Read Online The Third Key (The Alaesha Legacy Book 1) by Samantha Warren - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Samantha Warren
Ads: Link
scoffed. "You're not the first to lose a key, my darling. And don't let Charles tell you otherwise. I'm sure he told you about Genghis Khan and World War II, but it's happened other times, too. It just usually happens during a time of peace so it's not a big deal as long as the key is recovered quickly. This war has everyone on edge, including my dear brother."
Edith started. "You're Mags?"
The lady nodded smartly. "Indeed. Magdalene is my full name, but everyone calls me Mags."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize. You and Charles look nothing alike."
The woman smiled. "Ah, no. No, we don't. Some siblings like to keep a family resemblance when they're in their human form, but we find it's more beneficial to seem unrelated. Charles tends to be a bit brash, and I'm more of a motherly type, you know. So after he's run someone ragged and forced them to put up their defenses, it's much easier for me to calm them down if they don't know I'm his older sister. Everyone is more willing to open up to the kindly maid, don't you know?" She winked at Edith, her toothy grin glowing white on her tanned face.
"That makes sense," Edith conceded. "I already like you better."
Mags chuckled, tossing her head back and placing a hand on her stomach. It reminded Edith very much of Santa Clause.
"Are you lovely ladies hungry? I bet you're starved. Let me grab some vittles for you and then I'll work on clothing." She pursed her lips for a moment, frowning as she eyed them both. "I think you'll need several styles. Obviously you'll want modern clothes for regular stuff, but you'll need some gowns for the meeting later. Maybe a blue. Yes, that will do. And..." She left the room, still chatting away as she shut the door behind her.
The girls stood staring at the door for a full minute before Dana broke down into laughter. "I like her. She's nuts."
Edith grinned and nodded, feeling safe and somewhat relaxed for the first time that day. "Yeah, I think she'll be fun."
A heavy curtain hung along the wall opposite the main door and Edith found herself drawn to it. After locating the pull-string in the middle, she opened the curtains. The view that greeted her took her breath away. Huge, blue snow-capped mountains spanned the horizon beneath an amber sky. The forest that led up to their base was thick, green, and lush. The open lawn beneath the windows stretched a good quarter of a mile before hitting the treeline. She could see animals darting across the grass to and fro and spotted movement in the trees.
"Wow." Dana stood beside Edith, her eyes wide and her mouth partially open.
"I know. It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"Maybe after supper we can go for a walk, if you're up to it," a voice said from behind them.
Both girls spun at the voice, Dana clutching her chest briefly. "You scared us," she chided.
Charles smirked from the doorway before dropping his eyes as his cheeks reddened. "Sorry, I should've knocked. I didn't think." He cleared his throat, his momentary embarrassment gone. "Anyway, I saw Mags. She said she should have clothes for you soon. Then we'll head down to eat. I cajoled Niatha into making an early meal for us. He wasn't happy, but he never is, the crotchety old bugger. I swear I'd starve if I didn't have Mags to convince him to cook once in awhile."
"Maybe if you weren't such a bossy boss he wouldn't be so abrasive toward you." Mags pushed Charles out of the doorway, her arms loaded to her chin with clothing. "Here you go, ladies. This should last you until I can get some more made. I included some nightclothes, too, so you won't have to sleep in your dirty scraps." After setting the bundles on the bed, she shooed Charles out. "Give the girls some peace, would you?" She turned back at the door. "I'll be back in an hour to show you to the dining room." She winked and was gone.
Dana moved to the pile of clothes, shuffling through the lot of them. Most ended up discarded in a pile on the other bed. She
Edith started. "You're Mags?"
The lady nodded smartly. "Indeed. Magdalene is my full name, but everyone calls me Mags."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize. You and Charles look nothing alike."
The woman smiled. "Ah, no. No, we don't. Some siblings like to keep a family resemblance when they're in their human form, but we find it's more beneficial to seem unrelated. Charles tends to be a bit brash, and I'm more of a motherly type, you know. So after he's run someone ragged and forced them to put up their defenses, it's much easier for me to calm them down if they don't know I'm his older sister. Everyone is more willing to open up to the kindly maid, don't you know?" She winked at Edith, her toothy grin glowing white on her tanned face.
"That makes sense," Edith conceded. "I already like you better."
Mags chuckled, tossing her head back and placing a hand on her stomach. It reminded Edith very much of Santa Clause.
"Are you lovely ladies hungry? I bet you're starved. Let me grab some vittles for you and then I'll work on clothing." She pursed her lips for a moment, frowning as she eyed them both. "I think you'll need several styles. Obviously you'll want modern clothes for regular stuff, but you'll need some gowns for the meeting later. Maybe a blue. Yes, that will do. And..." She left the room, still chatting away as she shut the door behind her.
The girls stood staring at the door for a full minute before Dana broke down into laughter. "I like her. She's nuts."
Edith grinned and nodded, feeling safe and somewhat relaxed for the first time that day. "Yeah, I think she'll be fun."
A heavy curtain hung along the wall opposite the main door and Edith found herself drawn to it. After locating the pull-string in the middle, she opened the curtains. The view that greeted her took her breath away. Huge, blue snow-capped mountains spanned the horizon beneath an amber sky. The forest that led up to their base was thick, green, and lush. The open lawn beneath the windows stretched a good quarter of a mile before hitting the treeline. She could see animals darting across the grass to and fro and spotted movement in the trees.
"Wow." Dana stood beside Edith, her eyes wide and her mouth partially open.
"I know. It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"Maybe after supper we can go for a walk, if you're up to it," a voice said from behind them.
Both girls spun at the voice, Dana clutching her chest briefly. "You scared us," she chided.
Charles smirked from the doorway before dropping his eyes as his cheeks reddened. "Sorry, I should've knocked. I didn't think." He cleared his throat, his momentary embarrassment gone. "Anyway, I saw Mags. She said she should have clothes for you soon. Then we'll head down to eat. I cajoled Niatha into making an early meal for us. He wasn't happy, but he never is, the crotchety old bugger. I swear I'd starve if I didn't have Mags to convince him to cook once in awhile."
"Maybe if you weren't such a bossy boss he wouldn't be so abrasive toward you." Mags pushed Charles out of the doorway, her arms loaded to her chin with clothing. "Here you go, ladies. This should last you until I can get some more made. I included some nightclothes, too, so you won't have to sleep in your dirty scraps." After setting the bundles on the bed, she shooed Charles out. "Give the girls some peace, would you?" She turned back at the door. "I'll be back in an hour to show you to the dining room." She winked and was gone.
Dana moved to the pile of clothes, shuffling through the lot of them. Most ended up discarded in a pile on the other bed. She
Similar Books
