Page 14 of The Return of the Heir

As soon as he asked the question, his mother’s image grew more faint. The air in the chamber became chill and she floated towards the stairs.

“She wants us to follow her,” Rowena said.

Alastair turned to his sister and brother. “Stay here. We have no idea what awaits above.”

“Don’t be absurd. We wouldn’t miss this for anything.” Rowena moved past him and up the staircase after her mother. “This is the most exciting thing to happen around here in ages. I’m glad you opened the tower. It’s time to release the secrets of our past.”

Alastair scrambled to catch up with his sister, with Graeme and Callum trailing close behind. He and Graeme did not expect warfare in the ancient tower, but neither of them wanted to leave Rowena unprotected either.

They followed their ghostly mother up to the second floor when they heard faint voices calling out. Help us, please. Help us.

“What was that?” Callum asked. “It didn’t sound like a ghost.”

Just then, a massive armoire leaning against the wall pitched towards Rowena. Alastair shot forward, dropping his torch and the axe before sweeping her out of the way. The heavy wooden furnishing crashed to the floor with a thud that echoed through the otherwise undisturbed chamber. The brittle wood splintered and sent large chunks flying. Alastair covered his sister with his body, sparing her injury even as a few splinters pierced his flesh.

“Are you both unharmed?” Graeme asked as he removed chunks of wood from Alastair’s back and legs.

Callum came to his side. “There’s blood on your shirt, Alastair.”

“’Tis nothing. Only splinters.” Alastair pulled back from covering his sister, then stood, before helping her to her feet. “I’m sorry to have forced you to the ground without warning, but that heavy armoire could have seriously harmed you. Are you well?”

Rowena shook out her skirts and ran a hand across her bound hair. “I’m fine, but why did the armoire fall? And don’t blame this on Mother. She was already up the next staircase when it tilted in our direction.”

“It wasn’t our mother, but someone of this world. I felt more than saw someone move past us in the shadows. Did you get a look at them, Graeme?”

“Nay,” Graeme said as he retrieved the battle axe from beneath the shattered wood. “My focus was on the two of you. But I also saw something slide past, heading down the stairs.”

“Go after them, Graeme and Callum.” Alastair picked up the fallen torch. “Rowena and I will continue here.”

Graeme handed Alastair the battle axe, then headed down the stairs in pursuit. Their assailant had a significant head start, but any information Graeme or Callum could glean would be most helpful.

Alastair turned his attention to the spiral stairs where his mother’s spirit waited. Her hands were clenched and a worried expression lingered in her eyes. “We are both well,” Alastair assured her.

At the words, his mother nodded, then turned and started up the stairs once more.

Follow.

The word filled his mind as he clutched the torch and the axe in his hands and, this time, took to the stairs before Rowena. Their mother slipped right through the door at the top, leaving him and Rowena outside the bolted and locked barrier. Had his father installed this obstacle? It had never existed when Alastair had explored the tower as a child. He passed the torch to Rowena. “Stand back.”

Once his sister had taken several steps back down the stairs, Alastair raised the battle axe over his head and brought it down hard against the lock. It shattered and fell with a clang against the wooden floor. He quickly slid the bolt back and raising the axe once more, prepared himself to greet whatever secrets were hidden inside.