Jay didn't figure there was any point spending the rest of the day at the palace. Or the barn, where Caroline had banished him. After all, he wasn't supposed to be in the palace, had never been invited there, and he wasn't needed again until nightfall— assuming King Cherdith would demand Lake take another go at the spinning wheel. They always did. In a day or so they would have access to the treasury rooms or other nice things.

Not that Jay hadn't already sample some of their nice things. At dawn he strolled back into Wheat Hill with a sack full of candlesticks and silver plates stolen from the kitchen. It hadn't been hard at all to take them; maybe one day he should just attempt to find the treasury room on his own.

Nah. He shook that thought away. Walking through walls was not the most pleasant task in the world, no matter what non-magical folk thought. It hurt like hell and took way too much energy. It was bad enough when he was forced to walk through one to get to Lake's dungeon of the night. And he never tried to find her, either. Ask a guard or a servant or someone, or maybe just give an ear to the gossip, and it was plenty easy to learn where that special girl was spinning the gold.

Tevor Fisher was already up, fishing pole over his shoulder and feet pointed toward the stream that ran near the mill. The village sat squarely behind him, looking on fire with the rising sun. He put a hand over his eyes as Jay pranced up the road. "Jaybird Miller! Back from the King so early?"

Jay flashed him a grin and a wave. The stolen objects were well hidden. "Yes. It was a pleasant time. The King is a good soul." Maybe. Jay hadn't exactly gotten around to meeting the man. But people liked to hear that their mysterious king was of the decent type. If they cared. Jay had to wonder if these people actually cared about the king. Few people gave royalty a second thought.

Tevor nodded in acceptance. "They sent you off pretty early, didn't they?"

Sunrise was an odd time to return. Jay shrugged. "Well, I wanted to get an early start on today. Maybe run the mill until Papa gets back." He could do that easily enough. He had been training to be a miller long before the family had turned to a life of crime.

"Oh?" Tevor raised an eyebrow. "Your father is staying? Your sister as well?"

The old man was actually fishing for gossip. These people were desperate for anything to yammer over. "Yes. His Royal Majesty has invited them to remain a few more days."

Tevor chuckled and shook his head. "And you weren't?"

"I wasn't even invited in the first place."

"Can't blame you tagging along anyway, lad. I would have done the same thing at your age. If you have half an opportunity to visit a royal palace, you take it for all that it's worth."

Well, being the one that snuck in and made the fairy gold didn't exactly introduce one to the royal family. Jay had yet to meet a king yet. Now he would have to make up yet another story about how wonderful and gracious and pathetically royal King Cherdith was. He had done it before, many a time. It was fun, especially when he added stories to it. "The king has a trained pig for his court jester."

This time Tevor really did show his amazement. "No fooling?"

Jay finally made it to the spot where Tevor stood. "Yep, that's the truth. Dances on its hind legs, sings songs, and everything."

Tevor scratched the back of his neck, eyes still wide. "Now that would be something spectacular to see."

"Oh, it was. So, did anything interesting happen while I was watching the trained pig?"

Tevor paused for thought. "Nothing much. Rina Wood's boy Timber has it in his mind to hunt down a vampire and demand the damned creature turn him into a vampire. Then he plans to marry your sister Lake and breed an entire vampire army."

Jay laughed. Perhaps he should have killed the kid with that cart. "I don't think Lake would be up to that."

Tevor laughed as well. "Just keep in mind that they'll be taking the country over in a few years. Oh, and Adam and Linda will be the first blood-giving victims."

"Poor them."

"And Old Robert, out of his mind, is going to stop the army single-handedly. He's taking the vampire business pretty seriously."

"Really."

As if on cue, a sound rang from somewhere in the village: beaten pots and a scream of "We will not surrender!"

Jay coughed.

Tevor shook his head and sighed. "Sometimes I think I should just pack up and leave this place."

"Or pack up Robert."

They both had a good laugh out of that, though Jay was groaning on the inside. "Well, Tevor, I better be going."

"As should I. By the way, does the king's pig juggle, perchance?"

Oh, boy. "As a matter of fact, it does."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Amazing. Well, take care of yourself and quit making up stories about trained pigs." Tevor swung the pole over his other shoulder and trotted down the road to the stream.

Jay remained there a moment, wondering if Robert would give out another interesting cry, but there was nothing. He stared out into the wheat fields, thinking about really nothing. He didn't feel anything. The fairy folk did not venture so close to mortals; he sensed his mother better in the woods.

"Look, it's Jay!"

He turned. Oh, no. The morning rush of girls out to do whatever chores they could manage around him. He blew them a kiss that left them giggling as girls were prone to do and then sped off for the cottage.

"He's so shy!" one called. Willow, he thought her name was. Or something like that. He never bothered to learn their names until he was cornered by them. They had better not be following him.

But all it took was one quick glance over his shoulder for a more-than-decent confirmation. Did they really find this so amusing?

The mill was just ahead. He sprang over a rock, half-tripped on a log, and shoved himself against the door. It was locked. He placed his hand on the lock and shoved again. The door flew open. He dashed inside and slammed it shut.

The giggle could still be heard. "We know you're in there!"

They were right. He was in there, but they couldn't get in. At least the curtains Lake had made were drawn shut. He pulled off the sack and dumped out. Trinkets indeed, but not bad trinkets. Trinkets were worth something.

If they were so wealthy, how come they always found themselves living in holes like this? Jay laughed to himself as he examined a candlestick. Thieving was just too much fun.

"Watcha got there?"

That little voice came out of nowhere. Jay dropped the candlestick and looked up. The candlestick hit the floor with a tinkle of something broken inside and rolled into the corner.

Two bright eyes stared down from the rafters like little glowing candles.

He sighed. "Timber, get down from there." He wondered how the brat got up there in the first place.

"All right!" The eyes moved as two short legs in tattered pants swung down almost into Jay's eyes. The rest of Timber Wood's body appeared, minus his hands that clung to the last to the rafters. "I can't get the rest of the way down."

The kid had five feet to go. "Just drop."

Timber landed on the floor, fine, and resumed talking. "So what was that thing you were looking at?"

Wasn't this a grand situation? Jay hadn't ever expected to be caught by a child.

Timber scampered over the floor to where the candlestick lay. "Ooh! It's shiny!" He rattled it. "And it makes noise!"

"Isn't it great?" Jay replied dryly, quickly shoving the rest of the items into the sack.

Too late. Timber saw. He darted back over and grabbed the sack from Jay's hand. "Where did you get this stuff?"

Jay briefly wondered if it wouldn't hurt to just go ahead and tell the boy the truth. Timber would either refuse to believe it or accept it as a really wild story. And then he could go blab it to the rest of the village. "It's mine."

Timber didn't look impressed. "You own a candlestick? I thought girls owned stuff like that."

"It's Lake's, then."

Timber tossed it aside. "The plates are nice, though. My Mama would like them."

Hmm. Maybe Rina would like a few silver plates. Jay piled everything back into the sack and tossed the whole lot onto the table. "So how in the world did you get in here?"

Timber shrugged and sat down on the floor to pick at the scab on his leg. Jay understood the preoccupation with scabs. "You people never lock your back door."

Jay blinked. This was new. "What back door?"

"The one in the pantry," he replied as the obvious. "You can't see it very well from the outside, the vines are in the way."

Jay never went into the pantry. Thanks be to all that was good. If the village girls found out about that... "Why do you know this?"

"I'm a child. It's our job to know these things."

Jay laughed. "You have a point there. So I hear you're going to become a vampire."

Timber shook his head. "Nah. That was yesterday. I think I got Old Robert too excited over it. Besides, vampires aren't real. But murderers are."

Jay stared. "What? Murderers?"

"Yes. Murderers." He yanked off a hunk of scab and tossed it onto the floor. "There's one staying in our barn."

All right, this was getting weird. "Timber, why is there a murderer in your barn?"

"He was traveling through yesterday, and he got tired and Mama said he could sleep in the barn." A small dot of blood rose from where the scab used to be. He went again for the hard stuff, dirty nails and all.

"And how do you know he's a murderer?"

Timber rolled his eyes. "Because he looks like one."

What exactly was a murderer supposed to look like?

"Besides," the boy continued. "He stopped in Wheat Hill. No one ever stops in Wheat Hill unless they're moving here to live or want to hide out here so they can run to the palace the next day and murder someone and run back and no one would ever suspect them because they were staying in Wheat Hill and not the capital city."

"Sounds like perfect knowledge." Jay laughed. "And where do you learn all of this?"

Timber shrugged and continued picking at the scab.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lake wasn't exactly thrilled to death over the prospect of breakfast. She was hungry of course, but the peasant girl enthralled by palace life simply didn't care. Besides, what would it end up as? Judging by the overall wealth status of the palace and the fare served the night before in a bedroom of all things she hadn't anticipated much more than some bread and jam served on a platter back in the room with those wonderful fluffy pillows. Which, honestly, would have been fine for her. Yes, she could see that image in her head right then, herself perched on a stack of fluffy and velvety pillows munching on a thick slice of crusty bread loaded with fruit jam. No, wait. She wasn't a big fan of jam. Scratch that. But the pillows would have been good. If she could find a good balcony somewhere in the palace and lie maybe a hundred of those pillows beneath it and get a good running jump...

She spotted the perfect balcony on the way from that dinky little dungeon room. Except it was too high. She'd kill herself if she tried to make that jump. Wouldn't Prince Isaac love that?

No suitable balconies appeared on the rest of the walk.

Why was she thinking about jumping off balconies into pillows? Was she really that bored? Pathetic, Lake, she told herself. The stealing thing was getting to be less and less of a rush.

A dark-haired servant girl appeared around the corner ahead of them and immediately dropped the pile of towels she held. Lake suppressed a laugh; it wasn't nice to make fun of the help.

Hyrum raised a thick eyebrow. He looked something like a bear, Lake decided, big, gruff, and brown. Oh, how he'd hate to be called that. Yes, Bear was going to be this guard's name. She wasn't at all sure what to call Peter. Maybe just Peter. Didn't matter, she would be gone before they found out about the nicknames. "Isn't Caroline supposed to be in charge of that?"

They were complaining over chores in front of the King— that definitely earned some points.

The girl bent down and began scooping up the towels. King Cherdith didn't even seem to notice. In fact, Lake realized, the man was standing there humming while waiting for Hyrum the Bear to continue the armed procession. Probably thinking about gold, if she knew the wealthy. "Caroline has the day off, remember?"

Hyrum the Bear sighed. "Like I'm supposed to care when who does what, Andrea."

Wasn't that what he was doing right then?

Andrea didn't look at him, but the faintest hint of a smile bit at the corners of her mouth as she scooped up the towels.

The Bear sighed again and reached down to grab a bunch, which he shoved into her arms. "Sorry we scared you. Just do something with those and run along to tell the cook or whoever is in charge that the miller's daughter--"

"Lake, sir," Lake said, as if without thinking. Of course she added a curtsey. "My name is Lake."

The Bear didn't seem to care. "Lake. Yes. Just tell them that she isn't going to have her head chopped off and to set her and her father places on the king's table."

King Cherdith patted her arm. "Don't listen to him, I never even considered killing you or your father."

Lake beamed. "I appreciate that, Your Majesty."

Andrea grabbed her towels and scampered off while the Bear muttered something under his breath and trudged forward.

It took a long time. Where exactly did they keep the oh so wonderful dining hall? Lake wondered if Hyrum got lost. But they finally arrived, Lake's stomach growling in desperation. The room was simple enough, big and broad as all royalty demanded such things, with a few choice tapestries and a table big enough for the entire country. Four plates glimmered at one end like single coins tossed into an ocean. They rather looked lonely. Lake hung awkwardly at the door.

"Enjoy your meal, Your Majesty, Lake," The Bear said. "I shall take my patrol at the east gates."

"Thank-you, Hyrum," the King said with barely a glance as Hyrum disappeared. Then he clapped his hands and grinned. "Oh, Lake! I am ecstatic about what you did for me— your kingdom— last night! It was absolutely spectacular and I've never seen anything like it. Wherever did you learn it?"

Lake smiled modestly. "Oh, Your Majesty, I'm really not sure. I just... picked it up."

"A fairy gift, more likely. Ah, well. Charming and glorious just the same. Magnificent."

She wondered how many adjectives the man had.

"But I'm delaying things. I've never been very punctual about mealtime, but I'm sure you must be starved after working hard all night long. So sit down and we shall await your good father and perhaps my son will even join us." He scooted her along to the far end of the table where the plates awaited and even assisted her into a chair. She examined the plate carefully. China. Not bad at all.

The King sat down next to her and looked expectantly to the door. Sure enough a tough-looking guard with blonde hair stomped in with her father, who was doing his very best to look stunned by the whole room. Lake decided to call the guard Canary. No particular reason.

"I'm too simple a miller to eat here!" William cried. "I couldn't possibly--"

"Thank-you, Obrin," the King said to The Canary. "My good miller, you are my guest and I insist you eat. Obrin is one of my finest guards," he then whispered to Lake as if it were some grand secret.

She wondered about Peter.

After some coaxing from the Canary William finally allowed himself into the dining hall where he sat, with continuing protests, on the other side of Lake. And the breakfast was delicious. Scrambled eggs, ham, and something Lake had no idea of the origin of but did indeed taste good. One of the best perks of this ruse was the royal food. She was sliding eggs into her mouth when the Prince walked in.

"You're late for our guests, Isaac," King Cherdith said.

Lake looked up and immediately caught Prince Isaac's eye. He grinned at her. He was probably thinking of the murder story he had told her last night. He nodded to his father and gave a gracious bow. Impressive. "You all have my most humblest apologies."

Lake saw the look in his eyes. Whatever.

A servant ran to fetch the Prince something to eat while he made his way to their side of the table. He was better-looking than Lake remembered. Black hair, with just a hint of curl. The face was shaped nice, as well, nice and round and rather cute. The nose had a good shape as well. And he certainly did his physical activity.

She should smack herself. But there was nothing wrong with looking.

Prince Isaac bowed once more to her father. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My father has spoke of you and it's good to meet the man that makes the fine wheat."

Like he could tell the difference.

William made a rather shocked bow for himself. Oh, he was good at this game, himself.

"And your daughter," Isaac stepped around the chair to take her hand. "I've already had the pleasure of meeting you."

Lake noticed the rather gleeful look on the King's face. He was already plotting. Excellent. Just build up the greed a little more and she would have this particular royal family. At least their gold. "Oh, really? Isaac, you didn't tell me this."

"She delayed last night in the hall, Father," Isaac replied as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. What a gentleman. "So I escorted her to her room."

It wouldn't be appropriate at that point to let the King know his son had scared the living daylights out of her.

The door to the kitchen opened, momentarily releasing a strong chord of off-key singing, and the servant reappeared with food for Isaac. She filled his plate and left again, leaving eggs and the other stuff gently steaming two chairs away, on the other side of the King.

"I insist you actually eat breakfast, Isaac," King Cherdith said.

Isaac paused. He was still holding her hand.

Lake flashed a small smile. "It's probably poisoned," she whispered.

He laughed aloud. "Father, I like this one."

"Good. Now eat your food."

Isaac, this time, went to his chair. Lake found herself watching him as he did.

"Did you hear about what she did this last night?" the King asked.

"Did she do her best?" William asked. "I want my daughter to her best, especially for her King."

"Ah." Isaac forked some egg into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "The gold spinner. I heard about that. So, Lady Lake, you succeeded?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Well, I did try. It wasn't so much, of course."

"You actually did that." He reached for more egg, tone somewhat incredulous. "This I have to see."

"Oh, son, you must."

William nodded happily and spread out his hands. "You should see what she can do with even more straw. It's unbelievable. Let me tell you, it's unbelievable. She wasn't risen to the challenge very often, but she can do it."

"Papa!" Lake blushed.

King Cherdith studied some tapestry on the opposite wall, frowning thoughtfully. "Well, Miss Lake, perhaps you wouldn't mind demonstrating your talents again?"

She stuffed another bite of the delicious mystery food into her mouth and chewed rapidly. Appear shy, make an excuse not to talk. They would think it cute.

"So soon, Your Highness?" William asked, the first hint of fear creeping in. "Though at the same time we do have a mill to be getting back to, so the sooner the better, perhaps."

Lake pretended she was considering it. "Well..."

"Oh, she'll have a few nights' rest, of course," the King said with a wave of his hand. "I'm not about to make the poor child overwork herself. If you are sure you must go back to the mill, William, I shall send you with an escort, though you are perfectly welcome to remain my guest a little while longer."

"That sounds like fun!" Lake went as far as to throw her hands in the hair.

"Then so be it," said the King. "Entertain yourself for a few days. Explore the palace at your will, girl. In fact, why doesn't the Prince take you on a tour?"

Isaac almost choked on something. As soon as he had his breath, though, the reply was that he would be happy to.

Lake found herself smiling for real.

The King looked as pleased as anything. She was going to have to call him the Cat. He finished his breakfast at a rapid rate and then suddenly thought of something he wished to show William.

And before she knew it, Lake found herself in the room with Prince Isaac, standing behind their chairs like a couple of village idiots.

"So," Isaac finally said with a grin and raising a hand to widely sweep over the room. "This magnificent dwelling is the dining hall. Where we eat food."

Lake clapped her hands. "I never would have guessed."

"Oh, yes. Unbelievable, isn't it?" He made a show, then, of pointing to the double doors. "And those lead to the hall outside of this room. I bet you didn't see that one coming. They're made of mahogany, if you care. Very expensive."

"And that's the kitchen, isn't it?" Lake pointed to the kitchen door.

Isaac nodded with feinted enthusiasm. "Yes! Guess what they do there?"

Lake raised a finger to her chin. "Is that where they make the food?"

"Yes!" Isaac's arms shot into the air in a pose of utter victory. "You are so smart!"

She shrugged and laughed. "I may not live in the city, but I'm not stupid."

He laughed as well. "I never said you were. Well, let's leave this room, since I think we're comfortable with what it is. I'm sorry to tease like that, I'm sure you really do want a real tour of the palace."

She gave a tiny curtsey. "Actually, Your Highness, I'm finding you very witty."

"Witty. Cute." He led them out of the doors and once again into the hall. "And after you used that language on me last night."

She really had blown her cover then. "Well, you did startle me, Your Highness."

He shook his head, laughing again. "Please, just call me Isaac."

A prince had never given her that privilege before. She broke into a dainty little run as they headed down the hall. "I don't think I could ever do that, Your Highness."

"You are such a faker! I saw you last night, Miss Lake." He stopped and pointed up. "This is the royal ceiling, in case you're interested."

Yes, that was a definite cover blown. Oh, well. The Prince wasn't the one mattering right now. "A ceiling! No one at home will ever believe this!" She decided to test the name. "Prince Isaac."

He looked back at her and smiled. "That's better. Now just drop the Prince title and we'll both be happy. Oh, this room is actually somewhat important." He gestured at a door. "I'm not sure what it's used for, but I do think it's important."

Lake was sure to take notice. "Why do you not like the title of Prince?"

He shrugged. "Oh, it's a fine title for ceremonies and things like that, but really, I think it's easier for most people around here to just say Isaac. The servants and guards use the title, but then again they're paid to. Now, if you don't mind me asking, what sort of name is Lake? Oh, look. A rug. Probably a gift from another king."

She had never been asked that question before. Most people just didn't care one way or the other. "It's... my name. It's just Lake. My mother thought lakes were pretty, so that's what she named me."

Isaac nodded. "Good explanation. I think it's sweet. My mother died giving birth to me, so my father named me Isaac and I really never thought of asking him why."

The man had just announced his mother's death. Awkward. "I'm sorry... Isaac."

"Don't be. It's pretty much just a fact to bring in the story, or lack thereof, of my name."

Very practical-minded for a prince.

"Ooh!" Isaac stopped in front of another door and pulled it open. "Now this one is special. The library."

"A library?" She had seen plenty of those. Kings loved to hoard knowledge almost as much as treasure.

"A library indeed. Step inside, Miss Lake."

She did and saw what she expected to see. Walls upon walls of leather-bound books. She gave a country girl sigh. "It's beautiful." She might have stop by it later again and look at something. She did like to read.

"I know. And it's open to everyone in the palace. A lot of the servants like to come in here when they have spare time. We'll have to spend more time in there, later." And then he slammed the door.

She actually laughed.

"I know." He jiggled the handle, smirking. "I'm not the best at giving tours, am I?"

"You can't ask that of someone like me. I'm just fascinated enough by this palace."

He nodded and continued the walk. "Yes, but you seem so much smarter than that."

Odd statement. How would an innocent village girl reply. She decided to stick with "Thank-you." Simple and to-the-point.

The hall soon widened to a grand clearing in the side of the palace. Through a giant glass window that absorbed almost the entire wall Lake could see the sun still hovering over the mountains. Still early, was it? The pathway spread to the side, where a balcony overlooked minuscule doors beneath the window.

Isaac strode over to the balcony and leaned over. Lake quickly joined him.

Ah, the east gate. The guards were there. Peter, Hyrum the Bear, and another one Lake hadn't had the pleasure of meeting yet.

Peter was talking to the other two. "... and so the poor thing is just lying there, chest heaving like a pumping bellows, blood skirting over this rip in its back, you could see the bones. These children there are just crying out in terror..."

The guard with the red beard looked utterly entranced. Hyrum just stared, frowning. "And what animal was this again?"

"A squirrel," Peter replied. "That what makes it so bad."

"Or silly. I can't believe I'm here listening to you tell me a story about squirrels falling from trees before the eyes of naive children. It's sick."

"Yes, but it makes a good story."

The bearded guard laughed. Lake decided to call him the Badger.

For a long time the Bear said nothing. "Peter, you're an idiot."

Peter just shrugged happily.

Isaac laughed and glanced at Lake. "I love listening to the guards. They're supposed to be so official, but they really are fun. Watch this." From his coat he produced a small brown ball. "Hey, Peter! Catch!" He flung the ball with full force down from the balcony.

"Prince Isaac!" the Badger shouted, fumbling into a bow.

Peter laughed hard and ran forward to catch the ball. "Good throw, Prince!"

"Of course!" said Isaac.

Peter's eyes caught Lake, and he smiled broadly. "Ah! Miss Lake! I heard you were wonderful spinning that gold." He threw his arm back and tossed the ball back up.

The Bear groaned. "You do realize we are standing next to an entire sheet of deadly glass?"

Lake screamed as the ball shot past her and sprang back off the wall.

"Sorry, Miss Lake!" Peter called up. His blonde hair had fallen into his eyes. "The Prince will have me swinging if I killed you, I'm sure."

Lake glared at Isaac. "You had better."

"I shall at least have him scolded."

"Thank-you." She grabbed for the ball and flung it directly at Peter's head.

"Notice the glass," growled the Bear.

"And your point is, Hyrum?" Peter said. The Badger had grabbed the ball.

"My point is that we put the damn ball away before we're all killed."

A few moments later he had become the target. With another growl he caught the ball and shoved it into his pocket.

Everyone but him just laughed.

"He'll give it back later," Isaac said, turning from the balcony. "Thanks, men, but I must give the maiden a tour."

Lake began to follow him, but her eyes returned to the glass window. There, at the bottom, she thought she saw another figure that was not one of the guards. But when she looked again, there was no one, just Peter and the Badger talking and the Bear reading his book.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The milling was more or less done for the day by the time Jay wandered into Rina's tavern. They'd be leaving soon, anyway, so there was little point in overworking himself. Most of the village girls were still at their chores, so he made it to Rina's with relative ease.

The relief didn't last long.

Rina stood at the bar, talking to the lone patron. A pretty, curvy girl with light brown hair that was all too familiar.

"Barn boy!" Caroline said, spinning around. "What a surprise to see you here!"

Jay froze in the doorway.

Rina shook her head and clucked her tongue. "He can get shy, young lady. You had just better remember that. Bluejaybird Miller, get in here immediately and show your manners to this nice young lady!"

He had come to let Rina know her boy was making up stories about murderers. Obediently he trudged over to the bar. Caroline smiled at him the whole time.

"She says she works in the palace," Rina said knowingly. "By the way, when is your father going to get back? He's a handsome man and I'm already missing him come around. And don't give me that look, I know a good piece of man when I see it."

Caroline laughed loudly.

Jay took a seat next to her. This was unbelievable. There was no use hiding from girls. "Did you know I was here?"

She considered the question, using the time to finger-comb her light brown hair. "Yes. Yes, I did know you lived in this village."

"Don't you have work today?"

"It's my day off. I'm not a slave. So I decided to see where you live. Bluejaybird is your christened name, I take it. Long to say."

He gave a small nod. "You can say Jay or Jaybird."

"They're all strange, but I shall go with Jay. I'm sure you're dying to know how I found you. The gold-spinning girl they're all talking about, well, Kathryn saw her and Kathryn saw you. You remember her, I'm sure. She noticed a bit of similarity in your faces and decided you were family. Was she right?" She focused her blazing green eyes right on him.

"She's... my sister." What else was he supposed to say?

"Thought so. And everyone was saying she was from a little spot called Wheat Hill, so I figured you would be here after you disappeared from the barn. So I hitched a ride down here, met this sweet woman--" she sent a smile to Rina, who was happily cleaning glasses. "And, by golly, I was right."

Silence. Jay's gaze dropped to the floor. "Well, that was very... kind of you." What was the matter with him? He could flirt, but he wasn't used to girls jumping him and surprising him like this. And she knew he was Lake's brother. What else did she know? "Why are you here?"

She leaned in closer. "Do you plan on visiting your dear sister again? Because if you come by this evening, I want you to come to the north gate. And I insist you be there."

"Er..."

"Wonderful."

At that moment Old Robert came trotting into the tavern, a bright red scarf wrapped around his head.

Caroline stared.

"Don't mind him," Jay said. "He's a lunatic."

"Robert!" Rina leaned over the bar and smiled. "What brings you here?"

Robert shook his head and punched a fist into the air. "I am no longer Robert! From this day forward my name is Tattlebarks!"

Jay doubled over laughing.

"You're right," said Caroline. "I think it's best I leave. Be there tonight, if you can. Pleasure to meet you, Rina."

And she ran out the door before Tattlebarks could say another word.

His declaration proved to be about werewolves.