Lair of the Lion

to ever trade who I am for a man."
    "Not everyone has your confidence," Isabella pointed out. "You're frightening sometimes with your confidence. Why don't I ever see you during the day?"
    Francesca laughed merrily. "I don't want to be given duties or dress properly. I prefer to go where I want. People think I'm 'off,' you know." Her dark eyes danced. "Such a reputation allows me freedom."
    "Why do they consider you 'off'?" Isabella asked.
    The laughter died from Francesca's face, and she jumped to her feet to pace restlessly across the floor. "We're friends, aren't we?"
    "I like to think we're very good friends," Isabella agreed.
    Francesca stood a short distance from her, watching her closely. "I can talk with the others. I do it all the time."
    Isabella could see how nervous Francesca was, so she took her time, choosing her words carefully. "The 'others'? I'm not certain I understand."

    "You know." She twisted her fingers together. "The ones who make the noises at night.
    They're all trapped here in the valley and can't leave until you let them out."
    Isabella blinked. "Me? Come here, piccola. Come sit by me and explain." She patted the bed. "I don't want you disappearing. You do it so quickly, and I'm not going to try chasing you through the secret passageway."
    Francesca laughed. "You'd never catch me."
    "I know that, and I've had enough misadventures for a lifetime, so please stay and talk with me. Who are the others?"
    "Spirits. They're trapped here until you free them. Those born here in the valley can't leave for too long a time without wasting away. Even then their spirits return to the valley and must remain until the loved one of a DeMarco releases all of us from the curse."
    Isabella could see that Francesca believed what she was saying. "So you believe the story Sarina told me, the story of Sophia and the curse she put upon the DeMarco famiglia, upon the valley?"
    Francesca looked at her steadily. "Don't you, Isabella? You see Nicolai as a man, but you know that most in this valley see him as a beast. And why is he able to communicate with the lions if the legend isn't true? You know it is. And you know you are to be the bride of DeMarco. Every single man, woman, and child in this valley knows of the curse and knows you are our only salvation. If you fail…" Francesca shivered.
    Isabella raked her hands through her hair and rubbed at her temples in agitation. "You told me that you could speak to the 'others.' Do you'see' them, too, Francesca?"
    "Not the way I see you. Mainly, I talk with them." Francesca sounded faintly defiant, as though she expected Isabella to try to talk her out of her fanciful notions.
    "Have you ever spoken with Sophia?"
    Francesca looked startled. "You can't be thinking of trying to get her to speak with you, are you? No one has ever dared. She knows things others don't. Isabella, she's a powerful woman."
    "Spirit, Francesca," Isabella pointed out. "She no longer belongs here, and she must want to rest. Don't you ever think about how terrible it must be for her to watch history repeat itself over and over and know she's helpless to stop it? From what Sarina told me, Sophia was a good woman who loved her husband and her people. This can't be easy for her."
    Francesca backed away from the bed, shaking her head and wringing her hands. "You can't be thinking of talking to her. I've never even tried."
    "Has she frightened you in some way?" Isabella asked gently.

    Francesca lowered her voice to a whisper. "The others are frightened of her. They don't go near her, and they don't speak of her. They hate her for what she did."
    "Well, I don't think there's any harm in asking. Will you try? Will you at least ask her to speak with me through you?" Isabella threw off the coverlet and quickly reached for her robe to cover her scandalous attire. "For me, Francesca. It might be the one thing that saves my life."
    Francesca hesitated for a long, strained moment, then nodded. "I'll try, Isabella, for you.
    But she may not answer. They aren't like we are, and time seems different for them. But I'll try tonight."
    "Since I'm asking favors, I need one more. Mio fratello means everything to me I know you know things others don't, things maybe even the healer doesn't know. Lucca will be arriving soon, and I'll need someone to help me care for him. I won't be able to be with him all the time, and Sarina has so many duties. I don't really know very many others. Please say you'll do it. And if