At only 16, Morgan towered over most people. Sometimes her height made her feel freakish, and it intimidated most men. They eyed her from around the great hall, sizing her up, judging her prospective value to them and their lineage. She hated them but wore a smile all the same. Morgan knew her duties to her family and her island, and she wasn't the type to run or hide from responsibility.

At the moment, that meant politely tolerating Baird Liath. The thirty-year-old son of Sapho's steward, Baird, was nursing a broken rib acquired in an earlier match against Rafael. Baird was drinking heavily to dull the pain and humiliation, having lost to a teenager. But he was a good sport about it, congratulating Rafael, and never once making an excuse for himself. He seemed a decent man. Morgan simply wasn't attracted to him. He was far from her worst option, though. She glanced across the room, wondering if Baird was the best of a bad situation, fearing he was. If she waited much longer, Godfather Adam would assign her a husband, probably somewhere far away on the continent of Garden. Morgan sipped her honey drink, smiling away the sinking feeling in her chest, wishing she could escape her fate.

Mercifully, Milo Meiori appeared. Milo was a friend of the family, almost sixty and well-preserved, though his face was drawn with lines of frustration and fury. He had a distinguished black beard, gone grey in recent years, smiling warmly upon seeing her and interrupting Baird Liath.

"Morgan, my dear girl, you're a vision. A more radiant sight I've never seen." She smiled at the compliment and marveled at her gown. It was layered purple silk with gold trim, wrapped around her neck to leave her arms and shoulders bare. It hung down to nearly touch the floor. Her shining black hair had been braided up and secured with flowers. Indeed, she felt beautiful.

Milo beamed and leaned to whisper something in Baird's ear. The younger man appeared insulted, but Milo Meiori was once the Steward of Lona, the largest Vulpen Island after Crescent, and his voice was steeled with authority. Baird Liath bowed his head, said goodnight and walked away. Milo and Morgan shared a knowing smile. She trusted Milo but still felt uneasy.

"I was looking for your father when I saw you in need of rescuing," Milo told her with a wink. "Have you seen him?

"Not since the tournament," she said quietly. "Father met with someone during the final match. I'd never seen him before, but he wore good brothers' robes. They stayed for a bit after Rafael's victory, but I turned for a moment, and they were both gone. I don't know where either of them are now."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Morgan looked up and saw the good brother from earlier. He was alone, walking down the stairs and dressed in black, maintaining an intense, unblinking stare. Morgan followed his gaze and found her brother Raf, flirting with Sparrow Nwin, the daughter of Steward Nwin of Minao.

All the Vulpen stewarding families were in attendance. Sparrow was the only girl near Raf's age, and tonight was their first meeting. He was 14. She was 15. They were laughing.

Morgan excused herself and rushed across the room. Something about the good brother scared her, and for whatever reason, he was heading toward her little brother.

She had to protect him.

Morgan stepped beside Raf just as the stranger broke through the crowd and introduced himself.

"Rafael Avalyn, son of Steward Avalyn, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Good Brother Timothy. The Holy Father sent me to be your spiritual guide, effective immediately." Everyone froze in shock except Timothy, who seemed to be enjoying himself.

It was Morgan who finally spoke. "You're Brother Mizzet's replacement? I had no idea he was so near retirement." Brother Timothy turned to Morgan and tilted his head.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Not at all," he said. "Good Brother Mizzet was summoned to Garden to be rewarded for his loyal devotion to the Holy Father," he answered with a beneficent smile that somehow felt threatening.

"Well then, we look forward to cooperating with you," Morgan smiled in return.

Brother Timothy turned to address Raf. "Your sister speaks for you? Because we'll be cooperating immediately. I've acquainted myself with Castle Moondial's records and discovered something alarming. Over the past few months, several human bodies have washed ashore. I believe you have a killer on the island."

The atmosphere in the room chilled.

"What evidence do you have that they're all related?" Raf broke the silence.

"Nice to see you participating. No proof, just patterns. The bodies were similarly mutilated. It's all in the reports if anyone bothered to look."

Steward Arthur Avalyn rushed into the room. "I have my best man on the case already," Arthur said as he strolled toward his children. "My apologies, everyone, I became aware of the killings earlier today, and I've sent Captain Reynard to bring swift justice to the guilty party. Rest assured, we are all safe here. The killer will soon be apprehended. Now, I need to speak to my children about these new developments. Everyone should continue celebrating. Music, please. Rafael, Morgan, come with me."

As they rose to leave, Good Brother Timothy addressed Raf, "Your education begins tomorrow morning. Be ready."

Steward Avalyn turned to leave, and his children followed, sensing they just narrowly dodged a surprise attack. They kept silent, travelling upstairs and into Arthur's office. Morgan's grandmother Henrietta was already seated with a glass of lemonade. She was in her 80s. No one expected her to be celebrating this late into the night. In the candlelight, Gramma Henri looked frail and thin, but her mind was sharp as ever.

Once Morgan closed the door behind them, Arthur addressed his family. "We're all here. Let's get to it. Timothy says he found evidence of a serial killer on the island. I lied. Reynard isn't on the case, but that should explain his disappearance for the time being. In the morning, we'll tell the staff that Lyn was sent to live with the Meioris on Lona. Indivar and Lyn are the same age. It's a plausible story. I'll get Milo to go along with it before he leaves."

"What's going on?" Raf asked his father with panic in his eyes. "What's this about bodies washing ashore?

"I don't know. We'll deal with that later. Our more pressing concern is investigating the source of this information: Good Brother Timothy," Arthur said with gravity. "He says he's here to determine if you're equipped to be the Steward of Vulpex."

Henrietta interrupted, "I think he was sent here to investigate our rebellion. Apple spied on Timothy speaking with none other than Adam, Himself. Rowan was nearly exposed. They had to be sent away."

"You said Lyn was sent, too," Morgan spoke up. "How is she involved?"

"Lyn is a witch. The captain brought her along to train her in secret," Arthur answered.

Morgan was devastated. In one night, without warning or goodbyes, she lost both her teacher and her sister. Morgan fought back tears. "Where did they go?" she asked.

"They went into the caverns," Arthur answered. "They're safe. Safer than any of us. If your grandmother is right and Timothy is here to investigate, then Adam knows, or at least suspects, something, and we're all in danger. I don't think Timothy has any evidence seeing as we're all still alive."

A grave silence fell over the room. Henri sighed long and heavily. Down the halls, distant music rang through the castle.

Raf spoke first. "We all know Adam should die for his crimes, but he's immortal. He's invincible. No one can even touch Adam unless He wants them to. It's not too late to stop before we all get killed."

Morgan answered angrily, "Adam slaughtered the fae folk! Every firefox except Rowan, and now he's sent an assassin to finish the job. He needs to be stopped."

"We can't avenge the firefox if we're dead!"

"Enough!" Henrietta's voice was soft but unyielding. "Rafael, you said it yourself: no one can touch Adam unless He wants them to. He lets his guard down at times. We just need you in position when he does."

Arthur took command of the conversation again, "If Timothy is telling the truth, then this is our best chance, Rafael."

Raf looked so young and scared. "What makes you think we can win?" He begged. "When so many people tried and failed?"

"It's time to tell him, son," Gramma Henri said. Morgan grasped Raf's hand.

"Yes," Arthur conceded. "It's time you knew the truth. Rafael... son, you are the Holy Ghost."