“Yes, and let’s have some of that delicious cake you brought with you,” Primrose added. A monstrous yet dignified wraith of a man directed the cart that was carrying the cake into the courtyard. James couldn’t take his eyes off this man; when he took a closer look he realized he was not much more than a skeleton with some leathery skin stretched over his bones. Yet somehow this man, or what used to be a man, was sparkling with life, intelligence, and even kindness.

“That, James, is our grandfather, Sir Jacob, and you are right, he is a very kind man,” said Circe, smiling. James couldn’t help but be dazzled by these women—they all seemed to be glowing like the golden flowers that filled their courtyard, and somehow living among the dead seemed perfectly natural to them. These were puzzling women.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Jacob,” said James, not taking his eyes from the beguiling women. “What are those enchanting flowers? I’ve seen them all over the Many Kingdoms,” he asked as they brought him through the vestibule, which was filled with wondrous carvings of all manner of frightening creatures.

“The flowers were once very rare in these lands, cultivated and hoarded by the queens before us. But we are in a new age now, one in which the Queens of the Dead share their magic,” said Circe, taking Primrose’s and Hazel’s hands.

“Are they the same flowers that have gifted Queen Tulip her immortality, and made Mrs. Tiddlebottom young again?” he asked.

Hazel turned back and gave James a look. “We knew you were very intelligent, but I didn’t imagine you would also be so intuitive. You impress me, James.”

“Thank you, my lady. It seems strange to me that the people here still fear Queen Circe’s mothers. You speak of another age. How long has it been since the Odd Sisters have passed away?” asked James, wishing Skylights had told him more about the Dead Woods.

“They have been so long away, they would not recognize the Many Kingdoms, so many things have changed since the breaking of the worlds,” Circe said. “My mothers have not passed away; they are neither living nor dead, they are in a place between worlds where they can no longer do harm to others or themselves. I fear those in the Many Kingdoms remember their terror all too well and fear them as if they were still among us.”

“Mrs. Tiddlebottom seemed rather alarmed that they sent me on a quest to find them a cake. She said she would be paying you a visit.”

Circe sighed.