Memoirs 291 - Extrications

Scarlett looked down at the cat before her, locking eyes with its deep amethyst irises, its pupils reflecting the dim light like polished glass.

“Hello, Empress,” she finally said.

Empress cocked her head to the side, her gaze unwavering as she studied Scarlett, tail moving lazily behind her.

Scarlett’s brow furrowed. Did the cat not recognise her? If this was just another memory or a construct… Then perhaps this Empress was not the Empress that she knew. But if that were the case, it seemed odd for the cat to appear here. All the previous memories had been connected to Scarlett’s items in some way — whether through the Emberling or the [Hartford Garnet Ring]. She couldn’t quite grasp what that connection was this time.

Given that she hadn’t witnessed the same glow that had enveloped both the [Crown of Flame’s Benediction] and the [Hartford Garnet Ring] when they had pulled her into those previous experiences, it was possible this scene was just supposed to be a continuation of the previous memory. But was that really the case?

Scarlett turned in place, her eyes scanning the corridor. It lacked windows, the only illumination coming from dim lanterns suspended from the vaulted ceiling. The cold stone walls were draped with tattered tapestries, their faded scenes indistinct and weathered by time. Nothing stood out as familiar. She was relatively certain she had never set foot in this place before.

Why would she have been pulled here after leaving the Hartford mansion? And why now? She needed to question that younger ‘Scarlett further. Was that truly the original, or merely a memory of her?

A shadow crossed Scarlett’s brow as her thoughts drifted back to the final scene she had witnessed in the previous memory. The woman the young Scarlett had called ‘Mother’, Lara… Scarlett had only ever seen her in paintings, but encountering her in person had been…unnerving. She was still reeling from the experience, in a way. She had no idea the original’s mother had been that unstable. She hadn’t even known the woman was alive when Evelyne was born.

Is that what the younger Scarlett had grown up with? She could hardly imagine the impact that would have on a child — especially one of noble birth. Not that the girl she met seemed particularly fragile…

A soft meow in front of her pulled Scarlett from her thoughts, and she refocused on the cat before her. Empress regarded her for a brief moment longer before turning and padding down the corridor. Scarlet’s gaze followed the cat for a few seconds, then sighed. This wasn’t the time to get lost in musings about the original’s past. There were several questions that she felt she needed to get answers to there, but first, she would need to deal with the situation in front of her. And she was familiar enough with Empress ways to know that the cat expected her to follow.

She started walking, taking in more of their surroundings as they moved, trying to glean any clues about their location. Minutes passed in silence, with only the soft padding of her feet and the quiet tapping of the cat’s paws to accompany her. The hallways seemed to stretch on endlessly, each turn feeling identical to the last, the corridors blending together in a dizzying array of narrow passages and shadowed corners.

What kind of manor had such a convoluted layout? Without a guide, she would have been hopelessly lost after not even one minute.

At least the time allowed her to collect herself from the previous memory. By the time they finally appeared to reach their destination, she felt almost back to normal composure. Empress took one last turn through a cramped opening that seemed like it might have once been a servants’ corridor, and Scarlett followed. Soon, she found herself stepping into an open outside space enclosed by building on all sides, offering no view of what lay beyond. It resembled the inner courtyard of some grand mansion, though the stone pathways were overgrown with wild vines and untamed flora.

Stone pathways crisscrossed the center of the space, providing a clear route to a secluded area where an ornate wooden bench sat beside a weeping willow, overlooking a pool of tranquil water where lily pads floated serenely.

A clear blue sky and a radiant sun bathed the courtyard in warm light, at the very least making it clear Scarlett wasn’t in the real world. Her eyes settled on a figure seated on the bench at the center. Even with his back turned toward her, he was instantly recognisable: a man adorned with a black top hat, a dark cape, and a cane resting at his side, gazing out over the pond.

Empress sauntered across the path with graceful strides, her tail swaying elegantly behind her. Scarlett was compelled to follow, her eyes never leaving The Gentleman. There had been some wonderings about whether she might encounter him today.

As they reached the courtyard’s center, Empress wasted no time leaping up onto a low-hanging branch of the weeping willow, her sleek, jet-black fur blending with the shadows of the tree. She settled easily, curling her tail around herself before calmly beginning to groom her paws.

The Gentleman sat with an air of casual mystery, one hand resting on the ornate handle of his cane. His appearance was unremarkable in the way it always was — mundane features, dull brown eyes, and dark hair peeking out from under his top hat. His attention remained on the pond, seemingly lost in thought.

Scarlett studied him. What did his presence here mean? Was this or was this not another memory? What was all of this even to begin with? Scarlett was ready to get some answers.

“It seems you have brought us a guest, dear,” The Gentleman’s smooth voice broke the silence as he finally glanced over at Scarlett. “There’s no need to stand idling around after coming all this way. Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the spot beside him on the bench.

Scarlett’s gaze lingered on him for a few more moments before she eventually moved to sit next to him. As she did, Empress paused her grooming to look back down at Scarlett, letting out a thin, almost impatient-sounding meow.

“I understand, my dear,” The Gentleman said with a faint smile, addressing the cat. “But now is hardly the time.”

Empress shot him a reproachful look, then meowed again before settling back down. The man chuckled softly before turning his attention back to the tranquil pond, where a sparrow had perched delicately on one of the lily pads from somewhere.

A few seconds of silence passed after their exchange, and Scarlett eyed the two of them, wondering what had been said.

Eventually, The Gentleman broke the silence once more. “It’s rare for anyone to find their way here, but I am not opposed to the company. Welcome, Baroness. I trust your journey here wasn’t too taxing.”

Scarlett fixed her gaze on him. “So, you recognise who I am.”

That was a relief. Interacting with the real Gentleman stood to give her more answers than some look-alike of him.

The man turned to her with a subtle arch of his eyebrows, a hint of confusion playing across his features. “Recognise you? No, no, I believe you’ve misunderstood. I have never seen you before in my life. I simply thought your appearance matched the title of ‘Baroness’ — a kindred spirit to my ‘Gentleman’ and my dear ‘Empress’ here. It has become quite the popular naming convention these days.”

Scarlett stared at him.

A polite, almost playful smile touched his lips. “That was a jest. I trust you’ll indulge me my whimsy this once. It is not often I am afforded the opportunity for such humour.” Another meow from Empress drew his attention back to the cat. “Come now, dear. It was hardly in that poor taste. See? The Baroness does not seem to have taken offense.”

Empress flicked her tail dismissively, turning her head away in a show of feline indifference. Scarlett watched the two in their exchange.

…So this was the same Gentleman she knew. That was a relief, at least.

She shifted her gaze, taking in the courtyard’s overgrown beauty. A faint breeze, seemingly from nowhere, stirred the leaves of the willow in which Empress perched. Scarlett observed as a leaf detached from its branch, drifting gently through the air before landing on the pond’s still surface, sending delicate ripples across the water.

“What is this place?” she asked after a while.

Honestly, she found it hard to believe this was just another scene from a memory. Even setting aside the presence of The Gentleman and Empress, there were aspects that felt distinctly different, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on them.

“Hmm…” The Gentleman mused thoughtfully beside her. “I wonder how to best answer that particular query. This is not a place that conforms easily to ordinary definitions.” He tapped his finger lightly on his cane’s head. “Perhaps it would be simplest to consider it a kind of transitory interstitial space. I believe you have some experience with such concepts, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to grasp. The key difference here is that this space is less a crossroads between realms and more a nexus of possibilities and potentialities.”

“…What does that mean, exactly?”

“I often find myself pondering that very question.” The Gentleman released a low chuckle. “In practice, however, the answer is often very little at all. This place is only as special as one makes it, and neither of us appears to have made very much of it.” The man gestured with his gloved hand towards the lounging cat in the tree beside them, as if to shift the focus of the conversation. “Empress here happened to notice your presence teetering on the brink of realms and realities, so you have her to thank for bringing you here. I personally hadn’t anticipated meeting you at this juncture, but here we are. I do hope she didn’t pull you away from anything particularly pressing.”

Scarlett looked over at Empress. “I see.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what that meant either, to be honest. The ‘brink of realms and realities’? Was that where those memories had brought her? So it was an actual place, at least? Or something more metaphysical? Did that mean she had been in danger while she was there?

The man’s explanation for this place she now found herself in didn’t tell her much either, unfortunately. None of this matched anything she recalled from the game.

She returned her focus to The Gentleman. “Empress’ action did interrupt something, but I will not fault her for that. However, I find it difficult to believe that you do not know what it was.”

“I am not omniscient, Baroness.”

“That is not what I implied.”

He smiled, this time more lightly. “If you are suggesting that I know exactly what you experienced there, then you are wrong.”

“But you do have some idea of what happened to me.”

“An inkling, yes.”

“Then I would greatly appreciate if you could enlighten me, because I still do not understand,” Scarlett said. “I was in the Hall of Echoes on the Rising Isle. Then, after somehow activating one of the steles in the Chamber of Remembrance, I found myself in what I can only assume were some form of reconstruction of memories related to my ancestors. While I have never used one of those steles before, I am relatively certain that is not a function they possess.”

The Gentleman eyed her for a moment, then moved his gaze back to the serene pond before them. “Is that so?”

Scarlett kept her gaze on him. “It is.”

Despite her clear prompt, he did not offer any further explanation, simply maintaining his enigmatic smile as he watched the still water, reflecting the sun’s light overhead.

A slight frown formed on Scarlett’s brow. Empress let out another meow as if urging the man to provide a proper answer, but The Gentleman remained silent. When he finally spoke again, it wasn’t to answer her question.

“You appear to have undergone some intriguing changes since we last met, Baroness. It seems Thainnith left something rather interesting for you.”

Scarlett suppressed a sigh. Did he always have to be so evasive? So purposefully obtuse?

No matter. This was another subject she wouldn’t mind getting answers about.

“I must admit, even I was unaware that Thainnith had left a fragment behind as he did,” The Gentleman continued. “It’s refreshing to encounter such surprises occasionally. However, in this instance, I fear the man may have been a tad too hasty in his actions.”

“How do you mean?” Scarlett asked.

Was he referring to the side effects of the legacy Thainnith had left her? She had tried being more cautious with its use ever since Mistress had told her about that.

The man shook his head, the brim of his top hat moving ever so slightly with the gesture. “I myself am uncertain whether that is even the issue it ought to be, but it is not what I mean. Though Thainnith did it unknowingly, by leaving a fragment of his essence behind—even one as trivial as this must have been to evade detection for so long—he opened up the possibility for it to fall into the wrong hands. While I’m sure he had his reasons, in his haste, he has provided an opportunity for an interloper to influence this world sooner than they should have.” His tone darkened slightly. “That may have been a grave mistake.”

“An interloper? Who are you—” Scarlett halted mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing at the man. “…You are referring to the Anomalous One.”

At the mention of that title, Empress hissed sharply, her fur bristling as she paused her grooming. The Gentleman raised a calming hand towards her. “Now, now. Let’s not get carried away.”

Scarlett kept her gaze firmly on the man, her tone serious. “By influencing this world earlier than it should have, are you saying the Anomalous One has already broken its seal?”

When she had encountered Thainnith’s fragment, the Anomalous One had breached the space they were in and forced her out. If what The Gentleman was implying was true, then had the entity absorbed Thainnith’s fragment somehow and used it to break into the world fully? Was that also the source of the disruptions occurring in the Hall of Echoes?

Scarlett had already suspected as much, at least to a degree. The Orrery’s reaction in the Hall had been too intense, leaving few other explanations. If the Anomalous One had consumed Thainnith’s fragment while she was still in the Veiled Library, it would also coincide with when the Orrery had warned her of a significant divergence from fate.

Then had the Hallowed Cabal and the Tribe of Sin’s large-scale assault against the empire been executed earlier than expected because they had somehow learned of this and tried to synchronise their attack? The timing was too suspect otherwise. It might also explain why the incursions on the empire’s lands had been limited to monster attacks over the past few weeks — their preparations might not be complete yet.

Could that be considered a silver lining? If so, it was a very slight one. If the Anomalous One was already free, there was little the empire could do against it, and even Scarlett would be hard-pressed to devise any solutions at this point.

Was it just over? Was this her fault? She must have been the one who led the Anomalous One to Thainnith’s fragment, after all. But hadn’t the entity seemed like it didn’t want her to reach the fragment at all? Had it simply tricked her?

“The Anomalous One has not escaped,” The Gentleman said in a calm, measured tone. “Its seal can be broken only by a singular method, and you need never concern yourself with that changing. However, it has now found another avenue to interact with the world beyond its bonds, and for many, that alone poses a significant threat.”

Scarlett unconsciously released the breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. It was bad news, but not nearly as catastrophic as she had feared, then.

A sudden crack reverberated through the courtyard, and Scarlett’s gaze snapped to Empress as the branch beneath the cat splintered. With perfect grace, Empress leaped away just in time, landing softly on the nearby grass as the branch thudded to the ground. She let out an indignant yet dignified hiss, then settled herself, lifting a paw to her mouth and licking it nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.

“…I trust you don’t expect me to replace that for you,” The Gentleman remarked, glancing at the broken branch.

Empress flicked her tail and turned away from him, pointedly ignoring him.

The Gentleman shook his head. “My dear, I understand these are hardly ideal circumstances, but neither of us can change what has already transpired, nor can we alter what will.”

Scarlett turned her gaze back to him. “You intend to stand by and ignore it all, even now?”

She knew he often assumed the role of a neutral observer, adhering to his own cryptic code — a code that sometimes even put his interests at odds with hers. But surely he couldn’t be on the Anomalous One’s side?

“It is not a matter of ignoring it,” he replied. “Rather, it is simply not my place to intervene.”

“Even if the fate of this world might depend on it?”

“Fate, malleable though it may be to the actions of certain actors, is not so fragile as to be undone by something like this. Nevertheless, were this truly the beginning of the end for the realms, then, unfortunate as it is, I have little choice but to accept it.”

This elicited another sharp hiss from Empress, who looked back up at him with a disapproving glare. The Gentleman met her gaze with a solemn smile. “I understand you may not like it, my dear. But you were well aware of what it meant to become my companion on the day you decided to join me in my delusion.”

The cat went quiet, fixing him with a long, reproachful stare before resuming her self-grooming.

Scarlett watched both of them, a furrow of uncertainty on her brow. What were they talking about? Precisely what kind of principles did The Gentleman adhere to that so constrained his actions? And what did he mean by delusion?

As if reading her thoughts, the man spoke. “I do not expect you to understand my decisions, Baroness. It is a rare luxury to be judged solely for one’s reasoning and not one’s actions.”

Scarlett studied him closely as a contemplative silence settled over them, the only sounds in the courtyard the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of a bird. Eventually, she returned her gaze to the serene surroundings. “I understand that I am here due to Empress’ intervention, but may I ask what you are doing in this place?”

“Oh, nothing as grand as you might imagine,” The Gentleman replied, his tone turning light. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but we simply find it relaxing to come here from time to time. Isn’t it nice?”

“It is,” Scarlett agreed with a nod. After a few moments, she added, “How do I leave?”

The man laughed. “Do you wish to return to the Rising Isle?”

“Is that possible?”

“If you were to attempt to leave on your own, you would simply return to where Empress retrieved you.”

“Back to ‘teetering on the brink of realms and realities’, then,” Scarlett said.

“Quite so.”

A thoughtful expression crossed her face as she considered this information.

“…Normally, this is one such matter where I would refrain from meddling,” The Gentleman eventually said. “However, given the presence of a rather significant interloper amidst the fray, I could lend you my aid in escaping those Memories you were in. After all, that is not how they are supposed to function.”

Scarlett looked at him. “They are not?”

“No,” he replied.

“Then how are they supposed to function?”

“Memories, to the Zuver, were typically simple recreations of the past — meant only to preserve knowledge, nothing more. It was once a common method of passing on their wills and teachings. Yet the figures within a Memory were never intended to possess awareness.” He paused, fixing his gaze on Scarlett as if appraising her before continuing. “However, on occasion, something more…potent can distort the nature of these Memories. It is rare, and certainly far from humane, but it is possible if a particularly influential entity gets involved. In such cases, the boundaries of a Memory can be stretched, blurred, and the inhabitants within might start believing they are truly alive. They may speak, act, and even respond to the present, and at that point, it isn’t merely a reflection of the past anymore.”

Scarlett locked eyes with the man. That sounded a lot like what Freymeadow was. If so, it explained a lot.

“Then are you claiming that the Anomalous One is responsible for the…Memories I witnessed as well? Beyond simply interfering with the steles?”

Then…what? Why would the Anomalous One conjure up those kinds of Memories and push her into them? Was it an attempt at getting rid of her?

“It is a possibility, though I would harbor my doubts whether that was its true intent. As long as the seal endures, the Anomalous One will always find its actions constrained. The precise nature of these restrictions, however, is difficult to predict, even for me.” The Gentleman regarded her for a moment, his eyes—ordinary but piercing—seeming to see through her. “Any influence it seeks to exert upon the world through this new path afforded it would also be subject to limitations imposed by the medium through which it channels its power.”

Scarlett scowled. Was he suggesting that she was that medium? Is that why the Memories seemed to conform and change around her, almost as if knowing her needs? If the entity had absorbed Thainnith’s fragment because of her presence, that might make sense. From the start, perhaps that had been the purpose of the glitched skill it had injected into her system.

But she hadn’t felt any difference whatsoever from that skill since inheriting Thainnith’s legacy. Shouldn’t she have sensed something if she was indeed the conduit for this kind of power? If the influence was so subtle that she couldn’t even detect it, what could she do to stop it? The notion was more than unsettling.

She remained quiet for a long moment. The Gentleman seemed content to let her think, his attention turning back to the pond.

“If I had remained in those Memories,” Scarlett asked eventually, her voice lower now, “what would have become of me?”

“Ah, another question with a rather mired answer,” the man replied, his expression thoughtful. “It is conceivable that you would have met your end, eventually. Mortals who wander beyond the familiar confines of the realms seldom endure for long. Yet, in your particular case…Perhaps the outcome would be different.” He shrugged lightly, the fabric of his dark cape shifting with the movement. “Who can truly say? It might be through those very Memories that you could untangle this predicament. If they are, indeed, products of the Anomalous One’s constrained influence, they could also lead you back to the heart of its current power. Some might see that as a splendid opportunity to strike at its most vulnerable point.”

Scarlett’s brow furrowed more deeply as her eyes drifted down to the ground.

What if…she did return to those Memories? Not only were they tied to Arlene and Delmont—crucial threads that could help her achieve the goal she’d set out for on the Rising Isle—but she also couldn’t shake the image of the younger Scarlett from her mind. This was a tangible link to the original’s past, a past she knew so little about. She doubted she would ever be given another opportunity like this.

And if The Gentleman’s words held true—that the Anomalous One remained restricted—and if that restriction was tied to Scarlett herself, these Memories, or something closely related, then, as he suggested, wouldn’t those Memories be the best place to interfere before the entity could fully exploit its newfound influence? For the sake of this world and her future plans, it might be the best course of action, risky as it sounded.

But how could she be sure that returning to the Hall of Echoes wasn’t a better alternative?

The impulsive part of her urged her to dive back into the Memories, while her cautious side advised returning to the Hall. In the end, she wasn’t certain which voice to heed, but she knew where her intuition pointed. If the Anomalous One had gained another loophole through which to interfere with this world, and it wasn’t located within the Hall of Echoes as she might have concluded herself, then she doubted she could do much by returning there. She couldn’t be certain the Memories offered a better avenue, but…

“The choice is yours,” The Gentleman said, observing her. “Though perhaps you should also consider the fate of your companions on the Rising Isle. Left to contend with the effect of the Anomalous One’s influence without you, I wonder how they will fare.”

Scarlett paused, her gaze returning to him.

A short, insistent meow interrupted the moment. Empress jumped onto the bench beside the man, claws digging into his lap as she scratched at him. He glanced down at the apparently annoyed cat, a slight frown creasing his brow. “…Whatever has the Baroness done to earn such favour, dear? I seem to recall it took you much longer to warm up to me when we first met.”

Empress meowed pointedly, pausing in her scratching to look up at him with discerning eyes.

“That is hardly fair,” he sighed. “You wound me. It is not as if I take joy in prodding her.”

The cat responded by climbing up on his legs, back turned towards him and tail swinging into his chest before she leapt down to the ground. The Gentleman looked back at Scarlett with a faintly apologetic smile. “Please, forgive our little disagreement.”

Scarlett said nothing, continuing to regard him while thinking. Then, finally, she opened her mouth to speak. “I will not be asking for your assistance in returning to the Rising Isle.”

“Oh?” The man’s eyebrow arched as a flicker of curiosity entered his eyes. “Do you intend to abandon your comrades, then?”

She shook her head. “No. I merely have faith in them. Even without my guidance, they are far from helpless. I suggest that you do not underestimate them.”

“I don’t believe I did, but perhaps you’re right,” he said. “Perhaps this will be an opportunity for them to discover what they are capable of without their ever-reliable leader around.” The man considered her for a few moments. “I thought there was a very real possibility you would choose to abandon those Memories when given the opportunity.”

“Is that what you wanted me to do?”

“No, but I believed it would be what you wanted.”

“Then it appears you do not understand me as well as you thought,” Scarlett replied calmly. “On the contrary, there are several reasons why I wish to return to them now that I have a better understanding of what they represent.”

She was convinced that, even beyond the matters involving Arlene and the younger Scarlett, there was something crucial she needed to uncover there. While she had been within the Memories, she’d only had a weak suspicion, overshadowed by the confusion of the experience. But now, given the time to reflect, that suspicion had solidified.

A small part of her worried that this conviction might stem from the very skill the Anomalous One had saddled her with, but she didn’t believe that was the case. Previously, she had been able to discern its influence, and she trusted—or at least hoped—that would still remain true.

“Very well.” The Gentleman rose from the bench, his cane clicking softly on the ground. “If that is your decision, then I will step aside. If fortune smiles upon you, things will go in your favor.”

“Are you leaving?” Scarlett asked, watching him carefully.

“I am. I had intended to depart before you arrived, but Empress was insistent on first extricating you from the predicament you were in.”

The cat let out another meow, quieter this time, gazing up at Scarlett with eyes that seemed to hold a word of warning.

“Do not attempt to sway choice, dear,” The Gentleman said, a hint of chiding in his tone. “I happen to believe this is the better path for her as well.”

Empress glanced at him, then turned away.

Scarlett regarded the cat briefly before refocusing on The Gentleman. “Before you leave, I wanted to ask: is there a possibility I might encounter a version of you in those Memories?”

He met her gaze, his expression inscrutable. “Why do you ask that?”

“I believe you know why.”

The Arlene she knew hadn’t found herself trapped in a looping Freymeadow by mere chance.

The man was silent for a moment, then gave a faint smile. “No, you will not find me there. The Memories are shaped by the lived experiences of the owners of the artifacts that conjure them. Even when bolstered by the echoes of the past, as those Memories are, you will not find me in any of them.”

“Then can you at least tell me why Arlene?” Scarlett asked. “Is there a reason it had to be a member of my house? You have made it clear that you rarely interfere with the workings of fate.”

“Why do you assume my involvement disrupted fate?”

“Are you saying her dismal existence there was merely her destiny?”

“There are few left as acquainted with fate as you, Baroness.” The Gentleman gave her a meaningful look. “You tell me whether her end in that village was fated or not.”

Scarlett’s lips pressed into a thin line. “…That is repugnant.”

“Indeed.” The Gentleman dipped his head in a measured nod. “As for her connection to you… Would you believe me if I said it was mere happenstance?”

“No.”

“Then there you have it. Truthfully, I found it rather serendipitous when you first sought my assistance in entering Freymeadow, but I chose to refrain from questioning it further. I am not, after all, the one who decreed fate.”

The man shifted his grip on his cane, tapping it lightly against the stone ground before tipping his hat. “Now, I will truly be taking my leave. I suspect that by our next encounter, much will have changed. Should you find yourself alive and still in command of your mental faculties, I trust that you will not have forgotten the favour you once pledged. Perhaps then, it will be time for me to collect.”

Without another word, he turned on his heel, his cape sweeping behind him as he strode down one pathway towards the edge of the courtyard, his footsteps echoing softly. Scarlett watched him go, then her eyes shifted to the small figure of Empress, who lingered a moment longer, gaze fixed on Scarlett.

“…Thank you, Empress, for attempting to help me,” Scarlett said, her voice softer now. “To be entirely frank, I do not understand what I have done to earn such kindness from you.”

The cat released a single meow, and while Scarlett didn’t understand what it meant, she got the sense that Empress thought she had just said something incredibly stupid. The cat almost seemed to shake her head to herself, then considered Scarlett for a beat longer, giving a low, resonant purr. Then she turned to follow The Gentleman, leaving Scarlett alone at the center of the courtyard.

Her eyes drifted back to the pond before her, watching the lily pads floating serenely on its surface. She took a deep breath, the scent of the willow tree and fresh water filling her lungs. It seemed like there was much to consider, and even more to do. But, now that she was here—wherever here was—perhaps she could afford to take a moment to herself before she got started again.