people from being run off the land that they had finally claimed as home. Nonna could be her truest of allies here. She stayed up for hours, thinking of all that she had learned in the little bit of time before she’d come back to this place, playing the stories her father had told her over and over in her head.

  By the time she crawled back into bed then laid her head back down on her pillow, she was exhausted. Her mind kept popping facts out at her. It seemed that the urge to remember had triggered something in her mind. Something that had decided now was the time to flood her with all information that she may have suppressed. A jumble of emotions filled her — anxious, excited, happy, scared — she was not sure what was ahead, but hopefully it would all be for the best.

  Alistair watched as the woman he loved worked alongside everyone else, cleaning up from the Christmas festivities. She had invited everyone to come share in the bounty of leftovers that evening. The more he watched her the more he loved her. There was something about her that he wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed before. In the time that he’d known her, there had always been a determination to do right by her people. But now he saw a fierceness in her eyes that wasn’t there before. Perhaps it was because of what had happened to her on All Hollow’s Eve. Whatever the reason, he enjoyed watching the fire hidden just beneath her emerald green eyes. Her attention turned to him after the rooms were all set right, cleaned to her satisfaction.

  “It looks like it will snow soon. Would you care to go for a stroll before it does?”

  “I’d rather go for a ride.” She smiled up at him.

  “Get your cloak. I’ll meet you outside” He watched as she hurried away.

  Walking out to the stables, he found himself thinking of what it would be like once they truly had peace here. He had not told her that he worried that there would be another attempt on her life. Certain that if he told anyone that it was his mother who’d paid Gordon, it would start a war that Avengar would not win. The people here were loyal, but they were few. The country was made up of about twenty families. In time, it would grow just the same as it had dwindled. Now that they had a home, a shelter. They’d be able to provide for themselves. No longer would they be persecuted as witches by those who simply did not want them in their countries. Here they would grow. They would flourish. He had to ensure that they didn’t lose the chance to do that.

  The ride didn’t last very long, just a quick ride down by the snow-covered shore. The cold wind had an even more bitter bite to it coming off the water than it had up at the castle. Soon, he insisted they turn around.

  “Do you think the men you sent with the letter to your father will be alright in this upcoming storm?” Her eyes grew dark with concern.

  “I do. I sent Duncan, and he, in turn, picked a friend to go with him. They grew up passing back and forth through these mountains to hunt on this land in the winter. It’s nothing new to them. If they need to find shelter, they will know where to find it. With it being just the two of them, they’ll also travel much more quickly through the mountains than we had on our way here.”

  “That was about two weeks’ journey, wasn’t it? It was slower because of the wagons and families.”

  Hope lit in his stomach as she mentioned this. It may not seem much, but it was one of the rare times she’d spoken of events that had taken place before Gordon. Nobody was there to remind her of what had happened. Perhaps she’d only remembered what they had told her before. He felt the hope begin to die, then she continued.

  “It seemed cold then, with it raining so often. It must be even colder now.” A grin spread across his face. He knew that nobody had spoken to her of the near-endless rain on that journey.

  When they reached the stables, she helped to care for the horses before going back into the castle. Perhaps soon she would remember all of it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


  THE SNOWSTORM HIT WITH a vengeance. Visibility was almost none. When the blizzard hit, people went inside and stayed there. Magnolia spent her days helping with the daily chores, since some of those who worked in the castle were stuck with friends until the storm let up. While washing bed linens, she started to sing a song that her mother had often sung to her as a child.

  “That is an interesting song.” Nonna’s voice interrupted her.

  “My mother used to sing it to me,” she replied without thinking.

  “Really?” Nonna raised an eyebrow. “Curious that your mother would sing a song about lost love and an untimely end, especially when it is about you, my dear one.”

  “What makes you think…” A blush crept up her face, burning her. She didn’t know what to do, what to say.

  “Dear one, I have known. I’m sure this is all confusing to you. I knew that this would happen. When you were brought back on All Hollow’s Eve, I saw the marks about your neck, the confusion that you had, not knowing where you were. It all pointed toward my vision having come to pass. You left of us for a moment on that night, during that storm, but you found your way back. I’m very thankful that you did. Our people would have been lost without you. Alistair would have been lost without you. Dear one, I would have mourned you every moment for the rest of my life.”

  “You know?” Magnolia asked, astonished.

  “I know that you are not the same as you were before that night. I also know that the reason Gordon believes he killed you is because when he left you lying there, you were not here. Something happened to bring you back. I am not going to question how or why. I am simply thankful that it’s true.” Nonna’s eyes sparkled at her. “I would watch what you sing though.”

  “Nonna, I am starting to remember things.”

  “Given time, you will. The longer you are here with us the more you’ll remember.”

  Magnolia wrapped her arms around the old woman. A weight had been lifted off her, and she felt less alone. Nonna would always understand if she ever felt out of place here. That was good to know. She laid a kiss on top of the grandmotherly woman’s head then turned back to the wash.

  When the storm finally let up, Alistair checked on each family. While every person was safe, Gwain was upset when he told them of his lost dog.

  “It’ll be back soon.”

  “Do you really think so?” Gwain looked up at him with big eyes. He could tell the young boy was hurting.

  “They’re resourceful creatures. He loved you, so I am sure he’ll find his way home as soon as he can.” He remembered what it was like to lose a pet at that age. Knowing that the boy would be a bit downhearted, Alistair asked him if he would like to start helping in the stables after his training.

  “Yes! I have to talk to my mother about it. I don’t think she will say no though, since I would be with you,” Gwain excitedly replied. He followed Alistair around while they went about checking the supply of firewood and food at each home.

  He knew that in the castle the women were going through their own lists of things that should be sent to certain houses. Jaceson was organizing a hunting party to go out for some fresh meat. They had some cattle, and the plan was to bring more from Marcello in the spring. Eventually, they would have enough cattle to not only feed the people here but perhaps to sell or trade.

  Alistair sent the boy on to the castle with the list of supplies and the families who would need them, while he went about taking firewood to the homes of widows, who did not have anyone to do it for them.

  He wondered how Duncan had managed through the storm. Did he get to shelter in time? Maybe where he was, the storm was not as strong. He hoped that was the case. Duncan had always been someone that he could count on. He would hate to lose such a friend because he’d sent him on an errand in winter.

  As evening approached, Alistair returned to the castle exhausted from the day’s work but knowing tomorrow would bring more. A few homes were in need of slight repair that could probably wait until spring, but he didn’t want anything to worsen in the next storm.

  After a wash, he went down to eat with everyone else in the dining hall. There he found his love, and he longed to be able to hold her. Alistair joined her at the table.

  The room was quiet as they all ate. The day had been a tiring one. In Marcello, things like this had been done by others. He now understood why they’d been tired and had gone to bed early. Avengar needed a king who would work beside them in the fields, not someone who would sit in a castle and tell everyone else what to do. Avengar had grown accustomed to its leaders being right there with them, treating them like family, something that his Daciana had taught him. Her actions reinforced it every single day. With the long hours she had worked in order to ensure that everyone received something special for Christmas, she had modeled that doing something for others, even if it did not seem like much at the time, meant more than buying them things like his parents would have done — if they would have given anything to the people at all. Both he and Jaceson would cherish the quivers they had received. Jaceson had already put his to use when he’d gone out hunting earlier.

  “Are you alright?” Her voice broke into his thoughts.

  “Huh? Oh, yes. Just a little tired is all.” He offered her a smile.

  “Do you want to skip the library tonight?” They had been gathering in the library every night for an hour before bed. She would read aloud to him while they sat before the fire, something he hoped they would continue for many years to come.

  “No, I want to hear more about this Crusoe.”

  The night before she’d started a story about a man named Robison Crusoe, which he found quite intriguing.

  “Good, I like spending time with you in the library.” She slipped her hand into his as the two of them walked toward the library. He enjoyed listening to her read and could think of no better way to end the night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  MAGNOLIA ENJOYED THE FOLLOWING few days. Already they were a few weeks into the new year. She was aware that Alistair was growing impatient to hear back from his father. There was nothing that any of them could do about that. They would have to wait until he replied. In the meantime, she was trying to get information out of him as to who it was who had sent Gordon after her on that rainy night. He had refused to tell her, insisting that it did not matter because he would take care of it himself. Now they were in the great hall with a few others after a long day, working to make sure everyone would be all right during the storm coming their way. Tired and agitated, she tried again.

  “It need not concern you. I will handle it,” he responded yet again.

  Rage filled her, making her blood boil. Her hands balled up into fists. Green eyes glared at him, refusing to look away. “No concern of mine? I don’t need you to protect me.” Her voice grew stronger, louder with each word. “I can and will protect myself. You will not always be there. Were you there on that night? Were you? I need to know. I. Need. To. Know.”

  “Do you think I don’t know that?” he yelled at her.

  She refused to back down, though she wanted to.

  “Do you think it doesn’t haunt me that you were out there with him? I’ve had to watch you walk around for months still affected by that night. What could I have done? What do you want me to do?” He yelled the last words so loudly that they echoed off the walls of the large room.

  Everyone was staring at the two of them. As he’d inched closer and closer to her while talking, Jaceson had started walking toward the both of them. Alistair was so close to her now that she could feel his breath on her skin.

  With her head held high, she squared her shoulders. “I want you to tell me the truth.” She made certain that her tone was low and steady. It had probably not been wise to raise her voice to begin with, and she refused to make that mistake again. A yelling match would not do anyone any good at the moment. “I need you to tell me the truth. How can I be expected to protect my people when you will not allow me to protec
t myself? Would you allow a soldier to go into war not knowing who it is they are up against? Why then do you think it is alright to keep me in the dark?” Her green eyes locked on his steely gaze. In the corner of her vision, she could see that Jaceson stood within reach of her.

  Alistair let out a long low sigh. His shoulders relaxed. She had not noticed that his hands had been in tight fists until the moment he relaxed them. She wondered if he had a history of a temper. Was that why Jaceson had crossed the room? Before she could think on it further, she heard a whisper come from Alistair.

  “My mother.”

  She cut her eyes to Jaceson then back to Alistair. Not certain she’d heard correctly, she wanted to question him, but Jaceson quickly spoke up.

  “Why don’t we head up to the library? We can get some refreshment and have a nice talk.”

  Magnolia glanced at him and nodded. “I’ll get some tea.” She went to the kitchen to prepare a pot and, while there, she filled a platter with some pastries that had been made that morning.

  Obviously, the brothers needed a few minutes alone so Alistair could collect himself.

  In the library she set the tray down on a table. After pouring some tea for the three of them, she took up her cup and walked over to the window seat. It was a bit chillier over there, but she wanted desperately to look out on the world. Dragoste had followed her into the room. He had spent much of the day outside running through the snow, but he liked to stay close to her at night. She pulled her knees up to her chest. Sipping the hot tea, she looked up at the crescent moon. It matched her birthmark. Longing to be outside, to be free of this life where she had to fight to live, she gazed out to the mountains in the distance. They were nothing more than black shadows in a slightly lighter dark landscape.

  For a fleeting moment, Alistair looked defeated. The expression quickly disappeared, leaving in its wake a pensive, controlled look. “I do not know her reasons. I cannot simply accuse her of this out in the open. Once we’re married, there will be nothing that she can do.”