Beyond the Gates of Evermoore

“Where is it?” she asked.

He looked at her sternly, then down at where she grasped him. There was a strange warmth there, an electricity that somehow existed in their touch. Melody took her hand away. He began sanding again.

“The egg you’re talking about to belongs to Lady Neveux,” he said.

“You’ve seen her with it?”

“Yes.”

“And where would that be?”

“In the manor,” Lucus shrugged. “She takes it out often. To admire it. And to—”

All at once the blacksmith stopped speaking. He was staring at her now. Staring at her chest.

“W—Where did you get that?”

Melody looked down, following his gaze. Dangling from her neck was the Heart of Isolomara. It must’ve slipped from beneath the collar of her dress when she first knelt down.

“A friend gave it to me,” she told him.

“A friend?”

“Yes.”

Lucus looked skeptical. He eyes were still fixed on the glimmering pendant. It was like he was mesmerized by it.

“Do… do you think it’s pretty?” Melody asked, confused.

He stood up suddenly, placing one hand on either side of her arms. His grip was strong and firm. Melody had no choice but to rise with him.

“Listen to me,” he said urgently, his voice going low. “That guy, the one you came here with?”

“I didn’t come here with him.”

“But I saw you…”

“He wasn’t with me,” Melody explained. “He’s… well, he’s sort of a colleague. But he’s not—”

He shushed her by putting a finger over her mouth. Melody stopped talking.

“Hear me out,” Lucus said. “That man. The one who saved you from the dogs, who went with you into the house?”

Melody stared back at him, her throat going dry.

“Don’t trust him.”

13

The walk back to the house seemed longer somehow, possibly because she had so much to think about.

Eric?

It didn’t exactly make sense. He was a member of the Order, and therefore one of her brethren. He’d saved her life, possibly even twice, and was dedicated to the same goal she was.

Why the hell wouldn’t I trust Eric?

Still, Lucus had been firm. Insistent. She’d tried to get him to explain himself, but the smith had gone right back to doing his work.