Page 49

“ A h, my dear—here you are! I didn’t expect to find you wandering in the garden.” Goody Albright gave me a one-armed hug—she was holding a teacup in her other hand.

“I was just admiring your new, uh, statue.” I nodded at the gray marble statue that now stood, presiding over her wildly colorful garden.

It was the strangest statue I had ever seen.

From the front it looked like a gargoyle with a sneering, leering face, its mouth open to show fangs as long as my fingers.

Bat wings poked the air on either side of it and long, wickedly sharp horns rose from either side of its forehead.

But if you walked around to look at the back, you were faced with, well… a whole other face.

This side of the statue was devastatingly handsome. It was a man with flowing hair and feathered wings outstretched as though to catch an updraft and fly away. He had chiseled features (no pun intended) with high cheekbones and an aquiline nose above full lips.

Both sides of the statue wore a kind of necklace—or maybe it was a collar—round their neck. It seemed to have a small lock in the center and—looking closely—I could just make out a tiny keyhole in the lock.

All these little details were fascinating, but they weren’t what drew my eyes the most. The artist had not been shy about making sure everyone knew this creation was male.

The size of the package dangling between the statue’s thighs was truly awe-inspiring—and in the case of the gargoyle side, downright scary.

Was that a barb on the end of his cock, where the head should be? Ouch!

“He looks like a fallen angel, don’t you think?” Goody Albright sighed wistfully as she gestured with her teacup to the handsome side of the statue. “I bought him at a rather special auction of magical artifacts last month and he only just got delivered today.”

“What’s he supposed to be?” I asked, walking around to look at the gargoyle side again. The sneering, leering face looked out at me with cold stone eyes, making me shiver.

“Why, he’s a Guardian, my dear! Sworn to protect and care for females—or so the seller told me. Look—read the poem at the base of the statue.”

I looked where she was pointing. Sure enough, down at the statue’s feet was a small stone plaque and on it was carved a poem.

Though I am carved of coldest Stone

And stand here bare and all Alone

She who holds my locket’s Key

Will be the one to master Me

She shall wake me from my Sleep

When her need for me is Deep

My wings shall shield her from her Fears

My softest feathers dry her Tears

My deadly fangs shall tear her Foes

My faithful ears shall hear her Woes.

Until she deigns to set me Free

Her Faithful Guardian I shall Be

“Wow,” I murmured, after reading the poem. “That’s intense! And kind of beautiful, too.”

“Yes, it is rather beautiful, isn’t’ it?” Goody Albright murmured. “Of course it’s all nonsense—the only thing this fellow will be watching over is my garden. Still, I think he makes a rather nice centerpiece, don’t you?” She raised her eyebrows at me.

“He’s certainly very eye-catching,” I said, smiling. “But I didn’t come to admire your new statuary—I have some news.”

“Oh, you got the job at The Lost Lamb, didn’t you?” Goody Albright started to clap her hands together and then remembered she was holding a teacup. She set it down carefully on the marble statue’s base and gave me a hug instead.

“I did, but that’s not the news.” I told her. “Rath and I are planning a marriage, er, a Joining and we wanted to know if we could have the ceremony here—in your garden.”

We had debated on having it different places—his house, my house—but we wanted our friends to come and The Red Lion was centrally placed.

I knew most everyone in Hidden Hollow now and I had yet to meet anyone I didn’t like—even Chester, the deaf centaur who had accused me of wanting to buy a lust potion to trap a man, wasn’t bad once you got to know him.

“Oh my dear—I would be honored!” Goody Albright squeezed me even tighter. “I’m so happy for the two of you! I just knew you belonged together!”

“We’re Heartmates,” I said simply, smiling.

“Yes, you are and now that you’ve broken that awful curse, you never have to worry about losing him. Orcs live a very long time and they’re practically indestructible , you know,” she added.

I laughed and pulled back.

“Well, that’s good to know—especially since Rath is going to be a father soon.”

“He is? Oh my goodness!” She fluttered her hands excitedly and looked down at my belly. The Breeding Bump had gone down some time ago and I hadn’t begun to show yet, but she put a hand on my abdomen anyway, beaming with excitement. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her. “I just wish my Grandma and my Mom could be here to see it,” I added wistfully.

“Oh my dear, they will be!” Goody Albright exclaimed. “They’ll be here in spirit—literally!”

“Really?” I asked doubtfully. I had heard my Grandma’s voice once or twice in my ear since I had broken the curse, but I hadn’t heard my Mom again and I missed her.

“Really,” she said firmly. “I have a special spell for gathering the spirits of the departed for special occasions. I’ll lend it to you—or if you’re too busy, I’ll do the spell for you.”

“Thank you so much—that would be wonderful.” I smiled. “I would love to know that my Mom and Grandma are seeing me get married.”

“And don’t forget all your other ancestors too!” Goody Albright exclaimed.

I had told her about how I had felt all the spirits of the women in my family going back eleven generations when I had broken the curse and she was clearly eager to bring them back.

“Well, sure.” I nodded. “Why not—the more the merrier.”

“Excellent! You just leave everything to me. Now come along and we’ll talk wedding planning. Have you decided who you want to officiate?”

She hooked her arm through mine and we moved off, towards the main part of the house.

But as we went, I couldn’t help throwing another glance over my shoulder at the strange marble statue.

Who was the angel-gargoyle and who was he really supposed to be guarding?

What did the poem mean? Was it just a pretty piece of verse… or some kind of ancient prophecy?

I supposed I might never find out, but something inside me told me that I just might…

After all, anything is possible in Hidden Hollow.