In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

then the goats followed by the cattle. Rebecca, park our two and the Tobias wagon in the house driveway over next to the steps. We will unload the wagons as soon as everyone has entered the keep. Lorkeet, tell your wagon drivers to park in front of the cottages off to the left by the dairy barn and pastures for the goats. I don’t know what shape the cottages will be in; check them out and come and see me this evening to report any repairs needed," he said, "the goats will follow the unicorn herd. Lindgren, as soon as the goats are out of the way you may start your cattle through the gates. Once inside, go directly ahead. You will see a gate leading out into the pastures. Start the cattle through them and come back to me. There are cottages to the right for you and your men."

He motioned forward and Rebecca started her wagon through the gate. Andre kicked Blackfeather into a trot so he would be ahead of her to make sure it was safe.

Once through the tunnel, Rebecca turned her wagon down a graveled drive to the left, stopping in front of a white stone structure built out from the inner cliffs. The Manor house was at least three stories high. A wide, bleached stone terrace ran the length of the front on either side of a tall covered entryway. Large windows on all the floors looked out over the valley spread out behind the cliffs. Across the low hills behind the pastures tall mountains rose up to the horizon. A well marked road led down toward the sea. A village with ships in the harbor could just be seen in the distance.

The inner Bailey was a large graveled circle, lined with flowering bushes. A sizeable, fenced kitchen garden, flanked by drying and canning sheds lay between the main house and smaller stone houses in neat rows. Beyond them, was a larger structure which Rebecca assumed was the dairy barn Lewys had mentioned. To the right of the tunnel was a unicorn stable and fenced pastures (some in disrepair). Another row of neat houses sat between the stables and the tunnel opening. When Owen led in the unicorn herd, several men ran forward to help him put them into a fenced pasture.

"It seems safe enough," Rebecca looked down to find Andre had tethered Blackfeather to the wagon and was waiting to help her off the seat. As he let her down, he made sure their bodies slid against each other. She shook her finger at him. "Remember we have a child watching," she said.

Andre laughed, brushed a kiss across her lips, and turned to help Selene down also.

Catrin came running up. "Isn’t this wild? I can’t wait to see inside the house!"

"I think we should wait for Grandpa to introduce us," Rebecca said, nodding at the woman who was waiting under the entryway with her arms crossed.

Catrin made a face. "I suppose so. I just don’t want Owen getting first pick of the rooms."

Rebecca laughed at her. "From the size of the house, I doubt it will be an issue. Let’s go and wait by the gate for Grandpa."

Once everyone was inside the keep, Lewys put a hand inside another niche and the outer gates swung shut, the groan echoing down the tunnel.

"They need oiled," he said. He gestured for his family to come forward. "I’ll show all of you how to open and close those gates later. Right now, we need to introduce ourselves to the keep. Rebecca, come here."

When she came to him, he showed her where to put her right hand, giving her the spell word. There was a flash of light running around the inside of the keep, coating the white stone house an eldritch blue before it faded. The entire keep seemed to rejoice and a contented hum filled the air, gradually fading away. Ironlyn recognized its own. One by one, he brought the others forward and did the same. When it was her turn, Selene hesitated.

"It doesn’t hurt," Rebecca assured her. Trustingly, the child placed her hand in the niche. Afterwards, she looked down at it as if expecting it to have changed. Lewys strode off toward the house where the housekeeper was waiting.

"Welcome, Dracon Lewys," she said. “Drake Lerrys told us to expect you. I hope they are well?"

"I had a letter from Lerrys and Caramel at Sandcrake Trade Station," Lewys said. "Lerrys tells me they arrived safely in Mearson. Their house is on the south end of the Island. Draya Caramel is putting in a flower garden and she asked for some cuttings to be sent to her. Sarsee Jinks," he continued, "this is my granddaughter, Draconi Rebecca who will oversee the house. My grandson Owen, and my other granddaughters Catrin and Selene. This is Drake Andre Benoit, Rebecca’s fiancé. Please make them welcome."

The woman bowed. "Welcome Drayali and Draken. Please enter."

They entered a well-lit hall with a white stone floor, decorated with light colors. A wide staircase curved upwards to the next floor, splitting halfway up to offer access to both sides of the house. Sarsee Jinks gestured, and a maid and a footman came forward.

"Ella," she said to the maid, "Please show the young Drayali to the rooms prepared. Macon will show you to your rooms Draken," she indicated the footman. "If you please, Draconi Rebecca, could I have a word?"

"Of course," Rebecca replied, gesturing to the girls to follow the maid.

"I did not wish to frighten the young Drayali," Sarsee Jinks whispered, "but the wards are weak. They have not been strengthened in many years. If you could attend to it?"

"Certainly. Just show me where it is usually done."

Andre had hesitated when he saw Rebecca wasn’t following the maid. Now he followed her and Sarsee Jinks to a small alcove lined with blue stone. A flat, white marble table with intricate carving sat on a raised pedestal in the middle of the room.