Free Oak And Mist (The Ambeth Chronicles Book 1) by Helen Jones

answer. However, by the murmur of the crowd he knew it to be important and, as they parted again to let Thorion bring Alma into their midst, he knew. Closing his eyes for a moment, he tried to decide whether he was happy or sad for his new friend, for he now knew she would have to make a difficult choice. Once the Prophecy was read, once she realised her part in it, the decision would be hers as to whether she wanted to help, taking on all the risk that went with it. For finding the lost Regalia would not be easy – the assembled powers of all the Light and Dark had not been able to do it. Well, thought Caleb, at least he would be there to help her, if she wanted him. His face serious, he watched as Alma was brought to stand at the centre of them all.
     
    ***
    Alma was dazzled by the beautiful faces that thronged about her, all coming close to have a look, but at what she wasn’t exactly sure. Every member of the Court was beautifully dressed in richly embroidered gowns and tunics, making her realise how completely underdressed she was for the occasion. Still, what was she supposed to do? Going to the Armorial Park in formal wear would raise so many questions it wasn’t worth even considering. Her bracelet burned hot then cooled as the court moved around her – what the hell was wrong with it? At least it didn’t seem like she was going anywhere. But the pain was so bad she tucked the cuff of her sweatshirt underneath the stone to try to get some relief, revealing it to the crowd. Immediately a gasp went up from those closest to her.
    ‘Thorion, she is wearing a talaith bracelet,’ said one woman, her red-gold hair bound in braids off her flawless face. Others said much the same, the words swirling around Alma until she could take no more and closed her eyes, trying to shut them out. Thorion, seeing this, raised a hand for silence.
    ‘Enough, my Lords,’ he said, though with a note of amusement in his voice. ‘Let her breathe.’
    The crowd around Alma stepped back, releasing her. Somewhat shaken and definitely confused, she glanced at Caleb, who smiled back reassuringly. It didn’t help, really – the day had just become way too weird. Thorion clapped his hands, calling for the Court’s attention.
    ‘Three are required,’ he said, his voice ringing through the room. ‘Three to bear witness to what has happened here. That Alma has been able to see our loss and, as such, is part of us now. That she lies under my protection and may well be the saving of us all.’
    Shocked, Alma looked at Thorion who, to her total surprise, winked at her as though they were participating in some huge joke. Maybe they were, she thought. Maybe this whole thing was a giant set up, some outrageous prank show and at any moment TV cameras would appear with a smiling host to tell her how she had been duped. But as quickly as the thought came she dismissed it. Too much that was unexplained had happened for it to be anything else. No, whatever was happening to her was real, and, she felt, about to take an even more surreal turn.
    ‘Now I know how Alice felt,’ she whispered to Caleb, who had come to stand next to her.
    ‘Alice who?’ he whispered back, but she had no time to answer. Three figures stepped out of the crowd and presented themselves to Thorion. The first was an extremely attractive blonde man, clad in leather armour and a billowing black cape. His green eyes were unfriendly. Alma looked away, quickly, to the next one. This was a woman, tall and slender, with sherry brown eyes in a golden-skinned face, her delicate cheekbones offset with curling honey coloured hair. She smiled at Alma in a friendly fashion as she approached, her russet gown swirling about her. The third was an older man, tall in posture with golden hair turning to silver and blue eyes in a lined yet handsome face. Clad in sea green, he had an unmistakeable air of authority, though his face bore the stamp of some past sorrow. He spoke first, his voice